Stafford History

STAFFORD
Description and History from 1868 Gazetteer

"STAFFORD, a parish, municipal and parliamentary borough, market town, the seat of a Poor-law Union and the county town of county Stafford, is 141 miles W.N.W. from London by road, 133 miles by the North-Western railway, 29 miles N. from Birmingham, a like distance W. from Shrewsbury. It is situated on the left bank of the river Sow, a tributary of the Trent, about 6 miles from its confluence with that river. It is in the united parishes of St. Mary and St. Chad, in the S. division of Pirehill hundred. The municipal and parliamentary boroughs are co-extensive, comprising an area of 2,510 acres, with a population in 1851 of 11,829, and in 1861 of 12,532, occupying 2,241 houses.

The earliest mention of Stafford is in 913, when the Saxon chronicle records that Ethelfleda, Countess of Mercia, and sister of Edward the Elder, there built a fort to keep the Danes in check; but of this there is now no trace. It is mentioned in Domesday Book as a city under the name of Stafford, or Stafeford. A Norman castle was built in the neighbourhood by Richard de Todeni, or de Stafford, who had obtained a grant of the place from William the Conqueror. The castle was restored in the reign of Edward III., and was visited in 1575 by Elizabeth. During the civil wars between Charles I. and the parliamentarians the royalists withdrew to Stafford after Lichfield was wrested from them, and an indecisive battle was fought early in March, 1643, between the rival parties at Hopton Heath, about 2 miles from the town. Later in the same year the town, which was walled, was taken by Sir William Brereton at the head of a parliamentary force, and sustained considerable injury at their hands.

The castle, which is in Castlechurch parish, 1½ mile from the town, was also surrendered and demolished. The only trace of the town wall which remains is one of the gates, named Gaol-gate, now used as a blackhole, or bridewell. The custom of borough English prevails. The town is low, but generally well built; the houses are of stone or brick, and slated. The lower and older portion occupies an irregular four-sided area of about 1½ mile in circumference, and is disposed in two principal streets called Gate street and Gaol Gate street, with which small squares or open areas are connected by subordinate streets and alleys. On the S. a suburb called Forebridge communicates with the town by a bridge, and on the N. are traces of what seems to have been a suburb. The streets are paved and lighted with gas, and there is a good supply of water from public and private pumps.

The county hall with assembly rooms in the market square is of recent erection, and has a front 120 feet long. The other public buildings are the county gaol, recently erected, county infirmary, district lunatic asylum, theatre, public library, savings-bank, and mechanics' institute. Stafford has returned two members to parliament since the reign of Edward I., constituency 1,495 in 1865. Down to the passing of the Reform Act the right of election was in the resident freemen. It was first chartered in 1206 by John, and is divided under the Municipal Reform Act into two wards, which are governed by 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, from among whom a mayor is chosen. The spring and summer assizes and the quarter sessions for the county are held in the town, which is also the place of election for the northern division of the county.

A considerable quantity of leather is tanned in or near the town, and there are some ale breweries, but the principal manufacture is of boots and shoes, which are made in large quantities, chiefly for the London market and for exportation. The Trent Valley railway passes close to the town, and with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal affords great facilities for commerce. The Poor law Union and superintendent Registration district comprise 20 parishes.

About 1½ mile to the S.W. of the suburb of Forebridge, the ruins of the ancient castle occupied a conspicuous position; they were removed in 1810, and a massive castellated building erected. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield, value £365, with a residence, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The parish church of St. Mary, formerly collegiate, was restored in 1846 at the cost of £16,000. It is cruciform and embattled, with nave, side aisles, and a transept 100 feet long, with a three-aisled chancel. A lofty octagonal tower, containing a peal of eight bells, rises from the intersection; the upper part of the tower is of recent date. Within the church is an ancient font.

In addition to the parish church there are the following district churches, viz:, St. Chad's, a Norman structure recently restored; and Christchurch Marston, the livings being perpetual curacies, value respectively £220 and £85. The Independents, Baptists, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship. There is a grammar school refounded by Edward VI., with an income from endowment of £370, of which two-thirds are allotted to the master, and one-third to an usher; also National, infant, British and Foreign, and ragged schools.

The charities include Palmer's and Noel's almshouses, and an institution for the relief of infirm clergymen, and orphans and widows of clergymen, within the archdeaconry of Stafford, the income of which amounts to £2,500 from funded property, besides voluntary contributions. Saturday is the market day, and fairs are held on Tuesday before Shrove Tuesday, and 14th May for cattle, Saturday before 29th June and 10th July for wool, 16th and 18th September and first Monday in October for cheese, and 4th December for horses and cattle."

 

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