Norbury in 1817

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

NORBURY.

Norbury is a small parish, situated in the west division of Cuttleston hundred, including the township of Weston-Jones. The population is inconsiderable, amounting to 319 persons, of whom 175 are males, and 144 females, chiefly employed in agriculture. The village of Norbury is four miles from Newport, and about the same distance from Eccleshall.

The manor of Norbury was formerly the property of the Skrymsher family, but now belongs to Lord Anson. Erdeswicke says, "this goodly manor formerly belonged to Hugh de Kilpeck, the King's champion at the Coronation, and that Joan, his daughter, temp. Hen. III. brought it to Sir Philip Marmion, who died 1291, leaving several daughters his heirs, of which Maud, the third, married to Ralph Butler, who made this his seat, and built the manor-house or castle, at the head of the Wild-moors (so called in an old deed there), moating it round. These Wild-moors were a royal waste, that began at the high grounds about Knightley, Gnosall, in Staffordshire, running down by Newport to the rivers Terne and Severne in Shropshire; of which there is a full account in the Philosophical Transactions by the ingenious and learned Mr. Plaxton, whose other MSS I have before mentioned in my preface to Vol I of Staffordshire."

The soil is a light mixed loam, fit for turnips and barley. The parish is divided principally between Lord Anson and the Rev. Sambroke Higgins. There are two small lakes in this parish, one called Blackmere, and the other Cunnegreave. They are both upon a rivulet, which runs through them, by an old mill, and falls into Aqualate Mere.

The Church is a plain old stone building, consisting of a nave, chancel, and a modern brick tower at the west end of the nave, in which are four bells and a small one. In the chancel are several monumental inscriptions to the Skrymshers, one of whom was Adjutant General to Prince Rupert, and standard bearer to the Gentlemen Pensioners of Charles II. The armour belonging to one of the Skrymshers was formerly preserved in the church, but nothing now remains except the helmet and part of a gauntlet.

The present incumbent is the Rev. Sambroke Higgins, and the patronage belongs to Viscount Anson.

Weston-Jones is a hamlet in this parish, upon the Loynton estate, which is the property of the resident rector, Mr. Higgins.

Leewoods is a manor in this parish, belonging to Lord Anson.