SUTTON COLDFIELD - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"SUTTON COLDFIELD, a parish, post, and market town in the Birmingham division of Hemlingford hundred, county Warwick, 7 miles N.E. of Birmingham, and 8 S.W. of Lichfield. It is a station on the London and North-Western railway. This town, formerly called Sutton-Colville, is of great antiquity, having been of some note in the Saxon times. It is situated on a branch of the river Tame, near the ancient Icknield Street, and is intersected by the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. The parish comprehends the villages of Little Sutton, Hill, Maney, Hill Hook, and Warmley.

The manor was given by Henry I. to the Earl of Warwick in exchange for other manors, and was subsequently possessed by Vesey, Bishop of Exeter, and chaplain to Henry VIII., who revived the ancient prosperity of the town, which had fallen into decay, and gave to it the Chase, called Sutton Park, a demesne with several large sheets of water. At his expense the moot-hall or townhall was erected, and he obtained a charter of incorporation from Henry VIII., investing the government in a warden, two capital burgesses, and 22 other members.

The town chiefly consists of one long street, occupying a situation on an acclivity. It is well paved and lighted with gas. The houses are mostly modern. It is a polling and petty sessions town, the sessions being held in the new townhall, constructed in 1869 at a cost of £5,000. There are an edge-tool manufactory, and a mill for boring gun-barrels, but the staple trade is in agricultural produce. The land is principally in pasture. The soil is peaty. The corporation, who are lords of the manor, hold a petty session on the Friday, a general quarter sessions, and also a court of record.

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Worcester. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is of the 13th century, with a tower and six bells. The interior contains two old brasses. The aisles were added by Bishop Vesey, whose effigy is in the chancel. In addition to the parish church are the district churches of Boldmere St. Michael's, Hill St. James, and Warmley, the livings of all which are perpetual curacies*, varying in value from £150 to £134. The parochial charities produce about £2,295 per annum, of which £1,744 is town estate, and is distributed in marriage portions, and other useful objects.

The free grammar school was founded and endowed by Bishop Vesey, and there are corporation schools for both sexes, including infants. The Independents and Roman Catholics have chapels. The principal residences are Four Oaks Hall, New Hall, Moor Hall, and Penns. In the vicinity is King's Standing camp, where Charles I. harangued his soldiers, also Rounton mineral well. Market day is on Monday. Fairs are held on Trinity Monday, 14th March, 19th September, and 8th November."

"ASHFURLONG, a village in the parish of Sutton Coldfield, hundred of Hemlingford, in the county of Warwick, nearly 2 miles from Sutton Colefield. Ashfurlong Hall is the principal residence."

"HILL, a village in the parish of Sutton-Coldfield, hundred of Hemlingford, county Warwick, 6 miles N.E. of Birmingham. It is situated near a branch of the river Tame."

"HILL-HOOKS, a village in the parish of Sutton-Coldfield, hundred of Hemlingford, county Warwick, 5½ miles N.E. of Birmingham."

"MANEY, a village in the parish of Sutton-Coldfield, county Warwick, 1 mile S. of Sutton-Colefield."

"MOOR, a village in the parish of Sutton-Coldfield, county Warwick, 1 mile N.E. of Sutton-Coldfield."

"WARMLEY, a village and ecclesiastical district in the parish of Sutton Coldfield, county Warwick, 3 miles S.E. of Sutton Coldfield."

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