346 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



leyan Methodists, with an inscription in front bearing the date of 

 1806. 



The remains of Healy or Heyley Castle, in this neighbourhood, 

 are situated on a lofty rock about a mile to the south east. Camden 

 tells us that the lands hereabout were given by Harvey Lord Staf* 

 ford, to Henry de Aldithlege or Awdledge, already mentioned, in 

 the reign of king John. This Henry appears to have been the 

 founder of the castle. He was descended from William de Bettelegh 

 or Betley, who besides Audley left him considerable property in 

 this vicinity. The Stanleys earls of Derby were the descendants 

 of this family, who were created Barons of Audley. Both the 

 estate and title, however, afterwards went to the Tucheis, and 

 that family still continues to enjoy them.* 



Talk-o'th^HiU, is a village and township of Audley parish, si- 

 tuated on an eminence on the great northern road, four miles and a 

 liaJf from Newcastle, It contains several inns and smaller tene- 

 ments, and a stone cross, where the market was formerly held, but it 

 is now discontinued. The population of this village is 817 persons. 

 The Church, which is a chapel of ease to Audley, is a small brick 

 structure, with a low tower containing a clock and one bell. It 

 is situated iu the middle of the village close to the turnpike-road. 

 The Rev. Mr. Hill, of the Hough, is minister, but the Rev. John 

 Lawtoa is the present officiating clergyman. The site of Talk 

 is very elevated, and commands views of part of Staffordshire and 

 Cheshire for many miles. In clear weather the Wrekin in Shrop- 

 shire, and the mountains of Flintshire, are distinctly visible from 

 this place. The Harecastle Tunnel of the Grand Trunk Canal, 

 passes a full uiile under ground near this village. 



In the summer of 1781, an explosion of a cask of gunpowder 

 took place in the village of Talk, as a carrier was conveying the 

 same in a waggon to its place of destination. The driver and 

 korses all perished ; and two houses were thereby demolished, in 

 the ruins of one of which the body of the driver was said to be 

 found in a mangled state. The regular carrier or man belonging 

 to the waggon, had entrusted the care of his team to another, 

 while he was transacting business, or taking refreshment, in a pub- 

 lic house, and thus providentially escaped an untimely end. The 

 explosion was attributed to friction. 



Curious WdL Between Talk and the village of Audley, about 



a. mile from the former place, is a spring of sulphureous water, of 



* Plot's Nat. Hist. p. 445. 



