36 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



or marly loam, more or less harsh or friable, including Enville, 

 Bobbington, and Over Areley, (on the Severn.) Here the hills are 

 often rocky, with small fragments upon and near the surface, in 

 some parts quartzose, in others gritty : the surface-soil changes 

 in colour from red to grey, with all the shades between : the cul- 

 tivation the same as on other strong lands. Enville is famous for 

 black cherries, and the Wake held here is called Cherry Wake. 

 The pleasure-grounds of Enville (the magnificent seat of the Earl 

 of Stamford and Warrington) are extensive, and well-stocked with 

 timber trees and underwood of every description, amongst which 

 the oak preponderates in great profusion, and is of kindly and vigor- 

 ous growth : these grounds command some beautiful and extensive 

 prospects. Over Areley was formerly famous for fruit, especially 

 apples, but the orchards have been suffered to decline : some re- 

 cent attempts have been made towards restoring them, and the soil 

 and aspect are well adapted for the purpose. 



The North part of the county, called the Moorlands, is situated 

 to the north and north-east of a line conceived to be drawn from 

 Uttoxeter to Newcastle-under-Lyme, and includes about one-sixth 

 of the county : it is bounded on the east by the Dove, which sepa- 

 rates it from Derbyshire, as the Dane parts it from Cheshire. The 

 face of this portion of the county is various, but in general hilly, 

 with large tracts of uncultivated land. The first market-town 

 from Uttoxeter is Cheadle, situate in a pleasant vale of good mixed 

 soil, but surrounded by large and barren hills, composed of huge 

 heaps of sterile gravel. Cheadle-park, now in cultivation, abounds 

 in mines of coal of great value ; but the hills are generally on an 

 understratum of sand or sandy rock, and covered with heath 

 (erica vulgaris,) broom, whortle-berries, mountain carex's, cinque- 

 foils, cestus's, matt grass, and knap weeds, all of diminutive growth : 

 these barren wastes are very extensive. 



The commons or wastes between Cheadle and Oakamoor, called 

 High Shutt, Ranger, and Alveton-common, consist of an immense 

 number of rude heaps of gravel, with an understratum of soft sandy 

 rock, thrown together without order or form, or rather into every 

 form that can be conceived.* 



A little to the north of Oakamoor, so called from being covered 

 with dwarf oaks, the limestone country begins : it extends up Dove- 

 dale to near Longnor, and includes, from the Dove to Morredge, 



* This barren tract, impracticable to the plough, might be improved into 

 \voodland and plantation, and some open spots of the most favourable aspects 



