Waterfall in 1859

WATERFALL (ST. JAMES), a parish, in the S. division of the hundred of TOTMONSLOW, N. division of the county of STAFFORD, 7 miles (E.S.E.) from Leek; containing, with the chapelry of Calton, 517 inhabitants, of whom 446 are in Waterfall township. The river Hamps, which encompasses about two-thirds of the parish, enters the ground at Waterhouses, and pursues a subterraneous course of about three miles to Ham, where it emerges and joins the river Manifold.

The parish comprises about 1200 acres by computation, of which the surface is diversified with hill and dale, and the soil is various, but chiefly marked by strong clay. limestone (a considerable quantity of which is burned), gritstone, and lead-ore, are found in the neighbourhood; and at the adjoining hamlet of Winkshill are two paper-mills, a flax-mill, and an iron forge and foundry.

The living is a perpetual curacy, with a net income of £65; it is in the patronage of Mrs. Jane Wilmott, and the impropriation belongs to Mrs. Townsend. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.

 

[Description(s) from The Topographical Dictionary of England (1859) by Samuel Lewis - Transcribed by Mike Harbach ©2020]