370 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



NoRTON-ON-THE-MooRS, is a parish of Pirehill North, situated 

 about five miles N. N. E. of Newcastle, on the road between that 

 town and Leek. It contains the townships of Bemersley and Nor- 

 ton; and among other hamlets, and places, are Milton, Whitfield, 

 Ford-Green, Ball-Green, Norton-Green, Badiley-Edge, Brown 

 Edge, &c. The two last are commons, on which are built several 

 cottages, some scattered and some nearly adjoining each other. 



The village of Norton is situated on an eminence between two 

 of the upper branches of the river Trent; the land in its vicinity is 

 cold, and the country hilly. This district abounds with coal at 

 various depths, some 80 yards deep and more. The strata are 

 from four to seven feet thick. The price varies : at some pits it 

 is sold at 8s. 4d. per ton. 



The Church is a plain small edifice of brick, which was pro- 

 bably re-built in the year 1738. According to a memorandum in the 

 Parish register, " the old Church began to be taken down May the 

 third, and the foundation of the new church was marked out May 

 6th, 1737." 



A square tower at the west end has its top corners ornamented 

 with four balls or small globes, and is remarkable for containing the 

 only doors of entrance, the chief of which is on the west side, and 

 leads into the body of the church. The way to the gallery at the 

 west end is by a flight of steps on the out-side and on the north side 

 of the tower, which also leads to the belfry and station for the 

 ringers. The bottom of the tower may be considered a kind of 

 porch, which contains the following appropriate notice to the pa- 

 rishioners on a table hung against the wall : 



" As there is in many parishes a rule made, that, except the 

 corpses be brought to church by fair day-light, precisely at a cer- 

 tain hour, they are not to be buried till the next morning. 



" And whereas there is in this parish a growing ill custom of 

 burying at late hours, to the harm and danger of the living, with- 

 out the least benefit to the dead. 



" And whereas many persons attending funerals complain of the 

 inconvenience of being subjected to the cold and damp of the night 

 air, and obliged to return home in the dark. 



''Therefore, it is hereby ordered for the advantage of all, and 

 the disadvantage of none, that every corpse shall be at the church 

 at the times hereafter-mentioned, viz. 



" In November, December, and January, at half-past three. 



" In October and February, at four. 



