Audley in 1868

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

"AUDLEY, a parish and small town in the northern division of the hundred of Pirehill, in the county of Stafford, 5 miles to the N.W. of Newcastle-under-Lyme, its post town, 16 from Macclesfield, and about 4 E. from the Burslem station on the North Staffordshire railway. It lies near the border of Cheshire, in a district rich in coal and ironstone, which give employment to a great number of the inhabitants. The Grand Junction canal is carried through the Harecastle tunnel on the eastern side of this parish. It includes the chapelry of Talk-o'-th'-Hill, which has now a district church and parsonage of its own, with the townships of Audley, Bignall-End, Eardley-End, Halmer-End, and Park-End.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lichfield, of the Vale of £520, in the patronage of the Rev. E. Gilbert. The church, dedicated to St. James, was restored in 1846. It contains a monumental brass to the memory of Thomas, brother of the famous James, Lord Audley, who fought in the battle of Poitiers, in 1356, and to whose family the manor formerly belonged, together with an alabaster effigy of Delves of Doddington, who was one of his esquires at that battle. The chancel, which was rebuilt in 1846, has a fine east window of seven lights, with very beautiful Gothic tracery in the form of a cross, and is paved with encaustic tiles, after a design found in Tintern Abbey. The nave was restored in 1856, and a fine carved roof added. The register dates from 1538.

The Wesleyan Methodists have several chapels here. There is a free grammar school, established and endowed in 1622, by the Rev. Edward Vernon, with £120 per annum, which has been subsequently increased. The chancery suit instituted in 1835 concerning the administration of this charity, was terminated in 1852. There are several smaller charities, amounting to about £50 per annum. On a rock within 3 miles of the village of Audley, are the ruins of Heyley, or Heleigh Castle, the ancient seat of the Audleys, who took from this place the title of baron. The title is now borne by the Touchets."

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

• Bignall End
• Eardley End
• Halmer End
• Hare Castle
• Knowl End
• Park End
• Shaley Brook
• Talk O Th Hill

 

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