The village describes itself as the Gateway to Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

It now serves as a golf clubhouse Brocton was once well known to servicemen as a World War I Military Training Camp, remnants of which can still be seen up at the top of Chase Road.

Tolkien came to Staffordshire in August 1915 when he served his military training at an Army camp on the ancient forest and Royal hunting ground of Cannock Chase, Stafford.

The military camp near Brocton was situated on the high ground of the 100 square miles (260 km2) of the chase, with its rolling moorland, unusual rock formations, and far-reaching views leading to dense forest all around.

In March 1916 Tolkien married Edith Bratt and they moved into accommodation in Great Haywood, a small village on the edge of the Chase.