Blithfield

It includes the settlements of Admaston (a small hamlet in Staffordshire), Newton along with Blithfield Hall, home of the Bagot family since 1360.

Its purpose was to assess the extent of the land and of resources owned in England, and the amount of the taxes that could be raised at the time.

The upper part of the tower, with stained glass in the west window is thought to date back to 1525.

[11] The church contains tombs of the Bagot family as well as an original helmet, ancient stained glass windows and a floor paved in Minton tiles.

[13] The "late-Saxon" settlement of Blithfield, which appears in Domesday Book did not last, and the last documented evidence of the village was in 1334.

It is thought, however, that the Lord of Blithfield was unhappy with some of the work done on the hall, so in 1398 the carpenter, Robert Stanlowe, was sued.

The project was proposed by the "South Staffordshire Water PLC"[15] who, during the 1930s and 1940s purchased 2,350 acres (950 ha) of land in the Blythe Valley, to put into action their plan, much of this land (1,585 acres [641 ha]) was bought from Lord Bagot, the owner of Blithfield Hall.

Ownership of the farmland bordering the reservoir allowed control over farming methods and thus minimised any risk of water pollution.

[16] It was originally planned to start building the reservoir in 1939, but this was postponed until 1947, due to the onset of World War II.

Blithfield Hall, dating between 1740 and 1822
Blithfield Reservoir, opened in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother