170 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



In the south-east part of the town is a large brick mansion, with 

 a moat round it, called Turton's Hall, built for the Leveson family, 

 but now converted into a manufactory of japanned goods by Messrs. 

 Wrighten : the moat is in part filled up. 



Plott says, " they have but four weak springs to supply so large 

 a town, which are altogether behind the Cock Inn, called Pudding- 

 well, the Horse-well, Washing-well, and the Meat-well; from which 

 last they fetch their water for use all over the town, in leather 

 budgets laid across a horse, and bringing to the other wells their 

 tripes, horses, and linen." The town was for many years supplied 

 with water from these springs by the water-works erected by 

 Dr. Wilkes, which have been long discontinued ; and a plentiful 

 supply is now obtained from numerous wells sunk a considerable 

 depth through the solid rock upon which the town is built. There 

 is likewise an excellent and never-failing spring called the Culwell, 

 close to the town, on the road leading to Wednesfield, which is one 

 of the sources of the little river Smestall. WulfrunaVwell, on 

 Dunstall estate, a medicinal spring at Chapel Ash, another called 

 Spa-well, between this town and Sea-wall, a fourth at Monmore- 

 green, a fifth called St. LawrenceVwell, at Grazeley-brook, and 

 an ancient arched well at Waddam's-hill, called Meg-a-doodleV 

 well, all noticed by Dr. Wilkes, are now neglected. 



The first steam-engine that ever raised water in considerable 

 quantity was erected near this town, a short distance from the half- 

 mile stone on the Walsall-road. 



On the 22d of April, 1590, a fire broke out in Barn (now Salop) 

 street, which burnt 104 dwelling-houses and 30 barns, with a con- 

 siderable quantity of corn : the fire was not extinguished till 

 the 27th. 



In the year 1743, wheat sold in Wolverhampton market at 3s* 

 barley and pease Is. 6d. and oats Is. 2d. the bushel of 38 quarts. 

 In the year 1800, wheat was 21s. per bushel, and hay 12. per 

 ton ; and in 1812 and 1813, wheat was as high as 25s. and barley 

 16s. the bushel. 



An elegant structure, comprising a Public Library and News 

 Room, has been recently erected in Queen-street, and many other 

 improvements are in progress under the authority of an Act of 

 Parliament. 



A permanent Library was instituted in the year 1794, and has 

 been progressively increasing in number of books and subscribers. 



In the year from Easter 1790 to the same period in 1791, the 



