HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 391 



About half a mile from the town, a good stone bridge leads to 

 the pleasant hamlet of Walton, whence Enysan de Walton, before 

 mentioned, took his name. This Enysan (says Pennant) was the 

 true re^founder of the Priory at Stone; but the Staffords, who were 

 his superiors, assumed the honour of this new foundation. The 

 church of the priory contained many magnificent tombs of this 

 great family at the period of the Dissolution, at which time they 

 were removed for safety to the Augustines of Stafford, but were 

 afterwards destroyed with that place. At a short distance to the 

 left, is a range of hills called Stone Park, an extensive farm belong- 

 ing to the Gower family. This was formerly a place of some con- 

 sequence, and gives title to the present Viscount Granville. 



A little further on, stands the hamlet of Stoke ; and on the oppo- 

 site side of the Trent, the remains of the once spacious mansion 

 called Aston House, which originally belonged to a branch of the 

 Hevininghams of Suffolk, and was brought by marriage to Sir James 

 Simeon, who rebuilt the Hall. He also erected a Mausoleum in the 

 garden for the interment of himself and family. The vault, with 

 two wings, in Stone church-yard, belonging to the Jervis family, 

 was executed from the model of this cemetery. Edward Weld, Esq. 

 of Lulworth Castle, Dorset, afterwards became possessed of this 

 estate, but it is now the property of the Right Hon. the Earl of 

 St. Vincent. 



Burston, a small hamlet about three miles from Stone, was anci- 

 ently mueh frequented by the devout, on account of a chapel said to 

 have been erected on the spot where Rufiij,the second son of Wulfere, 

 was supposed to have suffered martyrdom. The road from Burston 

 passes, for several miles, along a beautiful vale, watered by the 

 Trent, and enlivened by the Canal, which winds very picturesquely 

 through the meadows. The prospect is bounded by some well- 

 wooded hills called the Orangies, &c. behind which lie the lord- 

 ships of Hilderston and Milwich. The former was the demense of 

 Robert Bagot in the reign of King Henry I. which he held of the 

 Baron of Stafford, but it afterwards changed its lord, for in 12th 

 Edward I. one Vitalis held this manor of Robert de Stafford, and 

 soon after it came into the possession of Robert Hugglesford, whose 

 family held it till the end of King Edward Illd/s reign. It after- 

 wards became the estate of Sir John Delves, whose only daughter 

 and heir carried it by marriage to Sir Robert Sheffield, Krit. Re- 

 corder of the City of London. It afterwards was sold to Sir Gilbert 



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