HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 99 



through the fields on the south-east side of the city are very 

 pleasant, to the summit of that celebrated mount Borrowcop Hill, 

 of undoubted Saxon origin, and described by most antiquaries as a 

 tumulus, and the site of a Saxon fort. A small edifice, with seats, 

 has been erected by subscription on the top of this hill ; and from 

 this lofty eminence may be seen, in a clear day, many delightful 

 prospects of the circumjacent country, which presents the diversified 

 scenery of magnificent villas, neat farm-houses, cheerful villages, 

 fertile and highly-cultivated hills and valleys, and all the beauties 

 of the English landscape, where 



" Town and village, dome and farm, 

 Each gives to each a double charm."' 



Borrowcop-hill also commands a full view of the race-ground on 

 Whittington Heath, and the stand erected for the accommodation 

 of the nobility and gentry who visit Lichfield races annually in the 

 month of September. Indeed the prospect is so extensive, varied, 

 and picturesque, as to excite the admiration of every visitor, who 

 will be amply repaid for the toil of ascending this eminence, by a 

 view from its summit of a considerable part of the counties of War- 

 wick, Salop, Stafford, Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester ; the 

 churches of Burton, Seckington, Lullington, Clifton-Camville, 

 Whittington, Shenstone, and Lichfield, especially that superla- 

 tively grand object in the fore-ground, the magnificent Cathedral, 

 while the south-west view of St. Michael's on the opposite emi- 

 nence, the tower of St. Chad's, and the turret of St. Mary's, har- 

 monize in presenting a highly-picturesque view of the city and its 

 environs. 



The parish of St. Chadd, or as it is commonly called Stow, com- 

 prises a considerable part of the north-east division of Lichfield and 

 its suburbs, and several adjacent hamlets. The church is a very 

 ancient fabric of stone : it is dedicated to St. Chadd. It derived 

 its name from the circumstance of St. Chadd having had his cell 

 here in the year 653. 



In a small garden near this church is St. Chadd's Well, where 

 many Popish devotees have been known to resort. Leland, in, his 

 Itinerary, mentions, " Stowe Church, in the east end of the towne, 

 where is St. Chadd's well, a spring of pure water, where is seen a 

 stone in the bottom of it, on which, some saye, St. Chadd was 

 wont naked to stand in the water, and praye. At this stone St. 

 Chadd had his oratory in the tyrae of Wulphar, King of the 

 Merehet." 



