Over £12,000 of National lottery funding is supporting a new project in North Staffordshire, which will see local school children and a local author involved.

The project in Newcastle-under-Lyme aims to recreate the lost charter from 1173 that gave the town borough status. The original document was lost centuries ago however charters from Elizabeth I and King James still exist and will be professionally conserved and restored.

The project is being spearheaded by GROW North Staffs and will involve local school children, notably St Marys Catholic Primary School on Silverdale Road and renowned local author and illustrator Glenn Martin James who was recently shortlisted for the Ruth Rendell Award for championing literacy.

Glenn Martin James, 53 from May Bank will recreate the charter to celebrate the 850 anniversary of the borough using authentic period inks and paints and will be written with a goose quill just how documents in 1173 would have been written.

Newcastle-under-Lyme was granted its first royal charter in 1173 by King Henry II (Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council).

Mr James said: "This is really special. The original charter was the birth certificate of the town. When it was granted by King Henry in 1173, giving us borough status, everything just started from there. It meant that Newcastle was free from the control of the church or local lords, we could hold a market, and our merchants could become burgesses, and form guilds.

"After this, Newcastle just marched forward confidently, and really shot up from there.

"The original document from the King would have been quite small, and sadly was lost centuries ago. What better way to celebrate this fabulous birthday, than to create a representation of the original? And by honouring its place, and safely conserving the later historic charters, granted by Henry's royal descendants? So we say a very big thank you to the Heritage Fund."

School children will also be given the opportunity to produce and illustrate their own charter to commemorate the town. 

These documents will then create a grand display at The Brampton Museum which will be presented to the town later this year.

Councillor Simon White, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Heritage Champion with responsibility for the anniversary arrangements said: "These celebrations only come about every 50 years. They are a real opportunity to allow all our 130,000 residents across the Borough to either take part themselves, or simply to enjoy our celebrations, and we are tremendously grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making it possible.

"We received our original charter in 1173 from Henry II, and we are one of a few Boroughs in England to have this for so long – we are very proud indeed. I am fully behind and supportive of a bid such as this, for our community to enjoy and take part enjoy these unique celebrations."

Jane Fair from GROW North Staffs added: "We are so pleased to have been awarded this grant from the Heritage Fund and we are very grateful to National Lottery players who make this possible. 

"I remember being at the 800 celebrations back in 73 as a child and I am very proud to have been able to support this project.

"It will be very interesting to see what the children produce with the support of Glenn and the rest of the team. This is a very special way to make the 850 anniversary of the borough, something that I hope these children remember, just as I remember 73"

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