HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 145 



Biterscote is another small hamlet, in the parish of Tamworth. 



Bonehill is another small hamlet, which has passed, with Fazeley 

 and Drayton manor, from the late Marquis of Bath, to Peel, Wilkes, 

 &c. Bonehill is now remarkable for the cotton-factory of Sir 

 Robert Peel and Co. and a neat modern mansion, the residence of 

 the present minister of Tamworth. 



Fazeley is remarkable for nothing so much in antiquity as being 

 the termination of a very spacious and beautiful part of the Roman 

 street, or Watling-street-road, where it leaves this county, in its 

 way through Warwickshire to London. 



On the fine stream of Tame, which runs through this village, stands 

 an ancient corn-rmill, and the large cotton-mills of Sir Robert Peel 

 and Co. who accidentally, in digging for other purposes, discovered 

 a large spring of the purest water, which, upon analyzation, was 

 found to be of a much superior quality to any before known in 

 Fazeley or its neighbourhood. This spring-water has been conveyed 

 in pipes to the works, where it has been used for the purposes of 

 bleaching, printing, &c. and has contributed much to the prosperity 

 of the establishment. Several large factories, and numerous tene- 

 ments for the accommodation of the workmen and their families, 

 have been erected at Fazeley, and a very considerable increase of 

 population has kept pace with the success of the manufacturers. 

 The facility of inland navigation from this village to different parts 

 of England, by the canal from Birmingham, which divides into two 

 branches, one uniting with the Trent and Mersey, and the other 

 extending to Coventry and Oxford, has greatly contributed to the 

 prosperity of the place. 



According to the population returns in 1811, Fazeley contained 

 508 males, and 657 females : total, 1165. 



WALSALL. 



This ancient borough is pleasantly situated on a branch of the 

 river Tame. The town gradually rises from the eastern bank of 

 the brook, and stands on the side of an eminence or cliff of lime- 

 stone, on the summit of which the church is built : Walsall is con- 

 sidered the second market-town in the county. The government 

 is vested in a mayor, recorder, twenty-four aldermen, a town-clerk, 

 two Serjeants at mace, and a beadle. 



The mayor, with the senior alderman, and late mayor, are in the 

 commission of the peace, and hold a Court of Quarter Sessions, and 

 award judgment in ca^es of petty larceny and similar offences. 



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