PREFACE 



STAFFORDSHIRE has from an early date attracted the attention 

 of the topographer. Jn 1593 Sampson Erdeswicke began his 

 View and Survey of Staffordshire, which he left unfinished at his 

 death in 1603. What became of the original manuscript of 

 his work is unknown, but several copies exist, and although they were 

 referred to by subsequent writers, none of them was printed till 1717 

 when Curll issued the Survey, together with a letter written in 1669 

 ' from Sir Simon Degge, setting out the condition of the county at that 

 date. The next to interest himself in the county was Robert Plot, who 

 settled in Oxford for a time after taking his degree, and in 1677 

 published The Natural History of Oxfordshire. Upon the reputation he 

 acquired from this volume he was invited by Walter Chetwynd of 

 Ingestry to undertake a similar work for Staffordshire, and in 1686 The 

 Natural History of Staffordshire was issued. Under the term natural 

 history Plot included the archaeological remains of the county, and it is 

 for the record of these that his work is most valuable. In the unfinished 

 History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, published in 1798, the Rev. Steb- 

 bing Shaw made use of Erdeswicke's collections, and added much from 

 the manuscript sources at the British Museum and elsewhere. He only 

 completed his history up to the first part of the second volume and died 

 in 1802. William Pitt published A Topographical History of Staffordshire 

 in 1817, which is largely based on the work of the earlier historians of 

 the county, particularly that of Robert Plot. The history of Stafford- 

 shire, however, will always be associated with the name of William Salt, 

 who, although not claiming to be an historian, yet collected the material 

 upon which all future work on the topography of the county must be 

 largely based. Shortly after his death in 1863 his collections were 

 housed at Stafford and form a remarkable memorial of his industry. 

 The work which he began is being continued and expanded by ' The 

 William Salt Archaeological Society,' whose volumes have added much 

 valuable material for the history of the county. 



The Editor has to regret that Professor Haverfield was unable to 

 undertake the article on the Roman Remains of the county owing to 

 the pressure of other engagements. The Editor, however, wishes to 

 express his thanks to Professor Haverfield for reading the proofs of this 

 article and to Mr. Charles Lynam, F.S.A., for the information and great 

 assistance afforded on the same subject. He also desires to acknowledge 

 his indebtedness to Mr. Josiah Wedgwood, M.P., for reading some of 

 the proofs and for advice generally on the volume, and to Mr. E. 

 Howarth and the Society of Antiquaries for illustrations. 



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