Cheadle in 1859

CHEADLE (ST. GILES), a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the S. division of the hundred of TOTMONSLOW, N. division of the county of 
STAFFORD, 14 miles (N.N.E.) from Stafford, and 147 miles (N.W. by N.) from London; containing 4399 inhabitants. This place is situated in a valley environed by hills, which, though formerly barren, have been planted with forest-trees, and have assumed the appearance of verdure and cultivation.

The town, which is intersected by the roads from Newcastle to Ashbourn, and from Leek to Uttoxeter, consists of one principal and four smaller streets: the houses in the main street have, for the most part, been either rebuilt or modernised of late years, and appear substantial and roomy: the inhabitants are supplied with water from a rivulet, called Cicely's Brook, and from springs and pumps. Tape, copper, and brass works are extensively carried on in the town and neighbourhood: copper-ore has been discovered, but not in sufficient quantity to repay the expense of working it; and the vicinity abounds with coal. The Caldon branch of the Trent and Mersey canal passes within four miles of the town, by Oakamoor, the chief seat of the copper and brass works. The market is on Friday: a small square has been recently appropriated for the market-place. The fairs are on Holy-Thursday and Aug. 21st, for cattle.

The LIVING is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £12.9.2.; net income, £438 ; patrons, Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge. The old church, which was principally in the decorated English style, with a square embattled tower crowned by pinnacles, and, though much mutilated and disfigured by alterations, retained some features of its original character, has been lately taken down, and a new church on a much larger scale, containing 1480 sittings, erected by subscription, aided by the Incorporated and Diocesan Societies. A chapel of ease has also been lately built at Oakamoor, containing nearly 500 sittings, of which 304 are free, the Incorporated Society having granted 300 towards the expense. There are places of worship for Independents, Wesleyans, the New Connexion of Methodists, or Kilhamites, and Roman Catholics.

A school was founded, in 1685, by Mr. Stubbs, who endowed it with a rent-charge of £20; and to this the trustees of Mr. Andrew Newton added £30, the interest of which is paid to the master. Mr. Fowler, in 1663, gave a rent-charge of £6; Mr. Charles Beech, in 1726, bequeathed £26 per annum; and Mrs. Frances Grosvenor, of Hale Hall, in 1727, gave a rent-charge of £10, all for distribution among the poor. The union of Cheadle comprises 15 places, and contains a population of 17,859. 

OAKMOOR, a chapelry, in the parish and union of CHEADLE, S. division of the hundred of TOTMONSLOW, N. division of the county of STAFFORD. The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £57; patron, Rector of Cheadle.

[Description(s) from The Topographical Dictionary of England (1859) by Samuel Lewis - Transcribed by Mike Harbach ©2020]