Both the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme and its name almost certainly owe their existence to the building of a ‘new’ castle there in the mid-twelfth century. The town’s importance gradually grew from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, by which time Newcastle was referred to as the ‘Capital of North Staffordshire’ and the place to go for markets, fairs, doctors, banks and lawyers. The twentieth century wrought huge changes on Newcastle-under-Lyme, but traces of the town’s fascinating history are visible to the enquiring eye. Join local author Mervyn Edwards as he delves into the past in this unique approach to the town’s history, blending the serious with the frivolous, seeking out Newcastle-under-Lyme’s hidden secrets.