HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 149 



side of the chancel there still remains the aperture of a confessi- 

 onary, and vase for holy water. It is an ancient and mutilated 

 fabric of rough stone in the pointed style of architecture, and con- 

 tains monuments of the Leighs and other families. The steeple 

 contains five bells. In the south part of the cemetery stands the 

 base of an ancient cross. According to the population returns in 

 1811, there were 324 males and 289 females, making the total 

 inhabitants of Rushall amount to 613. 



The Leigh family, or their successors, are lords of the manor, 

 and patrons of the church. 



DARLASTON is situated three miles south-west of Walsall, 

 four east-south-east of Wolverhampton, and twenty from Stafford. 

 The parish is about two miles long, and one and a quarter wide. 

 It is populous, and the manufactures carried on by the inhabitants 

 are principally of gun-locks, stirrups, buckles, and nails. A consi- 

 derable number of men are employed as miners, and a small pro- 

 portion in agriculture. The Birmingham canal crosses the parish 

 of Darlaston, and is continued to Walsall. According to the popu- 

 lation returns in 1811, the inhabitants in this parish were: 2622 

 males; 2259 females : total 4881. 



The parish contains about 800 acres, of which only about 30 

 acres are meadow, and the rest arable and pasture. It abounds 

 with coal and iron-stone. The coal at one of the mines is seven 

 yards thick, and the iron-stone, which is found under the coal, is 

 three-quarters of a yard thick. The mines are damp, and the 

 miners are subject to asthmatic complaints, few of them living to 

 70 years of age. The parish abounds with excellent springs, and 

 abundance of clay, which is made into bricks and tiles. 



Darlaston Church is an oblong brick edifice, re-built in 1721 : the 

 tower was built in 1606, by Thomas Pye, an author of some repute. 

 The chancel contains a monumental inscription to the memory of 

 Walter Wilkes, and Joyce his wife, who lived together 62 years and 

 saw their great-grand children. He died April 15, 1692, aged 82 ; 

 she out-lived him 13 years, and died April 22, 1705, aged 97 

 years. There are two meeting-houses in this parish ; one for the 

 Methodists, who are very numerous, and another for the Indepen- 

 dents, who are but few. 



A Sunday School was erected in Darlaston church-yard in the 

 year 1793, where a great number of children of both sexes are 

 instructed in the principles of useful knowledge and the Christian 

 religion, This institution is supported by voluntary subscriptions, 



