280 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Antiquities. The market is stated by him to have been held on 

 Tuesdays. 



Algar, a Saxon nobleman, founded a priory in this parish in the 

 year 1146, which afterwards rose to great importance. In the 

 Nomina Villarum, 9 Edward II. the prior of Lapley is repeatedly 

 nominated to manage the concerns of Lapley and Wheaton-Aston. 

 This priory was suppressed in the reign of Henry V. In the Civil 

 wars, this edifice was fortified and garrisoned, Captain Smith being 

 appointed Governor; and in 1643, 8. 13s. 7d. was levied weekly in 

 the surrounding district for the maintenance of the garrison. It 

 was afterwards taken by the Oliverians, and the fortifications de- 

 molished by an order dated March 19, 1645 : 



" Ordered, that the inhabitants of Lapley, Aston, Marston, Mitton, Stretton, 

 Bradley, Winston, and Bickford, shall forthwith pull down the works and for- 

 tifications about Lapley Church, and every constable within the aforesaid places 

 is required to send six men every day till they be finished." 



The Church of Lapley, which is a much larger edifice than is 

 necessary for the present population of the parish, is dedicated to 

 All Saints. It is a vicarage in the patronage of the Swinfen family, 

 who purchased it, with a good landed estate, from Sir Theophilus 

 Biddulph, many years ago. The ancient farm-house on the Swinfen 

 estate, is a strong building in a commanding situation, and was 

 doubtless the Governor's residence when the place was fortified. 



Bickford is partly in Lapley, and partly in Penkridge parish. 

 The principal land-owners in Lapley, besides the Swinfen family, 

 are Edmund Wigan, Esq. and Mr. Hall. 



Wheaton-Aston is a considerable township in Lapley parish, con- 

 taining 109 houses, 122 families ; 273 males, 306 females : total 

 of persons 579. The soil in this township is generally a good 

 mixed gravelly loam, and the land on the banks of a brook which 

 runs through it is well adapted for meadows. 



The village of Wheaton-Aston contains several farm-houses and 

 tenements. Nearly one-half of this village was burnt down some 

 years ago, by the thatch which covered the roofs of the houses taking 

 fire. It was soon re-built, and the new houses tiled. 



The Chapel, which is a chapel of ease to Lapley, is a brick build- 

 ing, with a house adjoining it at one end. The vicar of Lapley is 

 the minister of Wheaton-Aston. 



On a large open space near this chapel, a may-pole is erected, 

 where the country people amuse themselves with rustic gambols 

 on May-day, and at wakes and festivals. 



