Rugeley History

RUGELEY
Description and History from 1868 Gazetteer

"RUGELEY, a parish, post and market town in the E. division of Cuttlestone hundred, county Stafford, 7 miles N.W. of Lichfield, and 9 S.E. of Stafford. It is a station on the Trent Valley branch of the London and North-Western railway, and a new branch has been added, called the Cannock Mineral line, which runs from Cannock to Walsall, thus affording a communication to all parts of the W. of England. It is situated on the Grand Trunk canal and the river Trent, and contains the chapelry of Brereton, and a portion of Cannock chase. It is a polling and petty sessions town.

The manor was formerly held by the Rudgeleys and the Bishops of Lichfield, but was given to the Pagets, ancestors of the Marquis of Anglesey, the present lord of the manor, by Henry VIII. The town is situated near the S. bank of the Trent, on the road from Stafford to Lichfield. It is well paved and lighted with gas, and has a clean and respectable appearance. It consists of several good streets, and contains two banks, a savings-bank, gas works, a mechanics' institute, and townhall situated nearly central of the town. A court-leet is held in October by the Marquis of Anglesey, at which two constables are appointed, and petty sessions for the division are held monthly in the townhall.

There are extensive collieries, iron, and brass foundries, corn mills, brewery, and a manufactory for sugar of lead and verdigris. Hats were formerly made here, but this branch of trade has entirely declined. At Brereton in this parish are extensive collieries belonging to Earl Talbot and the Marquis of Anglesey. The appropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £405, and the vicarial for £315, with a glebe of 8 acres.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lichfield, value £213, in the patronage of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to St. Augustine, has a tower containing six bells. The church was erected in 1822. At a short distance from the present church are the tower and chancel of the old edifice, and the latter is used as a schoolroom. There is also a district church at Brereton, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £120, in the patronage of the vicar. The parochial charities produce about £200 per annum.

There are National and infant schools, also a free grammar school endowed with an annuity of £300, besides Bramford's free writing-school endowed with £35 per annum. The Roman Catholics have a school. There are places of worship for the Independents, Wesleyans, and Roman Catholics. Hagley Hall, the principal residence, is an ancient mansion, situated in a well-wooded park. Market day is Thursday. Fairs are held on the 15th April, 1st June, and lasting for six days, for the sale of colts and first-class horses, 21st October for cattle, sheep, and horses, and on the second Tuesday in December. There are also monthly sales of fat stock at Smithfield, which place has been recently established by the late Earl of Shrewsbury. Races occur in September upon a 1½ mile course at Hitchen Hill, about a mile from the town."

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