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Geographical and
Historical Information |
 Fair Oak occupies a most interesting position lying as it does right on the great British watershed. Rains falling on the western side of the farm flowing off to the Coal Brook, to the Tern the Severn and thence to the Bristol channel. While to the East are the head waters of the river sow.flowing via Stafford to the Trent and thence to the estuary of the Humber.
Geologically the land is almost entirely pebble beds falling 83meters(275ft) from 213meters (700ft) in the north to 130meters (425ft) in the south.
The Grange is equally divided between woodland and farmland of ancient origin. A Neolithic flint arrowhead was found in a field to the north of the farm.
The woodland was once part of the ancient forest of Blore and was part of the land of the Bishop of Chester at the time of the Doomsday survey. Grange signifies a religious farm unit presumably an Abbey. Later ownership transferred to the Bishop of Litchfield. There are signs of 12th century iron workings at the Eastern extremity. The Tithe map of 1839 shows the woodland and some of the southern fields still owned by the Bishop, the remainder owned by Addison Deakin, while Randle Davenport occupied it. It was then part of the woodland quarter of the parish of Eccleshall and Croxton townships. The buildings then to the south of the farmhouse were later rebuilt to the north with a new access road. The arrowhead field was cleared of woodland.
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