360 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



time in 1812. The other Representative succeeded in 1815 to 

 Earl GOWER, who had vacated his seat for Newcastle in order to 

 be elected for the County of Stafford. 



The Church of Newcastle is dedicated to Saint Giles the Abbot. 

 It was re-built in 1720 of brick, with a parapet wall, and is a 

 large and commodious .structure, with three galleries, supported 

 by well-proportioned pillars. The pews are of oak and uniform, 

 and there is a good Organ. On each side of the middle aisle are 

 pews for the Corporate Officers of the town, that for the Magis- 

 trates being distinguished by a gilt canopy. The Chancel is in the 

 form of a semicircular alcove, and the walls and ceiling of it are 

 elegantly and appropriately painted. Over the middle window is 

 a carved Pelican feeding her young. The font (of white marble) 

 was the gift of Samuel Bagnall Esquire, of Barlaston. A neat 

 clock was lately added to the west gallery by the late Alderman 

 Hill. The Church contains several handsome mural monuments, 

 belonging to the families of Ford, Fenton, Kinnersly, Beard, Bourne, 

 &c. The tower is very ancient, and built of red sand-stone, and 

 the entrance to it is on the western side by a Saxon arch of very 

 elegant architecture. It contains eight bells and a clock with 

 chimes. 



The Church was, until lately, only a chapel of ease to the parish 

 of Stoke-upon-Trent, but in 1807, an Act of Parliament passed 

 by which five new Rectories, of which Newcastle is one, were 

 created out of that parish. The Rev. Clement Leigh is now the 

 Rector, and the Patronage is at present vested in the Rev. Charles 

 Simeon, of King's College, Cambridge. The Living is now small, 

 but will be soon considerably augmented by a commutation of the 

 Tithes of the Town-Fields. 



There are four Meeting-Houses for Dissenters from the Estab- 

 lished Church, one of which, for Presbyterians, has been shut up 

 many years. 



On an elevated situation near the north-west end of the town, 

 stands a large brick building, containing Alms-houses for the re- 

 ception of twenty poor widows. The following inscription on a 

 stone in the north front, explains the origin of this charity : 



"Erected 



at the expence of the Right Honourable 

 Grace Countess Granville, 



John Lord Gower, 



and Bernard Grantille Esq. 



in completion of the Will of the Most Noble 



Christopher Duke of Albemarle. 



Anno 1743." 



