Hugo’s Gothic Staffs Tours

04/04/2026

The Rood at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Alton.
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26/03/2026

Stained glass from St Giles, Cheadle, featuring the Annunciation scene of the Angel Gabriel declaring to Mary. 🙏✨
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14/03/2026

Not a stop along the tour, unfortunately, but still spectacular to see! 🤩

10/03/2026

Today I had privilege of visiting St Mary’s College Oscott, the Catholic Seminary that Pugin, along with Thomas Potter, helped to design. It was started in 1838 and consecrated the following year in 1839. John Henry Newman C.O preached his ‘Second Spring’ sermon from the chapel pulpit in 1850, following the restoration of the Hierarchy, as part of the Synod of Westminster.
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02/03/2026

I went to Mass today at St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham, with today being the Feast Day of Saint Chad. It was designed by AWN Pugin and, like so many others, funded by John Talbot, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury. It was started in 1839 and consecrated in 1841. Some relics of St Chad are contained in a reliquary above the High Altar following the destruction of Shrine of St Chad at Lichfield Cathedral during the Reformation. It was raised to Cathedral status in 1850 following the re-establishment of the Catholic Hierarchy in England and Wales by Pope Pius IX. John Henry, Cardinal Newman C.O has preached from its pulpit. It was added to in later years by his son, Edward Welby Pugin and in 1941, a century since its completion, Pope Pius XII raised it to the rank of a Minor Basilica. It is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and the seat of the Archbishop who celebrated today with the Cathedral Chapter of Canons. 🙏
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01/03/2026

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, born on this day, 1st March, in 1812, 214 years ago! 🥳🎂
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Pugin was born in Keppel Street in Bloomsbury, London, the son of French Emigré, Auguste Charles Pugin and Catherine Welby.
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01/03/2026

Fantastic Pugin After Dark Festival! 👏
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In memory of the late Revd Michael Fisher, 1943-2021, Requiescat in Pace.
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27/02/2026

A map of the sites along the tour.

Trains: Pugin’s favourite method of transport! 🚂

Nearest stations are:

• Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge, both served by East Midlands Railway

• Rugeley Trent Valley, served by both West Midlands and London North Western Railways

• Burton-on-Trent, served by Cross Country Railway

26/02/2026

Very much looking forward to attending this event!

Pugin Exhibition: Saturday 28th February, 12 noon - 4pm
Alton Village Hall, Hurstons Ln, Alton, ST10 4AP

Pugin’s Ghosts explores the spookier side of Victorian Gothic Architect AWN Pugin’s life and work. Listen to spooky tales with Pugin’s Ghosts of Past, Present and Future first at the Pugin After Dark Festival exhibition ahead of launching on our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/