Newcastle-under-Lyme History

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME
Description and History from 1868 Gazetteer

"NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, a parish, market town, municipal and parliamentary borough, in the hundred of Pirehill, county Stafford, 15 miles N. by W. of Stafford, 40 from Manchester, and 150 miles by road from London, or 147 by the North Staffordshire railway, on which it is a station. It is a very ancient town, having been a place of some note before the Norman conquest, but known by another name. Its present appellation of Newcastle was derived from a castle built here by Ranulph Earl of Chester, in place of the old castle at Chesterton. The suffix of under-Lyme is supposed to have been taken from a forest close by, so called from being on the "limes," or borders of Cheshire.

Henry II. granted the first charter of incorporation to the town, which is situated on a small stream called the Lyme Brook, at a short distance from the source of the Trent. It has many and easy communications with the pottery districts and other important places, and until recently was looked upon as the capital of the pottery district, but Stoke-upon-Trent is now considered so. The High street is spacious, but the streets generally are irregular, though well paved, and the houses for the most part are good. It is well supplied with water by the North Staffordshire and other water-works, and lighted with gas. The population in 1851 was 10,569, occupying 2,153 inhabited houses, which in 1861 had increased to 12,938, with 2,659 inhabited houses.

The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the corn and flour trade, and in the manufacture of shoes and hats, but this last has recently declined. A considerable business is also done in cotton-spinning and silk-throwing, and in malting, brewing, and tanning, and in the potteries and watch-making. There are also very large papermills, and a few nail and pipe makers. The principal buildings are, the townhall, a structure of brick and stone, with a clock tower; the theatre, a commodious building; the literary and scientific institute, erected in 1836, with a library containing 5,000 volumes; and a museum. The borough has returned two members to parliament since the reign of Edward III. It is governed by a mayor, six aldermen, and 18 councillors, with the style of "mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme."

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield, value £285, in the patronage of Simeon's Trustees. The church, which is dedicated to St. Giles, was almost wholly rebuilt in the beginning of the last century, though the lower, of red sandstone, is very ancient, and the western gateway is of the Norman period. The tower contains nine bells, and a clock with musical chimes. There is also the district church of St. George, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £230. The church of St. George was erected in 1828, at a cost of £8,000. Half of the sittings are free. There are also places of worship for Roman Catholics, Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists.

Besides the grammar school, which was founded in 1602, with an annual income of about £90, there are also National, infant, and British schools, which last were built by subscription in 1834. Almshouses for 20 poor women were founded in 1687 by Christopher, son of George Monk, the famous Duke of Albemarle. The Duchess of Sutherland has the right of nominating recipients for this charity. Newcastle-under-Lyme Poor law Union comprises nine parishes. The union workhouse is a large building in the Elizabethan style, built in 1840, at a cost of about £7,000. A court of quarter sessions is held at the townhall, also the county court monthly, and petty sessions are held weekly.

The Grand Trunk canal passes close to the town, and communicates with the Trent, Severn, Mersey, and Thames. It has a branch to Stoke, and there is a canal from the adjoining coal mines called the Newcastle Lower canal. The market-place is extensive, and the tolls realise over £700 per annum. A local board of health has lately been established, which has greatly benefited the town by enclosing about 5 acres of open space around it, and laying out and planting them as public promenades.

Major-General Harrison was born here, as also Astley, "the handsome dragoon," and founder of Astley's Theatre; Bradshaw, the regicide, was recorder of this town, and the celebrated butcher, Witrings, who could lift 168 lbs. with his teeth, was also a native. It gives the title of duke to the Clinton family. Market days are Mondays and Saturdays. Fairs are held on Shrove Tuesday, Easter and Whit Mondays, the Mondays before 15th July and 11th September, and first Mondays in November. Races take place once a year."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]