Checkley in 1817

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

CHECKLEY and TEAN.

This parish is large and populous: the soil is good in general, particularly the land on the banks of the small river Tean, which flows through it. The village of Checkley is situated four miles and a half north-west of Uttoxeter; it consists of a few farm-houses and smaller tenements, but the most conspicuous object is its ancient and lofty church and high square tower of stone.

The tower contains a clock and six bells, and the grey appearance of the exterior of the whole edifice, with its windows strengthened by stone-work, and its high flat roof with battlements, impress the idea of antiquity and durability. The interior, though much out of repair, presents a variety of interesting objects to the observer. The roof of the nave is high, of oak, and supported by eight Gothic arches, and round pillars. A gallery on the north side contains several pews of oak, and the pews and forms below are made of the same material, but are now in a ruinous and neglected state. A very high arch supports the roof at the west end of the chancel. This part of the church is lighted by two windows on each side, and a large cast window adorned with curious figures painted on the glass.

There is an altar tomb in the chancel, with the recumbent figure of a knight in armour, and a female lying by his side. They are of alabaster, and part of the inscription on the tomb is broken off. A tombstone near the communion table bears the following inscription:
"To the memory of the Reverend James Whitehall, rector of this place
twenty and five ycares, who departed this life the second daie of March, 1644.
"White was his name, and whiter than this stone,
In hope of joyfole resverrection;
Here lies that orthodox, that grave divine,
In wisdom tree, virtve did see clearly shine
One that could live and die as he hath done,
Svffer'd not death but a translation;
Bvt ovt of charitie I'le speake no more,
Lest his friends pine with sigths, with teares the poore!"

Three stones which stand in the church-yard, have for ages puzzled our antiquaries, none of whom have been able to discover why they were set up. Checkley Church is dedicated to St. Mary and All Saints. It is a rectory: the Rev. William Langley, the present rector, is also the patron of the benefice.

Upper and Lower Tean are two populous villages in this parish. They contain several new tenements, some of which are handsome mansions. The principal building, however, is the extensive tape-manufactory of John and Nathaniel Philips. Tean-hall, which was the ancient mansion of the Ashley family, now belongs to Messrs. Philips, with the whole extensive manor of Tean.

The tape manufactory was first established at Tean in the year 1747, when an ancestor of the present proprietors brought over two Dutchmen who were skilled in the manufacture. It continued for several years in a very limited state, for many obstructions lay in the way of success; particularly the skill and enterprise of the Dutch, who had then one thousand tape-looms in full employment. British perseverance, and superiority of fabric, at length prevailed; and the manufactories of tape established in this village, and at Chcadle and Kingsley, are now the most extensive in Europe. About 300 looms are employed at Tean, and in the vicinity; 120 at Cheadle, and 50 at Kingsley. The yarn is imported brown from Russia, Germany, and Ireland; and considerable quantities are also brought from Scotland and Yorkshire. It is bleached at the extensive bleach-works on the banks of the river Tean, near the village, and it is computed that from two to three thousand individuals, including women and children, are employed in the different branches of the manufacture.

A chapel for the Calvinists, with a Sunday-school, has been erected in Tcan by Messrs. Philips. The chapel contains a good organ, and the Rev. Thomas Pritchard, of Cheadle, is minister. In the year 1811, the parish of Checkley and Tcan contained 341 houses, 358 families; 763 males, 935 females: total of inhabitants 1,698.

Heath-house, the residence of John Philips, Esq. is situated on a gentle eminence in this parish, and commands an extensive view of the subjacent vale of the Tean, and of Leigh Church, and the country to a considerable extent. This mansion is built of stone: it is two stories high, with neat hidden attics, and has a southern and a western front, each adorned with an elegant portico of eight Ionic columns. The house is surrounded with extensive plantations of oak, elm, fir, and ash trees. The agriculture of the estate is carried on under the improved Scotch system.

Beamhurst is a small ancient village to the south-east of this parish, and only remarkable for containing a gentleman's mansion, with a fine grove of lime trees in front. The Moorlands commence to the north-west of the parish, which contains the village of Hollington, situated on an eminence. The houses are built of stone, and thatched.