Aldridge in 1868

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

"ALDRIDGE, a parish in the southern division of the hundred of Offlow, in the county of Stafford, 3 miles to the N.E. of Walsall. It contains the chapelry of Great Barr, and the liberty of Bentley, and is situated on the Wyrley and Essington canal, and near the South Staffordshire railway. Good clay is obtained here, of which the finest pottery and tiles are manufactured. The population are employed in the potteries, the collieries, and a large distillery. The canal is an important auxiliary to the trade of the place.

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield, value £375, in the patronage of the Rev. J. F. Smith. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. In addition to the parish church there is a district chapel of ease at the village of Great Barr, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £405, in the patronage of Sir E. D. Scott, Bart. The charities of the parish amount to £182, the larger part of which constitutes the endowment for the support of two free schools, one for boys, the other for eight poor girls, which were founded in 1718 by the Rev. John Jordan. There is also a curious provision of "sixpence" custom money, for every housekeeper in the parish who will ask the rector for it. Remains of a Roman camp exist."

 

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