Weeford in 1817

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

WEEFORD.

Weeford is a village situated to the east of Shenstone, and the south of Watling-street, in a pleasant valley on the banks of Black-brook. It takes its name from the London-road formerly passing through a ford of Black-brook here, and hence called Wayford.

There is a beautiful tract of narrow but rich meadows, on the banks of the brook in the vicinity of this village, bounded by low and fertile eminences.

The parish is distinguished, as containing the low called Offlow, which gives name to the hundred. Dr. Plott says that the etymology is probably Saxon, though not the sepulchre of Ofla, who was buried at Bedford; but it certainly contains the bones of some chieftain who fell in battle near this place.

Weeford has been the scene of civil warfare. A Purefoy was slain here by Sir Henry Willoughby, in the cause of Edward IV. and Sir Henry was desperately wounded by Lord Lisle.

Thickbroom is a small hamlet and manor on the banks of Black- brook, which takes its name from the broom, with which it formerly abounded.

Swinfen, another hamlet in this parish, is pleasantly situated on the road to Lichfield, and has been in possession of the Swinfen family for ages. The mansion-house was built by Mr. Wyatt the architect, for Samuel Swinfen, Esq. It is a magnificent structure, and the lawn, lake, and surrounding pleasure-grounds, present a beautiful variety of rural scenery.

The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a prebend in Lichfield Cathedral. It is a small ancient fabric, in a low situation, near the turnpike-road.