On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This article’s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. St Stone ground mustard’s Church, Stone – geograph.

Stone is a growing town, census data recorded a population of 12,305 in 1991, 14,555 in 2001, and 16,385 in 2011. The local story is that the town was named after the pile of stones taken from the River Trent raised on the graves of the two princes, Ruffin and Wulfad, killed in AD 665 by their father, King Wulfhere of Mercia, because of their conversion to Christianity. More recent research points to older, though no less interesting nor tangible, possibilities regarding its name and founding. Around Stone lie several Romano British sites and it is not inconceivable that the stone remains of a bridge or milestone, perhaps continuing the Roman road from Rocester to Blyth Bridge and then potentially through Stone, is alluded to in the name.

Ptolemy 2nd century AD in Geographia. To the northwest of Stone lies one of their hill forts which overlooks the Trent and perhaps the salt production in the region. The church built over the stones marking the graves of Wulfad and Rufin in 670 lasted until the 9th century before being destroyed by invading Danes. Stone lay within the Pirehill hundred of Staffordshire named after nearby Pire Hill.

In 1251, Henry III granted Stone a market charter. Stone Urban District was an urban district. It was based on the Stone civil parish which equates to the town of Stone. Stone stands in the valley of the River Trent, and was an important stopping-off point for stagecoaches on one of the roads turnpiked in the 18th century. A directory for 1851 says that Stone was a very lively town, and a great thoroughfare for coaches, carriers and travellers.

To support the coaching trade Stone was a principal stopping point with many coaching inns to refresh both horses and travellers. Anchor, Red Lion and the Black Horse Inn. The River Trent, which runs through the town, had been used for cargo-carrying vessels since Roman times but further inland smaller boats could only be used. James Brindley, the canal builder, put forward the scheme to build what he called the Grand Trunk Canal to connect the two rivers, Mersey and Trent in 1766. Wilden Ferry to Stone was navigable — the length past Burton-on-Trent being completed in 1770. On completion of the Star Lock a grand opening was held, and during this opening a cannon was fired in celebration. However disaster struck and the cannon damaged the new lock, requiring a re-build.