

HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 223 



forfeited it by rebellion to the Conqueror, who gave it to Robert 

 de Stafford, one of his followers. A monastery of Canons regular 

 of St. Augustine, was founded and endowed with large possessions 

 at Roeester, by Richard Bacun, nephew to Ranulph Earl of Chester. 

 These possessions and liberties were confirmed to the monks by 

 Henry the Third, in the 30th year of his reign, A.D. 1246. Some 

 of the Stafford family, of Sandon, who settled here, were great bene- 

 factors to this monastery; and in the parish church, which formerly 

 belonged to the monks, there are monuments of the Staffords. At 

 the time of the Dissolution, this house was valued at <100.2s. lOfd. 

 per annum.* Thomas Trensham, a favourite of Henry the Eighth, 

 obtained it of that prince, and made it his residence. It was held 

 by his descendants in the 17th century, but not a vestige of it now 

 remains. 



Roeester Church is an ancient structure, with a square tower of 

 stone ; it stands in the middle of a field, in which there is part of 

 a broken cross, which probably belonged to the abbey. The church 

 is dedicated to St. Michael, and is a vicarage. The present vicar 

 is the Rev. Jell : the Rev. George Hake is curate. 



The village of Roeester contains several good houses, and a 

 cotton manufactory, the property of Mr. Bridone. The confluence 

 of the Dove and Churnet in the meadows below this village, con- 

 tribute to the fertility of the soil. 



The parish contains 155 houses, 168 families; 376 males, 497 

 females : total of inhabitants, 873. Of this number nearly one- 

 half are employed in the cotton manufactory. 



Cowbridge is a hamlet belonging to this parish : it is situated to 

 the south-west, upon the banks of the Churnet ; and the branch of 

 the Grand Trunk Canal, which terminates at Uttoxeter, passes 

 through it. Near this hamlet there is a wharf on the canal, with 

 large warehouses, and a few tenements. 



Mince-pie Hall is a curious mansion, situated on an eminence, 

 with a turret and observatory. 



ELLASTONE is a parish of considerable extent to the west, and 

 contains the high Weaver Hills, with the township of Woolton to 

 the north. 



The village of Ellastone is ancient and irregularly built. It 

 is situated about two miles north of Rocester, at a considerable 

 distance from the west bank of the Dove. The soil is fertile, 

 being a loamy surface, with a bottom of lime-stone- 

 * Dugdale's Monasticon 



