HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 199 



The manor and castle of Stourton, with the hamlets of Comp- 

 ton and Dunsley, belong to the Foley family, of Prestwood. 



At Whittington, an ancient hamlet in this parish, is an old man- 

 sion and a grove of fine elms. 



ENVILLE. This parish, manor, and estate, has for two centuries 

 belonged to the family of Grey, Earls of Stamford, who have here 

 a magnificent residence. Erdeswicke calls it " a goodly manor 

 and a park, standing north-west from Whittington and Kinfare, 

 something more than two miles, where Thomas Grey, who died in 

 the 20th year of Elizabeth, built a very proper brick house." Dr. 

 Wilkes thus describes it in 1759 : " Harry, the present Earl of 

 Stamford, having purchased several estates, so as to make the 

 whole neighbourhood his property, and having married the Lady 

 Mary Booth, by whom he had an immense fortune, has laid out 

 many thousand pounds in beautifying these premises. This he 

 has done with so much art and elegance, that few places in Eng- 

 land can rival, and none exceed it, but has not yet meddled with 

 the house." 



Since that period the mansion has been modernized. It is a 

 handsome white structure, and though the greater portion of it is of 

 modern erection, it still retains an air of antiquity. It consists of a 

 centre, and two wings, the former receding considerably, and having 

 an octangular tower at each end. The windows in this part of the 

 edifice are formed by Gothic arches in the pointed style, and round 

 the top runs an embattlement, which completely prevents the roof 

 from being seen. The wings, which stretch themselves out from 

 the towers, appear as modern erections ; and behind are several 

 later additions, which, with the brick offices, are judiciously con- 

 cealed from the view, so that the whole possesses an agreeable and 

 uniform appearance. 



In front of this mansion extends a beautiful sloping lawn, which 

 rises boldly on the left, and is adorned by a charming lake, skirted 

 with foliage, and a few ornamental buildings. From the side of 

 the water a path lies through a neat shrubbery, and leads to a fine 

 cascade, formed by the celebrated Shen stone, who indeed originally 

 designed the whole of this delightful scenery. At a little distance 

 below the cascade, is a rural bridge, composed of only one plank, 

 which crosses the stream, and is a very fine and picturesque object. 

 Near this spot stands a small chapel, dedicated to Shenstone ; and 

 having its windows embellished with various paintings on glass. 

 This circumstance, together with the thick and gloomy umbrage 



