HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 187 



ancient structure, with a spire, surmounted by the figure of a large 

 dragon : the interior was repaired and modernized, and an organ 

 added, by Sir Samuel Hellier, Knt. 



The land of Wombourne is generally alight sandy or gravelly 

 loam, remarkable for the early produce of vegetables and corn ; 

 and extensive garden and nursery-grounds have long been culti- 

 vated here. The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Ganal passes 

 through Wombourne parallel to the Smestall water, on which has 

 been erected an iron-work called the Heath-forge, with a genteel 

 mansion. The Woodhouses were long settled in this parish : they 

 took their name from an estate so called, which afterwards passed 

 to the Helliers, one of whom, Sir Samuel Hellier, greatly improved 

 the estate and mansion ; but dying, in 1792, they devolved upon the 

 Rev. Thomas Shaw Hellier, whose son, James Shaw Hellier, Esq. 

 is the present occupier and owner. The house is situated in a 

 very retired and picturesque valley. 



Overton or Orton, a hamlet in Wombourne parish, contains two or 

 three good farm-houses, and other tenements. 



TRYSULL is a small village on the banks of the Smestall. The 

 church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient edifice with a small 

 stone tower, on which is sculptured the figure of a bishop. The 

 manor belongs to the Wrottesley family. The waste land in this 

 parish, formerly very considerable, has been inclosed : the upland 

 is a light sandy soil. 



SEISDON is a small village or hamlet on the Smestall water, and 

 remarkable for giving name to this hundred, for which no adequate 

 authority can now be adduced. Here is a narrow bridge of several 

 arches over the Smestall. 



In this parish is the ancient fortification called Apewood Castle : 

 it stands on a lofty round promontory, the whole extent of the ridge 

 for a mile together having hollows cut in the ground, and appa- 

 rently forming one continued line of defence, the two hills at each 

 end being the principal bastions. Plot conjectures it to have been 

 a British work. 



Near Seisdon-common is a large triangular stone called the War 

 stone ; and at a short distance, a small square camp with a single 

 trench. 



PATTINGHAM is a pleasant village, situated to the north of Try- 

 sul and west of Tettenhall. The church is a vicarage in the patro- 

 nage of the present incumbent : it is a neat Gothic fabric, with a 

 stone tower. The interior was repaired and newly-pewcd a few 



