264 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



trees. The hamlet at the Four Crosses, on Watling-street, consists 

 of several farm-houses and smaller tenements, and a capital inn. 



Cannock Church is a stone edifice, dedicated to St. Luke ; the 

 living is a perpetual curacy, of which the Dean and Chapter of 

 Lichfield are patrons. The present curate is the Rev. Thomas 

 Bradburne. 



Cannock-heath, which was a celebrated forest during the reign 

 of the Mercian kings, is now a bleak and dreary waste. At Rad- 

 more, within its boundaries, the Cistercian monks founded an 

 abbey, in the reign of King Stephen ; but in the year 1154, the 

 monks removed to Stoneley, in Warwickshire. 



RUGELEY. 



The population of the town and parish of Rugeley in 1811, 

 was 2,213, of which number 1,089 were males, and 1,124 females. 

 The number of inhabited houses was 453, and of families 478. 

 Fourteen houses were then building, a proof of the thriving state 

 of the place. 



Rugeley is built in a low situation, in a pleasant healthy coun- 

 try near the Trent. The Grand Trunk Canal, which unites the 

 navigation of the Trent and the Mersey, runs past the north side of 

 the town, between it and the river Trent. It is six miles N.E. of 

 Cannock, seven from Lichfield, and nine and a half from Stafford ; 

 the turnpike-road to these towns passes through it, and it conse- 

 quently is a considerable thorough-fare. The facilities of an in- 

 land navigation have contributed to the prosperity of this town. It 

 has a neat cleanly appearance ; the houses are in general well- 

 built, and some of them elegant, Rugeley is governed by two 

 constables, who are chosen annually by the inhabitants. The prin- 

 cipal manufacture is hats. The market-day is Thursday. Two 

 annual fairs are held in this town, one June 6, for colts and horses, 

 and the other Oct. 21, for horses, sheep, and cattle. 



The manor was the property of Simon de Rugeley, of Rugeley. 

 In the reign of Edward III. he was appointed sheriff of the county 

 by that prince, and at the same period another of the family was 

 knight of the shire. The Marquis of Anglesea is the present lord 

 of the manor. 



The Church is an ancient structure of stone, with a tower, which 

 contains six bells, cast in 1706. The roof is covered with shin- 



