364 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



castle for the purposes of the races, with provisions for the accom- 

 modation of the spectators, &c. 



According to the returns to Parliament in 1811, this town con- 

 tained 1354 inhabited houses, and a population of 6175 inhabitants, 

 of whom 2940 were males and 3235 females. The families were 

 classed as follows, viz. 1207 engaged in trade, 47 in agriculture, 

 and 100 not falling in either of these descriptions. At the present 

 period, 1817, the population would not be over-rated at 8000. 



An erroneous notion has prevailed, that the town was heretofore 

 greater in size, and that it once had four churches, but that three 

 of them, as well as a considerable part of the town, were reduced 

 in the wars of the Barons. We have already shewn that about the 

 period of its incorporation in the year 1235, which was probably 

 within a century after the first erection of the Castle, the town 

 contained only 28 Burgages. Amongst the " Inquisitiones Nona- 

 rum," taken about the year 1341, and preserved in the Exchequer, 

 is a record relating to the Borough, too curious to be here unno- 

 ticed. We subjoin a translation of it in the note,* and it shews that 

 at the end of it's second century the town had not advanced much 

 in prosperity. With regard to the tradition of four churches having 

 formerly existed, there is nothing to satisfy us of its credibility. It 

 is said there were formerly churches dedicated to St. Mary and 

 St. Katharine, but the Patent Rolls in the Tower, (vide Calenda- 

 rinm, pages 85 & 226) will justify our assertion, that those were 

 nothing more than Chauntries dedicated, it is true, to the above- 

 named Saints, but annexed to, and forming parts of, the only Church, 

 or (more properly speaking) Chapel, belonging to the town, which, 

 as we before stated, is dedicated to St. Giles. In fact every au- 

 thentic record and document proves that the town was not more 



* The Inquisitio Nonarum for Staffordshire, taken about 1341, is as follows, 

 so far as regards the Borough of Newcastle: " Jordan de Lavenden, Ralph 

 " Swanill, Richd. Legowe, Wm. le Grey, Henry Bryan, Henry Kene, John 

 " Pollard, Wm. le Souionour, Richard Roberts' son, Richd. le Glover, Ralph 

 " Lycoris, Philip de Erlyde, being sworn present that the Men of the afore- 

 " said Town have moveable goods, whereof the true value of the ninth of all 

 " the moveable Goods, ( except growing corn, wool, and lambs for which they pay 

 " the ninth out of the Town aforesaid, ) is worth five marks and two shillings 

 " and no more ; and the reason is, because the better men of the same Town and 

 " the greater part of the men thereof live by agriculture and by wool and lambs, 

 " for which they pay to the ninth out of the Town aforesaid ;) and the further 

 " reason is, because the community of the whole Town aforesaid is annihilated 

 " and reduced to poverty." 



