; 



HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 225 



houses in Mayfield parish, including the township of Butterton, 

 is 195, inhabited by 202 families, of which 405 are males, and 531 

 females : total of inhabitants, 936. 



The village of Mayfield contains several well-built modern 

 houses of brick and stone. The Church is a handsome Gothic 

 structure of stone, with a strong and high square tower, adorned 

 with eight pinnacles. It was built by Thomas Rolleston, A. D. 

 1616, as appears from an inscription above the arched entrance at 

 the west end. This church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, 

 and is a vicarage ; the Rev. Belcher, who resides at Ash- 

 bourne, is curate. The roof of the edifice is supported by six large 

 Gothic arches ; the east window is beautiful ; and a number of 

 elder trees, which grow close to the church walls, give it a rural 

 appearance. There are but few records of longevity in the church 

 yard. One tomb-stone is inscribed with the name of Benjamin 

 Thompson, who died in 1809, aged 88 years. 



From the eminence about midway between Ellastone and May- 

 field, the prospect of Dove-vale is beautiful beyond description. 

 The country exhibits all the variety of meadows, pastures, corn- 

 fields, and woodlands ; numerous herds and flocks grazing se- 

 curely ; the river Dove gently flowing and winding amid the ver- 

 dant meadows ; a village, with its picturesque church and tower, 

 skirted by a wood on an eminence, on the Derbyshire side of the 

 river, and the extensive vale stretching for several miles to the 

 south, with a distant but indistinct view of Uttoxeter ; the lofty 

 spire of its church ; and the smoke of the town carried away like 

 a large cloud by a brisk north-west breeze. 



CROXDEN is a parish to the west of Rocester. The village of 

 Croxden is about five miles north-west of Uttoxeter ; but the 

 most remarkable object in this parish is Croxden Abbey, the ve- 

 nerable ruins of which are to be seen about half a mile from the 

 village. 



This Abbey was founded and endowed with lands and revenues 

 by Bertram de Verdon, in the 22d year of the reign of Henry the 

 Second, A. D. 1176, for monks of the Cistercian order. It is 

 situated in a fertile valley, near a small rivulet called the Peake, 

 arid was for many ages the burying-place of the Verdons; 



Croxden Abbey is a very picturesque and extensive ruin. The 

 rincipal entrance at the west end is yet entire, and consists* of a 

 most magnificent Gothic arch of excellent workmanship, as the or- 

 namental stone cornices are yet undecayed, altlio ugh. opposed to 



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