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Enville in 1817

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

ENVILLE.

This parish, manor, and estate, has for two centuries belonged to the family of Grey, Earls of Stamford, who have here a magnificent residence. Erdeswicke calls it "a goodly manor and a park, standing north-west from Whittington and Kinfare, something more than two miles, where Thomas Grey, who died in the 20th year of Elizabeth, built a very proper brick house." Dr. Wilkes thus describes it in 1759: "Harry, the present Earl of Stamford, having purchased several estates, so as to make the whole neighbourhood his property, and having married the Lady Mary Booth, by whom he had an immense fortune, has laid out many thousand pounds in beautifying these premises. This he has done with so much art and elegance, that few places in England can rival, and none exceed it, but has not yet meddled with the house."

Since that period the mansion has been modernized. It is a handsome white structure, and though the greater portion of it is of modern erection, it still retains an air of antiquity. It consists of a centre, and two wings, the former receding considerably, and having an octangular tower at each end. The windows in this part of the edifice are formed by Gothic arches in the pointed style, and round the top runs an embattlement, which completely prevents the roof from being seen. The wings, which stretch themselves out from the towers, appear as modern erections; and behind are several later additions, which, with the brick offices, are judiciously concealed from the view, so that the whole possesses an agreeable and uniform appearance.

In front of this mansion extends a beautiful sloping lawn, which rises boldly on the left, and is adorned by a charming lake, skirted with foliage, and a few ornamental buildings. From the side of the water a path lies through a neat shrubbery, and leads to a fine cascade, formed by the celebrated Shenstone, who indeed originally designed the whole of this delightful scenery. At a little distance below the cascade, is a rural bridge, composed of only one plank, which crosses the stream, and is a very fine and picturesque object.

Near this spot stands a small chapel, dedicated to Shenstone; and having its windows embellished with various paintings on glass. This circumstance, together with the thick and gloomy umbrage in which it is enveloped, impresses the mind with a sentiment of peculiar solemnity. From hence the path extends through the wood, till at last it arrives at an open level, from which there is a view up a gently-ascending lawn, on whose summit is erected, with singular advantage, a handsome rotunda, overshadowed by a bold and lofty wood. The path now entering a part of this wood, leads to a verdant alley, opening into a sheep-walk, from a rising point of which, under a lofty yew, there are some of the richest and most enchanting prospects imaginable. At the extremity of the walk, stands the shepherd's lodge, a neat white Gothic edifice, shaded by a few trees, and partly used as an observatory by the noble owner, from whence may be seen Bardon-hill, the Malvern and Cotteswold hills, the Wrekin, Clee-hills, and the Welsh mountains.

The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a rectory in the deanery of Lapley and Trysull: the Rev. Richard Wilkes is the present incumbent. The east window is adorned with several shields and coats of arms; also with portraitures of St. John the Baptist, St. George and the Dragon, and the Blessed Virgin and Child. It contains many monuments and inscriptions in memory of the Greys, Moseleys of the Meer, and other families. The lid of a stone coffin with a cross, and the words ROGERUS DE MORF, inscribed upon it, was dug up in 1762, from beneath the west end of the church, whence it is supposed that the Morfe extended to this place, since a small village in the parish still retains the name of Morfetown. A similar stone, much defaced, with a fleur-de-lis and a cross, likewise lies at the entrance of the porch. Enville is famous for a variety of the black cherry, which possesses a peculiar vinous flavour.

Lutteley, in this parish, is supposed to have formed part of Kinfare forest at the time of the Conqueror's Survey, as no mention is made of it at that period.

The Meer, now the seat of Acton Moseley, Esq. is within the manor of Lutteley. The water from which this place takes its name, has been reduced by art and industry, and the part reclaimed converted into good arable and pasture land.