spath
{{short description|Village in Staffordshire, England}}
{{other uses|Spath (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|official_name= Spath
|coordinates = {{coord|52.915|-1.873|display=inline,title}}
|population =
|civil_parish = Uttoxeter Rural
|shire_district= East Staffordshire
|shire_county = Staffordshire
|region= West Midlands
|constituency_westminster= Burton and Uttoxeter
|post_town= UTTOXETER
|postcode_district = ST14
|postcode_area= ST
|dial_code= 01889
|os_grid_reference= SK085352
}}
Spath is a small village located {{Convert|0.3|mi|km}} north of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England. The village is on the River Tean and is separated from Uttoxeter by the A50 road.
History
In UK railway history, Spath was on the now disused Churnet Valley Line, owned and operated by North Staffordshire Railway. The village is notable as the site of the first automatic half barrier crossing in the United Kingdom, which came into operation on 5 February 1961.{{cite journal | journal=Practical Motorist | volume=7 | issue=81 | title=News Summary: Automatic 'Gates' | quote=Britain's first automatically operated level crossing barriers are now in operation at Spath Level Crossing near Uttoxeter. The barriers, electronically operated by an approaching train, consist of poles fixed each side of the road only, and are conspicuously marked with red and white bands. Additional warning is given by flashing red lights & gongs. | pages=957 |date=May 1961}} Unnamed 1961 publication quoted at {{cite web |title=First BR Automatic Level Crossing Barriers |url=http://www.railblue.com/pages/Related%20Rail%20Blue%20Info/first_b.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324161647/http://www.railblue.com/pages/Related%20Rail%20Blue%20Info/first_b.htm |archivedate=2016-03-24 |publisher=Rail Blue}}{{cite web |url=http://derby-signalling.org.uk/Spath.htm |title=Spath Level Crossing, the First Automatic Level Crossing in Britain: The Behind the Scenes Story of its Development |website=Derby Signalling History}} The railway closed four years later and the road which crossed it via the automatic crossing is now gated. There is no remaining visible sign of the crossing.
Spath was the original home of the Stevensons of Uttoxeter bus company.
Notes
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in Staffordshire
Category:Staffordshire Moorlands
{{Staffordshire-geo-stub}}