HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 227 



This village is built upon very uneven ground, in a most romantic 

 situation near the river Churnet. It contains several well-built 

 modern houses, and is remarkable for the ruins of an ancient Cas- 

 tle, built and inhabited by Bertram de Verdon, the founder of 

 Croxden Abbey. 



After the lapse of several years, this castle devolved by mar- 

 riage to the Furnivals. It continued two successions in this fa- 

 mily, when, falling to Joan, the only heir, who married Thomas Ne- 

 ville, brother to the Earl of Westmoreland, he was in her right 

 created Lord Furnival. He left by her only one daughter, Joan, 

 who having married to John Talbot, afterwards Earl of Shrews- 

 bury, she brought the manor and castle of Alveton into his family, 

 and it is now the property of the present Earl of Shrewsbury. 



The site of Alveton Castle is very commanding, and natu- 

 rally strong, built on a rocky precipice on the south bank of the 

 Churnet, the base being elevated about eighty yards above that 

 river. On this side it was inaccessible, and it was strongly forti- 

 fied by an entrenchment on the side next the church. The ruins 

 consist of two towers, the most perfect of which is overgrown 

 with ivy, with a small vane in the centre ; the other is partly 

 fallen in. A covered archway, and fragments of the thick outer 

 wall, also remain. 



Alveton Church, which stands near this Castle, above the 

 village, is an ancient and low Gothic edifice of stone, with a 

 strong square tower : the roof is covered with lead. The interior 

 is heavy, and ill lighted with very small windows : the pews are 

 of oak. It is dedicated to St. Peter, and is a vicarage, in the 

 patronage of R. Williamson, Esq. : the Rev. Thomas Blackey, 

 the present vicar, resides in a neat white mansion near the extre- 

 mity of the village. 



The parish of Alveton contains 357 houses, 358 families ; 955 

 males, 943 females : total of inhabitants 1,898. 



There is an extensive wire manufactory established at Oakamoor, 

 on the Churnet, and another at the village, near Alveton, by Messrs. 

 Patten and Co. of Cheadle. About 30 workmen are employed at 

 the former, and 50 at the latter place. 



A cotton manufactory was begun on this river about thirty years 

 ago by a company of adventurers, but it was afterwards relin- 

 juished, and the building is now occupied as a corn-mill. There is 

 Iso a large tan-yard in the village. 



