Ellastone in 1868

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]

"ELLASTONE, a parish in the S. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 5 miles S.W. of Ashbourn, its post town, and 6 N.E. of Uttoxeter. The Rochester station on the North Staffordshire railway is 3 miles to the S. of the village.

It is situated near the rivers Dove and Churnet, which abound in trout, and includes the townships of Colwick or Calwich, Ellastone, Prestwood, Ramshorn, Stanton, and Wootton. Copper and lead are found in the neighbourhood, but the mines at Stanton are not at present in operation. The Uttoxeter canal, which passes through the parish, affords ready means of conveyance.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lichfield, value with the curacy of Stanton annexed, £154. The church is a handsome structure, built in 1388, and recently enlarged. It has a tower containing six bells, and is dedicated to St. Peter. The chancel contains handsome monuments to the Fleetwoods, and several tablets. The charities produce about £5 per annum.

The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel. There is a National school for boys and girls. This was the birthplace of Archbishop Sheldon. On the top of Weaver Hill in this parish are several barrows which, when opened, were found to contain some ancient coins. In the vicinity are traces of a Roman encampment. The Rev. W. D. Bromley is lord of the manor."

An 1868 Gazetteer description of the following places in Ellastone is to be found on a supplementary page.

• Calwich
• Prestwood
• Ramshorn
• Stanton
• Wootton

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]