Audley in 1817

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

AUDLEY

Audley is a parish of Pirehill North, containing six townships, namely, Audley, Bignall-End, Eardley-End, Knowl-End, Park-End, and Talk-o'th'Hill, and the liberty of Halmer-End. Audley or Aldithley was the manor and estate of the ancient family of Verdon. According to an ancient record in the Tower, Nicholas de Verdon in the 16th of Henry the Third, gave this manor of Aldithley to Henry, who took his name from this place, and became founder of the noble family of Audley. This family has been celebrated for many eminent men, who were chiefly remarkable for their warlike genius, and among others, James Lord Audley, who was in the wars of France several times with King Henry the Fifth ; but being sent by Queen Margaret, consort to King Henry the Sixth, to encounter Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, he was slain on Blore Heath, and buried in the Abbey of Derley, in Derbyshire. 

The village of Audley is situated on a hill; and the fields around it are fertile, and in a high state of cultivation. It contains several good farm-houses, public-houses, and small tenements, some of which are slated and some thatched. The Church is an ancient fabric, with a strong square tower of stone. It is built in the Gothic style, and consists of the nave, a north and south aisle, and the chancel. Five pointed arches on each side separate the aisles from the nave. The interior is clean, and the pews, which are of oak, were made in the year 1793. There is an ancient gallery at the west end, which belonged to the old church at Newcastle. The church contains monumental inscriptions to Mr. Charles Toilet, Dr. Henshall, and others. 

Audley Church is dedicated to St. James, and is a vicarage in the patronage of George Toilet, Esq. of Betley. The Rev. William Hicken is vicar, and the Rev. Thomas Wright, curate. At the north-east angle of the church-yard, and within its boundaries, is a school-house erected by the benefactions of Edward Vernon, and other benevolent individuals, for the instruction of one hundred boys. There are also tables in the church containing an account of benefactions to be distributed to the poor in bread and clothing. 

John Unwyn, of Clough, in this parish, Gent, who deceased this life, Anno Domini 1641, did by his last will give to the parish of Audley the sum of £80. to be lent to eight young tradesmen in equal portions ; which eight are to be chosen, two out of each quarter of the parish, and they to occupy the same for the space of three years gratis, without paying interest for the same. 

The parish of Audley contains 469 houses, 517 families ; 1355 males, 1263 females : total, 2618. 

Coal abounds in this parish, and the mines afford employment for many hands. The price of coals at some of the works is nine shillings per heap of from 25 to 30 cwt. 

At the bottom of the hill on which the village of Audley stands, on the road to Talk-o'th'Hill, there is a chapel for the Wesleyan Methodists, with an inscription in front bearing the date of 1806. 

The remains of Healy or Heyley Castle, in this neighbourhood, are situated on a lofty rock about a mile to the south east. Camden tells us that the lands hereabout were given by Harvey Lord Stafford, to Henry de Aldithlege or Awdledge, already mentioned, in the reign of king John. This Henry appears to have been the founder of the castle. He was descended from William de Bettelegh or Betley, who besides Audley left him considerable property in this vicinity. The Stanleys earls of Derby were the descendants of this family, who were created Barons of Audley. Both the estate and title, however, afterwards went to the Tucheis, and that family still continues to enjoy them. 

Talk-o'th'Hill, is a village and township of Audley parish, situated on an eminence on the great northern road, four miles and a half from Newcastle, It contains several inns and smaller tenements, and a stone cross, where the market was formerly held, but it is now discontinued. The population of this village is 817 persons. 
The Church, which is a chapel of ease to Audley, is a small brick structure, with a low tower containing a clock and one bell. It is situated in the middle of the village close to the turnpike-road. 
The Rev. Mr. Hill, of the Hough, is minister, but the Rev. John Lawton is the present officiating clergyman. The site of Talk is very elevated, and commands views of part of Staffordshire and Cheshire for many miles. In clear weather the Wrekin in Shropshire, and the mountains of Flintshire, are distinctly visible from this place. The Harecastle Tunnel of the Grand Trunk Canal, passes a full mile under ground near this village. 

In the summer of 1781, an explosion of a cask of gunpowder took place in the village of Talk, as a carrier was conveying the same in a waggon to its place of destination. The driver and horses all perished ; and two houses were thereby demolished, in the ruins of one of which the body of the driver was said to be found in a mangled state. The regular carrier or man belonging to the waggon, had entrusted the care of his team to another, while he was transacting business, or taking refreshment, in a public house, and thus providentially escaped an untimely end. The explosion was attributed to friction. 

Curious Well. Between Talk and the village of Audley, about a. mile from the former place, is a spring of sulphureous water, of a dirty bluish cast, which rises by the side of a brook, whose water is tinged thereby for a considerable distance. Sometimes the water of this well is remarkably muddy ; but whether such variation is owing to change of weather, or other cause, has not yet been ascertained. It is highly valued by the common people, who extol it as a specific in cutaneous disorders, and call it a great sweetener of the blood, &c. It is not at all improbable that it possesses some valuable medicinal properties.