Delving into France’s Influence on Staffordshire

Influence on Staffordshire

France has had a huge influence on Staffordshire. The geographical, cultural, and historical connections between the UK and the France have also fostered a unique exchange of ideas, traditions, and styles, some of which can be found below.

Sport and Games

Even though football as we know it was developed in England, the origins of it can be traced back to medieval France. Ball games were often played in France and helped formed the foundation of soccer. Without this influence, we wouldn’t have local teams like Stoke City, which help to bring a lot of tourism to the area.

A lot of casino games also came from France to the UK. Roulette, for example, is one of the most iconic and traditional games played in the UK, yet it was invented in France, during the 18th century. It spread to the UK in the 19th century, where it became a staple. Since then, several new variants have been created, with some sites having over 10 variants of live roulette, ranging from Lightning Roulette to Fortune Roulette Live. With online gambling set to generate USD 15,093.8 million (around GBP 12,134.8) by 2030 and Staffordshire, in particular being home to over 20 casinos, it just goes to show how impactful this has been for the local economy.  

Food and Local Markets

France’s impact on Staffordshire food has been profound, to say the least. Staffordshire is home to numerous French-inspired restaurants, including 1709. This restaurant is run by John Ashmore, who works alongside Mark Medley. You also have Bistro Le Coq, in Stafford. Restaurants like this often serve French dishes, such as coq au vin and tarte tatin.

Local markets are also very common in Staffordshire, with vendors often providing a range of pastries, goods, and cheese. Croissants and other French-inspired products are very common here. This, combined with the huge range of local bakeries that take inspiration from French-inspired pastries, just goes to show what an influence the country has had on the local area. 

Pottery and Art

Staffordshire is also known for having a strong pottery industry, which has been heavily influenced by French imports. In the 18th century. French porcelain from the Sèvres factory was seen as being some of the best. With a refined design and delicate intricacies, the French soon made a name for themselves as being pioneers for the pottery industry.

Josiah Wedgwood, a Staffordshire potter, was especially influenced by the designs. Even though he had a distinctive style that reflected English culture, it’s not hard to see how he took inspiration from classic French designs too. The abundance of clay and coal in Staffordshire helped to make it a major pottery centre for the whole of Europe. Staffordshire was also a leader in both glazing and decorating techniques. This included transfer printing, which had a huge impact on the pottery industry as a whole. With that said, the influence from French pottery is profound, and helps to show how much of an impact it had on Staffordshire, and the various industries that it is now famous for. 

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