What to See in Newport - Top Sights and Attractions

Lake in England. Aqualate Mere, in Staffordshire, is the largest natural lake in the English Midlands and is managed as a national nature reserve by Natural England.

The Mere lies within the borough of Stafford in Staffordshire, England, some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of the market town of Newport, Shropshire. It is within the grounds of Aqualate Hall, a country house, with a landscaped deer park.

Although large in extent (1.5 km long and 0.5 km wide), the Mere is remarkably shallow and is nowhere much more than one metre (3.3 ft) deep. Aqualate Mere is an example of an esker system (rare in the Midlands) formed by glacial meltwaters during the late Devensian glaciation. The depression in which the Mere lies, thought to be a kettle hole, and the surrounding higher ground which comprises glacial sand and gravel deposits were all formed at the same time.

It is fed by streams coming from the north, south and east (including Back Brook), and its outflow to the west forms the River Meese which joins the River Tern, a tributary of the River Severn.

The Mere supports diverse fish and bird populations, including large numbers of wintering and breeding wildfowl and breeding Eurasian curlew and common snipe. Together with the surrounding land, it is also important for its botanical and invertebrate communities. Mammals found on the NNR include polecat, water vole and harvest mouse, together with bats such as pipistrelle, Daubenton's, Natterer's, Brandt's and whiskered.

Its name came from Anglo-Saxon Āc-gelād, meaning "oak grove", influenced by Latin "aqua" = water, "lata" = wide.^[1]

The Puleston Cross is a Butter cross in the market town of Newport, Shropshire

The Cross sits in Middle Row, formerly Rotten Row, and denotes the market place. The cross was built in the early 14th century and was moved to this position in 1633 after the new market hall was built by William Adams.

The Butter Cross

The Market or "Butter" Cross of which this is the shaft and base, was originally set up c.1280 in memory of Roger de Pyvelesdon, and hence is also known as "The Puleston Cross". It was probably mutilated during the Civil War. The cross is protected as a monument of National Importance

under the Ancient Monuments Act 1913–1953.

The cross was set up in memory of Sir Roger de Pyvelesdon who died in 1272, in Shropshire. This is confirmed in a deed dated 1285, signed by his son and namesake Sir Roger de Puleston, which includes these words: the cross set up for the soul of Roger de Pyvelesdon who died in 1272.

It has remained in its current position since the 13th century, and the Butter Cross (market) was built around it by Richard Barnefield in 1632. Some records indicate that it was rebuilt by Thomas Talbott in 1665. The market was demolished in 1866. It was taken down as there was no further use for it when the new market hall was built.

The Market cross was spared demolition and given railings to protect the cross from damage; these have since been taken down.

The market cross consists of five steep octagonal steps leading to the remains of a square-sectioned fluted shaft made from Sandstone and is overall 500cm high.^[3]