B5066
| B5066 | ||||||||||||||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||||||||
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| From: | Stafford (SJ921235) | |||||||||||||||
| To: | Meir Heath (SJ929400) | |||||||||||||||
| Distance: | 11.7 miles (18.8 km) | |||||||||||||||
| Meets: | A34, A5187, A513, A51, B5027, A520 | |||||||||||||||
| Old route now: | A513 | |||||||||||||||
| Primary Destinations | ||||||||||||||||
| Highway Authorities | ||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||||||||||||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||||||||||||||
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For the original B5066 in Shropshire, see B5066 (Shropshire).
Route
The B5066 is a largely rural B-road and is the shortest distance from Stafford to Stoke-on-Trent (although the alternative route of A34 and A520 is only a few hundred yards longer).
The B5066 starts at the Gaol Square roundabout in the centre of Stafford. It heads north along Gaol Road, passing the gaol, before bending right at a mini roundabout to become Sandon Road, which is its current signposted destination. It passes through Stafford's suburbs before reaching the A513 bypass.
The A513 obviously post-dates the B5066; indeed, the part of the bypass which multiplexes with the B5066 is still called Sandon Road rather than Beaconside as this was originally part of our road and was upgraded to form the bypass. After a few hundred yards of new build, the B5066 turns off to the right once more and regains its number. Now in open country, we curve to the right to pass the hamlet of Hopton and a military site on the right before we cross the River Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal and Stoke-Rugeley railway line in quick succession and enter the village of Sandon. The B5066 comes to a halt at a T-junction with the A51.
We multiplex with the A51 for a few hundred yards north through the village before turning off to the right. Our final destination is now given as Cheadle, although of course this lies some distance beyond the end of the road. After a couple of miles we meet the B5027, which has priority through the crossroads. Soon afterwards we enter the village of Hilderstone.
The B5066 acts as a natural bypass of Hilderstone, with the majority of the village being to its left, although this is a fairly modern phenomenon as the older buildings mostly line the main road. We have to TOTSO by the village green, at a poorly signed junction. Traffic for Cheadle continues straight along an unclassified road. Continuing on the B5066 we pass close to Spot Grange and Spot Acre before making a bee-line for Meir Heath and the A520.
The B5066 ends at a double roundabout on the A520. It misses the B5029 by a matter of yards, as this uses the other roundabout.
History
The route of the modern B5066 was originally unclassified, although the B5066 number had been applied to it by 1939. Since then, there has been little change to the route of the road.
It has been speculated [I. D. Margary Roman Roads in Britain] that the almost straight Meir to Hilderstone section may be a so far unconfirmed Roman alignment, continuing south from the known Buxton - Leek - Stoke road (Margary road M713).