228 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



There are two places for divine worship in Alveton, namely, 

 the Church, and a chapel for Calvinists. The Rev. Mr. Tallis is 

 minister of the latter. Several Methodists reside here, but they 

 have not yet erected a meeting-house, and they consequently meet 

 at private houses. 



Near the north bank of the Churnet, opposite the Castle, stands 

 Alveton Abbey, the summer residence of the Earl of Shrewsbury. 

 His Lordship has made great improvements on his manor, and given 

 employment to masons, bricklayers, labourers, and different artists 

 connected with architecture. He is somewhat fanciful, and has 

 built and pulled down several ornamental temples on his grounds ; 

 and he is now engaged in the erection of a tower on the summit of 

 a hill, which will command an extensive prospect of the circumjacent 

 country. Lord Shrewsbury, who is a zealous Catholic, married a 

 Miss Hoey, the daughter of a bookseller in Dublin, who was also 

 a votary of the Holy Mother Church, and a considerable number of 

 Catholics are retained in the family mansion. 



Alveton is a constablewick over thirteen townships, the inhabi- 

 tants of which owe suit and service to Lord Shrewsbury, who holds 

 a court leet and a court baron, with the view of frank pledge, in 

 the Moot-hall belonging to the manor. It is situated opposite 

 the Church, and is occupied as a free-school, with an annuity 

 of c12. for the instruction of twelve boys and girls. A branch of 

 the Grand Trunk and Caldon canal passes through the valley 

 near Alveton, parallel with the river Churnet, and is continued to 

 Uttoxeter. 



On Sunday, April 20, 1805, a great shock of an earthquake was 

 felt at Alveton, and the places adjacent, about one o'clock in the 

 morning. During the concussion several chimneys were thrown 

 down, particularly in the hamlet of Prestwood, but the inhabitants 

 received no injury. 



August 31st, 1S10, Alveton and the neighbourhood was visited 

 with the most dreadful storm of thunder, hail, and rain, that ever 

 was remembered by the oldest inhabitant. Hail-stones of more than 

 five inches in circumference, lay three inches thick upon the ground, 

 and broke many of the windows, which were also forced-in by a 

 violent west wind. Much glass was broken in the hot-houses of 

 the Earl of Shrewsbury, and those of the neighbouring gentlemen, 

 and some damage sustained in the farms and orchards. This storm 

 lasted three quarters of an hour. 



