Leigh in 1859

LEIGH (ALL SAINTS), a parish, in the union of UTTOXETER, S. division of the hundred of TOTMONSLOW, N. division of the county of STAFFORD, 5 miles (W.N.W.) from Uttoxeter; containing 1012 inhabitants. The parish, including the township of Field, comprises 7037a. 39p., of which about one-third is arable, and very little wood, though hedge-row timber is abundant; the surface is varied, the soil clay, and the scenery generally of pleasing character. It is intersected by the river Blithe. Park Hall, an ancient mansion, is surrounded by a moat.

The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £14.0.5., and in the gift of Lord Bagot: the tithes have been commuted for £688.15., and the glebe comprises 69 acres, with a house. The church is an ancient cruciform structure, mostly in the decorated English style, with a square embattled tower rising from the centre; the south aisle has three monuments to the Ashenhurst family, and an altar-tomb, of the date 1523, to Sir John and Lady Aston, with their recumbent effigies. A free school was endowed by Stephen Spencer, in 1620, with lands now producing about £72.15. per annum; and other schools are supported by W. Evans, Esq. 

An 1859 Gazetteer description of the following place in Leigh is to be found on a supplementary page.

• Field

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