HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 59 



through it to Lichfield, Burton, Uttoxeter, and Ashbourn. The 

 church is dedicated to St. Peter, and is a rectory in the deanery of 

 Tamworth and Tutbury, and Archdeaconry of Stafford. It is an 

 ancient gothic fabric of stone, with a square tower, and contains 

 many monuments. 



The principal hamlets belonging to this parish are Woodhouses, 

 about three-quarters of a mile eastward, near which is the mansion 

 of High-wall Hill, where there is a small manufactory of tape estab- 

 lished by Mr. Wright ; Bond-end, half a mile south ; Hadley-end, 

 about the same distance west ; opposite to which stands Longcroft ; 

 beyond which is Sale; and about three miles north-west from Yoxall 

 church, the hamlet of Horecross. 



Longcroft is an ancient mansion and park, originally granted 

 by charter to Roger de Yoxhall, clerk, in the first year of the reign 

 of Henry III. The house has still an appearance of antiquity, and 

 was formerly surrounded by a moat, over which was a stone bridge 

 in front. In 1796 the moat was filled up, the bridge removed, and 

 the mansion greatly improved. It is situated on an eminence which 

 commands an extensive view of Needwood Forest, and the opposite 

 country towards Lichfield. Several groups of full-grown firs and 

 other trees, amongst which is a remarkable old oak, shelter the 

 house from the north and east winds, and add greatly to the 

 picturesque beauty of the scene. Longcroft was purchased, in the 

 time of Queen Elizabeth, by Simon Arden, who, in the 18th year 

 of her reign, found one light horse, and paid to her Majesty 

 1. 6s. 8d. for his lands in Yoxall, then valued at o10.* 



Horecross is an ancient residence, three miles from Yoxall, on 

 the north-west. In the reign of Henry VIII. it was possessed by 

 the Welles, and the estate then consisted of 200 acres of arable 

 land, 200 of pasture, 40 of meadow, and 50 of wood. The site of 

 the ancient mansion is now occupied by a hunting seat, erected by 

 the present possessor, Lord Scarsdale. 



TATENHILL. This village is situated in a deep narrow valley 

 between two high hills, which gradually descend from the eastern 

 border of Needwood Forest. It is in the deanery of Tamworth, and 

 about three miles from Burton. This parish is extensive, com- 

 prising the manors of Calling-wood, Dunstall, Barton, Newbold, 

 and Blakenhall. The soil is a strong clay marl. The church is 

 situated on an eminence eastward of the village, and is a large 

 ancient stone edifice, with a tower. It is dedicated to St. Michael, 



* Shaw's History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, Vol. I. p. 102. 



