BTAVPORD6HIR& 



STAFFORDSHIRE. 



and Worosetenhir* CanaL The Coventry Canal, from 

 >awot in th. Trent and Mereey Canal at Fradley Heath 

 to Faaeley near Tamworth. 11 miles, belong* to this county. At 

 Kai'Uy it unite* with the Birmingham and Fagoley Canal, which 

 form a part of th* Birmingham Canal Navigation*, and of which only 

 amall part is in Staffordshire. In the northern part of the county 

 at the Caldon Canal, which U a branch of th* Trent and Mersey Canal, 

 extending from the main line at Hanley in the Potteries north-east- 

 ward to UM neighbourhood of Lack, to which town there i* a out; 

 and from thenoe *onth-ea*tward to Uttoxeter, in the valley of the 

 Dove. The Newcalle-undr-Lym* Canal is a short canal from the 

 Trent and Mersey Canal at Stoke-upoo-Trent to Newoastle-under- 

 l.y inc. There are several other abort canal* in the county. 



Tbe London and North-Wostem railway enters the county near 

 Ililiton. and runa throughout in a north-north-west direction, quitting 

 it a few mile* aouth of Crew*. The Shrewsbury and Birmingham and 

 one or two other abort connecting line* pas* from it in its progreas 

 through the county. Tbe Trent VslUy branch of the North- Western 

 railway enter* th* county near Tamworth, and passes in a north-west 

 direction to Stafford. It is continued from Colwioh through the 

 Pottery district to Congleton, by the North Staffordshire line. There 

 at* also aeveral branch railway*. 



The principal coach-road in the county is the parliamentary road 

 from London to Holyhead, which enters Staffordshire at Soho, near 

 Birmingham, and run* through Wedneibury, Bilston, and Wolver 

 hampton. a few miles beyond which it enters Shropshire. The Chester 

 and Holyhead road enter* the county at Tamworth, and run* by Lich- 

 field, Stafford, Eooleahall, and Knighton, into Shropshire. The London 

 Liverpool road, branching from this at Wolseley Bridge, runs 

 "(h Stone and Newcastle-under-Lyme into Cheshire. The rood 

 ndon by Derby to Manchester crosses the northern part of 

 nty through Leek. The road from Birmingham to Derby 

 i through Lichfield and Burton-upon-Trent. There ore numerous 

 minor roads. 



Cliftult, Soil, Agriculture. The air of this county is sharp in com- 

 parison with that of the counties situated to the south of it ; while 

 Seawbrdahir* is more subject to continued rains, which make the 

 crop* later and the harveat more precarious. The average quantity 

 of rain which falls in Staffordshire in the year is about 36 inches, 

 while in the neighbourhood of London the average fall is only about 

 21 inches. Tbe heavy soils consequently require thorough draining. 

 Tbe middle and southern portion* of the county are comparatively 

 flat, and have only gently undulating hills. Tbi* portion also contains 

 the most fertile lands, and U in the best state of cultivation. 



Of the entire area of the county about 150,000 acres are in roads, 

 watte*, and wood*. Tbe remainder i* productive either as arable 

 lend or pasture, the proportion of arable to pasture land being nearly 

 a* five to one. Along the banks of the rivers are rich and productive 

 meadows, which aro continually renovated by the deposition* of fine 

 and in flood* ; but sometime* they aro flooded at a time when the 

 grass ia At for the scythe or already cut, in which case* much loss is 



Than i* not much land in this county devoted to the grazing of 

 oattU, or to extensive dairies, but many fine beast* are fatted in stalls 

 am turnips, hay, and oil cake, chiefly for the sake of the manure. Tbe 

 hratd moat esteemed is that of the short-horns. Of sheep, every 

 *f**^j* * ** ** w '* h which is in any repute. The farm-horses in 

 Staffordshire are active and strong, and in general well kept. The 

 HtafcHshira nog of the old breed is coarser than the Berkshire or 

 Eawx, bat better pigs have been introduced. 



ZKwataM, TWiu, *. Staffordshire is divided into five hundreds, 

 a* follows : CutUeatone or Cuddleston, central and west ; Offelow or 

 ow, east and south-east ; Pyrehill or Pirehill, north-west and 

 iteal; Meiadon, and Totrnonslow, south, south-west, north, and 

 ; with the city of Lichfield and the boroughs of New- 

 (Wnnder Lynx and Stafford. It contains the county town and 

 wufh of 8r*rroD; the city of Lien FIELD; the old boroughs of 

 IR-LTME, and TAMWOBTH, and the new parliamentary 

 l!" t ^M AL * AU ''* nd W< "' V "HAJIPTOX; and the market- 

 TT"* HlU> Blvno *- BunsLK* (included in the boroueh 

 ' *?": u I ro "- TR lr rr . CHlADLit, Kcoleshall, Hanley (also 

 SLt'fi'i ^^ La yf ao > R *IT, STON,Tun- 

 2S*t2 ^2, f '' U lrri! J. <> WKDK.BURT. The towns 

 i *mall capitals are described under their respective titles : 







I^- .- I rwmwmu ! UJlll 01 J031 : 



if w !' T l ', tl V f * eoleaUetfceJ di^ct 8770, about 



tSFEz?'}* * m rket ^> w n. consisting chiefly of one 



J2 Ia^.J* hta<l .. wWl The parochial chapel occupies 



there are chapel* for We-leyan and Primitive Method- 



flcnte, and lUptint*; National and Infant schools; a 



l 

 from 



f*J> ""I tranch savings bank. The Inhabitants are 

 es, iron-works, glass-works, brick-kilns, iron- 

 " . ' ch * in ' * n<l "Polf-nwking establish- 

 kiln*. The market, which i* important, i* held on 



tfcw of the township 1427, about 7 miles N.W. liy 

 ~r the right bank of the river Sow. There i 



here a residence of the Bishop of Liohfield. Eooleahall contains many 

 well-built house*. In 1829, the chancel and north side of the church 

 were rebuilt, The Independent* have a chapel, and there are National 

 schools. The market is held on Friday, and there are four cattle 

 faint in the year. Tanning, malting, and shoeuiakiug are carried on. 



7/aa/ry, population of the town 25,309, i* near the centre of the 

 pottery district, about a mile from Stoke. It i* the largest market- 

 town In the district. The streets are wide, have a brick pavement 

 for foot passenger* on each side, and are lighted with gas. The market- 

 place is large and surrounded by spacious shops. The market-hall i* 

 a convenient building. The church is a commodious brick building, 

 with a tower 100 feet high. Tbe Wealeyan and New Connexion 

 Methodists, Independents, and Baptist* have chapels, and there are 

 National and British schools. There i* a large paper-mill. Tho 

 markets are on Wednesday and Saturday. 



Longnor, population of the chapelry 561, about 10 miles N.E. from 

 Leek, stands on the left bank of the river Manifold, near it* source. 

 The town possesses a neat stone chapel, with a lofty pinnacled tower ; 

 a chapel for Wealeyan Methodists ; and two schools. The market is 

 held on Tuesday, and there are eight fairs in the course of the year. 



Longton, population 15,149, forms with Lane End one town, about 

 1 4 mile* N. from Stafford. The town U irregularly laid out, but the 

 more modern portions are built with some degree of uniformity. 

 Gibraltar on the north and Dresden on the south are new towns or 

 suburbs. The earthenware and china manufactures are the chief 

 support of the place. Besides the parish church and St. John's 

 chapel, there are chapels for Wesleyan and New Connexion Methodists, 

 Independents, and other Dissenters, National schools, an athentcuni, 

 n literary institution, libraries, and savings bank*. Market* are held 

 on Wednesday and Saturday, and fairs at Easter and Whitsuntide. 



Rugdcy, population 3054, about 8 miles N.W. by N. from Lichfield, 

 near the north-eastern border of Cannock Chase, is irregularly laid 

 out, but clean and neat. The town-hall is a good building. There 

 are extensive gas-works. The church, a gothio edifice, was rebuilt in 

 1822. The tower and chancel of the old church still remain ; the 

 chancel is used for a school-room. There are chapels for Independent* 

 and Koman Catholics. The Grammar school, which in free to inhabit- 

 ants of Hugeley and Brereton, has an income from endowment of 

 270?. a year, with a house; it had 30 scholars in 1854. There aro 

 also Endowed, National, Infant, and Roman Catholic schools, and a 

 savings bank. There are iron-works in the town. Hopemaking, the 

 manufacture of sheet-iron and tin-plate, the hat manufacture, and the 

 making of agricultural implements employ some of the inhabitant*. 

 Tuesday is the market-day; four yearly fairs are held, one of which 

 is a large horse-fair, and another a large horse, cattle, and sheep fair. 

 Hagley Hall, the seat of the Hon. Robert Curzon, a fine old gothic 

 mansion,' stands in a spacious park near the town. 



Tunttall, or Tuntlalt Court, population of the township 9566, about 

 4 miles N. from Newcastle-under-Lyme, is situated on elevated ground. 

 There are here a market- and court-house ; a church ; chapels for 

 Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists; and National schools. The 

 market is held on Saturday. Earthenware and blue tiles are manu- 

 factured ; and there are corn-mills and chemical works. 



The following places formerly had markets, but they have been 

 discontinued : Daley, population of the parish 8S2, about 7 miles 

 W.N.W. from Newcastle-under-Lyme, is a well-built town, occupying 

 a cheerful situation. The parish church is a neat structure, with n 

 tower at the west end. The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and 

 there are National schools, partly endowed. In the vicinity aro con- 

 siderable market gardens. Fairs are held in April, July, and October. 

 Brewood, population of the parish 8565, is about 8 miles N.N.W. 

 from Wolverhampton, near the left bank of the river Penk. The 

 parish church ha? a fine spire; there are chapels for W.- 

 Methodist*, Independents, and Roman Catholics. The Qnmmar 

 school, which is free to the inhabitants of Brewood, has an income 

 of about 460J. a year. It bad 01 scholars in 1852. There are 

 National schools a Roman Catholic Free school, and a savings bank. 

 There was formerly a Benedictine nunnery at Brewood. Cannock, 

 population 2099, about 9 miles S.S.E. from Stafford, gives name to 

 Cannock Chase, which was formerly covered with oaks. Besides the 

 parish church, a neat stone building of mixed styles, there are cl 

 for Wealeyan Methodists and Independents. There are also National 

 schools. Edge-tools are manufactured. Tn'bury, population of the 

 parish 1798, about 10 miles E.S.E. from Uttoxeter, on the right bank 

 of the Dove. Tntbury is described in Domesday-book, in which it 

 is called Toteberie, as a borough with a market. The castle is also 

 there mentioned. A Benedictine, or Cluniac, monastery was founded 

 here soon after the Conquest. Robert de Ferrars, earl of l)i r!>y, 

 having joined the Earl of Leicester and the other insurgent barons 

 in the war against Henry III., lost his castle of Tutlmry, which was 

 taken by Prince Edward ; and, in consequence of his subsequent 

 second rebellion, forfeited to the king, by whom it was bestowed on 

 his son Edmund Crouchbock. It was subsequently inherited by John 

 of Gaunt, who rebuilt a great part of it, and lived here in ivat 

 splendour. It was one of the place* of confinement of Mary Queen 

 of Scots. In the great civil war it was hrld by tin- Itoy.ilitts, and 

 was not taken till the spring of 1646, soon after which it was iu great 

 part demolished. The ruins of the castle are on the brow of the 



