Trentham in 1817

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

TRENTHAM.

Trentham, is a parish in Pirehill North, adjoining to that of Newcastle. It contains four townships, namely, Blurton and Lightwood Forest, Hanchurch and Butterton, Handford, and Trentham. This parish contains 399 houses, 417 families ; 1069 males, 1051 females: total, 2,120 inhabitants. 

The village of Trentham is situate on the turnpike-road between Newcastle and Stone, about four miles from the former place. It consists of several tenements and a large Inn. The new Cemetery of the House of Trentham is situated in the village of Trentham, on the eastern side of the road that passes through it. It is a large pyramidal pile of stone, of two stories, the upper of which contains one bell, and is surmounted by a cross. The entrance is at the western side, and a large Gothic window admits the light from the east. The interior of the cemetery contains twenty catacombs on each side, each sufficiently capacious to hold one coffin. The divisions between these catacombs are faced with Derbyshire marble. The funeral service is performed in this Mausoleum on the interment of any of the parishioners, and an extensive burying-ground is enclosed in the rear of this structure, beyond which the minister's house stands in a field : it is now the residence of the Rev. T. Butt, the present minister of Trentham. 

The Church, which originally was part of the monastery, noticed hereafter, is an ancient structure of stone situated close to the Hall, and is dedicated to St. Mary. The ancient family-vault of the House of Trentham is in the Church, and none of the family have yet been interred in this new cemetery. 

Longevity. Thomas Elkon, of Spratslade, died Feb. 7, 1783, aged 91 years ; Ann Lakin, aged 89 years. 

There is a remarkable inscription in the church-yard, which points out the antiquity of a family resident in this parish : " To the Memory of the Boulds from the year of our Lord 1558." 

" Trentham, heretofore called Trichingham, is of no note for any thing ancient, but a little monastery dedicated to the holy and royal virgin, St. Werburga, and erected for canons regular of St. Augustine, in the reign of William Rufus. Ranulph de Gernons, Earl of Chester, is said to be the founder of this monastery." But as that Earl lived in the time of king Stephen, it is probable he was only the restorer of it, and a benefactor to it. He granted the canons " a yearly rent of 1005. which gift was confirmed to them with divers immunities, by King Henry the Second. It was valued at the Dissolution at £106. 3s.11d. per annum." 

According to Pope Nicholas's taxation in 1291, the Church of Trentham, then appropriated to the prior and convent of the same, was valued at twenty marks. 

Lady Catherine Leveson, daughter of Alice Duchess of Dudley, gave £400. to the township of Trentham, to purchase lands of the yearly value of £20. for the support of a schoolmaster to teach the poor children of the parish, until they be fit to be put forth apprentices to some honest trade and occupation. She also gave to the poor of this parish fifty pounds, to be distributed to them on the day of her funeral. She also gave the yearly rent of £120. for the maintenance of twelve poor widows, whereof three were to fee chosen out of this township, by the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor, and to have a gown of grey cloth with the letters K. L. in blue cloth fixed on it. As also one hundred pounds per annum to be paid out of her rents and revenues at Foxley in Northamptonshire, for the placing out ten boys apprentice, two of them to be of this parish, where she died in 1673, but was buried at Lilleshall, by her husband Sir Richard Leveson. His sister and co-heir marrying Sir Thomas Gower, brought this lordship into his family, who made it his seat, and whose descendants were elevated to a peerage. Sir John Leveson Gower, the 5th Baronet, was created Viscount Trentham and Earl Gower, July 8, 1746, and his eldest son, Marquis of Stafford, in the year 1786.

Trentham Hall, the family residence of the present Marquis of Stafford, is situated on the banks of the river Trent, and is one of the most magnificent seats in the county. It is a modern mansion, and built after the model of Buckingham House, in St. James's Park. It is built of brick, but the front is covered with Egyptian cement similar to stone. The principal front is to the south, and the mansion is sheltered by full-grown trees on the north and east sides. 

The pleasure-grounds are extensive and diversified, and the river Trent, which forms a beautiful lake at some distance from the front of the Hall, with the woody hills beyond it, present a beautiful variety of rural scenery. Near the eastern side of the house, an orangery is seen like a mystic temple, and the stranger on approaching it is gratified by the fragrant scent of the snow-white blossoms. A few paces beyond the orangery, and nearer the house, a handsome iron bridge of a single arch, 90 feet wide, affords a ready passage to the rambler over a fine piece of water. 

Part of the windows in the front of the lower story exhibit the various green-house plants and flowers of a conservatory. A new eastern wing has been lately completed. The interior of this mansion harmonizes with its elegant exterior. It contains a choice and valuable collection of paintings by the first masters, particularly an exquisite Guido, and some other chef d'oeuvres. There are also several sketches of Northern scenery by the present Marchioness of Stafford.