78 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Trent, opposite Maveyn- Rid^ware. It, is about two miles east of 

 Rugeley, and five north-west of Lichfield. The parish is divided 

 into two hamlets, Handsaere and Armitage. 



Armitage was formerly called Hermitage, from a tradition that a 

 hermit resided in a sequestered spot between the church and the 

 river Trent. The hamlet and manor. of Armitage contains the 

 church, and gives name to the parish, of which it forms about three^- 

 fifths. It is said to have been formerly " famous for tobacco*pipes 

 made from clay found at Stile Cop."* 



When hearth-money was collected in this county, in 1660, the 

 constable wick of Handsaere. and Armitage paid for 68 hearths 

 ^6. 16s. 



At the contested election for the county, in 1747, nine free* 

 holders voted from this parish. 



The church, which is dedicated to. St, John the Baptist, is situ* 

 ated on a dry, pleasant, rocky eminence, which commands a delight- 

 ful prospect of the vale of Trent northward, while to the east are 

 visible the lofty hills of Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire. This 

 church is a most beautiful and picturesque object, built of stone, 

 very ancient, . and somewhat ruinous in its external and internal 

 appearance, u 



The steeple is fourteen feet square, and forty-three feet high. It 

 contains three bells, with the following inscriptions : 



1st. " Gloria in excelsis Deo, 1627." 



2d. " Mr. Joseph Lycet, churchwarden, 1627 j Mr. William Bryan." 



3d. " I to the church the living call, 



And to the grave do summon all, 1727." 



Hawksyard was an ancient manor within Armitage, held under 

 Handsacre. The mansion was the seat of gentlemen for several 

 ages, but it is not known to a certainty who were the successive 

 possessors. It does not appear at what period the family of Rugeley 

 first became lords of Hawksyard. Hawksyard-hail stood about 

 three furlongs west from Armitage 'church, in a low swampy situ- 

 ation, not far from the Trent. 



Hawkskerd Park is now called Armitage Park, which is adorned 

 with a neat hunting-seat, built in the rustic style, and surrounded 

 by a beautiful and picturesque domain, to which the Grand Trunk 

 Canal is no inconsiderable embellishment. " Thomas Lister, Esq. 

 is the present possessor. 



Handsacre, another hamlet in the parish of Armitage, is thus 

 mentioned in the Conqueror's survey. " Hadsacre : the arable 

 * Plot's Staffordshire, p. 121. 



