294 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



perious but unfortunate prelate, and the place is yet known by the 

 name of St. Thomas. At the Dissolution, its revenue amounted to 

 198. a-year. The ruins of this priory are near a corn-mill. The 

 place where the priory stood is now considered extra-parochial, 

 and the ancient church of Baswich is supposed to have originally 

 belonged to the institution. 



In the year 1344, Ralph Lord Stafford, bestowed a piece of 

 ground on the Green, south of the river Sow, on the Augustine 

 Friars, where they founded a religious establishment; but since 

 the Dissolution it is gone to ruin. 



The principal streets of Stafford, called Foregate-street and 

 Greengate-street, are the great thoroughfares between Liverpool, 

 Manchester, and London. These streets contain many good shops, 

 the three principal inns, and several inferior houses for the accom- 

 modation of travellers. The number of ale-houses in the whole 

 town is 72. 



According to the population returns in 1811, Stafford contained 

 859 houses, 938 families ; 2,401 males, and 2,467 females : total 

 of inhabitants, 4,868. 



The manufacture of leather constitutes the staple of this town, 

 especially shoes, which are made both for home consumption 

 $nd exportation. In allusion to this circumstance, the late Mr. 

 Sheridan, at an election dinner, gave as his toast, " May the Ma- 

 nufactures of Stafford be trodden under foot by all the world/' 

 There is also a considerable manufactory of hats, and another of 

 cutlery, carried on in this town. 



A singular custom is said to be still kept up in this borough, 

 but there seems no good authority for the assertion, though it has 

 been repeated by one antiquary after another. " Here the ancient 

 custom called Borough English is still kept up, and where the 

 father dieth intestate, the youngest son inherits the lands lying 

 within the liberties of the town, with other privileges belonging to 

 Borough English."* 



Among several handsome private mansions in this town, a half- 

 timbered house in Greengate-street, is a remarkable specimen of 

 ancient architecture. It is the property of Mrs. Fielden, who now 

 resides in one part of it; the other part is occupied as a boarding- 

 school for young ladies. This building, which has doubtless stood 

 for centuries, is large, high, and at present in complete repair. 



* Magna Britannia, No. 62, page 68. 



