HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 233 



their ave-marias and pater-nosters in a low voice. The nuns them- 

 selves may be termed the Black Ladies. Their dress is entirely 

 sable, with long thick black veils thrown over the right shoulder. 

 Their demeanour is grave, and they generally walk with some book 

 in their hands. Their countenances are pleasing and pensive ; and 

 if a man approaches them, they turn away as if they feared the im- 

 putation of vanity, or were in danger of weakening their principles 

 by gratifying the eye of curiosity. 



Weston Coyney, the residence of Walter Hill Coyney, Esq. is 

 about three quarters of a mile distant from the castle. Mr. Coyney 

 was brought up a Protestant, and was introduced to a Miss Coyney, 

 the inheritor of a considerable estate, and an orphan. This lady 

 is a zealous Papist, and Mr. Hill, when he married her, was obliged 

 to adopt her family-name, and agree that if they had any daughters, 

 they should go to mass with their mother, and the sons might go 

 to church with their father. To this agreement they now scrupu- 

 lously adhere. 



The Church, which is near the Castle, is a small Gothic struc* 

 ture of stone, with a low tower. It was built by Matthew Cradock, 

 Esq. about two hundred years ago. The chancel contains monu- 

 ments of the family of Cradock, and the family-vault of the Parkers, 

 of Park-hall. The late Countess of St. Vincent was buried in 

 this vault in the year 1816, and a splendid monument, emblazoned 

 with the most memorable achievements of Earl St. Vincent, is to 

 be executed by a sculptor in London. It is a vicarage, in the pa- 

 tronage of the Parker family. The Rev. William Eddowes is the 

 present vicar. 



The parish of Caverswall, including the township of Weston 

 Coyney and Huime, contains 170 houses, 171 families ; 450 males, 

 450 females : total of inhabitants 900. 



KINGSLEY is a parish of considerable extent and population, the 

 principal part of which is in Totmanslow South ; it also includes 

 the township of Whiston, in Totmanslow North. This part of the 

 country has been greatly improved by inclosures and plantations of 

 trees. This parish contains 213 houses, 216 families ; 566 males, 

 572 females : total of inhabitants 1,138. The Caldon Canal passes 

 mgh this parish. 



The village of Kingsley is irregularly built, but contains some 



>od houses, and a tape-manufactory, belonging to the Tean 

 /ompany, in which 30 looms are employed. 



The Church is a large and very ancient structure of stone, in a 



