Gnosall in 1868

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

"GNOSALL, a parish in the W. division of the hundred of Cuttlestone, county Stafford, 6 miles S.W. of Stafford, its post town, and 13 N.E. of Wellington. It is situated on the river Rowley, and is a station on the Shropshire Union line of railway. The Liverpool canal passes through the neighbourhood. The parish is large, having within its limits the hamlets of Apeton, Auldmore, Befcote, Bromstead, Chatwell, Coley, Coton, Cowley, Knightley, Moreton, Outwoods, Plaidiwick, and Wilbrighton.

The living is a perpetual curacy united with the curacy of Knightley, in the diocese of Lichfield, value £175, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is an ancient structure, dedicated to St. Lawrence.

In addition to the parish church, there is a district church at Moreton, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £45, in the patronage of the incumbent. There is a chapel at Knightley, licensed for Divine service. The parochial charities, including an endowment to the free school of £35, produce about £170 per annum.

There is a National school for boys and girls. The Bishop of Lichfield is lord of the manor. Fairs are held on 7th May and 23rd September for the sale of cattle and live stock."

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

• Alstone
• Apeton
• Befcote
• Coton
• Cowley
• Great Chatwell
• Knightley
• Moreton
• Plardiwick
• Rule
• Wilbrighton

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