HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 79 



land is five carucates. Robert holds it." Hubert de Handsacre 

 lived^in the reign of Henry I. and was lord of Handsacre. It con- 

 tinued in the possession of this family till 1452, when it devolved 

 by marriage to other families. 



Near the turnpike-road, a little southward of the village of 

 Handsacre, stands some remains of the ancient manor-house, sur- 

 rounded by a moat. The structure was originally large, raised on a 

 foundation of stone, and what is termed by antiquaries " half tim- 

 bered," exhibiting many gable ends, with heavy stacks of chimneys. 



A farm on the opposite side of the road, is said to have been 

 Handsacre-park ; and a small cottage by the side of the old road, 

 is reported to have been the Park-lodge. 



About two hundred yards north from the hall is Church Croft, 

 nearly two acres ; and in the adjoining Mill-croft there is an oblong 

 square, 187 yards long by ten or eleven wide, evidently the site of 

 some building pointing east and west. On this spot some sacred 

 edifice formerly stood, from which the adjacent church croft tool; 

 its name. 



Handsacre Mill stood on Longdon brook, about 200 yards north- 

 west from the hall, and gave name to the present Mill-close, where 

 the foundations of the building, with one of the millstones and a 

 part of the wheel, still remain. 



VerdwCs Manor was a part of Handsacre, which formerly belonged 

 to the ancient family of Verdon, but was granted in 1318 by Sir 

 Robert de Verdun, to Robert, son of Sir Henry Mauveysy n, Knight, 

 and Margaret his wife. 



LONGDON. This large village is situated on the turnpike-road 

 between Lichfield and Stafford; four miles .from the former, and 

 twelve from the latter, in the deanery of Tamworth. It is remark- 

 able for its great length, and consists of a number of scattered 

 houses. This gave rise to the couplet, 



" The stoutest beggar that goes by the way, 



. Cannot beg through Long' on a summer's day." 



This village was formerly remarkable for the number of gentle- 

 men's seats in its vicinity, no less than seven families of rank and 

 opulence having formerly made this place their residence. The 

 manor of Longdon is of great extent. It belonged to the church 

 in the time of the Saxons, and in the 20th of William the Conqueror, 

 A. D. 1086, to the Bishop of Chester. 



In the time of Henry II. Longdon was part of the forest of Can- 

 nock, and given by that King- to the church of St. Chadde, and 



