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Ellastone in 1817

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

ELLASTONE.

Ellastone is a parish of considerable extent to the west, and contains the high Weaver Hills, with the township of Woolton to the north. The village of Ellastone is ancient and irregularly built. It is situated about two miles north of Rocester, at a considerable distance from the west bank of the Dove. The soil is fertile, being a loamy surface, with a bottom of lime-stone. The parish of Ellastone, including the townships of Calwich, Stanton, Woolton, Prestwood, and Ramshorn, contains 195 houses, 178 families; 445 males, 471 females: total of inhabitants, 916.

Ellastone Church is a handsome Gothic structure of stone, situated on an eminence near the village. The stone tower is square, and adorned with four pinnacles and battlements, with a vane in the centre. It is dedicated to St. Peter, and is a vicarage, in the patronage of Davies Davenport, Esq. The present vicar is the Rev. Davenport, and the present curate, the Rev. George Hake.

Between the two small windows at the east end of Ellastone church, on the outside, a very elegant mural monument bears the following inscription: "Here lies interred the body of Bernard Granville, who trusted in the mercy of Almighty God for the forgiveness of his sins, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ the Saviour and Redeemer of mankind. He was the son of Bernard Granville, and great grandson of Sir Bevil Granville, who was killed in the Civil wars, fighting for king Charles the First, on Lansdowne, near Bath, in Somersetshire. He died at Calwich, July 2d, 1775, aged 76."

Near this monument is another tombstone, with this inscription: "Here lie the remains of the Rev. David Miles, AM, 59 years Vicar of this church; highly respected by his parishioners and acquaintance. He died in the year of our Lord 1783 of his age 87."

There are several instances of longevity recorded on the tombstones in this church-yard, particularly Samuel Banks, of Stanton, who died Dec. 19th, 1785, aged 89 years; Thomas Horobin, died in 1802, aged 93 years; and Ann Parker, aged 92.;

Near the church, on the brow of a hill, is a neat modern structure, with two small wings, and a Gothic window in each. It is a national school, built by the voluntary contributions of the neighbouring gentry, and is at once ornamental and useful.