HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 349 



The Coal in this district differs in quality, thickness, and inclina- 

 tion ; some strata burn dull, and leave a considerable residue of ashes, 

 others clear, with a quick consumption : the thickness is from two 

 to ten feet ; and the inclination varies from a perpendicular des- 

 cent to an almost horizontal flatness, but the most usual dip is 

 about one foot in a yard. It is gotten at different depths. In 

 some places pits are sunk upwards of 130 yards, and in others 

 coal is gotten within 20 yards from the surface. At Kidcrew, 

 in the north side of the parish, is to be seen some of the most 

 improved kind of machinery for raising coal. The price is ac- 

 cording to quality and situation. About one-sixth part of what 

 coal produces at the pit-head, is in some places judged a fair 

 mine-rent to the proprietor of the land. 



The water, which drains from the coal-mines, is, in this country, 

 of considerable value to those through whose lands it chances to 

 pass, as it is impregnated with a yellow substance termed Car; 

 which is used by the potters, and is a necessary ingredient in 

 making that kind of ware called Egyptian black. The mode of 

 procuring the car is as follows : Being of a specific gravity 

 greater than that of water, it forms a sediment at the bottom of 

 the channel of the stream that conveys it from the mine : when a 

 considerable quantity is thus lodged in a certain space, the stream, 

 to that extent, is diverted from its usual course ; and the car is 

 thrown out of the channel, from whence the water has been turned 

 off, upon the adjoining banks ; where it remains till dry. Some- 

 times small pits or ponds are made on the adjoining banks, and the. 

 car is scooped from the bottom of the channel, and thrown into 

 them, without diverting the course of the water. When it is suf- 

 ficiently dry, it is sold at the rate of one guinea per cart-load. 



A great number of bricks, tiles, and quarries are made for sale 

 in this parish. The price of common bricks is about 28s. per thou- 

 sand ; dressed bricks, \. 15s- and floor bricks, c2. 15s. per thou- 

 sand. Three cubic yards of clay make 1000 bricks; mine-rent, 

 2s. 6d. per thousand. 



New Chapel, is a village and chapelry in the northern part of this 

 parish, at least five miles north of the mother church. It is situ- 

 ated on a good sound upland of mixed loam. There are several 

 coal-works in this part of the parish. 



The Chapel is a modern structure of brick, with two double 

 rows of pews, and a small west gallery. It has no tower, but a 

 cupola with a small bell ; and is endowed with land at Norton-la- 



