Kingswinford in 1817

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

KINGSWINFORD.

Swinford Regis, or King's Swinford, is so called from having been a domain of the Crown till the reign of John, who gave it to the Baron Dudley, in which family it has ever since continued. It is supposed to have taken its name from Sweyn, the Danish King, who was crowned King of England about the year 1000.

The church is a rectory in the patronage of Lord Dudley. It is an ancient structure, with a massy square tower: over the principal south door is some curious rude sculpture. The interior contains several monumental inscriptions of the families of Corbyn, Hodgetts, and Bendy. The old parsonage-house stands at the east end of the village, and is in part moated.

Near the middle of the village, encompassed by lofty walls, stands Bradley-hall, an ancient half-timbered mansion, with gable ends, transom windows, and other features of the grotesque architecture of 1596, which date appears on its front. To the west is a pleasant eminence called Summer-hill, where are several good modern houses; and at a short distance, is Ashwood, an excellent house, erected by Lord Dudley, and formerly inhabited by Sir Joseph Scott.

At Holbeach, Stephen Lyttelton, and others concerned in the Gunpowder Plot, were taken in 1605. About half a mile to the south, is Shutt-end, an ancient structure, the seat of the Bendys for many generations. Beyond this is Corbyns Hall, which took its name from the owners. In Pensnet Chase, near Bromley, is a brine spring, but the brine is too weak to make salt.

Between Flotheridge-pool and Green's-forge, are vestiges of a Roman camp or entrenchment: it is situated on a flat, had only a single ditch, and nearly reaches down to the Smestall. There are also two uniform stone barrows or tumuli, at Barrow-hill, in this parish, which, according to Plot, are petrifactions.

On the north bank of the Stour, is Prestwood, formerly the seat of the Hon. Edward Foley, and now of his successors: it is a handsome Gothic mansion, fitted-up with much taste. The grounds were laid out by the ingenious Mr. Repton: the situation is enriched by hill and dale, wood and water, and possesses all the varieties of the landscape. Near Prestwood is a wire-mill, where the manufacture of iron-wire is carried on to a great extent.