Cannock

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Cannock is a town in Staffordshire, England, in the West Midlands. It sits just north of the Birmingham area, close to Walsall, Burntwood, Stafford and Telford, with Lichfield and Wolverhampton nearby. The town is part of the Cannock Chase district.

Population and location
- Population: about 29,000 people (2011 census). The wider Cannock built-up area had around 86,000 people in 2011.
- Cannock lies on a southwest-facing slope, from the high point of Cannock Chase (Castle Ring, 244 m) down to around 111 m in parts of the town.
- The area has a mix of gravel and clay soils and was historically rich in coal.

History and economy
- The name Cannock comes from Old English and likely refers to a hillock, such as Shoal Hill.
- It was a small rural village until coal mining grew in the 19th century and helped the town expand rapidly.
- The last local coal pits closed in 1967 (Mid Cannock) and 1993 (Littleton in Huntington).
- Today Cannock is mostly a residential town with services and light industry nearby.

Transport
- Roads: close to the M6, M6 Toll and M54, with the A5 and A34 as major routes.
- Rail: Cannock railway station is on the Chase Line. It reopened in 1989, was electrified in 2019, and runs services mainly to Birmingham, Rugeley, Stafford and London. Trains to Birmingham take about 36 minutes.
- Bus: D&G Bus is the main operator, with services to surrounding towns and beyond. There are links to Birmingham and other towns via X51 and other routes.

Landmarks and surroundings
- Nearby is the Cannock Chase German War Cemetery, holding about 4,885 German military dead from the World Wars.
- Cannock is close to Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a popular area for walking and outdoor activities.

Education
- Cannock Chase High School: a mixed comprehensive with around 1,000 pupils.
- Cardinal Griffin Catholic College: a Catholic secondary school with around 950 pupils.
- Chase Grammar School (historical name changes) operated until 2025. South Staffordshire College closed its Cannock Campus in 2017, but it reopened the following year as the Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub.

Local government and communities
- The town has four electoral wards, with Cannock South including Bridgtown; the rest of Cannock is largely unparished.
- Local media includes the Express & Star and previously the Cannock Chronicle; Cannock Chase Radio serves the area as a community station.

Facts at a glance
- Location: Cannock, Staffordshire, England
- Population (2011): about 29,000 in Cannock; 86,000 in the wider built-up area
- Key roads: M6, M6 Toll, M54; A5 and A34
- Rail: Chase Line (Cannock, Hednesford, Landywood stations)
- Nearby landmarks: Cannock Chase AONB, Cannock Chase German War Cemetery
- Education: Cannock Chase High School; Cardinal Griffin Catholic College; Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub (formerly South Staffordshire College Cannock Campus)