Penkridge History

PENKRIDGE
Description and History from 1868 Gazetteer

"PENKRIDGE, a parish in the E. and W. divisions of the hundred of Cuttlestone, county Stafford, 6 miles S. of Stafford, and 9-11 from Wolverhampton. It has two stations on the London and North-Western railway. It is situated on the river Penk, from which it takes its name; and on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. It is supposed by Camden to have been the ancient Pennocrucium on the Roman way, Watling Street. The town, which from its low situation is subject to frequent inundations, consists principally of two streets.

It is now a polling, petty sessions, and decayed market town. The petty sessions are held every alternate Monday at the "Littleton Arms." There is a savings-bank and iron-works, and two bridges, the one called the Bull Bridge, of recent construction, and the other about half a mile higher up the river, called the Cuttlestone Bridge. The town, which is chiefly agricultural, is well built. The market, which was formerly held on Tuesday, is now disused. The land is in a high state of cultivation. A new principle of scientific agriculture has been tried here, with highly satisfactory results, and cattle are bred to the highest perfection.

The parish comprises 12 liberties, with the chapelries of Coppenhall, Dunston, and Stretton, and the hamlet of Congreve. The church was made collegiate by King John, and given by him to the see of Dublin, the archbishop of which was dean, under whom were thirteen prebendaries, whose joint revenues at the Reformation were valued at £106 15s. Id. The impropriation belongs to Lord Hatherton. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £300.

The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient stone structure, with a tower containing eight bells. The interior of the church contains a decorated E. window, with tracery and monuments of the Littleton family, one of which bears date 1630. It was repaired in 1831. In addition to the parish church, there are district churches at Coppenhall, Dunston, and Stretton, the livings of which are all perpetual curacies, varying in value from £86 to £67.

There is a National school for both sexes, endowed with an annuity of £36 per annum, which sum has been added to by Lord Hatherton. There are places of worship for the Wesleyans, Plymouth Brethren, and Primitive Methodists; the chapel of the latter is situated at Whiston. Rodbaston Hall is situated on an eminence about 2 miles S. of the town. The Poor law Union of Penkridge comprises 21 parishes or townships. Lord Hatherton is lord of the manor. Annual fairs are held on the 30th April, 2nd September, and 10th October."

 

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