144 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



erown in bread and butter ; or if meat, not above the size of a 

 pigeon's leg at most. She drinks neither wine, ale, or beer, but 

 only water or milk, or both mixed ; and of either of these scarce a 

 spoonful in a day. And yet she is a maiden of a fresh complexion, 

 and healthy enough, very piously disposed, and of the Church of 

 England, and therefore the less likely to put a trick upon the 

 world ; besides, it is very well known to many worthy persons with 

 whom she has lived, that any great quantities, or different liquors, 

 have always made her sick/' 



When hearth-money was collected, in the year 1660, Wigginton 

 paid for 114 hearths, oll. Os. 8d. 



In 1811, the population returns, for Wall, Weeford, and Wig- 

 ginton, were : 438 males, 507 females ; total 945. 



The Chapel is a small structure of brick, where divine service 

 is performed once a fortnight. 



Comberford, the ancient seat and manor of the Comberfords, is 

 in a low situation on the east bank of the river Tame, and on the 

 left hand of the turnpike-road, midway between Tamworth and 

 Elford. The manor and estate were lately the property of the 

 Marquis of Donegal. 



Colon, a small hamlet in Tamworth parish, is situated near to 

 Hopwas-bridge. 



Hopwas is situated on the west bank of the river Tame. In 

 Domesday-book it is thus recorded : " The King holds Opewas ; 

 there are three hides; the arable land is six carucates. In 

 demesne there is a mill of thirteen shillings and four-pence rent ; 

 and eleven villans and two bordars employ five ploughs. Here are 

 thirty acres of meadow, a wood six furlongs in length and three in 

 breadth. The whole was valued aforetime and then at 40s." 

 Hopwas is a small hamlet situated at the bottom of a hill, the 

 most remarkable object on which is a house on the summit, envi- 

 roned by a wood called Hopwas Hayes. The turnpike-road from 

 Lichfield to Tamworth passes through Hopwas ; and in an opposite 

 direction, the Birmingham and Fazeley canal passes through it, to 

 join the Grand Trunk at Fradley-heath. The old stone-bridge, of 

 sixteen arches, over the Tame at Hopwas, was washed down by the 

 memorable flood in February, 1795, and was again repaired at con- 

 siderable expence by the county. 



Dunstal is a good old farm, situated on the west side of the 

 Tame, between Hopwas and Fazeley. It belongs to the Levett 

 family, of Lichfield. 



