332 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



part may be about 20 inches in length. The pedestal is 3 fefct 

 high, so that the height from the ground is about 7-f feet. Thfe 

 field in which it stands is the property of Sir John Chetwode, Bart. 

 M. f. for Neweastle-under-Ly me, whose mansion at Oakley, in this 

 neighbourhood, is situated in the township of the same name, parish 

 of Mueelestone, and county of Stafford, which is bounded on thin 

 side by a small rivulet running from Maer. 



The above cross is within a few yards of this rivulet, which pro- 

 bably the Earl of Salisbury passed; and when part of Lord Audley'sr 

 troops were over, and others crossing in confusion, the Earl re- 

 turned, attacked, and obtained his victory. 



MUCCLESTONE is a parish and village in Pirehill North, situated 

 on a rising ground about one mile from Blore-heath. In 1085 the 

 manor was held by Kenning, one of the Tanes, and subsequently 

 by the Morgans, till the reign of Elizabeth, one of whom sold it 

 to Thomas Offley, Knt. Lord Mayor of London, in 1556. It is 

 now the property of Lord Crewe. 



The Church is ancient, and dedicated to St. Mary : it has a 

 lofty square tower, from which Queen Margaret is said to have be- 

 held the obstinate struggle at Blore-heath, which was so fatal to 

 her cause. The living is a rectory, in the patronage of Lord 

 Crewe. The Rev. Offley Crewe is rector, and the Rev. A. B. Ha- 

 den, jun. curate. 



Mucclestone parish contains 149 houses, 148 families; 388 males, 

 384 females : total of inhabitants 772. 



MAER, is a parish and village in Pirehill North, situate about 

 mid-way between Newcastle and Drayton, and adjoining the parish 

 of Mucclestone. It probably derives its name from a natural lake or 

 mere (covering about twenty-two acres of land) which is the 

 source of the Team, a stream that falls into the Severn, and di- 

 vides this county from Shropshire in the neighbourhood of Market 

 Drayton. The parish comprises the townships of Maer and Maer- 

 way-lane. The soil of the inclosed land is a gravelly loam. The 

 manor anciently belonged to William de Maer and Robert de Staf- 

 ford, from whom it passed through different bands, till it became by 

 purchase the property of Josiah Wedgwood, Esq. of Etruria, in the 

 Potteries. It comprises upwards of 3000 acres of land. 



At the east-end of the lake stands Maer Hall, also the property 

 and till lately the residence of Mr. Wedgwood, who has re-edified 

 and converted it into an elegant modern mansion, and embellished 

 the grounds with plantations, and other spirited improvements. 



