The Moat House Hotel, located in a spectacular canal side setting in the village of Acton Trussell, is the best hotel in Stafford and among the highest rated 4 star hotels in Britain. Just 2 miles from junction 13 of the M6 motorway and halfway between Manchester and Birmingham, it is the ideal base from which to visit Staffordshire and its many attractions. The name Moat House originates from the delightful 15th Century moated manor house. All of the bedrooms at the Moat House Hotel have broadband internet access and most are air-conditioned. The award winning restaurant has 2 AA rosettes for its fine dining. The Moat House Hotel is a completely non-smoking hotel.
The Moat House Hotel occupies a stunning location on the banks of a canal in the quiet village of Acton Trussell. Close to Stafford in the heart of rural Staffordshire the Moat House is ideally situated for visiting a host of attractions including Alton Towers, Cannock Chase, The Potteries and Birmingham's NEC and ICC.
The Moat House Hotel is a Grade II listed moated manor house built in the 15th century and steeped in history. In fact, the mound on which the house was built is a 'Scheduled Ancient Monument' - a reflection of its historic importance. This part of the building now houses the award-winning hotel restaurant which overlooks the canal.
Recent investment in this Executive Deluxe hotel has further improved on the already high standards of accommodation. The 41 bedrooms including 9 suites are all individually designed and all exceptionally well appointed with Freeview and Broadband internet access available in all rooms.
The Conservatory Restaurant at the Moat House is well reputed throughout the area and has won the coveted Best Restaurant in Staffordshire award AA) as well as 2 AA Rosettes for its exquisite cuisine.
Its location, close to the M6, and excellent conference facilities make the Moat House an ideal conference venue for hosting a wide range of events. The largest of 9 meeting rooms can accommodate up to 200 delegates with all the facilities you would expect. Broadband internet access is available in all hotel rooms and conference rooms. Ample free parking available on site.
All 41 en-suite bedrooms have tea/ coffee making facilities, direct dial telephone, hairdryer, heating control, High speed Broadband internet access, electric shaver point, 24 hour room service, iron and ironing board, smoke alarms,, key card access and TV with radio channels . All bedrooms are non-smoking.
The Manor house, along with the nearby Church, has been a focal point of the village since the early part of the medieval period.
We know that there has been occupation in Acton since at least the second Century, with the discovery and excavation of a Roman villa, under and around the village church. However, the find of Iron Age pottery and flints suggests even earlier occupation still.
The raised mound upon which the building is built was constructed in Norman times. Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England, the majority of which served as prestigious aristocratic and seigniorial residences with the provision of a moat as a status symbol, rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between c1250 and 1350.
Examination of the timber frame during refurbishing of the Manor points to a date around 1320. It is about this date that the first record of the Trussells at Acton is mentioned, when in 1342, John Trussell of Acton settled the Manor of Acton (with Bednall and Brocton) on himself and his wife, with the remainder to William Trussell of Kibblestone (Stone). Acton appears to have passed to another William, the son of John, who in 1371 settled it on Margaret, daughter of Sir William Trussell of Kibblestone, and her husband, Fulke Pembrugge, Lord of the Manor of Tong and Tong Castle.
Through this marriage and settlement, the Manor of Acton passed from the Trussells to the Manor of Tong.
Margaret, who had married at the age of fourteen, died without issue before 1400, leaving Fulke a life interest in Acton under the 1371 settlement.
Fulke remarried, and under a further settlement, after providing for himself and his wife, Isobel, created a remainder (Acton) in favour of William Trussell who acquired it on the death of Isobel in 1446. William lost Acton when Richard Vernon, a cousin of the Pembrugge side, dispossessed him by an action of novel decision in 1448. An appeal in 1450 was apparently successful for in 1450, on the death of William, he held the Manor.
The Trussell interest continued until 1500, when a John Trussell, who had succeeded the Manor, died in infancy and whose heir, his sister Elizabeth, subsequently married John de Vere, Earl of Oxford. The Manor descended with the earldom until 1575, when it was conveyed to trustees, probably for sale.
By 1658, the Manor was held by William Anson of Shugborough and descended in that family.
In later years, the Manor House was considerably altered, but the east facing wing is today restored to much as it was, with the bar and upper function room showing the excellent timber frame of the early fourteenth century. The building is a grade II listed building, but more importantly the mound, which the house is built on, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, a reflection of its historic importance.
The Moat House has been owned and run by the Lewis family since 1955. The Moat House was converted in 1988 into a restaurant and village pub. In 1997, the Moat House was upgraded to a 21 bedroom luxury hotel and conference centre and was officially opened by the late Lord Lichfield of Shugborough in January 1998.
Following a fire in January 1999, the restaurant, kitchen and bar were completely renovated.
More bedrooms were added in 2000 and another complementary extension in 2006 has seen the addition of more bedrooms, bringing the total number to 41 as well as a state of the art conference room.
Moat House Hotel
Lower Penkridge Road,
Acton Trussell,
Staffordshire ST17 0RJ
Tel: +44 (0)1483 776344Fax: +44 (0)1483 730202
From the M6: Exit junction 13. Follow the signs to Stafford and then take the first right signposted to Acton Trussell. Follow the brown tourist signs through the village and the hotel is on the right hand side as you leave the village. The hotel is very easy to find and is exactly 2 miles from the motorway junction.
From Stafford: Head south along the Wolverhampton Road, signposted A449 for 2 miles. At the roundabout take the first exit and then a slight right into Mill Lane. Turn right onto Lower Penkridge Road and the hotel is on the right hand side.
Parking: Ample free parking on-site
Rail: Stafford (3 miles)
Air: Birmingham (26 miles)
Manchester (40 miles)
East Midlands (45 miles)

Reservations:
Conference Hotline:
Tel: +44 (0)1483 77 63 44
Fax: +44 (0)1483 73 02 02
