HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 245 



FLASH is a village situated towards the northern point of the 

 county, near the road leading to Buxton, and seven miles north- 

 east of Leek. It contains about twenty houses, three of which are 

 ale-houses, and three with shops. 



The Church is small : it is a curacy, and the present curate is 

 the Rev. Robert Richard Balderstone. 



There is also a small meeting-house for Methodists in this village. 

 Longevity. -Though the situation of this village is one of the 

 most elevated in Staffordshire, and computed to be nearly half a 

 mile above the level of the sea, the air is salubrious, as may be 

 proved from the records of the dead in the church-yard, particularly 

 the following : 



" Here lieth the body of JOSEPH BRUNT, late of Calshaw, who departed this 

 life Aug. 3d, 1795, aged 91 years. Also MARY, the mother of Joseph Brunt, 

 who departed this life Feb. 24th, 1782, aged 104 years. 

 Remember man that thou must die, 

 And so must all that do pass by ; 

 Our glass is run, our time is past, 

 For age will bring you down at last." 



MEERBROOK is a village situated about four miles to the north 

 of Leek, in a valley, which, though originally bleak and unproduc- 

 tive, has, by skilful cultivation, been rendered pleasant and fertile. 

 It is sheltered on the east by the Roches, two rocky hills which 

 rise about half a mile distant. The parish or township extends to 

 the river Dane to the N.w. and is diversified by hill and dale. 



The Church is a small fabric of stone, with a square tower, which 

 contains one bell : a small pinnacle of stone adorns the east end. 

 it is a chapel of ease to Leek, arid the Rev. James Turner is minister. 



HORTON is a parish situated to the west of Leek : it comprises 

 the township of Blackwood and Crowborough, and contains 152 

 houses, 156 families ; 415 males, 379 females : total of inhabi- 

 tants, 794. 



The village of Horton stands on an eminence : it contains three 

 good farm-houses, and a few smaller tenements. The fields in 

 general are well-fenced, and consist mostly of pasturage. There 

 is also some corn grown, and a good deal of lime used both on 

 the pastures, and the land under tillage. 



Horton-common was lately inclosed : it is a thin, black, and 

 meagre soil, which will require much manure and cultivation. 



The Church is a handsome stone edifice, dedicated to St. Mi- 

 chael : it is a curacy. 



In Rudyard vale, in the neighbourhood of Horton, there is a ca 



