HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 73 



in this county, and John Chadwicke, Esq. of Wade-lane House, in 

 Mavesyn Ridware. Mr. Chadwicke, in right of his wife, became 

 possessed of the ancient manor-house, with five parts in eight of the 

 manor, and the whole of the fishery. In 1600 he became sole lord 

 of Pipe Ridware, with lands, and the fishery of the Trent down to 

 King's Bromley, by purchase. In 1615, he gave the manor of Pipe 

 Ridware to Henry Agarde, Esq. of King's Bromley, in exchange for 

 lands in Mavesyn Ridware, and a fishery in the Trent, within Armit- 

 age and Handsacre, above High-bridge, so that he extended his 

 right to both sides of the river. 



Mavesyn Ridware has continued in the possession of the family 

 of Chadwicke for upwards of two centuries. The parish is of con- 

 siderable extent, and contains 1550 acres of arable land, 405 of 

 meadow, and 375 of pasture. Charles Chadwicke, Esq. is the 

 present owner. 



The road from Lichfield to Uttoxeter extends through the whole 

 length of this parish, High-bridge on the Trent being nearly five 

 miles from the former, and Blythford-bridge, eight miles from the 

 latter. The face of the country is agreeably diversified with an 

 intermixture of corn-fields and pastures, well fenced with flourishing 

 hedges of thorn, and sufficiently thickened with forest trees. The 

 soil towards the north and north-west is an intermixture of marl 

 and clay ; about the middle of the parish it becomes loamy and 

 light ; and ends towards the south in a vale of sound light land, 

 bounded by open meadows, enriched by the inundations of the Trent. 



The crops of wheat and barley are generally excellent ; and a 

 variety of oats, the white Poland being sometimes cut in July. 



The village of Mavesyn Ridware is small, consisting of the 

 manor-house, church, and parsonage, two farm-houses, and eight 

 cottages. 



The manor-house is situated between the church and the Trent. 

 A gatehouse of stone, 87 feet in length, is all that remains of the 

 ancient mansion. The gateway faces the church : over it there is 

 a large room, which, tradition says, has been an oratory. The walls 

 above the gateway on the north side, and from the ground on every 

 other side, are of brick. On the spot where once stood the antique 

 and magnificent abode of the Mavesyns and the Cawardens, now 

 stands a small house, built in 1718 by Charles Chadwicke, Esq. as 

 a convenient box, pleasantly situated for a summer residence. 



This beautiful part of the vale of Trent presented numerous 

 attractions to the admirer of rural amusements. Needwood Forest 



K 



