318 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



principal residence of the Bishops. The manor belonging to this 

 palace was of very considerable extent and value, for it appears 

 that in 1650 it was sold for the sum of ,14,224. In the year 

 1695, the south front of the castle was re-built by Bishop Lloyd, 

 and it afterwards became the principal residence of successive 

 Prelates, and continues so to the present day. 



During the Civil war between Charles the First and the Parlia- 

 ment, Eccleshall Castle was fortified, and defended by a Royal gar- 

 rison. The garrison stood a severe siege, but was ultimately com- 

 pelled to surrender, the place being no longer tenable, but reduced 

 to a ruinous state by the fire of the enemy's artillery. It con- 

 tinued for several years uninhabitable, but was re-edified by 

 Bishop Lloyd. The beautiful grove which surrounds this ancient 

 fabric was planted by Bishop Hough, and the late Bishop Corn- 

 wallis further improved the surrounding grounds. 



The Church of Eccleshall is a vicarage in the patronage of the 

 Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry : the Rev. John Henry Powell 

 is the present vicar, and the Rev. Francis Jenkinson is curate. 



The Bishop's Woods are situated between four and five miles to 

 the westward of Eccleshall, and contain about 1,500 acres of land, 

 planted with trees, particularly oak. They abound with under- 

 wood, a part of which is cut down annually, and sold to the potters 

 to make crates for their earthenware. The timber-trees are left 

 standing in the proportion of from forty to eighty per acre, accord- 

 ing to the quality of the soil and nature of the surface. Hence a 

 regular revenue is obtained from these woods, without decreasing 

 their value. In the lower part of the wood, where the soil is best, 

 the under-wood is worth 15s. per acre annually, if well stooled, and 

 the vacant places planted between the stools. The best part of 

 this underwood is made into rakes, scythe-poles, &c. and these ex- 

 tensive tracts are thus productive of several useful articles. 



CHEBSEY is a large parish of Pirehill South, containing the town- 

 ship of Cold Norton. At the time of the General Survey, it was 

 held by Humphredus of Henry de Ferrers. In the time of Henry 

 II. by Euturpius de Hastings, and in this family it continued seve- 

 ral successions. 



The village -.of Chebsey is ancient, and consists of farm-houses 

 and smaller tenements. It is situated in a valley, near the con- 

 fluence of the Eccleshall water with the Sow. 



The Church i^ an ancient Gothic fabric of stone, with a large 

 Square tower. It is dedicated to AH Saints, and is a vicarage in 



