HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 71 



was married to Sir William Vernon, whose successor enjoyed pos- 

 session of this manor till the ninth year of the reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth, A. D. 1567, and left three daughters co-heiresses, of 

 which Margaret became the wife of Sir Thomas Stanley, Knight, 

 second son of the Earl of Derby, who in her right became seized 

 of Pipe Ridware. In 1606, Edward Stanley, Esq. of Tonge 

 Castle, sold this manor and lands, and also a fishery in the river 

 Trent, to John Chadwicke, of Hill Ridware, gent, for the sum of 

 eB7Q. 6s. 8d. In 1614, John Chadwicke gave this manor and 

 fishery to Henry Agarde, of King's Bromley, in exchange for cer- 

 tain lauds in Mavesyn Ridware, and a fishery in the Trent, between 

 Armitag-e and Handsacre. In 1677, John Whitehall, Esq. of 

 Sharpechffe, near Leek, purchased this manor and settled here. He 

 was succeeded by his son James Whitehall, Esq. who left two 

 daughters, co-heiresses, one of whom was married to the late Sir 

 Thomas Parker, Knight, and the other to Fisher Littleton, Esq. in 

 consequence of which this manor and estate, with other lands in the 

 Moorlands, were divided. 



The ancient manor-house of Pipe Ridware was situated atLinacre. 

 It was called Pipe-hall, and built in the year 1319. There are yet 

 some vestiges of a ancient moat, on the spot, with extensive ad- 

 joining orchards, along the extremity of which the principal road 

 to Lichfield formerly passed. 



After a succession of ages the old manor-house fell to decay, and 

 the present mansion was built on the bank of the river Trent by Mr. 

 Whitehall, the before-mentioned purchaser of the estate. If was 

 some years ago the habitation of the Rev. John Arden, and has 

 since been repaired, rough-cast, and whitewashed, which has de* 

 stroyed its antique and picturesque appearance. 



The village of Pipe Ridware is but small, with few inhabitants. 

 The extent of the whole parish is only about 700 acres; the soil in 

 some parts of a cold and stiff nature, and in others mixed with 

 gravel and sand. 



The church, dedicated to St. James, i& a very ancient struc- 

 ture ; it contains monuments of the Whitehall family; and a 

 curious circular font, about two feet and a half in diameter, enr 

 sculptured with circles interlaced. The cupola contains two bells, 

 and the church-yard, about an acre in extent, is very dry, and 

 pleasantly situated. 



Mavesyn Ridware. This manor is bounded on the south by the 

 southern bank of the Trent ; on the east by Hamstall Ridware ; on 



