Plaque to remember two famous visitors to house

John Wesley (left) and William Morris were both visitors to the house

A 300-year-old Staffordshire building which was visited by the founder of the Methodist Church and the designer William Morris is to get two plaques.

The Old Stone House in Edward Street, Leek, is Grade II Listed and dates back to 1724.

It was once owned by prominent town merchants, and the Leek and District Civic Society applied to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to get the plaques installed.

The preacher John Wesley visited in 1774 and William Morris of the Arts and Crafts Movement visited some time between 1875 and 1877.

The building now houses offices, but in the 18th Century it was home to Joshua Strangman, a Quaker and button merchant who received a visit from Mr Wesley.

Later, in the 19th Century, it belonged to Thomas Wardle, a dyer and printer and Elizabeth Wardle, who established Leek Embroidery Society and they were visited by Mr Morris.

The building now houses offices and stands in the centre of Leek

The civic society said the property was "an important building within the town, not only for the fact that it is one of the oldest surviving properties, but also because of the previous owners – prominent town merchants – and for the important visitors that they hosted."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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