Colwich in 1817

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

COLWICH

Colwich is a village in a pleasant situation on the turnpike-road between Stone and Rugeley. It consists of several good houses which extend along the side of the road. 

The Church is an ancient structure of stone, situated on a gentle eminence, and adorned with a handsome high tower with four pinnacles, surmounted by gilt globes and vanes. The tower stands on the northern angle of the west end, and is a pleasing object on the approach to the village from Rugeley. The principal entrance of the church at the west end is a neat modern portico of hewnstone, with a battlement and small turrets. Altogether, the exterior of the church is beautiful : the interior is clean, and the pews neat. The organ was the gift of Viscountess Anson. 
Among the numerous memorials of the dead interred in the church-yard, there is not one remarkable instance of longevity.

The church contains some monuments of the families of Anson and Wolseley. The burying-place of the Ansons is in the form of an Egyptian catacomb. The monument of Sir William Wolseley, bears an inscription descriptive of his accidental death, being drowned in his chariot, on the 8th of July, 1728, in the 
neighbourhood of Longdon, by the bursting of a mill-dam, which was occasioned by a heavy shower of rain during a thunder storm. His four horses were also drowned, but the coachman escaped, and was carried by the torrent into an orchard, where he remained in safety till the flood abated. 

Colwich church is dedicated to St. Michael, and is a prebend of Lichfield, the Dean and Chapter are consequently patrons : the Rev. Pitchford is minister. 

Captain MICHAEL CLEMENTS, a very gallant and brave officer, son of the Rev. Mr. Clements, of Colwich, was born here. He commanded the Pallas, at the defeat of Thurot, in 1776, and subsequently up the Mediterranean ; and died a superannuated Rear-Admiral in 1796. 

The seat of Lord Anson, called Oakedge hall, is a conspicuous object on the southern bank of the Trent. It is in a solitary situation, and has been uninhabited for some years, in consequence of his Lordship retaining the land around it in his own possession, and his principal residence being at Shugborough. A few dependents live in some of the offices, but the windows of the mansion have been shut up some years. 

The village of GREAT HAYWOOD is situated on the north side of the Trent, opposite Shugborough. It contains a few good substantial houses and the remains of a Priory. The Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal, after having passed the Trent upon an aqueduct, forms a communication with the Grand Trunk Canal near this village. 

The extensive parish of Colwich, including the townships of Great Haywood and Wolseley, and the liberty of Fradswell, contains 310 houses, 34 families; 829 males, 859 females: total of inhabitants, 1,688.