Coley, Staffordshire

For other uses, see Coley.

Coley
Footpath near Coley
Coley Location within Staffordshire
OS grid reference	SK011225
•  London	152 mi (245 km)  SSE
Civil parish	Colwich Parish
District	Stafford
Shire county	Staffordshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STAFFORD
Postcode district	ST18
Dialling code	01785
Police	Staffordshire
Fire	Staffordshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
List of places UK England Staffordshire 52°48′06″N1°58′58″W / 52.801615°N 1.982740°W / 52.801615; -1.982740

Coley is a hamlet in the Borough of Stafford in Staffordshire, England. ^[1] It is located midway between Stafford and Rugeley. It is also close to the Cannock Chase and Shugborough Hall. The hamlet falls under the Colwich Parish. It is close to the villages of Great Haywood and Little Haywood.

History

Coley is first mentioned in the Domesday Book and was part of the Pirehill Hundred of Staffordshire. ^{[2] [3]} According to its entry it is mentioned as:

Land of Chester (St John), bishop of

Households Households: 8 villagers. 2 smallholders. Land and resources Ploughland: 1 lord's plough teams. 1 men's plough teams. Other resources: Meadow 1 acres. Valuation Annual value to lord: 10 shillings in 1086. Owners Tenant-in-chief in 1086: Chester (St John), bishop of. Lord in 1086: Nigel (of Stafford).

Lord in 1066: Chester (St John), bishop of.

— Open Domesday, Coley, Coley was a settlement in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Pirehill and the county of Staffordshire. It had a recorded population of 10 households in 1086, putting it in the smallest 40% of settlements recorded in Domesday.

Present day

Higher Coley Farm entrace

The hamlet is mostly made up of small farmhouses and farmland. Notable farms in the hamlet include: "Far Coley" and "Higher Coley", which are also listed in the national archives. ^[4]

Additionally, the hamlet is also home to the "Far Coley Farm Events", which hosts all-year round events such as weddings and retreats. ^[5]

Transport

The nearest bus stop for the hamlet in Little Haywood at the Lamb & Flag Pub. The bus service, operated by Chaserider provides services to Stafford, Rugeley and Lichfield. The nearest railway stations are Rugeley Trent Valley, Stafford and Stone.

References

1. GENUKI. "Genuki: Colwich, Staffordshire". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
2. "Coley | Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
3. "Colwich - Old Manor House at Coley: pen and ink drawing". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
4. Catalogue description – Coley, parish of Colwich. Higher and Far Coley farms, tenants, Jas Smith and E. Shelley... n.d.
5. "Home | Far Coley Farm | Tipi Wedding Venue Staffordshire". Far Coley Farm. Retrieved 23 July 2025.