eei 



STAFFORDSHIRE. 



STAFFORDSHIRE. 



hill on which the town stands, and are sufficient to show its former 

 magnitude. The church, which is the nave of a much larger building, 

 is a very interesting specimen of Norman ecclesiastical architecture. 

 The Independents and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have 

 chapels; and there are Free and Infant schools. Some cotton-spinning 

 Is carried on. Extensive glass-works give considerable employment. 

 In 1831, about 100,000 small ilver coins were found in the bed of 

 the river Dove near Tutbury. 



The following are some of the more important villages : 

 Abbott BromUy, population 1563, about 13 miles E. by S. from 

 Stafford, consists chiefly of one long straggling street, containing 

 several neat houses. The parish church has been much modernised, 

 but retains a Norman doorway. The Independents have a chapel, 

 and there are National and Free schools. Three fairs are held annually 

 for cattle. Aldridge, population of the township 1173, about 4 miles 

 N.E. from Walsall, hag some well-built houses. The church, which 

 has been recently repaired, has a good square tower. The Grammar 

 school, founded in 1718, has an income from endowment of 130Z. a 

 year, and had CO scholars in 1853, all free. There are also National 

 and Free schools. ALSTONFISLD. Alton, or Alveton, population of 

 the township 1162, finely situated near the right bank of the Churnet, 

 about 4 miles E. by 8. from Cheadle, is a neat village, containing some 

 good houses. The parish; church, an ancient edifice of stone, was 

 repaired and partly rebuilt in 1830. There are chapels for Wealeyan 

 and Primitive Methodists, Independents, and Roman Catholics; also 

 National schools. Alton Castle, a maaaive structure of gothic character, 

 recently erected on the site of the former castle ; St. John's Hospital ; 

 a mechanics institute; and an observatory , are among the objects 

 requiring notice. Alton Towers, the magnificent seat of the Earl of 

 Shrewsbury, about a mile from Alton, on the opposite side of the 

 Churnet, bos been considerably altered and added to during the 

 last few yean. A Roman Catholic chapel, monastery, and schools 

 were erected under the direction of the late Mr. A. W. Pugin. 

 Amltlccote, population of the hamlet 1623, on the Worcestershire 

 border, forms part of the parish of Old Swinford, the rest of which 

 ii in Worcestershire. Amblecote being in the iron and hardware 

 district, its population is chiefly occupied in the various branches of 

 the iron manufacture. Aston, population included in that of Stone 

 parish, about 2 miles S.S.E. from Stone, on the right bank of the 

 river Trent, has a neat district church, a Roman Catholic church, and 

 a district school. Aston Hall is occupied by a community of the 

 Roman Catholic Order of the Paasioniats, who also conduct a school 

 for boys. Audlty, population of the township 1080, about 5 miles 

 N.W. from Newcastle-under-Lyme ; it possesses an ancient church of 

 decorated character, with a maaaive pinnacled tower; the chancel was 

 rebuilt a few years back. The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel 

 and schools, and there are National schools. The Free Grammar 

 school, founded in 1610, has an income from endowment of 1201. a 

 year, and had 54 scholars in 1854. Coal and iron-stone are extensively 

 worked in the neighbourhood. Barlatton, population 617, about 3 

 miles N. by W. from Stone, is situated on elevated ground, near the 

 left bonk of the river Trent, and on the line of the Grand Trunk 

 Canal. The pariah church is a modern brick edifice, except the 

 tower, which is old, and constructed of stone. Near the church is 

 Barlaston Hall, an elegant mansion. A school for boys and girls is 

 supported by the Duke of Sutherland. Sartoit-under-Xeedaood, 

 population of the township 1561, about 9 miles N.N.E. from Lich- 

 field, has a chapel of ease, a stone edifice of Norman date, with a 

 large square tower ; chapels for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists ; 

 and National and Free schools. Biddalph, population 2683, about 7 

 miles N. from Burslem, at the foot of the Mole Cop Hills, haa an 

 ancient parish church ; a chapel of ease, in the early English style ; 

 chapels for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists; and a Free school 

 In the vicinity are extensive collieries, quarries, a silk-mill, and a 

 manufactory of spades and shovel*. There are here the vestiges of a 

 stone circle, called the Undertones, Blojcwtch, population 4477, about 

 S miles N.X.W. from Walsall, has a church, chapels for Wesleyan 

 and Primitive Methodists, and Roman Catholics ; and National schools. 

 There are coal- and iron-mines, flour-mills, lime-works, and manufactures 

 of awl-blades, bridle-bits, Ac. Dartaiton, population 10,590, about 2 

 miles S. W. from Walsall, has in its vicinity coal-pita and iron-mines, 

 which, with stone-quarries and various branches of the hardware 

 manufacture, employ a large proportion of the population. The parish 

 church is a brick building of the 16th century. There are chapels 

 for Wesleyan and Primitive Mcthodiata and Independent, also National 

 school*. A branch of the Birmingham Canal navigation passes near 

 the village, and is carried over the Bescot Brook, at a height of 

 120 feet, by a handsome aqueduct bridge of two lofty arches. 

 Over one part of the aqueduct is a viaduct for the Bentley-road. 

 Dilkornf, population of the township 823, about 3 miles N.W. from 

 Cheadle, has an ancient church, partly rebuilt in 1819, and a chapel 

 for Wesleyan Methodists. The Free Grammar school, which has an 

 income of about 2602. a year, had 84 scholars in 1854. Oraytun 

 Battett, population 408, is about 9 miles S.E. from Lichtield. The 

 polish church is a plain stone building with a square tower. There is 

 a Free school. Drayton Manor, the seat of Sir Robert Peel, a mansion 

 in the Elizabethan style, erected from designs by Sir Robert Smirke, 

 is situated in an extensive and well-wooded park, about a mile north 



from the village. Ellastone, population 1312, about 7 miles E. from 

 Cheadle, has a handsome gothic church, situated on elevated ground, 

 near the village ; chapels for Wesleyau and Primitive Methodists, and 

 National schools. Etruria, population 2306, is about 2 miles S.W. 

 from Stoke. The church is a new stone building with a spire. The 

 Wesleyan and New Connexion Methodists have chapels, and there are 

 National and Infant schools. There are large gas-works, iron-works, 

 and an extensive steam-engine factory. At Etruria is the celebrated 

 porcelain manufactory founded by Josiah Wedgwood, who also built 

 the village. Pazeley, population 1634, is situated on the river Tame, 

 which is here crossed by a neat bridge. On the banks of the Fozeley 

 Canal are extensive wharfs. Tape and oval laces are manufactured, 

 and there is a mill for cotton spinning and doubling. The chapel of 

 ease, a small neat building, was erected and endowed by the first Sir 

 Robert Peel ; the Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and there are 

 National and Infant schools. Monthly fairs for sheep and cattle, and 

 a yearly feast, are held. Gnotall, population 2673, about 7 miles W. 

 by S. from Stafford, has a commodious church ; a chapel for Wesleyan 

 Methodists; and a Free school. Malting is carried on, and there arc 

 flour-mills, ffarborne, population of the parish, exclusive of Smeth- 

 wick township, 2350, about 3 miles S.W. from Birmingham, on a 

 narrow outlying slip of the county, contains many respectable houses, 

 the residences of Birmingham manufacturers. The church, which is 

 of stone, is an ancient structure, but has been much altered. The 

 Baptist and Wesleyan Methodists have places of worship. There arc 

 National and Infant schools, partly endowed ; a Wesleyau school ; and 

 a library. In the vicinity are numerous market-gardens. JIandswortft, 

 population 7047, about 2 miles N.W. from Birmingham, has a parish 

 church, which, except the tower, is modern. In the church are monu- 

 ments to James Watt and Matthew Boulton, the eminent engineers 

 and manufacturers of Soho. There are chapels for Wesleyan Method- 

 ists and Independents ; also National and Infant schools. Iron- and 

 coal-mines employ a considerable number of the inhabitants. Xinfare, 

 or Kinver, population 2872, about 4 miles W. by S. from Stourbridge, 

 has a church, partly of Norman date. Tho Wesleyan Methodiets hnve 

 a chapel The Free Grammar school has an income from endowment 

 of about 250f. a year, and had 36 scholars in 1854. Kinfare was at 

 one time a borough and market-town ; fairs are held for cattle, sheep, 

 and pigs, in February, May, and December. Bar-, rod-, and sheet- 

 iron are manufactured. Kingttey, population of the township 890, is 

 about 3 miles N. from Cheadle. The church is an ancient gothiu 

 structure, with a tower. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have 

 chapels, and there are endowed National schools. Cloukmakiug employs 

 some of the inhabitants. In the vicinity ore flour-mills. Leigh, popu- 

 lation of the township 965, about 5 miles W.N.W. from Uttoxeter, is 

 situated in a rich grazing district, on the banks of the river BIythe. 

 The church, a handsome cruciform edifice, with a battlemeuted tower 

 rising from the intersection, was rebuilt, except the tower, in 1846. 

 There is an endowed Free school. Lonyilon, population 1148, about 

 4 miles N.W. from Lichfield, is irregularly built and spread over a 

 considerable space. The parish church is a handsome stone building 

 of mixed Norman and pointed styles. The Wesleyau Methodists and 

 Independents have chapels, and there are parochial and Infant schools. 

 Shoemaking employs a considerable number of hands. Molting and 

 brickmaking are carried on. Beaudesurt, the seat of the Marquis of 

 Anglesey, stands in a spacious park about a mile west from the village. 

 Jfadcley, population 1423, about 5 miles W. by S. from Newcastle- 

 under-Lyme; the parish church is of Norman character. The 

 Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and there ore endowed schools. 

 Nail-making and machine-making are carried on. Pattiny/iam, popu- 

 lation y89, is about 6 miles W. from Wolverhamptou. The chaucel 

 of the parish church is of early English character, other parts are of 

 later date : a double piscina, sedilio, and aumbryes were lately disco- 

 vered. There is a National school. In the vicinity are market-gardens. 

 A cattle fair is held on the last Tuesday of April Rowley Reyi&, popu- 

 lation 14,249, about 8 miles W. from Birmingham, is dependent oil 

 the iron manufacture, which is carried on extensively in various 

 departments. The British iron-works at Congreaves employ numerous 

 workmen. The old pariah church is at Rowley village; the Wesleyau 

 and Primitive Methodists and Baptists have places of worship; there 

 are National schools, and the British Iron Company's schools at Reddal 

 Hill There are extensive coal- and iron-mines ; and clay is found of 

 a kind particularly suitable for the construction of furnaces. Chains, 

 traces, gun-barrels, jews'-harps, gas-tubing, and agricultural imple- 

 ments are manufactured. Rmhall, population 1946, about 2 miles 

 N.N.E. from Walsall, has an old church, which has been much altered 

 and modernised. There ore National schools. Malting and brick- 

 making are carried on. There are lime-works in the vicinity. Sandua, 

 population 556, about 5 miles N.E. by N. from Stafford, has a church 

 of early English character, standing on a rocky eminence, a short 

 distance east from the village. Sandon Hall, the seat of the Earl 

 of Hiirrowby, was burned down in June 1848. A monument to 

 William Pitt stands on a hill in Sandon Park, and iu another part of 

 the park is a gothic temple in memory of the Right Hon. Spencer 

 Percival The pork is open to the public. National schools are 

 supported by the Earl of Harrowby. Sedyley, population 29,447, 

 about 3 miles N.W. from Dudley, is situated in a hilly district which 

 abounds in coal, ironstone, and lime. The manufacture of nails, locks 



