HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 271 



upon a declivity, interspersed with several cottages on its side and 

 summit, some of which command extensive prospects, particularly 

 a distinct view of Aqualate Mere and Chetwynd Park. Snowden, 

 in Carnarvonshire, was once seen by an observer in a clear winter's 

 morning, in a direction beyond Chetwynd Park, above which it was 

 evidently elevated. The object was covered with snow, and though 

 the distance is nearly one hundred miles, Snowden may be seen in 

 similar favourable circumstances from the summit of Broadhill. 



Walton Grange estate contains a coppice of twenty acres, of full- 

 grown oak, equal to any in the county for size and quality. 



dpeton is a liberty in this parish, which extends to the brook, 

 near Church-Eaton. 



NORBURY is a small parish, situated in the west division of Cut- 

 tleston hundred, including the township of Weston-Jones. The 

 population is inconsiderable, amounting to 319 persons, of whom 

 175 are males, and 144 females, chiefly employed in agriculture. 

 The village of Norbury is four miles from Newport, and about the 

 same distance from Eccleshall. 



The manor of Norbury was formerly the property of the Skrym- 

 sher family, but now belongs to Lord Anson. Erdeswicke says, 

 " this goodly manor formerly belonged to Hugh de Kilpeck, the 

 King's champion at the Coronation, and that Joan, his daughter, 

 temp. Hen. III. brought it to Sir Philip Marmion, who died 1291, 

 leaving several daughters his heirs, of which Maud, the third, 

 married to Ralph Butler, who made this his seat, and built the 

 manor-house or castle, at the head of the Wild-moors (so called in 

 an old deed there), moating it round. These Wild-moors were a 

 royal waste, that began at the .high grounds about Knightley, 

 Gnosall, in Staffordshire, running down by Newport to the rivers 

 Terne and Severne in Shropshire; of which there is a full account in 

 the Philosophical Transactions by the ingenious and learned Mr. 

 Plaxton, whose other MSS. I have before mentioned in my preface 

 to Vol. I. of Staffordshire."* 



The soil is a light mixed loam, fit for turnips and barley. The 

 parish is divided principally between Lord Anson and the Rev. 

 Sambroke Higgins. There are two small lakes in this parish, 

 one called Biackmere, and the other Cunnegreave. They are both 

 upon a rivulet, which runs through them, by an old mill, and falls 

 into Aqualate Mere. 



The Church is a plain old stone building, consisting of a nave, 



Mr. Shaw's letter in Gent. Mag. Vol. 71. p. 231. 



