HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 193 



pleasant eminence called Summer-hill, where are several good 

 modern houses ; and at a short distance, is Ashwood, an excellent 

 house, erected by Lord Dudley, and formerly inhabited by Sir 

 Joseph Scott. 



At Holbeach, Stephen Lyttelton, and others concerned in the 

 Gunpowder Plot, were taken in 1605. About half a mile to the 

 south, is Shutt-end, an ancient structure, the seat of the Bendys 

 for many generations. Beyond this is Corbyns Hall, which took 

 its name from the owners. 



In Pensnet Chase, near Bromley, is a brine spring, but the brine 

 is too weak to make salt. 



Between Flotheridge-pool and GreenVforge/ are vestiges of a 

 Roman camp or entrenchment : it is situated on a flat, had only a 

 single ditch, and nearly reaches down to the Smestall. There are 

 also two uniform stone barrows or tumuli, at Barrow-hill, in this 

 parish, which, according to Plot, are petrifactions. 



On the north bank of the Stour, is Prestwood, formerly the seat 

 of the Hon. Edward Foley, and now of his successors: it is a hand- 

 some Gothic mansion, fitted-up with much taste. The grounds 

 were laid out by the ingenious Mr. Repton : the situation is 

 iched by hill and dale, wood and water, and possesses all the 

 varieties of the landscape. 



Near Prestwood is a wire-mill, where the manufacture of iron- 

 wire is carried on to a great extent. 



AMBLECOTE and BRIERLEY HILL have generally been consi- 

 dered as part of Swinford, but having distinct places of worship, 

 it may not be improper to describe them as one parish. Erdeswicke 

 says, " being past Rowley, Stour receives a little brook which 

 comes from Hales-Owen, and is from that place the bound between 

 Worcester and Staffordshire until it comes to Stourbridge ; but be- 

 fore it cometh there by a mile hath Amblecote standing on the north 

 bank thereof." 



This place is described in an inquisition taken April 6th (2d Eliz.) 

 with 10 messuages, 6 cottages, two water-mills, 200 acres of land, 

 100 of meadow, 1000 of pasture, 100 of wood, and 2000 of heath 

 land. By an old deed, dated 46th Edw. III. it appears that coal 

 and iron-stone were then raised here, and what is now known by 

 e name of pit-coal was at that time called sea-coal. 

 The coal-mines hereabouts are very extensive, and the strata 

 thick : supposing J 20,000 tons to be raised every year, 

 2B 



som 

 wer< 

 enri 

 vari. 



