HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 61 



south-east side of the forest, half a mile west of the Roman road 

 called Ikenild-street, and the same distance from the Grand Trunk 

 Canal, four miles from Burton, and eight from Lichfield. 



The original name of this village was Berton, a Saxon word, sig- 

 nifying a farm-yard, with the usual barns and other buildings. In 

 Doomsday-book it is expressly mentioned as the property of the 

 Crown. " The King holds Bertune : Earl Algar formerly held it. 

 Here are three hides, with their appurtenances ; the arable laud is 

 18 carucates ; in demesne are two carucates, and two servants 

 and 17 villans, and eight bordars have nine carucates ; there are 20 

 acres of meadow ; a wood two miles in length and one in breadth j 

 and a mill of six shillings rent. At the time of Edward the Con- 

 fessor the whole was worth six pounds, and now seven pounds/' 



This manor was granted by the King to Henry de Ferrers. After- 

 wards it was for some time in the tenure of Walter de Somerville, 

 who gave it to William de Ferrer, Earl of Derby, in exchange for 

 Dunstall and Newbold. 



It continued in this family till it was forfeited by Robert, Earl of 

 Derby, who rebelled against Henry III. in 1263 ; in consequence of 

 which it was given to Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, the King's 

 youngest son, and continued with other estates in the Duchy of 

 Lancaster. It was forfeited to the Crown by Thomas, Earl of 

 Lancaster ; and Edward II. in the 19th year of his reign, leased 

 this manor for seven years to Philip de Somerville, at the rent of 

 55. per annum to be paid into the Exchequer. 



This manor continued in the Crown, in the right of the Duchy of 

 Lancaster, till the time of Charles I. who, in 1629, sold it with the 

 park to the city of London, in trustees' names ; and they soon after- 

 wards passed to Sir Edward Bromfield, Alderman of London. Dr. 

 Plott, in his map of Staffordshire, in 1682, gives the arms of Brom- 

 field, then living at Barton ; and Hurdman, who wrote in 1692, 

 thus describes the village : " Barton is a good country town ; hath 

 several gentlemen and freeholders in it. The present owner of it is 

 Charles Bromfield, Esq. who hath a copyhold court here. The most 

 remarkable thing is a very fine chapel, built by John Taylor, LL. D. 

 20 Henry VIII. this being the place of his nativity." From this 

 period it was possessed by several proprietors in succession : the 

 present owner is Eusebius Horton, Esq.* The soil of this parish 

 is generally light and gravelly. 



On the north side of the village stands Barton-hall, a good 

 * Shaw's History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, Vol. I. p. 113, 



