CUTTLESTONE HUNDRED. 





THE Hundred of Cuttlestone is bounded on the north by Pire- 

 hill hundred ; on the south by Seisdon ; on the east by Offlow, 

 and on the west by Shropshire. The principal river in this divi- 

 sion of Staffordshire is the Penk, which divides the hundred into 

 two parts, flows through it towards the north-east, and after re- 

 ceiving several smaller streams, and its confluence with the river 

 Sow, falls into the Trent. The meadows and pastures on the banks 

 of the Penk are very productive ; the uplands to the east of the 

 river are generally a mixed gravelly soil ; but most of the lands 

 to the west, are a stronger mixed loam. Near the verge of 

 Shropshire, however, the land becomes lighter. 



BREEWOOD 



a large parish in the south-west part of the Hundred, and 

 contains about 10,000 acres of land, consisting of meadows on the 

 banks of the Penk, and upland of a mixed gravelly loam, which, 

 when well cultivated, yields abundance of the different kinds of 

 grain, clover, and turnips. 



The town of Breewood is delightfully situated on a branch ot 

 the Penk, about a mile and a half south of Watling Street, and 

 nine miles distant from Stafford. It is a place of great antiquity. 

 A small priory of Benedictine nuns was founded here by Hubert 

 Walter, in the reign of Richard the First, A. D. 1195. At the Dis- 

 solution, its revenue was only 11. Is. 6d. per annum. 



Breewood is one of the most ancient market-towns in Stafford- 

 shire. A weekly market was formerly held on Friday, but it is now 

 declined, and the decayed market-house pulled down. There is a 

 large annual fair for cattle held on the 1 9th of September. In 

 the year 1811, this town contained 210 inhabited houses, and 212 

 families, 69 of whom were employed in agriculture, 87 in trade, 

 manufactures, or handicraft, and 56 not engaged in business ; 

 males 475, females 516 : total, 991. 



