Places in Alstonfield in 1868

ALSTONFIELD

"CROWDYCOTE, a hamlet in the parish of Alstonfield, in the county of Stafford, 1 mile N.E. of Longnor. It is situated in an open country on the border of Derbyshire, near the river Dove."

"ELKSTONE, (upper and lower divisions), a chapelry in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 5 miles N.E. of Leek, its post town, and 6 N.W. of Alstonfield. It is situated near a small river called Manifold. A copper mine is being worked in the neighbourhood.

The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £73, in the patronage of the Vicar of Alstonfield. The chapel-of-ease is at Upper Elkstone. The Wesleyan Methodists have a place of worship. The Duke of Devonshire is lord of the manor of Upper, and Sir John Harper Crewe, Bart., lord of the manor of Lower Elkstone."

"FAIRFIELD HEAD, a township and chapelry in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 7 miles S. of Buxton, its post town, and 9 from Leek, where there is a station on the North Staffordshire railway. The village is very small, consisting only of about half a dozen houses, but the township is large, and includes the hamlets of Hulme End, Reap's Moor, Newtown, and Wigginstall. The river Manifold flows through the place. There is a small church at Newtown, and one at Reap's Moor; the same minister serving at each alternately. The Wesleyans have chapels in the hamlets, and there is an endowed free school at Reap's Moor.

In the neighbourhood is Beresford Hall, now in a ruinous state, formerly a seat of the noble family of that name. Within this township is the fishing cottage of Izaak Walton, on the bank of the river Dove, erected by his friend, Cotton, the poet. Viscount Beresford and Sir J. H. Crewe, Bart., are the lords of the manor."

"FLASH, a village in the parish of Alstonfield, hundred of North Totmonslow, county Stafford, 4 miles N.W. of Longnor. The district church for the township of Quarnford is in this village."

"HEATHYLEE, a township in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 7 miles N.E. of Leek, and 6 S. of Buxton, its post town. The township, which is considerable, is situated near the river Dove, and comprises the village of Hardingsbooth, with the straggling hamlets of Broncote, Morredge-Top, Middle Hills, and Downsdale. The soil chiefly consists of moorland, with a few small plots of arable land. Longnor church and other places of worship in the adjoining townships are frequented by the inhabitants. Sir John Harpur Crew is lord of the manor."

"HOLLINS-CLOUGH, a township in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 7 miles S.W. of Buxton, its post town, and 2 N.W. of Longnor. It is a small inconsiderable village situated on the river Dove. Here is a chapel-of-ease annexed to that of Longnor. It is a small edifice, the roof of which is crowned with an open stone turret containing one bell. There is a place of worship for the Wesleyans. Sir John Harpur Crewe is lord of the manor."

"LONGNOR, a township and small market town in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 6 miles S. of Buxton, its post town, 10 N.E. of Leek, and 29 N.E. of Stafford. It is situated in the north-eastern part of the county on the borders of Derbyshire, between the rivers Dove and Manifold. The township includes the hamlet of Nab End. Although nominally a market town, it is but an inconsiderable village.

The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £150, in the patronage of the vicar of the parish. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a plain edifice, built towards the close of the last century, and enlarged with galleries in 1812. The charities produce about £11 per annum, which is applied to school purposes and relief of poor widows. The Wesleyans have a chapel. There is a parochial school with a small endowment. Sir John Harper Crewe, Bart., is lord of the manor. Tuesday is market day. Fairs are held on the Tuesday before old Candlemas Day, Easter Tuesday, 4th and 17th May, Whit-Tuesday, 5th August, Tuesday before old Michaelmas Day, and 12th November."

"NARROWDALE, a mountain pass near the river Dove, in the parish of Alstonfield, county Stafford, 4 miles S. by E. of Longnor, and 23 N.E. of Stafford."

"QUARNFORD, a township and chapelry in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow, county Stafford, 5 miles S.W. of Buxton, its post town, and 7½ N.E. of Leek. This place, which borders on the counties of Derby and Chester, is situated at a considerable elevation amidst the Moorland hills, near the sources of the rivers Dane and Dove. The principal village, called the Flash, skirts the road between Leek and Buxton. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. There are a flax and a silk mill at Gradbach. Several coal mines are in operation. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £85. There is also a chapel-of-ease at Gradbach, erected in 1833. There is a free school endowed with an annuity of £15, which goes to the master for the free education of 36 boys. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. Sir J. H. Crewe, Bart., is lord of the manor."

"STANSHOPE, a hamlet in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of Totmonslow hundred, county Stafford, 10 miles N.E. of Cheadle."

"UPPER BOOSELEY, (Upper and Nether) villages in the parish of Alstonfield, hundred of Totmonslow, in the county of Stafford, 2 miles to the SW of Longnor. They are near the border of Derbyshire.

"WARSLOW, a township and chapelry in the parish of Alstonfield, N. division of Totmonslow hundred, county Stafford, 8 miles N.E. of Leek, and 4 S. of Longnor. Ashbourn is its post town. The village is situated near the river Manifold. The chapelry includes the hamlet of Elkstone. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £105, in the patronage of the Vicar of Alstonfield. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, or St. John the Baptist, was rebuilt in 1820. The parochial charities produce about £1 per annum, also £24 to Sir G. Crewe's free school, built in 1836. Warslow Hall is the principal residence. Sir J. H. Crewe, Bart., is lord of the manor."

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