HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 307 



kneeling. Mr. Erdeswicke died April llth, 1603. This beauti- 

 ful memorial has been much injured by repeated whitewashings. 



SAMPSON ERDESWICKE. This celebrated antiquary, to whose 

 researches other writers on the Antiquities and Topography of this 

 county are so highly indebted, was born here, but the year of his 

 birth is not recorded. He was admitted a gentleman Commoner at 

 Brazen-nose College, Oxford, in the year 1553, and after having 

 remained two years at the University, he returned to Sandon, where 

 he amused himself by antiquarian researches, especially such as 

 were illustrative of his native county. He left in manuscript, " A 

 Short View of Staffordshire, containing the Antiquities of the same 

 County," an incorrect copy of which was published in 1717, in oc- 

 tavo, and a second edition in 1723. There are two copies of the 

 original in the British Museum, and one in Gough's MSS. in the 

 Bodleian Library. Mr. Erdeswicke is recorded by Fuller, in his 

 " Worthies of England/' as a gentleman descended of a right wor- 

 shipful and ancient family; and Camden styles him venerandce an- 

 tiquitatis cultor maximus. He began his antiquarian work in 1593, 

 and continued it till his death, so that it employed him ten years. 



Instances of Longevity. Robert Reeves, of Smallvise, diqd 

 March 28, 1758, aged 90. Margaret Done, died February 2, 1781 

 aged 91. 



The lands in the parish of Sandon are fertile, and the trees 

 flourishing. 



GAYTON, a village and small parish of Pirehill South, is situated 

 about two miles to the east of Sandon. The village is small and 

 pleasant, on a fertile loamy soil, and from the higher grounds there 

 is a magnificent view of Sandon Obelisk, the plantations of Lord 

 Harrowby, and the still more picturesque ruins of Chartley Castle, 

 situated on the side of a hill, about a mile distant, in the parish of 

 Stone. The parish contains 48 houses, 49 families ; 137 males., 

 124 females : total of inhabitants, 261. 



Two rivulets of clear water pass near the village of Gayton, and 

 unite in the adjacent meadows. 



The Church, which is of stone, is a place of great antiquity, 

 built in the Gothic style with small arched windows. The window 

 at the east end is adorned with painted glass. The interior is in & 

 ruinous state, the old oak pews and seats m'ouldering and falling to 

 pieces. There is a very ancient monument of the Ferrers family 

 in a recess on the north side of the chancel. 



