The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent ... comprising its history, statistics, civil polity, and traffic, with biographical and genealogical notices of eminent individuals; ... also, the Manorial History of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and incidental notices of other neighbouring places and objects ... By J....

Appendix

CONTAINS MANY ANCIENT AND CURIOUS CHARTERS AND DOCUMENTS NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED, AND THE WORK IS EMBELLISHED WITH A VARIETY OF PLATES. LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. LEWIS & SON, FINCH-LANE, MDCCCXLIII. rm

Preface

. This Work, having been commenced under the sanction of another name, the individual who now avows himself as its author, considers it necessary, for the purpose of justifying the claim he makes to its paternity, to give some explanation respecting the manner in which it was begun and carried forward, and has at length arrived at its close; and having throughout the work assumed editorial dignity, and written in the first person plural, he will, in order to avoid ambiguity, descend to the familiar style, and speak in his own person. In the summer of 1838, Mr. Simeon Shaw, who had just before issued a prospectus of an intended History of the Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent, to be published in monthly parts, but had not then brought out a single number, called upon me respecting his pro posed work, when I told him I was in possession of a variety of ma terials, chiefly of an antiquarian character, relating to the northern portion of the Pottery District, which might be serviceable for the commencement of his undertaking, and which I had collected with the view of writing a similar history, should I ever find leisure to do so • I told him, further, that I was quite willing to supply all I had in my possession, provided I were permitted to exercise a control over the publication, so long as I should furnish those materials.

I stipulated, in fact, that not a page of the Work should be printed, whilst I remained connected with it, but what I should either write myself, or peruse in manuscript aiid approve. Mr. Shaw at once acceded to the rather arbitrary terms I pro pounded, and as he had some highly respectable names on his Subscription List, from whom he had promises of assistance, my idea then was, that, through their aid, he might be enabled to carry forward the Work, after it had passed the limits to which my attention was more immediately directed. I was aware that a

PREFACE.

. IV work of this sort was called for by the general voice of the district, and I was desirous of securing to it a respectability of character ; flattering myself that the method and matter I should commu nicate to the early portions, might induce competent persons to complete the undertaking upon the model I should lay down. Hereupon I engaged in the compilation of the introductory and subsequent chapters, and several numbers were published in the name of Mr. Shaw, to which he contributed very little besides. I must not be understood to say that some pages were not in troduced, whilst his name was prefixed to the covers, the contents whereof he might almost challenge as his own • but his style and mine did not at all harmonize, and the labour I experienced in adjusting the matter he supplied to my own philological standard was more than equal to that of original composition.

Thus the publication proceeded till Parts VII. and VIII. were issued (together), when, owing to circumstances which, arose between Mr. Shaw and his Printers, the latter declined any longer to carry the Work forward on his account; and unless some friendly arm had interposed it must have ascended thither " where all things transitory and vain like aerial vapours flie ;" or, possibly, might have descended to " the mighty mother's" empire — " The chaos dark and deep, Where nameless somethings in their causes sleep." As, however, I felt an increasing interest in securing the com pletion of a Work in which I had already bestowed much time and pains, and was aware that many of its Subscribers had particular reasons for wishing to see it carried forward, I offered to the Printers to continue the authorship so far, and as fast, as my other avocations might allow ; and Mr. Shaw having signed an agreement to give up to them his whole right and property in the Work, to enable them to conduct and complete it in whatever way they might think proper, I thenceforth felt myself more closely identified with it, and determined to continue it to the end.

My assistance had, from the first, been gratuitous and eleemosynary, and was to con tinue upon the same footing, only that I reserved to myself some copies for private distribution. Whatever profit might arise from the ultimate sale of the Work, after paying the Printers' and Publishers' accounts, was to belong to Mr. Shaw, the original

PREFACE.

. V projector. It would neither be fair nor candid towards him or the public, that the merit or censure which the Work may obtain, should alight on any other head than that to which it belongs ■ I avow, therefore, that nothing contained in the Work beyond the tenth chapter is chargeable to any other account than my own ; and very little, indeed, in any of the preceding portions (as I have already said). I have sought to enliven the dry detail of topographical and statistical history, by the introduction of biographical notices, family memoirs and pedigrees, and various collateral subjects, as well of an antiquarian as a popular nature. The biography of the late Josiah Wedgwood, which has never before appeared in a con nected form, and is now presented, after the manuscript had been first submitted to the perusal and correction of some members of the family of that eminent person, can hardly fail to be acceptable to the republics of science and literature at large.

Every writer has his particular opinions, and few are altogether exempt from prejudices ; these, undoubtedly, ought to be kept as far as possible in the back-ground by an impartial historian, and such has been my anxious endeavour in the course of the present Work. I have not, however, shrunk from the narration of facts and the suggestion of inferences, on certain occasions, in which religion, morals, or matters of a public nature were con cerned, from any over-fastidiousness lest such statements might be distasteful to some classes of the Subscribers. If, on holding up the mirror to the unvarnished face of truth, an image is reflected less pleasing than the fondness of partial friends might have desired to behold, let not the faithful mirror, therefore, be assailed by the disappointed expectants, but rather let them remodel the beau-ideal of their overweening fancy according to the correct lineaments which truth presents.

I have carefully avoided whatever was calculated to wound the feelings of families or individuals, and, though I have not sought to conciliate any one by flattery, I have not withheld commendation where it appeared to be deservedly called for. Enough has been said respecting the origin, conduct, and design of the Work ; it remains to say something of its intrinsic nature. VI

PREFACE.

. The Work aims at the character of a copious General History of the District known as the Staffordshire Potteries, and now de signated "The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent," a district of considerable importance among the manufacturing and commercial seats of British enterprize, and -which, though it has received repeated notices in Gazetteers, and works of general reference, has never yet been the subject of any special or particular compilation possessing the least claim to public regard. The County of Stafford, at large, does not possess any General History, and it is hardly to be expected (however it may be desired) that any such will now see the light. The work of the late Rev. Stebbing Shaw being left unfinished at his death, any attempt to carry out his design, after a lapse of forty years, by a present history of such portions of the county (embracing all the northern parts) as he left untouched, would be quite preposterous.

All that the literary public can reasonably expect is, that every commercial district, large parish, borough, or rural circle, should have its particular history, on the plan of Whittaker's History of the Parish of Whalley, his Hallamshire, and Hunter's admired History and Topography of the Deanery of Doncaster. If a combination of gentlemen having sufficient leisure and talent could be obtained throughout the county, to engage, each in his own sphere, upon one uniform plan, it might then be possible to see a collective County History, worthy of the honor, wealth, and commercial importance of Staffordshire ; but this project seems hopeless. Upon a similar plan to the works just referred to, the present history has been principally framed, and recourse has been had to all available sources for the purpose of obtaining for it that favour which only a really respectable work of this kind has any right to expect from the local and literary public.

The published records of the county have been carefully examined, from Domesday down wards • Leland, Camden, Erdeswick, and Plot, have supplied each his modicum of matter ; many ancient charters and documents, never before published or noticed, have been brought forward; parochial and other public documents have been sought for and freely contributed ; and no reasonable pains have been spared to obtain correct historical matter proper for the pages of a local history.

PREFACE.

. VII The Work has been compiled amidst a multitude of avocations possessing stronger claims on my time and attention ; and it having been published at intervals, some statements, which proved by means of further information to be incorrect, have been rectified in subsequent pages, or have stood over for emendation, along with divers errors of the press, or the pen, in the Supplementary Chapter. Had I exercised a greater degree of vigilance over some of the earlier numbers, and had the Work been written entire, before any portions were printed off, its redundancies and other faults would have been less conspicuous. I have in most instances acknowledged in the body of the Work the valuable aid I have received from many of its Subscribers and friends, and can do no less than thank every gentleman to whom I have applied for assistance or information, for the invariable courtesy and attention I have experienced.

It will appear, from some observations in the introductoiy chapters, that a History of the Potter's art and a Geological Essay were contemplated in the course of the Work. These have been necessarily abandoned, as subjects beyond the sphere of my proper cognizance. The art of the Potter is one demanding a distinct treatise. A dissertation by Dr. Lardner, which forms part of the Cabinet Cyclopædia, is the best at present extant, but much more of the Egyptian, Etruscan, Grecian, Roman, and Chinese History of Pottery and Porcelain remains for a competent, scientific, and practical author to bring forward. In the last chapter I have availed myself of the communication of a friend, by introducing an extract from a very old and scarce book on this subject, to which I have reason to believe reference has not been before made.

The field for geological science in this part of the country is interesting and large; the subject will, no doubt, ere long engage the attention of a competent writer, and any dissertation I might have been enabled to introduce, by extraneous authorship, must have been brief and unsatisfactory. If I have not succeeded in rendering the present Work altogether worthy of the district it refers to, and the highly-respectable patronage it has received, I shall, at least, have the satisfaction of

PREFACE.

. VIII reflecting that I have contributed something to the stock of local history. Having engaged as a volunteer in an uncertain enterprize, I am prepared to meet its issue with perfect equanimity, and should it prove favourable, I shall principally rejoice that I have been instrumental to the relief of an unfortunate " man of letters. JOHN WARD. Burslem, 3lst December, 1842. P.S. — Of the Plates which the Work contains, the greater part have been contributed by its Subscribers and friends. Some have been executed at my own expense, and some at the expense of the Publishers, but they did not feel themselves called upon to go to the extent I could have wished in furnishing embellishments ; and a fine portrait of the late Josiah Wedgwood, which must be deemed an essential accompaniment to his biography, and will form a most appropriate Frontispiece to this History, has been executed at the engraver's risk, and is charged extra by the booksellers, as well as some views of the new churches engraved for the latter portion of the Work.

A small Lithograph Map of the Borouyh, published by Michael Scott, Hanley, of a size to bind up ivith this Work, will form an appropriate prefix to Chap. Tage CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Introductory remarks. — Earliest notices of the district. — British tribe (Cornavii), — Druid temple, called Bride-stones — Station of Roman troops at Deva (Chester), Mediolanum (Chesterton). — Routes of Antoninus, Via Devana, or Rykeneld Street, distinguished from Ikeneld Street. — Erdeswick's notice of Chesterton — Its present appearance, — Roman coins found in the neighbourhood, — Dissertation on Lyme Woodlands 1

Chapter II

Parliamentary union of towns to form the borough. — Early introduction of the earthenware manufacture, probably by the Romans, certainly by the Saxons. — Geographical locality of the borough. — Saxon owners, or governors, Leofric, Algar ; — Notices in Domesday-book, — Edwin and Morcar's revolt. — Robert de Stafford and his property. — Roads. — Grand Trunk Canal. — Religious condition, — Mr. Wesley's visits and societies. — Separatists from the Wesleyans, — Various religious sects. — Education 23

Chapter III

Rapid advance of the earthenware manufacture in the 18th century. — Tables of population at successive periods ; also of rated property, dwelling-houses, and elective franchises. — Earliest notice of Burslem potteries. — The butter-pot. — Ancient pot-work. — Salt-glazing. — Elers' Samian ware — Their secrets surreptitiously obtained. — Introduction of flint and white clays, — White stone-ware; — Plaster-moulds introduced. — Eminent potters. — Josiah Wedgwood's improvements. — Champion's patent porcelain. — Pulverized flint. — Brindley's mills, and Wedgwood's machinery for preparing the compound clay. — Modern pot-work. — Fluctuations of trade. — Wesley's and Franklin's remarks on speculations. — Association of masters for purposes of the trade ; Berlin and Milan decrees. — Dispute with America, 1814. — Political excitements. — Volunteer associations in 1798 and 1803. — Civil government of townships. — Police acts for Burslem and Hanley. — Parliamentary representation. — New elective franchise. — Elections. — Popular violence. — Chamber of commerce, or committee of trade. — Combinations of workmen . — Public institutions. — Newspaper-press 41

Chapter IV

Tunstall. — Local situation, — Superficies, &c. — Etymology — Its omission in Domesday accounted for. — Erdeswick's notice. — Manorial territory. — Barons Audley, lords of Tunstall.— Origin of Manors.— Fief of the New-Castle.— Sneyd, and Earls of Bath, joint lords. — Sneyd and Bowyer; finally, Sneyd only. — Tenures of Estates. — Phythyon of Tunstall.— Suit respecting his garden-place. — Battle of Blore Heath. — Tunstall Manor Court.— Memoir of the Family of Sneyd,— Also of Child. — Other landed proprietors.— Enclosure of Town-Fields CONTENTS. X

Chapter V

Page Tunstall concluded.— Its existing state.— Christ Church. — Value of the living. — Thomas Child, an old inhabitant.— Enoch Booth.— Anthony Keeling.— Sandemanian society. — Commencement of modern Tunstall. — Police formation. — Market proprietary— Court-House.— Establishment of market.— Building society. — Wesleyan Chapel and Schools.— New Connection Chapel,— Primitive Methodist Chapel aud Schools,— History of the rise of the Primitive Methodists, and their present position. — China and earthenware manufactories, — Tileries, — Comparative prices of bricks and tiles,— Chemical works,— Collieries,^ Harecastle Tunnels, — Principal dwelling-houses ; — Police arrangements. — Supply of water, — Highways, repairs, President Bradshaw's opinion. — Friendly societies. — Charitable donations. — Wake. — Public-houses, — Professional persons. — Electors on the county register 89

Chapter VI

Wolstanton. — The parish and vicarage, — Vivian, of Stoke, first vicar. — Advowson given by Henry III. to his son Edmund, with Newcastle. — King Edward I. calls the title in question, — Rector, Nicholas de Audley. — Pope Nicholas's valor. — Subsequent patronage of the church, granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir W. Sneyd. — Revenue in time of Henry VIII. — Recent commutation of tithes, and present revenues.— Etymology of AVolstanton. — History of St. Wolstan, — His supposed ancestry at Dimsdale. — The church described — Monuments in the chancel — Elegant one of Sir W. Sneyd. — Marriages registered in Cromwell's time. — New Marriage Act, — Parochial divisions and expenditure. — Union with Burslem. — Ancient parochial notice. — Coins found at Golden Hill, in Vill of Oldcott. — The several hamlets and parts described: viz., Wolstanton, Knutton, Chesterton, Red Street, Pottery and Glass-House, Apedale Furnace and Hall, Chatterley, Bradwell, Dimsdale, Chell, Oldcott, Golden-Hill, RanscUff, Brieryhurst, Kidsgrove Collieries, Church, and School, Harecastle Tunnels, Mow-Cop, Stadmoreslow, Harriseyhead, Thursfield, Newchapel, Grammar-School, AVedgwood. — Observations on rural names. — Increased value of property. — Election statistics 109

Chapter VII

The Audley Family. — Henry de Audley, founder of Helegh Castle and Hulton Abbey. — Times he lived in. — Royal confirmation of his estates. — Lineage. — Introduction of family names.— His wife. — His offices under Henry III. — His death. — James de Audley (son of Henry), his dignity, &c. -His accidental death.— His issue. — Nicholas, first Baron Audley. —Thomas, second Baron. — Nicholas, third Baron. — James, fourth Baron. — The ward of Roger Mortimer, whose daughter he ma:ries — Heroism at Poictiers. — Nicholas, fifth Baron, last ofthe male line. — Sir John Touchet, sixth Baron, a warrior under Henry IV. — James, seventh Baron, — Killed at Blore Heath. — John, eighth Baron. — James, ninth Baron, rebels, and is beheaded. — John, tenth Baron. — George, eleventh Baron. — Henry, twelfth Baron. — George, thirteenth Baron, created Earl of Castlehaven, wasted his estates —Subsequent fortunes and decay of the house. — Reflections. — Catalogue of the Staffordshire estates. — Family pedigree 135

Chapter VIII

Burslem. — BROWNHILLS. — Situation of Brownhills. — John Burslem, ancient proprietor. — Subsequent ownership. — Improvements by John Wood, Esq. — His family connections, — Grand Trunk Canal commenced here.— Brownhills Villa. — CONTENTS. XI Page 151 Messrs. Haywood's Tileries, &c. — Potworks, and other notices of Brownhills. — LoNGroRT, — Its situation, — Former condition. — Limits defined. — First manufactories. — Messrs. Davenport's establishments for china, glass, &c— Royal visit to Longport in 1806. — Porcelain service for coronation of King William IV. — Mr. Davenport's family. — Longport volunteers. — Other manufactories. — Wharfs. — Principal houses. — Line of intended railway. — Biography of Brindley, the engineer. — His family connections.— Hugh Henshall, Esq. — The Messrs. William son. — Greenway Bank — Knypersley. — John Bateman, Esq. — Curious subsidy roll

Chapter IX

Burslem continued. — Manorial History of Burslem, — Domesday entry. — Part of the barony of Stafford, — Orthography and etymology of Burslem. — Local surnames, how derived — Biography of John Burslem, of Dale-Hall.— Extraordinary prosecution against him. — Inventory of his effects at his decease.— His descendants and family pedigree. — Gilbert Wedgwood and William Colclough (husbands of the co-heiresses of Burslem). — Account of the Wedgwood family. — Their pedigree. — Introduction of the manufacture of earthenware at Burslem. — The Tilewright's art. — Family of Telwright. — Township of Burslem. — Tenure of Lands. — Principal proprietors 183

Chapter X

Burslem continued. — The Hamlet of Sneyd not noticed in Domesday, probably included in Chell. —Remarks on its Etymology. — Sneyd farm. — Lord Parker's drainage of mines. — Landed proprietors in Sneyd. — The Hamil — Public bath. — Dr. Plott's account of mineral waters. — Isolated portions of Sneyd. — The parish of Burslem an ancient chapelry of Stoke. — Supposed foundation of the chapel by Barons Stafford. — Exemptions from Tithes, Sec. — Office of churchwarden. — Tithe composition. — Strictness of a former incumbent. — Parochial expenditure, 1705-6 & 1836. — The plague at Burslem, 1647 ; neighbouring parishes taxed in aid — Parish registers from 1636 to 1838.— Observations on the new acts for marriages and registrations- — Parish-church of Burslem. — Miss Leigh's tomb, and tradition thereon. — Ancient stone-coffin, &c — Endowment of the Rectory. — Parsonage-house; advowson of the Church. — Rectors. — A "Burslem dialogue," exemplifying the provincial dialect, and commemorating some c urious facts and traditions 207

Chapter XI

Burslem continued. — Introductory observations. — Burslem formerly a small village. — State and population about 1750. — Potters about that time. — Dependence on Newcastle. — Erection of the market-hall— Origin of the market — Management thereof. — Appointment of fresh trustees — First turnpike-road. — Canal and Branch. — Progressive improvements. — Waterloo-Road. — Moorland- Road. —Loyal manifestations. — Peace Festival, 1814. — Political bearing. — Old free-school. — Wesleyan Sunday-school. — Management thereof. — Opposition of the preachers, &c. — Disputes with the teachers. — Their expulsion and secession — New school-room or chapel. — Reflections. — National school. — Church aud othsr Sunday-schools. — Dissenters' chapels; viz., Wesleyan, Bethel, Zoar, Independents, Primitives, Baptists. — Erection of St. Paul's church. — Description thereof. — Monuments. — Cemetery. — Engraved view of the church.— Incumbents.— Market and police act. — Qualifications and powers of Trustees and Commissioners. — Chief CONTENTS.

XII Page 233 259 constable.— Rates.— Annual meetings.— List of chief constables. —Improvements of town. — View of new market-house.— Cost thereof.— Description.— Income of market. — Rate of tolls. — Annual fairs

Chapter XII

Burslem concluded. — Manufacturing establishments. — Enoch Wood and Sons — Memoir of Mr. Wood, sen. — His museum of fictile rarieties.— Bust of John Wesley, and anecdote thereon. — Mr. Wood's patent for raising water. — Samuel Alcock and Co.'s extensive china works. — Machin and Potts. — Their improvements, and patent inventions. — Other manufacturers. — Chemical and colour works.— Principal dwelling-houses. — Banking establishments. — Professional persons. — Gas works. — Supply of water. — Highways. — Benevolent institutions. — Burslem wake. — Charitable gifts. — Workhouse. — Parochial expenditure. — Inns and beer-houses. — Registered voters

Chapter XIII

Cobridge and Abbey-Hulton. — Situation of Cobridge. — Hamlet of Rusbton. — Etymologies. — Domesday notice of Hulton and Rushton. — Pope Nicholas's Survey. — Estimate of the comparative value of land. — Purchase of Rushton Grange by R. Biddulph, Esq. — Notices of the family of Biddulph. — Pedigree. — Rushton tithe-free. — The Old Grange. — Roman Catholic chapel.— Royal art of healing. — Landed proprietors. — Family of Warburton. — Sneyd Green. — Hot- Lane.— New church. — Dissenters' Chapels. — School-house. — Charities. — Manufacturers. — Dwelling-houses. — Highways. — Population. — A7ignette of the Old Grange. — ABBEY-HULTON. — Ancient history. — Cistercian monastery. — Account of that order. — Their possessions. — Abbey surrendered. — Names of Abbot and Monks.— Remains of the Abbey. — Milton. — Notice of the manor and parish of Norton in the Moors 273

Chapter XIV

Newcastle-undee-Lyme. — Manorial territory. — Erection of the castle. — The Earls of Chester constables. — State in King John's reign. — His visit to Newcastle. — The main structure. — The Donjon Tower. — Leland's account. — Randle de Blundeville.— Surrender of King Henry III. — Fiefs under Newcastle from Testa de Neville. — Queen Eleanor's dowry.— Charter to the borough.— Barons' wars. — Simon de Montfort.— Battle of Evesham. — Grant to Edmund Earl of Lancaster. — Quo AVarranto against him. — Succeeding earls. — Origin of the town. — The church. —Friary. — Subsidy in 1340. — Surrender of the Borough by the corporation to the Earl of Lancaster. — Manorial history continued. — John of Gaunt. — Memoirs of him and his queen.— Tutbury Castle.- Sports there.— Succession of King Henry IV. — Events during the 14th and 15th centuries. -Description of the castle from an old MS. — Concluding remarks 297

Chapter XV

Newcastle-under Lyme continued. — Tenure of lands.— Remarks on slavery. —Origin of copyholds. — Services reserved — commutation for money. — Changes in villenage tenures.— Origin and designation of copyholds. —The King's copyholders.— Incidents of villenage.— Decline of the system. — Transition state. Disputed customs in the manor of Whitmore.— Ancient rigour and gradual extinction of villenage.— Copyholds in Newcastle.— Rights of the crown.— Suit CONTENTS. XIII Page 365 respecting them. — Composition and decree. — Customs and copyhold rights decreed — Schedule of copyholds. — Demesne lands. — Crown rents. — Presentment of cus toms. - Probable enfranchisement. — Grantees of the Castle, Pool, Manor, Mines, &c. — Sale of demesne lands. — Mineral rights. — Number of copyholders. — Stewards of the manor 312

Chapter XVI

Hanley. — Manor of Hanley, a fief of Newcastle. — William de Hanley ancient lord. — Sir Thomas Colclough in 1615. — Account of the family of Colclough. — Their Pedigree. — Peculiarities of this manor. — Disquisition respecting manorial rights.— Ownership of the mines. — Family of Bagnall afterwards lords. — Their pedigree. — Ancient condition of Hanley. — Leases by the lords of waste lands. — Freehold and copyhold properties. — Building of the first chapel. — Mr. John Bourne principal contributor. — Rev. John Middleton first incumbent. — His biography. — Act for erecting the present church. — Registers and monuments. — Purchase of Parsonage-house. — Present incumbency.- - Rise and establishment of the market. — Original market hall. — Subsequent improvement and present condition of the market.— Repairs ofthe highways. — Landed proprietors 337

Chapter XVII

Hanley and Shelton, one connected town. — Potters of past days. — Mock Mayor's Feast. — Drinking parties. — Amusements. — The rough fleet. — Police Acts. — Chief bailiffs. — Public meetings — Manufacturing establishments ; viz the Old Hall, the New Hall, and other firms. — Messrs. Fourdrinier's paper-mill. — Water-works of John Smith, Esq. — Wood-Wall Well. — Iron foundries. — Furnaces of Earl Granville. — Birtish Gas Company. — Silk-mill. — Flint and colour-mills. — Cobalt merchants and refiners. — Engravers and artists. — Banking establishments. — Private dwelling-houses. — Mr. C. Meigh's picture-gallery —Professional persons..

Chapter XVIII

Hanley and Shelton continued. — Public wharfs. — Junction ofthe Caldon canal with the Grand Trunk. — Estimate of traffic. — Table of freight. — North Staffordshire Infirmary. — Pottery races. — Mechanics' Institution. — Savings' Bank. — Hanley and Shelton National Schools. — The British School. — Bethesda Chapel, Schools, and Library. — The Methodist New Connexion. — Their other Chapels and Schools. — Wesleyan Methodist Chapels and Schools. — Independents. — Baptists. — Primitive Methodists. — Table of churches, chapels, and schools. — Influence of the Dissenting bodies. — Miscellaneous notices 387

Chapter XIX. Shelton

,identified with the Manor of Newcastle. — Area of the Township. — Copyhold tenure, — Bell's Mill an exception. — Tradition thereon. — Family of Bell. — Ancient . village. — Old Hall, the seat of the Fenton family. — Biography of Elijah Fenton, the poet. — Facsimile of a letter of Alexander Pope. — Pedigree of the family of Fenton. — Account of the family of Twemlow, and pedigree. — Erection of St. Mark'schurch. — Description thereof.— Future rectory. — Schools adjacent. — Landed and other proprietors in Shelton 409

Chapter XX

Etkuri a. — Remarks introductory to the biography of Josiah Wedgwood, — His birth, —Parentage, — Early employment,— Experiments in the potter's art, — Partnerships CONTENTS. Page with Harrison, and with Whieldon. — Subsequent establishment. — French goods superseded by Queen's Ware. — He promotes the making of the canal. — Builds his manufactory on its banks. — Etruscan vases introduced. — Mr. Bentley received into partnership — Their curious and multifarious productions — Exhibition rooms. — Barberini vase. — Mr. J. Wedgwood's account thereof. — His pyrometer. — His evidence before the Privy Council. — His honour, character, fame, fortune, decease, and family. — The Village of Etruria. — Manufactory. — Etruria Hall. — Other houses. — Volunteer corps. — Riot at Etruria, and its results 427

Chapter XXI

Stoke-ttpon-Tkent. — The name of Stoke defined. — Early seat of a church. — Introduction of Christianity into Britain. — Extent of the ancient parish. — Church indirectly noticed in Domesday. — Caverswall probably a member. — Subsequent notices of Stoke in ancient records. — Vivian of Stoke, King John's chaplain. — Incidents respecting him. — Advowson appendant to the Manor of Newcastle. — Pope Nicholas' taxation. — Inquisition of Nones. — Ecclesiastical survey of Henry VIII. — Erdeswick's notice of Stoke. — Curates' salaries. — Progressive history of the rectory. — Act of 1807, for dividing the parish. — Table of income of the several rectories, 1831. — Advowson, purchased by John Tomlinson, Esq. — His management. — Act of 1827, for selling the tithes, &c. — Funds produced thereby. — Other resources of the living. — View of the late church. — Situation and description in 1824. — Church ales. — Probable era of its foundation. — List of rectors. — Parochial notices. — Churchwardens' and overseers' accounts. — Produce of rates, &c. in the 17th century. — Parish registers. — Remarks thereon 447

Chapter XXII

Stoke-upon-Trent continued. — The new parish church. — Ceremonial of its foundation. — Commemorative inscription. — Architectural details. — Splendid east window. — Monuments and other notices. — National school. — Charitable gifts. — Stoke Hall. — Dr. Lightfoot's biography.— -Notices of several rectors; viz., Dr. Weston, Dr. Mainwaring, Dr. Allen, and Dr. Woodhouse 471

Chapter XXIII

Stoke-tjpon-Trent continued, Parochial notices as to the poor. — Parish Workhouse. — Table of annual expenditure. — Parish boundary, — Church-rates. — Registration of births, &c — Table of births, &c. — Dissenters' chapels. — Schools. — Election statistics. — Inns, &c. — Town of Stoke described. — Eminent deceased manufacturers; viz., Hugh Booth, Josiah Spode (1st, 2nd., and 3d.), Thomas Wolfe, Thomas Minton. — Parkes, the chemist. — Present manufacturers ; viz , Copeland and Garrett, Minton and Boyle, W. Adams and Sons, &c. — Town Hall. — Market. — Proposed Town-house and new market. — Canals. — Wharfs. — Gas works. — Steam mill — PENKHULL WITH BOOTHEN. — Formerly distinct hamlets.— Domesday notice of Penkhull. — Etymologies.— Hides of lands and knight's fees. — Territorial observations. — Landed proprietors. — Ancient village and potteries. — Intended church. — Tileries. — Mansion, &c. ; viz., the Mouut, Cliff Ville, Cliff-Bank Lodge, Longfield Cottage, Hart's-Hill Church, Stony-Field House, Stoke Lodge.— Trent- Vale, church there 491