HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 153 



The parish of Wednesfield was a common-field within the last 

 half century, and a gate on the road at the end of the manor was 

 called Wednesfield-gate. The Wyrley and Essington Canal passes 

 through the whole length of Wednesfield liberty, close by the 

 church and moat-house, and is an accommodation for lime, coal, and 

 manure. On digging into the earth about Wednesfield, the stones 

 are often found encrusted with hard shells, a proof that they increase 

 in bulk by the petrifaction of the surrounding matter. 



In 1811, Wednesfield contained 1248 inhabitants; namely, 702 

 males, and 546 females. The principal manufacture is traps of all 

 sizes and kinds, and among others man-traps. 



The Church is a neat structure of brick and stone, erected in 

 1760, chiefly at the expence of Mrs. Martha Gough. It cost 

 o2000. : the patronage is in Mr. Gough, and the present minister 

 is the Rev. John Clare. 



WEDNESBURY. 



This town stands at a short distance from the source of the river 

 Tame, five miles from Wolverhampton, and three from Walsall. It 

 is a place of great antiquity ; the name is Saxon, from Woden, 

 their god of battle, and Wodensborough has been modernized to 

 Wednesbury. 



In the year 912, according to the Saxon annals, Duke Ethelred, 

 son-in-law of Alfred the Great, and Viceroy of Mercia, died ; and 

 his wife, Adelfleda, continued to govern the kingdom with great 

 wisdom. She fortified Weadesburg, now Wednesbury, in the year 

 916, and built a castle on the hill on which the Church now stands. 

 A few traces of the foundation of this fortress are still perceptible. 

 After the Conquest, it was demesne of the Crown. Henry the 

 Second bestowed it on the Heronviles, in exchange for the town of 

 Countsfield, in Oxfordshire, so that it is now a parcel of the honour 

 of Woodstock. 



In 1794, Thomas Hoo, Esq. who was lord of this manor, died 

 without issue, and his estates went in the female line to Mrs. 

 Whitby, and the Hon. Mrs. Foley. The present lord of the manor 

 is Sir Joseph Scott, Bart, of Barr, in the right of Lady Scott, 

 daughter of Mrs. Whitby. 



The old manor-house, which is situated about a quarter of a mile 

 N. E. of the Church, is now a farm-house. On the opposite side of 

 the hill is a curious ancient house, called Oakeswell Hall, sur- 

 rounded by high garden-walls and lofty trees : it formerly belonged 



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