See other formats

Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Stafford"

\Dictotfa Ibfstor^ of the 
Counties of Enolanb 

EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A. 



A HISTORY OF 
STAFFORDSHIRE 

VOLUME I 



THE 

VICTORIA HISTORY 

OF THE COUNTIES 
OF ENGLAND 



STAFFORDSHIRE 





LONDON 
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE 

AND COMPANY LIMITED 



This History is issued to Subscribers only 
By Archibald Constable & Company Limited 
and printed by Eyre & Spottiswoode 
H.M. Printers of London 



INSCRIBED 

TO THE MEMORY OF 

HER LATE MAJESTY 

QUEEN VICTORIA 

WHO GRACIOUSLY GAVE 

THE TITLE TO AND 

ACCEPTED THE 

DEDICATION OF 

THIS HISTORY 



THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 
OF THE VICTORIA HISTORY 



His GRACE THE LORD ARCH- 
BISHOP OF CANTERBURY 

His GRACE THE DUKE OF 
BEDFORD, K.G. 

President of the Zoological Society 

His GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVON- 
SHIRE, K.G. 

Chancellor of the University of Cam- 
bridge 

His GRACE THE DUKE OF 
PORTLAND, K.G. 

His GRACE THE DUKE OF 
ARGYLL, K.T. 

THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF 
ROSEBERY, K.G., K.T. 

THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF 
COVENTRY 

President of the Royal Agricultural 
Society 

THE RT. HON. THE VISCOUNT 
DILLON 

Late President of the Society of 
Antiquaries 

THE RT. HON. THE LORD LISTER 

Late President of the Royal Society 

THE RT. HON. THE LORD 
ALVERSTONE, G.C.M.G. 

Lord Chief Justice 

THE HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, 

M.P. 
SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, BART., 

LL.D., F.S.A., ETC. 



SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., 
LL.D., F.R.S., ETC. 

SIR EDWARD MAUNDE THOMP- 
SON, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., 
F.S.A., ETC. 

Director of the British Museum 

SIR CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, 
K.C.B., F.R.S., F.S.A. 

President of the Royal Geographical 
Society 

SIR HENRY C. MAXWELL-LYTE, 
K.C.B., M.A., F.S.A., ETC. 

Keeper of the Public Records 

SiREowiN RAYLANKESTER.K.C.B., 
M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., KTC. 

Late Director of the Natural History 
Museum, South Kensington 

SIR Jos. HOOKER, G.C.S.I., M.D., 
D.C.L., F.R.S., ETC. 

COL. SIR DUNCAN A. JOHNSTON, 
K.C.M.G., C.B., R.E. 

Late Director General of the Ordnance 
Survey 

SIR ARCHIBALD GEIKIE, LL.D., 

F.R.S., ETC. 
REV. J. CHARLKS Cox, LL.D., 

F.S.A. , ETC. 
LIONEL CUST, M.V.O., M.A., 

F.S.A., ETC. 

Director of the National Portrait 
Gallery 

CHARLES H. FIRTH, M.A., LL.D. 

Regius Professor of Modern History, 
Oxford 



ALBERT C. L. G. GUNTHER, M.A. 
M.D., F.R.S., PH.D. 

Late President of the Linnean Society 

F. HAVERFIELD, M.A., LL.D., 
F.S.A. 

Camden Professsor of Ancient History 

REGINALD L. POOLE, M.A. . 

University Lecturer in Diplomatic, 
Oxford 

]. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D. 

WALTER RYE 

W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A. 

Assistant Secretary of the Society of 
Antiquaries 



Among the original members of 
the Council were 

THE LATE DUKE OF RUTLAND 
THE LATE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY 

THE LATE DR. MANDELL 
CREIGHTON, BISHOP OK LONDON 

THE LATE DR. STUBBS, BISHOP 
OF OXFORD 

THE LATE LORD ACTON 

THE LATE SIR WILLIAM FLOWER 

THE LATE PROFESSOR F. YORK 
POWELL 

and 
THE LATE COL. SIR J. FARQI-- 

HARSON 



General Editor WILLIAM PARE, F.S.A. 



GENERAL ADVERTISEMENT 

The VICTORIA HISTORY of the Counties of England is a National Historic Survey 
which, under the direction of a large staff comprising the foremost students in science, history, 
and archaeology, is designed to record the history of every county of England in detail. This 
work was, by gracious permission, dedicated to Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, who gave it 
her own name. It is the endeavour of all who are associated with the undertaking to make it 
a worthy and permanent monument to her me.nory. 

Rich as every county of England is in materials for local history, there has hitherto been 
no attempt made to bring all these materials together into a coherent form. 

Although from the seventeenth century down to quite recent times numerous county 
histories have been issued, they are very unequal in merit ; the best of them are very rare 
and costly ; most of them are imperfect and many are now out of date. Moreover, they were 
the work of one or two isolated scholars, who, however scholarly, could not possibly deal 
adequately with all the varied subjects which go to the making of a county history. 



vn 



In the VICTORIA HISTORY each county is not the labour of one or two men, but of many, 
for the work is treated scientifically, and in order to embody in it all that modern scholarship 
can contribute, a system of co-operation between experts and local students is applied, whereby 
the history acquires a completeness and definite authority hitherto lacking in similar 
undertakings. 

The names of the distinguished men who have joined the Advisory Council are a 
guarantee that the work represents the results of the latest discoveries in every department 
of research, for the trend of modern thought insists upon the intelligent study of the past 
and of the social, institutional, and political developments of national life. As these histories 
are the first in which this object has been kept in view, and modern principles applied, it is 
hoped that they will form a work of reference no less indispensable to the student than 
welcome to the man of culture. 

THE SCOPE OF THE WORK 

The history of each county is complete in itself, and in each case its story is told from the 
earliest times, commencing with the natural features and the flora and fauna. Thereafter 
follow the antiquities, pre-Roman, Roman, and post-Roman ; ancient earthworks ; a new 
translation and critical study of the Domesday Survey ; articles on political, ecclesiastical, social, 
and economic history ; architecture, arts, industries, sport, etc. ; and topography. The greater 
part of each history is devoted to a detailed description and history of each parish, containing 
an account of the land and its owners from the Conquest to the present day. These manorial 
histories are compiled from original documents in the national collections and from private 
papers. A special feature is the wealth of illustrations afforded, for not only are buildings of 
interest pictured, but the coats of arms of past and present landowners are given 

HISTORICAL RESEARCH 

It has always been, and still is, a reproach that England, with a collection of public 
records greatly exceeding in extent and interest those of any other country in Europe, is yet 
far behind her neighbours in the study of the genesis and growth of her national and local 
institutions. Few Englishmen are probably aware that the national and local archives contain 
for a period of 800 years in an almost unbroken chain of evidence, not only the political, 
ecclesiastical, and constitutional history of the kingdom, but every detail of its financial and 
social progress and the history of the land and its successive owners from generation to 
generation. The neglect of our public and local records is no doubt largely due to the fact 
that their interest and value is known to but a small number of people, and this again is 
directly attributable to the absence in this country of any endowment for historical research. 
The government of this country has too often left to private enterprise work which our con- 
tinental neighbours entrust to a government department. It is not surprising, therefore, to find 
that although an immense amount of work has been done by individual effort, the entire 
absence of organization among the workers and the lack of intelligent direction has hitherto 
robbed the results of much of their value. 

In the VICTORIA HISTORY, for the first time, a serious attempt is made to utilize our 
national and local muniments to the best advantage by carefully organizing and supervising 
the researches required. Under the direction of the Records Committee a large staff of experts 
has been engaged at the Public Record Office in calendaring those classes of records which are 
fruitful in material for local history, and by a system of interchange of communication among 
workers under the direct supervision of the general editor and sub-editors a mass of information 
is sorted and assigned to its correct place, which would otherwise be impossible. 

THE RECORDS COMMITTEE 

SIR EDWARD MAUNDK THOMPSON, K.C.B. C. T. MARTIN, B.A., F.S.A. 
SIR HENRY MAXWELL-LYTE, K.C.B. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D. 

W. J. HARDY, F.S.A. S. R. SCARGILL-BIRD, F.S.A. 

F. MADAN, M.A. W. H. STEVENSON, M.A. 

G. F. WARNER, M.A., F.S.A. 

viii 



CARTOGRAPHY 

In addition to a general map in several sections, each History contains Geological, Oro- 
graphical, Botanical, Archaeological, and Domesday maps ; also maps illustrating the articles on 
Ecclesiastical and Political Histories, and the sections dealing with Topography. The Series 
contains many hundreds of maps in all. 

ARCHITECTURE 

A special feature in connexion with the Architecture is a series of ground plans, many 
of them coloured, showing the architectural history of castles, cathedrals, abbeys, and other 
monastic foundations. 

In order to secure the greatest possible accuracy, the descriptions of the Architecture, 
ecclesiastical, military, and domestic, are under the supervision of Mr. C. R. PEERS, M.A., 
F.S.A., and a committee has been formed of the following students of architectural history 
who are referred to as may be required concerning this department of the work : 



ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE 

J. BILSON, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. J. A. GOTCH, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. 

R. BLOMFIELD, M.A., F.S.A., A.R.A. W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A. 

HAROLD BRAKSPEAR, F.S.A., A.R.I.B.A. W. H. KNOWLES, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. 

PROF. BALDWIN BROWN, M.A. ROLAND PAUL, F.S.A. 

ARTHUR S. FLOWER, M.A. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D. 

GEORGE E. Fox, M.A., F.S.A. PERCY G. STONE, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. 

H. THACKERAY TURNER, F.S.A. 



The general plan of Contents and the names among others of 
those who are contributing articles and giving assistance are as 
follows : 

Naural History 

Geology. CLEMENT REID, F.R.S., HORACE B. WOODWARD, F.R.S., and others 
Paleontology. R. LVDEKICER, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S. 

/'Contributions by G. A. BOULENGER, F.R.S., H. N. DIXON, F.L.S., G. C. DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S., 
Flora J WALTER GARSTANG, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S., HERBERT Goss, F.L.S., F.E.S., R. I. POCOCK, REV. 
Fauna j T. R. R. STEBBING, M.A., F.R.S., etc., B. B. WOODWARD, F.G.S., F.R.M.S., etc., and 

^ other Specialists 

Prehistoric Remains. SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., W. BOYD DAWKINS, D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S., 
F.S.A., GEO. CLINCH, F.G.S., JOHN GARSTANG, M.A., B.LiTT., F.S.A., and others 

Roman Remains. F. HAVERFIELD, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A., and others 

Anglo-Saxon Remains. C. HERCULES READ, F.S.A., REGINALD A. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A., and others 

Domesday Book and other kindred Records. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D., and other Specialists 

Architecture. C. R. PEERS, M.A., F.S.A., W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A., HAROLD BRAKSPEAR, F.S.A., 
A. R. I.E. A., and others 

Ecclesiastical History. R. L. POOLE, M.A., and others 

Political History. PROF. C. H. FIRTH, M.A., LL.D., W. H. STEVENSON, M.A., J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., 
LL.D., PROF. T. F. TOUT, M.A., PROF. JAMES TAIT, M.A., and A. F. POLLARD 

History of Schools. A. F. LEACH, M.A., F.S.A. 

Maritime History of Coast Counties. SIR JOHN K. LAUCHTON, M.A., M. OPPENHHIM, and others 

Topographical Accounts of Parishes and Manors. By Various Authorities 

Agriculture. SIR ERNEST CLARKE, M.A., Sec. to the Royal Agricultural Society, and othen 

Forestry. JOHN NISBET, D.CEc., and others 

Industries, Arts and Manufactures 

Social and Economic History 

Ancient and Modern Sport. E. D. CUMINC, the REV. E. E. DORLING, M.A., and others 
Cricket. SIR HOME GORDON, BART. 



V By Various Authorities 



THE 

VICTORIA HISTORY 

OF THE COUNTY OF 

STAFFORD 



EDITED BY 

WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A 



VOLUME ONE 




LONDON 

ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE 

AND COMPANY LIMITED 




CONTENTS OF VOLUME ONE 



Natural History (continued) 
Zoology (continued) 

Spiders .... 

Acarina (Mitej) 
Crustacean* . 

Fishes .... 

Reptiles and Rur.ichi.ins 
Birds .... 
Mammals . 

Early Man .... 

Romano-British Staffordshire 

Anglo-Saxon Remains 

Political History 

Social and Economic History . 
Table of Population, 1 80 1 - 1 90 1 

Ancient Earthworks 



By the late F. O. PICKARD-CAMBRIDGE, M.A. 
By the Rev. F. C. R. JOURDAIN, M.A , etc. 

By the Rev. T. R. R. STEBBING, M.A., F.R.S., 
F.Z.S 

By G. H. STORER, F.Z.S 



By J. R. B. MASEFIELD, MA 

By G. H. STOKER, F.Z.S 

By GEORGE CLINCH, F.G.S. .... 
By W. PAGE, F.S.A., and Miss KEATE 
By REGINALD A. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A. 

By W. H. R CURTLER 

By Miss MILDRED SPENCER .... 
By GEORGE S. MINCHIN ..... 
By CHARLES LYNAM, F.S.A. .... 



PAGE 



120 
12 4 

i*5 
133 

137 

'39 
i6a 
169 

83 
199 
217 

2 75 

331 



XI 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Steel Works, Bilston. By WILLIAM HYDE ........ . Frontispiece 

Granite Axe-Head found at Stone . . . . . . . . . . .170 

Plan of Interments in Barrow at Top Low, Swinscoe . . . . . , . 1 74 

Bronze-Age Pottery found in Sepulchral Barrows, Plate I ... full-page plate, facing 178 
Iron Lance-Head found at Stone . . . . . . . . . . .180 

Bronze-Age Pottery found in Sepulchral Barrows, Plate 1 1 . . full-page plate, facing 180 

Plan of Wall 195 

Bronze Object from Wall) 

Tile from Wall . .1 ' ****&.&* '9 

Pig of Lead, found at Hints . . . . . . . . . . . .197 

Iron Knife, found at Wetton . . ......... 197 

Lead Collar, found at Wetton . . . . . . . . . . . 197 

Iron Knife, found at Wetton . . . . . . . . . . . .197 

Bone Drinking-Cup, found at Wetton. . . . . . . . . . .197 

Whetstone, found at Wetton . . . . . . . . . . . .197 

Horn Object, found at Wetton . . . . . . . . . . . .197 

Bronze Brooches, Tweezers, and Chatelaine, Stapenhill ...... 200 

Vase, found at Stapenhill ... ... ... .... 201 

Iron Spear-Heads, Wichnor ............ 205 

Iron Buckle, Wichnor, with Section ........... 206 

Brooch, found at Wichnor ............ 206 

Iron Shield-Bosses, Wichnor ............ 207 

Pottery Vases, Wichnor ............. 207 

Grave at Barlaston (Plan and Section) ........... 209 

Remains of Bronze Bowl and Enamelled Discs found at Barlaston . . . . . .211 

Coin-Pendant, Forsbrook . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 

Ancient Earthworks : 

Bunbury Hill, Alton . . 334 

Bury Ring, Bradley 335 

Castle Ring, Cannock . . -337 

Kinver Edge Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . 33^ 

Berth Hill, Maer 339 

Castle Old Fort, Shenstone . . . . . . . . . . . 341 

Bury Bank, Stone 343 

Camp near Green's Forge, Kingswinford . ....... 344 

Longdon Camp .... ........ 345 

Knaves Castle, Ogley Hay 345 

Barrow Hill, near Rocester . 347 

Camp at Shareshill 348 

Camp at Chesterton, Wolstanton .......... 349 

Alton Castle 350 

Heighley Castle, Audley 351 

\V 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Ancient Earthworks (continued) 

Caverswall Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . .352 

Site of Castle, Newcastle under Lyme . . . . . . . . . -353 

Dudley Castle .............. 354. 

Stafford Castle 355 

Tamworth Castle . . . . .356 

Tutbury Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . -357 

Littywood, Bradley . . . . . -359 

Ely the Wood Moat, Checkley 360 

Chartley Holme : Chartley Castle, Chartley Hall Moat, and an Earthwork called ' Daffodil 

Wood' 361 

Moat at Coppcnhall Gorse ............ 362 

Thorntree House, Uttoxeter ........... 367 

Stourton Castle, Kinver . . . . . . . . . . . .369 

Eccleshall Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . .370 

Lichfield Ditch, East and North of Cathedral . . . . . . . .371 

Tyrley Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .371 

Mottley Pits Terraces, Stone . . . . . . . . . . 373 

Saxon Low, Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . -377 



LIST OF MAPS 

Geological Map f ac ; ng , 

Orographical Map ............ n 25 

Botanical Map A , 

4- 1 

Pre-Historical Map ............ 160 

Roman Map ...... ..... 185 

Anglo-Saxon Map ....... .... ion 

Ancient Earthworks Map . , 7I 





XVI 



PREFACE 

STAFFORDSHIRE has from an early date attracted the attention 
of the topographer. Jn 1593 Sampson Erdeswicke began his 
View and Survey of Staffordshire, which he left unfinished at his 
death in 1603. What became of the original manuscript of 
his work is unknown, but several copies exist, and although they were 
referred to by subsequent writers, none of them was printed till 1717 
when Curll issued the Survey, together with a letter written in 1669 
' from Sir Simon Degge, setting out the condition of the county at that 
date. The next to interest himself in the county was Robert Plot, who 
settled in Oxford for a time after taking his degree, and in 1677 
published The Natural History of Oxfordshire. Upon the reputation he 
acquired from this volume he was invited by Walter Chetwynd of 
Ingestry to undertake a similar work for Staffordshire, and in 1686 The 
Natural History of Staffordshire was issued. Under the term natural 
history Plot included the archaeological remains of the county, and it is 
for the record of these that his work is most valuable. In the unfinished 
History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, published in 1798, the Rev. Steb- 
bing Shaw made use of Erdeswicke's collections, and added much from 
the manuscript sources at the British Museum and elsewhere. He only 
completed his history up to the first part of the second volume and died 
in 1802. William Pitt published A Topographical History of Staffordshire 
in 1817, which is largely based on the work of the earlier historians of 
the county, particularly that of Robert Plot. The history of Stafford- 
shire, however, will always be associated with the name of William Salt, 
who, although not claiming to be an historian, yet collected the material 
upon which all future work on the topography of the county must be 
largely based. Shortly after his death in 1863 his collections were 
housed at Stafford and form a remarkable memorial of his industry. 
The work which he began is being continued and expanded by ' The 
William Salt Archaeological Society,' whose volumes have added much 
valuable material for the history of the county. 

The Editor has to regret that Professor Haverfield was unable to 
undertake the article on the Roman Remains of the county owing to 
the pressure of other engagements. The Editor, however, wishes to 
express his thanks to Professor Haverfield for reading the proofs of this 
article and to Mr. Charles Lynam, F.S.A., for the information and great 
assistance afforded on the same subject. He also desires to acknowledge 
his indebtedness to Mr. Josiah Wedgwood, M.P., for reading some of 
the proofs and for advice generally on the volume, and to Mr. E. 
Howarth and the Society of Antiquaries for illustrations. 

xvii c 



TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS 



Abbrev. Plac. (Rec. 

Com.) 
Acts of P.C. . . 

Add 

Add. Chart. . . 

Admir 

Agarde .... 
Anct. Corresp. . . 
Anct. D. (P.R.O.) 

A 2420 
Ann. Mon. . 
Antiq 

App 

Arch 

Arch. Cant. 
Archd. Rec. . . 

Archit 

Assize R. . . . 
Aud. Off. . . . 
Aug. Off. . . . 
Ayloffe . . . 



Abbreviatio Placitorum (Re- 
cord Commission) 

Acts of Privy Council 

Additional 

Additional Charters 

Admiralty 

Agarde's Indices 

Ancient Correspondence 

Ancient Deeds(Public Record 
Office) A 2420 

Annales Monastic! 

Antiquarian or Antiquaries 

Appendix 

Archsologia or Archaeological 

Archaeologia Cantiana 

Archdeacons' Records 

Architectural 

Assize Rolls 

Audit Office 

Augmentation Office 

Ayloffe's Calendars 



Bed Bedford 

Beds Bedfordshire 

Berks .... Berkshire 

Bdle Bundle 

B.M British Museum 

Bodl. Lib. . . . Bodley's Library 

Boro Borough 

Brev. Reg. . . . Brevia Regia 

Brit Britain, British, Britannia, etc. 

Buck Buckingham 

Bucks .... Buckinghamshire 



Cal 

Camb. . 

Cambr 

Campb. Chart.. 

Cant 

Cap 

Carl 

Cart. Antiq. R. 
C.C.C. Camb. . 

Certiorari Bdles. 

(Rolls Chap.) 
Chan. Enr. Decree 

R. 

Chan. Proc. . . 
Chant. Cert. 



Chap. Ho. . . . 
Charity Inq. 
Chart. R. 20 Hen. 
III. pt. i. No. 10 



Calendar 

Cambridgeshire or Cambridge 

Cambria, Cambrian, Cam- 
brensis, etc. 

Campbell Charters 

Canterbury 

Chapter 

Carlisle 

Cartae Antiquae Rolls 

Corpus Christi College, Cam- 
bridge 

Certiorari Bundles (Rolls 
Chapel) 

Chancery Enrolled Decree 
Rolls 

Chancery Proceedings 

Chantry Certificates (or Cer- 
tificates of Colleges and 
Chantries) 

Chapter House 

Charity Inquisitions 

Charter Roll, 20 Henry III. 
part i. Number 10 



Chartul 

Chas 

Ches 

Chest 

Ch. Gds. (Exch. 
K.R.) 

Chich 

Chron 

Close .... 

Co 

Colch 

Coll 

Com 

Com. Pleas . . . 
Conf. R. . . . 
Co. Plac. . . . 

Cornw 

Corp 

Cott 

Ct. R 

Ct. of Wards . . 

Cumb 

Cur. Reg. . . . 

D 

D. and C. . . . 
De Bane. R. . . 
Dec. and Ord . 
Dep. Keeper's Rep. 

Derb 

Devon . . . . 

Dioc 

Doc 

Dods. MSS. . . 
Dom. Bk. . . . 

Dors 

Duchy of Lane. 
Dur 

East 

Eccl 

Eccl. Com. 

Edw 

Eliz 

Engl 

Engl. Hist. Rev. . 

Enr 

Epis. Reg. . 
Esch. Enr. Accts. . 
Excerpta e Rot. Fin. 

(Rec. Com.) 
Exch. Dep. . . 
Exch. K.B. . . 
Exch. K.R. . . 

Exch. L.T.R. 



Chartulary 

Charles 

Cheshire 

Chester 

Church Goods (Exchequer 

King's Remembrancer) 
Chichester 

Chronicle, Chronica, etc. 
Close Roll 
County 
Colchester 
Collections 
Commission 
Common Pleas 
Confirmation Rolls 
County Placita 
Cornwall 
Corporation 
Cotton or Cottonian 
Court Rolls 
Court of Wards 
Cumberland 
Curia Regis 

Deed or Deeds 

Dean and Chapter 

De Banco Rolls 

Decrees and Orders 

Deputy Keeper's Reports 

Derbyshire or Derby 

Devonshire 

Diocese 

Documents 

Dodsworth MSS 

Domesday Book 

Dorsetshire 

Duchy of Lancaster 

Durham 

Easter Term 
Ecclesiastical 

Ecclesiastical Commission 
Edward 
Elizabeth 

England or English 
English Historical Review 
Enrolled or Enrolment 
Episcopal Registers 
Escheators Enrolled Accounts 
Excerpta e Rotulis Finium 

(Record Commission) 
Exchequer Depositions 
Exchequer King's Bench 
Exchequer King's Remem- 
brancer 

Exchequer Lord Treasurer's 
Remembrancer 



xix 



TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS 



Exch. of Pleas, Plea 

R. 

Exch. of Receipt . 
Exch. Spec. Com. . 



Feet of F. . . . 
Feod. Accts. (Ct. of 

Wards) 
Feod. Surv. (Ct. of 

Wards) 
Feud. Aids . . . 

fol 

Foreign R. . . . 
Forest Proc. 



Exchequer of Pleas, Plea Roll 

Exchequer of Receipt 
Exchequer Special Commis- 



Feet of Fines 

Feodaries Accounts (Court of 

Wards) 
Feodaries Surveys (Court of 

Wards) 
Feudal Aids 
Folio 

Foreign Rolls 
Forest Proceedings 



Gaz Gazette or Gazetteer 

Gen Genealogical, Genealogica, 

etc. 

Geo George 

Glouc Gloucestershire or Gloucester 

Guild Certif.(Chan-) Guild Certificates (Chancery) 
Ric. II. Richard II. 



Hants 

Harl. 

Hen. * 

Heref. 

Hertf. 

Herts 

Hil 

Hist. 



Hist. MSS. Com. 
Hosp. . . . 
Hund. R. . . 
Hunt. . . . 
Hunts . . . 



Inq. a.q.d. 
Inq. p.m. 
Inst 
Invent. . 



Itin. 



Journ 

Lamb. Lib. . . 

Lane 

L. and P. Hen. 

VIII. 
Lansd. 
Ld. Rev. Rec. . . 

Leic 

Le Neve's Ind. 

Lib 

Lich 

Line 

Lond. . . 



m. 
Mem. 



Hampshire 

Harley or Harleian 

Henry 

Herefordshire or Hereford 

Hertford 

Hertfordshire 

Hilary Term 

History, Historical,Historian, 

Historia, etc. 

Historical MSS. Commission 
Hospital 
Hundred Rolls 
Huntingdon 
Huntingdonshire 

Inquisitions ad quod damnum 
Inquisitions post mortem 
Institute or Institution 
Inventory or Inventories 
Ipswich 
Itinerary 

James 
Journal 

Lambeth Library 
Lancashire or Lancaster 
Letters and Papers, Hen. 

VIII. 

Lansdowne 

Land Revenue Records 
Leicestershire or Leicester 
Le Neve's Indices 
Library 
Lichfield 

Lincolnshire or Lincoln 
London 

Membrane 
Memorials 



Memo. R. . . . 

Mich 

Midd 

Mins. Accts. 
Misc. Bks. (Exch. 

K.R., Exch. 

T.R. or Aug. 

Off.) 



Mon. 

Monm. . . 
Mun. 
Mus. 

N. andQ. . 

Norf. . . 
Northampt. 
Northants . 
Northumb. . 
Norw. . 
Nott. 



N.S. 



Off. . . 
Orig. R. 
O.S. . . 
Oxf. . 



Palmer's Ind. . 
Pal. of Chest. . 
Pal. of Dur. . 
Pal. of Lane. . 

Par 

Parl 

Parl. R. . . . 
Parl. Surv. . 
Panic, for Gts. 

Pat 

P.C.C. 



Pet ...... 

Peterb ..... 

Phil ..... 

Pipe R ..... 

Plea R ..... 

Pop. Ret. . . . 

Pope Nich. Tax. 

(Rec. Com.) 
P.R.O ..... 

Proc ..... 

Proc. Soc. Antiq. . 



Pub. 



R 

Rec. . . . 
Recov. R. . . 
Rentals and Surv. 

Rep 

Rev 

Ric. . 



Memoranda Rolls 

Michaelmas Term 

Middlesex 

Ministers' Accounts 

Miscellaneous Books (Ex- 
chequer King's Remem- 
brancer, Exchequer Trea- 
sury of Receipt or Aug- 
mentation Office) 

Monastery, Monasticon 

Monmouth 

Muniments or Munimenta 

Museum 

Notes and Queries 
Norfolk 
Northampton 
Northamptonshire 
Northumberland 
Norwich 

Nottinghamshire or Notting- 
ham 
New Style 

Office 

Originalia Rolls 
Ordnance Survey 
Oxfordshire or Oxford 

Page 

Palmer's Indices 

Palatinate of Chester 

Palatinate of Durham 

Palatinate of Lancaster 

Parish, parochial, etc. 

Parliament or Parliamentary 

Parliament Rolls 

Parliamentary Surveys 

Particulars for Grants 

Patent Roll or Letters Patent 

Prerogative Court of Canter- 
bury 

Petition 

Peterborough 

Philip 

Pipe Roll 

Plea Rolls 

Population Returns 

Pope Nicholas' Taxation (Re- 
cord Commission) 

Public Record Office 

Proceedings 

Proceedings of the Society of 
Antiquaries 

Part 

Publications 

Roll 

Records 

Recovery Rolls 

Rentals and Surveys 

Report 

Review 

Richard 



xx 



TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS 



RofF. .... Rochester diocese 
Rot. Cur. Reg. . Rotuli Curise Regis 
Rut Rutland 



Topog. 



Sarum .... 

Ser 

Sess. R 

Shrews 

Shrops .... 

Soc 

Soc. Antiq. . . . 

Somers 

Somers. Ho. 

S.P. Dorn. . . . 

Staff. .... 

Star Chamb. Proc. 

Stat 

Steph 

Subs. R. . . . 

Suff. 

Surr 

Suss 

Surv. of Ch. Liv- 
ings (Lamb.) or 
(Chan.) 



Salisbury diocese 
Series 

Sessions Rolls 
Shrewsbury 
Shropshire 
Society 

Society of Antiquaries 
Somerset 
Somerset House 
State Papers Domestic 
Staffordshire 

Star Chamber Proceedings 
Statute 
Stephen 
Subsidy Rolls 
Suffolk 
Surrey 
Sussex 

Surveys of Church Livings 
(Lambeth) or (Chancery) 



Trans. 
Transl. 
Treas. 
Trin. 



Topography or Topographi- 
cal 

Transactions 
Translation 
Treasury or Treasurer 
Trinity Term 



Univ University 



Valor Eccl. 

Com.) 

Vet. Mon. . 
V.C.H. . . 

Vic. . . . 
vol. . 



(Rec. 



Warw. . 
Westm. . 
Westmld. 
Will. . 
Wilts . 
Winton. 
Wore. . 

Yorks 



Valor Ecclesiasticus (Record 

Commission) 
Vetusta Monumenta 
Victoria County History 
Victoria 
Volume 

Warwickshire or Warwick 

Westminster 

Westmorland 

William 

Wiltshire 

Winchester diocese 

Worcestershire or Worcester 

Yorkshire 



A HISTORY OF 
STAFFORDSHIRE 



""HUH i It 1 

i j ii* 



Bin 




GEOLOGY 



JUST as the county of Staffordshire is situated toward the centre of 
England, so the geological formations met within its boundaries 
occupy a similar position in the geological scale. Tracing the 

well-known orderly ascending sequence of rocks from the oldest 
in Wales to the newest in the eastern counties, we find in the Triassic 
formation of the midlands the central link between these two extremes. 

The rocky ridges which characterise the older formations on the 
Welsh borderlands, when traced eastward, pass gradually beneath a 
mantle of red Triassic sandstones and marls, until in Staffordshire the 
latter form the commonest features of the landscape. Rising as islands 
out of them much older formations appear at the surface in the north 
and south, where by their bolder scenic aspects they afford a sharp contrast 
to the monotonous and softer outline of the red rocks ; and since the 
minerals essential to modern civilization are found in these older strata 
their presence is indicated by the great centres of population whose 
natural wants have been largely supplied from the rich grazing lands and 
vast reservoirs of pure underground water existing in the enveloping 
newer formation. The study of the geology of the county therefore 
forms the natural prelude to its history. 

Extending as they do over by far the larger part of the county, the 
red Triassic rocks, which have been aptly compared to a solidified sea, 
afford a datum to which the other stratified deposits may be conveni- 
ently referred. This great spread of one formation has been brought 
about by the dying away, ere it reaches the centre of the county, of the 
great Pennine uplift, which further north divides the Trias into an 
eastern and western portion. Thrown into wide gentle undulations 
where the major Pennine movement has died away, the formation 
naturally covers a wide expanse ; but these red rock waves may be said 
to have piled themselves up and broken against two ancient ridges : 
first, in North Staffordshire against the carboniferous offshoot of Derby- 
shire ; secondly, against the carboniferous uplift in South Staffordshire. 
In this way the conspicuous island character of these older deposits has 
arisen. Further, in the highest summits of the South Staffordshire island 
we recognize in the Dudley Hills and Sedgley Beacon the unburied peaks 
of Silurian strata, standing as lonely outposts of the Silurian territory to 
the west. 

It will be gathered from this that the formations represented are 
few in number. Of the three main divisions into which geologists have 
separated the stratified rocks, only the later portion of the great Palae- 
ozoic, the early stages of the Mesozoic and latest phases of the 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Kainozoic eras are met with. The history of the formations present 
is however replete with interest, for not only are they grandly 
developed, but they have attracted the attention of some of the most 
celebrated observers in British geology, and conclusions which have 
revolutionized the science have been arrived at from investigations of 
these rocks in the laboratory or in the field. 

In the following tables giving the classification and sub-divisions of 
the Staffordshire rock formations in descending order the results of recent 
investigation and re-surveys have been embodied ; where the age of 
certain groups remains under discussion the published opinions of the 
latest authorities have been adhered to. 1 

TABLE OF STRATA IN STAFFORDSHIRE 



Period 



Formation 



Character of Material 



Approximate thick- 
ness in feet 



Recent 



Alluvium, Peat . 



Mud, silt, gravel, peat ; 
bordering streams, rivers 
and in hollows . 



up to 15 



Pleistocene 



Old River Drift 
Glacial Deposits 



Gravel, sand, loam, etc., 
of ancient river terraces 

Pebbly loam (Ratchel), 
sand, gravel, clay, cave 
earth . 



up to 40 



up to 130 



Keuper 



Rhaetic . . 
Keuper Marl 



Waterstones and Lower 
Keuper Sandstone 



Grey marl and black shales 
Red marls with thin sand- 
stones (skerries), beds of 
rock salt and gypsum . 
Red and white sandstones, 
building stones and 
false-bedded red sand- 



stones , 



up to 125 



up to 2,000 



up to 400 



1 For more detailed information the following works should be consulted : Memoirs of the Geological 
Survey, 'The Geology of the South Staffordshire Coalfield,' by J. Beete Jukes (1859) ; The Iron Orel 
of Great Britain, pts. ii. and iv., by Sir W. W. Smyth (i 862), for a description of the ironstones and for a 
list of fossils by J. W. Salter ; The Geology of the country round Stockfort, Maccksfield, Congleton and Leek, by 
E. Hull and A. H. Green (i 866) ; The Triassic and Permian Rocks of the Midland Counties of England, by 
E. Hull (i 869) ; The Geology of the country round Stoke-upon-Trent, by W. Gibson and C. B. Wedd (1902); 
The Geology of the Cheadle Coalfield, by G. Barrow (1903) ; Summaries of Progress of the Geological Survey 
from 1899 to 1902. A Sketch of the Geology of the Birmingham District, by Prof. C. Lapworth, Geologists' 
Association, 1898, gives a concise account of the stratified deposits of South Staffordshire, also a short 
description of the igneous rocks by Prof. W. W. Watts, and a brief summary of the ancient glaciers 
of the midland counties, by W. J. Harrison ; there is in addition a useful list of bibliographical refer- 
ences. A full account of the organic remains of the North Staffordshire Coalfield has been published by 
John Ward in Trans. North Staff. Inst. Min. Eng. vol. x. (1890) ; while the order and nature of the 
ironstones and coals are given by C. J. Homer in the Proc. Inn and Steel Inst. (1875). Several 
important papers treating of the local geology are scattered through the Trans. Birm. Philos. Sac., The 
Midland NaturaKst, and the Trans. North Staff. Field Club. The last-mentioned society publishes from 
time to time a bibliography by John Ward. 

The county includes the following maps of the Geological Survey on the scale of one inch = one 
mile : Sheets (Old Series) 62, N.E. Lichfield, Tamworth ; 62, N.W. Cannock Chase ; 62, S.E. Sutton 
Coldfield, Birmingham, Coleshill ; 62, S.W. Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley ; 72, N.W. Hanley, Stoke- 
on-Trent; 72, N.E. Ashbourne ; 72,8. W. Stafford, Stone; 72, S.E. Burton-on-Trent, Tutbury ; 72, S.E. 
Market Drayton, Eccleshall. Sheets (New Series) 123, Stoke-upon-Trent ; 1 10, Maccksfield. 



GEOLOGY 



Period 


Formation 


Character of Material 


Approximate thick- 
ness in feet 




Upper Mottled Sandstone 


False-bedded red sand- 








stones 


up to 70O 


Bi i n fpr 


Pebble Beds 


Red pebbly sandstones 


r O 


UI1 LCI 




with beds of shingle . 


up to 500 




Lower Mottled Sandstone 


False - bedded red sand- 








stones 


UD to 7OO 








r .j 




Upper Red Sandstones and 


Marls, sandstone and a 




Permian 


Marls of Enville 
Middle Red Sandstone and 


band of breccia . 
Sandstone, marls, conglo- 


up to 150 




Marls of Enville 


merates and ' trappoid 








breccia' 


up to 550 




Keele Sandstones and 


Red sandstones and marls, 






Marls, Lower Red 


thin beds of earthy lime- 






Sandstones and Marls 


stone, occasional thin 






of Enville 


seams of coal (N. Staffs). 


over 800 




Newcastle - under - Lyme 


Grey sandstones and marls, 






Series and Halesowen 


thin coals and two thin 






Sandstones 


limestones at the base . 


up to 400 




Etruria Marls and Oldhill 


Red marls with thin beds 






Brick Clays 


of earthy limestone, ashy 








green grits and conglo- 








merates 


up to 1,100 




Blackband Series of North 


Grey marls and sandstones, 






Staffordshire 


thin seams of coal and 








beds of laminated iron- 




Carboniferous 




stones (N. Staffs), and 








bands of earthy lime- 








stone 


up to 4. So 




Middle Coal Series . . 


Grey and black shales with 


r ^ j 






numerous coals ; beds of 








grit and ironstone . 


Up to I,2OO 




Lower Coal Series . 


Grey and black shales, 








bands of sandstone ; 








numerous seams of coal 


up to 4,000 




Millstone Grits and 


Grits, sandstones, shales ; 






Pendleside Series 


thin seams of coal and 








beds of dark impure 








limestone 


up to 2,000 




Carboniferous Limestone . 


Compact highly fossilifer- 


Great, but unde- 






ous limestone 


termined 




Ludlow Shales and Lime- 


Grey shales and beds of 






stones 


limestone 


up to 1,050 


Silurian 


Wen lock Limestone and 


Grey shales and beds of 






Shales 


limestone 


up to i, 600 




Woolhope Beds 


Limestone 


up to 80 




r 

Upper Llandovery or May 


Sandstone and grits 


not known 




Hill Sandstone 







A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

SILURIAN SYSTEM 

In the adjoining county of Shropshire the Pre-Cambrian, Cambrian, 
Ordovician and Silurian formations follow each other in natural con- 
secutive order. Of these only the Silurian emerges in Staffordshire, 
from under the intervening Red Rocks, on the crests of the three 
anticlines of Sedgley Beacon, Dudley Hills and Walsall. 

The complete sequence of the sediments composing this essentially 
marine deposit, the oldest of the county, does not occur in any one of 
the three localities ; yet by piecing together the information obtained 
in one district with that in another it is found that, excepting the initial 
stages represented by the Lower Llandovery sub-formation and that of 
the final close of the period (Ludlow Passage Beds), there is present, in 
the heart of the South Staffordshire Coalfield, a typical development of 
that most famous of British formations the Silurian. In one of its 
stages, that of the Wenlock, the district of Dudley has become especially 
celebrated both on account of its furnishing Murchison with material 
for his great work on the Silurian system and also for the abundance 
of typical fossils, excellently preserved. 

Upper Llando'very or May Hill Sandstone. The first deposits of the 
Silurian seas indicate shallow water conditions. They afford a very 
limited exposure, and that only in the Walsall area, where they con- 
sist of pale yellow, brown, or occasionally white sandstones poorly 
representing the littoral and sub-littoral deposits of the Upper Llan- 
dovery or May Hill Sandstone of the Welsh borderland. Among other 
fossils the characteristic brachiopods Stricklandinia /ens, S. Strata, and 
the trilobite Encrinurus punctatus are not uncommon. 

Barr Limestone. The May Hill Sandstone is closely followed by a 
band of richly fossiliferous limestone, well known to local geologists from 
its containing at Hay Head, in the parish of Barr, fine examples of 
a trilobite Ilcenus barriensis a fossil characteristic of the Woolhope 
Limestone of other Silurian regions, and to which the Barr Limestone, 
as it is locally known, corresponds. The limestone was formerly 
extensively quarried, but little opportunity of obtaining fossils now 
exists. 

Wenlock Limestone and Shale. The next overlying sub-division con- 
sists of slightly consolidated dark blue and grey mudstones and shales 
about 800 feet thick, at the summit of which lie two bands of limestone 
(Wenlock Limestone] separated by about 800 feet of shale. The lower 
shales are inclined at gentle angles in the Walsall area, and consequently 
cover a considerable extent of ground. They are not well exhibited in 
sections, but abundant fossils chiefly brachiopods and corals can be 
obtained in the railway cutting at Five Lanes. The limestones occur 
only in the western extremity of the inlier and are exposed in the rail- 
way cuttings within the town of Walsall and in some old quarries in the 
neighbourhood. In the Dudley Castle Hills and Wren's Nest the Wen- 
lock strata are bent up into an elongated dome dislocated by faults. The 

4 



GEOLOGY 

core of the hills consists of the lower shales ; the flanks of the two beds 
of limestone with their intervening shales and overlying Ludlow Shales. 
Owing to their purity and excellence as a flux, their proximity to the 
blast furnaces, and to the high inclination rendering the extraction of 
the stone a cheap and simple process, the limestones have been quarried 
for many centuries. This industry was sufficiently striking to attract 
the attention of Dr. Plot in 1686, who also unmistakably figures some 
of the common fossils. At the present day the underground excavations 
extend for great distances and to considerable depths into the heart of 
the hills, beneath which they form vast gloomy caverns, through which 
there wanders a long canal used in the transportation of the quarried 
stone. 

Fossils abound, some thin layers of the limestone being crowded 
with organic remains corals, brachiopods, bryozoa. The district has 
become especially famous for the extremely beautiful and extensive 
series of crinoids (stone-lilies) and for the excellent preservation and 
large number of trilobites which have not only enriched several local 
collections, but have found their way into many cabinets abroad. 

Ludlow Shales and Aymestry Limestone. At Walsall the Wenlock 
limestones are succeeded immediately by the unconformable Coal-measures, 
but around Dudley Castle they pass up into bluish grey shales belonging 
to the Ludlow sub-division, which in turn become covered up by Coal- 
measure strata. In the Sedgley inlier the upward sequence is further 
continued. Here, at Hurst Hill, a sharp anticline brings up the Wen- 
lock limestones with some overlying calcareous shales 1,000 feet thick 
and the fossil contents indicate an horizon equivalent to the Lower 
Ludlow Shales. To these succeeds a bed of limestone 25 feet thick, 
locally known as the Sedgley Limestone. It is not so pure as the Wen- 
lock Limestone, and burns into a greyish variety of lime locally dis- 
tinguished as ' black lime,' that made from the Wenlock Limestone 
being termed ' white lime.' The commonest fossil is Pentamerus knightii, 
which stamps it at once as the equivalent of the Aymestry Limestone of 
Shropshire. 

Upper Ludlow Shales. Whenever present in full sequence the 
Silurian deposits indicate a piling up of sediments on an oscillating sea 
floor until, towards the summit, the accumulations, assisted by gentle 
uprisings, gradually approached the surface of the sea. The commence- 
ment only of these conditions is met with in Staffordshire, and this 
in the Sedgley area alone, where a mere fragment of the lower portion 
of the Upper Ludlow Shales has been preserved in the centre of a syncline 
under a capping of Coal-measure sandstone, which has prevented its 
destruction by denudation. In sinking the Manor Pits near Hales- 
owen, it is stated that somewhat higher beds containing fossils of the 
Passage beds into the Old Red Sandstone were entered beneath the Coal- 
measures, but nowhere has any undoubted Old Red Sandstone been met 
with, and the formation next succeeding is separated by a great interval 
of time from the highest Silurian strata exposed on Sedgley Beacon. 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM 

We have seen that the geological history of Staffordshire presents, 
in the absence of the Old Red Sandstone, one of those tantalizing breaks 
so frequent in the imperfect record of the rocks. The missing chapters 
are found in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and in South Wales, where 
the lacustrine deposits of the Old Red Sandstone indicate an elevation 
of the Silurian sea floor and the subsequent formation of large fresh- 
water lakes. So great was the time represented by the missing period 
that the fauna of the Carboniferous strata the next group met with 
has a totally distinct aspect : many new orders, many new genera 
make their appearance, while the species differ from those of the Silurian 
seas ; the vertebrata have increased in numbers and are very much 
more highly organized. 

The Carboniferous system commences abruptly with the marine 
conditions of the richly fossiliferous Mountain Limestone of North 
Staffordshire, when the ocean waters were warm and clear, and coral 
reefs, on which flourished a prolific marine fauna, extended their fringes 
along the coast line. A large river then appears to have entered the sea 
driving away the corals and many other life forms, and laying down first 
the muds and grits of the Pendleside Series, and then the grits and shales 
of the Millstone Grit period. Ultimately a delta appears to have been 
formed in which, or along its margins, the muds, shales, sandstones and 
numerous seams of coal constituting the Coal-measures, were deposited. 

The Carboniferous rocks stand out boldly above the Triassic plain 
in the North and South Staffordshire Coalfields. Though separated from 
each other by the intervening red strata, it is now almost beyond dispute 
that these isolated coalfields are connected underground. Local inter- 
ruptions there may be, such as are shown at the surface in the Silurian 
hills of Dudley and Walsall, but recent borings and shaft-sinkings to the 
east and west of the present outline of the South Staffordshire Coalfield 
prove conclusively the extension of the Coal-measures in these directions; 
while the identity of the Coal-measure sequence as a whole in North and 
South Staffordshire is strongly in favour of the sediments having been 
deposited in the same basin. 

The exact nature of the pre-carboniferous floor has not been ascer- 
tained, but the thinning away and final disappearance of the individual 
members of the system, when traced from the north-north-west to the 
south-south-east, shows it to have sloped rapidly upwards to the south- 
south-east, and at a still greater rate due south. Thus the southern area 
appears to have lain above water during the long period represented by 
the great thicknesses of the Carboniferous Limestone, Pendleside Series 
and Millstone Grits of the north, and not to have been submerged until 
Coal-measure times. 

The filling up of the basin and its submergence does not appear to 
have been a simple process, for a study of the Carboniferous rocks of the 
Midlands, especially in North Staffordshire, clearly shows that the period 

6 



GEOLOGY 

was marked by minor earth movements temporarily raising one area and 
depressing a closely contiguous one. Therefore, in the important search 
for coal underneath the red rocks, it will long remain uncertain what 
particular member of the Carboniferous System will be encountered or 
what its thickness will be. 

Differences in the distribution of the fossils have been taken to 
mark out the Carboniferous System into an Upper and a Lower portion, 
but authorities are at variance as to where the divisional line should be 
drawn. The plants and fishes indicate a change at the top of the so-called 
Yoredales (Pendleside Series) of Staffordshire ; the mollusca on the 
other hand show no such differences, but many of the marine forms con- 
tinue from the base of the Pendleside Series to high up in the Coal- 
measures. In a short sketch however it is out of place to enter into a 
discussion of this vexed question ; whatever floral and faunal changes 
may ultimately be found to differentiate the various stages, stratigraphi- 
cally, as Ramsay always contended, the Carboniferous System can be 
regarded as a unit. 

CARBONIFEROUS OR MOUNTAIN LIMESTONE 

The celebrated scenery of Dovedale and the beautiful valley of the 
Manifold owe their charms to the rocks of this important sub-division. 
Excavated into deep gorges and pinnacles of fantastic shapes, enhanced 
by the soft verdure of peculiar vividness and the delicacy of outline 
of numerous limestone-loving plants, threaded with caves and mysterious 
underground water channels, the Carboniferous Limestone country ever 
exerts a strong impression on the mind. 

The Carboniferous Limestone, which, as previously mentioned, only 
occurs in the north of the county, consists of an undivided mass of pale 
grey, white or blue limestone of great but undetermined thickness. The 
quality of the rock varies from place to place ; that at Caldon Low in the 
Weaver Hills is of exceptional purity, and thousands of tons are annually 
quarried for use as a flux in the iron furnaces of Staffordshire and for 
the production of alkalies and lime for various purposes. The pipes and 
hollows traversing the rocks have also yielded large quantities of copper 
and lead, the famous mines at Ecton being considered, toward rhe com- 
mencement of the eighteenth century, to be the richest copper mines in 
Europe. 

The outcrop of limestone in the Weaver Hills and the Manifold Valley 
forms a southerly extension of the large massif of the Carboniferous Lime- 
stone of Derbyshire, and similarily owes its existence to a strong anti- 
clinal uplift bringing it to the surface from under the denuded cover of 
the shales and grits of the Pendleside Series. The convolutions visible 
in the Staffordshire lobe of the Derbyshire limestone west of the Dove 
are doubtless continued, underneath the folded Pendleside strata, to the 
west of the main limestone outcrop in the Weaver Hills. This is shown 
to be the case by the small mass of limestone which comes to the surface 

7 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

at Mixon on the crest of a long oval-shaped dome that is bent into a large 
number of lesser anticlines and synclines, and threaded with mineral lodes 
containing ores of copper and lead. The top beds are also brought up on 
another sharp fold in an old quarry near Congleton Edge, close to the 
county border, west of Biddulph. In this section the highest thin bands 
of limestone are intercalated with layers of tuffs, fragments of lava and 
ashy fossiliferous limestone, thus denoting the presence of volcanic action 
during the deposition of the strata. 1 Such evidences of igneous or vol- 
canic activity during or closely subsequent to the deposition of the limestone 
are abundant in Derbyshire, but do not actually occur within the county. 

A curious bed made up of rolled shells and fragments of waterworn 
limestone has been traced by Dr. Wheelton Hind in the valley of the 
Manifold, from Apes Tor to Ecton Bridge and Warslow. It occurs at 
or near the summit of the limestone, a position it occupies in several 
places in Derbyshire, notably near Castleton. 

The Carboniferous Limestone abounds in fossils, including genera 
and species of corals, brachiopods, lamellibranchs, gasteropods, crustaceans 
and cephalopods, and other invertebrates. The prolific trilobite fauna 
of the Silurian and Devonian seas is however represented by only 
three genera Bracbymetopus, Griffitbides and Pbillipsia forms distinct 
from those of the preceding formations. Fish remains are not 
abundant within the Staffordshire area, but numerous specimens have 
been obtained at Park Hill in Derbyshire, just across the county border, 
including types with pavement teeth such as would be adapted for 
grinding and crushing corals. Attempts have been made, but with little 
success, to distinguish one part of the massive limestone from another 
by means of the fossils. Dr. Wheelton Hind regards the limestone as 
one big zone, of which Productus giganteus, P. cora, Ghonetes papilionacea, 
Amplexus coralloides constitute the zonal forms, and have a general dis- 
tribution throughout the deposits of the period. 

PENDLESIDE SERIES 

The clear waters of the limestone seas became ultimately charged 
with silts and muds brought down by a large river which spread its 
deposits not only over North Staffordshire but also over a wide area in 
mid-England, and which possibly reached the Isle of Man. 2 

With this change of conditions the varied marine fauna of the Car- 
boniferous Limestone seas vanished and was replaced by a few mud-loving 
molluscs, some of which are found attached to pieces of timber floated 
out into the turbid waters. Muds ceased at times to be borne seaward, 
enabling a marine fauna to establish itself. These periods of compara- 
tively clear water, of which the fauna is abundantly preserved on Congleton 
Edge in the strata exposed in a quarry to the east of the limestone inlier, 

1 W. Gibson and W. Hind, 'On Agglomerates and Tuffs in the Carboniferous Limestone 
Series of Congleton Edge,' Quart. Journ. Geol. Sac. p. 548 (1899). 
J W. Hind, Stuart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Ivii. 374 (i9 O1 )- 

8 



GEOLOGY 

were of brief duration and of sparse recurrence, for the series consists 
essentially of clays, shales, muds and sandstones of a united thickness of 
many hundreds of feet. Occasionally the quantity of vegetable matter 
floated down was in excess of any other material, and a mass of decaying 
vegetable debris accumulated, to be ultimately converted into a seam of 
coal, or it may be the carbonaceous matter collected in swamps lying at 
or near sea level. 

The Pendleside Series occurs in two areas to the east and west of 
Leek, being brought into this position by two major folds separated by the 
trough enclosing the Coal-measures of the Cheadle and Shaffalong Coal- 
fields with their enveloping Millstone Grits. The major folds are made 
up of minor convolutions, frequently of great complexity, of which a 
striking illustration is afforded by a section in Badgers Clough near Pye- 
Clough. The extensive quarries on the anticline of Gun Hill, west 
of Meerbrook, also forcibly illustrate, in the bent and shattered Pendleside 
grits and shales, the violent nature of the disturbances and the amount of 
compression the strata have undergone ; nor is this to be wondered at, 
seeing that these sections lie well within the influence of the Great 
Pennine uplift the dominant structural feature of mid-England. 

With the exception of deep dingles or gorges like those of the Dane 
Valley system and Churnet Valley the scenery is tame, consisting for the 
most part of open grassy moorland. This is due chiefly to the preponderance 
of soft shales, but also in part to the frequent low inclination of the strata. 
Whenever ridges such as Catsedge, Gun Hill and Morridge relieve this 
monotony they are found to be composed of sandstone or grit, of which 
the harder and more siliceous varieties are known as Crowstones, when 
they are extensively quarried for rough road metal. Coal smuts, thin seams 
of coal with fireclays, occasionally underlie these grits, and were formerly 
worked to a limited extent. 

Fossils are comparatively rare and poorly preserved. They occur 
in certain restricted bands in the shales, but are more abundant and better 
preserved in some thin layers and nodules (bullions) of dark earthy lime- 
stones clearly exposed in the banks of the Dane south of Wincle. They 
include several species of Gonia fifes (Glyphioceras), Posidonomya Becheri, 
Pterinopecten papyraceus, Posidoniella /avis, fossils Messrs. Hind and Howe 
find characterizing a similar set of strata above the Mountain Limestone 
in adjacent counties, especially on Pendle Hill (Lancashire), from which 
the series derives its name. 

The river system which transported the sediments of the Pendleside 
Series is considered by Dr. Hind to have flowed from the east and north- 
east. He observes the series to be thickest over Lancashire, where the 
succeeding Millstone Grits are also at their maximum development, 
while from this centre the beds thin out in all directions ; thus North 
Staffordshire lay towards the southern margin, South Staffordshire wholly 
beyond it. 

These strata have for long been regarded as the southern equivalent 
of the thick bands of white limestone and interbedded shales of Yoredale, 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

whence they were termed ' Yoredale Rocks,' the change from this supposed 
northern type being considered to take place in the neighbourhood of the 
great Craven faults. According to Messrs. Hind and Howe the Yore- 
dales of Yorkshire are the equivalents of the undivided massive limestone 
of Derbyshire, which splits up in the north into several bands separated 
by inter-bedded shales. The Pendleside Series they regard as occupying 
a superior position, and containing a fauna distinct from the Carboniferous 
Limestone of Derbyshire and the Yorkshire Yoredales. 1 

MILLSTONE GRIT SERIES 

This sub-division lithologically resembles the Pendleside Series, 
differing chiefly, as the name implies, in the greater prevalence of gritty 
material, aggregated into bands of considerable thickness separated by 
black and grey shales. While a definite band of grit (First Grit or 
Rough Rock) happens to separate the sub-division from the Coal- 
measures above, no such well marked or persistent bed indicates its 
junction with the Pendleside Series, to which it is allied in the closest 
possible stratigraphical manner. 

Conspicuous objects in the landscape, the different bands of grit 
follow each other in consecutive order with their separating bands of 
shale, and have been named from above downward : First Grit (Rough 
Rock or Farewell Rock of the miner), Second Grit (Haslingden Flags of 
Lancashire), 'Third Grit (Roaches Grit), Fourth and Fifth Grits (Kinder- 
scout Grits). These constitute in the north and north-east portion of 
the county grit bands of singular persistency, but traced southward they 
are found to decrease gradually till around the Pottery and Cheadle 
Coalfields only the First and Third Grits remain. 

Some distance below the Kinderscout Grits and separated from them 
by shales there lies an impersistent bed of grit, sometimes known as the 
' Yoredale Grit,' which has been regarded in Derbyshire as the base 
of the series, though avowedly an artificial datum line. 2 

Throughout nearly the whole length of their outcrop the Millstone 
Grits can be recognized almost at a glance by the distinctive features to 
which they give rise. The splendid escarpment of the Roaches and 
' The Rocks,' the crags of Ipstones and the numerous ' Edges ' Axe 
Edge, Ladderedge, Brown Edge, Congleton Edge and other less marked 
but still conspicuous ridges have been carved by denudation out of the 
various bands of grit whose broad sheets of heather-clad rocks end in 
rugged crags standing boldly out in the air, while the flanks and valleys 
lying at their feet have been fashioned out of the interbedded shales. 
These bold, bare, rocky ridges impressed early writers and seem to 

1 For a full account of the Pendleside Series the reader is referred to the paper by W. Hind and 
J. A. Howe, ' The Geological Succession and Paleontology of the Beds between the Millstone Grit and 
the Limestone Massif of Pendle Hill, and the equivalents in certain other parts of Britain,' Quart. 
Journ. Geol. Soc. Ivii. 347 (1901). 

2 ' The Carboniferous Limestone, Yoredale Rocks and Millstone Grits of North Derbyshire ' 
(Mem. Geol. Survey), p. 8 (1887). 

IO 



GEOLOGY 

have exerted a powerful influence on the ancient inhabitants, appearing 
to them as something above the common and therefore fit burial places for 
their chiefs. Many of the stream-cut gorges are strikingly deep and 
gloomy ; while elsewhere the rocks have been opened out into curious 
chasms, such as the impressive cleft of Ludchurch 100 yards long, 30 to 
40 feet deep, and 6 to i o feet wide south of the Castle Cliff Rocks. 

The Millstone Grits are arranged in lesser or greater synclinal folds 
completely or partially surrounding the coalfields; frequently, as in the 
small elongated trough of Goldsitch Moss with perfect symmetry. 
Denudation has removed vast masses of material, thus severing the outcrops 
and forming detached areas, of which the outlier of the Third or Roaches 
Grit on the summit of Sheen Hill is the most remote. 

Seams of coal which are rare in the Pendleside Series become of 
greater frequency and are usually present a few feet above or lying 
directly on the grit bands. The most persistent is a seam above the 
Third Grit, which was formerly worked to a considerable extent in 
the Roaches and Ipstones areas. Another seam, known as the Feather 
Edge Coal, lying above the First Grit, also proved to be workable around 
parts of the Goldsitch Moss Coalfield, though the seam should more 
properly be included in the Coal-measures. The commercial value of 
the sub-division however mainly consists in the fairly good quality of the 
building stones afforded by the First and Third Grits, both of them, 
but especially the latter, being extensively quarried. 

The fossils of the ' grits ' consist of the remains of plants Ca/amifes, 
Lepidodendron. Plant remains are also met with in the shales, but 
the most interesting fossils are the marine organisms Ptennopecten papy- 
raceus, Posidoniella /&vis, Goniatites which occur in abundance in certain 
dark bands of impure limestone lying in muddy shales between the First 
and Third Grits, of which the banks of the Trent to the east of Knypers- 
ley Reservoir afford an excellent section. 

COAL MEASURES 

The detritus-bearing currents now swift, now gentle which de- 
posited the grits and shales of the Pendleside Series and Millstone Grits 
continued to carry their burden seaward long after the First Grit was laid 
down. The pauses in sedimentation however became more prolonged, 
the sea was frequently excluded, and the floor, owing to constant 
deposition aided by local elevation, was even raised above sea-level. The 
lower portion of the Coal-measure formation, with its great thicknesses 
of shales, clays, sandstone and intercalated coal seams, ironstones and 
marine bands, demands some such varied conditions of origin. During 
the later stages of the period the pauses became brief and a large body of 
sediment was deposited, but now under new conditions. A land-locked 
area appears to have been formed upon whose continuously sinking 
floor mainly red sediments thickly accumulated. The end of the story 
however is not known ; the record is lost or buried deep under the 
overlying Triassic rocks with their history of a new order of events. 

ii 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

We know however that before the commencement of the Trias era the 
Carboniferous strata were intensely folded, fractured and extensively de- 
nuded, resulting in their more or less complete isolation, so that in North 
Staffordshire we find the four detached coal basins of the Potteries, 
Cheadle, ShafFalong and Goldsitch Moss, while the South Staffordshire 
Coalfield is separated from the northern field by a wide expanse of 
Triassic rocks. 

Though the coalfields of the north and south possess many points 
in common the northern area presents the type development and will 
therefore be described first. 



THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COALFIELD 

Lower and Middle Coal-measures. Situated on the line of the great 
Pennine uplift or along its western margin it is not surprising to find 
this coal-bearing region complicated by numerous faults and folds. The 
folds trend in a general north and south direction, and enclose the four 
separate coalfields mentioned above. The Cheadle, ShafFalong and 
Pottery Coalfields may be connected under the Trias of Caverswall, but 
the small coalfield of Goldsitch Moss is sunk deep in a fold of Millstone 
Grits, and removed several miles from its sister coalfields. The im- 
portant coalfield of the Potteries can be further naturally divided into a 
central synclinal region and a western anticlinal portion. In the latter 
the coal seams are frequently vertical and occasionally bent on themselves; 
in the former the coals are sometimes highly inclined but never vertical. 
The faults, the majority of which trend north and south, are not only 
many but of very great throw ; one, known as the Apedale Fault, tra- 
versing the central portion of the Pottery Coalfield in a north and south 
direction exceeds 600 yards in vertical displacement, while an even 
larger dislocation extends along the western margin of the coalfield. The 
faults have exerted a strong influence on the physiography of the district. 
Thus the Apedale Fault lets in a strip of barren measures in the heart of 
the coalfield so that the ancient town of Newcastle-under-Lyme lies in a 
pleasant agricultural district, while immediately east and west there extends 
the usual grimy landscape of a coal-mining district ; again, on the west a 
large fault suddenly introduces unproductive measures, when the mining 
industry abruptly ends. 

The Coal-measures have been sub-divided into Lower, Middle and 
Upper; but the exact horizons at which the dividing lines should be 
drawn have not been definitely settled. Whatever scheme is adopted the 
lower and middle sub-divisions constitute the storehouse of the chief 
seams, of which the most important, commencing with the Winpenny 
Coal, about 1,200 feet above the First Grit, are grouped together. Above 
this coal there are no less than thirty recognized seams, making a total 
thickness of over 1 40 feet of coal. A seam towards the middle, known 
as the Ash Coal, has been taken by some geologists as the base of the 
middle sub-division, while another seam Bassey Mine Coal has been 

12 



GEOLOGY 

chosen as the base of the upper sub-division. The unequal rate of 
deposition of the Coal-measures is accentuated in the Pottery Coalfield, 
where the strata between the Bassey Mine and Winpenny Coals approxi- 
mate to 1,200 yards at Shelton, whereas at Apedale, 4 miles to the 
west, they are under 800 yards thick, from which the rate of diminu- 
tion can be calculated to be about i in 17, equivalent to a gradient of 
over 3 degrees. 

Below the Winpenny the coal seams are of small value, but one 
called the Crabtree Coal, a few yards above the First Grit, is well known 
from its shale roof, yielding in all four areas abundant specimens of 
Goniatites, Pterinopecten and Lingula. The strata below the Winpenny 
occur in all the four areas, while they constitute the entire measures of 
the small basin of Shaffalong and a considerable portion of that of Cheadle 
and Goldsitch Moss. 

The strata enclosing the coals and ironstones consist of clays, marls, 
fireclays and shales with an occasional band of sandstone very impersistent 
and of no great thickness. The colour is generally a dull grey excepting 
a few bands of intensely black shales or an occasional impersistent stratum 
of a red colour. The absence of any great mass of hard rocks is reflected 
in the scenery, which is tame and uninteresting, but whenever a ridge 
breaks the monotony it is almost certainly found to consist of one of the 
bands of sandstone, and inasmuch as the sandy material is more prevalent 
in the north so the ridgy character of the coalfield, as in the Norton 
district, becomes more pronounced. 

The numerous coal seams between the Ash and Winpenny Coals 
constitute the chief seams of the Pottery Coalfield. They include varieties 
suitable for house purposes, for making gas and coke, for raising steam, or 
for use in the arts and manufactures of the district. The only ironstone 
at present raised is the Burnwood Stone of the variety known as semi- 
blackband. In the adjacent Cheadle Coalfield there are also several valuable 
coal seams, but they have not been satisfactorily identified with those of 
the Pottery Coalfield. A peculiarity in the distribution of the coals in 
the Pottery area is the fact that certain easily recognized seams, which are 
gas or coking coals in the western area, rapidly lose a large quantity of 
their bituminous matter when traced eastward, until they become house 
or steam coals. 

The commonest fossils are molluscs, of which the most abundant 
belong to the genus Carbonicola (Anthracosia)^ regarded as a freshwater, 
mud-loving animal. They occur in great profusion in the ironstones 
and shales overlying the Cockshead, Ten-feet and other coals, forming 
the so-called ' mussel or cockle bands ' of the miner. In comparison with 
the Middle Coal-measures, fish remains may be said to be rare ; of great 
interest are fragments of various parts of the skeleton of the amphibian 
Loxomma, met with in the shale overlying the Cockshead Coal at Adderley 
Green. Within recent years a number of thin bands of shales and cal- 
careous nodules containing marine organisms have been brought to light 
at no less than seven widely separated horizons ; the lowest, as previ- 

13 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

ously mentioned, is the one above the Crabtree Coal ; the highest occurs 
only a few yards below the Ash Coal, while the remainder are found at 
intervals. In the highest band that above the Gin Mine Coal Mr. 
John Ward collected over twenty different species ; in the other bands 
Goniafites, Lingu/a, Pterinopecten, Posidoniella occur most frequently, and 
include some of the species of the Pendleside Series. As might be 
expected plant remains are not infrequent, though met with most 
abundantly on certain definite horizons. Among these Neuropteris 
heterophylla^ Alethopteris loncbitica indicate, according to Mr. R. Kidston, 
a low horizon throughout the Coal-measures of Great Britain. 1 

The strata between the Ash and Bassey Mine Coals (Middle Coal- 
measures) by their strict resemblance in colour, texture, composition 
and by their stratigraphical conformity to the rocks below denote the 
continuation of similar conditions. The coal seams number over four- 
teen, representing a collective thickness of nearly 50 feet of coal. The 
quality however is inferior to the seams of the lower sub-division, 
though they are of great value to the potter in baking his wares, 
and being near the surface over a large portion of the area are in 
great request. The Middle Coal-measures contain several bands of 
ironstone, but of these only the semi-blackband, laminated Chalkey 
Mine Ironstone is raised in any quantity. The number and variety of 
fish remains is extraordinary, especially in the shales associated with the 
Winghay or Knowles Ironstone of Longton and Fenton ; with them 
the remains of amphibia are sparingly associated. The mollusca are 
abundant in the lower portion, but become gradually rarer towards the 
summit. The flora, notably on the horizon of the Great Row Coal, 
is particularly rich. 

The strata above the Bassey Mine Coal (Upper Coal-measures] belong 
to a different class of sediments, being made up chiefly of red sandstones 
and marls, among which grey rocks retain a definite but quite subordinate 
position. Coal seams are thin and lie on widely separated horizons, but 
bands of earthy limestone, crowded with Entomostraca and very rare in 
the inferior sub-divisions, become a marked constituent. Four distinct 
groups of rock individualize the Upper Coal-measures. 

In the lowest (Blackband Series] the material remains much the same 
as in the Middle Coal-measures, but there is a tendency for red marls to 
be developed along definite horizons. Several bands of Blackband iron- 
stones frequently exceeding 4 feet in thickness, readily calcined and rich 
in metallic iron, render the group of great economical importance ; 
while the associated grey marls, along whose outcrop the pottery towns 
have gradually extended, may be said to have initiated the pottery trade. 
Even now, when clays foreign to the district have come into general use, 

1 The organic contents as a whole have been fully dealt with by John Ward, Trans. North Staff. 
Inst. Mining Engineers, vol. x. (1890), and Proc. North Staff. Field Club (1893-4). For the plants see 
R. Kidston, Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin. vol. xxxv. (l 891) and Proc. Royal Physical Society Edin. vol. xii. (i 893-4). 
The Lamellibranchs are described by Wheelton Hind, Palaontografhical Society, vols. xlviii.-l. For a recent 
account of the marine beds the reader may consult J. T. Stobbs, Tram. North Staff. Field Club, vols. 
xxrv., xxxvi. and Trans. Fed. Inst. xxii. 229 (1902). 



GEOLOGY 

the local marls continue to furnish the material for the vessels in which 
the pottery is baked in the kilns in addition to being extensively 
used for other purposes. The fauna indicates the conditions under which 
the strata were deposited ; for, excepting Entomostraca, which constitute 
three or more thin bands of impure limestone, and a few fishes, the animal 
life consisted of the delicate thin valved mollusc Antbracomya pbillipsi, 
met with in countless numbers in the Blackband Ironstones. The flora, 
occasionally rich in species and numbers, partakes, according to Mr. 
Kidston, of a transitional character between Middle and Upper Coal- 
measures, thus further illustrating the gradual passage of one stage into 
the other. 

The Etruria Marls, which succeed, consist almost exclusively of red 
and mottled marls exceeding i,ooofeet in thickness in the central area. 
Thin bands of green grits, apparently derived in great part from the 
breaking down of igneous rocks, are interstratified at intervals. Only 
one locally developed coal seam has been met with, and excepting two 
thin beds of limestone containing the serpula Spirorbis the entire group 
consists of practically unstratified red marls. 

The Newcastle-under-Lyme Series conformably overlying the Etruria 
Marls shows, as far as the colour and nature of the material is concerned, 
a return to the conditions of the Blackband group. Grey sandstones 
and shales, in which lie four thin seams of coal, constitute almost the 
entire bulk. Plant remains are numerous, including the characteristic 
Upper Coal-measure fossil, Pecopteris arborescens, but associated with 
others of Middle Coal-measure age. Two thin bands of limestone with 
Entomostraca and a minute shell (Anthracomya calcifera) which are exposed 
in the marl pits between Etruria and Longport, invariably commence 
the sequence. 

In the Keele Series? into which these grey strata graduate upward, 
we again find rocks of a brilliant red colour, mainly red sandstones with 
intercalated red marls, among which at intervals thin beds of limestone 
with Entomostraca are interstratified. The flora, though badly preserved, 
as in most red rocks, contains species having a wide range throughout 
the Coal-measure period. For how long the Carboniferous period con- 
tinued beyond the record contained in these red rocks remains uncertain, 
since the strictly unconformable Triassic rocks conceal the top beds of 
the Keele Series or whatever strata may elsewhere succeed, and thus 
the legend in North Staffordshire abruptly terminates. 

THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE COALFIELD 

The Carboniferous strata of this coalfield are arranged in a dome 
possessing a length of about 23 miles and a breadth of 6 miles. This 
main anticline, broken by three subsidiary folds, constitutes the Dudley, 

1 This group was formerly placed in the Permian System. The reasons for the classification here 
adopted will be found in a paper by the author, <%uart. Journ. Geol. Sue. Ivii. 256 (1901), and in the 
'Geology of the Country around Stoke-upon-Trent ' (Mem. Geol. Survey), pp. 45-7 (1902). 

15 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Barr and Netherton anticlines, between which lie the faulted synclines 
of Bilston, Corngreaves and Pensnett. The coalfield is completely 
surrounded by the unconformable Triassic rocks, underneath which it 
slopes gradually on the south and north, and against which it is 
faulted on the east and west by the great ' Boundary Faults.' The suc- 
cession consists in the main of a replica of that in North Staffordshire, but it 
is doubtful if the district came within reach of the Carboniferous waters 
until a considerable portion, if not the whole, of the Lower Coal- 
measures of North Staffordshire had been deposited. The Carboniferous 
Limestone, Pendleside Series and Millstone Grits are certainly absent, 
the Coal-measures being deposited on an irregular floor of Silurian rocks 
visible at the surface in the Dudley, Walsall and Sedgley areas, but also 
encountered underground between West Bromwich and Oldbury, where 
they constitute the so-called ' Silurian bank.' 

Lower or 'True Coal-measures. 1 In composition the strata (500 
to 1,050 feet thick) resemble the chief coal-bearing rocks of North 
Staffordshire, consisting of grey and white sandstones, shales, clays, 
ironstones and seams of coal. The most remarkable of the seams known 
as the ' Ten Yard ' or ' Thick Coal,' underlies Smethwick, Dudley, 
Walsall and Bilston, and was formerly quarried in the open near 
Tipton. It is not an undivided stratum of coal, but is made up of thir- 
teen or fourteen distinct layers separated from each other by thin partings 
of shaly material or ' bat.' South of Halesowen it thins out and 
becomes mixed with shaly matter ; but what is more remarkable when 
traced northward the component seams gradually separate until at Essing- 
ton and Pelsall the Thick Coal is represented by fourteen seams lying in 
a mass of shales and sandstones between 250 and 300 feet in thickness 
an excellent example of the unequal rate of sedimentation under which the 
Coal-measures were deposited. The Thick Coal has been proved to extend 
beyond the visible limits of the coalfield, having been recently encountered 
beneath the Red Rocks to the west at Himley, while it is being worked 
under the same formation to the east in the Sandwell Park and Hamstead 
Collieries. Again, to the north of the coalfield, pits have been sunk 
through the ' Pebble Beds ' of Cannock Chase, and a new coalfield 
developed in this direction. 

The scenery of the South Staffordshire Coalfield is aptly described 
under the name ' Black Country.' The original surface features over 
wide areas are not only entirely obliterated by refuse heaps and grimy 
manufacturing towns and villages, but over all there rests, day and night, 
a canopy of black smoke. 

In past years a large quantity of local ironstone was raised, but at 
the present day the greater bulk of the ore for use in the iron furnaces 
comes from Northamptonshire, the Potteries and elsewhere ; but it was 
the presence of iron ores, in conjunction with large quantities of cheaply 

1 The title assigned to the Coal-measures of South Staffordshire by Prof. Lapworth. Vide A 
Sketch of the Geology of the Birmingham District, Geologists' Association (1898). 

16 



GEOLOGY 

got coal, which has made Birmingham and Wolverhampton the great 
hardware manufacturing centres of the world. 

The Dudley Coalfield has been regarded as the typical area for the 
Middle Coal-measure flora of Great Britain. The genus Sphenopteris in this 
sub-division attains its maximum development. Stumps of the gigantic 
lycopod, Lepidodendron, have been met with in such profusion in the 
workings of the Parkfield Colliery as to form a veritable fossil forest. 
As in North Staffordshire the commonest mollusc is Carbonicola (Anthra- 
cosia). In addition to remains of fishes the coalfield has also yielded 
specimens of Arachnida and insects, types rare or unknown in North 
Staffordshire. All these fossils, excepting the Fishes, indicate the close 
proximity, if not the absolute presence, of land ; but below the Thick 
Coal, fossils such as Lingula, Productus, Discina and Pterinopecten show 
a temporary incursion of the sea ; though these marine episodes do not 
appear to have been of such frequent recurrence as in the north. 

Upper Coal Measures. The gradual infilling of the basin and final 
change in the character of the sediments, accompanied by the gradual 
passing away of the fauna, is as clearly illustrated in the southern part of 
the county as it is in the Potteries. In the districts of Corngreaves and 
Oldhill the ordinary grey Coal-measures graduate upwards into a con- 
siderable thickness (over 300 feet) of red clays (Red Coal-measure Clays of 
Jukes) indistinguishable from the Etruria Marls of the northern coalfield. 
Moreover they contain similar thin bands of ashy green grits known as 
' Espley Rocks,' As the area is not far distant from the Cambrian and 
Pre-Cambrian ridges of the Lickey Hills, these green grits, as might be 
expected, contain angular fragments of the Lickey rocks. Occasionally 
the grits are so coarse as to form a true breccia, interesting as fore- 
shadowing the breccia conditions so prevalent in the succeeding 
' Permian ' rocks of South Staffordshire. The red clays afford some of 
the material for the famous South Staffordshire blue bricks, and large 
quarries have been opened round Oldhill. 

The brick clays pass up near Halesowen (just beyond the county 
limits) into grey sandstones and marls (Halesowen Sandstone Group], about 
400 feet thick, containing an occasional thin seam of coal and a well 
marked band of Spirorbis limestone near the summit. These in turn are 
surmounted, quite conformably, by red sandstones and marls, generally 
included in the ' Permian ' formation, but identical with the Keele type 
of North Staffordshire. 

The sequence of the Upper Coal-measures of North Staffordshire 
is thus at once seen to be repeated around the southern margins of the 
South Staffordshire Coalfield, and the connection of the two fields 
either absolutely, or at least as regards the similarity in the sequence 
of events proved beyond dispute. The same sequence too has been 
detected in the deep sinkings and borings outside the exposed coalfields, 
where the green ' Espley Rocks ' at once afford the miner a clue to his 
position in the Coal-measure sequence. 

Origin of Coal. As the county abounds in this mineral a few words 
i 17 3 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

may be said regarding the prevalent opinions as to its mode of formation. 
The one most in vogue regards each seam as representing an ancient bed 
of vegetation, and the usually accompanying underclay or fireclay as 
the soil on which it grew. Another opinion considers that some 
at least of the coals are made up of floated vegetable matter, tranquilly 
deposited in still water at a time when other sedimentation was at a 
standstill. Under either view there cannot be any doubt that each seam 
indicates a pause of more or less duration and of frequent recurrence 
throughout the Coal-measure period. 1 

PERMIAN SYSTEM 

The red sandstones and marls succeeding the Halesowen Sandstone 
group have been regarded as belonging to a special type of ' Permian ' 
developed only on the west side of the Pennine Chain, but recent borings 
in Nottinghamshire have clearly shown the same type to be present on 
the east side of the Pennines. The limitation of the Permian system 
therefore needs revision, but it would be superfluous to discuss this ques- 
tion here. The red strata overlying the grey Halesowen Sandstone 
group are succeeded conformably by another set of red sandstones and 
marls with lenticular bands of calcareous conglomerates, which in turn 
are overlain by the so-called ' Trappoid Breccia ' of the Clent Hills (on 
the northern boundary of Worcestershire). These rocks have been 
classed as Middle Permian. 2 Very much the same succession occurs 
round Enville, but above the ' Trappoid Breccia ' a set of red marls 
with an intercalated band of breccia conformably follows, and has been 
regarded as forming an Upper Permian sub-division. 

Whether these distinct groups of rocks are the equivalent of the 
continental Permian system or not, it is beyond dispute that in this 
country they are intimately related to the Coal-measures, but separated 
from the Triassic system by one of the greatest unconformities known in 
British geology. On the other hand the Magnesian Limestone Series of 
the eastern counties considered to be the equivalent of the Permian 
Zechstein of Germany is removed from the highest Coal-measures by 
a strong unconformity, but is hardly separable from the Triassic 
deposits. 

The breccia bands which characterize the South Staffordshire 
' Permian Rocks ' retain a general lithological facies throughout the 
district. Set in a sandy or marly paste, angular fragments or blocks of 
volcanic rocks, mingled with others of fossiliferous, Carboniferous, 
Silurian and Cambrian sandstones and limestones, show the varied 
source of their derivation. Their origin has therefore led to much con- 

1 For a recent discussion on this interesting subject see Report of the British Association (1901), 
Bradford. 

* Quite recently a band of Spirorbis limestone has been discovered in the so-called Middle Permian 
at Franldey Lodge farm in the Clent area by T. C. Cantrill (Summary of Progress of the Geological 
Survey for 1901), pp. 63, 64. 

18 



GEOLOGY 

troversy, of which there are two opposing views. Some geologists, 
following the brilliant researches of Ramsay, 1 claim a glacial origin for this 
heterogeneous collection of rock fragments. Others 2 maintain them 
to be scree material swept down by sub-aerial torrents from a pre-Triassic 
hilly region situated in the south. 

TRIASSIC SYSTEM 

To whatever origin the ' Permian ' breccias of Clent and Enville be 
attributed, the next group the unconformable Triassic rocks affords a 
typical example of deposits laid down under continental conditions, 
as was long ago pointed out by Ramsay and Godwin-Austen. The 
change from the river-borne muds and silts of the Carboniferous period 
is not only vividly contrasted in the loosely compacted red sandstones 
and conglomerates of the Trias, but the vast interval of time intervening 
between the close of the one set of events and the opening of another 
is forcibly demonstrated by the newer formation reposing horizontally or 
at gentle angles on the denuded and intensely plicated carboniferous 
strata. This is recognized by geologists ending the Palaeozoic era with 
the Carboniferous or Permian systems, and starting an altogether fresh 
time epoch (Mesozoic) with the red rocks of the Trias. 

At its commencement in the Bunter period the Triassic continent 
an elevated Carboniferous sea floor presented a very irregular rocky 
surface fashioned out of a plane of marine denudation during upheavals 
succeeding the Carboniferous period, and carved out by long subsequent 
denudation. This rugged surface of pre-Triassic hill and dale and 
possibly mountainous country became gradually levelled by dry weather- 
ing, torrential rains and wind, while the material derived from these 
sources was swept into and slowly accumulated in the hollows. In the 
succeeding Keuper stage the broader depressions were further rilled with 
sediments deposited in a great lake subjected to such intense evaporation as 
to result in the deposition of thick beds of rock-salt and gypsum. Finally, 
at the close of the Keuper period the area became depressed, by gentle 
sinking movements, beneath the waters of the Rhaetic and Jurassic seas. 

The Triassic system is built up of sandstones and marls of an 
almost universal red colour due to a thin film of oxide of iron coating 
each particle. Traced across the district from west to east the individual 
members show a rapid decrease in thickness : collectively, on the west 
side of the South Staffordshire Coalfield the thickness amounts to 3,500 feet, 
which has dwindled to about 1,200 feet on the east side of this coalfield, 
but there is reason to believe that in the centre of the basin to the north 
of Stafford the westerly amount is reached or even exceeded. Owing to 
the general slight inclination of the strata the outcrops are especially 
broad ; they are narrowest round the Carboniferous tracts in the north 

1 'On the Occurrence of Angular, Subangular, Polished and Striated Fragments and Boulders in 
the Permian Breccia of Shropshire, Worcestershire, etc.,' <$uart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xi. 185 (1855). 

3 ' On the Permian Conglomerates of the Lower Severn Basin,' by W. Wickham King, Quart. 
Joum. Geol. Soc. Iv. 97-128 (1899). 

19 



A HISTORY FO STAFFORDSHIRE 

and south, from off which they dip to all points of the compass, and are 
broadest in the great central syncline occupied by the Keuper Marls. 

BUNTER PERIOD 

Lower Red and Mottled Sandstone. If the sub-aerial origin of the 
Bunter, as is now generally accepted, be correct, we might expect to 
find a varied distribution of the sediments ; especially would this be the 
case with the wind-borne deposits, to which some geologists consider a 
large portion of the Lower Mottled Sandstone may be directly or in- 
directly attributed. To the west of Wolverhampton, where this sub- 
division appears at its best, it reaches a thickness of 300 feet ; it is only 
met with locally in North Staffordshire, and is altogether absent on the 
east side of the South Staffordshire Coalfield. 

In the Wolverhampton area the strata consist of sandstones of the 
most varied hues, ranging from yellow through brown to bright ver- 
milion. Here also the remarkable false-bedding or ' oblique lamination,' 
characteristic of the sub-division, is admirably exhibited in a road cutting 
near the entrance to the lower town. Whether this be due to currents 
of water or wind the general roundness of the sand particles must be 
attributed to wind action, for no other agency is considered to be capable 
of rounding small sand grains, while it is one of the characteristic features 
of the desert sands of to-day. 1 

Owing to their soft nature the rocks are generally denuded into 
broad valleys, but in the interesting escarpment of Kinver Edge the top 
beds have been hardened by a calcareous cement, and overhang a deep 
valley excavated in the underlying softer portion. The ease with which 
the stone can be quarried has been taken advantage of by the inhabitants 
of Enville and Kinver, the neighbourhood of these villages showing 
numerous rock houses, of which those cut out of the sandstone of Holy 
Austin Rock are the best known. 

Bunter Pebble Beds. The strata of this sub-division are well 
developed in the north and south, where they hem in the Carboniferous 
formations against which they abut, sometimes with a faulted junction, 
but more frequently unconformably superimposed. They consist essen- 
tially of coarse false-bedded sandstones, through which pebbles of vein 
quartz and other rocks are widely scattered or are massed together 
with little or no intervening matrix, forming beds of shingle sometimes 
over 50 feet thick. At their outcrop the sandstones and conglomerates 
are usually incoherent, but in wells and borings the matrix is often 
highly calcareous, when the rock is intensely hard and much dreaded by 
well-sinkers. In the shingle beds the pebbles are of all sizes up to or 
slightly exceeding that of a man's head. The majority are quartzites 
white, brown, yellow or liver-coloured ; others consist of well rounded 
fragments of Mountain Limestone, chert, grits of various Palaeozoic 

1 For our knowledge of desert conditions the student is referred to Das gesetz der Wtistenbildung, by 
Professor Walther (Berlin, 1900). 

20 



GEOLOGY 

formations, and an occasional fragment of granite or volcanic grit. 1 
Speaking generally the massed gravels are more abundant in the north 
than in the south, and more persistent towards the base of the sub- 
division than near its summit. They are largely quarried for road metal 
and gravel in Trentham Park, Cannock Chase, south of Cheadle, Longton, 
and in many localities bordering the South Staffordshire Coalfield. 

To the west of the South Staffordshire Coalfield the sub-division is 
situated with apparent perfect conformity between the Lower and Upper 
Mottled Sandstone, but elsewhere in the county rests with a great discord- 
ance on the various members of the Carboniferous rocks or on 'Permian.' 
This unconformity can nowhere be better illustrated than by the outliers 
at Endon and around Leek, where the nearly horizontal pebbly Bunter 
sandstones rest on highly inclined or sharply folded Lower Carboniferous 
rocks. 

In its course along the western margin of the South Staffordshire 
Coalfield the outcrop is indicated by conspicuous ridges, such as Abbots 
Castle Hill, near Trysull, and Kinver Edge. Along the eastern side of 
the coalfield the outcrop extends in a well marked ridge from near 
Birmingham northward to Aldridge. The greatest expanse however 
constitutes the open undulating heather-clad moorland of Cannock Chase 
on which the characteristic weathering into deep coombes with inter- 
mediate rounded lobes is admirably illustrated. The same character is 
clearly portrayed round the North Staffordshire Coalfield, where the 
sub-formation gives rise to the picturesque woodlands of Maer, Swyn- 
nerton Park, Trentham Park, Burnt Wood and Bishops Wood. Perhaps 
the most interesting outcrop occurs in the Churnet valley between 
Cheddleton and Leek, where a small patch about seven miles long has 
been preserved in a deep pre-Triassic hollow excavated in the Lower 
Carboniferous rocks which on all sides surround and overlook the 
much newer formation. 

The mode and place of origin of the sandstones and shingle beds 
have given rise to much controversy among geologists. They have 
been regarded as the products of powerful oceanic currents ; another 
opinion holds them to be of sub-aerial origin, brought together by 
large rivers liable to heavy floods, or else by tumultuous torrents the effect 
of cloudbursts. Some geologists consider the pebbles to be derived from 
the breaking up of the conglomerates of the Old Red Sandstone ; others 
again would derive them from Palaeozoic rocks of different ages in rapid 
course of destruction by the ordinary agents of denudation acting during 
the Bunter period. Again, the views as to the source of origin are 
widely divergent : some geologists maintain that the pebbles were derived 
from the older formations in the north of England and Scotland ; others 
look to their source from an old rocky ridge extending between the south- 
west of England and western France ; while others think it not improb- 
able that much of the material might have been obtained from the older 

1 W. Molyneux, ' On the Gravel Beds of Trentham Park,' Trans. North Staff. Nat. Field Club 
(1886) ; Geol. Mag. iv. 173 (1867). 

21 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

formations known to exist in the Midlands beneath the Trias. Diver- 
gent as these views appear, they probably all contain an element of 
truth, for not from one but from many areas should the pebbles be derived if 
they were laid down under continental conditions. 1 

The strata are almost wholly unfossiliferous. In other parts of 
England the presence of Labyrinthodonts has been detected, but then 
only rarely, and consisting chiefly of footprints. The spongy nature of the 
sandstone and shingle beds renders the sub-division an almost unlimited 
reservoir of underground water, admirably suited for drinking pur- 
poses. The pebble beds are thus the source from which the chief towns 
of Staffordshire obtain their water supply. The strong springs, issuing 
from the rocks along lines of faults and major joints, or at their junction 
with the less pervious Carboniferous strata, help in no small degree to 
keep the streams and rivers from running dry during the summer months. 
The springs at Wall Grange pouring out over 2,000,000 gallons daily, 
supplied to the Potteries, are a case in point ; the Tern river also issues 
from the spring-fed lake at Maer Hall as a stream of no inconsiderable 
size. In other respects the Pebble Beds, beyond yielding road-metal for 
second class roads, possess little commercial importance. 

Upper Mottled Sandstone. This sub-division of vermilion-coloured 
non-pebbly sandstone, closely resembling the lower sub-division, follows 
conformably and runs parallel with the outcrop of the Pebble Beds to the 
west of the southern coalfield, but is hardly separable from them and not 
always present in North Staffordshire. One of the best sections in the 
Midlands is opened out in the road cutting at Tettenhall to the west of 
Wolverhampton. Flanked by the Pebble Beds and overlain by the hard 
Keuper basement beds the Upper Mottled Sandstone usually occupies low 
lying tracts overlooked by the inferior and superior sub-divisions of the 
Trias. Some of the most beautiful country lanes have been cut deep into 
these soft red sandstones, whose bright red colours so strikingly contrast 
with the delicate greens of lichen, moss and fern which cling to their 
damp crumbling surfaces. 

The soft incoherent nature of the stone renders it a favourite source 
of building sand, while the more loamy varieties yield good foundry and 
moulding sand, and are extensively quarried at Baldwins Gate near Maer 
for the Crewe Engineering Works. 

KEUPER PERIOD 

Keuper Basement Beds and Waterstones. During the whole of the 
Bunter period the elevatory forces were going on or were only temporarily 
stationary : in the succeeding Keuper period the successive overlaps of 
the individual members point to a cessation of any upward movements, 
while towards its close the Triassic continent began to slowly sink until 
it became finally submerged beneath the seas which were to hold sway 
during the whole of Mesozoic times. 

1 T. G. Bonney, Geol. Mag. Dec. n, vii. 404 (1880), ibid. Dec. 4, ii. 75 (1895); W. J. 
Harrison, Proc. Birm. Phil. Soc. vol. iii. (1881-3). 

22 



GEOLOGY 

The Keuper Basement Beds, or, as they are sometimes called, Lower 
Keuper Sandstones, are typically developed in the western portion of the 
county where they conformably surmount the Upper Mottled Sandstone. 
Owing to the general presence of a hard conglomerate or occasionally a 
breccia at the base they overlook the inferior sub-division in the form of 
well-marked scarps particularly well exhibited to the west of Wolver- 
hampton between Tettenhall and Shifnall and in the ridges west of 
Eccleshall. But it is at Alton where denudation has most successfully 
picked out these harder strata and fashioned a combination of escarpment, 
rocky cliff and deep ravine unrivalled by any other Triassic area. 

In the eastern part of South Staffordshire and generally in North 
Staffordshire the basal conglomerate and breccia are absent and the Keuper 
Waterstones rest with apparent conformity or apparent discordance on the 
' Pebble Beds.' In most places the basement beds are succeeded by even 
bedded red and white sandstones with interstratified layers of red and grey 
marl. Toward the summit the marl partings become more numerous 
and thicker with a consequent thinning of the intercalated sandstones, and 
so gradually pass into the Waterstones, so called from the thin sandstones 
possessing a fancied resemblance to watered silk and not to their affording 
a good water-bearing stratum as is sometimes stated. 

The red and white sandstones overlying the basement beds yield an 
excellent building stone extensively quarried around Wolverhampton, 
Rugeley and south of Cheadle. At Hollington and Stanton the stone is 
of exceptional quality, yielding large blocks sent to many parts of the 
kingdom. It has been, and still remains, a favourite stone for ecclesiastical 
architecture, country mansions and the larger buildings of many of the 
midland cities. Alton Towers is built of a freestone of Lower Keuper 
age obtained close at hand. 

The Lower Keuper Sandstones and building stones yield a few fossils 
of which remains of plants, poorly preserved, are not infrequent, but the 
most interesting are the rare remains of the gigantic Amphibian belong- 
ing to the sub-order Labyrinthodontia. 

The impressions of the hand-like feet chirosaurus (C heir other mm) 
of this animal have been met with on the surface of slabs of sandstones 
in many quarries, notably at Hollington, but the finest remains, consist- 
ing of a nearly complete skull, 9 inches long and 6 inches wide, were 
obtained in the quarries at Stanton. 1 

Throughout the Lower Keuper, but also occasionally in the Bunter, 
the cementing material frequently consists of barium sulphate standing out 
in relief on the weathered surfaces as star-like forms or else leached out 
and redeposited as small veins filling joints. Copper-ore, consisting of the 
blue and green carbonates, is occasionally present and has been worked at 
Bearstone. 

Keuper Marls. Nearly the whole of the central and low-lying 
portions of the county are occupied by this sub-division. Made up 

1 John Ward, 'On the Occurrence of Labyrinthodont Remains in the Keuper Sandstone of 
Stanton,' Tram. North Staff. Field Club (1900). 

23 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

essentially of soft red marls of nearly uniform composition, and lying at a 
gentle angle across the great syncline of central Staffordshire, the scenery 
of the Keuper Marl country lacks interest. Low scarps and ridges, where 
the strata consist of thin bands of brown and white flags (skerries) occasion- 
ally break the monotony, but except towards the base these features are 
impersistent. In the past the Keuper Marl country was largely covered 
with woods, of which Needwood Forest and Chartley Park remain as 
relics. 

The marls are of great thickness, possibly as much as 2,000 feet to 
the north-east of Stafford. That they were laid down under water, in a 
large lake subjected to intense evaporation, the beds of rocksalt and 
gypsum afford the most conclusive evidence. As the basin became rilled 
up the marls gradually extended over the underlying sub-divisions, and 
finally in the north overlapped them all until they invaded the bays and 
hollows of the Carboniferous rocks which here formed the margins of the 
basin. 

The red marl forms an excellent soil and was formerly dug for 
' top-dressing,' the small pits excavated for this purpose or for drinking 
troughs lying scattered in countless numbers all over its outcrop. The 
celebrated alabaster quarries of Fauld near Tutbury lie in the Keuper 
Marl. Alabaster is here obtained in large slabs, and was used 
extensively for the ornamental work of Croxden Abbey and Lichfield 
Cathedral. Two hundred years ago, and long before it was quarried near 
Tettenhall, the Burton workers in alabaster had attained a considerable 
status. Brine wells have been sunk into the marls to the north of 
Stafford and at Shirleywich. 

RHjETIC PERIOD 

The gradual passing away of the Triassic continental period is revealed 
in the interesting outliers of the Rhaetic formation in Needwood Forest 
and Bagots Park to the west of Burton-on-Trent. The sections are very 
meagre, the best being the exposure at Marchington Cliff where the 
red Keuper Marls pass up imperceptibly into bluish white conchoidal 
marls and impure limestones containing Axinus cloacinus and overlain by 
a few feet of the characteristic black Rhastic shales. 

With the Rhastic Beds the geological history of the county as re- 
corded in the solid rock formations terminates. We know that the Rhaetic 
deposits mark the commencement of a great regional depression during 
which Britain and western Europe lay submerged for a vast interval of 
time beneath the ocean, but of which no relics have been detected in 
Staffordshire. To the east the Jurassic and Cretaceous systems follow 
each other in consecutive order ; to the west, at Audlem, it is known that 
at least the Jurassic seas extended, but from Staffordshire its sediments 
have been swept away. Of the early stages of the Tertiary period, so 
well exhibited in the south-eastern counties, Staffordshire again presents 
a blank, so that volume after volume of the geological record has been 

24 



GEOLOGY 

destroyed and we pass abruptly from the deserts of the Trias to the arctic 
conditions of the Pleistocene period. 

Before describing this wonderful contrast of events we must however 
retrace our steps and briefly consider the igneous rocks breaking through 
the formations previously described. 

IGNEOUS AND VOLCANIC ROCKS 

The stratified deposits are in many places but a thin skin overlying 
a reservoir of molten material ever ready to burst forth and intrude itself 
along lines of weakness. Evidences of such weak spots are to be met 
with again and again among the formations whose history we have been 
tracing, yet it was only rarely that the underlying molten matter found 
egress from its subterranean reservoir. 

The earliest record is afforded by the limestone quarry on Congleton 
Edge (p. 8), where it becomes evident that during the closing scenes of 
the Carboniferous Limestone epoch a volcano was close at hand vomiting 
forth ashes and dust which fell into the surrounding seas and possibly 
sending forth a submarine lava stream. 

The famous basalts or trap rocks intruded into the Coal-measures of 
South Staffordshire present the next example. These cover no inconsider- 
able area at Rowley Regis, Barrow Hill, Pouk Hill, and again round 
Wednesfield. Each occurs as a ' sill ' whose intrusive character is shown 
by the coal-seams being charred where they came in contact with the 
molten mass or by the baking of the black Coal-measure shales at their 
junction with the basalt above and below. The largest sill forms the 
Rowley Regis mass, through which the tunnel between Rowley Regis 
Station and Old Hill passes. The lava was here injected into the space 
of an arched up mass of Coal-measure strata forming what is known as 
a ' laccolite,' of which the cover has been removed by denudation. 
During the process of cooling, a beautiful columnar structure, excellently 
preserved in Turner's Pit, was set up. 1 Huge spheroids of basalt are 
frequently enclosed between the joints which transversely divide the 
columns at fairly regular intervals. The Rowley Rag is largely used 
for road metal. 

Some uncertainty exists as to the age of the intrusions owing to the 
want of conclusive field evidence. Professor Watts 3 comments on the 
fresh appearance of the constituent minerals and the many features they 
possess in common with the well known Tertiary dykes of the north of 
Ireland and Scotland, and also on the fact that the Rowley mass partakes 
in the fractures affecting the coalfield, some of which, such as the 
Great Boundary Faults, traverse Jurassic rocks. None of the South 
Staffordshire intrusions pierce rocks later than high Coal-measures, but an 
interesting dyke met with in North Staffordshire traverses the marls of 
the Keuper period. This is a very narrow basaltic dyke, never more 

1 T. G. Bonney, S>uart. Joum. Geol. Soc. xxxii. 151 (1876). 

a W. W. Watts, Geologists' Association, p. 399 (1898), op. cit., in which references to the literature 
on the igneous rocks are also given. 

I 25 4 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

than a few feet across, which has been traced from near Keele to a little 
north of Chebsey. 1 In its course it cuts across and alters rocks of Upper 
Coal-measure, Bunter and Keuper ages. The mineral constituents are 
exceedingly fresh, and in many respects the rock closely resembles the 
South Staffordshire intrusions. 

. 

PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT 

GLACIAL DEPOSITS 

The third great epoch of which the county presents a complete and 
most interesting record is that of the Pleistocene or Quaternary Period. 
There is abundant evidence to show that at this late geological time two 
great ice sheets were formed by the piling up of snow and ice over the 
North Sea and the Irish Sea and converged until their margins touched 
in Staffordshire somewhere in the region of Burton-on-Trent ; at the 
same period local glaciers descended from the Derbyshire and Welsh 
hills, spreading out their debris at their feet and mingling it with that 
carried inland by the two great ice sheets coming up from the sea. 

Compared with the events recorded in the latest of the solid geolo- 
gical formations the Rhaetic dealt with in this article, this refrigera- 
tion, which extended over the whole of northern Europe, happened 
but yesterday, its close according to some calculations not being further 
removed from the present day than 10,000 years. At its commence- 
ment the configuration of the land was much as it is to-day ; all that 
it accomplished was a little rounding off of surface inequalities by the 
rasping power of the ice and the filling up of pre-existing hollows or 
alteration of previous surface drainage by the accumulation of detritus 
or by barriers of ice. 

To understand the significance of the phenomena met with in 
Staffordshire it is essential to bear in mind that the Welsh, Cumbrian, 
Scotch and Pennine hills were as high at the commencement of the 
period as they are to-day, and that the chief valleys and plains of central 
England were in the main blocked out. This being recognized, the 
course which the ice sheets took will be easily comprehended. The 
one from the Irish Sea invaded the Cheshire and Shropshire plains, to 
be there joined by the more local ice flows from the Welsh hills ; the 
one from the North Sea spread over the eastern counties and pushed its 
way up the Trent valley, to be joined near Derby by the glaciers sent 
off from the Derbyshire hills. Such are the broad general outlines of 
the period. The existence of these moving masses of ice is plainly 
demonstrated by the character of the foreign material or train of boulders 
left scattered over the country, and by the ice grooves on the solid rocks 
radiating outwards from the elevated regions or pointing in the direction 
of the paths taken by the Irish Sea and North Sea ice. 

The three largest glaciers have been named : (i) The Arenig Glacier, 

1 J. Kirkby, ' On the Trap Dykes in the Hanchurch Hilh,' Tram. North Staff. Field Club, vol. 
xxviii. (1894). 

26 



GEOLOGY 

(2) the Irish Sea Glacier, (3) the North Sea Glacier, while the one from 
the Derbyshire hills may be termed (4) the Pennine Glacier. Their 
history has not been completely made out, and the order in which they 
invaded the district is uncertain, but the local glaciers had probably 
reached a considerable size before the foreign ice penetrated into the 
heart of the country. 

We will now briefly describe the phenomena presented by the 
different ice masses, mentioning neighbouring areas where necessary for 
a complete comprehension of the subject : 

Arenig Glacier. Descending from the Arenig Hills (2,817 ^ eet ) 
this glacier passed down the Vale of Llangollen and then debouched on 
to the Shropshire plain, where it threw down the masses of morainic 
material at Ruabon and Ellesmere. It would be natural to suppose that 
it would then have passed northward down the Dee valley with over- 
flows to the south along the Severn valley. The northern path however 
was blocked with ice coming from the Irish Sea and the southern course 
barred with ice from Plinlimmon. It was therefore compelled to assume 
a south-easterly course, impinging upon Staffordshire, round Wolverhamp- 
ton and the ground to the south, where occasional boulders of Welsh 
rocks, but mixed with others brought by the Irish Sea ice, are met 
with. Around the southern margins of the South Staffordshire Coal- 
field boulders from Wales become common, but the greatest number and 
the best sections in the drift lie beyond the county border. The Rowley 
Hills lie in the direct path of the Arenig glacier. Mr. Jerome Harrison 1 
finds no foreign drift on their summit, but on the contrary a train of basalt 
boulders has been traced from them for some distance to the south and 
east. On the rock being bared in quarrying operations, clearly striated 
rock surfaces, with the stria? pointing N.W. to S.E., have been laid bare, 
and the general contour of the hills Mr. Harrison regards as that of a great 
roche moutonnee. 

Carried along by the great moving mass of the Irish sea ice which 
also probably helped to push the Arenig glacier up the south-western 
flanks of the South Staffordshire Coalfield the glacier from Wales may 
have impinged on the northern coalfield, as along its western margin 
some boulders are met with which correspond very well with the 
rhyolitic lavas of Arenig. 

Irish Sea Glacier. This was the dominant and all-powerful mass of 
ice of which the presence can be traced over the greater part of the 
county. Its great thickness and power was derived from the glaciers of 
the south of Scotland, Ireland and the Lake district, which during glacial 
times descended into the Irish Sea basin, and uniting there with the glaciers 
resulting from the accumulated snowfall became ultimately piled up until 
the ice overrode the summit of Snaefell (2,024 feet) in the Isle of Man. 
Advancing southward it met with the resistance of the Welsh hills, and 
consequently split into one lobe which passed down St. George's Channel, 

1 ' Glacial Geology of the Birmingham District,' op. cit. 
27 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

and into another which swept across the Cheshire plain and finally in- 
vaded Staffordshire. Exactly where this great ice-sheet terminated has 
not been made out, but it may be roughly taken to have come to rest 
along a line joining Burton, Lichfield, Wolverhampton and Enville ; 
for north of this line the country is strewn with boulders and glacial 
detritus ; while to the south the relics are scanty and difficult to 
separate from the material spread out by the streams issuing from the 
foot of the ice. As the western ice approached the northern borders 
of the county it encountered the bold front of the North Staffordshire 
hills, which are only breached near Kidsgrove and to the east of Congle- 
ton. The ice however was of sufficient weight and thickness to override 
the Pottery Coalfield, and further north, in the direction of main move- 
ment, even reached an altitude of 1,300 feet to the east of Macclesfield. 
The gaps near Congleton however presented an easy overflow, and 
consequently we find an ice lobe penetrated down the Trent valley 
system, scattering its sands, clays and boulders in irregular mounds 
between Biddulph and Stoke-upon-Trent. To the south-east however 
the high ground around Cheadle almost completely arrested the further 
eastward course of the western ice, and consequently we meet with none 
or very little of its detritus between Uttoxeter and Cheadle ; on the con- 
trary the influence of the local Pennine glacier becomes apparent. 

The greatest accumulation of boulders is found on the western 
flanks of the North Staffordshire Coalfield and between Wolverhampton 
and Enville in South Staffordshire. As might be expected, they comprise 
a heterogeneous collection of Scotch and Lake district rocks, mingled with 
an occasional boulder from Wales, where the ice-sheet came into contact 
with the Arenig glacier. The commonest Lake district rocks are boulders 
of the red granite of Eskdale, granophyres from Buttermere, basalts with 
large crystals of augite, streaky garnetiferous lavas, amygdaloidal basalts and 
rhyolites. Rocks from Scotland are represented by blocks of hornblende- 
bearing granites and the tonalites of Galloway. The iceborne fragments 
are of all sizes, from mere pebbles up to blocks over 12 feet in length. 
Many of the larger boulders have been removed by man from their 
original resting-places and set up along the roadsides or at the corners 
of the streets in towns and villages, or in public parks, as at Wolver- 
hampton and Longton ; while in the western villages the streets are 
sometimes cobbled with the smaller stones. The boulders however 
represent but a small amount of the transported material. There are 
besides thick masses of ' Boulder Clay,' in which stones large and small 
lie scattered at all angles constituting in places a true ground moraine 
among which lenticular beds and sheets of sand are intercalated. The 
colour of the clay varies according to the nature of the ground swept 
over by the ice : it is brown or red when it lies on or has previously 
crossed an outcrop of Triassic rocks ; it is a deep dirty blue colour over 
tracts of Carboniferous rocks or in contiguous areas in advance of the 
ice-sheet, when it contains fragments of the Lower Carboniferous rocks, 
pieces of coal and even in one case portions of a coal seam, disrupted and 

28 



GEOLOGY 

carried onward by the ice. The clays are in many places used for bricks. 
The intercalated sands occur in masses sometimes exceeding a hundred feet 
in thickness, and are generally clean red, yellow, or buff sands, sometimes 
free of pebbles, but more often containing lenticles of gravel. They 
have been a favourite source for local water supplies, and the sites of 
many of the villages such as Betley, Wrinehill and Madeley were no 
doubt originally selected for this reason. It was originally thought, and 
the opinion is still sometimes upheld, that the clays and sands maintain a 
definite relationship. Thus there is considered to be an old stiff clay 
full of scratched stones (Till or Lower Boulder Clay] on which the sands 
and gravels (Middle Glacial Sands] rest. The latter have been taken by 
some glacialists to indicate an amelioration of climate and depression, 
followed by a re-elevation and second refrigeration represented by an 
overlying sheet of clay (Upper Boulder Clay). In the Trent basin Mr. 
Deeley 1 introduces further sub-divisions, each of which he regards as 
indicative of different stages of glaciation. Though this threefold sub- 
division can be frequently observed, it is commonly acknowledged that 
the presence of the three members at any one spot is accidental, while 
one or even two are as often absent as present. 

Both sands and clays, but more frequently the coarser bands of sand 
and lenticles of gravel, contain fragments of recent marine shells of types 
met with in the Irish Sea and in more northern waters. An entire 
specimen is the exception, the merest fragments being generally met 
with. Faint glacial stria? can sometimes be observed on the larger 
fragments. The commonest shells and fragments are cockle (Cardium 
edu/e), Mytilus edu/is, Turritella terebra^ Tellina balthica, Cyprina, My a. 
They are to be found in fair abundance round Wolverhampton, Madeley 
(Staffs), from Woore to Alsager, and near Biddulph, in pits opened in 
the clays and sands. 

North Sea Glacier. While the Irish Sea basin was filling up with 
ice, the North Sea, fed with glaciers from Scandinavia, was likewise 
being piled thick with ice which reached the English coast a little north 
of Flamborough Head. Sweeping inland it crossed the Trent at Gains- 
borough, and thence pushed its way up the Trent valley to Derby and 
Burton-on-Trent. Its influence on Staffordshire is scarcely appreciable, 
though it exercised a strong hold on Leicestershire. Passing as it did 
over the Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits of the eastern counties, its debris, 
gathered from these rocks, is at once distinguishable from the fragments 
of Palasozoic rocks brought into the county by the Irish Sea glacier. 
Flints, Chalk and fragments of the Lias and Oolites, mingled with an 
occasional Scandinavian gneiss or igneous rock, at once betray the presence 
of the North Sea ice. Only its fringe however reached Staffordshire, 
and scattered its far distant collected rocks around Burton-on-Trent, 
Abbots Bromley and possibly even as far west as Uttoxeter, though here 
the flinty gravel may in part be attributed to material washed out of 
the eastern ice. 

1 'The Pleistocene Succession in the Trent Basin,' Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xlii. 437 (1886). 

29 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Pennine Glacier. The Pennine hills evidently nourished their 
glaciers at the time the Welsh hills were swathed in ice. Their 
lobes of ice descended down the main valleys the Dove and Derwent 
carrying with them the rocks of the Derbyshire hills, and spreading 
them out on the rising ground south of Uttoxeter, Tutbury and Derby. 

Clear as to its origin, and of comparatively recent geological date, 
the Pleistocene period plainly shows its influence on the pre-existing 
physiographical outlines of the county. Remove the drift deposits 
on the north-western borders of the county, and a hollow, occasionally 
sinking below sea-level, would extend where now there is a plain 
from 200-300 feet above sea-level. Before the ice dropped its detritus 
in the Trent valley, between Bucknall and Stockton Brook, it can be 
clearly shown that the Trent flowed at the foot of the high bank of 
Carboniferous rocks descending from Wetley Moor, and that it is 
less in volume by that now carried ofF by the Stockton Brook, which 
feeds the Churnet, but in pre-glacial times flowed into the Trent. It is 
probable also that greater changes in drainage took place in the Dove 
valley system, but this comparatively modern line of research has not 
been worked out for this valley. 

RIVER DRIFT AND CAVE EARTH 

Between the final passing away of the ice-sheets and the earliest 
records of the human period in Staffordshire a long time elapses, during 
which the rivers were gradually assuming their present channels and rate of 
flow. The history of these lesser changes of river shrinkage and alteration 
of channel, accompanied by a slow modification of the fauna and flora, 
has not been sufficiently studied throughout the county, and the results 
obtained have depended largely upon chance excavations, so that our 
knowledge is necessarily imperfect. 

The older river deposits consist of terraces of gravel, sand and loam 
frequently met with at levels high above the present streams, though in 
some cases glacial gravels may have been mistaken for former river 
deposits and vice versa. 

On the west banks of the Trent, at Burton, old river gravels have 
been met with at Stretton 100 feet above the present water-level of the 
Trent. At a lower level, from 18 to 36 feet above the Trent, another 
platform of gravel extends between Stretton and Horninglow. 

Further down in the valley the town of Burton is situated on an 
old river gravel from 8 to 10 feet above the present water-level. The 
material composing it consists of well washed sand and gravel, from 20 
to 30 feet thick. High Street, Burton, and the older parts of the town 
are located on this terrace, the gravels and sands of which for many years 
alone yielded the water used in the celebrated breweries. Bones, jaws 
and teeth of Sus scrqfa, Bos taurus var. longifrons, horse and those of the 
dog and wolf have been obtained at times from these deposits. 

From the older river gravels of the Trent at Trentham Dr. Plot 

30 



GEOLOGY 

mentions the unearthing of the tusk of elephant ; Dr. Garner * also 
records remains of elephant and rhinoceros, associated with the bones 
of red deer and roebuck, from the ' diluvial ' gravels of the same 
neighbourhood. In altering the course of the Fowlea brook a fine 
skull of the wild bull (Bos taurus var. primigenius) with the horn cores 
complete was found near Etruria station. 3 Remains of Bos taurus var. 
longifrons and Bos urus have also been met with at Stone. 3 

It might be expected that, regarding their frequent occurrence in 
Derbyshire where recent discoveries show that the caves have probably 
existed from Pliocene times, 4 the remains of animals would be plenti- 
fully met with in fissures and caverns of the Carboniferous Limestone 
country of Staffordshire. This however is not the case, but from a 
fissure in the limestone at Bank End quarry, Waterhouses, in the valley 
of the Hamps, a large number of remains of Elepbas primigenius 
(mammoth) have been extracted from a red loamy clay mixed with 
fragments of limestone and rolled boulders of grit. 6 

The rivers continued to suffer shrinkage down to the historical 
period and further modified their channels. This is best exhibited 
around Burton," in the Trent valley, where a narrow fringe of alluvium 
borders the river. This, as well as the higher, more elevated terraces, 
has been liable to floods, of which the record will be dealt with by 
the historian. 

The solid framework of the county has now been traced from the 
earliest rock-written record to the time when the landscape assumed its 
familiar outline. Everywhere physical feature has been found dependent 
on geological structure : the diversified moorland of the north, the two 
great coalfields, the enveloping lowlands, have all been traced to the 
composition of the rocks and their structure. The history of the past 
contained in the rocks is everywhere incomplete, and may be faithfully 
summed up in the words of Charles Darwin in speaking of the 
geological record as a whole : ' For my part, I look at the geological 
record as a history of the world imperfectly kept, and written in a 
changing dialect only here and there a short chapter has been pre- 
served ; and of each page only here and there a few lines.' 



1 Natural History of the County of Stafford, p. 202 (1686). 

J Trans. North Staff. Field Club, vol. for 1878. 

3 Ibid. xxx. 1 10. 

4 W. Boyd Dawkins, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xlix. (1903). 

5 W. Brockbank, Proc. Lit. and Phill. Soc. Manchester (1862-4) ; J. Aitken, Traits. Manchester 
Geol. Soc. vol. xii. (1870-3). 

8 W. Molyneux, Burton-on-Trent ; its History, its Waters, etc. (1868). 



PALAEONTOLOGY 



WITH the exception of a very few obtained from the superficial 
deposits, the vertebrate fossils of Staffordshire seem to be 
restricted to the horizons of the Trias and the Coal 
Measures. Although the Coal Measure vertebrates are 
by far the more numerous, those from the Trias are, as a whole, much 
the more interesting, on account of the rarity, at least in this country, of 
the types to which they belong. An exception in this respect must, 
however, be made in the case of the shark-remains from the Coal 
Measures belonging to the genus Edestus, of which they are the only 
known British representatives. 

Of mammalian remains from the Pleistocene formations of the 
county a list has been drawn up by Mr. John Ward of Longton, and 
published in the Transactions of the North Staffordshire Field Club for 
igoa. 1 The earliest record dates back to 1688, when Robert Plot, 
in his Natural History of Staffordshire p , relates that a jaw and a tooth 
of a young elephant doubtless the mammoth (Elephas primigenius] 
were found in a marl-pit near Trentham. Probably it is these speci- 
mens which are referred to on page 258 of Owen's British Fossil 
Mammals and Birds, as having come under the observation of Dean 
Buckland. Be this as it may, Robert Garner, in his Natural History of 
the County of Stafford (1844), refers to the occurrence at Trentham and 
other places in the county, both in diluvial gravel, and also in the clay at 
the bottom of certain caves, of the bones of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), 
roe-buck (Capreolus capreolus), rhinoceros, elephant, and hyaena. The 
rhinoceros was doubtless the woolly Siberian Rhinoceros antiquitatis, while 
the elephant was probably the mammoth, and the hyaena the large cave 
race (Hyaena crocuta spelaea] of the existing South African spotted 
species. 

Parkinson, in his Organic Remains, figured a mammoth's molar from 
Staffordshire, which figure is reproduced on page 239 of Owen's work 
already cited; and in 1864 Mr. J. Plant* exhibited before the Man- 
chester Geological Society a series of the teeth and bones of the 
mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros, and the Pleistocene race of the 
hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius major) which had been found in 
the county. 

1 Vol. xxxvi, 90. * Trans. Manchester Geol. Sue. v, 42. 

1 33 5 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

In 1864 Mr. Brockbank 8 recorded from a fissure in the Carboni- 
ferous Limestone at Bank End Quarry, Waterhouses, on the bank of the 
River Hamps, numerous remains of the mammoth, and it has been 
subsequently stated * that the collection obtained by Plant came from 
this spot. 

Mr. Ward records the extinct wild ox, or aurochs (Bos taurus 
prim/genius), from a bed near Etruria station, where a fine skull was 
found in 1877, and also a mammoth-tusk from Fenton. The aurochs 
and the domesticated Celtic shorthorn (the so-called Bos longifrons] are 
also recorded from Stone. 

The first evidence of vertebrate life recorded from the Keuper, or 
Upper Division of the Trias (New Red Sandstone), was in the form of casts 
of footsteps. These have been observed in quarries at Hollington and 
Alton * in North Staffordshire, in the building-stones of the Lower 
Keuper ; while others have been recorded from South Staffordshire 
along the outcrop of the harder beds of the Keuper a few miles north- 
west of Wolverhampton.' Yet others have been described from Stanton, 
two and a half miles from Burton-on-Trent, and also from Coven, near 
Brewood, in the southern division of the county. 7 These latter have 
been provisionally assigned to the rhynchocephalian reptile Rhynchosaurus, 
a forerunner of the living New Zealand tuatera (Spbenodon) t of which 
remains are recorded from the Keuper of Grinshill in Shropshire. Of 
those from the first-named localities some, at any rate, are, however, 
referable to Cbirosaurus (or Cbirotberiuni), creatures definitely known 
only by footprints of this type, but which have been generally regarded 
as large primeval salamanders, or labyrinthodont amphibians. 

This view is to some extent supported by the discovery in the 
Staffordshire Keuper of the skull of an undoubted labyrinthodont 
of considerable size, although not perhaps sufficiently large to have 
made footsteps of the biggest size known. This skull, which exhibits 
chiefly a cast of the inside of the upper surface, was discovered in 
a quarry at Stanton, about three miles from Norbury, in the building- 
stone of the Keuper. It was first described and figured by the late 
Mr. John Ward in the Transactions of the North Staffordshire Field 
Club for 1900,' where it is referred to the genus Dasycefs, typically 
from the Permian of Kenilworth ; but it has been again described and 
figured by Dr. A. Smith Woodward in the Proceedings of the Zoological 
Society of London for 1904,' under the name of Capitosaurus stantonensis. 
The genus to which the Stanton labyrinthodont is now referred occurs 
typically in the Keuper of Wiirtemberg. 

Some of the Keuper footprints may, on the other hand, have 
belonged to rhynchocephalian reptiles, of the occurrence of which in this 
formation decisive evidence has been recently obtained. This evidence 

Proc. Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soc. (1864), 46. ' Aitkin, Trans. Manchester Geol. Soc. xii, 25. 

H. C. Beasley, Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 

J. Lomas, Rep. Brit. Assoc. for 1903, p. 5 ; and Beeby Thompson, Geol. Mag. (4), ix, (1902). 

Lydekker, Cat. Foss. Rept. Brit. Mus. iv, 2 1 9. 

Vol. xxxiv, 1 08, pis. iv, v. 9 Vol. ii, 171, pis. xi, xii. 

34 



PALAEONTOLOGY 

takes the form of a slab of Keuper Sandstone obtained by Mr. J. N. B. 
Masefield from the Hollington quarries, displaying in great perfection the 
impression of the peculiar system of abdominal ribs characteristic of 
these reptiles. The specimen has been described and figured by Dr. 
Smith Woodward, 10 and referred to the genus Hyperodapedon, an ally of 
Rhynchosaurus, of which other remains are known from the Keuper of 
Warwick and Devonshire. 

Passing on to the vertebrate fauna of the Coal Measures of the 
county, we have first to refer to the occurrence in this formation of 
remains of primeval salamanders, some of which belong to true laby- 
rinthodonts, while others are referable to allied sections of the group 
now collectively known as Stegocephalia. These are recorded by Mr. 
John Ward in two papers, the first of which was contributed to the 
Transactions of the N. Staffordshire Institute of Mining Engineers for 1890," 
and the second to the Transactions of the N. Staffordshire Field Club for i goo. 12 

First in the list comes the fully-armoured species described by 
Professor Huxley on the evidence of a Yorkshire specimen under the 
name of Pholiderpeton scutiferum, of which genus it is the type. The 
species was recorded from the Coal Measures of Fenton by Mr. Ward in 
i875- 13 Many years ago (1844) Mr. Garner in his Natural History of 
the County of Stafford figured, as that of some kind of unknown fish, a 
tooth from Skelton Colliery, which now turns out to belong to the 
labyrinthodont known as Loxomma allmanni. This large species, of 
which a practically entire and uncrushed skull is known, is characterized 
by the large size and diamond-shape of the sockets of the eyes and by 
the lancet-like teeth ; and a fine series of its remains has been discovered 
in the county. They occur, for instance, in the shale overlying the 
Cockshead Ironstone at Adderley Green ; in shale above the Knowles 
and Chalky Mine Ironstones at Fenton and Longton ; in the Brown 
Mine Ironstone at Silverdale ; and in the Gubbin Ironstone at Skelton. 
Of the still larger Coal Measure labyrinthodont described by Huxley as 
Anthracosaurus russelli^ a number of well-preserved, although fragmentary, 
remains have been obtained from the Rag Mine Ironstone at Fenton and 
the Ash Ironstone at Longton. 

By far the most interesting of the Staffordshire stegocephalians is, 
however, Ceraterpeton gafaani, a member of the group Microsauria, 
measuring about ten inches in total length, and typically from Jarrow 
Colliery, Kilkenny. A single skeleton has been obtained from the shale 
overlying the Ash Ironstone at Longton Hall Colliery, Longton, which 
has been described by Dr. C. W. Andrews. 1 * At one time it was 
incorrectly identified with the allied genus Urocordylus. The genus 
Ceraterpeton takes its name from the long horn-like projections arising 
from the hind border of the skull. 

In addition to the forms above-mentioned, remains of other stego- 
cephalians are known from the Coal Measures of the county, some of 

10 Tram. N. Staff. Field Club, xxxix, 115, pi. iii (1905). " Vol. x. " Vol. xxxiv, 101. 

" Trans. N. Staff. FieU Club (1875), p. ^\^. " Geol. Mag. (4), ii, 83 (1895). 

35 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

which are provisionally assigned by Mr. Ward to the species known as 
Pteroplax cornuta, typically from the Northumberland Coal-field. 

Of the fishes of the Coal Measures of the county, by far the most 
interesting is a species of shark of the genus Edestus, the only British 
representative of its kind at present known. For many years certain 
remarkable bodies, somewhat resembling a large watch-spring armed on 
the convex side with teeth, have been known from the Carboniferous and 
Permian rocks of various countries : the most nearly complete coming 
from Russia. There has, however, been much uncertainty as to their 
true nature. At first they were supposed to be the fin-spines of fishes ; 
but the aforesaid Russian specimens clearly showed that they belong to 
the front of the jaws of sharks, and that they are true teeth, which are 
mounted upon their supporting bases in such a manner as to form a 
spiral. Hence the name of spiral-sawed sharks for the group to which 
they pertained. For a long time this group was known only from North 
America, Australia, Japan, and Russia ; the type genus being Edestus. 
Mr. E. T. Newton, in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, 
has, however, described part of the ' saw ' of one of these remarkable 
sharks from a marine band in the Coal Measures of Nettlebank, North 
Staffordshire, giving the name of Edestus triserratus to the species it 
represents. 

Of the primitive group of shark-like fishes known as Ichthyotomi, 
and characterized, among other features, by the exceedingly imperfect 
calcification of the spinal column and the long-jointed axis of the pectoral 
fins, there are several Staffordshire representatives, belonging to the 
family Pleuracanthidae. Of these, the species P/eu; acanthus laevissimus is 
typified by a fin-spine from Staffordshire, and is known to occur in the 
Coal Measures of the southern half of the county and at Longton. The 
second species, P. cylindricus, which occurs both at Longton and Fenton, 
and is also known by the spines, does not appear to have been originally 
named from Staffordshire specimens. The genus Diplodus takes its name 
from having been founded on peculiar two-pronged teeth, which may 
really belong to Pleur acanthus. The species D. gibbosus was established 
on the evidence of teeth of this type from the Coal Measures of Silver- 
dale, in South Staffordshire, but it also occurs at Longton. 

Most of the other Staffordshire shark-like fishes (Elasmobranchii) 
belong to the existing group Selachii, although chiefly to extinct families. 
In the family Petalodontidae, characterized by the teeth being so much 
reflexed and thickened that in some cases they almost assume a crushing 
type, we have in the first place remains of the two common Carboniferous 
species Janassa linguaeformis and y. clavata from the Coal Measures of 
the county. To the same family belong the species Ctenoptychius apicalis. 
from Silverdale, Longton, Fenton, and Harecastle, and Callopristodus 
pectinatus, from Fenton, neither of which is, however, typically from the 
county. On the other hand, Helodus simplex and Pleuroplax rankinei^ belong 
to another family, the Cochliodontiae, a specialized ancestral type of the 

15 Vol. Ix, i (1904). 
36 



PALAEONTOLOGY 

modern Port Jackson sharks (Cestraciontidae), characterized by the fusion 
of their crushing teeth into spirally twisted oblique plates. The first- 
named species, which is the sole representative of its genus, appears to 
have been founded on the evidence of teeth from Staffordshire, where it 
occurs at Longton, Fenton, and Silverdale, but the second seems to be 
typically from Northumberland. The existing Cestraciontidae have a 
Staffordshire representative in the form of Spbenacantbus hybodoides, a 
member of a widely spread extinct genus with several species. Within 
the county it occurs at Longton and also near Dudley. 

The other Staffordshire elasmobranch fish is Acanthodes ivardi, which 
takes its specific title from the late Mr. John Ward, of Longton, who did 
such good work in collecting and describing the fossil vertebrates of the 
county. It is a member of the Palaeozoic group Acanthodii, charac- 
terized among other features, by the persistent notochord, and the pres- 
ence of prominent dermal appendages to the gill-arches, which during 
life probably carried flaps of skin ; from this character the members of 
the group have been called fringe-gilled sharks. Acantbodes includes 
several other species, but A, ivardi occurs typically in the Deep-Mine 
Ironstone of Longton, although it is also known from the Scottish Coal- 
fields. A species of the allied genus Acantbodopsis from the Woodhouse 
Coal of the Cheadle Coalfield has been described by Dr. R. H. Traquair 
in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for 1894 16 as A. microdon, 
on the evidence of a specimen now in the British Museum. 

In addition to the foregoing, certain fin or dorsal spines of sharks or 
chimaeroids have been recorded from the Coal Measures of the county 
belonging to so-called genera of which the precise systematic position 
cannot at present be determined. Such is Gyracanthus formosus, widely 
distributed in the British Coalfields, and occurring in the county at 
Fenton. Another type is Euctenius unilateralis, originally described from 
a Lanarkshire specimen. Greater interest attaches to two masses of rock 
discovered by Mr. John Ward in the Middle Coal Measures of North 
Staffordshire containing numerous species of the doubtful type long 
known as Listracantbus. These have been described by Dr. Smith 
Woodward, 17 and are made the type of a new species, Listracantbus wardi. 
From these specimens it appears evident that the Listracantbus spines 
are strangely modified dermal tubercles occurring in considerable numbers 
on part at least of the head and body of the fish to which they pertain. 
They are identical with at least some of the structures from the Coal 
Measures of Indiana, U.S.A., described as Petrodus. 

With Ctenodus cristatus and Ct. murchisoni we come to two well- 
known representatives of the typical genus of the Carboniferous family 
Gtenodontidae^ which belongs to the sub-class of Dipnoi, or lung-fishes, 
and takes its name from the somewhat comb-like structure of the fine 
ridges on the large and flattened palatal teeth. The first species is 
recorded from Hanley and Tunstall, and the second from the Bassey Mine 
Ironstone of the Middle Coal Measures. 

16 Ser. 6, xiv, 372 (1894.). " Geol. Mag. (4), x, 486 (1903). 

37 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The ganoids, or enamel-scaled fishes, of the Staffordshire Coal 
Measures include a considerable number of species belonging to the 
primitive fringe-finned group (Crossopterygii), now represented by the 
bichir and the reed-fish (Polypteridae) of the rivers of tropical Africa. 
In the Palaeozoic family Rhizodontidae, characterized by the foldings of 
the walls of the base of the teeth in a manner recalling that of the 
labyrinthodonts, we have, in the first place, two species of the genus 
Strepsodus from Longton, namely S. sauroides and S. sulcidens, the former 
being widely distributed in the British Coalfields, while the latter is- 
known elsewhere from Midlothian and Northumberland. The second 
Staffordshire member of the family is the widely distributed Rhizodopsif 
sauroides, of which remains are recorded from Fenton. The allied family 
Osteolepididae, in which the walls of the teeth are less folded while the 
scales are rhomboidal (instead of cycloidal) and more fully enamelled, is 
represented by four species, Megalichthys bibberti, M. coccolepis, M. inter- 
medius, and M. pygmaeus, of which the first is very widely distributed, 
while neither of the others is peculiar to, or typically from, the county. 
Finally, in the family Coelacantbidae, characterized by the cycloidal scales 
and (in the fossil state) the hollow spines of the vertebrae, we have the 
species Cae/acanthus e/egans, which although typically from the Coalfields 
of Ohio, is also common in those of England. 

Passing on to the fan-finned group (Actinopterygii), we have among 
the section Chondrostei, or sturgeon-like fishes, numerous representatives 
of the extinct families Palaeoniscidae and Platysomatidae. Both these, it 
may be observed, are fully scaled types, the former characterized by the 
elongated, and the latter by the deep contour of the body. In the first- 
named of these a fish from the Deep-Mine Ironstone Shale of Longton, 
at first described under the name of Microconodus mo/yneuxi, has been 
provisionally included in the genus Gonatodus, although its real systematic 
position is still uncertain. To the same family belongs Cycloptychius car- 
bonarius, typified by a fish from the aforesaid bed at Longton, collected 
by Mr. Ward, and the type of the genus. The allied Rhadinicbthys is 
represented by the four species, R. ivardt, R. monensis, R. macrodon, and 
R. planti, of which the first and third arc peculiar to the county. Of 
the genus JLlonicbtbys, which is more nearly allied to the typical Permian 
Pa/aeom'scus, no less than five species have been recorded from the Car- 
boniferous of the county, although some of these are still imperfectly 
known. They are E. semistriafus, from the Knowles Ironstone Shale of 
Fenton, E. aitkeni, from the Lower Coal Measures and Millstone Grit of 
North Staffordshire, E. egertoni, from Silverdale, Fenton, Longton, and 
Hanley, E. microlepidotus, from Longton, and E. oblongus, from Fenton. 
All but the second were described from Staffordshire specimens, and the 
last two are known only from the county. Another species peculiar 
to the county is Eurylepis angtica, described in 1894 by Dr. R. H. 
Traquair 18 on the evidence of a specimen from the Ash Shale of 
Longton. 

18 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), xiv, 372 (1894). 
38 



PALAEONTOLOGY 

In the family Platysomatidae the two recognized representatives of 
the genus Mesolepis, namely M. ivardi and M. scalaris, were described from 
Staffordshire specimens, the first alone being known elsewhere, and then 
but doubtfully. Mesolepis, it may be mentioned, is characterized by the 
very deeply fusiform contour of the trunk, which is angulated at the 
back-fin, as is also the head. Finally the type genus Platysomus, in which 
the body is fully rhomboidal, is represented by P. parvulus, a species 
named on the evidence of specimens from the Knowles Ironstone Shale 
of Fenton. Chirodus granulatus is another member of the family of which 
remains have been obtained from the Staffordshire Carboniferous. 

Towards the close of his career the late Mr. John Ward, who did so 
much for the palaeontology of the country, contributed (in conjunction 
with Mr. J. T. Stobbs) to the transactions of the North Staffordshire Field 
Club 19 a paper on a newly discovered fish-bed in the Cheadle Coalfield, 
with notes on the distribution of fossil fishes in that district. The 
remains occur in a bed overlying the Cobble Coal, and are referable to 
Acanthodes ivardi, Gyracanthus fumosus, Lepracanthus colei, Pleuracanthus 
cylindricus, Pleuroplax rankinei, Helodus simplex, Sphenacantbus hybodoides, 
Ctenoptychius apicalis, Megalichthys hibberti, M. coc cole pis (?), Strep sodus 
sauroides, Elonichtbys semistriatus, E. aitkini, Platysomus parvulus, and 
Goelacanthus elegans. All are well-known species, but a few, like Lepra- 
canthus co/ei, are unknown elsewhere in the county. 

"Vol. xi,87 (1905-6). 



39 



BOTANY 



GENERAL PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE COUNTY WITH 
RELATION TO THE FLORA 

STAFFORDSHIRE is rhomboidal in shape and somewhat irregular 
in outline ; its surface is richly undulating and greatly diversified. 
The long range of hills extending from the Cheviots in Scotland 
southward enters Staffordshire at the extreme north, and forms a 
range of mountain-like hills having a south-west direction from above 
Flash to below Bosley, and rising from 600 to over 1,700 feet above sea 
level. On the north-west side of the county thiselevated ridge is con- 
tinued past Cloud Hill and over Congleton Edge and Mow Cop, and the 
elevation in many places is over 1,000 feet above the sea. The prevailing 
geological character of the rocks are those of the Coal Measures and Mill- 
stone Grit, and the prevailing vegetation is that peculiar to the mountain 
moorland, such as the black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), the whortle- 
berry (Vaccmlum Vitis-Idaa),\mg (Calluna Vulgaris], heath (Erica cinerea), 
bilberry (Vaccinium Myrtilhts}, an abundant growth of bracken (Pteris 
aquilina)) thin grass, grey lichens and dark masses of hair moss (Poly- 
tricbum commune]. A narrow belt of mixed woodland, Forest Banks and 
Back Forest clothe a portion of the summit above Swithamley. Here is 
found the cow wheat [Melampyrum pratense], moss crop (Scirpus caspitosus) 
and the hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum). The intervening valleys have 
a somewhat impervious subsoil, and are watered by frequent springs, 
which render them swampy, hence many of the bog-loving species are 
abundant, as sheep's rot (Hydrocotyle vu/garis), sundew (Drosera rotundi- 
folia), the arrow grass (Triglochin palustre] and the pearl wort (Sagina 
nodosd). A ridge of high land, over which the high road from Leek to 
Buxton is carried, rising from 500 feet at Leek to about 1,400 feet at 
Axe Edge, forms the partings of the Dane and several of the important 
rivers of the county the Dove, Manyfold, Churnet and Hamps. The 
country they water is wild flat lands, grass lands, moors and some little 
arable land, with small woodlands and several round topped hills, attain- 
ing in places an elevation of 1,200 to 1,300 feet above the sea. These 
hills are covered with short herbage, beautifully green in the early season, 
but soon scorched in the hotter months of summer. The limestone 
rock is abundantly exposed on their sides, and many of the more rare 
lime-loving species have here their home, such as wild pansy (Viola 
/utea), the rock rose (Heliantbemum vu/gare), the Jacob's ladder (Po/emo- 
nium caru/eum), Corydalls cla-uiculata and the rare little Hutcbinsia petreea. 
i 4i 6 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The country around is broken by deep valleys, dales or gullies, watered 
by rivers and rivulets, in which are found the trailing stems of the water 
milfoil (Myriopbyllum spicatum) or streaming stems of water ranunculus 
(Ranunculus pseudo-Jiuitans), and on the marshy moorlands the golden 
saxifrage (Chrysosplenium alternifolium), the marsh violet (Viola palustris} 
and the beautiful grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) . In the beauti- 
ful Dove dale the limestone rocks have been rent by the geological 
convulsions of nature, and present their naked faces or escarpments in 
the form of perpendicular rocks rising high above the level of the 
stream, attaining an elevation of over 1,000 feet above sea level, to 
which many fanciful names have been given. These rocks, abound- 
ing in fissures, are the homes of many of the rarest plants of the 
district, as the hairy violet (Viola birta}, the barberry (Berberis -vul- 
garis}, the wall whitlow grass (Draba muralis}, the rare bitter cress 
(Cardamine impatient), the kidney vetch (Anthyllis Vulneraria} and the 
dwarf furze (Ulex nanus}. In the valleys of the Hamps and Manyfold 
are similar mountain limestone rocks, fantastic in appearance, one of 
the more notable being Beeston Tor. Here is found the wild pansy 
(Viola lutea}, the white beam (Pyrus Aria) and the mossy saxifrage 
(Saxifraga hypnoides}, and on Ecton Hill the vernal sandwort (Arenaria 
verna). South of this are the fine limestone eminences, the Weaver 
Hills, rising to some 1,150 feet above the sea, clothed with rich grass in 
spring, but very bare in the hotter months, and with abundant exposed 
rocky surfaces, affording a home for many of the limestone loving species, 
such as the rock rose (Helianthemum vu/gare), the dropwort (Spirtza Fili- 
pendtila), the sandwort (Arenaria tenuifolia}, the autumn gentian (Gentiana 
Amarella}, the field gentian (G. campestris] and the long-stalked crane's 
bill (Geranium columbiniim}. In the southern portion of the county, 
south-west of Rugeley, the country though richly undulating rarely rises 
to greater altitudes than from 600 to 800 feet above sea level. Here 
are a series of round topped hills, a portion of the extensive Cannock 
Chase. These are usually clothed with thin grass, abundant bracken 
(Pteris aquilina}, and grey with a rich clothing of ling (Calluna vulgaris}, 
heath (Erica cinerea and E. tetralix), with dark green bushes of crow- 
berry (Empetrum nigrum), the whortleberry (Vaccinium Vitis-Id<#},and here 
and there gay with the golden flowers of the broom (Cytisus scoparius}, 
but with furze and bramble really rare ; very well wooded in parts with 
oak, elm and pine, and with a rich undergrowth of bilberry and bracken 
and often bluebells (Scilla nutans). In the valleys between the hills are 
swampy grass lands, watered by small rapid streams and rich in marsh 
plants, as the forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris}, and here also the bog 
asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), the grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palus- 
tris), the marsh violet (Viola palustris) and the trailing stems of the 
cranberry are abundant. South-west of this are the limestone hills of 
Dudley Castle and Sedgley Beacon. These are slight elevations, but 
appear more elevated by contrast with the low level of most of the 
country around. Dudley Castle is 730 feet above the sea, and its ruins 

42 






BOTANY 

were formerly the home of Cheiranthus Cbeiri, and in the grounds is the 
toothwort (Lathraa Squamaria) and the deadly nightshade (Atropa Bella- 
donna}. Sedgley Beacon is about 716 feet above the sea, the limestone 
quarries there being the home of the rare woolly thistle (Carduus hetero- 
phyllus], the hawkweed (Picris hieracioides], the mignonette (Reseda luted] , 
the gromwell (Litbospermttm officinale] and the rare soft rose (Rosa mollis}. 
The igneous rocks of Rowley Regis (820 ft.) do not harbour any special 
plants. 

In several places in the county salt springs exist, and at Shirley 
Wich, Ingestre and Salt are the seat of extensive salt works. In these 
localities maritime plants have been found and sometimes in abundance ; 
these are lingerers possibly of a former rich maritime flora. Among the 
more notable are the sea aster (Aster T'ripolium] , the sea milkwort (G/aux 
maritima), the stork's-bill (Erodium maritimum), the sea sandwort (Spergu- 
laria maritima) and the celery Apium graveo/ens. Near these localities 
is Kingston Pool near Stafford, formerly an extensive sheet of water 
yielding many salt loving plants, as Erodium maritimum, sea sedge (Scirpus 
maritimus) and the sea dock (Rumex maritimus] ; and at Branstone near 
Burton-on-Trent salt springs also exist, and here are found jR. maritimus 
and the celery Apium graveo/ens. 

Marshes and bogs have in former times been extensive in many of 
the districts, more especially in the north and north-west, where even in 
comparatively recent times extensive moorlands existed ; but drainage, 
reclamation and the growth of centres of industry have greatly lessened 
their area. The remains of what have been extensive bogs or mosses are 
still found near Biddulph and Congleton Edge, where are the rare marsh 
hawkweed (Crepis paludosa], the golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositi- 
folium), sheep's penny rot (Hydrocotyle vu/garis) and the pondweed Pota- 
mogeton rufescens. 

About Betley and Madeley much of the moorland is still marsh 
and bog, as at Craddock's Moss, formerly very extensive and the home 
of many rare bog plants, as the bladderwort (Utricularia minor), the 
bogbell (Andromeda Polifolia], grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris], 
the rare water soldier (Stratiotes aloides], the sundew (Drosera longifolia) 
and the small reed mace (Typha angustifolia) ; and a most notable marshy 
bog still exists near the ancient Chartley Castle, Chartley Moss. Here 
until lately the surroundings remained in their primitive condition, 
and many of the rarest paludal plants were to be found, such as the 
marsh St. John's wort (Hypericum elodes), the cranberry (Vaccinium oxy- 
coccus), the bog pimpernel (Anagalis tenella), the bogbell (Andromeda 
Polifolia), the fen sedge (Cladium Mariscus), the royal fern (Osmunda 
regalis] ; and in the adjoining woods, the rare shield ferns, Nephrodium 
crisfatum, N. Thelypteris and N. Oreopteris. In the southern part of the 
county was an extensive morass, Norton Bog, now a great mining centre ; 
but here still linger noticeable bog plants, as the black schcenus (Schcenus 
nigricans), the butter wort (Pinguicula vulgaris), the marsh violet (Viola 
palustris}, the marsh crowfoot (Ranunculus Lenormandi] and the marsh 

43 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

bedstraw (Galium uliginosum) ; and a small marsh near Penkridge has 
yielded one of our rarest marsh plants, Elatine Hydropiper. 

There are no natural lakes in Staffordshire, but many of the pools 
are natural and some of them exten'sive and like lakes in character. 
The large lake at Rudyard is purely artificial and has been formed by 
damming up a deep valley. Swampy places are on its margins, where 
are found the mud wort (Limosel/a aquatica), the marsh cinquefoil (Co- 
marum palustre), the money wort (Lysimachia vu/garis), and on the bank 
the trailing stems of Corydalis clauiculata. On the north-west borders at 
Betley and Balterly are large pools where are found several water-loving 
plants as the white water lily (Nymphcea alba], the sweet flag (Acorus 
Calamus) and the frog bit (Hydrocbaris Morsus-Ranee) , and in the valley 
of the Sow is the natural pool, Copmere Pool, very picturesque, clothed 
with a fringe of tall rushes and bulrushes, and in its waters a too abun- 
dant growth of Anacbaris ; here are also Ranunculus circinatus, the pond 
weed Potamogeton filiforme, and all the British duck weeds (Lemna trisulca, 
L. gibba, L. polyrbizza and L. minor). Near this is the large pool of Maer, 
in which is an abundant growth of sweet flag (Acorus Calamus), and on 
its banks the trailing St. John's wort (Hypericum bumifusum). In the park 
at Trentham is a fine lake-like pool formed by the river Trent. This is 
beautifully reed grown and fringed with the flowering rush (Butomus 
umbel/atus], the arrow-head (Sagittaria sagittifolia) , the rare bur reed (Spar- 
ganium neglectum), wood sedge (Scirpus sy/vaticus), wood rush (Luzula 
syhatica), and the rare pillwort (Pilularia pilulifera). But the finest natural 
sheet of water in the county is the large one, perfectly oval in form, 
called Aqualate Mere, which is one mile long and half a mile broad; 
the margins are marshy and yield much floral wealth ; here are found 
the water violet (Hottonia palustris), the brook weed (Samolus Valerandi], 
the reed grasses Calamagrostis Epigejos and C. lanceolatus, and on the 
banks the wild liquorice (Astragalus glycyphyllos) , the spindle tree (Euony- 
mus europteus), the bog myrtle (Myrica gale] , and the narrow-leaved reed 
mace (Typba angustifo/ia] ; near here is Forton Pool, where are the pond- 
weeds Potamogiton heteropbyllus and P. peclinatus. In the south-west of 
the county is Perton Pool; here are the mare's tail (Hippurus vu/garis), 
and the rare water milfoil (Myriopbyllum verticillatum), and on the con- 
fines of Birmingham is Harborn reservoir, where are Ranunculus circinatus 
and the rare mousetail (Myosurus minimus}. The woodlands of Stafford- 
shire are extensive, forming indeed one-twentieth of the whole area ; 
those of the southern portion of the county are usually destitute of any 
special wild flora, though often beautiful in the summer by the abun- 
dance of wild hyacinth (Scilla nutans], but in the north the woodlands 
are extensive and are the homes of some of our rarer native plants. 
The woods near Belmont in the valley of the Churnet possess craggy 
ravines watered by rapid streams, their banks clothed with a rich abun- 
dance of wild vegetation, and here are found the globe flower (Trollius 
europaus], the bear's foot (Helleborus fcetidus), the everlasting pea (Lathyrus 
Nissolia] and the London pride (Saxifraga umbrosa) ; and in the rich 

44 



BOTANY 

woods about Frog Hall and Oakamore are water-worn ravines yielding 
a wealth of rare plants, as the mountain nightshade (Circcea alpina), the 
mountain polypody (Polypodium Dryopteris], the winter green (Pyrola 
rotundifolia], the mountain valerian (Valeriana pyrenaica), sweet Cicely 
(Myrrbis odorata), the bladder fern (Gystopteris fragilis) and Veronica Bux- 
baumia ; and on the rocks near Alton Castle the deadly nightshade 
(Atropa Belladonna). On the north-west side of the county are the ex- 
tensive woodlands about Whitmore, where are the smaller skullcap (Scu- 
tellaria minor), abundance of woodruff (Asperula odorata) and the rare 
bramble Rubus suberectus. South of this is Bishop's Wood ; here are 
found the columbine (Aquilegia vu/garis), the stork's bill (Erodium mos- 
cbatum), the bog bean (Menyantbes trifoliata), the sundew (Drosera rotundi- 
folia} and the shield ferns Nepbrodium filix-mas and N. spinulosum. Near 
High Offley are the woods around Norbury, rich in rare brambles such 
as Rubus Lejeuni, R. birtus and R. Bellardi, and near the large pool the 
sedges Carex stricta and C. teretiuscula and the rare water dropwort 
(Enanthe Phellandrium. In the south-west of the county in the valley of 
the small river Smestow are extensive woodlands around Himley and 
Bagginton ; here are found the elecampane (Inula Helenium), the rare white 
mullein (Ferbascum Lycbnites], the mignonette (Reseda luted], herb Paris 
(Paris quadrifolid) , the lily of the valley (Convallaria maja/is] and the 
rare Lonicera Xylostcum; on the south-eastern side of the county are ex- 
tensive elevated woodlands, the remains of the great forest of Needwood, 
where are still found lingerers of a former rich sylvan flora, as the needle 
furze (Genista anglica], the small-leaved lime (Ti/ia parvifolia], frog 
orchis (Habernaria Kindts], mezerion (Daphne Mezereori), Jacob's ladder 
(Polemonium cceruleum], the borage (Borago officinale] and the burnet saxi- 
frage (Pimpinella major). 

A comparison may be made here between the flora of Staffordshire 
and that of the surrounding counties. Staffordshire has 94 plants not 
found in Worcestershire, 70 not recorded from Warwickshire, 118 not 
recorded from Leicestershire, 168 not recorded from Derbyshire, 121 not 
recorded from Cheshire, and 106 not recorded from Shropshire. Wor- 
cestershire has 65 not recorded from Staffordshire, Warwickshire 65, 
Leicestershire 50, Derbyshire 26, Cheshire 85, and Shropshire 38. The 
total flora of Staffordshire is 948 species, including flowering plants, 
ferns, horsetails and charas. The total flora of Great Britain is 1,958 
species ; hence it will be seen that Staffordshire yields less than half the 
British species. 

From its central position it naturally possesses a large percentage 
of the common or British type, namely 515 out of 532 for the whole 
kingdom; of the southern or English type 295 out of 409, one-eighth 
of the western type, one-sixth of the eastern type, and about one- 
eighth of the northern type. 

The botanical districts are based on the river basins. These are : 
I, the Weaver; 2, the Dove; 3, the Trent; 4, the Sow; 5, the Severn. 
With the exception of the Dane all the rivers of Staffordshire rise 

45 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

within the limits of the county, and nearly all have their whole course 
in the county and are tributary to the Trent. By an Act of Parliament, 
1897, the small peninsula-like prolongation of Staffordshire in which 
Upper Arley is situated has been added to Worcestershire, so that the 
Severn proper flows through no portion of the county, but drains a 
portion of the west and south-west by streams tributary to the Severn. 

i. THE WEAVER 

The Weaver is a Cheshire river tributary to the Mersey, and is fed by the waters of 
several streams draining the north and north-west of Staffordshire. The most important is 
the Dane. This river enters Staffordshire at Three Shires Head north-east of Flash, and is a 
rapid mountain stream forming the boundary between Staffordshire and Cheshire from near 
Flash to below Bosley ; here it passes into Cheshire, and after a long and varying course 
joins the Weaver near Northwick. It drains by numerous small tributaries a considerable 
portion of north Staffordshire, such as the country around Flash, Quarnford, the Roaches, 
Gradbach Hills, Swithamley, Rushton Marsh, and by an important stream rising on the east 
side of Mow Cop and Bradley Green, Gillow Heath and Biddulph. A portion of the county 
south-west of Biddulph is drained by small streams tributary to the Wheelock, which enters 
the Dane near Middlewick, and by Checkley Brook which joins the Weaver near Nantwich. 
These minor streams drain the country around Kidsgrove, Audley, Betley, Wrinehill, Made- 
ley and the northern portion of Whitmore, a district rich in some of the rarer plants, among 
which are : 

Ranunculus fluitans Andromeda polifolia Utricularia vulgaris 

Nymphaea alba Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea minor 

Empetrum nigrum Oxycoccus Potamogeton rufescens 

Cotyledon Umbilicus Cynoglossum officinale Osmunda regalis 
Crepis paludosa 

2. THE DOVE 

The Dove rises in a natural spring on Axe Edge at an elevation of 1,684 f eet above sea 
level and enters the county near Patch Edge, and flows south-east through a narrow valley to 
Longnor, where it receives a small feeder from the west rising on the high ground near 
Quarnford. After flowing 4 miles through another narrow valley it passes near Hartington. 
From here its course is a little more south through Pike Pool in Berresford Dale and 2 miles 
further through the weird narrow dale, the entrance to which it appears to have carved out of 
the solid rock. From this it flows between the craggy hills of Mill Dale, and below the 
beautiful Alstonfield church to the wild and romantic Dove Dale. Dove Dale is nearly 3 
miles long and is entered by a pathway between of lofty rocks and cliffs, surmounted by isolated 
crags called tors. The rocks are grand in aspect and covered with vegetation, trees and 
shrubs and smaller plants, many of them the rarest elements of the county flora, too frequently 
growing in inaccessible places. Here the Dove murmurs along over miniature falls and weirs, 
and amid boulders covered with rare cryptogamic wealth, with floating masses of Ranunculus 
pseudo-fluitam and the local float-grass Glyceria fluitans, and passing under Dove Bridge enters a 
broad fertile valley, and near Ham is joined by its important affluent the Manyfold. The 
Manyfold is formed by streams rising in the moorlands near Flash and near Croft Bottom, 
and flows south-east by Wiltshaw Hill and east through part of Longnor, then south through 
Ludbourne and Brund to Hulme End. Here the limestone hills divert its course south-west 
by Ecton Hill, near where it is fed by Blake brook and Warslow brook, draining a large 
extent of country around Warslow ; thence flowing through the beautiful Wetton valley, past 
Ossum's Hill and Thor's Cave to Beeston Tor, its bed unites with that of the Hamps. Near 
Wetton the river disappears for several miles, passing through an underground channel and 
emerging at Ham. The Hamps rises on the wild moors south-west of the Manyfold and has 
a course of 5 miles south through Keywall Green to Onecote ; it then flows eastward through 
Ford, then west through Winkshill ; here the high limestone hills divert its course easterly by 
Crowtrees and Waterhouses to Stoneyrock, where its course becomes northward through a 
beautiful rocky valley of about 3 miles to the union of its bed with that of the Manyfold at 
Beeston Tor. This river near here disappears for several miles and emerges at Ham, where it 
unites with the Manyfold, and the united stream joins the Dove near Thorpe. The Dove 

46 



BOTANY 

now continues its southward course near Okeover, Mayfield and Rocester, near where it is 
joined by the Churnet. The Churnet rises on the moorlands near Stoke Gutter and has a 
westerly course of about 4 miles to Tettesworth Reservoir, where it receives waters from 
Leek Frith and takes a southerly course through Tettesworth Reservoir, then westerly past 
Leek and near Rudyard, receiving waters from Wolf Low and Fair Edge, and here turns 
southward past Longsdon and then flows south and south-west through Cheddleton, Kingsley, 
Oakamore and Alton to its confluence with the Dove below Rocester. The beautiful Churnet 
valley from Cheddleton to beyond Alton is formed by high rocks and rocky woods with 
deep rocky ravines whose steep banks are clothed with trees, shrubs and rare wild flowers and 
mosses. Emerging from the hills the Churnet flows through a wide expanse of flat lands and 
enters the Dove below Rocester. Still flowing south past Uttoxeter the Dove receives two 
small feeders, Tean brook and Stoneyford brook, draining the country around Cheadle, Leigh 
and Uttoxeter ; the Dove now flows south-east past Marchington,Draycote and Tutbury, and 
enters the Trent near Newton Solney. The total length of the Dove is 45 miles ; it has a 
fall of 1,55 f eet from its source to its mouth, and drains nearly 400 square miles of country. 
The following are some of its rarer plants : 

Helleborus foetidus Anthyllis vulneraria Polemonium ceruleum 

Fumaria Vaillantii Lathyrus Nissolia Veronica polita 

Arabia hirsuta Prunus Padus Salvia Verbenaca 

Cardamine impatiens Rubus gratus Daphne Mezereon 

Draba muralis - Leyanus Carex pallescens 

Helianthemum vulgare serpens Avena pratensis 

Viola hirta - saxatilis Melica nutans 

Silene nutans Rosa involuta Polypodtum calcareum 

Stellaria nemorum Saxifraga umbrosa Botrychium Lunaria 

Geranium pusillum Doronicum Pardialianches Lycopodium clavatum 
columbinum 

3. THE TRENT 

The Trent rises in the north-west of the county between Biddulph and Mow Cop at 
about 700 feet above sea level. The stream almost immediately passes into Knypersley Pools, 
where several streams unite, with the surplus water proceeding from Biddulph Moor. The 
Trent now flows on 3 miles to Norton, below which a considerable tributary comes in called 
Fowlea, which rises near the Trent source, and flows through a parallel valley. The united 
stream flows about 3 miles to Stoke-upon-Trent, passing the town of Hanley and a long line 
of thickly-populated country, which it leaves to the west. Beyond Stoke it flows 2 miles 
further to Hanford, where it receives the Lyme from the north, a brook about 5 miles long 
flowing near Newcastle. A short distance from this it enters Trentham Park, where it forms 
a lake of about 80 acres. After leaving Trentham it flows near Barlaston, being fed by 
waters from the high lands about Hilderstone, and passing west of Stone it flows south-east 
near Sandon, Salt and Weston-on-Trent, being joined by Amerton brook and Gayton brook 
on its left bank and waters from Ingestre and Tixall on its right bank, and at Great Heywood 
is joined on its right bank by its important tributary the Sow. From its confluence with the 
Sow it still flows south-east through Rugeley, receiving on its right bank the Sherbrook, which 
waters a rich botanical valley on Cannock Chase, and flowing through Armitage its course 
becomes more easterly by Pipe Ridware, where it is joined by the river Blythe. The Blythe 
rises north-east of Chartley Park and flows south-east towards Leigh and through Gradwich 
and Grindley under Blithe Bridge, near Blithford Hall and through Blithford and Sandborough 
to its confluence with the Trent near Kings Bromley, being fed by waters from Chartley, 
Bagot Wood, Rake End and Kingston. The Trent now flows west near Wichnor Park, and 
above Alrewas to its confluence with the Tame near Croxall. The Tame rises north of 
Pelsall in the south of Cannock Chase, collecting waters from the Silurian Hills about Dudley 
and also from the country east of Wolverhampton and from the western ridge of Hamstead 
Hill and Walsall. These numerous feeders join the Tame near West Bromwich, and the 
Tame flowing through Perry Barr enters Warwickshire at Witton. Flowing through Castle 
Bromwich, Curdworth and Fazely it re-enters Staffordshire at Tamworth, receiving here an 
important tributary, Black brook, which drains a large extent of country about Chesterfield, 
Stonnall, Weeford and Hints, and passing through Drayton Park unites with the Tame near 
Fazeley. The Tame then flows through Elford to its confluence with the Trent near Croxall. 

47 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The Trent now makes a sharp turn to the north and takes the direction of the Tame at the 
confluence. After a further flow of 6 miles it reaches Burton-on-Trent, and 2 miles lower 
receives the Dove. The area drained by the Trent is about 800 square miles, and in a 
distance of about 50 miles the bed of the river has fallen from 700 feet above sea to 1 80 feet, 
most part of this fall of 520 feet occurring in the first n miles, between the source and 
the confluence with Fowlea brook, where the bed of the stream is not more than 370 feet 
above sea. The mean fall of the first 5 miles of the Trent is at the rate of nearly 50 feet 
to the mile, and of the next five of 18 feet. After this the fall nowhere exceeds 8 feet to a 
mile. The following are some of the more noteworthy species : 

Myosurus minimus Rosa rubiginosa Habenaria conopsca 

Ranunculus Lingua Sedum Telephium Galanthus nivalis 

Cheiranthus Cheiri Drosera intermedia Fritillaria Meleagris 

Lepidium ruderale Carum segetum Acorus Calamus 

Dianthus Armeria Sambucus Ebulus Triglochin maritimum 

Hypericum elodes Carduus eriophorus Scirpus pauciflorus 

Radiola Millegrana Lactuca virosa Agrostis fulvus 

Genista anglica Campanula hederacea Polypodium Dryopteris 

Trifolium striatum Andromedia polifolia Lycopodium Selago 

Rubus suberectus Linaria repens Nitella flexilis 

micans Scutellaria minor opaca 

Rosa mollis Orchis pyramidalis 

4. THE Sow 

The Sow rises about I mile south-west of Hookham in a spring called Sowhead, 617 
feet above sea, and flows south by Bishop's Wood and New Inn Bank ; here its course turns 
eastward above Bishop's Offley and through Copmere and north of Eccleshall, where it re- 
ceives a stream coming from the north near Foxley ; still flowing south-east to Worston Mill 
it is joined by a considerable stream, Meece brook, from the north-west. The Meece origi- 
nates from three small streams south-west of Keel Park ; these unite near Whitmore, passing 
through the large pool in Whitmore Park and running parallel with the railway for several 
miles, flowing through Mill Mease and Norton Bridge, receiving tributaries on either side 
and draining a wide area east and west. The Sow now flows through Great Bridgeford and 
Stafford, being fed by waters from Seighford and on the east from Marstone. Below Stafford 
the Penk enters its right bank from the south-west. The Penk rises north-west of Wolver- 
hampton, and is joined by Billbrook near Codsall, and flows north through Brewood and Penk- 
ridge, bringing waters from Teddesley, Acton Trussell and Radford, north of which village 
it enters the Sow, draining a wide extent of country around Gnosall and Biymhill and the 
west portion of Cannock Chase. The Sow continues to flow south-east to its union with the 
Trent at Great Heywood, at an elevation of 238 feet above the sea. 

The Sow has a course of 2O miles, draining about 150,130 acres; it flows through a 
comparatively flat country and has a fall of about 380 feet. The following are some of the 
more noticeable plants : 

Ranunculus hirsutus Rubus Boreanus Glaux maritima 

Sisymbrium Sophia crineger Limosella aquatica 

Lepidium hirtum - Bloxamianus Orobanche major 

Cerastium quaternellum Rosa coriifolia Quercus sessiliflora 

Geranium lucidum Myriophyllum verticillatum Sparganium minimum 

Erodium moschatum CEnanthe Phellandrium Sagittaria sagittifolia 

Elatine Hydropiper Anthemis nobilis Calamagrostis lanceolata 

Euonymus europaeus Specularia hybrida Pilularia globulifera 

Onobrychis sativa Pyrola rotundifolia Chara fragilis 

5. THE SEVERN 

The Severn drains a large portion of the west and south-west of Staffordshire by small 
streams, which are the tributaries of larger streams flowing in Shropshire ; that portion of the 
county south-west of Wolverhampton is watered by the two small rivers, the Smestow and 
Stour. 

The river Tern is a brook-like stream, forming the boundary between Shropshire and 
Staffordshire for many miles, that is from Willoughby Wells to a point south-east of Market 

48 



BOTANY 



Drayton, and is fed by streams from Maer and west of Fair Oak. The Meese, a tributary 
to the Tern, receives Lanco brook, draining Offley Marsh, High Offley and the surrounding 
country, and has feeders from Norbury and Oulton ; and Dawford brook, draining Weston 
under Lizard and part of Blymhill, and flowing through Aqualate Mere, enters the Meese 
near Forton. Farther south the county is watered by the Stour and its affluents. The Stour 
enters the county east of Cradley, forming the county boundary for several miles, and drains 
a thickly populated district, yielding little of interest except the ever present coltsfoot, and 
passing through Stourbridge and Prestwood is joined by the small river Smestow at Stourton. 
The Smestow with its affluents is far reaching, receiving waters from Patingham, Wolver- 
hampton, the west side of Dudley, Himley, Trysull and Enville, and at Stourton joins the 
Stour. The Stour here takes the course of the Smestow, and flowing through Kinver and 
part of Worcestershire joins the Severn at Stourport. 

The following are some of the more rare plants of this district : 



Ranunculus parviflorus 
Aquilegia vulgaris 
Diplotaxis tenuifolia 
Senebiera didyma 
Reseda lutea 
Viola canina 
Silene anglica 
Cerastium semidecandrum 
arvense 
Vicia lathyroides 



Hypericum Androsxmum 
Erodium maritimum 
Lathyrus Aphaca 
Rubus curvidens 
Babingtonii 
Potentilla procumbens 
Rosa scabriuscula 
Ribes rubrum 
Caucalis nodosa 
Hippopithys multiflora 



Utricularia neglecta 
Myrica Gale 
Habenaria albida 
Sparganium minimum 
Potamogeton trichojes 
Carex teretiuscula 
Festuca elatior 
Asplenium Ceterach 
Chara hispida 



SUMMARY OF ORDERS, NUMBER OF GENERA AND OF SPECIES IN 

EACH ORDER, ETC. 





Number 
of 
Genera 


Number 
of 
Species 


Ex- 
cluded 
Species 




Number 
of 
Genera 


Number 
of 

Species 


Ex- 
cluded 
Species 


CLASS I 








Div. II. Calyciflora: 








DlCOTYLYDONES OR 
ExOGENj'E 








22. Celastrinea; 
23. Rhamneas . 


I 

I 


I 

2 













24. Sapindaceae . 


I 


I 


I 


Div. I. ThalamiftorfS 








25. Leguminosas . 


15 


40 


6 


I. Ranunculaceae . 


IO 


3 


2 


26. Rosaceas 


12 


9 2 


2 


2. Berberideae . 


I 


i 


I 


27. Saxifrages . 


4 


IO 


I 


3. Nymphzaceae . 


2 


2 





28. Crassulaceas 


2 


5 


2 


4. Papaveraceae 


2 


4 


I 


29. Droseraceas. 


I 


2 





5. Fumariaceae 


2 


5 


2 


30. Halorageas . 


3 


7 





6. Cruciferae . 


'9 


42 


7 


3 1 . Lythraceae . 


2 


3 





7. Resedaceae . 


I 


2 





32. Onagrarieas 


2 


1 1 


I 


8. Cistineae 


I 


I 





33. Cucubitaceas 


I 


i 





9. Violaceae 


I 


8 





34. Umbelliferae 


2 3 


3 1 


5 


10. Polygaleas . 


I 


2 





35. Araliaceas . 


I 


i 





12. Caryophylleas . 


12 


37 


2 


36. Cornaceas . 


I 


i 





I T.. Portulaceae . 


I 


i 


2 










o 
14. Elatineae 


I 


i 




Div. III. Corolliflora: 








15. Hypericineas . 


I 


8 





37. Caprifoliaceae . 


4 


5 


i 


1 6. Malvaceae . . . 


I 


3 


I 


38. Rubiaceas . 


3 


1 1 





17. Tiliacea; 


I 


i 


I 


39. Valerianeas . 


2 


6 


2 


1 8. Lineae .... 


2 


4 


I 


40. Dipsaceae . 


2 


5 





19. Geraniaceas 


4 


*3 


I 


41. Composite . 


40 


81 


5 


20. Ilicineae .... 


i 


i 





42. Campanulaceae 


4 


8 





21. Empetraceae 


i 


i 





43. Ericaceae . . . 


5 


ii 


i 



49 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 





Number 


Number 


Ex- 




Number 


Number 


Ex- 




of 


of 


cluded 




of 


of 


cluded 




Genera 


Species 


Species 




Genera 


Species 


Species 


44. Monotropeae . 


I 


I 





CLASS II 








46. Primulaceae 


7 


12 





MONOCOTYLEDONS 








47. Oleaceae 


2 


2 





Div. I. Petaloidete 








48. Apocynaceae . 
49. Gentianeae . 
50. Polemoniaceae . 
51. Boragineas . 
52. Convolvulaceae 
53. Solanaceae . 
54. Plantagineas 
55. Scrophularineas 
56. Orobancheae . 
57. Lentibularineas 
58. Verbenaceae 
59. Labiatae. 


I 

4 
i 
6 

2 

3 

2 

J 3 
I 

2 
I 

' 15 


I 

5 
i 

14 
3 
4 
5 
34 

2 

4 

i 

34 


I 

3 
i 

i 

2 

5 


75. Hydrocharideae 
76. Orchideae . 
77. Irideae .... 
78. Amaryllideae . 
79. Dioscoreae . 
80. Liliaceae 
81. Junceae .... 
83. Typhaceae . 
84. Aroideae 
85. Lemnaceae . 
86. Alismaceas . 
87. Naiadaceas . 


2 

8 
I 

2 
I 

9 

2 
2 
2 
I 

3 
3 


2 

18 

I 
2 

I 
12 
15 

7 

2 

4 
4 
J 9 


I 

2 
2 


Div.IV. Monochlamydets 








Div. II. Glumaceie 








60. Illecebraceae 


2 


2 





88. Cyperaceae . 


7 


5i 





61. Chenopodiaceas 


2 


9 





89. Gramineas . 


32 


67 


3 


62. Polygonaceae 


2 


20 


I 


CLASS III 








64. Thymelaeaceas . 
66. Loranthaceae . 


I 
I 


2 
I 





ACOTYLEDONS OR 








68. Euphorbiaceae . 


3 


7 


I 


CRYPTOGAMIA 








69. Urticaceae . 


3 


6 





Div. I. Vasculares 








70. Myricaceas . 


i 


i 





90. Filices .... 


12 


27 





71 . Cupuliferae . 


6 


8 





91. Equisetaceae 


I 


6 





72. Salicineas 
73. Ceratophylleae . 


2 
I 


21 
I 





92. Lycopodiaceae . 
94. Marsileaceas 


I 

I 


3 
i 





Div. V. Gymnospermcs 








Div. II. Cellularei 








74. Coniferae 


3 


3 





95. Characeae . 


2 


6 






SUMMARY OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 
OF SPECIES AND VARIETIES 1 



RANUNCULACEJE 
Clematis Vitalba, L. 3-5 
Thalictrum flavum, L. 3-5 
Anemone nemorosa, L. 1-5 
[Adonis autumnalis], L. 3 
Myosurus minimus, L. 3, 5 
Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth. 2-5 

- fluitans, Lam. 1-5 

b. Bachii, Wirtg. 2, 3, 5 

- pseudo-fluitans, Bab. 2, 3, 5 

- trichophyllus, Chaix. 4, 5 

Drouettii, Godr. 3-5 

b. Godronii, Gren. 4 

- heterophyllus, Web. 2 

peltatus, Schrank. 24 

b. truncatus, Hiern. 3, 4 

c. floribundus, Bab. 1-5 

d. penicillatus, Hiern. 2 

Lenormandi, F. Schultz. 1-5 

hederaceus, L. 15 



Ranunculus sceleratus, L. 1-3 

Flammula, L. 1-5 

b. pseudo-reptans, Syme. 

Lingua, L. 3-5 

auricomus, L. 2-5 

acris, L. 1-5 

repens, L. 1-5 

bulbosus, L. 1-5 

hirsutus, Curtis. 3-5 

parviflorus, L. 2-5 

arvensis, L. 2-5 
- Ficaria, L. 1-5 

Caltha palustris, L. 1-5 

b. Guerangerii, Bor. 3 
Trollius europaeus, L. 2 
Helleborus viridis, L. 2, 3 

fcetidus, L. 2 
Aquilegia vulgaris, L. 3-5 
[Delphinium Ajacis], Reichb. 3 
Aconitum Napellus, L. 2, 3 



1 The numbers refer to the botanical districts. 
50 



BOTANY 



BmniBUi 

Berberis vulgaris, L. 2-5 
[Epimedium alpinum], L. 3 

NYMPHS ACE.K 
Nuphar luteum, Sm. 1-5 
Nymphaea alba, L. 15 

PAPAVERACE.S: 
[Papaver somniferum], L. 2, 5 

Rhceas, L. 1-5 

b. strigosum, Boenn. 4 

dubium, L. 15 

b. Lecoqii, Lam. 2 

Argemone, L. 25 
Chelidonium majus, L. 1-5 

FUMARIACE.K 
[Corydalis bulbosa], DC. 2, 3, 5 

lutea], DC. 3 

claviculata, DC. 1-5 
Fumaria pallidiflora, Jord. 3, 4 

muralis, Sender. 3 

officinalis, L. I ; 

Vaillantii, Loisel. 2 

CRUCIFER^E 

Cheiranthus Cheiri, L. 3 
Nasturtium officinale, R. Br. 1-5 

sylvestre, R. Br. 3-5 

palustre, DC. 2-5 

amphibium, R. Br. 2-5 
Barbarea vulgaris, R. Br. 1-5 

- arcuata, Reichb. 5 
[ przcox], R. Br. 3 
Arabis hirsuta, Scop. 2 

perfoliata, Lam. 3-5 
Cardamine amara, L. 1-5 

pratensis, L. 1-5 

hirsuta, L. 1-5 

- flexuosa, With. 1-5 

impatiens, L. 2, 3, 5 

bulbifera, Syme. 3 
[Alyssum calycinum], L. 3,5 
Draba muralis, L. 2, 3 

incana, L. 2 
.Erophila vulgaris, DC. 1-5 
[Cochlearia Armoracia], L. 3, 4 
[Hesperis matronalis], L. 2, 4. 
Sisymbrium Thalianum, Hook. 1-5 

Sophia, L. 2-4 

officinale, Scop. 1-5 

Alliaria, Scop. 1-5 
Erysimum cheiranthoides, L. 2-5 
[Brassica Napus], L. 1-5 

- Rutabaga, DC. 1-5 

- Rapa, L. 2, 3, 5 

b. sylvestris, H. C. Wats. 2 

nigra, Koch. 2-5 

Sinapis, Visiani. 1-5 

- alba, Boiss. 3, 4 
Diplotaxis muralis, DC. 3 

tenuifolia, DC. 3-5 
[Camelina saliva], Crantz. 2 
Capsella Bursa-pastoris, Moench. 1-5 
Senebiera didyma, Pers. 3, 4 

Coronopus, Poir. 2-5 



Lepidium rudcrale, L. 3 
[ sativum], L. 4 

campestre, R. Br. 1-5 

- Smithii, Hook. I, 3-5 
Thlaspi arvense, L. 3-5 
Iberis amara, L. 2 

Teesdalia nudicaulis, R. Br. 2, 3, 5 
Hutchinsia petrza, R. Br. 2 
Raphanus Raphanistrum, L. I, 3-5 

RESEDACE./E 
Reseda Luteola, L. 1-5 

- lutea, L. 3, 5 

ClSTINEJE 

Helianthemum vulgare, Gaertn. 2 

VIOLACE^E 
Viola palustris, L. 1-5 

- odorata, L. 1-5 

b. alba, Besser. 2-5 

c. lilacea, Auct. I 

- hirta, L. 2 

- flavicornis, Sm. 2-5 

- sylvatica, Fr. 1-5 

- Reichenbachiana, Bor. 2, 3-5 

- tricolor, L. 2-5 

- arvensis, Murr. 1-5 

- lutea, Huds. I, 2 

b. amajna, Syme. 2 

POLYGALE./E 
Polygala vulgaris, L. 2, 3, 5 

- deprcssa, Wend. 25 

CARYOPHYLLEJE 
Dianthus Armeria, L. 3 

- deltoides, L. 2, 5 
Saponaria officinalis, L. 3-5 
Silcne Cucubalus, Wibel. 1-5 

- gallica, L., a. anglica, L. 3,5 

- nutans, L. 2 

noctiflora, L. 3 
Lychnis Flos-cuculi, L. 1-5 

- diurna, Sibth. 1-5 

- vespertina, Sibth. 1-5 
Githago segetum, Desf. 3, 5 
Cerastium quarternellum, Fenzl. 3-5 

- tetrandrum, Curtis. 4 

semidecandrum, L. 3, 5 

glomeratum, Thuill. 1-5 

tnviale, Link. 1 5 

arvense, L. 5 
Stellaria aquatica, Scop. 2-5 

nemorum, L. 2 

media, Vill. 1-5 

b. neglecta, Weihe. 2, 3 

umbrosa, Opiz. 3 

Holostea, L. 1-5 

palustris, Ehrh. 3, 5 

graminea, L. 15 

uliginosa, Murr. 1-5 
Arenaria verna, L. 2 

tenuifolia, L. 2 

trinervia, L. 1-5 

serpyllifolia, L. l-J 

c. leptoclados, Guss. 3, 5 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Sagina apetala, L. 2-4 

ciliata, Fries. 3, 5 

procumbens, L. 15 

subulata, Presl. 2, 3 

nodosa, E. Mey. 2-5 

Spergula arvensis a. vulgaris, Boenn. I -5 

b. saliva, Boenn. 3, 5 
Spergularia rubra, Pers. 15 

salina, Presl. 3 

PORTULACE* 
Montia fontana, L., a. repens, Pers. 1-5 

b. rivularis, Gmel. 35 
[Claytonia perfoliata], Donn. 3 
[ Sibirica], L. 3 

ELATINE.S 
Elatine Hydropiper, L. 4 

HYPERICINEJE 
Hypericum Androszmum, L. 3-5 

- perforatum, L. 1-5 

b. angustifolium, Bab. 5 

- quadrangulum, L. 3-5 

- tetrapterum, Fries. 3-5 

- humifusum, L. 2-5 

- pulchrum, L. 1-5 

- hirsutum, L. 2-5 

- montanum, L. 3 

- elodes, Huds. 3, 5 

MALVACE./E 
Malva moschata, L. 25 

- sylvestris, L. 2-5 

- rotundifolia, L. 3-5 
[- alcea.] 3 

TlLIACEJE 

[Tilia vulgaris], Hayne. 1-5 

- parvifolia, Ehrh. 3, 4 

LINE* 

Radiola linoides, Gmel. 3, 5 
Linum catharticum, L. 1-5 

- perenne, L. 3, 4 

- angustifolium, L. 3 

[ usitatissimum], L. 1-5 

GERANIACE^E 
Geranium sylvaticum, L. 3 

- pratense, L. 2-5 

perenne, Huds. 2, 5 
[ Pheum.], L. 5 

- molle, L. 1-5 

- pusillum, L. 3-5 

- columbinum, L. 2, 3, 5 

- dissectum, L. I 5 

- Robertianum, L. 1-5 

- lucidum, L. 2-4 

Erodium cicutarium, L'Herit. 25 

- moschatum, L'Herit. 4, 5 

- maritimum, L'Herit. 3, 5 
Oxalis Acetosella, L. 2-5 

forma subpurpurascens, DC. I 
[Impatiens parviflora], DC. 5 

ILICINE* 
Ilex Aquifolium, L. 1-5 



EMPETRACEJE 
Empetrum nigrum, L. 13 

CELESTRINE/E 
Euonymus europzus, L. 1-5 

RHAMNE/E 
Rhamnus catharticus, L. 15 

Frangula, L. 1-5 

SAPINDACE.S: 

Acer campestre, L. 2-5 
[ Pseudo-platanus], L. 1-5 

LEGUMINOS.S 
Genista tinctoria, L. 2-5 

- anglica, L. 2, 3, 5 
Ulex europaeus, L. 1-5 

nanus, Forst. 5 

Gallii, Planch. 2-5 
Cytisus scoparius, Link. 1-5 
Ononis spinosa, L. 24 

- repens, L. 2, 3, 5 
[Medicago sativa], L. 2, 3, 5 

lupulina, L. 1-5 

denticulata, Willd. 5 
Melilotus altissima, Thuil. 24 

- alba, Desr. 3-5 

[ officinalis], Desr. 3, \ 

[ parviflora], Lam. 5 

Tri folium pratense, L. I-; 

- arvense, L. 25 

[ incarnatum], L. 1,2 
medium, Huds. 1-5 

striatum, L. 3, 4 
repens, L. 1-5 

[ hybridum], L. 2, 3 

procumbens, L. 15 

dubium, Sibth. 15 

filiforme, L. 3, 5 
Anthyllis Vulneraria, L. 2 
Lotus corniculatus, L. I 5 

- tenuis, Waldst and Kit. 2, 4, 5 

uliginosus, Schk. 15 
Astragalus glycyphyllos, L. 3-5 
Ornithopus perpusillus, L. 25 
Hippocrepis comosa, L. 2 
Onobrychis sativa, Lamk. 4 
Vicia tetrasperma, Mcench. 24 

hirsuta, Koch. 15 

Cracca, L. 15 

- sylvatica, L. 2, 3, 5 

- sepium, L. 1-5 
[ sativa], L. 2-4 

angustifolia, Roth. 15 

b. Bobartii, Forst. 3-5 

- lathyroides, L. 4, 5 
Lathyrus Aphaca, L. 5 

Nissolia, L. 2-4 

pratensis, L. 15 

sylvestris, L. 3 

macrorrhizus, Wimm. 2-5 

b. tenuifolius (Roth.). 2, 5 

ROSACES 
Prunus communis, Huds. 15 

insititia, L. 3, 5 



BOTANY 



Primus Avium, L. 2-5 

Cerasus, L. 4 

Padus, L. 2-5 
Spiraea Ulmaria, L. 1-5 

- Filipendula, L. 2, 3 
[ salicifolia], L. 3 
kubus idasus, L. 1-5 

fissus, Lindl. 2, 3 

suberectus, Anders. 3, 5 

- plicatus, W. & N. 1-3 

- hitidus, W. & N. 3 

- carpinifolius, W. & N. 1-4 

- incurvatus, Bab. 3, 5 

Lindleianus, Lees. 1-5 

- erythrinus, Genev. 35 

- rhamnifolius, W. & N. 2-5 

- b. Bakeri, F. A. Lees. 3-5 

nemoralis, P. J. Muell. 3 

b. glabratus, Bab. 3-5 

pulcherrimus, Neum. 1-5 

Lindebergii, P. J. Muell. 1-3, 5 

- villicaulis, Koehl. 2, 3, 5 

b. Selmeri, Lindeb. I, 3-5 

c. insularis, F. Aresch. 3 

d. calvatus, Blox. 1-5 

gratus, Focke. 2 

argentatus, P. J. Muell. 3 

b. robustus, P. J. Muell. 3 

rusticanus, Merc. 1-5 

pubescens, Weihe. 2, 3 

b. subinermis, Rogers. 5 

thyrsoideus, Wimm. 5 

macrophyllus, W. & N. 3-5 

b. Schlectendalii, Weihe. 3 
d. amplificatus, Lees. 2-5 

Sprengelii, Weihe. 2-4 

micans, Gren. & Godr. 3 

hirtifolius, Muell & Wirt. I, 3 

- pyramidalis, Kalt. 1-5 

leucostachys, Schliech. 1-5 

Boraeanus, Genev. 35 

curvidens, A. Ley. 3, 5 

mucronatus, Blox. 25 

Gelertii b. crinigcr, Linton. 2-5 

anglosaxonicus, Gelert. 2-5 

b. raduloides, Rogers. I 

infestus, Weihe. 35 

Leyanus, Rogers. 24 

radula, Weihe. 1-5 

b. anglicanus, Rogers. 35 

- podophyllus, P. J. Muell. 1-3 

echinatus, Lindl. 2-5 

oigoclados, Muell & LefV. 3 

b. Newbouldii, Bab. 35 

c. Bloxamianus, Coleman. 4 

Babingtonii, Bell Salt. 3, 5 

Lejeunii b. ericetorum, Lefv. 5 

Bloxamii, Lees. 25 

scaber, W. & N. 2-5 

- foscus, W. & N. 3 

b. nutans, Rogers. 3 

pallidus, W. & N. 2, 5 

foliosus, W. & N. 4, 5 

rosaceus, W. & N. 2, 4, 5 

b. hystrix, W. & N. 1-5 

c. sylvestris, P. J. M. 3, 5 



Rubus rosaceus, W. & N. 

e. infecundus, Rogers. 2-5 

adornatus, P. J. Muell. 3, 5 

Koehleri, W. & N. 2, 3, 5 

c. dasyphyllus, Rogers. 1-5 

fusco-ater, Weihe. 3, 5 

Bellardi, W. & N. 2, 5 

b. dentatus, Bab. 4, 5 

serpens, Weihe. 2 

- hirtus, W. & N. 5 

b. rotundifolius. 4, 5 

c. Kaltenbachii, Metsch. 3 

tereticaulis b. minutiflorus. 5 

dumetorum, W. & N. 3-5 

var diversifolius, Lindl. 2-5 
Tar. tuberculatus, Bab. 3-5 
var. concinnus, Warren. 2-5 
var. fasciculatus, P.J.M. 2-5 

corylifolius var. sublustris, Sm. 2-j 

var. cyclophyllus, Linden. 3 

Balfourianus, Blox. 2-5 

- caesius, L. 13, 5 

+ tenuis, Bell Salt. 2, 3, 5 

saxatilis, L. 2 
Geum urbanum, L. 15 

rivale, L. 2-5 

+ intermedium, Ehrh. 4 
Fragaria vesca, L. 1-5 
Potentilla Comarum, Nestl. 2-5 

- Tormentilla, Scop. 1-5 

- procumbens, Sibth. i, 5 

+ mixta, Nalte. 3, 5 

- reptans, L. 1-5 

- anserina, L. 1-5 

- Fragariastrum, Ehrh. 1-5 

- argentea, L. 3, 5 
Alchemilla arvensis, Lamk. 1-5 

vulgaris, L. 1 5 
Agnmonia Eupatoria, L. I ? 

- odorata, Mill. 4 
Poterium Sanguisorba, L. 24 
[ muricata], Spach. 3 

officinale, Hook fil. 2-5 
Rosa spinosissima, L. 2 

Sabini, Woods. 2 

- rubiginosa, L. 2-5 

- micrantha, Smith. 2, 4 

- tomentosa, Smith. 2-5 

b. subglobosa, Smith. 14 

d. scabriuscula, Smith. 2-5 

- canina a. lutetiana, Leman. 1-5 

c. sphaerica, Gren. z 

d. senticosa, Ach. 2 

e. dumalis, Bech. 1-5 

f. vinacea, Bnkcr. 2 

g. urbica, Leman. 1-4 
h. frondosa, Steven. 1 , 3 
i. arvatica, Baker. 2, 3 

j. dumetorum, Thuill. i, 4 
k. obtusifolium, Desv. 3 
. tomentilla, Leman. 35 
p. verticillacantha, Merat. 1-5 
q. collina, Jacq. 3 
/. cassia, Smith. 3, 4 
v. glauca, Vill. 1-5 
vi. subcristata, Baker. 2-5 



53 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Rosa canina 

X. coriifolia, Fr. 1-5 
y. Watsoni, Baker. 2, 3 
z. Borreri, Woods. 4 

arvensis, Huds. 15 
Pyrus communis, L. 3, 4 

Malus a. acerba, DC. 1-5 

b. mitis, Wallr. I, 2, 5 

torminalis, Ehrh. 2-5 

Aria, Ehrh. I, 2 

b. rupicola, Syme. 2 

c. scandica, Syme. 5 

- Aucuparia, Ehrh. 1-5 
Crataegus Oxyacantha, L. 2, 3, 5 

var. laciniata, Wallr. 2 
var. monogyna, Jacq. 1-5 

SAXIFRAGES 
Saxifraga umbrosa, L. 2 

tridactylites, L. 2-5 

granulata, L. 1-5 

- hypnoides, L. 2 
Chrysosplcnium alternifolium, L. 2-4 

- oppositifolium, L. 1-5 
Parnassia palustris, L. 2-5 
[Ribes Grossularia], L. 2-5 

alpinum, L. 2, 3 

rubrum, L. 4, 5 

nigrum, L. 3, 4 

CRASSULACE.S 

Cotyledon Umbillicus, L. 1,2 
Sedum Telephium, L. 2-4 

album, L. 3 

acre, L. 2-4 

[ reflexum], L. 1-4 
[Sempervivum tectorum], L. 3 

DROSERACEJE 
Droscra rotundifolia, L. I, 3-5 

intermedia, Hayne. 2, 3, 5 

HALORACE/E 

Hippuris vulgaris, L. 4, 5 
Myriophyllum verticillatum, L. 4, 5 

alterniflorum, DC. 3-5 
- spicatum, L. 2, 3, 5 

Callitriche platycarpa, Kuetz. 1-5 

hamulata, Kuetz. 2, 3 

obtusangula, Leg. 3 

LYTHRARIE.S; 
Lythrum Salic.iria, L. 2-5 

hyssopifolia (?), L. 3 
Peplis Portula, L. 2, 3 

ONAGRARIEJE 
Epilobium angustifolium, L. 2-5 

hirsutum, L. 1-5 

parviflorum, Schreb. 1-5 

montanum, L. 1-5 

roseum, Schreb. 2, 3 

f. roseum obscurum. 3 

obscurum, Schreb. 2, 3 

tetragonum, L. 3, 5 

palustre, L. 3-5 
[CEnothera biennis], L. 3 



Circaja lutettana, L. 25 

intermedia, L. C. 2 

alpina, L. I, 2 

CUCUBITACEJE 

Bryonia dioica, L. 35 

UMBELLIFER.S 

Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. 1-5 
Sanicula europasa, L. 2-5 
Conium maculatum, L. 1-5 
[Smyrnium Olusatrum], L. 3 
Apium graveolens, L. 2, 3 

nodiflorum, Reichb. 1-5 

b. repens, Hook fil. 3, 4 

inundatum, Reichb. 2, 3, 5 
Cicuta virosa, L. 3, 4 

[Carum Petroselinum], B. & H. 2 

segetum, B. & H. 2, 3 
[ Carui], L. 3, 5 
Sison Amomum, L. 4 
Sium angustifolium, L. 25 
jEgopodium Podagraria, L. 1-5 
Pimpinella Saxifraga, L. 25 

magna, Huds. 2-5 
Conopodium denudatum, Koch. 1-5 
Myrrhis odorata, Scop. 14 
Chasrophyllum temulum, L. 1-5 
Scandix Pecten-Veneris, L. 1-5 
Anthriscus vulgaris, Pers. 3, 4 

sylvestris, Hoffm. 1-5 
CEnanthe fistulosa, L. 25 

crocata, L. 3, 5 

Phellandrium, Lam. 2, 4, 5 
./Ethusa Cynapium, L. 1-5 
Silaus pratensis, Bess. 25 
Angelica sylvestris, L. 1-5 
[Archangelica officinalis], Hoff. 3 
[Peucedanum Ostruthium], Koch. 2, 3 

- sativum, Benth. 2-5 
Heracleum Sphondylium, L. 1-5 
Daucus Carota, L. 1-5 
Caucalis Anthriscus, Huds. 1-5 

- arvensis, Huds. 2-5 

nodosa, Scop. 2, 5 

ARALIACE.S 

Hedera Helix, L. 1-5 
CORNACEJE 

Cornus sanguinea, L. 2-5 
CAPRIFOLIACE./E 
Viburnum Opulus, L. 1-5 
Sambucus Ebulus, L. 2, 3 

nigra, L. 1-5 

Adoxa Moschatellina, L. 1-5 
Lonicera Periclymenum, L. 15 
[ xylosteum], L. 3, 5 

RUBIACEJE 
Galium verum, L. 1-5 

cruciata, Scop. 1-5 

palustre, L. 15 

b. elongatum, Presl. 2, 5 

c. Witheringii, Sm. 3, 5 

uliginosum, L. 5 

saxatile, L. 1-5 



51 



BOTANY 



Galium sylvestre, Poll. 2 

Mollugo, L. 2, 3, 5 

erectum, Huds. 3 

Aparine, L. 1-5 
Asperula odorata, L. 2-5 
Sherardia arvensis, L. 1-5 

VALERIANE.S 
Valeriana dioica, L. 1-5 

Mikani, Syme. 2 

sambucifolia, Willd. 2-5 
[ pyrenaica], L. 2 
[Centranthus ruber], DC. 2 
Valerianella olitoria, Poll. 2-4 

dentata, Poll. 2-4 

b. mixta, Dufr. 2, 3 

eriocarpa, Desv. 2, 3 

DIPSACE;E 
Dipsacus sylvestris, L. 2-5 

pilosus, L. 2-5 
Scabiosa succisa, L. 3, 5 

Columbaria, L. 2 

arvensis, L. 1-5 

COMPOSITE 

Eupatorium cannabinum, L. 1-5 
Aster Tripolium, L. 3, 4 
Erigeron acre, L. 2, 3, 5 
[ canadense], L. 3 
Bellis perennis, L. 1-5 
Solidago Virgaurea, L. z, 3, ; 
Inula Conyza, DC. 5 

Helenium, L. I, ; 
Pulicaria dysenterica, Gaert. i - 5 
Gnaphalium sylvaticum, L. 3, 5 

uliginosum, L. 15 
Antennaria dioic.i, Br. 2 
[ margaritacea], Br. 2 
Filago germanica, L. 1-5 

minima, Fr. 2, 3, 5 
Bidens cernua, L. 2-5 

b. radiata, Sond. 4 

tripartita, L. 2, 3, 5 
Anthemis arvensis, L. 2-5 

Cotula, L. 1-5 

nobilis, L. 3~5 
Achillea Ptarmica, L. 3-5 

Millefolium, L. 1-5 
Matricaria Chamomilla, L. 2-5 

inodora, L. 1-5 
Chrysanthemum segetum, L. 1,3 

Leucanthemum, L. 15 

[ Parthenium], Pers. 2, 3, 5 
Tanacetum vulgare, L. 2-5 
Artemisia vulgaris, L. 1-5 

b. coarctata (Forcell). 3-5 

Absinthium, L. 4, 5 
Petasites vulgaris, Desf. 1-5 
[ alba], Gaert. 2 
Tussilago Farfara, L. 1-5 
Doronicum Pardalianches, L. 2 
Senecio vulgaris, L. 1-5 

sylvaticus, L. 2-5 

Jacobaea, L. 1-5 

erucifolius, L. 1-5 



Senecio aquaticus, Huds. 1-5 
[ saracenicus], L. 3 
Arctium majus, Schk. 3, 5 

nemorosum, Lej. 2-5 

minus, Schk. 1-5 

intermedium, Lange. 3, 5 
Carlina vulgaris, L. 25 
Centauria nigra, L. 1-5 

Scabiosa, L. 2-5 

Cyanus, L. 1-4 
Serratula tinctoria, L. 2, 3, 5 
Carduus nutans, L. 2-5 

crispus, L. 2-5 

Cnicus lanceolatus, Willd. 1-5 

eriophorus, Roth. 3, 5 

arvensis, Hoffm. 1-5 

palustris, Willd. 1-5 

pratensis, Willd. 25 

- - heterophyllus, Willd. 2 
Onopordon Acanthium, L. 5 
[Sylybum Marianum], Gaert. 2, 3 
Cichorium Intybus, L. 3, 4 
Lapsana communis, L. 1 5 
Picris hieracioides, L. 2, 3, 5 
Crepis virens, L. 1-5 

paludosa, Moench. i, 2, 4 
Hieracium Pilosella, L. 1-5 

- anglicum, Fries. 2 

murorum, L. 2, 5 

- sylvaticum, Sm. i, 3-5 

maculatum, Sm. 4 

- sciaphilum, Uechtr. \ . 

- tridentatum, Fr. 3, 5 

- umbellatum, L. 1,3,5 

- boreale, Fr. 1-5 
Hypochxris glabra, L. 3 

- radicata, L. 1-5 
Leontodon hirtus, L. 2, 3, 5 

- hispidus, L. 1-5 

autumnalis, L. 15 
Taraxacum officinalc, Web. 1-5 

b. erythrospermum (Andrz.). 2, 3, 5 

c. palustre (DC.). 2, 3, 5 

d. udum (Jord.). 3 
Lactuca virosa, L. 2,3 

muralis, Fresen. 1-5 
Sonchus oleraceus, L. 1-5 

- asper, Hoffm. 1-5 

- arvensis, L. 1-5 

- palustris, L. 4 (?) 
Tragopogon pratense, L. 2-5 

b. minus (Mill.). 1-5 
[ porrifolium], L. 2, 3, 5 

CAMPANULACE^ 

Jasione montana, L. 1-5 
Wahlenbergia hederacea, Reich. 3 
Campanula rotundifolia, L. 1-5 

b. lancifolia (Mert. & Kit.). 3 

Rapunculus, L. 3, J 

- patula, L. 3, 5 

- latifolia, L. 2-4 

b. flore-alba (Auct.). 3 
[ Rapunculoides], L. 3 

Trachelium, L. 2, 3, 5 
Specularia hybrida, DC. 4, 5 



55 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



ERICACEJE 
Vaccinium Myrtillus, L. 2, 4, 5 

intermedia (Ruthe). 3, 4 

Vitis-Idaea, L. 1-5 

occycoccus, L. 1-5 
Andromeda polifolia, L. I, 3, 4 
Erica Tetralix, L. 1-5 

cinerea, L. 15 
Calluna vulgaris, Salisb. 1-5 

b. incana (Auct.). 3, 4 
Pyrola minor, Sw. 2 

media, Sw. 5 

- rotundifolia, (?) L. 2-4 

MONOTROPE.S 
Hypopithys monotropa, Crantz. 5 

PRIMULACEJE 

Primula vulgaris, Huds. 1-5 

b. caulescens (Auct.). 2, 3, 5 

veris, L. 1-5 
Lysimachia vulgaris, L. 2, 3, 5 

- nemorum, L. 2-5 

- Nummularia, L. 2-5 
Glaux maritima, L. 3,4 
Centunculus minimus, L. 3 
Anagalis arvensis, L. 1-5 

cerulea, Schreb. 3 

- tenella, L. 3-5 
Hottonia palustris, L. 3, 5 
Samolus Valerandi, L. 5 

OLEACEJE 

Ligustrum vulgare, L. 2-4 
Fraxinus excelsior, L. 1-5 

APOCYNACE.* 
Vinca minor, L. 1-5 
[ major], L. 3, 5 

GENTIANE.S 

Chlora perfoliata, L. 2-5 
Erythnea Centaurium, Pers. 1-5 
Gentiana Amarella, L. 2, 5 

campestris, L. 3 
Menyanthes trifoliata, L. 1-5 

PoLEMONIACE.'E 

Polemonium ceruleum, L. 2, 3, 5 

BORACINJUB 

Echium vulgare, L. 3-5 
[Borago officinalis], L. 2, 3 
Symphytum officinale, L. 

b. patens (Sibth.). I 

tuberosum, L. 2, 3 
Anchusa arvensis, Bieb. 3-5 
[ sempervirens], L. 3 
Lithospermum officinale, L. 2, 3, 5 

- arvense, L. 2-5 
[Pulmonaria officinalis], L. 3 
Myosotis palustris, Relh. 35 

b. strigulosa (Mert. & Koch). I, 

repens, G. Don. 1-4 

- csespitosa, Schultz. 2-5 

sylvatica, Hoffrn. 2-4 

- arvensis, Lam. 1-5 

b, umbrosa (Bab.). 2-5 

collina, Hoffm. 2, 3, 5 



Myosotis versicolor, Reich. 1-3 
Cynoglossum officinale, L. 1-3, 5 

CONVOLVULACE.K 
Convolrulus arvensis, L. 1-5 

sepium, L. 1-5 
Cuscuta europara, L. 3 
[ Trifolii], Bab. 3 

SOLANACE^E 

Hyoscyamus niger, L. 24 
Solanum Dulcamara, L. 1-5 

nigrum, L. 3, 5 
Atropa Belladonna, L. 2-5 
[Datura Stramonium], L. 3 

PLANTAGINE.S: 
Plantago major, L. 1-5 

b. intermedia, Gilib. 3 
media, L. 2-5 

lanceolata, L. 15 

b. Timbali, Jord. 3 

- Coronopus, L. 2, 3, 5 
Littorella lacustris, L. 2-4 

SCROPHULARINE./E 
Verbascum Thapsus, L. 2-5 

Lychnites, L. 5 

nigrum, L. 3, 5 

Blattaria, L. 3, 5 
[Linaria Cymbalaria], Mill. 1-5 

vulgaris, Mill. 1-5 

repens, Mill. 3 

minor, Desf. 3, 5 
Antirrhinum Orontium, L. 3 
[ majus], L. 3 
Scrophularia nodosa, L. 1-5 

- aquatica, L. 1-5 

umbrosa, Dum. 5 (r) 
[Mimulus luteus], L. 2, 3 
Limosella aquatica, L. 2-5 
Digitalis purpurca, L. 2-5 
Veronica agrestis, L. 1-5 

- polita, Fr. 2, 3 

- Buxbaumii, Ten. 2-5 

- hederasfblia, L. 1-5 

- arvensis, L. 1-5 

serpyllifolia, L. 15 

officinalis, L. 1-5 

Chamzdrys, L. 1-5 

montana, L. 2-5 

- scutellata, L. 2-5 

- Beccabunga, L. 1-5 

- Anagallis, L. 3-5 

Bartsia Odontites a. verna, Reich. 
b. serotina, Reich. 2, 3, 5 
Euphrasia officinalis, L. 1-5 
Rhinanthus Crista-galli, L. 1-5 

major, Ehrh. 2, 4 
Pedicularis palustris, L. 2-5 

sylvatica, L. 13, 5 
Melampyrum pratense, L. 3-5 
Lathrxa squamaria, L. 2, 3, 5 

OROBANCHEJE 
Orobanche major, L. i, 2, 4, 5 

elatior, Sutt. 2 



3-5 



BOTANY 



LENTIBULARINEJE 
Pinguicula vulgaris, L. 25 
Utricularia vulgaris, L. 1-3, 5 

neglecta, Lehm. 5 

minor, L. I, 3 

VERBENACE.S 
Verbena officinalis, L. 24 

LABIATJE 

Mentha sylvestris, L. 2, 3 
[ viridis], L. 1,3 

piperita, Huds. 2, 3, 5 

hirsuta, L. 1-5 

b. citrita, Ehrh. 3 
sativa, L. 25 

rubra, Sm. 2, 5 

- arvensis, L. 25 

- Pulegium, L. 1,5 
Lycopus europsus, L. 1-5 
Origanum vulgare, L. I, 2 
Thymus Serpyllum, L. 1-5 
Calamintha officinalis, Moench. 1-4 

Clinopodium, Spenn. 2-5 

Acinos, Claire. 2-5 

var. flore-albo (Auct.). 2, 5 
Salvia Verbenaca, L. 2, 5 
Nepeta Cataria, L. 1-4 

Glechoma, Benth. 1-5 
Prunella vulgaris, L. 1-5 
Scutellaria galericulata, L. 1-5 

minor, L. 3, 5 
Stachys sylvatica, L. 15 

palustris, L. 1-5 

var. ambigua (Sm.). z , 

arvensis, L. 24 

- Betonica, Benth. 1-4 
[ annua] (L.). 2 
Galeopsis Ladanum, L. 2-5 

- Tetrahit, L. 1-5 

speciosa, Mill. 2-5 
[Marrubium vulgare], L. 3 
[Leonorus Cardiaca], L. 3, 5 
Lamium purpureum, L. 1-5 

- hybridum, Vill. 3, 4 

- amplexicaule, L. i, 3-5 

album, L. 15 

[ maculatum], L. i, 3 

Galeobdolon, Crantz. 1-4 
Ballota nigra, L. 2-5 

b. alba (Lam.). 3 
Teucrium Scorodonia, L. 1-5 
Ajuga reptans, L. 1-5 

ILLECEBRACEJE 

Illecebrum verticillatum, L. 3 
Scleranthus annuus, L. 1-5 

CHENOPODIACE.S; 
Chenopodium Vulvafia, L. 3 

polyspermum, L. 2, 4 

- album, L. 1-5 

ficifolium, Sm. 3 

- urbicum, L. 3, 5 

rubrum, L. 5 

Bonus-Henricus, L. 25 
Atriplex patula, L. 1-5 

b. angustifolia, Sm. 3 



57 



Atriplex hastata, L. i, 3 

POLYGONACEJE 

Polygonum Bistorta, L. 2-4 

amphibium, L. 25 

lapathifolium, L. 1-5 

b. maculatum, Dyer. 3 

Persicaria, L. 1-5 

mite, Schrank. 3 

Hydropiper, L. 1-5 

minus, Huds. 3 

aviculare, L. 1-5 

var. arenastrum, Bor. 3, 4 

Convolvulus, L. 1-5 
Kumex obtusifolius, L. 1-5 

acutus, L. 2 

pulcher, L. 3, 4 

maritimus, L. 3-5 
palustris, Sm. 3, 4 

crispus, L. 1-5 

sanguineus, L. 2 

conglomerate, Mur. 1-5 

Hydrolapathum, Huds. 1-5 
[ alpinus], L. 2 

Acetosa, L 1-5 

Acetosella, L. 1-5 

THYMEL^EACEJE 
D.iphne Laureola, L. 2-5 

Mezereum, L. 2-4 

LORANTHACE./E 
Viscum album, L. 2, 3, 5 

EUPHORBIACEJE 
Euphorbia Helioscopia, L. 1-5 

amygdaloides, L. 2-5 

- Peplus, L. 1-5 

- exigua, L. 1-5 

[ Cyparissias], L. 5 

- Lathyris, L. 5 
Buxus sempervirens, L. l 
Mercurialis perennis, L. 1-5 

URTICACE./E 
Ulmus montana, Sm. 15 

- campestris, Sm. 1-5 
Urtica urens, L. 1-5 

- dioica, L. 1-5 
P.irietaria officinalis, L. i-r 
Humulus Lupulus, L. 2-5 

MYRICACE.S 
Myrica Gale, L. 1,5 

CUPULIFER^ 
Betula alba, L. 1-3, 5 

glutinosa, Fries, i, 3, 4 
Alnus glutinosa, Ga;rt. 1-5 
Quercus Robur, L. 1-5 

- sessiliflora, i, 35 
Fagus sylvatica, L. 1-5 
Corylus Avellana, L. 1-5 
Carpinus Betulus, L. 2-f 

SALICINE.S 
Populus alba, L. i, 3-5 

canescens, Sm. 3-5 

tremula, L. 15 

nigra, L. 2-5 

8 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Salix triandra. 3, 4 

amygdalina, L. 4 

Hoffmanniana, Sm. 3, 4 

undulata, Ehrh. 3, 5 

pentandra, L. 1-4 

fragilis, L. 2-5 

b. brittanica, F. B. White, i, 5 

alba, L. 1-5 

b. caerulea, Sm. 3 

c. vitellina, L. 1,3 

Caprea, L. 15 

cinerea, L. 15 

- aurita, L. 1-5 

- repens, L. 2, 5 

laurina, Sm. 5 

viminalis, L. 15 

Smithiana, Willd. 1-5 

purpurea, L. 13 

rubra, Huds. 4 

Lambertiana, Sm. 5 

CERATOPHYLLE^E 
Ceratophyllum demersum, L. 3-5 

CONIFERS 

Pinus sylvestris, L. 1-3 
Juniperus communis, L. I 
Taxus baccata, L. 2-4 

HYDROCHARIDE.K 

Hydrocharis Morsus-Ranx, L. 1,5 
Stratiotes aloides, L. I 
[Elodea canadensis], Michx. 1-5 

ORCHIDEJE 

Neottia Nidus-avis, L. 2, 4 
Listera ovata, Br. 2-5 
Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich. 5 
Epipactis latifolia, Sw. 2-5 

palustris, Sw. I, 3, 4 
Cephalanthera ensifolia, Rich. 4 
Orchis mascula, L. 1-3 

- latifolia, L. 2-5 
. maculata, L. 1-5 

- Morio, L. 2, 3, 5 

ustulata, L. 5 

pyramidalis, L. 2, 3 
Ophrys apifera, Huds. 3, 5 
Habenaria conopsea, Benth. 2, 3, 5 

viridis, Br. 1-5 

albida, Br. 5 

bifolia, Br. 2, 3, 5 

chlorantha, Bab. 1-3 

IRIDEJE 

[Crocus vernus], All. 3 
[ nudiflorus], Sm. 2, 3 
Iris pseud-acorus, L. I, 3-5 

AMARYLLIDEJE 

Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, L. 1-5 
[ biflorus], Curt. 3 
[ poeticus], L. 3 
Galanthus nivalis, L. 2-4 

DIOSCORE.K 
Tamus communis, L. 1-5 



LlLIACEJE 

Convallaria majalis, L. 2, 3 
Polygonatum multiflorum, All. 2, 3 
Allium vineale, L. 2 

oleraceum, L. 2, 3 

ursinum, L. 15 
Scilla autumnalis, L. 3 

nutans, Sm. 15 
Fritillaria Meleagris, L. 2, 3, 5 
Tulipa sylvestris, L. 3 
Colchicum autumnale, L. 3> 5 
Narthecium ossifragum, Huds. 2, 3, 5 
Paris quadrifolia, L. 2-5 

JUNCACE./E 

Juncus effusus, L. 1-5 

conglomerate, L. 1-5 

glaucus, Ehrh. 15 

squarrosus, L. I, 3, 4 

compressus, Jacq. 3, 4 

Gerardi, Loisel. 3 

obtusiflorus, Ehrh. 3 

acutiflorus, Ehrh. 1-5 

supinus, L. Moench. 1-5 

lamprocarpus, Ehrh. 1-5 

bufonius, L. 15 
Luzula maxima, DC. 1-5 

vernalis, DC. 15 

campestris, Willd. 1-5 

erecta, Desv. 2, 3 

b. congesta, Koch. I, 5 

TYPHACE* 
Sparganium ramosum, Huds. 1-5 

simplex, Huds. 1-5 

neglectum, Beeby. 1-5 

affine, Sch. 4, 5 

minimum, Fries. 3, 5 
Typha latifolia, L. 1-5 

angustifolia, L. 1-5 

AROIDE^E 

Arum maculatum, L. 1-5 
Acorus Calamus, L. I, 3, 4 

LEMNACE^E 
Lemna minor, L. 1-5 

trisulca, L. 2-5 

gibba, L. 3-5 

polyrrhiza, L. 3-5 

ALISMACEJE 

Alisma Plantago, L. 1-5 

b. lanceolatum, With. 3-5 

ranunculoides, L. 3-5 
Sagittaria sagittifolia, L. 2-5 
Butomus umbellatus, L. 3-5 

NAIADACEJE 
Triglochin palustre, L. 2-5 

maritimum, L. 3 
Potamogeton natans, L. 1,3-5 

polygonifolius, Power. 2-4 

rufescens, Schrad. I, 3, 5 

heterophyllus, Schreb. 3 

lucens, L. 1-5 

praelongus, Wulf. J, 4 



BOTANY 



Potamogeton perfoliatus, L. 35 

crispus, L. 15 

densus, L. 2 

zosterifolius, Schum. 3, 4 

obtusifolius, Mert. & Koch. 3 

pusillus, L. 2-5 

Friesii, Rupr. 3 

trichodes, Cham. 5 

pectinatus, L. 15 

flabellatus, Bab. 3-5 
Zannichellia palustris, L. 3-5 

CYPERACE^E 

Eleocharis acicularis, Sm. 3 

palustris, Sm. 1-5 

multicaulis, Sm. 3, 4 
Scirpus lacustris, L. I-; 

Tabernaemontani, Gmel. 3, 5 

maritimus, L. 3, 4 

sylvaticus, L. 2, 3, 5 

setaceus, L. 1-5 

fluitans, L. I, 3, 5 

casspitosus, L. 1,3 

pauciflorus, Lightf. 3 
Eriophorum vaginatum, L. 1-4 

angustifolium, Roth, i-t 
Rhynchospora alba, Vahl. I, 3 
Schoenus nigricans, L. 3,5 
Cladium Mariscus, Br. 3, 4 
Carex dioica, L. 3, 4 

pulicaris, L. 3, 5 

disticha, Huds. 3-5 

paniculata, L. 1-5 

teretiuscula, Good. 5 

muricata, L. 3-5 

divulsa, Good. 2, 3 

vulpina, L. 1-5 

- echinata, Murr. 1-5 

remota, L. 1-5 

leporina, L. 1-5 

canescens, L. 2-5 

acuta, L. 35 

stricta, Good. 3, 5 

Goodenovii, Gay. 1-5 

limosa, Schreb. 4(.')> 5 (.") 

glauca, Schreb. 1-5 

pallescens, L. i, 3, 5 

panicea, L. 1-5 

pendula, Huds. 1-4 

- praecox, Jacq. I, 3, 4 

pilulifera, L. 1-5 

him, L. 1-5 

flava, L. 1-5 

b. lepidocarpa, Tausch. 3, 4 

distans, L. 4, 5 

fulva, Good, i, 4 

binervis, Sm. 15 

laevigata, Sm. 3 

sylvatica, Huds. 2, 3, 5 

strigosa, Huds. 2, 3, 5 

vesicaria, L. 1-5 

ampullacea, Good. 1-5 

Pseudo-cyperus, L. 1-5 

paludosa, Good. 2-5 

riparia, Curt. 25 



Guifnui 

Setaria viridis, Beauv. 3 
[Phalaris canariensis], L. 3, 5 

arundinacea, L. 1-5 
Anthoxanthum odor.itum, L. 1-5 
[ Puelii], Lecoq. 3-5 
Alopecurus agrestis, L. 3, 4 

pratensis, L. 1-5 

geniculatus, L. 15 

fulvus, Sm. 3 
Milium effusum, L. 2-5 
Phleum pratense, L. 1-5 
Agrostis canina, L. 2-5 

vulgaris, With. 1-5 

b. pumila, L. 3 

nigra, With. 3-5 

alba, L. 2-5 

b. stolonifera, L. 5 
Calamagrostis Epigejos, Roth. 3-5 

lanceolata, Roth. 3-5 
Aira caryophyllea, L. i, 3-5 

praxox, L. 1,3-5 
Deschampsia flexuosa, Trin. 1-5 

caespitosa, Beauv. 1-5 
Holcus lanatus, L. 1-5 

mollis, L. 2-5 

Trisetum flavescens, Beauv. 1-5 

Avena fatua, L. 3 

[ strigosa], Schreb. 3 

pratensis. 2, 3 

pubescens, Huds. 1-5 
Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauv. I 
Triodia decumbens, Beauv. 1-5 
Phragmites communis, Trin. 1,3-5 
Cynosurus cristatus, L. 1-5 
Kochleria cristata, Pers. z 
Molinia cscrulea, Mcench. i -.;. 
Catabrosa aquatica, Beauv. 25 
Melica nutans, L. 2 

uniflora, Retz. 1-5 
Dactylis glomerata, L. 1-5 
Briza media, L. 2-5 

Poa annua, L. 1-5 

pratensis, L. 1-5 

b. subcerulea, Sm. 3, 4 

compressa, L. 3 

trivialis, L. 1-5 

nemoralis, L. 14 
Glyceria aquatica, Sm. 1-5 

fluitans, Br. 1-5 

b. plicata, Fr. 2-4 

c. pedicellata, Towns. 2,3,5 
Festuca elatior, L. 3, 5 

pratensis, Huds. 3 

gigantea, Vill. 1-5 

sylvatica, Vill. 5 (?) 

ovina, L. 25 

duriuscula, L. 3 

rubra, L. i, 3 

myuros, L. 5 

sciuroides, Roth. 1-5 

rigida, Kth. 2, 3 
Bromus asper, Murr. 1-5 

sterilis, L. 1-5 

mollis, L. 1-5 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Bromus racemosus, L. 2, 3 

secalinus, L. 3 

commutatus, Schreb. z, 3, ; 
Brachypodium sylvaticum, R. & S. 1-5 

pinnatum, Beauv. 3 
L.olium perenne, L. 15 

b. italicum, Br. 3 
Agropyrum caninura, Beauv. 3-5 

- repens, Beauv. 1-5 
Nardus stricta, L. 15 
Hordeum pratense, Huds. 2-4 

murinum, L. 14 

FILICES 

Hymenophyllum unilaterale, Willd. l 
Pteris aquilina, L. 15 
Lomaria Spicant, Desv. I, 35 
Asplenium Ruta-muraria, L. 2-5 

- Trichomanes, L. 1-4 

viride, Huds. 2 

Adiantum-nigrum, L. 1,2 

filix-foemina, Bernh. 1-5 

b. rhaeticum, Roth. 2-5 

Ceterach, L. 2, 5 
Scolopendnum vulgare, Sm. 3, 4 
Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. 2, 3 
Aspidium aculeatum, Sw. 2-5 

- lobatum, Sw. 24 

- angul.ire, Willd. 2, 4, 5 
Nephrodium Filix-mas. 1-5 

b. affinis, Fisch. 2-4 

c. Borreri, Newm. 2, 3, 5 

cristata, Rich. 3, 4 

b. uliginosum, Newnm. 

- spinulosum, Desv. 2-5 

dilatatum, Desv. 2-5 



Nephrodium Thelypteris, Desv. 3, 5 

Oreopteris, Desv. 2, 3, 5 
Polypodium vulgare, L. 1-5 

Phegopteris, L. 3 

Dryopteris, L. 2, 3, 5 

Robertianum, Hoffm. 2 
Osmunda regalis, L. I, 3, 5 
Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. 25 
Botrychium Lunaria, Sw. 1-3, 5 

EQUISETACE./E 
Equisetum arvense, L. 

maximum, Lam. 2, 3, e 

sylvaticum, L. 2-4 

palustre, L. 1-5 

b. nudum, NeWm. 3, 4 
limosum, L. 2-4 

b. fluviatile, L. 2-4 

variegatum, Schliech. 2, 3, 5 

LYCOPODIACE/E 
Lycopodium clavatum. 1-4 

- inundatum. 2, 3, 5 

- Selago, L. I, 3, 5 

MARSILEACE.* 
Pilularia globulifera, L. 1,4, 5 

CHARACE.S 
Chara fragilis, Desv. 35 

d. Hedwigii, Kuetz. 3 

- hispida, L. I, 3, 5 

- vulgaris, L. 2, 3, 5 
Nitella translucens, Agard. 3, 4 

- flexilis, Agard. 3, 5 

opaca, Agard. 3 



THE MOSSES (Musci) 

Although a considerable area of Staffordshire is thickly populated 
and has the contaminated neighbourhood of busy centres of industry, 
there are still large stretches of undulating moorland, usually watered 
by streams liable to flooding, with marshy and boggy surroundings favour- 
able to a rich growth of mosses and their moisture loving allies the 
hepatics. Such is Sherbrook Valley, and there are many similar valleys 
north of Cannock where are found many of the rarer sphagnums, such 
as Sphagnum viride. Again west of Cannock are the remains of what 
were formerly extensive bog lands, such as Norton bog, where is the rare 
S. tenellum, and near Uttoxeter, in the deep and treacherous Chartley bog, 
are many of the sphagnums and other moisture loving species, such as the 
rare Polytrichum strictum. The woodlands of the county, though ex- 
tensive, are usually dry and rarely the homes of any but the more com- 
mon species ; but some of the woodlands around Gnosall and Norbury 
yield rarer mosses, such as the hair moss Polytrichum graa'/e, Bryum uligi- 
nosum and Fontinalis squamosa and other rare species ; and the rich wood- 
lands of the south-west have yielded some of our rarest species, such 
as Fumaria ericetorum, Pterygophyllum lucens and the rare Heterocladium 

60 



BOTANY 

fallax, first recorded from that locality as a British moss. But the most 
fertile localities for our rarer mosses are the water-splashed rocks of the 
limestone districts, as in the Dove dale ; here the ever present humidity 
renders the moss flora rich and varied ; on rocks in the stream are Eu- 
rhynchium crassinervium, Brachythecium illecebrum^ and on the limestone 
rocks the rare Amblestegium confervoides, its first British locality, and 
great masses of Weissia rupestris, Hypnum rugosum, and now and again 
T'richostomum mutabile. The calcareous rocks too of the Manyfold valley 
yield many lime lovers of interest, such as Weissia verticillata and Tricbo- 
stomum crispulum, and on the grit and limestone walls of Alton Encalypta 
streptocarpa is abundant, and the only fruiting example of Aulocomnion 
androgynum found in Britain was from these stone fences. In some of 
the limestone valleys of the Manyfold and Churnet are hollow cave-like 
openings worn out by water action in the ages past, and in these is seen, 
though rarely, the phosphorescent luminosity of the pretty little cavern 
moss Scbistostega osmundacea and some of the more delicate forms of 
Webera. The total moss flora of Staffordshire is larger than that of any 
of the surrounding counties so far as these are known, but as there are 
no properly representative lists published of some of them comparisons 
would be valueless. The total moss flora of Staffordshire is 285 species 
and 83 varieties, a total of 368 for the county. 

To show in a slight measure the distribution of the mosses enumer- 
ated, the county has been divided into the three districts drained by the 
rivers: (i) the Weaver; (2) the Trent, including the Dove and the 
Sow; and (3) the Severn; and the numbers given in the list following 
refer to these districts. 



Sphagnum cymbifolium, Ehrh. 1-3 
ft. squarrosulum, N. & H. 2 

papillosum, Ldb. 2, 3 

ft. confertum, Ldb. 2 
y. stenophyllum, Ldb. 2 

- molle, Sull. 2 

y. tenerum, Braith. 2 

- tenellum, Ehrh. 2 

- subsecundum, Nees. 1-3 

ft. contortum, Schp. 1-3 
S. obesum, Schp. 2 
e. viride, Boul. 1-3 

- squarrosum, Pers. 2 

acutifolium, Ehrh. 2 

ft. rubellum, Russ. 2 
/x. patulum, Schp. 2 
v. hetevirens, Braith. 2 

Girgensohnii, Russ. 2 

fimbriatum, Wils. 2 

- intermedium, Hoffm. 2 

ft. riparium, Ldb. 2 
y. pulchrum, Ldb. 2 

cuspidatum, Ehrh. i, 2 

ft. falcatum, Russ. 2 
Tetraphis pellucida, Hedw. 1-3 
Catharinea undulata, W. & N. 1-3 

y. Haussknechtii, Dixon. 3 
Oligotrichum incurvum, i, 2 



3 



Polytrichum nanum, Neck. 

ft. longisetum, Ldb. z 

- aloides, Hedw. 2, 3 

- urnigcrum, Linn. I, 2 

- piliferum, Schreb. 13 

- juniperinum, Willd. 2, 3 

- strictum, Banks. 2 

- gracile, Dicks. 2 

- formosum, Hedw. 2, 3 

commune, Linn. 1-3 

ft. perigoniale, B. & S. 2 
y. minus, Weis. 2 
Buxbaumia aphylla, Linn. 2 
Diphyscium foliosum, Mohr. 2 
Archidium alternifolium, Schp. 
Pleuridium axillare, Ldb. 2 

subulatum, Rab. 2, 3 

alternifolium, Rab. 2 
Ditrichum homomallum, Hpe. : 

flexicaule, Hpe. i, 2 

ft. densum, Braith. 2 
Seligeria pusilla, B. & S. 2 
Ceratodon purpureus, Brid. 1-3 

ft. paludosa, Bagnall. 2 

conicus, Ldb. i 
Rhabdoweissia fugax, B. & S. 2 
Cynodontium Bruntoni, B. & S. 
Dichodontium pellucidum, Schp. 



61 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Dichodontium pellucidum, Schp. 
ft. fagimontanum, Schp. 2 

flavescens, Ldb. I, 2 
Dicranclla heteromalla, Schp. 1-3 

y. interrupta, B. & S. 2 
o. sericea, Schp. 2, 3 

cerviculata, Schp. 2 

ft. pusilla, Schp. 2 

crispa, Schp. 2 

rufescens, Schp. 2, 3 

varia, Schp. 2, 3 

y. tenella, Schp. 3 

Schreberi, Schp. 2 

ft. elata, Schp. 2, 3 

squarrosa, Schp. I, 2 
Dicranoweissia cirrata, Ldb. 1-3 

crispula, Ldb. I, 2 
Campylopus flexuosus, Brid. I, 2 

y. paradoxus, Husn. 2 

pyriformis, Brid. 1-3 

- fragilis, B. & S. 1,2 
Dicranodontium longirostrum, B. & S. 2 
Dicranum Bonjeani, De Not. 13 

S. rugifolium, Bosw. 2 

scoparium, Hedw. 1-3 

J3. paludosum, Schp. z 
y. orthophyllum, Brid. 2 

majus, Turn. 2, 3 

fuscescens, Turn. 2, 3 

y. congestum, Husn. l 

strictum, Scliech. 2 

flagellare, Hedw. 2 

montanum, Hedw. 2, 3 
Leucobryum glaucum, Schp. i, 2 
Fissedens exilis, Hedw. 2 

viridulus, Wahl. 2, 3 

/?. Lylei, Wils. 2 

exiguus, Sull. 2 

- pusillus, Wils. 3 

incurvus, Starke. 2 

tamarindifolius, Wils. 2, 3 
bryoides, Hedw. 1-3 

crassipes, Wils. 3 

adiantoides, Hedw. 2. 3 

decipiens, De Not. 2, 3 
- taxifolius, Hedw. 13 
Grimmia apocarpa, Hedw. 1-3 

ft. rivularis, W. & M. 1-3 
y. gracilis, W. & M. 3 
8. pumila, Schp. i, 2 

pulvinata, Sm. 13 

ft. obtusa, Hub. I, 2 

trichophylla, Grev. I, 2 

ovata, Schwgr. 2 
Rhacomitrium aciculare, Brid. 1-3 

ft. denticulatum, B. & S. I 

fasciculare, Brid. i, 2 

heterostichum, Brid. I, 2 

ft. alopecurum, Hub. i, 2 

lanuginosum, Brid. i, 2 

canescens, Brid. I, 2 

ft. cricoides, B. & S. 2 
Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Fur. 2, 3 
Hedwigia ciliata, Ehrh. i 
Acaulon muticum, C.M. 2 



Phascum cuspidatum, Schreb. 2, 3 
ft. piliferum, H. & T. 2 
y. Schreberianum, Brid. 2 
o. curvisetum, N. & H. 2 

Pottia bryoides, Mitt. 2 

truncatula, Lind. 1-3 

intermedia, FUr. 2, 3 

minutula, FUr. 2, 3 
. lanceolata, C.M. 2 

Tortula rigida, Schrad. 2 

ambigua, Angst. 2, 3 

aloides, De Not. 2 

cuneifolia, Roth. 3 

marginata, Spr. 2, 3 

muralis, Hedw. 1-3 

ft. rupestris, Wils. 2, 3 
y. sestiva, Brid. 2 

subulata, Hedw. 1-3 

- mutica, Ldb. 2, 3 

- Izvipila, Schw. 3 

- intermedia, Berk, i, 2 

ruralis, Ehrh. 1-3 
Barbula lurida, Ldb. 2 

rubella, Mitt. 1-3 

ft. dentata, Braith. 2 
y. ruberrima, Braith. 2 

- tophacea, Mitt. 1-3 

fallax, Hedw. 1-3 

ft. brevifolia, Schultz. 2 

recurvifolia, Schp. i, 2 

- spadicea, Mitt. I, 2 

rigidula, Mitt. 2 

- cylindrica, Schp. 2, 3 

- vinealis, Brid. 2, 3 

sinuosa, Braith. 2 

- Hornschuchiana, Schultz. 2, 3 

- revoluta, Brid. 1-3 

- convoluta, Hedw. 2 

ft. Sardoa, B. & S. 2 

unguiculata, Hedw. 1-3 

ft. cuspidata, Braith. 2, 3 
8. obtusifolia, Shultz. 2 

Leptodontium flexifolium, Hampe. i, 2 

Weissia crispa, Mitt. 2 

- microstoma, C.M. 2, 3 

- tortilis, C.M. 2 

viridula, Hedw. 1-3 

y gymnostomoides, B. & S. 2 

mucronata, B. & S. 2 

- tenui, C.M. 2 

rupestris, C.M. 2 

ft. ramosissima, C.M. 2 

verticillata, Brid. 2 
Trichostomum crispulum, Bruch. 2 

mutabile, Bruch. 2 

y. cophocarpum, Schp. 2 

tenuirostre, Ldb. 2 

nitidum, Schp. 2 

tortuosum, Dixon. 2 
Cinclidotus Brebissoni, Husn. 3 

fontinaloides, P. B. 2, 3 
Encalypta vulgaris, Hedw. 2, 3 

. pilifera, Funck. 2 

y. obtusifolia, Funck. 2, 3 

streptocarpa, Hedw. 13 
Anaectangium compactum, Schwg. 2 



62 



BOTANY 



Zygodon viridissimus, R. Br. 2, 3 
ft. rupcstris, Ldb. 2 

Stirtoni, Schp. z 
Ulota crispa, Brid. 2 
Orthotrichum anomalum, Hcdw. 2 

/?. saxatile, Milde. 2 

cupulatum, HofFm. 2 

/?. nudum, Braith. 2 

leiocarpum, B. & S. 3 

affine, Schrad. 2, 3 

rivulare, Turn. 2, 3 

Sprucei, Mont. 3 

stramineum, Hornsch. 2 

diaphanum, Schrad. z, 3 
Schistostega osmundacea, Mohr. 2 
Splachnum ampullaceum, Linn. 2 
Ephemerum serratum, Hampe. 2 
Physcomitrella patens, B. & S. 2 
Physcomitrium sphaericum, Brid. 2 

pyriforme, Brid. 1-3 
Funaria fascicularis, Schp. 3 

ericetorum, Dixon. 3 

calcarea, Wahl. 3 

hygrometrica, Sibth. 1-3 

ft. calvescens, B. & S. 3 
Aulacomnium palustre, Schwg. 1-3 

- androgynum, Schwg. 1-3 
Bartramia pomiformis, Hedw. 2, 3 

ft. crispa, B. & S. 2 

- CEderi, Sw. 2 
Philonotis fontana, Brid. 1-3 

8. pumila, Dixon. 2 

- caespitosa, Wils. 1 , 2 

- calcarea, Schp. 2 
Breutelia arcuata, Schp. 2 
Orthodontium gracile, Schw. 2 
Leptobryum pyriforme, Wi!s. 2 
Webera elongata, Schw. 2 

cruda, Schw. 2 

nutans, Hedw. 1-3 

/3. longiseta, B. & S. 2 

annotina, Schw. 2 

carnea, Schp. 2, 3 

albicans, Schp. 2, 3 
Bryum pendulum, Schp. 2, 3 
lacustre, Brid. I, 2 

- inclinatum, Bland. I, 2 

- uliginosum, B. & S. 2 

- pallens, Sw. 2, 3 

turbinatum, Schw. 2 

- bimum, Schreb. 2 

pseudo-triquetrum, Schw. 2 

- affine, Ldb. 2 

- intermedium, Brid. 2 

casspiticium, Linn. 1-3 

capillare, Linn. 1-3 

y. macrocarpum, Hdbn. 2, 3 
t. flaccidum, B. & S. 2, 3 

erythrocarpum, Schw. 2 

atropurpureum, W. & M. 2, 3 

/?. gracilentum, Tayl. 2 

murale, Wils. 2 

- argentcum, Linn. 1-3 
/8. majus, B. & S. 2 
y. lanatum, B. & S. 3 

roseum, Schreb. 2 



Mnium cuspidatum, Hedw. 2 

affine, Bland. 2 

rostratum, Schrad. 2, 3 

undulatum, Linn. 1-3 

hornum, Linn. 1-3 

serratum, Schrad. 2 
- stellare, Reich. 2, 3 

punctatum, Linn. 2, 3 

/J. elatum, Schp. 2 

subglobosum, B. & S. 2, 3 
Fontinalis antipyretica, Linn. 1-3 

y. gracilis, Schp. 1-3 

dolosa, Card. 2 

squamosa, Linn. 2, 3 
Cryphaea heteromalla, Mohr. 3 
Neckera crispa, Hedw. 1-3 

ft. falcata, Boul. 2 

complanata, Htlbn. 2, 3 
Homalia trichomanoidcs, Brid. 2, 3 
Pterygophyllum lucens, Brid. 3 
Leucodon sciuroides, Schw. 2, 3 
Antitrichia curtipendula, Brid. I 
Porotrichum alopecurum, Mitt. 2, 3 
Leskea polycarpa, Ehrh. 1-3 

ft. paludosa, Schp. 2, 3 
Anomoden viticulosum, H. & T. 2 
Hcterocladium heteropterum, B. & S. 3 

p. fallax, Milde. 3 
Thuidium tamariscinum, B. & S. 1-3 

recognitum, Lindb. 2 
Climacium dendroides, W. & N. 2 
Isothecium myurum, Brid. 2, 3 

ft. robustum, B. & S. 2 
Pleuropus sericeus, Dixon. 1-3 
Camptothedum lutescens, B. & S. 2 
Ijr.ichythecium glareosum, B. &. S. 2, 3 

- albicans, B. & S. 2, 3 

salebrosum, B. & S. 3 

ft. palustre, Schp. 2, 3 

- rutabulum, B. & S. 1-3 

/3. robustum, Schp. 2, 3 
y. longisetum, B. & S. 2 

- rivulare, B. & S. 1-3 

8. chrysophyllum, Bagnall. 2 

velutinum, B. & S. 1-3 

- populeum, B. & S. 2, 3 

plumosum, B. & S. 13 

ft. homomallum, B. & S. I 

- caespitosum, Dixon. 2, 3 

- illecebrum, De Not. 2 

- purum, Dixon. 1-3 
Hyocomium flagellare, B. & S. 2 
Eurhynchium piliferum, B. & S. 2,3 

crassinervum, B. & S. 2 

praslongum, B. & S. 1-3 

J3. Stokesii, L. Cat. 2, 3 

- Swartzii, Hobk. 2, 3 

- pumilum, Schp. 2, 3 
Teesdalei, Schp. 3 

tenellum, Milde. 2, 3 

myosuroides, Schp. 1-3 

striatum, B. & S. 2, 3 

rusciforme, Milde. 1-3 

ft. prolixum, Brid. 2 
y. atlanticum, Brid. I 

murale, Milde. 1-3 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Eurhynchium murale, Milde. 

y. julaceum, Schp. 1-3 

confertum, Milde. 13 

megapolitana, Bland. 3 
Plagiothecium depressum, Dixon. ; 

- Borrerianum, Spruce. 2, 3 

denticulatum, B. & S. 1-3 

ft. aptychus, L. Cat. 2, 3 
t. laxum. 3 

sylvaticum, B. & S. 1-3 

undulatum, B. & S. 1-3 
Amblestegium confervoides, B. & S. 

- serpens, B. & S. 1-3 

ft. majus, Brid. 3 

- varium, Ldb. 2 

- irriguum, B. & S. 

fluviatile, B. & S. 

filicinum, De Not. 1-3 
Hypnum riparium, Linn. 1-3 

ft. longifolium, Schp. 2, 
y. splendens, De Not. 3 

- polygamum, Schp. 2, 3 

ft. stagnatum. 3 

- stellatum, Schrcb. 2 

ft. protensum, B. & S. 2 

- chrysophyllum, Brid. 2, ^ 

ft. erectum, Bagnall. 2 

- Sommerfeltii, Myr. 2 

- aduncum, Hedw. 2, 3 

ft. Knieffii, Schp. 2, 3 

fluitans, Linn. 1-3 

ft. submersum, Schpr. 2 
exannulatum, Gtimb. 2 



2 
2 



Hypnum uncinatum, Hedw. I, 2 

vernicosum, Ldb. 2 

revolvens, Sw. 13 

ft. Cossonii, Ren. I, 2 

commutatum, Hedw. 2, 3 

fulcatum, Brid. 2 

ft. gracilescens, Schp. 2 

cupressiforme, Linn. 13 

ft. resupinatum, Schp. 1-3 
y. filiforme, Brid. 2, 3 
8. minus, Wils. 2 
f. ericetorum, B. & S. z, 3 
r/. tectorum, Brid. 2, 3 
0. elatum, B. & S. 2, 3 

- Patienti*, Ldb. 2, 3 

- molluscum, Hedw. 1-3 

y. fastigiatum, Bosw. I, 3 

palustre, Linn. 1-3 

ft. hamulosum, B. & S. 2, 3 
y. subsphaericarpon, B. & S. 2 

- ochraceum, Turn. I, 2 

stramineum, Dicks, i, 2 

- cordifolium, Hedw. 2, 3 

- giganteum, Schp. 2 

- cuspidatum, Linn. 1-3 

- Schreberi, Willd. 1-3 
Hylocomium splendens, B. & S. 1-3 

- loreum, B. & S. 2, 3 

- squarrosum, B. & S. 1-3 

ft. calvescens, Hobk. 2, 3 

- triquetrum, B. & S. I -3 
rugosum, De Not. 2 



THE LIVERWORTS (Hefatica) 

The following list of the liverworts of Staffordshire is incomplete, 
for this interesting group of plants has been only studied incidentally. 
The natural features of the county are such as promise a much richer 
record ; the wide moorlands of the northern portion of the county will 
probably yield many species not recorded below, and the valleys of the 
Dove, the Manyfold and the Churnet have been only partially examined; 
these districts alone if fully explored should very materially increase the 
record. 

The total number here recorded is only 82 species and varieties, 
being little more than one-third of those recorded for Great Britain. 
The more rare of these are Lejeunia Mackaii, Kantia arguta, Scapania 
curia, Cephalozia lunulcefolia, Jungermania cordifolia and Fossombronia 
cristata. So little has been done in the study of this group of plants 
in the neighbouring counties as to render any attempt at a comparison 
of little real value. 



Frullania Tamarisci, L. 1-3 

dilatata, L. 1-3 
Lejeunea Mackaii, Hook. 2 

serpyllifolia, Dicks. 2, 3 
Radula complanata, L. 1-3 
Porella Izvigata, Schrad. 2 

platyphylla, L. 2, 3 



Blepharozia ciliaris, L. 2 
Trichocolea tomentella, Ehrh. 2, 3 
Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Dill. 3 
Lepidozia reptans, L. 2, 3 
setacea, Web. 2 
Bazzania trilobata, L. 2 
Kantia trichomanis, L. 2, 3 



64 



BOTANY 



Kantia arguta, Mart. 2 
Cephalozia lunulaefolia, Dum. 2 

bicuspidata, L. 1-3 

Lammersiana, Huben. 2 

connivens, Dicks. 2 

Sphagni, Dicks. 2 

divaricata, Sm. 2, 3 

var. byssacea, Roth. 2 

stellulifera, Tayl. 2 
Scapania resupinata, Dill. ; L. 2 

aequiloba, Schw. 2 

aspera, Mull. & Bern. 2 

nemorosa, L. 2, 3 

undulata, L. 2, 3 

irrigua, Nees. 2 

curta, Mart. 2 

umbrosa, Schrad. 2 
Diplophyllum albicans, L. 1-3 
Lophocolea bidentata, L. 1-3 

cuspidata, Limpr. 2 

heterophylla, Schrad. 1-3 
Chiloscyphus polyanthos, L. 1-3 

b. rivularis, Nees. 2 
Mylia Taylori, Hook. 2 

anomala, Hook. 
Plagiochila asplenioides, L. 2, 3 

c. minor, Carr. 3 
Jungermania cordifolia, Hook. 2 

pumila, With. 3 

riparia, Tayl. 3 

- inflata, Huds. 2, 3 

- turbinata, Raddi. 3 

- sphaerocarpa, Hook. 2 

exsecta, Schmid. 2 



Jungermania Flcerkii, Web. & Mohr. 2 

barbata, Schmid. 2 

Lyoni, Tayl. 2 

incisa, Schrad. 2 

capitata, Hook. 2 

bicrenata, Schmid. 2 

porphyroleuca, Nees. 2 

ventricosa, Dicks. 2, 3 

crenulata, Sm. 2 

- gracillima, Sm. 3 
Eucalyx hyalina, Lyell. 2 
Nardia scalaris, Schrad. 2, 3 

6. major, Carr. 2 
Saccogyna viticulosa, Mich. 3 
Fossombronia caespitiformis, De Not. 2 

pusilla, L. 2, 3 

- cristata, Lindb. 2 
Blasia pusilla, L. 2, 3 
Pcllia epiphylla, L. 2, 3 
calycina, Tayl. 3 
Aneura multifidia, L. 2 

sinuata, Dicks. 2, 3 

pinguis, L. 2, 3 
Metzgeria pubescens, Schrank. 2 

furcata, L. 2, 3 
Marchantia polymorpha, L. 2, 3, 
Conocephalus conicus, L. 2, 3 
Reboulia hemispherica, L. 2 
Lunularia cruciata, L. 2, 3 
Targionia hypophylla, L. 2 
Riccia glauca, L. 2, 3 

glaucescens, Carr. 2 
Anthoceros punctatus, L. z, 3 



THE LICHENS (Licbenes) 

The lichens are a large tribe of cryptogams intermediate between 
the alga? and the fungi, approaching the alga? through the gelatinous 
forms of the Collemacei and the fungi through the Ascomycetes, but they 
differ from the fungi in not deriving nourishment from the matrix on 
which they grow but from the atmosphere, in their slow growth, their 
perennial existence, and in the presence in their structure of the green 
algae-like bodies, the gonidia. The researches of Schwendener have 
shown that the lichens are true fungi, parasitical on unicellular alga?, the 
gonidia, which exist immediately beneath the cortical layer, being alga? 
forms allied to Nostoc, Chroolepus or Palmella. The lichens are found 
throughout the county in one or other form from the low-lying heath- 
lands of the south to the highest points of the north, but are abundant in 
the normal condition only where the atmospheric conditions are good 
and wholesome. Over a large portion of the colliery districts and the 
more smoky surroundings of the Potteries they do not fully develop, 
but exist in an abnormal state, forming dust-like or filamentous patches, 
usually greyish white or yellow, on walls, trees or rocks, and in this 
state will exist for an indefinite time, increasing as do the alga? by 
the division of their cells ; this condition was known to the older 
botanists by the pseudo-generic names of Lepraria, Variolaria^ etc. But 
1 65 9 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

in the more open districts, as on the high lands about Swithamly, 
Flash and Quanford the gritstone and limestone rocks are rich in such 
species as Placodium murorum, Coniocype furfuraceum, Gladina pungens, Pla- 
tysma triste and Alec toria jubata. In the Wetton valley and the beautiful 
valley of the Dove the rocks of mountain limestone form a congenial 
home for some of the rarer species, as Umbillkaria polyphila, Platysma 
g/auca, bright yellow patches of Lecidia geographica, Spbcerophoron coral- 
/oides, Squamaria crassa, Lecanora parella and Solorina saccata; over a great 
portion of the county the more conspicuous tree-loving species are singu- 
larly absent, and only rarely are the tree trunks beautified with the con- 
spicuous fronds of Ramalina fraxinea , R. fastigiata or Usnea barbate, 

In the rich woodland districts around Whitmore and Trentham the 
trees are clothed with grey patches of Parmelia puherulenta^ P. pbysodes 
and P. stellaris ; the old palings of some of the damp woods are coated 
with Lecanora candelaria, Usnea birta, Parmelia olivacea and P. parietina ; 
and the wild moorlands about Cannock and Norton, notwithstanding the 
proximity of large colliery workings, are still a home for many of the 
heath-loving species, as Cladonia pyxidata, C. cornucopioides, C. digitata, 
C. rangiferina and Cladina syhatica. The sandstone rocks of the country 
around Stone yield their special species, as Lecanora squamulosa, Placodium 
cal/opismum and Verrucaria rupestris, and on the smooth bark of the holly 
the lime and crab are the singular forms of Graphis scripta, G. e/egans, 
Arthonia astroidea, A. lurida, Opegrapba imlgata and O. atra. 

The following list is an incomplete record of the Staffordshire lichens 
compiled in part from Garner's Natural History of the County of Stafford 
and the writer's personal observations. 



Family I. COLLEMACEI 
Collema melaenum, Ach. 

crispum, Huds. 

cristatum, Hoffm. 

flacciclum, Ach. 

multipartitum, Sm. 

nigrescens, Huds. 
Leptogium lacerum, Ach. 

var. pulvinatum (Hoff.) 

fragrans, Sm. 

tremelloides, L. 

turgidum, Ach. 

Schraderi, Bernh. 

Family II. LICHENACEI 
Sphinctrina turbinata, Pers. 

anglica, Nyl. 
Calcium trichiale, Ach. 

var. ferrugineum (Borr.) 

hyperellum, Ach. 

trachelinum, Ach. 

quercinum, Pers. 

curtum, Borr. 
Coniocybe furfuracea, Ach. 
Trachylia tigillaris, Fr. 

tympanclla, Fr. 
Sphaerophoron coralloides, Pers. 



66 



Sphaerophoron fragile, Pers. 
Baeomyces rufus, DC. 

icmadophilus, Ehrh. 
Cladonia pungens, Flk. 

cervicornis, Schaer. 

delicata, Flk. 

var. subsquamosa (Nyl.) 

alcicornis, Flk. 

pyxidata, Fr. 

var. fimbriata (Hoffm.) 

gracilis, Hoffm. 

furcata, Hoffm. 

squamosa, Hoffm. 

cornucopioides, Fr. 

deformis, Hoffm. 

var. macilenta (Hoffrn.) 
var. polydactyla (Flk.) 
Cladina sylvatica, Hoffm. 

rangiferina, Hoffm. 

uncialis, Hoffm. 
Stereocaulon pascliale, Ach. 

denudatum, Flk. 
Usnea barbata, L. 

var. florida (L.) 
var. hirta (L.) 
var. plicata (L.) 



BOTANY 



Alectoria jubata, L. 

lanata, L. 

Evernia furfuracea, Mann. 

prunastri, L. 
Ramalina calicaris, Hoffm. 

farinacea, L. 

fraxinea, L. 

fastigiata, Pers. 

evcrnioides, Nyl. 
Cetraria aculeata, Fr. 
Platysma triste, Web. 

diffusum, Web. 

glaucum, L. 

Nephromium lusitanicum, Schaer. 
Peltigera canina, L. 

rufescens, Hoffm. 

spuria, Ach. 

horizontalis, L. 
Solorina saccata, L. 
Stictina scrobiculata, Scop. 
Sticta pulmonaria, Ach. 
Ricasolia amplissima, Scop. 
Parmelia caperata, L. 

olivacea, L. 

physodes, L. 

ambigua, Wulf. 

perlata, L. 

pertusa, Schrank. 

tiliacea, Ach. 

Borreri, Turn. 

fuliginosa, Dub. 

perforata, Wulf. 

conspersa, Ehrh. 

acetabulum, Neck. 

saxatilis, L. 

var. omphalodes (L.) 
Physcia flavicans, Sw. 

parietina, L. 

var. lychnea (Ach.) 
var. polycarpa (Ehrh.) 

ciliaris, L. 

pulverulenta, Schreb. 

/. pityrea (Ach.) 

obscura, Ehrh. 

stellaris, L. 

var. tenella (Scop.) 
var. cassia (Hoffm.) 
Umbilicaria pustulata, Hoffm. 

polyphylla, L. 

f. congregata (T. & B.) 

flocculosa, Wulf. 

erosa, Ach. 

polyrhiza, L. 
Psoroma hypnorum, Vahl. 
Pannaria pezizoides, Web. 

nigra, Huds. 
Amphiloma lanuginosum, Ach. 
Squamaria crassa, Huds. 

saxicola, Poll. 
Placodium murorum, Hoffm. 



Placodium callopisum, Ach. 

citrinum, Ach. 

candicans, Dicks. 
Lecanora vitellina, Ach. 
candelaria, Ach. 

glaucocarpa/ pruinosa (Ach.) 

squamulosa, Schrad. 

fuscata, Schrad. 

tartarea, L. 

varia, Ehrh. 

atra, Huds. 

sulphurea, Hoffm. 

symmicta, Ach. 

lutescens, DC. 

subfusca, L. 

galactina, Ach. 

calcarea, L. 

f. HofFmanni (Ach.) 

Dicksonii, Ach. 

badia, Ach. 

parella, L. 

f. pallescens (L.) 

rupestris, Scop. 

/. calva (Dicks.) 

glaucoma, Hoffm. 
- albella, Pers. 

aurantiaca, Lightf. 
ochracea, Schaer. 
- ferruginea, Huds. 

cerina, Ehrh. 

arenaria, Pers. 

sophodes, Ach. 

f. exigua (Ach.) 

haematomma, Ehrh. 

ventosa, L. 
Pertusaria dealbata, Ach. 

communis, DC. 

f. rupestris (DC.) 

fallax, Pers. 

globulifera, Turn. 

leioplaca, Ach. 
Phlyctis agelaea, Ach. 

argena, Ach. 
Thelotrema lepadinum, Ach. 
Urceolaria scruposa, L. 
Lecidea ostreata, Hoffm. 

fuliginosa, Tayl. 

dispansa, Nyl. 

lucida, Ach. 

flexuosa, Fries 

f. aeruginosa (Borr.) 

decolorans, Flk. 

vernalis, L. 

atrofusca, Hepp. 

dubia, Borr. 

quernea, Dicks. 

viridescens, Schrad. 

sanguinaria, L. 

parasema, Ach. 

var. elzochroma (Ach.) 



67 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Lecidea uliginosa, Schrad. 

coarctata, Sm. 

rivulosa, Ach. 

contigua, Fr. 

f. leprosa (Leight.) 
f. flavicunda (Ach.) 

calcivora, Ehrh. 

canescens, Dicks. 

myriocarpa, DC. 

alocizoides, Leight. 

chalybeia, Borr. 

grossa, Pers. 

caeruleonigricans, Light. 

denigrata, Fr. 

tricolor, With. 

Ehrhartiana, Ach. 

diluta, Pers. 

Caradocensis, Leight. 

- incompta, Borr. 

- alboatra, Hoffm. 

f. epipolia (Ach.) 

- aromatica, Sm. 

- carneo-lutea, Turn. 

- umbrina, Ach. 

pachycarpa, Dur. 

- milliaria, Fr. 

- sabuletorum, Flk. 

- premnea, Ach. 

- carneola, Ach. 

- endoleuca, Nyl. 

rubella, Ehrh. 

geographica, L. 

- petrza, Wulf. 

- concentrica, Dav. 

- cupularis, Ehrh. 

- trucigena, Ach. 

- Parmeliarum, Smrf. 

- parasitica, Flk. 



Opegrapha herpetica, Ach. 
/. rubella (Pers.) 
/. rufescens (Pers.) 

atra, Pers. 

Turneri, Leight. 

varia, Pers. 

/. notha (Ach.) 
f. diaphora (Ach.) 

vulgata, Ach. 

Leightonii, Crombie 

lyncea, Sm. 
Stigmatidium crassum, Dub. 
Arthonia lurida, Ach. 

astroidea, Ach. 

Swartziana, Ach. 

pruinosa, Ach. 
Graphis elegans, Sm. 

scripta, Ach. 

var. serpentina (Ach.) 
var. pulverulenta (Ach.) 

inusta, Ach. 

sophistica, Nyl. 
Endocarpon miniatum, L. 

hepaticum, Ach. 
Verrucaria epigea, Ach. 

Dufourei, DC. 

nigrescens, Pers. 

glaucina, Ach. 

- viridula, Schrad. 

rupestris, Schrad. 

conoidea, Fries 

gemmata, Ach. 

epidermidis, Ach. 

- biformis, Borr. 

- chlorotica, Ach. 

f. trachona (Tay.) 

nitida, Weig. 



THE FRESHWATER ALG^ 

The freshwater algas are universally distributed and are to be 
found in every situation where moisture exists, amid the most deleterious 
surroundings or where the atmospheric conditions are good and health- 
ful ; ' on damp walls and palings, on soil heaps, damp earth, pathways, 
roadsides ; on wet rocks, stones in streams, in every ditch and water- 
course ; in canals, ponds, and attached to the various aquatic plants 
therein, in puddles, and the hoof holes of cattle in boggy places,' etc. 
The green dust-like growth on tree trunks, palings and old walls is one 
of the lower forms of alga?, Pleurococcus vu/garis ; in nearly every ditch 
one or other species of Vaucheria may be found ; old canals are frequently 
covered with the yellowish green masses of Enteromorpba intestinalis, and 
many of the old clay holes in the coal districts are rich in species of 
Nostoc and Conferva. The bogs, pools and watercourses of the Cannock 
district yield many of the more rare and beautiful species, as Chcetophora 

68 



BOTANY 

elegans, C. endivtefolia, or the elegant fronds of Drapardnaldia plumosa, the 
tufts of sphagnum rich gatherings of Desmids. The hoof holes formed 
in the marshy heathland are usually rich in Micrasterias, Euastrum and 
Straurastrum, and in some of the clear pools the beautiful Vohox globata 
may be found in abundance. On wet rocks in the Dove dale Glceocystis 
botryoides, Nostoc pruniforme and Chroolepus aureus have been found, and 
in the Dove and other rapid streams of that district the gelatinous masses 
of Batrachospermum moniliforme and B. atrum are sometimes abundant. 

The following list of freshwater algas has been compiled partly from 
Garner's Natural History of Staffordshire, from the Proceedings of the 
Birmingham Natural History Society and from the writer's observations. 



Ord. I. COCCOPHTCE&. 
I. PALMELLACE^: 

Pleurococcus vulgaris, Menegh 
Gleocystis botryoides, Kutz 
Palmella hyalina, Breb. 
Porphyridium cruentum, Nag. 
Botrydina vulgaris, Breb. 
Tetraspora bullosa, Ag. 

lubrica, Ag. 
Botryococcus Braunii, Kutz 
Apiocystis Brauniana, Nag. 

II. PROTOCOCCACE^: 

Protococcos viridis, Cohn 
Scenedesmusquadricaudatus, Br6b. 
Pediastrum angulosum, Ehr. 

Boryanum, Turp. 

III. VOLVOCINE^E 

Chlamydococcus pluvialis, A. Braun 
Volvox globator, L. 
Pandorinum morum, Ehr. 
Gonium pectorale, Mtill. 

Ord. II. ZTGOPHTCE& 
IV. DESMIDIE^ 

Desmidium Swartzii, Ktitz 
Closterium lunula, Mull. 

Dianas, Ehr. 

juncidum, Ralfs. 

rostratum, Ehr. 
Penium digitus (Ehr.), Ralfs. 
Tetmemorus Brebissonii, Ralfs. 
Micrasterias rotata, Ralfs. 

denticulata, Br6b. 

truncata, Corda 

papillifera, Breb. 
Euastrum verrucosum, Ehr. 

- oblongum, Ehr. 

- didelta, Turp. 

insigne, Hass. 

elegans, Ehr. 
Cosmarium pyramidatum, Bre'b. 



Cosmarium Meneghinii, Ralfs. 

undulatum, Cor. 

Brebissonii, Meneg. 

botrytis, Bory. 

biretum, Breb. 
Xanthidium cristatum, Ralfs. 
Arthrodesmus incus, Breb. 
Straurastrum dejectum, Ralfs. 

polymorphum, Br6b. 

orbiculare, Ralfs. 

- punctulatum, Breb. 

- hirsutum 

V. ZYGNEMACE/E 

Zygnema cruciata, Vauch. 
Spirogyra nitida, Dillwyn 

condensata, Vauch. 

flavescens (Hass.), Cleve. 

longata, Vauch. 

porticalis v. quinina, Ag. 
Zygogonium ericetorum v. terrestris, De 

Bary 
Mesocarpus scalaris, Hass. 

Ord. III. SIPHOPHTCE& 
VI. BOTRYDIACE^: 

Botrydium granulatum, L. 

VII. VAUCHERIACE^: 

Vaucheria Dillwynii, Ag. 

terrestris, Lyngb. 

sessilis, Vauch. 

geminata, Vauch. 

Ord. IV. NEMATOPHTCE& 
VIII. ULVACE^E 

Prasiola crispa, Kutz 
Enteromorpha intestinalis, Link. 

IX. CONFERVACE^: 

Conferva bombycina, Ag. 
Cladophora crispata, Roth. 

glomerata, L. (Dillw.) 



69 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

X. CEDOGONIACE^ Nostoc commune, Vauch. 

Bulbochaete setigera, Ag. csruleum, Lyng. 

verrucosum. Vauch. 
XL ULOTRICHE^E 

Schizogonium murale, Kdtz XVI. LYNGBY^E 

XII. CHROOLEPIDE^E Oscillaria tenuis, Ag. 

Chroolepus aureus (L.), KUtz ~ 1'mosa, Ag. 

nigra, Vauch. 
XIII. CH^TOPHORACE^: Lyngbia ochracea, Thur. 

Stigeoclonium nanum (Dillw.), Kdtz 

Draparnaldia glomerata, Ag. XVIII. CALOTRICHE^ 

- plumosa (Vauch.), Ag. Gloiotrichia natans, Thur. 

Chastophora pisirormis, Ag. 

BATRACHOSPERME ^ 



aendivxfolia, Ag. Batrachospermum moniliforme, Roth. 

CLASS II. PHYCOCHROMOPHYCE^: 
Ord. II. NEMATOGENEJE 

XV. NOSTOCE^ XXII. LEMANEACE^E 

Nostoc muscorum, Ag. Lemanea fluviatilis, Ag. 

THE FUNGI 

The following list of the fungi of Staffordshire is in no way a 
complete one ; the county has not been exhaustively examined from 
a botanical point of view. Many of the districts, such as the extensive 
woodlands about Trentham, Swinnerton and Maer, have yielded a rich 
fungus flora, among others Polyporus hispidus, P. abietinus^ P. frondosa y 
P. annosus, the esculent Boletus edulis and Fistulina bepatica, and in 
some of these woods Boletus subtomentosus and B. Jfavus are abundant, 
and in places where the soil has been burnt and on the dried twigs 
abundance of the singular Hydnum membranaceum has been seen. The 
esculent Cantbarellus cibarius is sometimes abundant in the woods, on 
the heathy lands the beautiful C. aurantiacus, and in boggy places near 
Betley C. lobatus. In many of these woodlands the beautiful but fetid 
Phallus impudicus is frequent, and in those of Swinnerton the rarer and 
less fetid Cyanophallus caninus has been found. In the district around 
Blymhill many rare species have been recorded in the long past, as 
Cortinarius vio/aceus, C. gentilis, Lactarius torminosus and the edible L. 
deliciosus, and frequently throughout the county the fairy ring fungus 
(Marasmius oreades], is abundant. In the limestone districts of the Wetton 
valley some of the rarer species of Peziza are found, the common 
morel (Morcbella esculenta), Helvetia crispa, 'Thelepbora canina and Boletus 
asper ; but to localize even a tithe of the more interesting species would 
occupy too much space ; all at present known to the writer are recorded 
below. 

The nomenclature is that of Fries' Hymenomycete JLuropcea^ and 
Berkley's Outlines of British Fungology ; the authorities quoted are Garner's 
Natural History of 'Staffordshire ; The Reports and Transactions of the North 
Staffordshire and Archaological Society and the writer. 

70 



BOTANY 



Family. I. HYMENOMYCETES 
Genus I. AGARICUS, L. 
Sub-genus I. AMANITA, Fr. 

Agaricus phalloides, F. 
var. vernus (Bull.) 

mappa, Fr. 

muscarius, L. 

pantherinus, DC. 

rubescens, Pers. 

nitidus, Fr. 

asper, Fr. 

vaginatus, Bull. 

strangulatus, Fr. 

Sub-genus II. LEPIOTA, Fr. 

Agaricus procerus, Scop. 

rachodes, Vitt. 

- clypeolarius, Bull. 

carcharius, Pers. 

granulosus, Batsch. 

amianthinus, Scop. 

Sub-genus III. ARMILLARIA, Fr. 
Agaricus melleus, Vahl. 

Sub-genus IV. TRICHOLOMA, Fr. 

Agaricus sejunctus, Sow. 

albo-brunneus, Pers. 

rutilans, Schseff. 

luridus, Schzff. 

columbetta, Fr. 

scalpturatus, Fr. 

- imbricatus, Fr. 

- vaccinus, Pers. 

terreus, Schaeff. 

saponaceus, Fr. 

cuneifolius, Fr. 

virgatus, Fr. 

borealis, Fr. 

personatus, Fr. 

nudus, Bull. 

grammopodius, Bull. 

melaleucus, Pers. 

brevipes, Bull. 

Sub-genus V. CLITOCYBE, Fr. 

Agaricus nebularis, Batsch. 

clavipes, Pers. 

odorus, Bull. 

phyllophilus, Fr. 

pithyophilus, Fr. 

candicans, Pers. 

dealbatus, Sow. 

gallinaceus, Scop. 

giganteus, Fr. 

infundibuliformis, Schaeff. 

geotropus, Bull. 

inversus, Scop. 



Agaricus tuba, Fr. 

cyathiformis, Fr. 

brumalis, Fr. 

metachrous, Fr. 

ditopus, Fr. 

fragrans, Sow. 

laccatus, Scop. 

var. amethystinus, Bolt. 

Sub-genus VI. COU.YBIA, Fr. 

Agaricus radicatus, Relhan. 

platyphyllus, Fr. 

maculatus, A. & S. 

fusipes, Bull. 

butyraceus, Bull. 

velutipes, Curt. 

vertirugis, Cooke 

confluens, Pers. 

conigenus, Pers. 

cirrhatus, Schum. 

tuberosus, Bull. 

collinus, Scop. 

dryophilus, Bull. 

rancidus, Fr. 

Sub-genus VII. MVCENA, Fr. 

Agaricus purus, Pers. 

pseudo-purus, Cooke 

flavo-albus, Fr. 

galericulatus, Scop. 

var. calopus, Fr. 

polygrammus, Bull. 

ammoniacus, Fr. 

metatus, Fr. 

tenuis, Bolt. 

filopes, Bull. 

amictus, Fr. 

vitilis, Fr. 

acicula, Schaeff. 

sanguinolentus, A. & S. 

galopus, Pers. 

leucogalus, Cooke 

epipterygius, Scop. 

tenerrimus, Berk. 

electicus, Buckn. 

corticola, Schum. 

Sub-genus VIII. OMPHALIA, Fr. 

Agaricus sphagnicola, Berk. 

hepaticus, Batsch. 

umbelliferus, Linn. 

stellatus, Fr. 

fibula, Bull. 

Sub-genus IX. PLEUROTUS, Fr. 

Agaricus corticatus, Fr. 

dryinus, Pers. 

ulmarius, Bull. 

fimbriatus, Bolt. 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Agaricus ostreatus, Jacq. 

salignus, Fr. 

acerosus, Fr. 

applicatus, Batsch. 

chioneus, Pers. 

Sub-genus X. VOL v ARIA, Fr. 



Agaricus speciosus, Fr. 

parvulus, Weinm. 

Sub-genus XI. PLUTEUS, Fr. 

Agaricus cervinus, SchaefF. 

nanus, Pers. 

chrysophaeus, Schaeff. 

phlebophorus, Dittm. 

Sub-genus XII. ENTOLOMA, Fr. 

Agaricus sinuatus, Fr. 

prunuloides, Fr. 

jubatus, Fr. 

sericellus, Fr. 

clypeatus, Linn. 

rhodopolius, Fr. 

sericeus, Bull. 

nidorosus, Fr. 

Sub-genus XIII. CUTOPII.US, Fr. 

Agaricus prunulus, Scop. 

cancrinus, Fr. 

Sub-genus XIV. LEPTONIA, Fr. 

Agaricus lampropus, Fr. 

euchrous, Pers. 

chalybaeus, Pers. 

incanus, Fr. 

Sub-genus XV. NOLANEA, Fr. 

Agaricus pascuus, Pers. 

pisciodorus, Ces. 

Sub-genus XVI. CLAUDOPUS, Fr. 
Agaricus variabilis, Pers. 

Sub-genus XVII. PHOLIOTA, Fr. 

Agaricus durus, Bolt. 

radicosus, Bull. 

heteroclitus, Fr. 

aurivellus, Batsch. 

squarrosus, Mull. 

spectabilis, Fr. 

adiposus, Fr. 

mutabilis, SchaefF. 

Sub-genus XVIII. INOCYBE, Fr. 

Agaricus lanuginosus, Bull. 

scaber, Mall. 

fiocculosus, Berk. 

rimosus, Bull. 

asterosporus, Quel. 

eutheles, B. & Br. 



Agaricus geophyllus, Sow. 

Sub-genus XIX. HEBELOMA, Fr. 

Agaricus fastibilis, Fr. 

testaceus, Batsch. 

versipellis, Fr. 

mesophaeus, Fr. 

sinapizans, Fr. 

crustuliniformis, Bull. 

Sub-genus XX. FLAMMULA, Fr. 

Agaricus lentus, Pers. 

flavidus, SchaefF. 

inopus, Fr. 

sapineus, Fr. 

Sub-genus XXI. NAUCORIA, Fr. 

Agaricus melinoides, Fr. 

striae pes, Cooke 

sideroides, Bull. 

ped fades, Fr. 

semiorbicularis, Bull. 

conspersus, Pers. 

escharoides, Fr. 

Sub-genus XXII. GALERA, Fr. 

Agaricus lateritius, Fr. 
- tener, SchaefF. 

hypnorum, Batsch. 

mycenopsis (Fr.) 

Sub-genus XXIII. TUBARIA, Fr. 
Agaricus furfuraceus, Pers. 

Sub-genus XXIV. CREPIDOTUS, Fr, 

Agaricus alveolus, Lasch. 

mollis, Schaeff. 

Sub-genus XXV. PSALLIOTA, Fr. 

Agaricus arvensis, SchaefF. 

campestris, Linn. 

Sub-genus XXVI. STROPHARIA, Fr. 

Agaricus aeruginosa, Curt. 

albo-cyaneus, Desm. 

squamosus, Fr. 

stercorarius, Fr. 

semiglobatus, Batsch. 

Sub-genus XXVII. HYPHOLOMA, Fr. 

Agaricus sublateritius, Fr. 

fascicularis, Huds. 

lacrymabundus, Fr. 

velutinus, Fr. 

Candolleanus, Fr. 

appendiculatus, Bull. 

hydrophilus, Bull. 



BOTANY 



Sub-genus XXVIII. PSILOSYBE, Fr. 

Agaricus ericaeus, Pers. 

udus, Pers. 

semilanceatus, Fr. 

spadiceus, Fr. 

foenisecii, Pers. 

Sub-genus XXIX. PSATHYRA, Pers. 
Agaricus mastiger, B & Br. 

corrugis, Pers. 

spadiceogriseus, SchaefF. 

pennatus, Fr. 

Sub-genus XXX. PANJEOLUS, Fr. 
Agaricus separatus, Linn. 

- leucophanes, B. & Br. 

fimiputris, Bull. 

retirugis, Fr. 

campanulatus, Linn. 

papilionaceus, Fr. 

acuminatus, Fr. 

Sub-genus XXXI. PSATHYRELLA, Fr. 

Agaricus gracilis, Fr. 

pronus, Fr. 

- atomatus, Fr. 

disseminatus, Fr. 

Genus III. COPRINUS, Fr. 

Coprinus comatus, Fr. 

ovatus, Fr. 

atramentarius, Fr. 

fimetarius, Fr. 

var. cinereus (SchaefF.) 

tomentosus, Fr. 

niveus, Fr. 

micaceus, Fr. 

deliquescens, Fr. 

congregatus, Fr. 

domesticus, Fr. 

lagopus, Fr. 

ephemerus, Fr. 

plicatilis, Curt. 

Genus IV. BOLBITIUS, Fr. 

Bolbitius titubans, Fr. 

fragilis, Fr. 

Genus V. CORTINARIUS, Fr. 

(Phlegmacium) varius, Fr. 

anfractus, Fr. 

multiformis, Fr. 

purpurascens, Fr. 
(Myxacium) collinitus, Fr. 

elatior, Fr. 

delibutus, Fr. 
(Inoloma) violaceus, Fr. 

pholideus, Fr. 
(Dermocybe) ochroleucus, SchaefF. 

decumbens, Pers. 



73 



(Dermocybe) tabularis, Fr. 

caninus, Fr. 

anomalus, Fr. 

sanguineus, Fr. 

cinnamomeus, Fr. 
(Telamonia) bulbosus, Sow. 

torvus, Fr. 

hinnuleus, Fr. 

gentilis, Fr. 

brunneus, Fr. 

rigidus, Scop. 
(Hydrocybe) castaneus, Bull. 

leucopus, Bull. 

decipiens, Pers. 

Genus VI. GOMPHIDIUS, Fr. 

Gomphidius glutinosus, Fr. 

viscidus, Fr. 

gracilis, B. & Br. 

Genus VII. PAXILLUS, Fr. 
Paxillus involutus, Fr. 

Genus VIII. HYGROPHORUS, Fr. 

(Limacium) eburneus, Fr. 

hypothejus, Fr. 
(Camarophyllus) pratensis, Fr. 

virgineus, Fr. 
(Hygrocybye) laetus, Pers. 

ceraceus, Wulf. 

- coccineus, SchaefF. 

- miniatus, Fr. 

- puniceus, Fr. 

- conicus, Fr. 

chlorophanus, Fr. 

psittacinus, SchaefF. 

unguinosus, Fr. 

Genus IX. LACTARIUS, Fr. 

(Piperites) torminosus, Fr. 

cilicioides, Fr. 

- turpis, Fr. 

controversus, Fr. 

insulsus, Fr. 

utilis, Wcinm. 

- blennius, Fr. 
- hysginus, Fr. 

- uvidus, Fr. 

pyrogalus, Bull. 

pergamenus, Fr. 

vellereus, Fr. 
(Dapetes) deliciosus, Lim. 
(Russulares) pallidus, Pers. 

quietus, Fr. 

rufus, Scop. 

glyciosmus, Fr. 

serifluus, De Cand. 

subdulcis, Bull. 

mitissimus, Fr. 

camphoratus, Bull. 

10 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Genus X. RUSSULA, Pers. 
Russula nigricans, Fr. 

adusta, Fr. 

furcata, Fr. 

depallens, Fr. 

drimeia, Cooke 

virescens, SchaefF. 

rubra, Fr. ^ 

vesca, Fr. 

cyanoxantha, Fr. 

consobrina, Fr. 

var. sororia (Fr.) 

foetens, Fr. 
- fellea, Fr. 

emetica, Fr. 

ochroleuca, Fr. 

citrina, Gillet 

fragilis, Fr. 

var. violacea (Quillet) 

decolorans, Fr. 

aurata, Fr. 

alutacea, Fr. 

lutea, Fr. 

Genus XI. CANTHARELLUS, Adans. 

Cantharellus cibarius, Fr. 

aurantiacus, Fr. 

lobatus, Fr. 

Genus XII. NYCTALUS, Fr. 
Nyctalis parasitica, Fr. 

Genus XIII. MARASMIUS, Fr. 

Marasmius urens, Fr. 

peronatus, Fr. 

oreades, Fr. 

- fusco-purpureus, Pers. 

rotula, Fr. 

androsaceus, Fr. 

epiphyllus, Fr. 

Genus XIV. LENTINUS, Fr. 
Lentinus tigrinus, Fr. 

cochleatus, Fr. 

Genus XV. PANUS 

Panus torulosus, Fr. 

stypticus, Fr. 

Genus XVII. LENZITES, Fr. 

Lenzites betulinus, Fr. 

saepiaria, Fr. 

Ord. II. POLTPOREI 
Genus XVIII. BOLETUS, Dill. 
Boletus luteus, Linn. 

elegans, Schum. 

flavus, With. 

granulatus, Linn. 

bovinus, Linn. 



Boletus badius, Fr. 

piperatus, Bull. 

striaepee, Seer. 

chrysenteron, Fr. 

subtomentosus, Linn. 

parasiticus, Bull. 

pachypus, Fr. 

edulis, Bull. 

impolitus, Fr. 

luridus, SchaefF. 

laricinus, Berk. 

scaber, Fr. 

castaneus, Bull. 

Genus XIX. FISTULINA, Bull. 
Fistulina hepatica, Fr. 

Genus XX. POLYPORUS, Fr. 
Polyporus leptocephalus, Fr. 

rufescens, Fr. 

perennis, Fr. 

squamosus, Fr. 

varius, Fr. 

frondosus, Fr. 

intybaceus, Fr. 

cristatus, Fr. 

giganteus, Fr. 

sulphureus, Fr. 

nidulans, Fr. 

fumosus, Fr. 

hispidus, Fr. 

dryad eus, Fr. 

betulinus, Fr. 

fomentarius, Fr. 

igniarius, Fr. 

conchatus, Fr. 

ulmarius, Fr. 

annosus, Fr. 

radiatus, Fr. 

versicolor, Fr. 

abietinus, Fr. 

sanguinolentus, Fr. 

Genus XXI. TRAMETES, Fr. 

Trametes gibbosa, Fr. 

serpens, Fr. 

Genus XXII. D/EDALEA, Fr 

Daedalea quercina, Pers. 

unicolor, Fr. 

Genus XXIII. MERULIUS, Fr. 

Merulius corium, Fr. 

lachrymans, Fr. 

Ord. III. HTDNEI 
Genus XXV. HYDNUM, Linn. 

Hydnum repandum, Linn. 

auriscalpium, Linn. 

ferruginosum, Fr. 



74 



BOTANY 






Hydnum udum, Fr. 

niveum, Pers. 

farinaceum, Pers. 

Genus XXX. PHLEBIA, Fr. 
Phlebia merismoides, Fr. 

Genus XXXI. GRANDINIA, Fr. 
Grandinia granulosa, Fr. 

Ord. IV. THELEPHOREI 
Genus XXXIV. CRATERELLUS, Fr. 
Craterellus cornucopioides, Fr. 
Genus XXXV. THELEPHORA, Ehrh. 
Thelephora laciniata, Pers. 

Genus XXXVI. STEREUM, Fr. 

Stereum purpureum, Fr. 

hirsutum, Fr. 

spadiceum, Fr. 

sanguinolentum, Fr. 

Genus XXXVII. HYMENOCH^TE, 

Lev. 

Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Lev. 

corrugata, Berk. 

Genus XXXVIII. AURICULARIA, 

Bull. 
Auricularia mesenterica, Fr. 

Genus XXXIX. CORTICIUM, Fr. 

Corticium evolvens, Fr. 

giganteum, Fr. 

heve, Fr. 

sanguineum, Fr. 

quercinum, Fr. 

cinereum, Fr. 

incarnatum, Fr. 

nudum, Fr. 

aridum, Fr. 

sambuci, Fr. 

Genus XL. CYPHELLA, Fr. 
Cyphella capula, Fr. 

Ord. V. CLAVARIEI 
Genus XLI. CLAVARIA, Linn. 

Clavaria fastlgiata, Linn. 

coralloides, Linn. 

cinerea, Bull. 

cristata, Pers. 

rugosa, Bull. 

flaccida, Fr. 

stricta, Pers. 



Clavaria inequalis, Fl. Dan. 

vermicularis, Scop. 

fragilis, Holmsk. 

pistillaris, Linn. 

Genus XLII. CALOCERA, Fr. 

Calocera viscosa, Fr. 

cornea, Fr. 

Genus XLIV. PISTILLARIA, Fr. 
Pistillaria quisquiliaris, Fr. 

Ord. VI. TREMELLIN1 
Genus XLV. TREMELLA, Fr. 

Tremella foliacea, Pers. 

mesenterica, Retz. 

albida, Huds. 

Genus XLVI. EXIDIA, Fr. 
Exidia glandulosa, Fr. 

Genus XLVII. HIRNEOLA, Fr. 
Hirneola Auricula-Juda?, Berk. 

Genus XLIX. DACRYMYCES, Nees 
Dacrymyces stillatus, Nees 

Family II. GASTEROMYCETES 

Ord. VIII. PHALLOIDEI 
Genus LIX. PHALLUS, Linn. 
Phallus impudicus, Linn. 

Genus LX. CYNOPHALLUS, Fr. 
Cynophallus caninus, Fr. 

Ord. IX. TRICHOGASTRES 
Genus LXIV. GEASTER, Mich. 

Geaster fornicatus, Fr. 

fimbriatus, Fr. 

Genus LXV. BOVISTA, Dill. 

Bovista nigrescens, Pers. 

plumbea, Pers. 

Genus LX VI. LYCOPERDON,Tourn. 

Lycoperdon giganteum, Batsch. 

cselatum, Fr. 

gemmatum, Fr. 

pyriforme, Schzff. 

Genus LXVII. SCLERODERMA,Pers. 

Scleroderma vulgare, Fr. 

verrucosum, Pers. 

Geaster, Fr. 



75 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



ADDENDA 

Since the above has been printed the following species have been 
recorded for the county : 

PLANTAGINEAE EMPETRACEAE 

Plantago major, L. 1-5 Empetrum nigrum, L. 1-3 

media, L. 2-4 

- lanceolata, L. 1-5 

coronopus, L. 2-4 
Littorella juncea, Berg. 2, 3 



76 






ZOOLOGY 

MOLLUSCS 



With the exception of the limestone patches in the extreme north 
and south of the county, the soil of Staffordshire is not favourable to 
molluscan life, consequently the greater number of the land shells are 
recorded from those calcareous districts. The larger Helices cannot be 
called abundant in any part of the county, and are most numerous along 
roadsides and in gardens, suggesting their comparatively late incursion 
into the area. The aquatic species on the other hand are abundant, and 
some forms such as Dreissensia appear to be extending their range. 

Altogether ninety-three species have been recorded for the county, 
exclusive of the following, due mostly to errors of identification, viz. 
Pupa seca/e, Glausilia biplicata, Succlnea oblonga, Amphipeplea glutinosa, 
Planorbis hneatus, Viiiipara contecta and Pisidium mtidum, as well as 
Helicella virgafa and H. cantiana ; the two last are however represented 
by colonies introduced, the former at Wren's Nest in 1887 and the 
latter at Sedgley in 1886. 

An introduction from abroad of some note is Physa beterostropha, 
Say, an American species that has recently been taken in a millpond 
fed by the Tame at Wood Green, Wednesbury. 

The whole assemblage is of the average British facies, with the 
interesting addition of Acanthinula lamellata, which till lately was 
thought to attain its southernmost present day range in this county, 
though formerly it lived quite down in the south of England ; recently 
however it has been ascertained that it occurs close to Reading. 

The principal records are those of Robert Garner, 1 Edwin Brown, 3 
J. R. B. Masefield 3 and G. Sherriff Tye. 4 

A. GASTROPODA 

I. PULMONATA Limax maximus, Linn. 

flavus. Linn. Cheadle ; Stone ; Stafford 
a. STYLOMMATOPHORA _ arhorum ^ Bouch.-Chant. 

Testacella ha/iotidea, Drap. Hanchurch near Agriollmax agrestis (Linn.) 
Trentham - Itevit (Mull.) 

1 Natural History of the County of Stafford ( 1 844). 

2 In Sir O. Moseley's Naturat History of Tutbury (1863). 

3 ' The Land and Freshwater Mollusca of North Staffordshire,' Trans. North Sta/s field Club, vol. 
xxxvi. (1902). 

4 'Mollusca of Birmingham and neighbourhood, Journ. Conch. (1874), i. 57, 68. 

77 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



Amalia iawerbii (Fir.) Garden of the Old 
Hall, Stone. ? Introduced 

gagates (Drap.) Two specimens near 

Stafford. ? Introduced 
Vitrina pellucida (Mull.) 
V'ttrea crystallina (Mall.) 

alliaria (Miller) 

glabra (Brit. Auct.) Stafford ; Heighley 

Castle ; Consall near Cheadle ; Long- 
don 

- ctllaria (Mall.) 

nitidula (Drap.) 

pura (Aid.) Stafford ; Cheadle ; Wren's 

Nest ; Stone 

radiatula (Aid.) Stafford ; Cheadle ; 

Stone ; Wren's Nest 

excavata (Bean) Maer ; Basford, near 

Leek ; Oakamoor ; Stafford 

nitida (Mall.) 

fuha (Moll.) 

Arlon ater(L\nn.) Common; a white variety 
has been taken at Xrentham 

hortensis, Fdr. 

- circumscriptus, John. Cheadle ; Stafford ; 

Harborne 

- intermedium, Norm. 

subfuscus (Drap.) Cheadle ; Stafford ; 

Brewood ; near Birmingham 
Punctum pygmceum (Drap.) Cheadle ; Staf- 
ford ; Stone 
Pyramidula rupestris (Drap.) 

rotundata (Mull.) 

Helicella itala (Linn.) Dovedale ; Grindon ; 
Wren's Nest ; Walsall ; Sedgley 

caperata (Mont.) 

Hygromia fusca (Mont.) Rare, Weaver Hills 
and Cotton Dale, Oakamoor ; Wren's 
Nest ; Harborne 

hispida (Linn.) 

rufescens (Penn.) Very local 
Acanthinula aculeata (Mull.) 

Icimellata (Jeff.) Cotton Dale, Oakamoor, 

under beech leaves ; Stafford (one dead 

specimen) 

Vallonia pukhella (Mall.) 
Helicigona lapicida (Linn.) 

arbustorum (Linn.) 

Helix asfersa, Mall. Rare and local ; said 
not to occur further north than Barlas- 
ton 

nemoraliif Linn. 

hortensis, Mall. 
Buliminus obscurus (Mall.) 
Cochlicopa lubrica (Mull.) 

Azeca trident (Pult.) Ham ; Weaver Hills ; 
Clent,Wolverhampton; Sedgley; Him- 
ley ; near Harborne 

Ctecilianella acicula (Mall.) Grindon ; Dove- 
dale ; Sedgley ; Wren's Nest 



Pupa cylindracea (Da C.) 

muscorum (Linn.) Grindon ; Stone 
Sphyradium edentulum (Drap.) Cheadle ; 

Leek ; Stafford 
Vertigo substriata (Jeff.) Leek (one specimen) 

pyg m *a (Drap.) Grindon ; Weaver Hills ; 

Sedgley ; Dovedale 
Baled perversa (Linn.) Rare and local in 

the north 
Clauiilia laminata (Mont.) 

bidentata (Strfim.) 
Succinea putrit (Linn.) 

e/egans, Risso. Stafford ; Stone ; Dove- 

dale 



b. BASOMMATOPHORA 

Carychium minimum. Mill!. 
Ancylus fluviatilit, Mall. 
Velletia lacustris (Linn.) 
Limneea auricularia (Linn.) 

pereger (Mall.) 

palustris (Mall.) 

truncatula (Mall.) 

stagnal'n (Linn.) 

glabra (Mull.) Local in limestone dis- 

trict of the north ; canal at Stoke ; 
ponds near Cheadle 
Planorbis corneas (Linn.) 

albus, Mall. 

nautileus (Linn.) Maer ; Coppenhall ; 

Tixall ; Stafford ; River Penk 

carinatus, Mall. 

marginatus, Drap. 

vortex (Linn.) 

spirorbis, Mttll. Stafford ; Stone ; Frog- 

hall ; Lithfield 

contortus (Linn.) Stone ; Stafford 

fontanus (Lightf.) Stafford ; Oakamoor ; 

Harborne 
Physa fontinalis (Linn.) 

hypnorum (Linn.) Stafford ; near Weston ; 

Burton-on-Xrent ; Oldbury ; Wolver- 
hampton 



II. PROSOBRANCHIATA 

Paludeitrina jenkinsi (Smith) Canal at Dud- 
ley ; canal at Lichfield ; Willenhall 
Bithynia tentaculata (Linn.) 

leachii (Shepp.) 
Vivipara vivipara (Linn.) 
Vahata p'ucinalis (Mall.) 

criftata, Mttll. Stafford 

Neritina flu-viatil'u (Linn.) Canal at Col- 
wich ; Stone ; Kings Bromley ; Lich- 
field ; Milford 



MOLLUSCS 
B. PELECYPODA 

Drtisiensla polymorpba (Pall.) Canals as far Sph&rium ovale (Fr.) Canals : Stoke-on- 
north as Stoke-on-Trent. Specimens Trent ; Froghall ; Stone ; Dudley Port 

have been found containing pearls lacustre (Mtill.) 

(North Staff. Field Club Report, xxxiv. Pisidium amnicum (Mull.) 

65) pusil/um (Gmel.) 

Unto pictorum (Linn.) fontinale (Drap.) Common (the form 

tumidus, Retz. P. henslowianum occurs at Lichfield) 
Anodonta cygntea (Linn.) milium (Held.) Froghall ; Milford ; 
Sphterium rivicola (Leach) Coppenhall 

cerneum (Linn.) 



79 



INSECTS 



ORTHOPTERA 

(Earwigs, Cockroaches, Grasshoppers, and Crickets) 

Very little recent work appears to have been done in this order. R. Garner, in his 
Natural History of the County of Stafford (1844), mentions nine species, and the late Edwin 
Brown, in his l Fauna of Burton-on-Trent' (Natural History of Tut bury, p. 163), gives a list 
of fourteen species from the Burton district. Anisolabis maritima appears to have been 
introduced in bundles of returned cask staves into a Burton brewery. Those species marked t 
have been determined by Mr. W. J. Lucas. 

R.G. = R. Garner. E.B. = Edwin Brown. F.J. = Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain. 



FORFICULARIA 

Anisolabis maritima, Bonelli. Several living speci- 
mens occurred in a brewery at Burton 'some 
years ago' (E.B.) [1863] 

Lnbia minor, L. (R.G.) ; frequent, Burton (E.B.) 

Forficula auricularia, L. General 

BLATTODEA 

BlatU orientalis, L. 

Periplaneta americana, L. First recorded from 
Burton by E.B. in 1842 (R.G.) ; now resi- 
dent there 

ACRIDIODEA 

Stenobothrus viriJulus, L. Common Burton dis- 
trict (E.B.);t common on slopes near 
Ramshom Woods, Ellastone (F.J.) 

parallelus, Zett.t Also common near Rams- 
horn Woods, Ellastone (F.J.) 

Gomphocerusmaculatus.Thnb. (biguttatus, Charp.). 
Said to have been taken near Burton (E.B.);t 
among the screes on Bunster, Dovedale 
(FJ.) 



ACRIDIODEA (continued') 

Pachytylus migratorius, L. ' Has been captured 
. . . many times in this district' (E.B.) ; 
one at Burton in 1842 ; another in 1846, 
also at Stoke-on-Trent in 1857 (R.G.) 
cinerascens, Fb. One taken near Burton (E.B.) 
Schistocerca peregrina, Oliv. Visited the south- 
eastern counties in some numbers in 1869, 
spreading into Derbyshire, Staffordshire, &c. 
No later records 

GRYLLODEA 



' Rare, but caught in A'. 
Requires confirmation] 



[Gryllus campestris. 
Staffs: (R.G.) 

domesticus, L. 

[Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, L. ' Taken in gardens 
about Birmingham' (R.G.). Not confirmed 
by subsequent observers. One was, how- 
ever, found in 1898 in a stove-house at 
Meaford Hall, near Stone, and a second was 
discovered while unloading a truck of 
' oxide ' at Longton on 1 4 September, 1 906, 
both probably imported accidentally (Zoo/. 
1906, p. 437)] 



NEUROPTERA 

(Psocids, Stone Flies, Dragon Flies, Lace-wings, etc.) 

The Neuroptera of Staffordshire have been but little studied. Mr. E. Brown (Natural 
History of Tutbury, pp. 171-4) mentions ten species of Odonata, but gives very scanty 
information regarding the rest of the order. Upwards of thirty years ago Mr. Brown's 
collection was critically examined by Mr. R. McLachlan, F.R.S., and the Rev. A. E. Eaton. 
As will be seen from the following list, our knowledge of the Perlidae, Ephemeridae, and 
Hydroptilidae of Staffordshire is practically confined to what has been recorded by the 
Rev. A. E. Eaton, who paid special attention to those families in the Dove Valley in the 
neighbourhood of Ashburne. 

R.G. = R. Garner. E.B. = E. Brown. A.E.E. = A. E. Eaton. 

McL. = R. McLachlan. G.P. = G. Pullen. R.C.B. = R. C. Bradley. 

W.H.B. = W. Harcourt Bath. A.D.I. = A. D. Imms. 

F.J. = Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain. Ent. = Entomologist. 

80 



INSECTS 



PSEUDO-NEUROPTERA 

(Psocids, Stone Flies, and May Flies) 



PSOCIDAE 

Atropos divinatoria, Mull. ' In great numbers in 
our houses' (E.B.) 

Lachesilla fatidica, Westw. Not nearly so plenti- 
ful (E.B.) 

PERLIDAE 

Dictyopteryx microcephala, Pictet (bicaudata, 
Steph.). The Dove (coll. E.B.) 

Pcrla marginata, Panz. The Dove, near Mapleton 
(A.E.E.) ; Dovedale (G.P.) 

cephalotes, Curt. The Dove, Mafleton, plenti- 

ful (A.E.E.) 
Chloroperla grammatica, Poda (virescens, Pict.). 

Not uncommon near the Dove (E.B.) ; 

Uapleton (A.E.E.) 
Isopteryx tripunctau, Scop. Generally distributed 

in the Dove Valley 
Taeniopteryx nebulosa, L. Occurs in March on 

a bridge over the Trent (coll. E.B. ; A.E.E.) 
Leuctra geniculata, Steph. The slower parts of 

the Dove, near Mapleton, common (A.E.E.) 
Nemoura variegata, Oliv. ? Morton. Burton dis- 
trict (E.B.) ; common near Ashburne (A.E.E.) 

EPHEMERIDAE 

Ephemera vulgata, L. Common on the Trent 
near Burton (coll. E.B.) 

danica, Mull. The mayfly of the Dove 

(A.E.E.) 



EPHEMERIDAE (continued) 

Leptophlebia submarginata, Steph. (helvipes, Steph. ; 
geerii, Pict.). Dovedale (A.E.E.) 

cincta, Retz. Trout streams in the lower parts 

of the county (A.E.E.) 

Ephemerella ignita, Poda. The Dove and smaller 
streams (A.E.E.) 

Caenis dimidiata, Steph. On the Trent 

(A.E.E.) 

rivulorum, Eaton. The Dove, near Mayfeld. 

Abundant in June (A.E.E.) 

halterata, Fb. Trent and lower parts of the 

Dove Valley (A.E.E.) 

Baetis scambus, Eaton. The Dove, near Hanging 
Bridge and Nortury (A.E.E.) 

vernus, Curt. Streams and brook;, common 

(A.E.E.) 

rhodani, Pict. The Dove, &c. (A.E.E.) 

- pumilus, Burmeister. Brooks and trout- 
streams (A.E.E.) 
Centroptilum luteolum, Moll. Common (A.E.E.) 

pennulatum, Eaton. The Manifold, Ham 

(A.E.E.) 
Rhithrogena semicolorata, Curt. Swift parts of 

the Doi-e, near Mayfield, &c. (A.E.E.) 
Heptagenia sulphurea, Mull. Map,eton (A.E.E.) 
Ecdyurus venosus, Fb. The Dove, near Thoipe 

(A.E.E.) 

insignis, Eaton. Near Mafleton : needs con- 

firmation (A.E.E.) 



ODONATA 

(Dragon Flies) 



ANISOPTERIDES 

LlBELLULIDAE 

Leucorrhina dubia, Lind. Cannock Chase (R.C.B. 

in Ent. 1895, p. 282) 
Sympetrum striolatum, Charp. Probably the 

species recorded by E. Brown from Branston 

as L. flaveola, L. 

scoticum, Don. Whitmore Moss (R.G.) 
Libellula depressa, L. Common (R.G.) ; frequent 

in Burton district (E.B.) ; occasional in 
Dove Valley (F.J.) ; once Alstonfield (\V. H. 
Purchas) 

quadrimaculata, L. The Trent, near Burton 

(FJ.) 

Cordulia aenea, L. Moist woods (R.G.) F ; Staf- 
fordshire (W.H.B. in Handbook) 

AESCHNIDAE 

Cordulegaster annulatus, Latr. Birmingham dis- 
trict (A.D.I.) 

Aeschna juncea, L,. Button Park (R.C.B.) ; Dove 
Valley, 1903-7 (F.J.) 

cyanea, Mttll. Very common, Burton (E.B.) ; 

Sutton Park (R.C.B.) ; a $, Stone, 1904 
(E. D. Bostock) 



ANISOPTERIDES (continued) 

AESCHNIDAE (Continued) 

Aeschna grandij.L. Common (R.G.); very common, 
Burton (E.B.) ; Dove Valley (F.J.) ; Sutton 
Park (R.C.B.) ; Birmingham district (A.D.I.) 

ZYGOPTERIDES 

ACRIONIDAE 

Calopteryx virgo, L. Common (R.G.) ; near 

Bretby Mill (E.B.) 
splendens, Harr. Common on the Trent 

(E.B.) ; Cannock Chase (W. J. Lucas) 
Erythromma naias, Hansem. Cannock Chase 

(R.C.B.) ; Sutton Park (R.C.B.) 
Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Sulz. (minium, Harr.). 

Common near the Trent (E.B.) ; Birmingham 

district, abundant (A.D.I.) ; Mayfield and 

Dove Valley (F.J.) 
Ischnura elegans, L'nd. Common near the Trent 

(E.B. ; F.J.) 
Agrion puella, L. Common (R.G.) ; common 

near the Trent (E.B.) ; Birmingham district, 

common (A.D.I.) 
Enallagma cyathigerum, Charp. Cannock Chase 

(R.C.B.) ; Sutton Coldfield (A.D.I.) 



81 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



PLANIPENNIA 
(Snake FKes, Laceviing Flies, and Scorfion Fiiei) 



SIALIDAE 

Sialis lutaria, L. Common on the banks of ponds 
and rivers ; banks of Dove and Treat (E.B.) 
fuliginos.i, Pict. Near Mapleton (A.E.E.) 

HEMEROBIIDAE 
Osmylus fulvicephalus, Scop, (chrysops, auct.). 

Near Mapleton (A.E.E.) 
Sisyra fuscata, Fb. Common (A.E.E.) 
Micromus variegatus, Fb. Common (A.E.E.) 
Hcmerobius [the Staffordshire species have not 

been worked out] 



CONIOPTERYGIDAE 

Goniopteryx tineiformis, Curt. Common (A.E.E.) 

CHRYSOPIDAE 

Chrysopa vittata, Wesm. ' Common in our wooJs,' 

Burton district (E.B.) 
perla, L. 'Also common in woods,' Burton 

district (E.B.) 

PANORPIDAE 

Panorpa communis, L. Common (R.G.) ; very 
common, Burton district (E.B.) 



TRICHOPTERA 

(Caddis Flies) 

The few species of Staffordshire Caddis flies here mentioned are mostly recorded from 
this county in the monographs of Robert McLachlan, F.R.S., published in 1865 and from 
1874 to 1884, and in the pages of the Entomologist? Monthly Magazine. 

E. M. M. = Entom. Monthly Magazine. McL. = R. McLachlan. 

A. E. E. = A. E. Eaton. ] C. = Joseph Chappell. 



INA QUIPALPIA 

PHRYGANEIDAE 

Neuronia clathrata, Kol. First recorded from Britain 
by J. Chappell in the EMM., 1868, i, 
vol. iv, p. 204, as taken in Bishop's Wood 

LlMNOPHIUDAE 

Limnophilus vittatus, Fab. Burnt and Bishop's 
Woods (}. C. in EMM., 1868, I, vol. v, 
p. 48) 

- auricula, Curt. Burnt and Bishop's Woods 

(J. C. ibid.) 

luridus, Curt. In a greenhouse at Willough- 
bridge (J. C. ibid.) 

- fuscicornis, Ramb. (fumigatus, Hag.). Burton- 

on-Trent (McL.) 

Stenophylax alpestris, Kol. Recorded for the first 
time in Great Britain by R. McLachlan in 
the EMM., 1868, I, vol. iv, p. 205, as 
taken in Burnt H'oods by J. Chappell. (In 
Dale's mus.) 

Metanaea (Halesus) flavipennis, Pict. (guttatipen- 
nis, McL.). Probably taken by Edwin 
Brown near Burton-on-Trent (McL.) 



INAEQUIPALPIA (continued} 
SERICOSTOMATIDAE 

Lasiocephala (Mormonia) basalis, Kol. Dovedale 
(A. E. E.) 

AEQUIPALPIA 

LEPTOCERIDAE 

Leptocerus alboguttatus, Hag. (bimaculatus, Steph.). 
Burton-on- Trent (McL.) 

annulicornis, Steph. Burton-on-Trent ;McL.) 
Triaenodes commutatus, McL. Dovedale (McL.) 

conspersa, Ramb. Dovedale (B. Cooke in 

Dale's mus.) 

RHYACOPHILIDAE 
Glossoma boltoni, Curt. Near Ashburne (A. E. E.) 

HYDROPTILIDAE 

Hydroptila (Phrixocoma, Eaton) sparsa, Curt. 
Burton-on-Trent, abundant (A. E. E.) 

forcipata, Eaton. Oakamoor and the R. Dove, 

near Nortury and Ashburne (A. E. E.) 

occulta, Eaton. The R. Dove, near Mapleton 

(A. E. E.) 

femoralis, Eaton (longispina, McL., 1884). 

The R. Dove, near Mapleton (A.E.E.) 



HYMENOPTERA 

(Ants, Wasps, Bees, Saw/lies, &c.) 

The following list has been compiled from various sources which may be summarized as 
follows : 

The earliest county list is that of R. Garner (History of the County of Stafford, 1 844), a 
brief list of some nineteen species of no particular value. In 1863 was published Edwin 
Brown's ' Fauna of Burton ' (Natural History of Tutbury), which contains lists of sixty-eight 
species of Phytophagous and eighty-one Aculeate Hymenoptera. The Entomophaga are 

82 






INSECTS 

scarcely more than noticed in passing, but five species of Chrysididae are mentioned. As 
Mr. Brown's collections have been dispersed and the specimens are not available for examina- 
tion, the synonomy presents many difficulties and a good deal of uncertainty is attached to the 
identification of several species. The area included is also somewhat vaguely defined, embracing 
parts of Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and only in a few cases is the exact locality given. 

ACULEATA 

Of late years Mr. E. D. Bostock has contributed a list of nineteen species taken near Stone 
in 1888 to the Report of the N. Staffs. Field Club for 1889, p. 17, and a brief list of twelve 
species from near Tittensor by the Rev. F. A. Walker appeared in the same publication 
in 1896 (p. 63). Mr. J. R. B. Masefield took thirty-four species of Aculeata near Cheadle 
in 1896, which were determined by Mr. E. Saunders (Report N.S.F.C., 1897, p. 59), and nas 
since supplemented this list by several fresh records. Mr. A. H. Martineau has also furnished 
me with a list of twenty-seven species which he has taken at Colwich and has kindly contri- 
buted some notes on the Heterogyna. Most of these records are incorporated in a paper by the 
writer in the Report of the N. Staffs, Field Club for 1902-3, pp. 81-7, in which 1 13 species are 
recorded. 

From the above it will be seen that the only recent work is that which has been done 
in the Aculeata ; with the exception of a few notes by Mr. Brett on the gall-makers, the 
Phytophaga have been unworked for forty years past, and the Entomophaga have up to the 
present received no attention whatever. 

The following abbreviations have been used : 

R. G. = R. Garner (Nat. Hist, of the County of Stafford) 

E. B. = E. Brown (Burton) 

F. D. M. = the Rev. F. D. Morice 
J. R. B. M. = J. R. B. Masefield (Cheadle) 
E. D. B. = E. D. Bostock (Tixall) 
A. H. M. = A. H. Martineau (Colwich) 

R. C. B. = R. C. Bradley (Cannock Chase) 
F. A. W. = the Rev. F. A. Walker (Tittensor) 
C. B. = Cyril Brett (Alton) 

F. J. = the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain (Mayfield, &c.) 

An asterisk (*) prefixed to the name of any species signifies that specimens have been 
determined by Mr. E. Saunders. Where Burton is given as the locality, without authority, 
the record is taken from Mr. E. Brown's list. 

HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA 

(Ants, Wasps, and Bees) 

HETEROGYNA HETEROGYNA (continued) 

FORMICIDAE MVRMICIDAE (continued') 

Formica rufa, L. Common in most large woods Leptotliorax acervorum, Fb. Rare, usually found 

fusca, Latr. Very common generally, in under bark in old stumps, Cohvich (A. H. M.) 

banks and hedgerows Myrmica rubra, L. Common, nesting in ground 

Lasius fuliginosus, Latr. Outwood Hills (E. B.) ; (A. H. M.) ; race scabrinodis, Nyl. Near 

not common, generally nests in decayed Burton. 

stumps, &c. (A. H. M.) [Crematogaster scutellaris, Oliv. Recorded by 

umbratus, Nyl. Colwich, but not common as Dr. Mason from a fernery at Burton ; prob- 

a rule ; near roots of decayed stumps ably imported with cork (EMM., xxv, 

(A. H. M.) 330; Ent. 1889, p. 191.)] 

flavus, De G. Very common on eastern slope 

of Qutvuod Hills (E. B.) ; generally common FOSSORES 

in fields where soil is light (A. H. M.) SAPYGIDAE 

niger, L. Common, Burton ; very common, Sapyga quinquepunctata, Fb. Burton 

often in gardens (A. H. M.) clavicornis, L. Burton, not common ('one 

in P. B. Mason's collection, without data, 

MYRMICIDAE E. Saunders '). Mr. A. H. Martineau in- 

Myrmecina latreillii, Curt. Cannock (Ent. 1901, forms me that Dr. Mason has also taken this 

p. 232) ; Colwich in dead tree stumps, not species on several occasions at Burton since 

common (A. H. M.) the publication of Saunders' monograph 

83 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



FOSSORES (continued) 

PoMPILIDAE 

Pompilus viaticus, L. (fuscus, Sm.). Burton 

gibbus, Fb. The Oaks marlplt, near Burton; 

Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
* pectinipes, V. de L. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 
Salius exaltatus, Fb. Burton 
* pusillus, Schiod. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 

SPHEGIDAE 

Tachytes pectinipes, L. One taken at Cannock (Ent. 
1899, p. 46) ; Colwich, common (A.H.M.) 
Trypoxylon figulus, L. Burton ; Colwich, in 
wood posts, common (A. H. M.) 

clavicerum, St. F. Colteich, in wood posts, 

rare (A. H. M.) 

attenuatum, Sm. Colwich, in wood posts, 

rare (A. H. M.) 
Ammophila sabulosa, L. Cannock (R. C B., Ent. 

1894, p. 77) 
Pemphredon shuckardi, Moraw. (Cemonus 

unicolor, Smith pars). Burton. 
Diodontus minutus, Fb. Burton 

tristis, V. de L. Burton 
Psen pallipes, Pz. Burton 

'Gorytes mystaceus, L. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) ; 

Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
'Mellinus arvensis, L. Shobnall, &c. (E. B.) ; 

Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 
Oxybelus uniglumis, L. Colwich, common 

(A. H. M.) 
"Crabro palmipes, L. Ckeadle (J. R. B. M.) ; 

Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
* elongatulus, V. de L. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 



FOSSORES (continued) 
SPHEGIDAE (continued) 

*Crabro dimidiatus, Fb. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 
* cephalotes, Pz. Cheadle 0- R- B. M.) 

cribrarius, L. Shohnalt, &c. (E. B.) 

chrysostoma, St. F. (xylurgus, Shuck). Burton 

peltarius, Schr. (patellatus, Pz.). Burton 

DIPLOPTERA 

VESPIDAE 

Vespa crabro, L. Not rare, Whitmore (R. G.) ; 

rare in Burton district ; Mayfield, a nest 

Sept. 1902 (F. J.) 

* vulgaris, L. Common everywhere 
' germanica, Fb. Also vary common 

rufa, L. Dovedale, not uncommon (E. B.) ; 

Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 

* sylvestris, Scop. Burton, scarce ; Cheadle 

(J. R. B. M.) ; Tittensor (F. A. W.) ; Dove 
Valley (F. J.) 

* norvegica, Fb. Burton, not uncommon ; 
$ Cheadle, 1903 (J. R. B. M.) ; Dove 
Valley (F.J.) 

EuMENIDAK 

Odynerus spinipes, L. Burton 

parietum, L. Common : Burton ; Mayfield 

and Dove valley (F. J.) 
* pictus, Curt. Eccleshall (F. D. M.) ; Cheadle 

(J. R. B. M.) ; Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
* trimarginatus, Zett. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 

Mayfield& Dove Valle-j (F. J.) 

* - parietinus, L. Cheadie (J. R. B. M.) 



ANTHOPHILA 



OBTUSILINGUES 

CoLLETIDAE 



Colletes succinctus, L. Cannock (F. D. M.) 

- davicsanus, Smith. Burton ; one $, Colvilch 

(A. H. M.) 

* cunicularius, L. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 
Prosopis communis, Nyl. Burton 

ACUTILINGUES 

ANDRENIDAE 

Sphecodes gibbus, L. Shobnall marlpit (E. B.) ; 
Stone (E. D. B.) 

subquadratus, Smith. Stone (E. D. B.) 

- pilifrons, Thorns, (prob. rufescens, Sm.). 

Burton ? 

affinis, V. Hag. Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
*Halictus rubicundus, Chr. General : Burton ; 

Stone (E. D. B.) ; Uayfield (F. J.) ; Cheadle 
(J. R. B. M.) ; Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 

quadrinotatus, Kirb. Burton 

cylindricus, Fb. Burton 

albipes, Kirb. Burton 

longulus, Smith. Burton (?) 

nitidiusculus, Kirb. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) ; 
Stone (E. D. B.) 

tumulorum, L. Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 



ACUTILINGUES (continued) 
ANDRENIDAE (continued) 

Halictussmeathmanellus,Kirb. Cheadle (J.R.B.M.) 

morio, Fb. Burton 

'Andrena albicans, Kirb. Burton ; Ckeadle 
(}. R. B. M.) ; Stone (E. D. B.) 

* rosae, Pz. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 

var. trimmerana, Kirb. Stone (E. D. B.) 

nitida, Fourc. Burton ; Trentham Park, very 

common (F. A. W.) 

cineraria, L. Burton ; Store (E. D. B.) ; 

Trentham Park, very local (F. A. W.) 
* fulva, Schr. Burton; Cheadle, large colonies 

(J. R. B. M.) ; Stone (E. D. B.) ; Trentham 

Park, not very common (F. A. W.) 
* nigroaenea, Kirb. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) ; 

Trentham Park, very common (F. A. W.) 
* angustior, Kirb. Cheadle (]. R. B. M.) ; 

Colwich, rare (A. H. M.) 
* helvola, L. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) ; Stone 

(E. D. B.) 
* fucata, Smith. Cheadk (J. R. B. M.) ; CoAcicA, 

rare (A. H. M.) 

fuscipes, Kirb. Several on heather, Cannock 

Chase (F. D. M.) 

fulvicrus, Kirb. Burton 



84 



INSECTS 



ACUTILINGUES (continued) 
ANDRENIDAE (continued') 

Andrena cingulata, Fb. Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 
* albicrus, Kirb. Burton ; Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) ; 

Stone (E. D. B.) ; Colwich, common 

(A. H. M.) 

minutula, Kirb. Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
* nana, Kirb. $, CheaJle, 1903 (J. R. B. M.) 

wilkella, Kirb. Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 
* similis, Smith. Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 

Nomada succincta, Pz. Shobnall, &c. (E. B.) 
* alternata, Kirb. CheaJle (]. R. B. M.) ; Stone 
(E. D. B.) ; Trentham Park, plentiful 
(F. A. W.) 

lathburiana, Kirb. Stone, rare (E. D. B.) ; 

Colwich, rare (A. H. M.) 

ruficornis, L. Cannock (R. C. B., Ent. 1895, 

p. 283) ; Stone (E. D. B.) ; Colwich, common 
(A. H. M.) 

* bifida, Thorns. CheaJle (]. R. B. M.) ; Col- 
wich (C. J. W., Ent. 1896, p. 222) ; Stone, 
rare (E. D. B.) 

lateralis, Pz. Trentham Park, near Tittensor, 

one or two only (F. A. W.) 

ochrostoma, Kirb. Burton ; Cannock (R. C. B. 

Ent. 1895, p. 283) ; Colwich, common 
(A. H. M.) 

ferruginata, Kirb. (germanica, Smith). Bur- 

ton 

fabriciana, L. Burton ; Stone (E. D. B.) ; 

Colwich, common (A. H. M.) 

flavoguttata, Kirb. Burton ; Cannock (R. C. B. 

Ent. 1895, p. 283) 

APIDAE 

Chelostoma florisomne, L. Burton ; Colwich, 

common (A. H. M.) 
Coelioxys elongata, St. F. (simplex, Nyl.). 

Burton 



ACUTILINGUES (continued) 
APIDAE (continued) 

'Megachile willughbiella, Kirb. Burton; Cheadle 
(J. R. B. M.) ; MayfieU (F. J.) 

* centuncularis, L. Maer and Whltmore (R. G.); 
Burton ; Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 

Osrnia rufa, L. Burton; Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) ; 
Stone (E. D. B.) 

bicolor, Schr. Burton 
Anthidium manicatum, L. Burton 

Eucera longicornis, L. Scalpcli/ Hill near Burton 

(E. B.) 

Melecta armata, Pz. Burton 
Anthophora pilipes, Fb. (acervorum, Smith). 

Burton ; Stone (E. D. B.) 
*Psithyrus vestalis, Fourc. Burton ; Cheadle 

(J. R. B. M.) ; Dove Valley (F. J.) 
* campestris, Pz. Burton; Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 

quadricolor, St. F. (barbutellus, Smith). Burton 
*Bombus venustus, Smith (senilis, Fb.). Burton ; 

Cheadle (J. R. B. M.) 
* agrorum, Fb. Burton ; Cheadle (J. R. B. M) ; 

Trentham Park (F. A. W.) ; Marftld(. ].), 

&c. 
* hortorum, L. Burton ; CheaJle (]. R. B. M.). 

var. harrisellus,Kirb. CheaJle (J.R.B.M.) 
* latreillellus, Kirb. Burton ; Cheadle (J.R.B.M.) 

- sylvarum, L. Burton 

derhamellus, Kirb. Burton 

* lapidanus, L. Common, Burton ; Cheadle 
(J. R. B. M.) ; Stone (E. D. B.) ; one, at 
Tittensor (F. A. W.) ; Dove Valley (F. J.) 

- lapponicus, Fb. One $ Cannock (F. D. M.) 
* pratorum, L. Burton; Cheadle (J. R. B. M.); 

Stone (E. D. B.) ; Mayfield (F. J.), &c. 
* terrestris, L. Very common. Var.* virgin- 

alis. One J>, Cheadle, 1903 (J. R. B. M.) 
Apis mellifica, L. Occasionally reverts to wild 

state. Nests in woodpeckers' holes, Cannock 

Chase (F. J.) Var. ligustica, introduced 



PHYTOPHAGA 

(Saw Flies and Gall Flies) 



TENTHREDINIDAE 
TENTHREDINA 



Tenthredo livida, L. Burton 

solitaria, Scop. Burton 

rufiventris, Pz. Burton 

, punctulata, Klug. Burton 

viridis, L. Burton 

gibbosa, Fall, (aucupariae, Klug.), Burton 
Tenthredopsis nigricollis, St. F. Burton 

scutellaris, Fb. Burton 

nassata, L. (melanorrhaea, Gmel.), Burton 
Pachyprotasis rapae, L. Burton 
Macrophya blanda, Fb. Burton 

neglecta, Klug. Burton 

albicincta, Schr. Burton 

punctum album, L. (punctum, Fb.). Burton 
Allantus scrophulariae, L. Burton 

tricinctus, Fb. (vespiformis, L.). Burton 

marginellus, Fb. (viennensis, Pz.). Burton 



TENTHREDINIDAE (continued) 
TENTHREDINA (continued) 

Allantus arcuatus, Forst. Burton 

macula, Fourc. (zonata, Pz.), Burton ; Dove- 

dale, W. E. Ryles 
Dolerus gonagra, Fb. Burton 

chappelli, Cam. ' One taken by Mr. J. 

Chappell in Staffordshire ' (Cameron, Man. 
Phyt. Hymcnoptera, \, I 66) 
haematodis, Schr. Burton 

- coracinus, Klug. Burton 

niger, L. Burton 
Strongylogaster cingulatus, Fb. Burton 

- delicatulus, Fall (eborinus, Klug.). Burton 
Selandria serva, Fb. Burton 

stramineipes, Klug. Burton 

Taxonus glabratus, Fall (rufipes, St. F). Burton 
Eriocampa limacina, Retz. Burton ; Dove Valley, 
(F.J.) 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



TENTHREDINIDAE (continued) 

TENTHREDINA (continued) 
Eriocampa rosae, Harris. Occasionally in south 

(F- JO 

Blennocampa albipes, Gmel. Burton 

bipunctata, Klug. Burton 

fuscipennis, Fall, (luteiventris, Klug.) Burton 

fuliginosa, Schr. Burton 

pusilla, Klug. Burton 

Athalia spinarum, Fb. The ' nigger ' or turnip 
fly. Burton, &c. 

rosae, L. Burton 

NEMATINA 

Dineura stilata, Klug. (bicolor, Steph.) Burton 
Cladiuspectinicornis, Fourc. (difformis, Pz.) Burton, 
common 

viminalis, Fall (grandis, St. F.), Burton 

- eradiatus, Htg. (morio, St. F.). Burton, common 
Nematus appendiculatus, Htg. (pallipes, St. F.), 

Burton 

- lucidus, Pz. Burton 

- haem:>rrhoidalis, Cam. Burton 

- miliaris, Pz. Burton 

- myosotidis, Fb. Burton 

- croceus, Fall (dorsalis, St. F.). Burton 

- salicis, L- (capreae, Fb.). Burton 

ribesii, Scop, (trimaculatus, St. F.), R. G. ; 

Burton ; Dcre Val.'ey (F. J.), &c. 

salicis-cinereae, Retz. On Salix alba at Alton, 

August, 03 (C.B.) 

- gallicola, Westw., on Salix fragilis, L. Alton 

(C.B.) ; R. Trent (F.J.) 

ClMBIClNA 

Cimbex lutea, L. (femorata, L.). Near Burton, on 

alder and birch, rare 

Trichiosoma lucorum, L. Common in early 
spring, Burton ; Dove Valley (F. J.) 

HYLOTOMINA 

Hylotoma rosae, L. Burton, infests rose trees 

cyaneocrocea, Forst. Burton 

PAMPHILINA 
Pamphilus sylvaticus, L. Burton 



TENTHREDINIDAE (continued) 
CEPHIDAE 

Cephus phthisiacus, Fb. (pallipes, Klug.). Burton 

tabidus, Fb. Burton 

pygmaeus, L. Burton 

SIRICIDAE 

Sirex gigas, L. Females occur occasionally, Ham 
(R.G.) ; Dove Valley ; Uttoxeter (F. J.) ; 
Hanley (W. Bladen) ; Stone, fairly common ; 
Cbeadle (J. R. B. M.) ; Helelgh Castle Wood 
(T. W. Daltry) 

juvencus, L. Large numbers found in a dead 

spruce-fir, in all stages of development, in 
August, 1850 (Sir O. Mosley, Zoo!. 1850, 
p. 2960). 'Produced some years ago in 
great numbers from a diseased spruce fir at 
Rolleston' (E. B.) [1863]; one taken near 
Stone (W. Wells Bladen) 

melanocerus, Thorns, (noctilio, Fb.). $ taken 

at Cheadle in 1897 (J. R. B. M., N.S.F.C. 
Report, 1 898, p. 64). (Regarded by Cameron 
as probably not a distinct species.) 

CYNIPJDAE 

Rhodites cgianteriae, Htg. On Rosa canina, L., 
at Alton (C. B.) 

rosae, L. Generally distributed 

forma-tuberculata. Great Gate (C. B.) 
Aulax heiracii, Bouche. On H. umbellatum 

(R. G.) 

Xestophanes brevitarsis, Thorns. On Potentilla 
silvestris, Neck. Alton (C. B.) 

Andricus fecundatrix, Htg. On Quercus robur, L. 
Alton (C.B.) 

Cynips kollari, Htg. Already established in the 
district round Burton in 1863 ; now com- 
mon on Q. robur, L. everywhere 

Biorhiza terminalis, Fb. Also common on Q. ro- 
bur, L. everywhere 

Dryophanta folii, Htg. (scutellaris, Adler) ? Alien 
(C. B.) 

Neuroterus numismatis, Oliv. Common 

lenticularis, Oliv. Common on Q. robur, L. 

Alton (C. B.) 



HYMENOPTERA ENTOMOPHAGA 



(Cbrjsids, Ichneumons, 



CHRYSIDIDAE 

Cleptes pallipes, St. F. (semiaurata, L.). Burton 
Elampus (Hedychrum) auratus, L. Burton 
Chrysis cyanea, L. Burton 

viridula, L. Burton 

ignita, L. Burton ; Mayfeld, and Dove Valley, 

not uncommon (F.J.) 

IcHNEUMONIDAI 

[Still remain unworkcd. R. C. Bradley (Eat. 
1896, p. 222) records a pair of Banchus 
pirtuJ, Fb. from Cokvich, and specimens of 



[Also 



ICHNEUMONIDAE (continued) 

Pimpla turionellae, L. and Ichneumon ex- 
tensorius, L. were identified by Mr. C. 
Morley among some insects taken at Cheadle 
in 1903] 

BRACONIDAE 

unworked up to the present. Edwin Brown 
mentions Microgaster glomeratus as ' very 
common,' and also records Evania appendi- 
gaster as parasitic on the cockroach in the 
Burton district] 



86 



INSECTS 



COLEOPTERA 

(Beetles) 

The materials from which the subsequent list has been compiled are mainly as follows : 
(i) R. Garner's Natural History cf the County of Stafford, 1844, with a supplement dated 1860, 
containing a list of 171 species in all ; most of these are species of ubiquitous occurrence, and 
the identifications in some cases are almost certainly wrong. Garner had the assistance 
of Messrs. Finder and J. B. Davis in drawing up his list of Coleoptera, and says (p. 241) 
that to Mr. Davis he is indebted to a considerable extent for the list. (2) A list in Fauna of 
the Neighbourhood of Burton on Trent by Edwin Brown (J. Van Voorst), 1863. This contains 
623 species, mostly collected in Staffordshire, but a few are from Derbyshire only, the district 
round Burton embracing portions of both counties. (3) A list of ' Coleoptera collected in the 
Neighbourhood of Burton,' by H. W. 'Bates, in the Zoologist for 1848, p. 1997, noting 77 
species. (4) A list of 491 species by Mr. L. H. Jahn in the Report of the N. Staffs. Field 
Club, 1904-5, pp. 73-90, and a supplementary list of 93 species, i.e., 1906-7, p. 81-5. 
Nearly all Mr. Jahn's material has been through my hands. It includes several purely northern 
forms introduced in timber for the pits, but as several of these seem to be establishing them- 
selves in the Hanley neighbourhood, it is better to include them. 

I have been able to supplement these lists considerably from scattered records in Fowler's 
British Coleoptera and in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, as well as from a small list 
of captures at Cheadle by Mr. Johnston. It is hoped that the county list thus compiled, 
though very imperfect, especially in the Staphylinidae and Curculionidae, will act as a useful 
basis and stimulus for further collecting. Where no authority for the record is given, it is to be 
understood that it stands on the authority of Mr. Brown (Burton), Canon Fowler, or myself 
(Cannock Chase and Needwood Forest) ; Mr. Jahn (Hanley and Swynnerton) or Mr. Johnston 
(Cheadle). Otherwise the author's name is invariably given. Species whose occurrence in the 
county seems, for various reasons, to need confirmation, are inclosed in square brackets [ ]. 
Absence of locality points to general distribution, inferred at present rather than ascertained. 



ClCINDELlDAE 

Cicindela campestris, L. 

CARABIDAE 

Cychrus rostratus, L. 
Carabus granulatus, L. 

monilis, F. 

catenulatus, Scop. 

nemoralis, Mull. 

violaceus, L. 

nitens, L. Cannock Chase 

(Brown) ; Wetley Moor 
(Jahn) 
Notiophilus biguttatus, F. 

aquaticus, L. 
Leistus spinibarbis, F. 

fulvibarbis, Dej. 

ferruginous, L. 

rufescens, F. 
Ncbria brevicollis, F. 

gyllenhali, Sch. Cheadle 

livida, F. Cannock Chase 

(Garneys and Harris) 
Elaphrus riparius, L. 

cupreus, Duft. 
Loricera pilicornis, F. 
Clivina fossor, L. 

collar. s, Hbst. Hanley ; Bur- 

ton, occasional 

Dyschirius aeneus, Dej. Burton 
and CannockChase(ovt\er) 



CARABIDAE (cont.) 

Miscodcra arctica, Payk. Cannock 
Chase; cf. Ent. 1898, 
p. 271 

Brojcus cephalotes, L. Stvynner- 
ton 

Badister bipustulatus, F. 

Licinus depressus, Payk. Dove- 
dale (Brown and Jahn) 

Chlaenius vestitus, Payk. Can- 
nock Chase 

nigricornis, F. Dovcstde 

(Brown) 

Oodes helopioides, F. Burton 
Acupalpus meridianus, L. Hen- 
hurst (Brown) 
Bradycellus cognatus, Gyll. 

verbasci, Duft. 

harpalinus, Dej. 

Harpalus rupicola, St. Burton 
(Fowler) 

ruficornis, F. 

aeneus, F. 

latus, L. 

Anisodactylus binotatus, F. Bur- 
ton 

Stomis pumicatus, Panz. Burton ; 
Cheadle; Hanley 

Platyderus ruficollis, Marsh. 
Lichfield and Burton 
(Fowler) 

Pterostichus cupreus, L. 

87 



CARABIDAE (com.) 

Pterostichus vcrsicolor, St. 

- madidus, F. 

lepidus, F. Cannock Chase 

in some number, vide also 
Ent. 1895, p. 236 

niger, Sch. 

- vulgaris, L. 

- nigrita, F. 

- gracilis, Dej. Burton (Fow- 
ler) 

strenuus, Panz. 

- diligens, St. 

picimanus, Duft. Cannock 

Chase 

- vernalis, Gyll. Burton 

striola, F. 
Amara apricaria, Payk. 

consularis, Duft. Cannock 

Chate 

- aulica, Panz. 

- patricia, Duft. Cannock Chase 

bifrons, Gyll. Manifold 

Valley (Jahn) 
ovata, F. Cheadle 

similata, Gyll. Burton ; 

Cheadle 

acuminata, Payk. Burton 

tibialis, Payk. 

lunicollis, Sch. Burton ; 

Cannock Chase 

sprcta, Dej. Cannock Chase 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



CARABIDAE (coat.) 

Amara familiaris, Duft. 

anthobia, Villa. Hanley 

trivialis, Gyll. 

communis, Panz. 

plebeia, Gyll 
Calathus cisteloides, Panz. 

fuscus, F. Stone and Dove- 

dale (Jahn) 

- melanocephalus, L. 

- piceus, Marsh. Trentkam 

(Jahn) 

Taphria nivalis, Panz. Burton, rare 
Pristonychus terricola, Hbst. 
Sphodrus leucophthalmus, L. 

Burton 
Anchomenus angusticollis, F. 

- dorsalis, Mull. 

- albipes, F. 

- marginatus, L. 

- sexpunctatus, L. One speci- 

men in Dovedale (Jahn) 

- parumpunctatus, F. 

- viduus, Panz., and var. moes- 

tus, Duft. Hanky, Burton 

- fuliginosus, Panz. 

- gracilis, Gyll. Hanley 

- piceus, L. Hanley, Burton 

- thoreyi, Dej. Burton (Fow- 

ler) 

puellus, Dej. Burton (Fow- 

ler) 

Olisthopus rotundatus, Payk. 
Bembidium rufescens, Guer. 

- quinquestriatum, Gyll. Bur- 

ton (Fowler) ; Churnet 
Galley (Jahn) 

- obtusum, St. 

- guttula, F. 

- mannerheimi, Sahl. Hanley 

- biguttatum, F. 

- articulatum, Panz. Burton 

- lampros, Hbst. 

nigricorne, Gyll. Cannock 

Chase (Blatch) 

atrocaeruleum, Steph. Burton 

(Bates) 

tibiale, Duft. Burton (Fow- 

ler) 

decorum, Panz. Burton 

(Bates) 
monticola, St. Burton 

- quadriguttatum, F. 

quadrimaculatum, Gyll. 

femoratum, St. 

bruxellense, Wesm. Cannock 

Cfiaie 

littorale, Ol. 

fluviatile, Dej. Burton 

punctulatum, Drap. Burton 

bipunctatum, L. Cannock 

Chase 

flammulatum, Clairv. By the 

Trent and Dove (Garneys 
and Gorham) 



CARABIDAE (cont.) 

Bembidium obliquum, St. Near 
Burton. one specimen 
(Fowler) 

Tachypus flavipes, L. 

Trechus discus, F. Rare by the 
Trent and Dove (Garneys) 

rubens, F. Canmck Chase; 

Hanley 

minutus, F. 

secalis, Payk. Burton 
Patrobus excavatus, Payk. 

assimilis, Ch. Cannock Chase 
Cymindis vaporariorum, L. Can- 
nock Chase (Smith in 
Ent. 1895, p. 236, and 
Blatch, I.e. 1890, p. 208) 

Lebia chlorocephala, Hoff. Bur- 
ton, occasional ; Dovedale 
(Jahn) 

Demetrias atricapillus, L. 

Dromius linearis, Ol. 

agilis, F. Burton common, 

Trentham (Jahn) 

quadrimaculatus, L. 

quadrinotatus, Panz. 

melanocephalus, Dej. 
Metabletus foveola, Gyll. 

truncatellus, L. Cannock Chase 

HALIPLIDAE 

Brychius elevatus, Panz. R.Dove 

(Jahn) 
Haliplus obliquus, Er. 

- mucronatus, Steph. Burton, 

very rare (Garneys) 

- flavicollis, St. Burton (Bates) 

variegatus, St. 

- ruficollis, De G. 

- fluviatilis, Aube. Newcastle 

under Lyme (Jahn) 
lineatocollis, Marsh. 

PELOBIIDAE 

Pelobius tardus, Hbst. Two at 
Stone (Jahn) 

DYTISCIDAE 

Noterus clavicornis, De G. Bur- 
ton 

- sparsus, Marsh. Newcastle 

under Lyme (Jahn) 
Laccophilus interruptus, Panz. 

obscurus, Panz. 
Hyphydrus ovatus, L. 
Coelambus versicolor, Sch. 

inaequalis, F. 

parallelogrammus, Ahr. Bur- 

ton 
Deronectes depressus, F. 

assimilis, Payk. One at Bur- 

ton (Bates) 
Hydroporus pictus, F. 

88 



DYTISCIDAE (cont.} 

Hydroporus dorsalis, F. Neu-cast,'f 
under Lyme (Jahn) 

rivalis.Gyll. Burton,not scarce 

in River Dove (Jahn) 

lineatus, F. 

palustris, L. 

erythrocephalus, L. 

pubescens, Gyll. 

planus, F. 

melanarius, St. Canned Chase t 

a specimen intermediate 
between type and var. 
monticola Sharp 

marginatus, Duft. Cannock 

Chase (Blatch) 

Agabus guttatus, Payk. New- 
castle under Lyme (Jahn), 
CktaMt 

paludosus, F. Burton 

nebulosus, Forst. 

sturmi, Gyll. 

chalconotus, Panz. 
bipustulatus, L. 
Platambus maculatus, L. 
Ilybius fuliginosus, F. 

fenestratus, F. Burton (Bates) 

ater, De G. 

obscurus, Marsh. Burton 
Rhantus exoletus, Forst. Re- 
corded by Garner 

bistriatus, Berg. Burton 

(Fowler) 

Colymbetes fuscus, L. 
Dytiscus marginalis, L. 

- punctulatus, F. 
Acilius sulcatus, L. 

GYRINIDAE 

Gyrinus natator, Scop. 

elongatus, Aube. Cannock 

Chase 

Orectochilus villosus, Mull. 
Burton 

HYDROPHILIDAE 

Hydrobius fuscipes, L. 

Philhydrus nigricans, Z. New- 
castle under Lyme (Jahn), 
Swynnerton 

minutus, F. Burton 

coarctatus, Gred. Hanley 
Anacaena globulus, Payk. 

limbata, F. 
Helochares lividus, Forst. 
Laccobius minutus, L. Need- 
wood Forest 

nigriceps, Thorns. 
Berosus luridus, L. Burton 
Limnebius truncatellus, Th. 
Chaetarthria seminulum, Herbst. 

Cannock Chase 
Helophorus rugosus, Ol. 



INSECTS 



HYDROPHILIDAE (cortt.) 

Helophorus aquaticus, L. and var. 
aequalis, Th. Ckeadle 

aeneipennis, Thorns. 

mulsanti, Rye. Cheadle 

brevipalpis, Bedel 
Hydrochus elongatus, Schall. 

Hartley, common 
Henicocerus exsculptus, Germ. 

Burton (Bates) ; Stone (Jahn) 
Hydraena pulchella, Germ. 

River Dove, near Burton 

(Fowler) 

palustris, Er. Cheadle 
Sphaeridium scarabaeo'des, F. 

bipustulatum, F. and var. mar- 

ginatum, F. 
Cercyon haemorrhoidalis, Herbst. 

obsoletus, Gyll. Hanky ; Bur- 

ton (Fowler) 

flavipes, F. 

lateralis, Marsh. 

melanocephalus, L. 

unipunctatus, L. 

quisquilius, L. 

pygmaeus, 111. Burton 
Megasternum boletophagum, 

Marsh. 
Cryptopleurumatomarium,Muls. 

STAPHYLIMDAE 
Aleochara fuscipes, F. 

lanuginosa, Gr. 

moerens, Gyll. Burton 

(Fowler) 

Oxypoda spectabilis, Mark. 
Hanky 

alternans, Grav. 

nigrina, Wat. Needwood 

Forest 

Isc.hnoglossa prolixa, Grav. Bur- 
ton (Fowler) 

corticina, Er. Needwood Forest 
Ocyusa incrassata, Kr. Needwood 

Forest 
Phloeopora reptans, Grav. 

corticalis, Grav. Cannock 

Chase ; Needuood Forest 
Ocalea castanea, Er. Hanky 
Calodera aethiops, Grav. Need- 

ivood Forest 

Astilbus canaliculatus, F. 
Homalota gyllenhali, Thorns. 

Needivood Forest 

hygrotopora, Kr. Cannock 

Chase 

silvicola, Fuss. Cannock Chase 

graminicola, Gyll. 

aequata, Er. Ncedwood Forest 

linearis, Gr. Cannock Chase 

pilicornis, Thorns. 'Needwood 

Forest 

immersa, Er. Cannock Chase ; 

'Needwood Forest 

trinotata, Kr. 



STAPHYLINIDAE (font.) 

Homalota xanthopus, Thorns. 
Needtvood Forest 

diversa, Sharp. Cannock 

Chase (Blatch in Eat. 
1890, p. 208) 

sodalis, Er. Needivood Forest 

nigra, Kr. 

cinnamoptera, Thorns. Need- 

wood Forest 

marcida, Er. Hanky 

pygmaea, Gr. Cannock Chase 
Tachyusa atra, Gr. Cannock 

Chase 

Autalia impressa, Ol. 

Encephalus complicans, Westw. 
Needwood Forest 

Gyrophaena affinis, Man. Can- 
nock Chase 

pulchella, Heer. Hanchurch 

nana, Payk. Cannock Chase 

laevipennis, Kr. Hanchurch 

(Jahn) 
Agaricochara laevicollis, Kr. 

Cannock Chase 
Placusa pumilio, Gr. Cannock 

Chase 

Bolitochara lucida, Gr. Hanley 
Hygronoma dimidiata, Gr. 

Hanky 
Gymnusa brevicollis, Payk. 

Cannock Chase 

- variegata, Kies. CanuocA 

Chase 
Hypocyptus longicornis, Payk. 

- laeviusculus, Man. Cannock 

Chase 

Conosoma pubescens, Gr. 
Tachyporus obtusus, L. 

chrysomelmus, L. 

- humerosus, Er. 

- hypnorum, F. 

brunneus, F. 
Cilea silphoides, L. 
Tachinus humeralis, Gr. 

- rufipes, L. A ferruginous 

var. near Burton (Fowler) 

- subterraneus, L. 

- marginellus, F. 
Megacronus cingulatus, Man. 

Cannock Chase 

- analis, F. Cheadle ; Cannock 

Chase 

inclinans, Gr. Hanchurch 
Bolitobius lunulatus, L. 

- trinotatus, Gr. 

- pygmaeus, F. 
Mycetoporus lucidus, Er. 

lepidus.Gr. Hanchurch (Jahn) 

splendidus, Gr. 
Heterothops dissimilis, Gr. 
Quedius ventralis, Kr. Rudyard 

(Jahn) 

mesomelinus, Marsh. Stone 

(Jahn) 

89 



STAPHYLINIDAE (cor.t.) 

Quedius fulgidus, F. Burton 

cruentus, Ol. Stvynnerton 

xanthopus, Er. Burton 

impressus, Panz. (cinctus, 

Payk) 

- fuliginosus, Gr. 

tristis, Gr. 

molochinus, Gr. 

- nigriceps, Kr. Burton 

- umbrinus, Er. Hanley 

scintillans, Gr. Needviood 

Forest 

- rufipes, Gr. 

- attenuatus, Gyll. Burton 

semiaeneus, Sieph. Cannock 

Chase ; Needuood Forest 
Creophilus maxillosus, L. 
Leistotrophus nebulosus, F. 
murinus, L. Burton 
Staphylinus pubescens, De G. 

Burton 

stercorarius, Ol. Burton ; 

Doredale (fahn) 

latebricola, Gr. Burton 

- erythropterus, L. 

- cacsareus, Ceder 
Ocypus olens, Mull. 

similis, F. Burton 

brunnipes, F. Dwedale (Jahn) 

cupreus, Rossi 

- morio, Gr. 

compressus, Marsh. Burton 
Philonthus splendens, F. 

- intermedius, Boisd. 

- laminatus, Cr. 

- aeneus, Rossi 

- proximus, Kr. Cannock Chase 

- decorus, Gr. 

- politus, F. 

varius, Gyll. 

- marginatus, F. 

- fimetarius, Gr. 

ebeninus, Gr. Hanky 

- sanguinolentus, Gr. Burton; 

Hanley 

cruentatus, Gm. 

varians, Payk 

nigrita, Nord. Cannock Chase 

fulvipcs, F. Burton (Fowler) 

puella, Nord. Needwood 

Forest ; Dovedale 
Cafius xantholoma, Gr. Burton; 

Cannock Chase (Jahn) 
Xantholinus glabratus, Gr. 

punctulatus, Gr. 

tricolor, F. Cheadle 

linearis, Ol. 

longiventris, Hcer 
Nudobius lentus, Gr. Hanley 

No doubt introduced 
Baptolinus alternans, Gr. 
Othius fulvipennis, F. 

myrmecophilus, Kies. 
Lathrobium elongatum, L. 

12 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



STAPHYLINIDAE (cant.) 

Lathrobium fulvipenne, Gr. 

brunnipes, F. 

-- rufipcnne, Gyll. Cannock 
Chase (Blatch) 

longulum, Gr. Burton 

- multipvmctum, Gr. Burton 
Cryptobium glaberrimum, Hbst. 

Cannock Chase 
Stilicus orbiculatus, Er. Burton ; 

Needtvood Forest 

- affinis, Er. 

Medon obsoletus, Nord. Burton 

(Harris) 

Lithocharis ochracea, Gr. Burton 
Sunius angustatus, Payk. 
Paederus littoralis, Gr. 

riparius, L. Burton 
Evaesthetus ruficapillus, Lac. 

Needti-ood Forest 
Dianous coerulescens, Gyll. 

Dovedale (Fowler) 
Stenus biguttatus, L. Banks of 

Dot'e near Burton (Fowler) 

bipunctatus, Er. Banks of 

Dove near Burton (Fowler) 

- guttula, Mull. Banks of 

Dove near Burton (Fowler) 

- juno, F. 

- guynemeri, Duv. Cannock 

Chase (Blatch in Ent. 
1890, p. 208) 

- speculator, Er. 

- brunnipes, Steph. 

impressus, Germ. 

- carbonarius, Gyll. Burton 

(Fowler) 

- pallipes, Gr. Ncedzt-ood Forest 

- flavipes, Gr. N cedti-ood Forest 

- pubescens, Steph. 

- binotatus, Lj. Cannock Chase 

- cicindeloides, Gr. 

- similis, Hbst. 

Bledius opacus, Block. Burton 
(Fowler); Hanchurch (Jahn) 
Platystethus arenarius, Fourc. 
Oxytelus rugbsus, Gr. 

fulvipes, Er. Needviood (Gor- 

ham, Harris, and others) 

laqueatus, Marsh 

inustus, Gr. Cannock Chase 

sculpturatus, Gr. 

- tetracarinatus, Block 
Trogophloeus rivularis, Mots. 

Cannock Chase 

corticinus, Gr. Cannock Chase 

pusillus, Gr. Burton (Fowler) 
Lesteva longelytrata, Goeze 
Olophrum piceum, Gyll. 
Lathrimaeum unicolor, Steph. 
Deliphrum tectum, Payk. Han- 

ley 
Cory phi urn angusticolle, Steph. 

Needwood Forest 
Homalium rivulare, Payk. 



STAPHYLINIDAE (cant.) 

Homalium oxyacanthae, Grav. 

excavatum, Steph. Burton 

rufipes, Fourc. 

deplanatum, Gyll. Cannock 

Chase 
Anthobium minutum, F. 

ophthalmicum, Payk. 

torquatum, Marsh. 
Proteinus brachypterus, F. 
Megarthrus depressus, Lac. 
Prognatha quadriconiis, Lac. 

Needtvood Forest 

LEPTINIDAE 

Leptinus testaceus, Mull. Need- 
wood Forest, in large num- 
bers, in a humble-bee's nest 
(Gorham) 

SILPHIDAE 

Agathidium nigripenne, Kug. 
Needwood Forest ; Trent- 
ham (Jahn) 

atrum, Payk. Cannock Chase ; 

Needtvood Forest 

seminulum, L. Cannock Chase 

varians, Beck. N eedtvood Forest 

globosum, Muls. Cannock 

Chase 

rotundatum, Gyll. Cannock 

Chase 

nigrinum, St. Needwood 

Forest ; Trcntham (Jahn) 
Amphicyllis globus, F. Burton 
Liodes humeralis, Kug. 

orbicuhris, Hbst. Cannock 

Chase 

Anisotoma calcarata, Er. Stvyn- 
ncrton ; Cannock Chase 

punctulata, Gyll. Burton 

(Harris) 

cinnamomea, Panz. Cheadle 
Necrophorus humator, Goeze 

mortuorum, F. 

ruspator, Er. Hanley 

vespillo, L. 

vestigator, Hers. Burton ; 

Hanley (Garner) 

Necrodes littoralis, L. Trentham 
(Jahn), Throwley and Tit- 
tensor (Garner") ; Burton 

Silpha nigrita, Cr. Burton 

obscura, L. Burton, also re- 

corded by Garner 

quadripunctata, L. Burton 

(Fowler) ; Stvynnerton 
- opaca, L. Cannock Chase 

thoracica, L. 

rugosa, L. 

sinuata, F. 

laevigata, F. Cannock Chase; 

Burton 

90 



SILPHIDAE (cent.) 

Silpha atrata, L. 

var. brunnea, Hbst. Re- 
corded by Garner 
Choleva angustata, F. Burton 

cisteloides, Panz. Cheadle; 

Hanley 

coracina, Kell. Needwood 

Forest ; Trentham (Jahn) 

grandicollis, Er. 

nigrita, Er. Cannock Chase 

tristis, Pz. 

kirbyi,Spence. Cannock Chase 

chrysomeloides, Panz. 

fumata, Spence 
Catops sericeus, F. 

SCYDMAENIDAE 

Neuraphes sparshalli, Den. Bur- 
ton (Fowler) 
Scydmaenus collaris, Mull. 

exilis, Er. Cannock Chase, 

Hanchtirch (Jahn) 

PSELAPHIDAE 

Pselaphus heisei, Hbst. Hen- 
hurst (Brown) ; R. Doze 
(Bates) 

Tychus niger, Payk. 

Bythinus puncticollis, Den. Bur- 
ton, common (Fowler) 

curtisii, Den. Henhurst 

(Brown) 

Bryaxis fossulata, Reich. Hen- 
hurst (Brown) 

haematica, Reich. Henkurst 

(Brown) ; R. Dove (Bates) 

impressa, Panz. 

Batrisus venustus, Reich. Bagofs 
Park (Gorham) 

Bibloporus bicolor, Den. Can- 
nock Chase 

Euplectus punctatus, Muls. Can- 
nock Chase 

karsteni, Reich. CannockChase 

nanus, Reich. Cannock Chase 

piceus, Mots. Cannock Chase 

TRICHOPTERYGI DAE 

Pteryx suturalis, Heer. Han- 
church (Jahn) 

Ptinella denticollis, Fairm. Need- 
wood Forest (Blatch) ; Hanley 

aptcra, Gu6r. Cannock Chase 

angustula, Gill. Cannock Chase 
Trichopteryx thoracica, Walt. 

Burton ; Needu-ood Forest 
Nossidium pilosellum, Marsh. 

Needti-ood Forest (Gorham) 
Ptenidium evanescens, Marsh 

Needwood Forest (Gorham). 

PHALACRIDAE 

Phalacrus corruscus, Payk. 
Stilbus testaceus, Panz. 



INSECTS 



COCCI NELLI DAE 

Subcoccinella z^-punctata, L. 
Burton ; Dovedale (Jahn) 

Hippodamia variegata, Goeze. 
Burton 

Anisosticta ig-punctata, L. Can- 
nock Chase (Jahn) 

Adalia obliterata, L. 

bipunctata, L. 

Mysia oblongoguttata, L. Swyn- 
nerton ; Cannock Chase 
(Brown) ; Cheadle 

Anatis ocellata, L. 

Coccinella lo-punctata, L. 

hieroglyphica, L. Cannock 

Chase 

I l-punctata, L. 

5-punctata, L. Burton 
- 7-punctata, L. 

Halyzia 14-guttata, L. 

i8-guttata, L. 

conglobata, L. Szvynnerton 

22-punctata, L. 
Micraspis i6-punctata, L. Burton 
Hyperaspis reppensis, Hbst. 

Staffordshire (Fowler) 
Scymnus nigrinus, Kug. Can- 
nock Chase 

capitatus, F. Cannock Chase; 

Hanky 
Chilocorus similis, Rossi. Burton 

bipustulatus.L. CannockChase; 

Burton 
Exochomus quadripustulatus, L. 

Cannock Chase ; Burton 
Rhizobius litura, F. 
Coccidula rufa, Hbst. 

ENDOMYCHIDAE 
Mycetaea hirta, Marsh. Hamey 

EROTYLIDAI 

Dacne humeralis, F. Needwood 
Forest 

rufifrons, F. Burton ; Han- 

church (Jahn) 

Triplax russica, L. Needwood 
Forest ; Cannock Chase 

aenea,Schall. Needwood Forest; 

Byrkley Park (Brown) 
Cyrtotriplax bipustulata, F. Han- 
church (Jahn) 

CoLYDIIDAE 

Cerylon histeroides, F. 
ferrugineum, Steph. Cannock 
Chase ; Trentham (Jahn) 

fagi, Bris. One at Hanchurch 

HlSTERIDAE 

Hister unicolor, L 

cadaverinus, HofF. Hanley 

succicola, Thorns. Cannock 

Chase 

purpurascens,Hbst. Burton 



HISTERIDAE (eont.) 
Hister carbonarius, 111. 

bimaculatus, L. 
Gnathoncus nannetensis, Marsh. 

Cannock Chase 
Saprinus nitidulus, Payk. 

aeneus, F. 
Onthophilus striatus, F. 

MlCROPEPLIDAE 

Micropeplus margaritae, Duv. 

NlTIDULIDAE 

Brachypterus pubescens, Er. 
Cercus' rufilabris, Latr. 
Epuraea aestiva, L. 

deleta, Er. Hanley 

obsoleta, F. 

pusilla, Er. 

angustula, Er. Stone (Jahn) 
Nitidub bipustulata, L. 
Soroniapunctatissima, 111. Burton 

- grisea, L. 
Omosita colon, L. 

- discoidea, F. 

Pocadius ferruginous, F. Burton 
Meligethes rufipes, Gyll. 

aeneus, F. 

viridescens, F. 

difficilis, Heer. Staffordshire 

(Fowler) 

Cychramus luteus, F. Lurlon 
Ips quadriguttat.i, F. Necdtvood 

Forest ; Hanckurch (Jahn) 

quadripunctata, Hbst. Need- 

wofd Forest ; Hanchurch 
(Jahn) 

Rhizophagus parallelocollis, Er. 
Cannock Chase 

ferrugincus, Pk. 

nitidulus, F. Cannock Chase ; 

Needwood Forest 

dispar, Gyll 

bipustulatus, F. 

TROGOSITIDAE 

Nemosoma clongatum, L. In- 
troduced in Welsh timber 

Thymalus limbatus, F. Dore- 
dale (Jahn) ; Cannock Chase 

LATHRIDIIDAE 

Lathridius lardarius, De G. 

Coninomus nodifer, Westw. 

[ constrictus, Humm. Record- 
ed doubtfully by Fowler 
from Burton] 

Enicmus minutus, L. 

fungicola, Thorns. Cannock 

Chase, in numbers 

brevicornis, Mannh. Cannock 

Chase, under birch bark 

(Blatch) 
Cartodere filum, Aubi. Burton, 

in a herbarium (Fowler) 
Corticaria pubescens, Gyll. Hanky 

9 1 



LATHRIDIIDAE (cont.~) 

Melanophthalma gibbosa, Hbst. 

fuscula, Humm. 

Pediacus dermestoides, F. Stone 



CuCUJIDAE 

Silvanus unidentatus, Ol. 

BYTURIDAE 
Byturus tomentosus, F. 

CRYPTOPHAGIDAE 

Antherophagus nigricornis, F. 
Hanchurch (Jahn) 

- pallens, Gyll. Cannock Chase 
Cryptophagus lycoperdi, Hbst. 

scanicus, L. 

dentatus, Hbst. 
Micrambe vini, Panz. 
Atomaria barani, Bris. Hanley 

- fuscipes, Gyll. CannockChase 

nigripennis, Payk. Burton 

(Harris) 

fuscata, Sch. 

pusilla, Payk. 

basalis, Er. Burton (Fowler) 

mesomelas, Hbst. Burton 

(Bates) 

ruficornis, Marsh. 

ScAPHIDIIDAE 

Scaphidium quadrimaculatum, Ol. 
Cannock Chase 

Scaphisoma boleti, Panz. Need- 
wood Forest ; Hanley 

MYCETOPHAGIDAE 
Typhaea fumata, L. 
Triphyllus suturalis, F. 

punctatus, F. Burton ; Swyn- 

nerton 
Litargus bifasciatus, F. Swyn- 

nerton and Meaford (Jahn) 
Mycetophagus quadripustulatus, 

L. 

piceus, F. 

atomarius, F. Burton 

DEKMESTIDAE 

Dermestes vulpinus, F. Wol- 
stanton (Jahn) 

murinus, L. Knightley Park 

(Brown) ; Hanley 

lardarius, L. 
Attagenus pellio, L. 
Megatoma undata, Er. Burton ; 

Cannock Chase 
Anthrenus musaeorum, L. Burton 

claviger, Er. Meaford (Jahn) 

BYRRHIDAE 

Byrrhus pilula, L. 

fasciatus, F. 

dorsalis, F. 

Simplocaria semistriata, F. Can- 
nock Chase 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



FARM DAE 

Elmis aeneus, Mull. 

volkmari, Panz. Burton 

(Fowler) 
Potaminus substriatus, Mull. 

R. Dove near Burton 

(Fowler) 
Parnus auriculatus, Panz. 

prolifericornis, F. 

LUCANIDAF 

Dorcus parallelopipedus, L. 
Brereton (R.G.) ; Burton, 
one at Trentham (Jahn) 

Sinodendron cylindricum, L. 

SCARABAEIDAE 

Copris lunaris, L. Whitmore 

(Chappell) 

Onthophagus ovatus, L. Scalp- 
cliff Hill (Brown) ; Burton 

(Bates), also recorded by 

Garner 

- coenobita, Hbst. Needwood 

Forest 
Aphodius erraticus, L. Burton 

- subterraneus, L. 

- fossor, L. 

- haemorrhoidalis, L. 

- foetens, F. 

- fimetarius, L. 

- scybalarius, F. 

- ater, De G. 

- granarius, L. 

- sordidus, F. Burton 

- rufescens, F. Burton 

- pusillus, Hbst. 

- merdarius, F. 

- inquinatus, F. Hanky 

- sticticus,Panz. Burton (Bates) 

- punctatosulcatus, St. 

- prodromus, Br. 

- contaminatus, Hbst. 

- obliteratus, Panz. Needwood 

Forest 
Aphodius luridus, F. Burton 

var. nigripes, F. Burton 
(Bates) 

- rufipes, L. 

- depressus, Kug. 
Aegialia arenaria, F. Hanley 
Gcotrupes typhoeus, L. Abun- 
dant on Swynnerton and 
Whitmore Heaths (Pinder 

fide Garner) 

- stercorarius, L. 

- spiniger, Marsh 

- mutator, Marsh. Needuiood 

Forest ; Dovedale (Brown) 

- vernalis, L. Recorded by 

Garner 

- sylvaticus, Panz. Hanley, 

common 



SCARABAEIDAE (cant.) 

Trox sabulosus, L. Burton ,- 
Cannock Chase, vide also 
Ent. 1896, p. 200 

Hoplia philanthus, Fuss. Hanley 

Serica brunnea, L. 

Melolontha vulgaris, F. 

Rhizotrogus solstitialis, L. One 
at Stone (Jahn) 

Phyllopertha horticola, L. 

Cetonia aurata, L. North Staffs. 
(Garner) 

BUPRESTIDAE 
Agrilus viridis, L. Burton (Bates) 

THROSCIDAE 

Throscus dermestoides, L. Han- 
ley ; Cannock Chase 

ELATERIDAE 

Lacon murinus, L. 
Cryptohypnus quadripustulatus, 
F. Burton; Dovedale (Jahn) 

riparius, F. 

Elater pomorum, Hbst. Cannock 
Chase 

balteatus, L. Cannock Chase ; 

Hanley 

nigrinus, P.nyk. Burnt Wood 

(Chappell) ; Trentham 

(Jahn) 

Melanotus rufipes, Hbst. 
Athous niger, L. 

haemorrhoidalis, F. 

vittatus, F. Burton; Cannock 

Chase 

longicollis, Ol. Burton 
Limonius minutus, L. Burton 
Sericosomus brunneus, L. Can- 
nock Chase ; Burnt Wood 
(Fowler) 

Adrastus limbatus, F. 
Agriotes sputator, L. 

obscurus, L. 

lineatus, L. 

sobrinus, Kies. 
- pallidulus, 111. 

Dolopius marginatus, L. 
Corymbites pectinicornis, L. 
Burton ; Trentham (Jahn) 

cupreus, F. 

var. aeruginosus, F. 

tessellatus, F. Burton 

quercus, Gyll 

var. ochropterus, Steph. 
Cheadle ; Cannock 

' ia ; Chase 

L holosericeus, F. Burton 

aeneus, L. Burton ; Cannock 

Chase 
Campylus linearis, L. 

9 2 



DASCILLIDAE 

Dascillus cervinus, L. Burton ; 

Dovedale (Jahn) 
Helodes marginata, F. 

minuta, L. 
Microcara livida, F. 
Cyphon coarctatus, Payk 

nitidulus, Th. 

variabilis, Th. 

pallidulus, Boh. Cannock 

Chase 

LAMPYRIDAE 

Lampyris noctiluca, L. Widely 
distributed 

TELEPHORIDAE 

Podabrus alpinus, Payk. Can- 
nock Chase ; Wee/ and Stone 
(Jahn) 

Ancistronycha abdominalis, F. 
Dovedale (Jahn) 

Telephone fuscus, L. (fide Gar- 
ner) 

rusticus, Fall 

lividus, L. 

var. dispar, F. Cheadle 

pellucidus, F. 

nigricans, Mll'l. 

var. discoideus, Steph 
Cheadle 

lituratus, Fall. 

bicolor, F. 

haemorrhoidalis, F. Trent- 

ham (Jahn), Burton 

flavilabris, Fall. 

thoracicus, Ol. Burton 
Rhagonycha unicolor, Curt. 

Cannock Chase 

fulva, Scop. 

testacea, L. 

limbata, Thorns. 

pallida, F. 
Malthinus punctatus, Fourc. 

fasciatus, Ol. Burton 

frontalis, Marsh. Camtock 

Chase 
Malthodes marginatus, Latr. 

guttifer, Kies. Cannock 

Chase (Blatch) 

minimus, L. 

MELYRIDAE 

Malachius aeneus, L. Burton 

bipustulatus, L. 

viridis, F. Trentham Park 

(Garner) 

Axinotarsus ruficollis, Ol. Bur- 
ton (Bates) 

Anthocomus fasciatus, L. Hanley 
Dasytes aerosus, Kies. Burton 
Haplocnemus impressus, Marsh. 
Cannock Chase 



INSECTS 



CLERIDAE 

Thanasimus formicarius, L. 

Hanley 

Necrobia ruficollis, F. Burton 
Corynetes coeruleus, De G. 

Burton 

LlMEXYLONIDAE 

Hylecoetus dermestoides, L. 
Cannock Chase 

PTINIDAE 
Ptinus fur, L. 

lichenum, Marsh. Burton 
Niptus hololeucus, Fald. fide 

Mason in E.M.M. 1893, 
p. 238 

crenatus, F. Burton; Staffs. 

(Garner) 

, Hedobia imperialis, L. Burton ; 
Needwood Forest ; Hanley 

ANOBIIDAE 

Dryophilus pusillus, Gyll. 
Priobium castaneum, F. 
Anobium domesticum, Fourc. 

paniceum, L. Burton 
Xestobium tessellatum, F. Bur- 
ton ; Needwood Forest 

Ptilinus pectinicornis, L. Bur- 
ton ; Sivy nner ton 
Ernobius moliis, L. Burton 
Xyletinus ater, Panz. Burton 
(Bates) 

BOSTRICHIDAE 

Bostrichus capucinus, L. Bur- 
ton (E. Brown in coll. 
Power) 

SPHINDIDAE 

Sphindus dubius, Gyll. Cannock 
Chase 

ClSSIDAE 

Cis boleti, Scop. 

villosulus, Marsh. Needwood 

Forest 

hispidus, Payk. Cannock 

Chase 

bidentatus, Ol. Cannock 

Chase 

pygmaeus, Marsh. Burton 

fuscatus, Mell. Cannock 

Chase 
Ennearthron cornutum, Gyll. 

Cannock Chase 
Octotemnus glabriculus, Gyll. 

PRIONIDAE 

Prionus coriarius, L. Old trees 
in Staffs. (Garner), Can- 
nock Chase in 1890 and 
1892 (Masefield), one at 
Trentham (Jahn) 



CERAMBYCIDAE 

Aromia moschata, L. Burton 
Callidium violaceum, L. North 

Staffs. (Garner) 
Clytus arietis, L. 

mysticus, L. Burton 
Gracilia minuta, F. Burton 
Rhagium inquisitor, F. Trent- 
ham (Garner) 

bifasciatum, F. Scalpdijf 

Hill, Brown ; Swynncrton, 
common (Garner) 

indagator, Gyll. Swynnerton. 

This northern species is 

very rare in England 
Toxotus meridianus, Panz. Bur- 
ton ; Barlaston (Jahn) 
Pachyta cerambyciformis, Schr. 

On wild Angelica (Garner) 
Leptura livida, F. Burnt Wood 

(Fowler) 
Strangalia quadrifasciata, L. One 

at Sivynnerton 

armata, Hbst. 

melanura, L. Burnt Wood 

(Fowler) 

Grammoptera tabacicolor, De G. 
Oakamoor (Garner) ,- Han- 
church (Jahn) 
- ruficornis, F. 

[ praeusta, F. Oakamoor 
(Garner)] 

LAMIIDAE 

Acanthocinus aedilis, L. One 
in the Trent meadows be- 
low Hanley, four at Han- 
ky and Stoke (Jahn) 

Pogonochaerus fasciculatus, De G. 
Hanley 

bidentatus, Th. 

dentatus, Fourc. Sivynnerton 
Leiopus nebulosus, L. Cannock 

Chase ; Trentham (Jahn) 
Monochammus sutor, L. Burton ; 

introduced in timber 
Agapanthia lineatocollis, Don. 

Cannock Chase (Jahn) 
Saperda populnea, L. 
Tetrops praeusta, L. Burton 
Stenostola ferrea, Schr. Hen- 
hurst (Brown) 

BRUCHIDAE 
Bruchus rufimanus, Boh. CheaJle 

EUPODA 

Donacia crassipes, F. Burton 
(Fowler) ; Trent side 
(Brown) 

versicolorea, Brahm. Burton; 

Trentham (Jahn) 

sparganii, Ahr. Burton 

limbata, Panz. Burton 

93 



EUPODA (cant.) 

Donacia bicolora, Zsch. Cannock 
Chase ; Burnt Wood (Fow- 
ler) 

simplex, F. Trent side 

(Brown) ; Hanley, common 

ssmicuprea, Panz. Hanley 

clavipes, F. Burton (Fowler) 

sericea, L. Burton, very 

common, Trentham (Jahn) 

discolor, Panz. Cannock Chase 

affinis, Kunze. Trent side 

(Brown) 

[Haemonia curtisi, Lac. Trent 
side and Burton, probably 
should be succeeding 
species] 

appendiculata, Panz. Burton 

(Rev. C. F. Thornewill) 
Zeugophora subspinosa, F. Bur- 
ton ; Hanley 
Lema cyanella, L. 

lichenis, Voet. 

melanopa, L. 

Crioceris asparagi, L. Burton ; 
Hanley 

CAMPTOSOMATA 

Clythra quadripunctata, L. Burnt 
Wood (Fowler) ; two in 
Churnet Galley (Jahn) 

Cryptocephalus coryli, L. Can- 
nock Chaseon birch(Blatch) 

bipunctatus,L. var. lineola,F. 

Chartley Moss and Burnt 
Wood (Fowler) ; Dovcdale 
(Jahn) 

aureolus, Suffr. Dovedale 

on Hieracium (Fowler and 
Jahn) 

punctiger, Payk. Cannock 

Chase 

- parvulus, Mull. Chartley 
Moss and Burnt It'ood 
(Fowler) 

decemmaculatus, L. Chartley 

Moss (Harris and Garneys) 
var. bothnicus, L. Chart- 
ley Moss (Harris and 
Garneys) 

fulvus, Goeze. Hanley 

pusillus, F. Burton 

labiatus, L. 

CYCLICA 

Timarcha tenebricosa, F. 

violaceonigra, De G. 
Chrysomela staphylea, L. 

polita, L. 

orichalcia, Mull. Burton ; 

Hanley 

varians, Sch. 

goettingensis, L. Near Bur- 

ton (Fowler) 

graminis, L. Burton 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



CYCLICA (font.) 

Chrysomela menthrasti, Suff. 
Burton (Fowler) ; Cheadle ; 
common on mint in gardens 
at Wolverhampton (Jahn) 

fastuosa, Scop. Burton ; 

Cbeadle ; Swynnerton 

didymata, Scr. Henburst 

(Brown) ; Burton 

hyperici, Forst. Henhunt 

(Brown) ; Dovedale (Jahn) 
Melasoma aeneum, L. Dave- 
dale (Brown) ; Burnt 
Wood (Fowler) ; Cannock 
Chase 

populi, L. Cannock Chase ; 

only at Swynnerton (Jahn) ; 
recorded by Garner 

longicolle, Suffr. Dovedale, 

not uncommon (Jahn) ; 
recorded by Garner 
Phytodecta rufipes, De G. Burnt 
Wood (Fowler) ; Burton 
(Bates) 

olivacea, Forst. Burton 

pallida, L. Burton (Bates) ; 

Cheadle 

Gastroidea viridula, De G. Bur- 
ton ; Cbeadle 

polygoni, L. 
Phacdon tumidulus, Germ. 

armoraciae, L. Burton ; 

Hanley 

cochleariae, F. 
Phyllodecta vulgatissima, L. 

vitellinae, L. 
Hydrothassa aucta, F. 

- marginella, L. 
Prasocuris junci, Br. 

phellandrii, L. 
Phyllobrotica 4-maculata, L. 

Swynnerton ; Trentham 
(JaEn) 
Luperus rufipes, Scop. 

flavipcs, L. Cheadle 
Lochmaea caprcae, L. 

suturalis, Thorns Cheadle; 

Hanley 

crataegi, Forst. 
Galerucella viburni, Payk. Bur- 
ton (Bates) 

nymphaeae, L. Cannock 

Chase 

sagittariae, Gyll. Burton 

tenella, L. Burton 
Adimonia tanaceti, L. Burton 

Cannock Chase ; Burnt 
Wood (Fowler) 
Sermyla halensis, L. 

HALTICIDAE 

Longitarsus luridus, Scop. 

suturellus, Duft. 

atricillus, L. 

melanocephali s, All. 



HALTICIDAE (font.) 

Longitarsus nasturtii, F. Near 
Burton (Fowler) 

lycopi, Foudr. Hanley 

membranaceus, Foudr. Han- 

ley 

flavicornis, Steph. Hanley 

pusillus, Gyll. 

reichei, All. Needtvood Forest 

(Gorham) 

jacobaeae, Wat. 

gracilis, Kuts. 

laevis, Duft. Hanley 

pellucidus, Foudr. Hanley 
Haltica oleracea, L. 

ericeti, All. 

Phyllotreta nigripes, F. Need- 
wood forest (Gorham) 

punctulata, Marsh. Need- 

wood Forest 

atra, Pk. Cannock Chase 

cruciferae, Goeze 

vittula, Redt. 

undulata, Kuts. 

nemorum, L. Very de- 

structive in 1843 (Garner) 

cxclamationis, Th. Cannock 

Chase 
Aphthona nonstriata, Goeze 

venustula, Kuts. Needwood 

Forest 

virescens, Foudr. Dovedale 

(J^n) 
Sphaeroderma testaceum, F. 

cardui, Gyll. Recorded by 

Garner 
Mniophila muscorum, Koch. 

Hanley 
Mantura chrysanthemi, Koch. 

Trentham (Garner) 
Crepidodera transversa, Marsh. 

ferruginea, Scop. 

rufipes, L. 

helxines, L. Rolleston, &c. 

(Brown) 

nitidula, L. Hanley ; re- 

corded by Garner 

aurata, Marsh. 
Hippuriphila modeeri, L. 
Chaetocnema hortensis, Fourc. 
Plectroscelis concinna, Marsh. 
Psylliodes chalcomera, 111. 

chrysocephala, L. Hanley 

napi, Koch. 

affinis, Payk. Hanley 



CRYPTOSTOMATA 

Cassida vibex, F. Dovedale (Jahn) 

flaveola, Th. Burton, Hanley 

equestris, F. Burton 

viridis, F. 

hemisphaerica, Hbst. Near 

Burton (Harris) 

94 



TENEBRIONIDAE 

Blaps mortisaga, L. Burton. 
Garner's records of Shelton 
and Madeley Mill probably 
refer to B. mucronata 

mucronata, Latr. One at 

Hanley 

Crypticus quisquilius, L. Hanley 
Scaphidema metallicum, F. Lich- 
field (Fowler) ; Byrkley 
Park (Brown) 
Tenebrio molitor, L. 
Gnathocerus cornutus, F. Hanley 
Tribolium ferrugineum, F. Bur- 
ton (Fowler) 

confusum, Duv. Burton 

(Fowler) 

Hypophloeus linearis, F. Trent- 
bam (Jahn) 

Helops striatus, Fourc. 

LAG RI i DAE 

Lagria him, L. 
Cistela murina, L 



MELANDRVIDAE 



Can- 



Tetratoma fungorum, F. 
nock Chase 

Orchesia micans, Panz. Burton, 
Cannock Chase. (Ellis in 
Ent. 1898, p. 271) 

Hallomenus humeralis, Panz. 

Conopalpus testaceus, Ol. 

PYTHIDAE 

Pytho depressus, L. Hanley, in 
imported timber 

Salpingus castaneus, Panz. Can- 
nock Chase 

aeratus, Muls. Hanley 
Lissodema quadripustulata, 

Marsh. Burton 
Rhinosimus ruficollis, L. 

planirostris, F. 

OEDEMERIDAE 

Oedemera nobilis, Scop. 

Nacerdes melanura, Schm. Bur- 
ton, probably introduced 
with timber 

PYROCHROIDAE 
Pyrochroa serraticornis, Scop. 

MORDELLIDAE 

Anaspis frontalis, L. 

pulicaria, Costa. Needwood 

Forest 

geoffroyi, Mull. 

ruficollis, F. 

maculata, Fourc. 

ANTHICIDAE i 

Anthicus floralis, L. 

antherinus, L 



INSECTS 



MELOIDAE 

Meloe proscarabaeus, L. 

violaceus, Marsh. Bagnall 

(Garner) , Button 

PLATYRRHINIDAE 

Brachytarsus fasciatus, F orst. Bur- 
ton ; Cannock Chase 

varius, F. Burton ; Stable ford 

(Jahn) 

CURCULIONIDAE 

Apoderus coryli, L. Burton 
Attelabus curculionoides, L. 

Burnt Wood (Fowler) ; 

Cheadle ; Burton ; Stoynner- 

ton 
Rhinomacer attelaboides, F. 

Sviynnerton, not common 
Rhynchites aequatus, L. Burton 

cupreus, L. Ckeadle; Stvyn- 

nerton 

aeneovirens, Marsh. Burnt 

Wood (Fowler) ; Burton 

coeruleus, De G. Button 

minutus, Hbst. 

- interpunctatus, Steph. Bur- 

ton 

nan us, Payk. Hanky 

uncinatus, Thorns. Cannock 

Chase 

sericeus, Hbst. Burton (Bates) 

- pubescens, F. Burton; a few 

at Stvynnerton 
Deporaus megacephalus, Germ. 

betulae, L. 
Apion pomonae, F. 

- craccae, L. Burton 

- ulicis, FOrst. 

- malvae, F. Burton 

- haematodes, Kirby 

- miniatum, Germ. Burton 

- rufirostre, F. Burton 

varipes, Germ. 

- apricans, Hbst. Burton 

- assimile, Kirby 

trifolii, L. 

dichroum, Bed. 

nigritarse, Kirby 

aeneum, F. 

carduorum, Kirby 

- pisi, F. 

striatum, Kirby 

ervi, Kirby 

vorax, Hbst. Burton; Cheadle 

meliloti, Kirby. Burton 

- scutellare, Kirby 

- loti, Kirby 

seniculum, Kirby 

violaceum, Kirby 

hydrolapathi, Kirby 

humile, Germ. 
Otiorrhynchus tenebricosus.Hbst. 

Burton ; also recorded by 
Garner 



CURCULIONIDAE (cant.) 

Otiorrhynchus picipes, F. Here 
belong Garner's O. notatus 
and O. septentrionis 

sulcatus, F. 

rugifrons, Gyll. 

ovatus, L. 

muscorum, Bris. Hanley ; 

banks of R. Dove, near 
Burton (Fowler) 

Trachyphloeus squamulatus, Ol. 
Cannock Chase ; Burton 

Caenopsis fissirostris, Walt. Can- 
nock Chase and Hednesford 
(Blatch) 

waltoni, Boh. Cannock Chase 
Strophosomus coryli, F. 

capitatus, De G. 

- retusus, Marsh. 

- lateralis, Payk. 
Exomias araneiformis, Sch. 
Omias mollinus, Boh. Burton 
Brachysomus echinatus, Bonsd. 

Burton ; Sviynnerton 
Sciaphilus muricatus, F. 
Tropiphorus tomentosus, Marsh. 

Burton 

Liophloeus nubilus, F. Burton 
Polydrusu; micans, F. Burton 

(Bates) ; recorded also by 

Garner 

- tereticollis, DC G. 

pterygomalis, Boh. 

cervinus, L. 
Phyllobius oblongus, L. 

calcaratus, F. Recorded by 

Garner 

- urticae, De G. 

- pyri, L. 

argentatus, L. 

rruculicornis, Germ. 

pomonae, Ol. 

- viridiaeris, L;iich. 

viridicollis, F. Dovtdale 

(Fowler) ; Cheadle ; Sfvyn- 

nerton 

Philopedon geminatus, F. Burton 
Atactogenus exaratus, Marsh. 

Burton (Bates) 
Barynotus obscurus, F. 

schbnherri, Zett. Hanley 

- elevatus, Marsh. Burton 
Alophus triguttatus, F. 
Sitones cambricus, Steph. Bur- 
ton (Bates) 

regensteinensis, Hbst. 

- tibialis, Hbst. 

[ crinitus, Hbst. Recorded 
as well as S. griseus, F. by 
Garner, but both require 
confirmation ; cf. Fowler 
on these two species] 

- hispidulus, F. 

- humeralis, Steph. Burton 

flavescens, Marsh. 

95 



CURCULIONIDAE (cont.) 

Sitones puncticollis, Steph. Re- 
corded by Garner 

suturalis, Steph. 

Hneatus, L. 

- sulcifrons, Th. 
Hypera punctata, F. 

rumicis, L. 

suspiciosa, Hbst. 

- polygon!, L. 

- variabilis, Hbst. 

- plantaginis, De G. 

trilineata, Marsh. Burton ; 

Cburnet Valley (Jahn) 

- nigrirostris, F. 

Cleonus sulcirostris, L. Burton 

- nebulosus, L. Burton 
Liosoma ovatulum, Clair. 
Liparus coronatus, Goeze. Bur- 
ton ; also recorded by 
Garner 

Curculio abietis, L. 
Pissodes pini, L. Hanley, in in- 
troduced timber 

- notatus, F. Hanley 
Orchestes quercus, L. 

- alni, L. 

- ilicis, F. Burton (Bates) 

- fagi, L. 

- rusci, Hbst. Hanley 

- avellanae, Don. Eu -ton 

sahcis, L. Henhurst (Brown) ; 

Hanley 

Rhamphus flavicornis, Clair. 

Grypidius equiseti, F. Need- 
wood Forest ; Cannock Chase 

Erirrhinus bimaculatus, F. 
Knightley Park (Brown) 

acridulus, L. 

[ aethiops, F. Burton (Bates 
and Brown) ; recorded also 
by Garner, but in view of 
its rarity requires confir- 
mation. Fowler does not 
give these records] 

Thryogenes nereis, Payk. NeeJ- 
tvood Forest 

Dorytomus vorax, F. Hanley, 
common 

tortrix, L. Burton (Bates) ; 

Henhurst (Brown) 

pectoralis, Panz. Burton 

(Bates) ; Needwood Forest ; 
Stcynnerton 

validirostris, Gyll. Needivood 

Forest (Gorham) ; Henhurst 
(Brown) 

maculatus, Marsh. 

var. costirostris, Gyll. 

Henhurst (Brown) 
Tanysphyrus lemnae, F. 
Bagous alismatis, Marsh. 
[ frit, Hbst. Burton] 

tempestivus, Marsh. Burton 
Anoplus plantaris, Naez. 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



CuRCULIONIDAE 

Elleschus bipunctatus, L. Burton 
(Bates); Henhurst (Brown); 
Burnt Wood (Fowler) 

Tychius mcliloti, Steph. Burton 

tomentosus, Hbst. Burton 
Miccotrogus picirostris, F. 
Mecinus pyraster, Hbst. 
Anthonomus ulmi, De G. 

pedicularius, L. 

- pomorum, L. Burton 

rubi, Hbst. 
Clonus scrophulariae, L. 

- blattariae, F. 

- pulchellus, Hbst. 
Cryptorrhynchuslapathi,L. Bur- 
ton ; Cannock Chase 

Acalles roboris, Curt. Cannock 
Chase 

ptinoides, Marsh. Burton ; 

Cannock Chase 
Coeliodes rubicundus, Hbst. 

- quercus, F. 

- quadrimaculatus, L. 
Poophagus sisymbrii, F. 
Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis, Payk. 

- erysimi, F. Recorded by 

Garner ; one at Su-ynner- 
ton (Jahn) 

- contractus, Marsh. 

- quadridens, Panz. 



CuRCULIONIDAE (fOnt.) 

Ceuthorrhynchus pollinarius, 
Forst. 

litura, F. 

trimaculatus, F. Dovedalc 

Oahn) 
Ceuthorrhynchidius floralis,Payk. 

pyrrhorhynchus, Marsh. 

troglodytes, F. 

Amalus haemorrhous, Hbst. 

Cheadle 
Rhinoncus pericarpius, L. 

perpendicularis, Reich. 
Litodactylus leucogaster, Marsh. 

Burton (Bates) 

Limnobaris T-album, L. Hanley 
Baris picicornis, Marsh. Knightley 

(Brown) 
Balaninus venosus, Gr. Sandon 

(Jahn) 

nucum, L. 

villosus, F. Burnt Wood 

(Fowler) 

pyrrhoceras, Marsh. 

salicivorus, Payk. 
Calandra granaria, L. 

oryzae, L. 

Magdalis carbonaria, L. Burton 
(Bates and Brown) 

armigera, Fourc. Hanley ; 

Burton 



CURCULIONIDAE (coat.) 

Magdalis cerasi,L. Cannock Chase; 
Sandon (Jahn) 

pruni, L. 

SCOLYTIDAE 

Scolytus destructor, Ol. 
Hylastes ater, Pk. 

palliatus, Gyll 

Hylesinus crenatus, F. Burton ; 
very common and destruc- 
tive about Madelty (Bland- 
ford) ; Meaford (Jahn) 

fraxini, Panz. 

vittatus, F. Burton ; 'Need- 

wood Forest ; Trentham 
(Fowler) 

Myelophilus piniperda, L. 

Pityophthorus pubescens, Marsh. 
Burton (Fowler) 

Dryocaetes autographus, Ratz. 
Hanley, probably in im- 
ported timber 

villosus, F. 

Tomicus typographus, L. Hanley 

acuminatus, Gyll. Hanley 

laricis, F. Hanley 
Pityogenes chalcographus, L. 

Hanley 

bidentatus, Hbst. 
Trypodendron domesticum, L. 



The following species have from time to time occurred at Hanley in imported 
timber : Ernobius nigrinus, St. ; Anthaxia quadripunctata, L. ; Semanotus undatus, L. ; Cal- 
lidiurn coriaceum, Pk. ; Curcu/io piceus, de G. ; Crypturgui pusil/us, Gyll. The last-named 
seems to be establishing itself locally. 



LEPIDOPTERA 

(Butter/lies and Moths] 

Staffordshire cannot be said to be rich in Rhopalocera (Butterflies) as only forty-two or 
rather more than half of the British species have been met with in the county, and these 
with the exception of the commoner ' Whites,' E. cardamines, V. urticae, and atalanta and perhaps 
E. ianira, cannot be considered as abundant or even fairly common. The rarer species are 
uncertain both in appearance and in numbers, and generally very local in distribution. Two 
species (L. sinapis and A. paphia] are only represented in the county records by a single 
occurrence each, although other records may have been overlooked. The county is, however, of 
great interest to entomologists as it was formerly a home of the now extinct large Copper Butterfly 
(Polyommatus dispar y Haw.) if the following account of its occurrence in Staffordshire is authentic. 
The late Richard Weaver, in The Entomologist's Weekly Intelligencer for 1856, p. 1 8 (quoted in 
The Field in December, 1893), states : 'A few days ago a gentleman brought and showed 
me a male and female of that species, namely Polyommatus dispar. Haw. (the large Copper 
Butterfly), which he had captured last year in Staffordshire. This is a new locality to me and 
I suppose is to most entomologists.' 

The species of Heterocera (moths) found in the county are on the other hand numerous, 
and many of the species are themselves frequently met with in great numbers, and their larvae 
are at times most destructive to trees and crops. The county of Stafford being situated nearly 
in the centre of England, and the northern portion of it being at an altitude running to 
considerably over 1,000 ft. above sea level, may be considered as somewhere about the 
dividing line between the northern and southern species of British Lepidoptera, and thus we 
find many species of both .northern and southern insects in our lists. 

96 



INSECTS 

The county is an attractive one from the fact that two of our rarest British moths 
(Lasdocampa ilicifolia, L. and Notodonta bicolor, Hb.) were first captured within its bounds. 
The first authentic British record of L. ilicifiHa was of a specimen taken by Atkinson on 
Cannock Chase on 17 May, 1851, although Stephens had previously described this moth as 
British in 1828, and it is figured by Humphreys and Westwood, but at that time no British 
specimen was known. Atkinson's insect was exhibited at a meeting of the Entomological 
Society in London on 2 June, 1851, by Mr. Smith. Since then other specimens have been 
taken on Cannock Chase by Partridge, Weaver and the Brothers Bonney, and on the 
17 May, 1896, an anniversary of the date of the capture of the first insect of this species, 
Dr. Freer took the last recorded example of this moth from that locality. Larvae have since 
been met with in the same locality. N. bicolor, Hb., the other rare British insect before 
mentioned, was taken in the Burnt Woods in Staffordshire on several occasions in 1861 and 
following years. The only other reputed British locality for this insect is Killarney, in Ire- 
land. The actual number of species of the various families recorded as having been met 
with in Staffordshire is as follows : 

British Liat Staffordshire List 

Rhopalocera ........ 65 42 

Heterocera 

Sphinges ........ 39 23 

Bombyces ....... 1 1 1 69 

Noctuae ........ 324 182 

Geometrae ....... 280 178 

Pyralides ........ 78 34 

Pterophori ....... 37 11 

Crambi ........ 83 27 

Tortrices . ....... 343 144 

Tineae ........ 720 238 



2,080 948 

The principal authorities on the Macro-Lepicloptera of Staffordshire are Garner's 
Natural History of the County of Stafford, published in 1840 ; Sir O. Mosley's Natural History 
of Tutbury, published in 1863, which contains a list of the Lepidoptera of the Burton district 
by the well-known entomologist, Mr. Edwin Brown ; Contributions to the Fauna and Flora of 
Repton, by Mr. W. Garneys and others (ed. 2, 1881) ; the Annual Reports of the North Staf- 
fordshire Field Club (1866 to 1906) ; a paper on 'the Lepidoptera of Burton-on-Trent and 
neighbourhood,' which first appeared in the Entomologist for 1885, and was afterwards 
reprinted with additions in the Transactions of the Burton-on-Trent Natural History Society for 
1889 ; besides various notes and papers which have appeared in the Entomologist, the Midland 
Naturalist, and other Natural History magazines and works on Entomology. In the following 
list the records of Macro-Lepidoptera are taken from the reports of the North Staffordshire 
Field Club unless otherwise stated. 

Much less attention has been given to the Micro-Lepidoptera. Mr. Brown's list com- 
prised some 280 species of Tortrices and Tineae ; Mr. C. G. Barrett collected sixty species, 
chiefly at Cannock, in June 1886 (Report N.S.F.C. 1887, p. 13), and in 1880 the Rev. T. W. 
Daltry contributed his first notes on the subject to the same publication. In 1891 
(Report, p. 17) seventy-nine species had been recorded by him, and subsequently a few more 
have been added. In 1892 Messrs. J. T. Harris and P. B. Mason published a list of the 
Crambi, Tortrices, and Tineae of the Burton district (Transactions Burton-on-Trent Natural 
History Society, ii, p. l), while in the Report of the North Staffordshire Field Club for 
1899, p. 60, Mr. E. D. Bostock recorded 17 species, many of which were new to 
the county list. The present list also contains a number of records by Messrs. W. G. 
Blatch and R. C. Bradley, for which I am indebted to Mr. C. J. Wainwright, and Dr. R. 
Freer has contributed a list of 131 species taken by himself in the Rugeley district and the 
adjoining part of Cannock Chase. 

E. B = E. Brown. C. G. B. - C. G. Barrett. T. W. D = Rev. T. W. Daltry. 

B. L. = Burton Society, List of Macro-Lepidoptera (1885-9). 

B. S. = J. T. Harris and Dr. Mason (1892). E. D. B. = E. D. Bostock. 

C. J. W. = C. J. Wainwright. R. C. B. = R. C. Bradley. 

W. G. B. = W. G. Blatch. R. F. = Dr. R. Freer. 

i 97 '3 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



RHOPALOCERA 



PlERIDAE 



NYMPHALIDAE (cont.) 



Pieris brassicae, L. General 

rapae, L. Plentiful throughout the county 

napi, L. In gardens and meadows, but not so 

plentiful as the two last species 
Euchk>5 cardamines, L. Very general in the 

spring and frequents lilac bloom 
Leucophasia sinapis, L. Only recorded as having 

occurred once at Stvynnerton by Mr. Alfred 

Smith 
Colias edusa, Fb. Rare, but has been observed in 

most parts of the county. The var. helice, 

Hb. has been taken once near Stafford 
Gonopteryx rhamni, L. Rare. Madeley, Crad- 

docKt Moss, Dovedale, Cheadle, Oakamoor, 

Hamfs Valley, Mayfeld 

NYMPHALIDAE 

Argynnis selene, Schiff. Burnt Woods, Bagofs 
Park, Dovedale, Chartley (B. L.) 

euphrosyne, L. Common in Burnt Woods in 

some seasons 

aglai.i, L. Fairly plentiful on Cannock Chase, 

one dark var. formerly Dcvedale 

adippe, L. Trentl.am in June, 1901, and 

Downs Banks, near Stone, 1893 ; formerly 
Dovedale (late Rev. H. Harpur Crevve) 
- paphia, L. One in Swynnerton Old Park, 

1890 

Mclitaea aurinia, Rott. CraJdock's Moss, but very 
uncertain in appearance ; one at Burton 
(B. L.) 

athalia, Rott. Burnt Woods (}. B. Hodgkin- 

son), abundant in one locality in South 
Staffordshire (J. Hardy, vide Newman's 
British Butterflies, 48) 

Vanessa C-album, L. A few noted most years, 
but far from common. Madeley, Cheadle, 
Oakamoor, Cannock Chase, Leek, Tixall, 
Stone 

polychloros, L. One pupa at Madeley. An 

imago, Alstonfield, 1875 ; Dovedale, Frads- 
vj ell Heath, near Stone, 1902 ; Burton, 'Need- 
wood Forest (B. L.) 

urticae, L. Very common everywhere, and 

often emerges from hibernation on sunny 
days in winter 

io, L. Very general in September and hiber- 
nated specimens in early spring 

antiopa, L. Very rare, but has been taken at 

Badenhall near Eccleshall, Swynnerton, Stvyth- 
amley, Madeley, and has been observed at 
Alstonfieldty Rev. W. H. Purchas in 1880. 
A noticeable immigration of this insect into 
North Staffordshire took place in 1872. 
One was seen near Warslovi on 28 August, 
and another in the same district about the 
same time. Miss Malleson observed one 
near Hit/me End the same morning, and 
Miss Purchas took a specimen (probably the 
same individual) on the following after- 
noon. Another was taken near Longnor on 



2 September, and two not far from Leek on 

3 September. Mr. Hugo H. Crewe saw 
one near Warslow on 5 September, and 
two more were taken on the moors shortly 
after 

Vanessa atalanta, L. Some years very abundant and 
general throughout the county 

cardui, L. Very uncertain, but plentiful some 

years 

SATYRIDAE 

Pararge megaera, L. Occasional, but nowhere 

common ; Forest Banks, Needwood (B. L.). 

Not met with in the north of the 

county 

Satyrus semele, I,. Bunster Hill, Dovedale 

(B. L.) 

Epinephele ianira, L. Common generally, but 

local 

tithonus, L. Not common. Cannock Chase, 

Madeley, Burton (B. L.) 
- hyperanthes, L. Local. Burnt Woods, Madeley, 

Needwood Forest (B. L.) 

Coenonympha typhon, Rott. Very local. Chartley, 
Chorlton Moss, and all the specimens appear 
to be of the var. rothliebi, Stgr. Stafford- 
shire appears to be about the southern limit 
of this insect 

pamphilus, L. Very common on heaths 

LYCAENIDAE 

Thecla W-album, Knoch. One taken near Mod- 
dershall in 1899 ; Burton, Knightley Perk, 
(B. L.), Market Drayton, 1902 (E. D. B.) 

quercus, L. Stvynnerton, plentiful 

rubi, L. Common, but local. Cannock Chase, 

Cheadle, Maer, Stone, Dovedale; formerly 

plentiful (B. L.) 
Polyommatus phloeas, L. Common generally in 

late summer and autumn 
Lycaena aegon, Schiff. Very rare at Wolverhamp- 

ton (F. O. Morris, vide Newman's British 

Butterflies, p. 121) 

astrarche, Bgstr. Some years abundant in 

Dovedale 

icarus, Rott. Fairly common, but not in great 

abundance 

argiolus, L. Maer, Needwood Forest, Bunit 

Woods, Rugeley, Whitman, Parson's Brake 

minima, Fues. Rare, Dovedale 

HESPERIIDAE 

Syrichthus malvae, L. Very rare. Burnt Woods 
Nisoniades tages, L. Leycett on coal-pit lows, near 

Market Drayton; Dovedale (B. L.) 
Hesperia thaumas, Hufn. Local on railway banks 

at Madeley ; Burton, not uncommon (B. L.) 

sylvanus, Esp. Local, Burnt Woods, Maer ; 

Bagofs Park, common ; Chartley ; Burton, 
not uncommon (B. L.) 

comma, L. Chartley (B. L.) 



INSECTS 



HETEROCERA 



SPHINGES 
SPHINGIDAB 



BOMBYCES 

NYCTEOLIDAE 



Acherontia atropos, L. Very general. No less 
than 200 larvae of this species were brought 
to one entomologist in this county in 1900 

Sphinx convolvuli, L. Occurs occasionally, Made- 
ley, Stone, several years ; Stoke and Hanley, 
1903 ; Rugeley, 1904 ; Burton (B. L.) 

ligustri, L. The larva is said to have been 

taken near Stoke on Trent ; not infrequent at 
Burton (B. L.) 

Deilephila gallii, SchifF. One taken at Handsworth, 
1888 (C. J. Wain wright) 

livornica, Esp. Taken twice at Wolstanton in 

1897 and 1900. One at Mayjield on 18 
May, 1904 

Choerocampa ' cclerio, L. One at Rugeley, 1853 
(R. W. Hawkins). One taken at Burton in 
October, 1880 (B. L.) 

porcellus, L. Not uncommon at valerian and 

rhododendron flowers, Stone, Stafford, 
Cheadle ; Oakedge, Rugeley (B. L.) 
- elpenor, L. General in larval stage 
Smsrinthus ocellatus, L. General in the middle 
and south of the county in orchards 

populi, L. Common throughout the county 

tiliae, L. Very rare. Larvae said to have 

been taken at Trentbam, and one imago near 
Market Dray ton. Two larvae Rugeley, 1902 
Macroglossa stellatarum, L. Very general most 
years, appearing in spring, and again in 
early autumn 

bombyliformis, Och. CraJilock's Moss 

SESIIDAE 

Trochilium apiformis, Clerck. Rare, Stoke-on- 
Trent, Cheadle, Warslow 

crabroniformis, Lewin. General 

Sesia sphegiformis, Fb. Plentiful in Burnt Woods 
some years, Craddocki Moss 

tipuliformis, Clerck. General in gardens 

where currants are grown 

culiciformis, L. Plentiful some years in Burnt 

Woods, Cannock Chase, E. D. B. 



ZVGAENIDAE 

Ino statices, L. Rare and local, Madeley ; Dove- 
dale (B. L.) 

geryon, Hb. Rare, Staffordshire side of Dove- 

dak 

Zygaena trifolii, Esp. Rare and local Cannock 
Chase 

lonicerae, Esp. Canal bank Cheswardine, rare 

filipendulae, L. Rare, railway cutting near 

Madeley, Cannock Chase, Grindon; Burton, 
Dwedale (B. L.) 

1 Choerocampa nerii, L. One at Burton, 1888 (B. L.) One 
t Hanley, Sept. 1896. 



Sarothripus undulanus, Hb. One at Stvynnerton 
Hylophila prasinana, L. Not uncommon in woods, 
Madeley, Leek ; Burton (B. L.) 

bicolorana, Fues. One pupa at Stone in 1905, 

which duly hatched out (E. D. B.) 

NOLI DAE 

Nola cucullatella, L. Not generally common, 
Madeley, Rugeley; common at Burton (B. L.) 

confusalis, H.-S. Bishop') and Burnt Woods ; 

Burton (B. L.) 

LlTHOSIIDAE 

Nudaria mundana, L. General, Madeley, Cborlton 
Moss, Weaver Hills, Dovedale, Leek ; scarce, 
Burton (B. L.) 

Lithosia me ; omella, L. Burnt Woods, Swynnerton, 
Cannock Chase, Chartley 

lurideola, Zinck. Common, Burton (B. L.) 

EUCHELIIDAE 

Deiopeia pulchella, L. Once taken in a mendow 

near Walton's Wood, Madeley, 25 June, 

1892 
Euchelia iacobaeae, L. Pell Wall near Market 

Drafton, and larvae on Cannock Chase ; in a 

garden at Burton once (B. L.) 

CHELONIIDAE 

Nemeophila russula, L. ($ sannio, L.). Not un- 
common on most mosses 

plantaginis, L. Local, but occurs in many 

districts 
Arctia caia, L. Common in south of county, but 

gets rarer further north, and doubtful if it 

occurs at all in extreme north of the county 
Spilosoma fuliginosa, L. Not common, Chorhon 

Moss, Stone, Cannock Chase, Gun near Leek ; 

Chartley, Dovedale (B. L.) 

mendica, Clerck. Near Marchlngton (E. B.) 

. * .' "' \ Very common everywhere 

menthrastn, Esp. j ' 

urticae, Esp. Larvae found once near Burton 

(E. B.) 

HEPIALIDAE 

Hepialus humuli, L. Common in meadows, the 
silvery white wings of the male being very 
conspicuous at dusk when hovering over 
grass 

sylvanus, L. General 

velleda, Hb. General on heaths and com- 

mons, but Staffordshire is about the southern 
limit where this insect is found commonly 
- lupulinus, L.j v mjnon 

hectus, L. j 



99 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



BOMBYCES (continued) 

COSSIDAB 

Cossus ligniperda, Fb. Not common, larvae in 

ash and willow trees 
Zeuzera pyrina, L. Rare, Toxall (E. B.), Burton, 

Rolleston (B. L.) ; Stafford, Hanlty, Cheadle ; 

Handsttiorth (C. J. W.), Stone, E. D. B. 

COCHLIOPODIDAE 

Heterogenea limacodes, Hufn. Two specimens 
taken at Hanky, 15 July, 1903 

LIPARIDAE 

Porthesia chrysorrhoea, L. Several at Rugeley in 

1892-3 ; at electric light at Stoke Station, 

1905 
si mills, Fues. Common throughout the 

county 

Leucoma salicis, L. Burton (B. L.) 
Dasychira pudibunda, L. Not uncommon in south, 

but not recorded in north of the county 
Orgyia gonostigma, Fb. One larva at Rugeley 

(B. L.) 
- antiqua, L. General, and some years abundant 

as far north as Cheadle and Leek 



BOMBYCIDAE 

Trichiura crataegi, L. Rare, two taken at gas 
lamps at Stone ; larva, Market Dray ton; Bur- 
ton (B. L.) 

Poecilocampa populi, L. Not uncommon coming 
to light, Stvynnerton, Stone, Tlxall, Rugeley, 
Cheadle ; Needwood (B. L.) 

Eriogaster lanestris, L. Nests of larvae, Market 
Drayton ; 'Needwood forest, common Burton 
(B. L.) 

Bombyx rubi, L. Common on heaths, Madeley, 
Leek ; Cannock Chase ; Dovedale (B. L.) 

quercus, L. Common some years about Stone 

and other places, but generally of the variety 

callunae, Palmer 
Cdonestis potatoria, L. Common throughout the 

southern half of the county 
Lasiocampa quercifolia, L. Larvae taken near 

Rugeley (B. L.) 

ilicifolia, L. Taken several times on Cannock 

Chase, which is one of the very few localities 
where this moth occurs in England. (For 
particulars see p. 97) 

ENDROMIDAE 

Endromis versicolor, L. Used to be taken in the 
Burnt Woods 

SATURNHDAE 

Saturnia pavonia, L. Common on heaths all 
through the county. Males assemble from 
long distances to a virgin female 



BOMBYCES (continued) 
DREPANULIDAE 

Drcpana lacertinaria, L. Fairly common on birch 
trees 

falcataria, L. Not uncommon 

binaria, Hum. Burnt Woods, 1902 

Cilix glaucata, Scop. Common some years. Stone, 
Cheadle, Rugeley, Market Drayton ; Burton 
(B. L.) 

DlCRANURIDAE 

Dicranura bicuspis, Bork. Not common. Chorlton 
Moss ; Cannock Chase, Rolleston (B. L.) 

furcula, L. Occasional, Burnt Woods, Madeley; 

Burton (E. B.) 

bifida, Hb. Occasional, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, 

Burnt Woods, Cannock Chase ; Burton (B. L.) 

vinula, L. Very common throughout the 

county 

NOTODONTIDAE 

Pterostoma palpina, L. Chorlton, Stone, Burnt 

Woods, Cannock Chase ; Burton (B.L.) 
Lophopteryx camelina, L. Common 

carmelita, Esp. Rugeley (B. L.) 
Notodonta bicolor, Hb. Eight specimens of this 

rare moth were taken in the Burnt Woods 
by Messrs. I. Smith, Chappell, and Charlton 
(see Zoologist, 1861, p. 7682 ; also New- 
man's British Moths, p. 228). The following 
is an account of the capture of the first 
specimen of this insect in Staffordshire, taken 
from the Zoologist, 1861, p. 7682 : 'At the 
ordinary monthly meeting of the Manchester 
Entomological Society held on 3 July, 
Mr. John Smith, an artisan collector resi- 
dent here, exhibited a specimen of Noto- 
donta bicolor captured by himself at Burnt 
Woods, Staffordshire, in the latter part of 
June last. The specimen, a fine male, 
though a little rubbed through being boxed 
out of the net, excited much interest at the 
meeting as being the first of the species 
known to have occurred in Great Britain, 
J. Hardy, pro Sec.' 

dictaea, L. Not uncommon. Whitmore, Stoke- 

on-Trent, Cannock Chase, Cheadle, Burnt 
Woods ; Bur/on (B. L.) 

dictaeoides, Esp. Not uncommon, Bishop's 

Woods, Cannock Chase, Leek 

dromedarius, L. The larvae frequently taken 

Madeley, Stvynnerton, Burnt Woods, Cheadle, 
Consall ; Cannock Chase (B. L.) 

ziczac, L. Larvae not uncommon on willow 

and sallow ; Madeley, Ckeadle, Bishop's and 
Burnt Woods 

trepida, Esp. Rare Stvynnerton, Burnt Woods 

chaonia, Hb. One at Steynnerton 

trimacula, Esp. Burnt Woods, Stvynnerton, 

Cannock Chase 

PYGAERIDAS 

Phalera bucephala, L. Very common, the larvae 
frequently stripping branches of trees of all 
their leaves. 

Pygaera curtula, L. Burton (E. B.) 



100 



INSECTS 



BOMBYCES (continued) 
CYMATOPHORIDAE 






Thyatira derasa, L. Not common Macteley, Burnt 
Woods, Dovedale, Leek ; Burton (B. L.) 

batis, L. General, but not plentiful; Cheadle, 

Madeley, Rugeley, Leek, Burnt Woods ; Bur- 
ton (B. L.) 

Cymatophora duplaris, L. Not uncommon, Can- 
nock Chase, MaJeley, Burnt Woods, Cheadle ; 
Henhurst near Burton (E. B.) 

Asphalia diluta, Fb. Rare, Burnt Woods; Hen- 
hurst near Burton (E. B.) 

flavicornis, L. Common, Swynnerton, Cannock 

Chase, Cheadle ; Burton once (B. L.) 

ridens, Fb. Rare, Staynnerton, Trentham 

NOCTUAE 
BRYOPHILIDAE 

Bryophila perla, Fb. Common on walls, the larvae 
feeding on lichens 

BoMBYCOIDAE 

Demas coryli, L. Rare, larvae on birch and oak 
at Staynnerton and Dtmmingsdale near Cheadle; 
Dovedale (B. L.) 

Acronycta tridens, Schift'. Fairly common at Bur- 
ton (B. L.), Rugeley 

psi, L. Common throughout the county 

leporina, L. General, but not common, Leek, 
Chorlton, Cheadle, Barlaston, Burnt Woods, 
Cannock Chase, Chartlcy ; Burton (B. L.) 

- megacephala, Fb. Not common, Bishop's and 

Burnt Woods, Cannock Chase 

- alni, L. General, and reported from most 

parts of the county 

- rumicis, L. Common, and variety ' salicis ' 

not uncommon 

menyanthidis, View. Rare, Craddock's Moss, 

Chorlton, War slow, Chartlcy, Leek 
Diloba caeruleocephala, L. Common throughout 
the middle and south of the county 

LEUCANIIDAE 

Leucania conigera, Fb. Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

lithargyria, Esp. Common 

comma, L. Burnt Woods, Rugeley ; Henhurst 

and Burton (B. L.) 

impura, Hb.) ,-, 

T ( Common 

pallens, L. J 

Coenobia rufa, Haw. Henhurst near Burton (E. B.) 
Tapinostola fulva, Hb. Fairly common, Chorlton, 
Madeley, Betton, Cheadle, Cannock Chase ; 
Bagofs Park, Burton (B. L.) 

Nonagria arundinis, Fb. Larvae common in bul- 
rushes 

lutosa, Hb. One at light Stone ; at light Bur- 

ton (B.L.) 

APAMEIDAE 

Gortyna ochracea, Hb. Fairly common 
Hydroecia nictitans, Bork. Not common, Whit- 
more, Cheadle, Burnt Woods, Cannock Chase ; 
Henhurst, Burton, Rugeley (B. L.) 



NOCTUAE (continued) 
APAMEIDAE (continued) 

Hydroecia petasitis, Dbl. One at Froghall near 
Cheadle, and larvae in stems of Petasitis vul- 
garis 

micacea, Esp. Occasional, Swynnerton, Madeley, 

Oakamoor, Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 
Axylia putris, L. Fairly common 
Xylophasia rurea, Fb. Common with the var. 

combusta, Dup. 

lithoxylea, Fb. Common 

monoglypha, Hufn. Very abundant every- 

where with its melanic var. 

hepatica, L. Not common, Madeley ; Hen- 

Aunt, Burton (B. L.) 
scolopacina, Esp. Local. Cheadle; Leek; 

Knightley Park ; Shobnall (B. L.) ; Burnt 

Woods, E. D. B. 
Dipterygia scabriuscula, L. Rare. Swynnerton ; 

Madeley ; Bunt Woods 
Aporophyla australis, Bdv. One at light at Stoke- 

on-Trent 
Neuria reticulata, Vill. Sviyntierton ; Burnt Woods ; 

Henhurst, nr. Burton (E. B.) 
Neuronia popularis, Fb. General. Madeley ; 

Cheadle ; Rugeley ; Market Dray ton ; Burton 

(B.L.) 

Charaeas graminis, L. Common 
Cerigo matura, Hufn. Rugeley occasionally at 

light ; one at Branston, Sept. 1905 ; Knight- 
ley (E. B.) 
Luperina testacea, Hb. Common 

cespitis, Fb. General 

Mamestra sordida, Bork. Market Dray ton ; Burton, 
at sugar (B. L.) 

brassicae, L. Very abundant, and the larvae 

very destructive to plants of the cabbage tribe 

- persicariae, L. Local. Burton (B. L.) ; Made- 

ley ; Rugeley ; Handsmrth (C. J. W.) 
Apamea basilinea, Fb. Common, and larvae 
destructive 

gemina, Hb. Not uncommon, and the vnr. 

remissa, Tr. occasionally 

- unanimis, Tr. Not common. Clayton ; Made- 

ley ; Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

- leucostigma, Hb. Occasional. Cannock Chase, 

Tixall 

didyma, Esp. Common 

Miana strigilis, Clerck. Abundant and very varia- 
ble, the black form being very common 

fasciuncula, Haw. Fairly common. Madeley ; 

Cheadle ; Rugeley ; Burnt Woods ; Burton 
(B.L.) 

literosa, Haw. Occasional. Madeley ; Burnt 

Woods ; Rugelet 

bicoloria, Vill. Rare. Chorlton Moss; Rugeley 

arcuosa, Haw. Not uncommon. Madeley ; 

Dovedale ; Cheadle ; Rugeley ; Henhurst ; 
Burton (E. B.) 
Celaena haworthii, Curt. Rare. Dane Valley 

CARADRINIDAE 

Grammesia trigrammica, Hufn. Not common. 

Dovedale ; Stvynnerton ; Burton (B. L.) 
Stilbia anomala, Haw. Not uncommon in Cannock 

Chase 



101 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



NOCTUAE (continued) 
CARADRINIDAB (continued') 

Caradrina morpheus, Hufn. Common 

alsines, Brahm. Local ; very plentiful some 

years at Rugeley 

taraxaci, Hb. Rugeley ; Madeley ; Market 

Drayton 

- quadripunctata, Fb. Very common 
Rusina tenebrosa, Hb. Common in woods, 
coming to sugar 



NOCTUIDAE 

Agrotis suffusa, Hb. Rare. Madeley ; Burnt 
Woods; Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

saucia, Hb. Rare. Stvynnerton ; Chorlton Moss ; 

Clayton ; Burnt Woods ; Rugeley ; Burton 
(B. L.) 

- segetum, SchifF. Very common, and larvae 

destructive to farm crops 

- exclamationis, L. Very abundant 

- corticea, Hb. Rare. Sviynnerton 

- nigricans, L. Local ; Rugeley ; common some 

years 

- tritici, L. Not common. Market Drayton ; 

Rugeley 

- aquilina, Hb. The Lawns, Burton (E. B.) 

- strigula, Thnb. Common some years. Szvyn- 

nerton ; Burnt Woods ; C hartley Moss ; Can- 
nock Chase 

- obscura, Brahm. One Burnt Woods; Burton, 

rare (E. B.) 

- simulans, Hufn. Reported from Staffordshire 

(see Newman's British Moths, p. 336) 
Noctua glareosa, Esp. Common some years, 
Madeley ; Cheadle ; Burnt Woods ; Cannock 
Chase ; Rugeley 

augur, Fb. Common throughout the county 

- P| eCU ' L ' . I General 

C-mgrum, L. J 

- triangulum, Hufn. Madeley ; Burnt Woods ; 

Rugeley ; Henhurst, nr. Burton (B. L.) 

brunnea, Fb. Common 

festiva, Hb. Very abundant 

- dahlii, Hb. Fairly common, but uncertain. 

Cheadle ; Burnt Woods, very abundant Aug., 

1905 ; Cannock Chase 
rubi, View. General 

umbrosa, Hb. ) 
- baia, Fb. j 

castanea, Esp. Often plentiful on heaths ; 

Stvynnerton ; Burnt Woods. Very variable in 
colouration. A striking yellow variety (var. 
xanthe) has been taken by Mr. Woodforde 
in the Burnt Woods several years in August, 
and is not known to occur elsewhere (see 
Rep. North Staffs. Field Club 1900-1, p. 64, 
for a paper and coloured plate of this in- 
teresting variety) 

xanthographa, Fb. Common generally with 

many red and dark varieties 

Triphaena ianthina, Esp. Fairly common. Made- 
ley ; Craddock'j Moss ; Cheadle ; Stone ; Ruge- 
ley ; Henhurst; Burton (B. L.) 



Common 



NOCTUAE (continued) 
NOCTUIDAE (continued) 

Triphaena fimbria, L. Uncertain in appearance, 
but common some years. Stvynnerton ; Stone ; 
Cheadle ; Burnt Woods, in all its varieties. 
Rugeley ; Henhurst; Burton (B. L.) 

interjecta, Hb. Rare. Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

comes, Hb. Common some years 

pronuba, L. Very abundant everywhere. A 

hermaphrodite variety was taken by Mr. 
E. W. H. Blagg and Mr. F. C. Woodforde 
in Dovedale in 1893 with left forewing, var. 
inuba, and right forewing mottled as in the 
type 

AMPHIPYRIDAE 

Amphipyra pyramidea, L. Rare. Stvynnerton ; 
Burton (B. L.) 

tragopogonis, L. Very common 
Mania typica, L. Very common 

maura, L. Common 

ORTHOSIIDAE 

Panolis piniperda, Panz. Common at sallow bloom 

and in pine woods 
Pachnobia rubricosa, Fb. Common at sallow bloom 

Taeniocampa gothica, L. ) ,, 

r ,_, c [ Very common 

mcerta, Hufn. 

opima, Hb. Two specimens taken at Cannock 

Chase by Mr. Burnett 

populeti, Fb. Not common. Madeley ; Leek ; 

Cheadle ; Burnt Woods ; Henkurst, nr. Bur- 
ton (B. L.) 

stabilis, View. Very abundant 

gracilis, Fb. Rare. Madeiey ; Rugeley ; Bur- 

ton ; Branston (B. L.). Not reported in the 
north of the county 

miniosa, Fb. Rare. Stvynnerton ; Burnt Woods 

munda, Esp. Not common. Madeley ; Burnt 

Woods 

pulverulenta, Esp. Common at sallows in south 

of the county, rare in the north 
Orthosia suspecta, Hb. Common locally and vari- 
able in colour 

upsilon, Bork. Not common. Chorlton, larva ; 

Cheadle ; larvae common, Burton (B. L.) 

lota, Clerck j 

macilenta, Hb. J 

Anchocelis rufina, L. Common some years 

pistacina, Fb. Not uncommon. Burnt Woods ; 

Market Drayton ; Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

litura, L. Common 
Cerastis vaccinii, L. "j 

spadicea, Hb. \ Very common 
Scopelosoma satellitia, L. J 

Xanthia citrago, L. Not uncommon. Cheadle; 
Rugeley ; Market Drayton 

fulvago, L. Common, var. flavescens, Esp. 

Madeley 

flavago, Fb. Common some years. Rugeley ; 

Cheadle ; Burnt Woods ; Burton (B. L.) 

gilvago, Esp. Not common. Burnt Woods ; 

Rugeley ; Oakamoor ; Burton (E. B.) 

circellaris, Hufn. Common 



Common 



102 



INSECTS 



NOCTUAE (continued) 
ORTHOSIIDAE (continued) 

Cirrhoedia xerampelina, Hb. Common some 
years. Madeley ; Stone ; Tixall ; Chead/e ; 
Leek, nr. Mow Cop ; Dovedale ; Burton (B. L.) 

CoSMIIDAE 

Tethea subtusa, Och. Larvae, Stoke-on-Trent ; 
Madeley ; Henburst, nr. Burton (E. B.) ; 
Handsworth (C. J. W.) 

retusa, L. Larvae on sallow, Wrinehill 
Cosmia paleacea, Esp. Very local and not com- 
mon. Cannock Chase 

Calymnia traperina, L. Common 

diffinis, L. Burton (E. B.) 

affinis, L. Rare. Burnt Woods ; Burton (B. L.) 

HADENIDAE 

Dianthoecia nana, Rott. Rare. Market Drayton 

capsincola, Hb. Common 

cucubali, Fues. Not common. Madeley ; 

Rugeley ; Burton, common (B. L.) 

carpophaga, Bork. Rare. Rugeley ; Shobnall ; 

Burton (B. L.) 

Hccatera serena, Fb. Not common. Stuynnerton ; 
Leek; Rugeley 

Polia chi, L. Generally common, especially in the 
north of the county 

Dasypolia templi, Thnb. One at Cheadle ; Wan- 
low (Hugo H. Crewe) ; Cauldon, nr. Cheadle, 
1906 

Cleoceris viminalis, Fb. Rudyard; Madeley ; Chart- 
ley ; Leek ; Rugeley ; Burnt Woods ; Hen- 
hurst, nr. Burton (B. L.) 

Miselia oxyacanthae, L. Very common, and var. 
capucina frequent 

Agriopis aprilina, L. ~\ 

Euplexia lucipara, L. > Common 

Phlogophora meticulosa, L. J 

Aplecta prasina, Fb. Fairly common. Swynner- 
ton ; Madelcy ; Burnt Woods ; Cheadle ; Dove- 
dale 

occulta, L. One taken in Bagofs Park 

(C. A. E. Rodgers, Ent. 1895, p. 284.) 

nebulosa, Hufm. Common in woods 

tincta, Brahm. Common at sugar. Burnt 

Woods ; Cannock Chase 
Hadena adusta, Esp. Not common. Burnt Woods ; 

Cannock Chase ; Henhurst ; Burton (B. L.) 

protea, Bork. Fairly common. Cheadle ; Leek ; 

Cannock Chase ; Burton (B. L.) 

glauca, Hb. Not uncommon. Swynnerton ; 

Cannock Chase; Burnt Woids ; Leek 

dentina, Esp. Not common. Madeley ; Burnt 

Woods ; Rugeley ; common Burton (B. L.) 

trifolii, Rott. Larvae occasionally Rugeley. 

This county is probably the northern limit 
for this species ; common Burton (B. L.) 

dissimilis, Knoch. Not common, Whitmore ; 

Market Drayton ; Madeley ; scarce at Rugeley ; 
Henhurst ; and Burton (B. L.) 

oleracea, L. Common everywhere 



NOCTUAE (continued) 
HADENIDAE (continued) 

Hadena pisi, L. Common some seasons, and larvae 
on broom and sallow 

thalassina, Rott. Common 

contigua, Vill. Fairly common on Cannock 

Chase 

genistae, Bork. Rare. Burnt Woods 

XYLINIDAK 

Xylocampa areola, Esp. General 
Calocampa vetusta, Hb. Rare. Swynnerten ; Burnt 
Woods ; Henhurst ; and Burton (B. L.) 

exoleta, L. General. Burnt Woods ; Cheadle ; 

Henhurst, nr. Burton (B. L.) 

solidaginis, Hb. Common where the bilberry 

grows. Stvythamley ; Leek ; Cannock Chase ; 

Burnt Woods 
Asteroscopus sphinx, Hufn. At lamps on Burton 

Bridge (E. B.) 
Cucullia verbasci, L. Larvae taken at Madeley, and 

at Grindon, June, 1905, in considerable 

numbers 
- chamomillae, Schiff. Not common Madeley; 

Market Drayton; Handsworth (C. J. W.) 

umbratica, L. Common. Cheadle; Stone; 

Market Drayton ; Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

GONOPTERIDAE 

Gonoptera libatnx, L. Common everywhere 

PLUSH DAE 

Habrostola tripartita, Hufn. Local. Cheadle; 
Rugeley ; Market Drayton ; Burton (B. L.) 

triplasia, L. Fairly common. Cheadle ; Rugf- 

ley ; Market Drayton ; Burton (B. L.) ; Hands- 
Dearth 
Plusia chrysitis, L. Common 

fe.'tucae, L. Local. Madeley ; Betton Moss ; 

Leek ; Cheadle ; Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) ; 
common Trent Galley, nr. Lichfield 

iota, L. "I 

pulchrina, Haw. > Common 

gamma, L. J 

interrogationis, L. Rare. Maer ; Cannock 

Chase; Leek 

HELIOTHIDAE 

Anarta myrtilli, L. Common on heather through- 
out the county 

Heliaca tcncbrata, Scop. Not common. Swynner- 
ton ; Madeley ; Rugeley ; common some years, 
Burton 

PoAPHILIDAE. 

Phytometra viridaria, Clerck. Craddock'i Moss; 
Cannock Chase 

EUCLIDIIDAE 

Euclidia mi, Clerck. Rare. Craddock's Moss; 
Dovedale ; The Lawns, Burton ; and Chartley 
(B. L.) 

glyphica, L. Rare. Madeley 



I0 3 



A HISTORY OF 

NOCTUAE (continued) 
CATOCALIDAE 

Catocala fraxini, L. Once at Burton, 2 Oct. 1852 
(E.B.) 

AVENTIIDAE 

Aventia flexula, SchifF. Chartley Moss 

HERMINIIDAE 

Zanclognatha grisealis. Hb. Not uncommon. 
Rugeley ; Walton's Wood ; Madeley ; Burnt 
Woods ; Henhurst, nr. Burton (B. L.) / Hands- 
worth (C. J. W.) 

tarsipennalis, Tr. One at Tixa/l, and one at 
Market Drayton 

Pechypogon barbalis, Clerck. Burnt Woods 



STAFFORDSHIRE 

NOCTUAE (continued) 
HERMINIIDAE (continued) 

Bomolocha pontis, Thnb. Common but locaL 
Stuymterton Heath ; Burnt Woods ; Maer ; 
Cheadle 

Hypena proboscidalis, L. Common everywhere on 
nettles 

Hypenodes costaestrigalis, St. Bunt Woods, very- 
abundant, Aug. 1905 (E. D. B.) 

BREPHIDES 

Brephos parthenias, L. Plentiful in March around 
birch trees. Swynnerton ; Cheadle ; Burnt 
Woods ; Chartley ; Cannock Chase 



GEOMETRAE 



UROPTERYCIOAE 

Uropteryx sambucaria, L. Common throughout 
the county 

ENNOMIDAE 

Epione apiciaria, Schiff. Not common. Madeley ; 

BagofsPark; Cheadle; Handsworth ; Rugcley ; 

Henhurst ; and Burton (E. B.) 
Rumia luteolata, L. Common 
Venilia macularia, L. Rare and local. Dovedale; 

Dydon Wood (B.L.) 
Angerona prunaria, L. Local. Swynnerton ; Burnt 

Woods 
Metrocampa margaritaria, L. General. Stone ; 

Cheadle ; Cannock Chase ; Swynnerton ; Burton 

(B.L.) 
Ellopia prosapiaria, L. Common in all pine 

woods 
Eurymene dolobraria, L. Rare. Sivynnerton ; 

Burnt Woods ; Madeley ; Henhurst nr. Bur- 
ton (E. B.) 
Pericallia syringaria, L. Occasional. Madeley ; 

Stone ; Ellastone ; Burnt If 'cods ; Rolleston; and 

Burton (B.L.) ,- Handsworth (C. J. W.) 
Selenia bilunaria, Esp. ) General in the southern 

lunaria, SchifF. j half of the county 
Odontopera bidentata, Clerck. Common 
Crocallis elinguaria, L. Very generally distributed 
Eugonia almaria, L. Choriton Moss ; Burnt Woods; 

Cannock Chase ; Oakedge ; and Burton (B. L.) 

fuscantaria, Haw. One at Madeley ; Stone, at 

light ; Stoke-on-Trent, at electric light ; Bur- 
ton (E. B.) 

- erosaria, Bork. Swynnerton ; Burnt Woods ; 
Madeley ; Burton, rare (E. B.) 

quercinaria, Hum. Fairly common. Burnt 

Woods ; Burton (B. L.) 
Himera pennaria, L. Common 

AMPIIIDASYDAE 



AMPHIDASYDA-E (continued) 

Amphidasys strataria, Hufn. General, but not 
common. Trentham, Madeley, Stone, Cheadle, 
Rugeley ; Cannock Chase and Burton (B. L.) ; 
Handsworth (C. J. W.) 

betularia, L. Fairly common and the variety 

doubledayaria, Mill, more common than the 
type of recent years 

BOARMIIDAE 

Hemerophila abruptaria, Thnb. Rare. Madeley, 
Market Drayton ; Burton (B. L.) ; Hands- 
worth (C. J. W.) 

Cleora lichenaria, Hufn. Henhurst nr. Burton (B. L.) 
Boarmia repandata, L. Very common and 
variable in markings and colour, and given to 
melanism 

gemmaria, Brahm. Common everywhere 

Tephrosia crepuscularia, Hb. ) .-, 

u- j i T> i r Common 

biundulana, Bork. J 

punctularia, Hb. Common on Cannock 

Chase 

GEOMETRIDAE 

Geometra papilionaria, L. Not uncommon. 
Choriton Moss, Cannock Chase, Burnt Woods, 
Cheadle ; Oakedge, Burton (B. L.) 

Phorodesma pustulata, Hufn. Once taken at 
Stvynnerton ; once Shobnall (B. L.) ; at electric 
light, Hanley, July, 1905 

lodis lactearia, L. Rugeley ; Burton, com- 
mon (B. L.) 

Hemithea strigata, Mall. Market Drayton; Hen- 
hurst nr. Burton (B. L.) 

EPHYRIDAE 

Zonosoma porata, Fb. Not common. Swynnerton, 
Burnt Woods 

punctaria, L. Burnt Woods; Cannock Chase (B. L.) 

pendularia, Clerck. Numerous some years in 

Burnt Woods 



Phigalia pedaria, Fb. Plentifully distributed ACIDALIIDAE 

Nyssia hispidaria, Fb. Rare. Bishop's Woods, in Asthena luteata, SchifF. Local. Burnt Woods and 

March Cannock Chase ; Oakedge (B. L.) 

Bistonhirtaria,Clerck. Rugeley (Z.L.); Stone, Trentham candidata, SchifF. Fairly common 

104 



INSECTS 



GEOMETRAE (continue*!) 
ACIDALIIDAE (continued) 

Asthena sylvata, Hb. Not common. Bishop's Woods, 
Madeley, Dovedale, Rushton ; Henhunt nr. 
Cannock Chase (B. L.) 

blomeri, Curt. Very local and rare, Stone, 

Dovedale, Shobna/l, Hoar Cross, and Need- 

toood (B. L.) 
Euoisteria obliterata, Hufn. Burnt Woods and 

Cannock Chase ; Oakedge, common (B. L.) 
Venusia cambrica, Curt. Common in woods 

around Cheadle and Leek, which is probably 

the southern limit of this insect 
Acidalia dimidiata, Hufn.^ 

bisetata, Hufn. I Fairly common 
- virgularia, Hb. J 

- subsericeata, Haw. Local, Dovedale 

immutata, L. Chartley 

remutaria, Hb. Common 

fumata, St. Sttynnerton, Maer nr. Cheadle, 

Dovedale ; Chaitley (B. L.) 

imitaria, Hb. Scarce. Madeley, Market Dray- 

ton, Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

aversata, L. Common generally 

inornata, Haw. Swynnerlon, Burnt Woods, 

Cannock Chase 

emarginata, L. Rare. Madeley; Burton (B. L.) 
Timandra amataria, L. Rare and local. Stoke-on- 

Trent, Rugeley ; Tatenhill and Henhurst nr. 
Burton (B. L.) 

CABERIDAE 

Cabera pusaria, L. Common 

rotundaria, Haw. Very rare, Heleigh Castle nr. 

MaJeley 

exanthemata, L. Very general 

Bapta temerata, Hb. Henhurst nr. Burton (E. B.) 

MACARIIDAE 

Macaria notata, L. Local, Swynnerton, Burnt Woods, 
very abundant some years 

liturata, Clerck. Swynnerton, Maer, Cheadle, 

Cannock Chase 
Halia vauaria, L. Very common 

Fl DON 1 1 DAE 

Panagra petraria, Hb. Common on heaths 
Numeria pulveraria, L. Occasional and local, 

Burnt Woods ; Henhurst nr. Burton (E. B.) 
Scodiona belgiaria, Hb. Rare, one at Whitmore, 

Cannock Chase, nr. Cheadle, Leek 
Ematurga atomaria, L. "j 

Bupalus piniaria, L. L Abundant 

Aspilates strigillaria, Hb. J 

ZERENIDAE 

Abroxas grossulariata, L. Very common in gardens 

sylvata, Scop. General and abundant in many 

valleys in the north of the county. 
Ligdia adustata, Schiff. Very rare, one at 

Madeley 
Lomaspilis marginata, L. Common locally 



GEOMETRAE (continued) 
HYBERNIIDAE 



Hybernia rupicapraria, Hb. 

leucophearia, Schiff. 

aurantiaria, Esp. 

marginaria, Bork. 

defoliaria, L. 






Common through - 
I out the county 



J 



Anisopteryx aescularia, Schiff. General 



LARENTIIDAE 



Abundant 



Cheimatobia brumata, L. 

- boreata, Hb. 

Oporabia dilutata, Bork. Common 

- filigrammaria, H. S. Rare. Gun nr. Leek 
Larentia didymata, L. Very common 

multistrigaria, Haw. Fairly common. Madeley, 

Cheadle, Burnt Woods, Cannock Chase 

caesiata, Lang. On heaths, Cheadle and Leek, 

not further south ; Dovedale (B. L.) 

flavicinctata, Hb. Rare, Dovedale 

salicata, Hb. Moors nr. Leek 

olivata, Bork. Rare, one in Dovedale, 1886 

vindaria, Fb. Common in woods 
Emmelesia affinitata, St. Common, but local 

alchemillata, L. Not uncommon, Whitmore, 

Stone, Stoke-on-Trent, Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

albulata, Schiff. Common where food plant 

(Rhinanthus crista-galli) grows 

- decolorata, Hb. Local, Madeley, Cheadle, 

Rugeley ; Handsworth (C. J. W.) 

- taeniata, St. Dovedale (B. L.) 

Eupithecia venosata, Fb. Ashley, Rugeley ; Sfiob- 
nall (B. L.) 

- linariata, Fb. Market Drayton 

pulchellata, St. Common 

- oblongata, Thnb. Rugeley ; Burton (B. L.), 

Madeley, 1902 

succenturiata, L. Rugeley 

- subfulvata, Haw. Madeley, Rugeley, Stone 

- plumbeolata, Haw. Stvynnerton, Bishop's and 

Burnt Woods, Cannock Chase 

isogrammaria, H. S. One at Burton (B. L.) 

pygmaeata, Hb. Chorlton Moss, Burnt Woods 

- satyrata, Hb. Cannock Chase, Burnt Woods 

- castigat.i, Hb. Common 

- trisignaria, H. S. Market Drayton 

fraxinata, Crewe. Madeley, Rugelcy ; Burton 

(B. L.) ; Handsworth (C. J. W.) 

- valerianata, Hb. nr. Madeley, 1907 (F. C. 

Woodforde) 

- indigata, Hb. Common in pine woods 

- nanata, Hb. Common on heaths, Cannock 

Chase, Chartley, Burnt Woods 

subnotata, Hb. ) 

\ Common 

vulgata, Haw. J 

albipunctata, Haw. Rugeley, occasionally 

var. angelicata, Bar. Madeley 

abslnthiata, Clerck. Common where food plant 

grows 

minutata, Gn. Madeley, Burnt Woods, Rugeley 

assimilata, Gn. Common on food plant 

tenuiata, Hb. Swynnerton, Madeley, Bagot's Park 

lariciata, Frr. Common in larch woods 

abbreviata, St. Not uncommon, Swynnerton, 

Cheadle, Burnt Woods; Burton (B. L.) 



I0 5 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



GEOMETRAE (continued) 
LARENTIIDAE (continued) 

Eupithecia exiguata, Hb. Common 

sobrinata, Hb. Local, Madeley ; Burton (B. L.) 

pumilata, Hb. Not common 

rectangulata, L. General, Madeley, Cheadle, 

Rugeley ; Handsviorth (C. J. W.) ;Burton (B. L.) 

debiliata, Hb. Common nr. Cheadle and where 

bilberry grows 

Lobophora halterata, Hufn. Burnt Woods ; Hen- 
hurst nr. Burton (B. L.) 

viretata, Hb. Burnt Woods ; Bishop's Woods, 

Parson's Brake (B. L.) 

carpinata, Bork. Stvynnerton ; Burnt Woods ; 

Hcnhurst, Hopwas Wood (B. L.) 
Thera variata, Schiff. j Common in pine woods, 

- firmata, Hb. J general 

Hysipetes ruberata, Frr. Chorlton Moss, Cheadle, 
Rugeley, Warslow 

trifasciata, Bork. Local, Burnt Woods, Cannock 

Ckase ; Netvborough, Oakedge, Burton (B. L.) 

sordidata, Fb. Common throughout the 

county, and very variable in colour and 
markings 

Melanthia bicolorata, Hufn. Knightley and Oak- 
edge Park (B. L.) ; Chorlton, Cannock Chase 

ocellata, L. General 

-- albicillata, L. Not uncommon 
Melanippe hastata, L. Fairly common some years, 
CraddtcVi Moss, Bishop's and Burnt Woods, 
Hanchurch, Rugeley 

- tristata, L. Not common, Chartley, Leek ; 

common, Rugeley (B. L.) 

procellata, Fb. Very rare, two at Trtntham in 

two successive years 

- rivata, Hb. Rare, Burnt Woods 

- sociata, Bork. > y 

- montanata, Bork. J 

- galiata, Hb. Local and rare, Dovedale, Cheadle 

fluctuata, L. Common 

Anticlea badiata, Hb. Not uncommon 

- nigrof.isciaria, Goze. Fairly common 
Coremia munitata, Hb. Very rare, one Trentkam 

- designata, Hufn. 

ferrugata, Clerck. 

unidentaria, Haw. 
Camptogramma bilineata, Lj 

- fluviata, Hb. One at gas light, Trent Vale 
Phibalapteryx vittata, Bork. Stoke-on-Trent, Mar- 
ket Drayton ; Burton (B. L.) 

Triphosa dubitata, L. Not common, Madeley, 

In limestone caves, Gnndon and Dovedale ; 

Burnt Woods at sallow, Rugeley ; Burton 

district (B. L.) 
Eucosmia certata, Hb. Market Drayton, Rugelfy ; 

Burton (B.L.) 

undulata, L. Stvynnerton, Maer, Cheadle, 

Bishop's and Burnt Woods; Cannock Chase 

(B. L.) 

Scotosia rhamnata, Schiff. Rare, Dovedale 
Cidaria siderata, Hufn. One near Market Drayton 

miata, L. Dovedale (B. L.) 

corylata, Thnb. Common in woods 

truncata, Hufn. Common in pine woods 

immanata, Haw. . Very common 



common 



Common 



GEOMETRAE (continued) 
LARENTIIDAE (continued) 

Cidaria suffumata, Hb. General, Chorlton Moss, 
Bishop's and Burnt Woods; Stone, Leek; 
Burton (B. L.) 

var. piceata, St. Stone, Trentham, Tixall 
(E. D. B.) 

silaceata, Hb. Not common, Madeley, Dove- 

dale; Henhurst and Knightley Park ; Burton 
(B. L.) 

prunata, L. Bishop's Woods, Cheadle, Rugeley, 

Market Drayton , Burton, Colwlch (B. L.) 

testata, L. "j 

populata, L. I Common 

fulvata, Forst. J 

dotata, L. Fairly common 

asiociata, Bork. Common 

Pelurga comitata, L. Market Drayton; Burton, 
Shobnall (B.L.) 

EuBOLIIDAE 

Eubolia cervinata, Schiff. Local, Madeley, Market 
Drayton ; Burton (B. L.) 

limitata, Scop. Common 

plumbaria, Fb. Common on heaths 

bipunctaria, Schiff. Common on the limestone 

in the north of the county 

Carsia paludata, Thnb. Rare, C hartley ; sparingly 
in Dovedale (B. L.) 

Anaitis plagiata, L. Fairly common on the lime- 
stone in the north of the county ; Cannock 
Chase 

Chesias spartiata, Fues. Chorlton, Pipe Gate, Stone ; 
Burton (E. B.) ; Handsviorth (C. J. W.) 

rufata, Fb. Rare, Chorlton, Market Drayton ; 

one at light, Burton (B. L.) 

SlONIDAE 

Tanagra atrata, L. Common, especially in dales 
in the north of the county 

PYRALIDES 

PYRALIDIIDAE 

Aglossa pinguinalis, L. General, Madeley, Rugeley, 

Burton, &c. 
Pyralis glaucinalis, L. Burnt Woods, Burton (B. L.) 

farinalis, L. Common throughout the county 
Scoparia ambigualis, Tr. Common 

cembrae, Haw. Fairly common, Cannock 

Chase 

dubitalis, Hb. Common, Dovedale, Cannock 

Chase 

murana, Curt. Burton, Cannock (B. L.) 
[ ingratella, Zell. ? Parson's Brake (B. L.)] 

mercurella, L. Burton (E. B.) 

ulmella, Dale. Wood near Uttoxeter (B. L.) ; 

Cannock Chase 

crataegella, Hb. Rugeley 

- truncicolella,Sta. Common in woods. 
Nomophila noctuella, Schiff. Madeley, Burton 

(B.L.) 
Pyrausta aurata, Scop. Dovedale 

purpurales, L. Not common, Craddock's Moss, 

Dovedale, Cannock Chase, Knightley Park 
(E. B.) 



1 06 



INSECTS 



PYRALIDES (continued) 
PYRALIDIIDAE (continued') 

Herbula cespitalis, SchifF. Weaver Hills, Dovedale 
Ennychia cingulata, L. Dovedale 

BOTYDAE 

Eurrhypara urticata, L. Common on Kettles. 
Scopula lutealis, Hb.^ 

olivalis, Schiff. ! Common 

prunalis, SchifF. J 

ferrugalis, Hb. Burnt Woods 
Botys pandalis, Hb. Tixall 

rur.ilis, Schiff. One at Little Madeley, Rugeley, 

common, Burton district (B. L.) 

Fuscalis, SchifF. Common in meadows 
Ebulea crocealis Hb. Grafton's Wood, Madeley, 

Cannock Chase 

sambucalis, SchifF. Common on elder 
Spilodes verticalis, L. Stone, (E. D. B.) 
Pionea forficalis, L. Common 

HYDROCAMPIDAE 

Cataclysta lemnata, L. Common on duckweed 
Paraponyx stratiotata, L. Madeley ; Burton 

(B. L.) 
Hydrocampa nymphaeata, L. Common 

;tagnata, Don. Madeley ; Burton, common 

(B. L.) 

ACENTROPODIDAE 

Acentropus niveus, Oliv. Common on the Trent, 
Burton (B. L.) 

PTEROPHORI 
CHRYSOCORIDIDAE 

Chrysocorus festaliella, Hb. Henhurst near Burton 
(E. B.) 

PTEROPHORIDAE 

Platyptilia gonodactyla, SchifF. Near Burton (B. L.) 
Amblyptilia acanthodactyla, Hb. Burton, Cannock 

Chase 

Oxyptilus teucrii, Greening. Cannock Chase 
Mimaeseoptilus plagiodactylus, Su. Tixall 

- pterodactylus, L. Tixall ; Burton (B. L.) 
Aedematophorus lithodactylus, Tr. Near Burton 

(B. L.) 
Pterophorus monodactylus, L. Common Burton 

(B. L.) 
Aciptilia tetradactyla, L. Burton (E. B.) 

pentadactyla, L. Common Burton (B. L.) ; 

Mayfeld, very common (F. J.) 

ALUCITIDAE 

Alucita hexadactyla, L. Common Burton (B. L.); 
Dove Valley, occasional (F. J.) ; Alstonfield 
(W. H. Purchas) 

CRAMBI 
CHIUDAE 
Schoenobius forficellus, Thnb. Burton (B. S.) 

mucronellus, SchifF. Rare, one at Madeiey ; 

one at Rugeley ; Shobnall Canal (B. S.) 

gigantellus, SchifF. Burton (B. S.) 



CRAMBI (continued') 
CRAMBIDAE 

Crambus falsellus, SchifF. Rugeley ; Burton (B. S.) 

pratellus, L. Common in gras;fields 

pascuellus, L. Common 

uliginosellus, Zell. Tixall, rare 

margaritellus, Hb. Common on mosses, Chorl- 

ton, Cannock Chase 

pinellus, L. One in Burnt Woods ; common 

Cannock Chase 

perlellus, Scop. Two at Su-ynncrton, Rugeley ; 

Burton (B. S.) 

warringtonellus, Zell. Chorlton, Craddock's 

Moss 

tristcllus, Fb. Common 

inquinatellus, SchifF. Rugeley; Sinai Park 

(B. S.) 

culmellus, L. ) 
- hortuellus, Hb. } 

PHYCIDAE 

Ephestia elutella, Hb. Burton (B. S.) 

ficclla, St. Madeley 
Cryptoblabes bistriga, Haw. Hopwas 
Plodia interpunctella, Hb. Madeley 
Phycis betulae, G5zc. Stvynnerton 

fusca, Haw. Common on heaths, Cannock 

Chase, Sivy nner ton 

Nephopteryx spissicella, Fb. Swynnertcn 
Pempelia, palumbella, Fb. Cannock Chase, Sx-yn- 

nerton 
Rhodophaea advenella, Zinck. Rugeley 

consociella, Hb. Common, Sti-ynnerton 

GALLKRIDAE 

Aphormia sociella, L. Market Drayton 
Achroea grisella, Fb. Madeley ; Burton (B. S.) 

TORTRICES 

ToRTRICIDAE 

Tortrix podana, Scjp. Burton, common (E. B., 
B. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very com- 
mon, Rugeley (R. F.) 

xylosteana, L. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; N. 

Staffs. (T. D. W.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

sorbiana, Hb. The Oaks, &c. (E. B.) ; Burton 

(B. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; common, 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

rosana, L. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.) ; 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very common, 
Rugeley, (R. F.) 

cinnamomeana, Tr. Maer Woods plentiful 

(T. W. D.) 

- heparana, SchifF. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very 
common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

ribeana, Hb. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.); 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very common, 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

corylana, Fb. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Burton 

(B. S.) ; Swynnerton Old Park (T. W. D.) ; 
common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

unifasciana, Dup. Burton, common (E. B.. 

B. S.) ; very common, Rugeley (R. F.) 



I0 7 



HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



TORTRICES (continued) 
TORTRICIDAE (continued) 

Tortrix costana, Fb. Henhurst (E. B.) ; very com- 
mon, Rugeley (R. F,) 

viburnana, Fb. Burton, rare (E. B.) ; Can- 

nock Chase (C.G.K.); Rugeley, common (R.F.) 

palleana, Fb. Burton, rare (E. B., B. S.) 

var. icterana, Frol. N. Staffs (T.W.D.) 

viridana, L. Everywhere very common 

(E. D. B.) ; Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; N. Staffs. 
(T. W. D.) ; Dydon Wood (F. I.) ; Rugeley, 
(R. F.) 

ministrana, L. Cannock Chase (C. G. B., R. F.) ; 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

var. fcrrugana, Hb. Burton (B. S.) 

forsterana, Fb. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.); 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; Rugeley, very com- 
mon (R. F.) 

Amphisa gerningana, SchifF. Chorlton Moss 
(T. W. D.) 

- prodromana, Hb. Chorlton Moss (T. W. D.) 
Oenectra pilleriana, SchifF. Rugeley (R. F.) 
Leptogramma literana, L. Burton, rare (E. B.) ; 

Madeley and Swymerton (T. W. D.) 
Pcronea sponsana, Fb. Drakelow (E. B.) ; Rugeley 
(R. F.) 

rufana, Schift. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.) 

mixtana, Hb. Maer Woods in heather 

(T. W. D.) 

- schalleriana, L. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.) 

- variegana, SchifF. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; N. 

Stiffs. (T. W. D.) ; very common, Rugeley 
(R. F.) 

ferrugana, Tr. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; N. Staffs. 

(T. W. D.) ; Rugeley R. F.) 

- aspersana, Hb. A'. Staffs. (T. VV. D.) 
Rhacodia caudana, Fb. Henhurst, common (E. B.) ; 

Burton (B. S.) 
Teras contaminana, Hb. Burton, common (E. B., 

1?. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very common, 

Rugeley (R. F.) 
Dictyopteryx loeflingiana, L. Henhurst (E. B.) ; 

Burton (B. S.) ; A'. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

holmiana, L. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Burton (B.S.); 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; common, Rugeley 
(R.F.) 

bergmanniana, L. Burton, common (E. B., 

B. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; common, 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

forskalcana, L. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.); 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very common, Rugtley 

(R. F.) 
Argyrotoxa conwayana, Fb. Burton, common 

(E. B., B. S.) ; Stafford (C. G. B.) ; N. Staffs. 

(T. W. D.) ; common Rugeley (R. F.) 
Ptycholoma lecheana, L. Cannock Chase (C. G. B., 

R. C. B.) ; Hopuias Wood (W. G. B.) ; N. 

Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

PENTHINIDAE 

Penthina corticana, Hb. N. Staff's. (T. W. D.) ; 
very common, Rugeley (R. F) 

betulaetana, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 

Cannock (C. J. W.) ; Sutton (R. C. B.) ; 
Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 



TORTRICES (continued) 
PENTHINIDAE (continued) 

Penthina sororculana, Zett. Cannock (W. G. B.) ; A^. 
Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; common, Rugeley, (R. F.) 

pruniana, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; N. 

Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

ochroleucana, Hb. Tixall (E. D. B) ; com- 

mon, Rugeley (R. F.) 

variegana, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; very 

common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

sauciana, Hb. Plentiful Maer Woods, &c. 

(T. W. D.) ; Cannock (C. J. W.) ; Sutton 
(W. G. B.) 

marginana, Haw. Burton, rare (E. B.) 

fuligana, Hb. Burton, rare (E. B.) 

SPILONOTIDAE 

Hedya ocellana, Fb. Burton, common (E. B., 
B. S.) ; very common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

neglectana, Dup. Burton, common (E. B.) 
Spilonota trimaculana, Haw. Burton, common 

(E. B.) ; Tixall (E. D. B.) ; very common, 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

rosaecolona, Dbl. Burton, common (E. B., 

B. S.) ; very common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

roborana, Tr. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.)- 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

Pardia tripunctana, Fb. Burton, common (E. B.) ; 
N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; very common, Ruge- 
ley (R. F.) 

SERICORIDAE 

Aspis udmanniana, L. Henhurst (E. B., B. S.) ; 
Burton (B. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; com- 
mon Rugeley (R. F.) 

Sideria achatana, Fb. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 
Sericoris bifasciana, Haw. (decrepit.ina). One 
beaten from Scotch fir, Cannock Chase 
(W. S. Atkinson) 

rivulana, Scop. Burton (F. B.) ; Cannock 

Chase (W. G. B.) 

urticana, Hb. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

lacunana, Dup. Burton, very common (E. B., 

B. S.) ; Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; N. Staffs. 

(T. W. D.) 
Mixodia schulziana, Fb. Craddock's Moss, Chartley 

Moss (R. C. B.) 
Roxana arcuana, Clerck. Cannock Chase, abundant 

in June (W. S. Atkinson) ; N. Staffs. 

(T. W. D.) 
Orthotaenia antiquana, Hb. Rugeley (R. F.) 

striana, SchifF. Burton, rare (E. B., B. S.) ; 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

SciAPHILIDAE 

Phtheochroa rugosana, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.); 

one at Handstvorth (C. J. W.) 
Cnephasia musculana, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.); 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B., VV. G. B.) ; N. 

Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; common Rugeley (R. F.) 
Sciaphila nubilana, Hb. Burton, common (E. B.); 

common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

subjectana, Gn. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.) ; 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 



108 



INSECTS 



TORTRICES (continued) 
SCIAPHILIDAE (continued) 

Sciaphila virgaureana, Tr. Burton, common (E. B., 
B. S.) ; N. Staffi. (T. W. D.) ; common, 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

pascuana, Hb. Tixall (E. D. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

chrvsantheana, Dup. Rugeley (R. F.) 

hybridana, Hb. Burton, common (E. B., 

B. S.) ; Stafford (C. G. B.) ; N. Stafs. 

(T. W. D.) ; common, Rugeley (R. F.) 
Sphaleroptera ictericana, Haw. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 
Capua favillaceana, Hb. Cannock Chan (G. C. B.) ; 

N. Staffi. (T. W. D.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 
Clepsis rusticana, Tr. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) 



GRAPHOLITHIDAE 

Bactra lanceolana, Hb. Cannock Chase (C. G. B); 
N. Staffi. (T. W. D.) ; very common, Rage- 
Ay (R. F.) 

Phoxopteryx myrtillana, Tr. Cannock Chase and 
Rugeley, abundant (R F., C. G. B., W. G. B ) ; 
Maer, CraddocKs Moss, plentiful on bilberry 
(T. W. D.) 

- lundana Fb. Burton, common (E. B., B. S.) ; 

Stafford (C. G. B.) ; on trefoil (T. W. D.) 

- diminutana, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 

mitterpacheriana, Schiff. Bur/on, common 

(E. B., B. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

- lactana, Fl. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.,) 
Grapholitha ramella, L. Burton (E. B.) ; Hoftcas 

Wood (W. G. B.) ; common, Rugeley (R. F.) 

nisella, Clerck. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 
subocellana, Don. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

trimaculana, Don. Burton, common (E. B., 

B. S.) 

penkleriana, Fisch. Burton (E. B.) ; Cannock 

(R. C. B.) ; N. Stafs. (T. W. D.) 

- naevana, Hb. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

geminana, St. Plentiful in pine and fir woods 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 
Phloeodes tetraquetrana, Haw. Burton (E. B., 

B. S.) ; Cannock Chase (C. G. B., W. G. B.); 

Rugeley (R. F.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 
Hypermecia angustana, Hb. Henhurst (E. B.) ; 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 
Batodes angustiorana, Haw. Burton, common 

(E. B., B. S.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; Ruge- 
ley (R. F.) 
Paedisca bilunana, Haw. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; 

Rugeley, very common (R. F.) ; Hopwas 

Wood (W. G. B.) 

ratzeburghiana, Sax. The Oaks, Burton (E. B., 

B. S.) 

corticana, Hb. Henhurst (E. B., B. S.) ; Hop- 

was Woods (W. G. B.) ; N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

- occultana, Dougl. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; 

Rugeley (R. F.) 

- solandriana, L. Henhurst (E. B., B. S.) ; Made- 

ley, on birch (T. W. D.) ; Cannock Chase 
(W. G. B.) ; Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 



TORTRICES (continued) 
GRAPHOLITHIDAE (continued) 

Ephippiphora similana, Hb. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

cirsiana, Zell. N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

pflugiana, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; N. 

Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

brunnichiana, FrOl. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 

Rugeley (R. F ) 

[ foenella, L. Cannock Chase ? (C. G. B., fide 
B. S.) ; probably for pflugiana, Haw.] 

nigricostana, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

trigeminana, St. Rugeley (R. F.) 

tetragonana, St. Burton (E. B.) 

Semasia ianthinana, Dup. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

rufillana, Wilk. Burton (E. B.) 

woeberiana, Schift". Burton (E. B., B. S.) 
Coccyx argyrana, Hb. Burton (E. B.) ; Cannock 

Chase (C. G. B.) : Necdwood (B. S.) ; Sutton 
(R. C. B.) ; Hopu-as (W. G. B.) ; N. Staffs. 
(T.W. D.) &c. 

taedella, Clerck. Burton, Sic., common, (E. B., 

B. S.) ; Milford (C. G. B.) ; Maer Woods, 
abundant on spruce (T. W. D.) 

- nanana, Tr. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 
Heusimine fimbriana, Haw. Steynnerton Old Park 

(T. W. D.) ; Sutton Park (W. G. B.) 
Retinia buoliana, Schift". Burton (B. S.) 

pinivorana, Zell. Beaten from Scotch fir 

(T. W. D.) ; Ruge/ey (R. F.) 
Carpocapsa pomonella, L. Burton (E. B.) 
Endopisa nigricana, St. Burton (E. B.) 
Stigmonota coniferana, (Rlz.). The Oaks, Burton 

(E. B.) 

perlepidana, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 

nitidana, Fb. Burton (E. B.) 

regiana, Zell. Madeley, on sycamore (T. W. D.) 

- roseticolana, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 
Dicrorhampha sequana, Hb. Burton (B. S.) 

- petiverella, L. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

- plumbana, Scop. Burton (B. S.) 

saturnana, Gn. Burton \ (E. B.) ; Rugeley 
(R. F.) 

- plumbagan.t, Tr. Burton (E. B.) 

acuminata, Zell. Tixall (E. D. B.) 

tanaceti, St. Rugeley, very common locally 

(R. F ) 

Catoptria ulicetana, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 
on gorse (T. W. D.) ; Cannock Chase 
(W. G. B.) ; Rugeley, very common 
(R. F.) 

hypericana, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

cana, Haw. The Oaks (B. S.) 

scopoliana, Haw. The Oaks (E. B.) 

expallidana, Haw. The Oaks (E. B.) 

citrana, Hb. Rugeley (R. F.) 
Trycheris aurana, Fb. Burton (E. B.) 



PYRALOIDIDAE 

Symaethis oxyacanthella, L. Burton, very common 
(E. B., B. S.) ; very common Rugeley 
(R. F.) 



109 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



TORTRICES (continued) 

CONCHYLIDAI 

Eupoccilia nana, Haw. The Oaks, Burton (E.B.), 
abundant Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; very- 
common Rugeley (R. F.) 

dubitana, Hb. Rugeley (R. F.) 

hybridella, Hb. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) ; 

on heaths (T. W. D.) 

angustana, Hb. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) ; 

abundant on all heaths (T. W.D.); Cannock 
(R. C. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

roseana, Haw. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) ; 

Shobnall marlflt (B. S.) 

Xanthosetia zoegana, L. Burton, Sinai Park 
(B. S.), N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) ; common 
Rugeley (R.F.) 

hamana, L. The Oaks, &c. (E. B.), Burton 

(B. S.), N. Staffs. (T.W.D.), Rugeley (R. F.) 
Chrosis alcella, Schutz. N. Staffs^. (T. W. D.) 
Argyrolepia hartmanniana, Clerck. Craddock's 

Moss (T. W. D.) 

zephyrana, Fr. Henhurst (E. B.) ? 

- badiana, Hb. The Oaks, Burton (E.B.) ; N. 
Staffs. (T. W. D.) 

cnicana, Dbl. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) ; Col- 

wich (C. G. B.) ;? Cannock (C. G. B. fide B. S.) 
Conchylis straminea, Haw. Madeley on thistles 
(T. W. D.); Rugeley (R. F.) 

APHELIIDAE. 

Aphelia osseana, Scop. Burton (B. S.) ; A'. Staffs. 

(T. W. D.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 
Tortricodes hycmana, Hb. Henkurst, &c., (E. B., 

B.S.) ; Sutton Park, common (C. J. W.) ; 

N. Staffs. (T. W. D.) 



TINEAE 
EPIGRAPHIIDAE 

Lemnatophila phryganella, Hb. Common Rugeley 

(R. F.) 
Diurnea fagella, Fb. Burton, common (E. B.) ; 

very common, Rugeley (R. F.) ; probably 

common everywhere (E. D. B.) 
Semioscopus avellanella, Hb. Hopwas Wood 

(W.G. B.); Rugeley (R.F.) 
Epigraphia steinkellneriana, Schiff. Henhurst 

(E. B.); R U ge/ey(R.F.) 

PSYCHIDAE 

Talaeporia pseudo-bombycella, Hb. Cannock Chase 
(C. G. B., W. G. B.) ; common Rugeley (R. F.) 

Fumea intermediella, Brd. Cannock Chase (C. G. B., 
R. F.) ; common Rugeley (R. F.) 

Solenobia inconspicuella, Sta. Hofwas Wood (E. B.) ; 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

TlNEIDAE 

Diplodoma marginepunctella, St. Cannock Chase 

(C. G. B.) 

Scardia corticella, Curt. Rugeley (R. F.) 
granella, L. Burton (B. S.) 



TINEAE (continued) 
TINEIDAE (continued) 

Scardia cloacella, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 
Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; very common 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

arcella, Fb. Henhurst (E. B.) 
Blabophanes rusticella, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.); 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; very common 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

Tinea fulvimitrella, SoJof. Burton (E. B., B.S.) ; 
Cannock Chase (C. G. B., W. G. B) ; Rugeley 
(R. F.) 

tapetzella, L. Burton common (E. B., B. S.) ; 

common Rugeley (R. F.) 

misella, Zell. Tatenhill (E. B.); Rugeley (R. F.) 

pellionella, L. Burton (B. S.) 

fuscipunctella, Haw. Tatenhill and Burton 

(E. B., B. S.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

pallescentella, Sta. Burton (B. S.) 

- lapella, Hb. Burton (E.B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

merdella, Zell. Burton (B. S.) 

semifulvella, Haw. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Burton 

(B. S.) ; Tixall (E. D. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 
Tineola biscllie'.la, Hm>. Tixall (E. D. B.) 
Lampronia luzella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

- praelatella, SchifF. Sinai Park (E. B.) 

- rubiella, Bjerk. Tixall (E. D. B.) 
Incurvaria muscalella, Fb. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) ; 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Hoptvas Wood 
(W. G. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

pectinea, Haw. Hofwas Wood (R. C. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

capitella, Clerck. Tixall (E. D. B.) 
Micropteryx calthella, L. Henhurst (E.B.) ; 

Burton (B.S.) ; Stafford (C. G. B.) 

seppella, Fb. Henhurst (E. B.) 

aureatclla, Scop. Burton (E. B.) ; Cannock 

Chase (C. G. B.) 

thunbergella, Fb. Henhurst (E. B.) 

- fastuosella, Zell. Burton (B. S.) 

semipurpurella, St. Rugeley (R. F.) 

subpurpurella, Haw. Henhurst (E. B.); Burton 
(B. S.) ; Hofu-as Wood (W. G. B.) 

Nemophora swammerdammella, L. Burton (E. B.) ; 
Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

schwarziella, Zell. Burton (E. B.) ,- Cannock 

Chase (C. G. B.) 

metaxella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

ADELIDAE 
Scop. Needwood, common 



Adela rufimitrel'a, 
(B. S.) 

croesella, Scop. 

degeerella, L. 



Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) 
Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; 
Ruge/ey, common (R. F.) 
- viridella, L. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley, 
common (R. F.) 



HYPONOMEUTIDAE 

Swammerdammia combinella, Hb. Henhurst (E. B.); 
Rugeley (R. F.) 

caesiella, Hb. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) 

oxyacanthella, Dup. Burton (B. S.) 

pyrella, Vill. Burton (E. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

spiniella, Hb. Burton (B. S.) 



110 



INSECTS 



TINEAE (continued) 
HYPONOMEUTIDAE (continued) 

Hyponomeuta padellus, L. Burton, common (E. B., 
B. S.) ; Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 

cagnagellus, Hb. Burton (E. B.) ? ; Rugeley, 

very common (R. F.) 

evonymellus, L. Near Uttoxeter (E. B.) 
Prays curtisellus, Don. Henhurst (E. B.) ; com- 
mon in Handsworth, both type and black 
form (C. J. W.) ; Rugeley, common (R. F.) 

PLUTELLIDAE 

Plutella cruciferarum, Zell. Burton, common 
(E. B.) ; Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley, 
very common (R. F.) 

porrectella, L. Burton, rare (B. S.) 
Cerostoma vittella, L. Henhurst (E. B.) 

radiatella, Don. Henhurst, common (E. B.) 

costella, Fb. Henhurst, common (E. B.) 
Harpipteryx nemorella, L. Henhurst, scarce (E. B.) 

xylostella, L. Henhurst, common (E. B.) ; 

Tixall (E. D. B.) 

GELECHIIDAF. 

Orthotelia sparganella, Thnb. Burton (B. S.) 
Phibalocera quercana, Fb. Burton (? B. S.) ; Can- 
nock Chase (E. D. B.) ; Rugeley, very common 
(R. F.) 

Depressaria costosa, Haw. Burton (E. B.) ; 

Rugeley (R. F.) 

flavella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

- assimilella, Tr. Rugeley (R. F.) 

- arenella, SchifF. Henhurst, common (E. B.) 

- propinquella, Tr. Henhurst, common (E. B.) ; 

Rugeley (R. F.) 

- alstroemeriana Clerck. Henhurst (E. B.) 

- purpurea, Haw. Henhurst (E.B.) 

- - liturella, Hb. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) 

angelicella, Hb. Henhurst (E. B.) 

- ocellana, Fb. Henhurst (E. B., B. S.) 

- applana, Fb. Burton, common (E. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

ciliella, Sta. Henhurst, plentiful (E. B.) 

heracleana, De G. Burton (E. B.) ; Rugeley, 

common (R. F.) 
[Gelechia malvella, Hb. Burton (E. E.JSJe B. S.)] 

- velocella, Fisch. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) 

ericetella, Hb. Cannock Chase, swarming 

(C. G. B.); Ruge/ey,\ery common (R. F.) 

sororculella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

longicornis, Curt. Cannock Chase, common 

(C.G.B.); Rugeley (R. F.) 

diffinis, Haw. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) 

rhombella, Schiff. Rugeley (R. F.) 
Brachmia mouffetella, SchifF. Burton (E. B.) 
Bryotropha terrella, Hb. Burton, common (E. B.); 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

politella, Dougl. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) 

senectella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

affinis, Dougl. Burton (E. B.) 

domestica, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 
Lita artemisiella, Tr. Burton (E. B.) 

viscariella, Logan. Stapenhill (B. S.) 



TINEAE (continued) 
GELECHIIDAE (continued) 

Lita maculea, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 

tricolorella, Haw. Tatenhi/l, common (B. S.) 

fraternella, Dougl. Burton (E. B.) 

maculiferella, Dougl. Burton. 

hubneri, Haw. Burton (E. B.); Hoftvas Wood 

0- Sang) 

atriplicella, Fisch. Burton (E. B.) 

Teleia proximella, Hb. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.); 
Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 

- notatella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

- vulgella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

luculella, Hb. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Hop- 

was Wood(C. }. W.) ; Sutton Park (W. G. B.) 

- fugitivella, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 

triparella, Zell. Rugeley (R. F.) 
Ptocheuusa subocellea, St. Burton (E. B.) 
Ergatis ericinella, Dup. Tixall (E. D. B.) 
Doryphora lucidella, St. Burton (E. B.) 
Monochroa tenebrell.i, Hb. Burton (K. B.) 
Lamprotes atrella, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 
Anacampsis ligulella, Zell. Burton (E. 15.) 

- anthyllidella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 
Brachycrossata cinerella, Clerck. Burton (E. B.) 
Ceratophora rufescens, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 
Chelaria hubnerella, Don. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) ; 

Rugeley (R. F.) 

Anarsia spartiella, Schr. Railway cuttings (B. S.) 
Hypsilophus marginellus, Fb. Burton (E.B.) 
Pleurota bicostella, Clerck. Cannock Chase, com- 
mon (C. G. B.) ; Chartley Moss (R. C. B.) ; 
Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 
Harpella geoftrelh, L. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 

Rugeley (R. F.) 

Dasycera sulphurell.i, Fb. Burton, common (E. B.); 
Cannock Chase (C. G. B. fide B. L.); Stafford, 
everywhere (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley, common 
(R. F.) 

Oecophora minutella, L. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Rugelfy 
(R. F.) 

fulviguttella, Zell. Henhurst (E. B.) ; llopwas 

Wood (W. G. B.) 

stipella, L. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

fuscencens, H;iw. Burton (E. B.) 

pseudopretella, Sta. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; 

Tixall (E. D. B.) ; Rugeley, very common 
(R. F.) 

Endrosis fenestrella, Scop. Tixall (E. D. B.) ; 
Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 

GLYPHIPTERYGIDAE 

Glyph iptery x fuscoviridella, Haw. Burton (E.B.); 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; Rugeley, (R. F.) 
equitella, Scop. Burton (E. B.) 

fischeriella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; Staf- 

ford (C. G. B.) 
Heliozele sericiella, Haw. Henhurst (E. B.) 

ARGYRESTHIIDAE 

Argyresthia ephippella, Fb. Stapenhill, &c (B. S.) 

nitidella, Fb. Henhurst, &c., common (E. B.); 

Cannock Chase (B. S., C. G. B.) 



ill 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



TINEAE (continue d) 
AIGYRESTHIIDAE (continued) 

Argyresthia spiniella, Zell. Burton (F. B.) ; Rugeley 
(R. F.) 

albistria, Haw. Henhunt, &c. common (E. B.) ; 

Tutbury Road, Burton (B. S.) 

semifusca, Haw. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

glaucinella, Zell. Bradgate Park (B. S.) 

retinella, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 

- dilectella, Zell. Stafenhil! (B. S.) 

curvella, L. The Oaks, &c., Burton (E. B.) ; 

Rugeley, very common (R. F.) 

pygmaeella, Hb. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) ; 

Chartley (R. C. B.) 

goedartella, L. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

brochella, Hb. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) ; Tixall 

(E. D. B.) 

Zelleria insignipennella, Sta. Henhunt (E. B.); 
Shobna.l, Burton (B. S.) 

GRACILARHDAE 

Gracilaria alchimiella, Scop. Henhurst, &c. (E. B.) 

- stigmatella, Fb. Henhunt (E. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R.F.) 

- hemidactylella, Fb. Henhunt (E. B.) 

- elongella, L. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; Cannock 

Chase (C. G. B., R. C. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

syringella, Fb. Burton (E. B.) 

auroguttella, St. Henhunt (E. B.) 
Coriscium culculipennellum, Hb. Henhunt (E. B.) 
Ornix anglicella, St. Burton (E. B.) ; Cannock 

Chase (C.G.B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

betulae, Sta. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) and 

(W. G. B.) 

- torquilella, Sta. Burton (E. B.) 

guttea, Haw. Rugeley (R. F.) 



TINEAE (continued) 
ELACHISTIDAE (continued) 

Laverna propinquella, Sta. Burton (E. B.) r 

epilobiella, Schr. Burton (E. B.) 

decorella, St. Burton (E. B.) 

vinolentella, H. S. Burton (B. S.) 

atra, Haw. Burton (E. B.); Rugeley (R. F.) 
Chrysoclysta schrankella, Hb. Cannock Chafe 

(C.J.W.) ; Sutton (R.C. B.) 

aurifrontelh, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 
Asychna terminella, Dale. Rosliston Road, Burton 

(B. S.) 
Stephensia brunnichella, L. The Oaks, Burton 

(E. B.) 
Elachista albifrontella, Hb. The Oaks, Burton 

(E. B.) ; Burton (B. S.) 

atricomella, Sta. Burton (E. B.) 

luticomella, Zell. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) ; 

Henhurst (B. S.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

monticola, Wk. Drakelow Mill (B. S.) 

nigrella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) ? 

subnigrella, Dougl. (B. S.) 

humilis, Zell. Burton (E. B.) ? 

perplexella, Sta. Burton (B. S.) 

obscurella, Sta. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; Cannock 

Chase (C. G. B.) 

zonariella, Tgstr. Burton (E. B.) 

megerlella.Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 
- cerussella, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

paludum, Frey. Drakelow Mill (B. S.) 

biatomella, Sta. Tixall (E. D. B.) 

rufocinerea, Haw. Burton, very common (E. B., 

B.S) ; Rugeley (R.F.) 

argentella, Clerck. The Oaks, Burton (E. B.) ; 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B.). ; Rugeley (R. F.) 
Tischeria complanelh, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.); 
Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) ; H of was Wood 
(W. G. B.) 

marginea, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 



COLEOPHORIDAE 

Coleophora paripennella, Zell. Burton, &c. (B. S.) 

murinipennella, Fisch. Burton (E. B.) ? 

- caespititiella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; Can- 

nock Chase (C. G. B.) 

- laripennella, Zett. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Burton 

(B.S.) 

- argentula, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 

- albiursella, Zell. Burton (B. S.) 

- nigricella, St. Burton (E. B.) ; Cannock Chase 

(C. G. B.) ; Rugeley (R. F.) 

fuscedinella, Zell. Burton (E. B.) ; Rugeley 

(R. F.) 

- gryphipennella, Bonche. Burton (B. S.) 

siccifolia, Sta. Tutbury Road, Burton (B. S.) ; 

Tixall (E .D. B.) 

viminetella, Heyd. Burton (E. B.) 

- badiipennella, Fisch. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

ELACHISTIDAE 

Batrachedra praeangusta, Haw. Burton (B. S.) 
Chauliodus illigerellus, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 



LlTHOCOLLETI DAE 

Lithocolletis roboris, Zell. Cannock Chase (C. G. B.) 

pomifoliella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

- coryli, Nicelli. Burton (B. S.) 

spinicolella, Kol. Rolleston Road, Burton (B. S.) 

faginella, Mann. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

salicicolella, Sircom. Burton (E. B.) 

ulmifoliella, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S) ; Can- 

nock Chase (C. G. B.) 

spinolella, Dup. Burton (E. B.) 

quercifoliella, Fisch. Burton (E. B., B. S.) - T 

Cannock Chase (C. G. B ) 

messaniella, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 

corylifoliella, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

viminiella, Sircom. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

alnifoliella, Hb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

heegeriella, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 

cramerella, Fb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) ; Can- 

nock Chase (C. G. B.) 

- sylvella, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 

nicellii, Zell. Burton, common (B. S.) 

tristrigella, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 

trifasciella, Haw. Burton (E. B.) 



112 



INSECTS 



TINEAE (continued} 
LYONETIIDAE 

Lyonetia clerckella, L. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Burton 

(B. S.) 
Cemiostoma spartifoliella, Hb. Burton (E. B.) 

laburnella, Heyd. Burton, common (B. S.) 

- scitella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 
Bucculatrix ulmella, Mann. Burton (E. B.) 

crataegi, Zell. Burton (E. B.) 

- boyerella, Dup. Burton (E. B.) 

thoracella, Thnb. Burton (E. B.) 

NEPTICULIDAE 

Nepticula ruficapitella, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

anomalella, Goze. Burton (B. S.) 

pygmaeella, Haw. Burton (B. S.) 

oiyacanthella, Sta. Burton (B. S.) ; Tlxall 

(E. D. B.) 



TINEAE (continued) 
NEPTICULIDAE (continued) 

Nepticula intimella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

sub-bimaculella, Haw. Burton (B.S.) 

trimaculella, Haw. Burton (B. S.) 

floslactella, Haw. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

myrtillella, Edl. Cannock Chase (C, G. B.) 

microtheriella, Wing. Burton (B. S.) 

ignobilella, Sta. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

argentipedella, Zell. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

plagicolella, Sta. Henhurst (B. S.) 

tityrella, Dougl. Branston (B. S.) 

- malella, Sta. Burton (B. S.) 

- angulifasciella, Sta Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

gratiosella, Sta. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

marginicolella, Sta. Burton (B. S.) 

aurella, Fb. Burton (E. B., B. S.) 

splendidissimella, H. S. Burton (B. S.) 



DIPTERA 

Flies 

The following list can only be regarded as a first instalment towards the compilation of 
a county list, for the number of species therein recorded only amounts to a little over 300, 
while some 3,000 species of Diptera are known to exist in Great Britain. It is founded on 
the late Mr. Edwin Brown's list of the Diptera of the Burton-on-Trent district, published in 
the Natural History of Tutbury in 1863 (pp. 210-23). Several species as to the identification 
of which some doubt exists or which are not now recognized as British, have been omitted. 
An asterisk (*) prefixed to the name of any species denotes that local specimens are to be 
found in the British Museum collection of British Diptera. Some notes on the gall-making 
Cecidomyidae, by Mr. Cyril Brett, as observed in the Alton district, have appeared in the 
Reports and Transactions of the North Staffs. Field Club, 1902-3 (pp. 92-3) and 1905-6, 
(pp. 75-6). 

Where Burton is given as a locality without further particulars it must be understood that 
the statement is made on the authority of Mr. E. Brown's list. 

Species marked (t) have been kindly determined by the Rev. A. Thornley, and those 
marked (11) by Mr. E. E. Austen. 

The following abbreviations have been used : 

R. G. = R. Garner, Nat. History of the County oj Stafford (1840) 

E. B. = Edwin Brown, 'Fauna of Burton-on-Trent' in Nat. Hist. ofTutbury (1863) 

R. C. B. = R. C. Bradley (Cannock Chase) 

C. J. W. = C. J. Wainwright (Handsworth) 

C. B. = Cyril Brett (Alton) 

F. J. = Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain (Dove Valley) 

G. H. V. = G. H. Verrall (Dovedale and Colwich) 

Br. Fl. = G. H. Verrall, British Flies, vol. viii. 

E. M. M. = The Entomologists' Monthly Magazine 

Ent. = The Entomologist 



NEMATOCERA 

PULICIDAE 

Pules irritans, L. 

canis, Curt. On dogs 
Trichopsylla sciurorum, Bouch6. 

(E. B.) 

gallinae, Schrk. In fowl houses, general 



ORTHORRHAPHA 

NEMATOCERA (continued) 

PULICIDAE (continued) 

On the house 

A rf ' 

On squirrels 



Trichopsylla hirundinis, Curt. 

martin (E. B.) 
Ctenopsyllus musculi, Dug&. 

(E. B.) 



On the rat 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



NEMATOCERA (continued) 
CECIDOMYIDAE 

Cecidomyia betulae, Winn. Alton, galls on 
Betula verrucosa, Erhrh. Sept. 1902 ; 
Coombe Woods, 22 July, 1905 (C. B.) 

bursaria, Bremi. Common, galls on Nepeta 

glechoma, Benth. (C. B.) 

crataegi, Winn. Common, galls on Cratae- 

gus oxyacantha, L. (C. B.) 

galii, Lw. Between Alton and Denstone, 

galls on Galium verum, 25 July, 1904 ; 
Three Lowes, 14 Aug., 1905 (C. B.) 

- lathyri, Frfld. Cotton, 31 July, 1905 (C. B.) 

- marginem-torquens, Bremi. Galls on Salix 

viminalis, L. (C. B.) 

persicariae, L. Bradley, galls on Polygonum 

amphibium, L., 25 Sept., 1902 ; Alton, 
July, 1905 (C. B.) 

pteridis, Mull. Common, galls on Pteris 

aquilina, L., Aug., 1903; Beliiont, 22 
July, 1905 (C. B.) 

- ranunculi, Bremi. Three Lowes, 22 Aug., 

1905 (C. B.) 

- rosarum, Hardy. Common, 1903, on Rosa 

canina, L. (C. B.) 

- taxi, Inch. Bradley, galls on Taxus baccata, 

L., Sept., 1903 (C. B.) 

- tiliae, Schrk. Alton, galls on Tilia grandifolia, 

Ehrh. 22 July, 1903 ; Rudyard, 25 
July, 1905 (C.B.) 

ulmariae, Bremi. Alton district, common, 

galls on Spiraea ulmaria, L., July, 1903 
and 1905 (C. B.) 

urticae, Perns. Alton district, galls on 

Urtica dioica, L., Aug., 1903 (C. B.) 

veronicae, Vallot. Burton (E. B.) ; common, 

galls on Veronica chamaedrys, L. (C. B ) 
Diplosis botularia,VVinn. Alton, galls on Fraxinus 
excelsior, L., Aug., 1903 (C. B.) 

- loti, Deg. Alton, 5 Aug., 1905 (C. B.) 

- tritici, Kirb. In wheat ears (E. B.) 
Hormomyiaannulipes, Hart, (piligera, Lw.). Com- 
mon, galls on Fagus silvatica, L.; Rudyard, 
25 July, 1905 (C. B.) 

capreae, Winn. On Salix caprea, L. Alton, 

Aug., 1903 (C. B.) 

fagi, Hart. Dimmingsdale, galls on F. sil- 

vatica, L., Sept., 1902 ; Rudyard, 25 
July, 1905 (C. B.) 

millefolii, Lw. Three Louies, n Aug., 1905 

(C. B.) 

MYCETOPHILIDAE 

Sciara thomae, L. Cannock (R. C. B. Ent. 1891, 

p. 78) 

*Mycetophila lineola, Mg. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 
*Rhymosia fasciata, Mg. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 

fenestralis, Mg. Common 
Exechia fungorum, De G. Burton 
Allodia crassicornis, Stan. Burton 

Phronia crassipes, Winn. Colwlch, common 
(G. H. V. in E. M. M. xxx, 78) 

- dubia, Dzied. Colwich (G. H.V. in E. M. M. 

xxx, 79) 



N E M ATOC ERA (continued ) 
MYCETOPHILIDAE (continued) 

'Boletina trivittata, Mg. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 

[Lasiosoma maura, Wlk. Barton] 

Sciophila fasciata, Ztt. Burton 

Platyura fasciata, Ltr Burton 

Macrocera lutea, Mg. Burton 
* centralis, Mg. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 
'Bolitophila cinerea, Mg. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 

BIBIONIDAE 

Scatopse notata, L. Common about manure 
heaps 

pulicaria, Lw. Colwich (G. H. V. in 

E. M. M. xxx, 79) 
Bibio pomonae, F. ' Frequent ' (R. G.) 

- marci, L. Common 

leucopterus, Mg. Burton 

ferruginatus, Gmel. Burton 

laniger, Mg. Burton 

clavipes, Mg. Burton 

SlMULIDAE 

Simulium reptans, L. Common 

nanum, Ztt. Colwlch (G. H. V. in E. M. M. 

xxx, 79) 

CHIRONOMIDAE 

Chironomus plumosus, L. Burton 

prasinus, Mg. Burton 

tentans, F. Burton 

* pcdellus, De G. Common, Burton ; also 
Dovedale (G. H. V '.) 

viridis, Mcq. Very common, Burton 
* viridulus, L. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 

* nigrimanus, Staeg. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 
* pictulus, Mg. Dovedale (G. H.V.) 
* albimanus, Mg. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 
* nubilus, Mg. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 
*Cricotopus tremulus, L. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 
*Orthocladius variabilis, Staeg. Dovedale 

(G. H. V.) 

'Diamesa obscurimanus, Mg. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 
Tanypus varius, F. Burton 

nebulosus, Mg. Burton 

' punctatus, F. Colwlch (G. H. V.) 

ornatus, Mg. Colwlch (G. H. V. in E. M. M. 

xxx, 79) 
* trifascipennis, Ztt. Dovedale (G. H. V.) and 

Colwich, abundant (G. H. V. in E. M. M. 

xxx, 79) 

[ zonatus, F. Burton] 
Ceratopogon pulicaris, L. Burton, very common 

- nitidus, Mcq. Burton, very common 
femoratus, Mg. Colwich (G. H. V.) 

PsYCHODIDAE 

Pericoma nubila, Mg. Burton 

Psychoda phalaenoides, L. Burton, common 

CULICIDAE 

Corethra plumicornis, F. Burton 
Culex annulatus, Schrk. Very common 

nemorosus, Mg. Very common 

pipiens, L. (ciliaris, L.). Very common 



114 



INSECTS 



NEMATOCERA (continued} 

PTYCHOPTERIDAK 
' Ptychoptera paludosa, Mg. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 



LIMNOBIDAE 



Burton 



Burton 
Burton , 

Egg- 



Cohaich 
Dwedale 



Burton 
Dovedale (G H. V.) ; 
C. B. in E. M. M. 



Limnobia nubeculosa, Mg. 

tripunctata, F. Burton 
Dicranomyia modesta, Mg. 

*Rhiphidia maculata, Mg. 

(G. H. V.) 
'Molophilus propinquus, 

(G. H. V.) 

Rhypholophus lineatus, Mg. 
'Lipsothrix errans, Wlk. 

also Cannock (R. 

xxxii, 53) 
Ephelia submarmorata,Verr. Colw'uh (G. H. V.); 

also Cannock (R. C. B. ibid.) 

marmorata, Mg. Cannock (R. C. B. ibid.) 
*Dactylol.ibis frauenfeldi, Egg. Dovedale 

(G H. V.) 

Trichocera hiemalis, De G. Very common 
Pedicia rivosa, L. (R. G.) 
Cylindrotoma distinctissima, Mg. Cannock 

(R. C. B. in E. M. M. xxxii, 53) 

TlPULIDAE 

Dolichopeza sylvicola, Curt. Cannock (R. C. B. 

ibid.) 
Pachyrrhina crocata, L. Burton ; Cannock 

(R. C. B. ibid.) 

maculosa, Mg Cannock (R. C. B. ibid ) 

quadrifaria, Mg. Burton 

annulicornis, Mg. Burton ; Cannock (R. C. B. 

ibid.) 
"Tipula varipennis, Mg. Dovedale (G. H. V.) ; 

Cannock (R. C. B. ibid.) 
- lunata, L. Cannock (R. C. B ibid) 

gigantea, Schrk. Common, Burton ; Dove 

fal/ey (F. J.) ; Ckeadle (}. Masefield) ; 
Cannock (R. C. B. ibid.) 

lutescens, F. Very common 

oleracea, L. Very common 

BRACHYCERA 
STRATIOMYIDAE 

Oxycera pulchella, Mg. (rara, Wlk.). Burton 
Chrysonotus bipuncta;us, Scop. Burton 
Sargus flavipes, Mg. Burton 

cuprarius, L. Burton 



BRACHYCERA (continued) 
STRATIOMYIDAE (continued) 

Chloromyia Formosa, Scop. Burton 
Microchrysa polita, L Burton 
Beris clavipes, L. Burton 

TABANIDAE 

Haematopota pluvialis, L. Common 
Therioplectes tropicus, Mg. Burton 
Tabanus bovinus, L. Cannock Chase (E. B.) 
Chrysops caecutiens, L. Common (R. G.) 

LEPTIDAE 

Leptis scolopacea, L. Burton ; Dove Valley, &c. 
Chrysopilus aureus, Mg. Burton 
Atherix ibis, F. Burton 

ASILIDAE 

Dioctria oelandica, L. Burton 

rufipes, De G. Burton 

Asilus crabroniformis, L. Burton, rare 

BoMBYLIDAE 

[Anthrax hottentotta, L. (?) Burton\ 

Bombylius, sp. (?) Burton 

THEREVIDAE 
Thereva annulata, F. Burton 

EMPIDAE 

Rhamphomyia nigripes, F. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 

- sulcata, Fin. Burton 
Kmpis tessellata, F. Burton 

- livida, L. Burton 

* bilineata, Lw. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 

- chioptera, Fin. Burton 
Hil.ira cilipes, Mg. Burton 

- maura, F. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 

- fuscipes, F. Colwich (G. H. V.) 

* Tachydromia agilis, Mg. Dovedale (G. H. V.) 

DoLICHOPODIDAE 

Poecilobothrus nobilitatus, L. Burton 
Porphyrops praerosa, Lw. Dwedale (G. H. V.) 

LoNCHOPTERIDAE 

Lonchoptera punctum, Mg. Burton 
trestes, Mg. Burton 



CYCLORRHAPHA 



PROBOSCIDEA 

SYRPHIDAE 

Paragus tibialis, Fin. (obscurus, Mg.). Burton 

Pipizella flavitarsis, Mg. Burton 

Pipiza noctiluca, L. Burton 

bimaculata, Mg. (guttata, Mg.). Burton 

Cnemodon vitripennis, Mg. Burton 



PROBOSCIDEA (continued) 
SYRPHIDAE (continued) 

Liogaster metallina, F. (Jiscicornis, Mg.). 

Burton 

Chrysogaster splendens, Mg. Burton 
[ hirtella, Lw. (? viduata, Fin.). Burton\ 
- solstitialis, Fin. (fumipennis, Steph.). Burton 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



PROBOSCIDEA (continued) 
SYRPHIDAE (continued) 

Chilosia scutellata, Fin. Burton 

pulchripes, Lw. Dovedale (Br. Fl.) 

variabilis, Pz. Burton 

[ illustrata, Harr. (? oestracea, L.). Burton] 

grossa, Fin. Burton 

fPlatychirus manicatus, Mg. Burton; Dove 
Valley (F. J.) 

clypeatus, Mg. Burton 
Pyrophaena granditarsa, Forst. Burton 

rosarum, F. Burton 
Melanostoma mellinum, L. Burton 

scalare, F. Burton 

Leucozona lucorum, L. Burton ; Dove Valley 

(F. J-) 
Ischyrosyrphus glaucius, L. Burton 

- laterarius, Mull. Burton 

tCatabomba pyrastri, L. Burton; Mayfield and 

Dove Valley (F. J.) 
Syrphus albostriatus, Fin. Burton 

torvus, O.-S. (topiarius, Mg.). Burton 

1 'f ribesii, L. Burton ; Dove Valley, common 

. (. F - >). 

vitripennis, Mg. Burton 

corollae, F. Burton 

- bifasciatus, F. Burton 

t balteatus, De G. Burton; Mayfield and 
Dove Valley (F. J.) 

- auricollis, Mg. Burton 

- umbellatarum F. Burton ; Coltcich (C. J. W.) 

compositarum, Verr. Colwicb (C. J. W.) 

- arcticus, Ztt. Colwich (C. J. W.) 
Xanthogramma ornatum, Mg. Burton 

- citrofasciatum, De G. Burton 
Baccha obscuripennis, Mg. Burton 

- elongata, F. Burton 

tSphegina clunipes, Fin. One in Dove Valley, 

6 Sept., 1902 (F. J.) 
Ascia podagrica, F. Burton 
Brachyopa bicolor, Fin. Burton 
Rhingia rostrata, L. Burton 
t campestris, Mg. Mayfield and Dove Valley 

(F. JO 

Volucella bombylans, L. Burton 
f pellucens, L. Henhurst (E. B.) ; Dove 

Valley (F. J.), &c. 
Eristalis sepulchralis, L. Burton 
t tenax, L. Common 

ft intricarius, L. Burton ; Dove Valley (F. J.) 
ft arbustorum, L. Burton ; Dove Valley 

(F. J.) 

f nemorum, L. Burton ; Dove Valley (F. J.) 
ft pertinax, Scop. Dove Valley (F. J.) 

- horticola, De G. Burton 
Myiatropa florea, L. Burton 

Helophilus trivittatus, F. Cannock (R. C. B. 

Ent. 1890, p. 352) 

t pendulus, L. Burton ; Mayfield and Dove 
Valley (F. J.) 

lineatus, F. Burton 
Criorrhina asilica, Fin. Burton 
Xylota segnis, L. Burton 

lenta, Mg. Burton 

sylvarum, L. Burton 



PROBOSCIDEA (continued) 
SYRPHIDAE (continued) 

Xylota nemorum, F. Colwich (C. J. W.) ; Can- 
nock, one (R. C. B. in EMM. xxxii, 

P- SO 

f Syritta pipiens, L. Burton ; Dove Valley, com- 
mon (F. J.) 

Eumerus strigatus, Fin. Burton 
Chrysochlamys cuprea, Scop. Burton 
Calliprobola speciosa, Rossi. Burton ? 
'Sericomyia borealis, Fin. Burton ; also Can- 
nock (F. D. Morice) 

lappona, L. Burton 
Chrysotoxum arcuatum, L. Burton 

bicinctum, L. Burton 

CONOPIDAE 

Conops quadrifusciata, De G. Burton 
t flavipes, L. Mayfield and Dove Valley (F. J.) 
Oncomyia atra, F. Burton 
Sicus ferrugineus, L. Burton 

OESTRIDAE 

Gastrophilus equi, F. Common 
Hypoderma bovis, De G. Common, doing con- 
siderable damage to the hides of oxen 
Oestrus ovis, L. Very common in some years 



TACHINIDAE 

tOlivieria lateralis, F. Burton ; Mayfield and 
Dove Valley (F. J.) 

Micropalpus vulpinus, Fin. Burton 

Echinomyia fera, L. Burton 

Fabricia ierox, L. Burton 

tSarcophaga carnaria, L. Generally distributed 
tvar. similis, Meade. Dove Valley (F. J.) 

melanura, Mg. Burton 

Dexiosoma caninum, F. Burton 

Prosena sybarita, F. Burton 



MUSCIDAE 

Stomoxys calcitrans, L. Burton ; scarce in Dove 

Valley (F. J.) 
Pollenia vespillo, F. Burton 

rudis, F. Burton 
Graphomyia maculata, Scop. Burton 
Musca domestica, L. Everywhere 

corvina, F. Burton 
Cyrtoneura stabulans, Fin. Burton 
Morellia hortorum, Fin. Burton 
Mesembrina meridiana, L. Frequently seen on 

the trunks of trees in many places (R. G.); 
Burton 

Pyrellia lasiophthalma, Mcq. Burton 
Calliphora vomitoria, L. Everywhere 
Euphoria cornicina, F. Burton 
tLucilia caesar, L. Common 
[ illustris, Mg. ? Burton] 



INSECTS 



PROBOSCIDEA (continued) 
ANTHOMYIOAE 

Polietes lardaria, F. Burton 
Hyetodesia incana, W. Burton 

signata, Mg. Burton 

erratica, Fin. Burton 
Mydaea angelicae, Scop. Burton 
Mydea pagana, F. Burton 

impuncta, Fin. Burton 
Hydrophoria conica, W. Burton 

*Hylemyia virginea, Mg. Colwich (G. H. V.) 

praepotens, W. Burton 
Anthomyia pluvialis, L. Burton 

radicum, L. Burton, &c. 
"Chortophila cinerella, Fin. DoveJalt (G. H. V.) 

sepia, Mg. Burton. 

Phorbia cepetorum, Meade. Burton, &c. 
Pegomyia betae, Curt. Common in some years 
Homalomyia canicularis, L. Burton 
Caricea tigrina, F. Burton 

CoRDYLURIDAE 

Scatophaga lutaria, F. Burton 

stercoraria, L. Everywhere 

HELOMYZIDAE 

Helomyza flava, Mg. Burton 
Blepharoptera serrata, L. Burton 

SCIOMYZIDAE 

Dryomyza flaveola, F. Burton 
Neottiophilum praeustum, Mg. Burton 
Sciomyza obtusa, Fin. Burton 

cinerella, Fin. Burton 

albocostata, Fin. Burton 
Tetanocera ferruginea, Fin. Burton 

* robusta, Lw. Cannock (R. C. B.) 
Limnia marginata, F. Burton 

rufifrons, F. Burton 
Elgiva cucularia, L. Burton 

PSILIDAE 

Psila fimetaria, L. Burton 

pallida, Fin. Burton 

MlCROPEZIDAK 

Calobata trivialis, Lw. Dovedale (G. H. V. in 
EMM. xxx, p. 145) 

ORTALIDAE 

Pteropaectria afflicta, Mg. Burton 
Anacampta urticae, L. Burton 
Platystoma seminationis, F. Burton 
Seoptera vibrans, L. Burton 

TRYPETIDAE 

Acidia heraclei, L. Burton ; Hanttswort/i, com- 
mon (C.J.W.) 
Spilographia zoe, Mg. Handsworth (C. J. W.) 

artemisiae, F. Burton 
Rhagoletis cerasi, L. Burton 
Trypeta cornuta, . Burton 

serratulae, L. Burton 



PROBUSCIDEA (Continued) 
TRYPETIDAE (continued) 

Urophora solstitialis, L. Burton ; Denstone, 
28 July and Aug., 1905, Alton, Aug., 
1905 (C.B.) 

Carphotricha guttularis, Mg. Burton 

Tephrites parietina, L. Burton 

leontodontis, De G. Burton 
Urellia stellata, Fuessl. Burton 

LoNCHAEIDAE 

Lonchaea vaginalis, Fin. Burton 
Palloptera saltuum, L. Burton 

ustulata, Fin. Burton 

umbellatarum, F. Burton 

arcuata, Fin. Burton 

SAPROMYZIDAE 

Lauxania cylindricornis, F. Burton 

aenea, Fin. Burton 

OPOMYZIDAE 

Balioptera combinata, L. Burton 
Opomyza florum, F. Burton 

SEPSIDAE 
Nemopoda tarsalis, Wlk. Burton 

PlOPHILIDAE 

Piophila casei, L. Larvae in cheese 

EPHYDRIDAE 

Notiphila cinerea, Fin. Burton 
Psilopa leucostoma, Mg. Burton 
Ephydra riparia, Fin. Burton 

CHLOROPIDAE 

Meromyza variegata, Mg. Burton 
Chlorops cinctipes, Mg. Burton 

PHYTOMYZIDAE 
Napomyza lateralis, Fin. Burton 

BORRORIDAE 

Borborus nitidus, Mg. Burton 

equinus, Fin. Burton 
Sphaerocera subsultans, F. Burton 
Limosina sylvatica, Mg. Burton 

ochripes, Mg. Burton 

fungicola, Hal. Burton 

PHORIDAE 
Phora rufipes, Mg. Burton 

EPROBOSCIDEA 

HlPPOBOSCIDAE 

Ornithomyia avicularia, L. On owls, &c., at 

Burton 
Stenopteryx hirundinis, L. On martins and 

swallows (E. B., F.J.) 
Melophagus ovinus, L. Common on sheep 

everywhere 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



HEMIPTERA HETEROPTERA 

(Bug,) 



GYMNOCERATA 
PENTATOMIDAE 

Asopus punctatus, L. Cannock Chase (Blatch) 
Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale, L. Cannock Chase 
(Blatch) 

LYGAEIDAE 

Gastrodes abietis, L. Burton (J. T. Harris) 
TINGIDAE 

Monanthia costata, Fieb. Cannock Chase (Blatch) 

- humuli, Fb. Button Park (Blatch) 

HEBRIDAE 
Hebrus ruficeps, Thorns. Cannock Chase (Blatch) 

HYDROMETRIDAE 

Mesovelia furcata, Muls. and Rey. One from the 
R. Trent, near Burton (E.B.) ; see E. M. M. 
iv, 5 (1867) 

Hydrometra stagnorum, L. Common. 

Vclia currens, Fb. On the R. Trent (E. B.) 

Gerris paludum, Fb. Very abundant 

SALDIDAE 

Salda orthochila, Fieb. Cannock Chase (Blatch) 

- cocksii, Curt. Cannock Chase (Blatch) 

- cincta, H. Sch, Cannock Chase (Blatch) 

Cl.MICIDAE 

Cimex lectularius, L. 

Piezostethus cursitans, Fall. Needtcood Forest 
(Blatch) 



GYMNOCERATA (continued) 
CAPSIDAE 

Lopus gothicus, L. Cannock Chase (Bhtch) 

flavomarginatus, Don. 'On nettles' (R. G.) 
Calocoris sex-guttatus, Fl. Common near Barlas- 

ton (J. W. Ellis) 

alpestris, Mey. Burton (E. B.) 
Atractotomus mali, Mey. Cannock Chase (Blatch) 

CRYPTOCERATA 
NAUCORIDAE 

Naucoris cimicoides, L. Common in brooks 
(R. G.) ; in railway cuttings at Wetmore 
(E. B.) 

NEPIDAE 

Nepa cinerea, L. Common. Canals at Stoke-on- 
Trent (R. G.), &c. ; Burton (E. B.) ; Dot'e 
ralky (F. J.) 

NoTONECTIDAE 

Notonecta glauca, L. Very common. Fenton Pool 
(R. G.), &c. 

var. furcata and maculata (E. B.) 

CORIXIDAE 

Corixa geoffroyi, Leach. Not uncommon, Burton 
district (E.B.) 

atomaria, Illig. (affinis, Leach). Common (E.B.) 
- coleoptrata, Fl. Burton (W. W. F.) 

Sigara minutissima, L. Burton (W. W. F.); not un- 
common in the R. Trent near Burton (E.B.) 



HEMIPTERA HOMOPTERA 



CICADINA 

ISSIDAE 



CICADINA (continued) 
CERCOPIDAE 



Issus coleoptratus, Geoff. Near Burton, not com- : Triecphora vulnerata, Illig. ? 
mon (E. B.) ; Dovedale (B. Cooke) Philaenus spumarius, L. Verj 



ClXIIDAE 



Very common 
LEDRIDAE 

Ledra aurita, L. Burton district, in woods, rare 
Cixius pilosus, Ol., or nervosus, L. (rcynosbatis, (E.B.) 

fb. of E. B.). Common in woods, Burton 
district (E. B.) 



DELPHACIDE 

[' Several species are abundant ' (E. B.)] 
[Stiroma borealis, J. Sahl. In mus. P. B. Mason of 
Burton, but without locality] 



118 



ACOCEPHALIDAE 

Acocephalus nervosus, Schr. ? 

PSYLLINA 

PSYLLIDAE 

Psylla. [Many species, E. B.] 



INSECTS 



APHIDES, &c. 

The late Sir O. Mosley contributed some articles on Aphides to the early volumes of the 
Gardeners' Chronicle, and Mr. E. Brown gives some observations in his account of the fauna 
of the Burton district (Natural History of Tutbury, &c., p. 167). Mr. C. Brett has also 
recorded a few species from the Alton district (Report North Staffs. Field Club, 1905-6, 
p. 75-6). 

Sir O. Mosley = O.M. E. Brown = E.B. C. Brett = C.B. Rev. F. C. R. Jour- 
dain = F. J. 



APHIDIDAE 

. Siphonophora pisi, Kalt. (lathyri) (O. M.) 

- avellanae, Schr. (coryli) (O. M.) 

Phorodon humuli, Schr. On Humulus lupulus 

(E. B., F. J.) 

Myzus ribis, L. Alton, July, 1905 (C. B.) 
Rhopalosiphum ribis, L. On Ribes nigrum, Dove 

Valley, common (F. J.) ; Uttoxeter, August, 

1904 (C.B.) 
Siphocoryne xylostei, Schrank. On Lonicera peri- 

clymenum, Alton, August, 1903 (C. B.) 
Aphis brassicae L. On Brassica oleracea, common 

(F- JO 

crataegi, Kalt. On Crataegus oxyacantha, 

Dove Valley (F. J.); Alton, July, 1904 (C. B.) 

malvae, Walk. (O. M.) 

- mali, Fb. On Pyrus malus, Dove Valley (F. J.) 

- atriplicis, L. On Atriplex patula, Alton, July, 

1903 ; Denstone, July, 1905 (C. B.) 

rumicis, L. On Hedera helix, &c. (F. J.) 

amygdali, Fonsc. 'On Peach and Plum trees' 

(E. B.) 

- pyri, Fonsc. On Pyrus malus, Alton, ^ \ July, 

1 904 (C.B.) 

Callipterus coryli, Gotze. On Corylus avellana, 

&c. (O. M.) 
Dryobius roboris, L. (O. M.) 



APHIDIDAE (continued} 

Schizoneura lanigera, Hausm. ' Eriosoma mali' 

(O. M.) ; ' American Blight,' Dave Valley 

(F. J.) 
- ulmi, L. On Ulmus montana, Alton, August, 

1903 (C.B.) 
Tetraneura ulmi, De Geer. On U. campestris, 

Roston, August, 1903 (C. B.) 
Chermes abietis, L. On spruce fir (E. B.) ; Alton, 

on Abies excelsa, August, 1903 (C.B.) 

laricis, Htg. On larch (E. B.) 

COCCI DAE 

Aspidiotus, sp. (Scale Insects). Common on green- 
house plants 

Lecanium persicae, Burm. 'On plum and apricot 
trees. Burton ' (E. B.) 

Dorthesia cataphracta, Shaw. Henhurst (E. B.) 

ALEYRODIDAE 

Alleyrodes proletella, Wlk. Frequently found flying 
in lanes (E.B.) 

fragariae, Wlk. On strawberry (E. B.) 

phillyreae, Hal. Common on Phillyrea (E. B). 
Dactylopius, sp. (Mealybug). On vines in green- 
houses (F.J.) 



719 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



ARACHNIDA 

Spiders, etc. 

Very few species of spiders, eighty-two in all, have been collected 
in the county of Staffordshire, and the greater number of these were 
taken in the neighbourhood of Handsworth by Mr. F. P. Smith, while 
the rest were taken by myself near Cannock. 

ARANE^ 

ARACHNOMOR PHM 

DYSDERIDjE 

Spiders with six eyes and two pairs of stigmatic openings, situated close together on the 
genital rima ; the anterior pair communicating with lung books, the posterior with tracheal 
tubes. Tarsal claws, two in Dysdera, three in Harpactes and Segestria. 



1. Dysdera cambridgii, Thorell. 

Cannock. 

Not uncommon under stones and bark of 
trees, where it lurks within a tubular retreat. 
The spider is easily recognizable by its elon- 
gate form, orange legs, dark mahogany cara- 
pace and pale clay-yellow abdomen. The 
palpal bulb of the male has no cross-piece at 
the apex. The spider is also known as D. 
erytbryna, Blackwall. 

T-, , ,-, T V 

2. Dysdera crocota, C. L. Koch. 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Larger than the last species, with a deep 
orange-pink carapace, orange legs, and abdo- 



men with a delicate rosy-pink flush. The 
palpal bulb of the male has a cross-piece at 
the apex. This spider is also known as D. 
rubtcunda, Blackwall. 

3. Segestria senocu/ata (Linnaeus). 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 
Not common . under bark of trees> in the 

crev ices of loose stone walls and amongst 
d etac h e d rocks. Recognizable by its linear 
f orm and the black diamond-shaped blotches 
on the dorsal surface of the abdomen. 

4. Oonops pulcher, Templeton. 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 
Rare ; a very small linear brick-red spider. 



DRASSIDjE 

Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows. The tracheal openings lie just 
in front of the spinners. The tarsal claws are two in number, the anterior pair of spinners 
are set wide apart at the base, and the maxillae are more or less impressed across the middle. 



5. Drassodes lapidosus (Walckenaer). 
Cannock. 



Very common under stones. 
as Drassus lapidicolens. 



Also known 



CLUBIONID^E 



Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows. The tracheal openings lie 
immediately in front of the spinners. The tarsal claws are two in number, but the anterior 
pair of spinners are set close together at the base ; the maxillae are convex and not impressed 
across the middle. 



9. Clubiona corticalis, Walckenaer. 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

10 . Clubiona trivia/is, L. Koch. 
Cannock. 



6. Clubiona pallidula (Clerck). 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

7. Clubiona terrestris, Westring. 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

8. Clubiona compta, C. L. Koch. 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 



The spiders of this family resemble those of the Clubionidte in most respects, except that 
the tracheal stigmatic openings beneath the abdomen are situated about midway between the 

120 



SPIDERS 

genital rima and the spinners, and not, as in the last family, immediately in front of the 
spinners. One species only is indigenous to Great Britain and is very common amongst the 
foliage of trees in May and June. 

11. Anypbeena accmtuata (Walckenaer). Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

THOMISID^E 

Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows, two tarsal claws and anterior 
spinners close together at their base. Maxillae not impressed. The crab-like shape and side- 
long movements of these spiders are their chief characteristics, enabling them to be easily 
distinguished from the more elongate Drassidte and Clubionidte. 

12. Philodromus aureolus (Clerck). 14. Xysticus cristatus (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

13. Tibellus oblongus (Walckenaer). 15. Oxyptlla prattcola (C. L. Koch). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

ATTID^E 

The spiders of this family may be recognized in a general way by their mode of pro- 
gression, consisting of a series of leaps. More particularly they may be known by the square 
shape of the cephalic region and the fact that the eyes are arranged in three rows of 4, 2, 2, 
the centrals of the anterior row being much the largest. Otherwise the spiders are simply 
specialized Clubionids with two tarsal claws and other minor characters possessed in common 
with other members of this family. 

1 6. Salticus scenicus (Clerck). 17. Ergane falcata (Clerck). 

Handsworth (F.P.S.) ; Cannock. Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Known also as Salticus ceronatus, BLickwall. 

PISAURID^ 

Spiders with eight eyes in three rows of 4, 2, 2 ; the small anterior eyes being sometimes 
in a straight line, sometimes recurved and sometimes procurved. Those of the other two rows 
are situated in the form of a rectangle of various proportions and are much larger than the 
eyes of the anterior row. The tarsal claws are three in number. Pisaura runs freely over 
the herbage, carrying its egg-sac beneath the sternum ; while Dolomedes is a dweller in marshes 
and swamps. 

1 8. Pisaura mirabilis (Clerck). Known also as Dolomedes, or Ocyale, mirabilis. 
Cannock. 

LYCOSIDjE 

The members of this family are to be found running freely over the ground, and carry- 
ing the egg-sac attached to the spinners. Many of the larger species make a short burrow in 
the soil and there keep guard over the egg-sac. Eyes and tarsal claws as in the Phauridie, 
with slight differences. 

19. Lycosa ruricola (De Geer). 22. Pardosa lugubrts (Walckenaer). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). Cannock. 

Known also as L. campestris, Blackwall. 23. Pardosa pullata (Clerck). 

Cannock. 

20. Lycosa terrico/a, Thorell. Known also as Lycosa otscura, Blackwall. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

. r T.I , 11 2 4- "ardosa prattvaga (C. L. Koch). 

Known also as L. agrettca. Blackwall. , ./ 

Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

21. Lycosa pulverulenta (Clerck). This species is given in Mr. Campbell's 
Cannock ; Handsworth (F.P.S.). list as L y ceta r 'P aria , C - L. Koch. 

Known also as L. rapax, Blackwall, and 25. Pardosa amentata (Clerck). 
Tarentula pulverulenta. Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

I 121 16 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



AGELENID^: 

Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two straight or more or less curved transverse rows. 
Tarsal claws, three. The species of this family spin a large sheet-like web, and construct a 
tubular retreat at the back of it, which leads to some crevice amongst the rocks or in the 
herbage, or in the chinks in the walls of outhouses and barns, wherever the various species may 
happen to be found. The habits of Argyroneta, the water spider, are however quite different. 
The posterior pair of spinners is much longer than the others in the more typical genera of 
this family. 



26. Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

27. Ttgenaria derhami (Scopoli). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

A very common species everywhere. 



28. Tegenaria silvestrii, L. Koch. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

29. Ccelotes atropos (Walckenaer). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 



The spiders included in this family have eight eyes, situated in two rows, the lateral eyes 
of both rows being usually adjacent, if not in actual contact, while the central eyes form a 
quadrangle. The tarsal claws are three, often with other supernumerary tlaws. The web is 
either an orbicular snare, as in the case of the ' common garden spider,' or consists of a sheet 
of webbinsj, beneath which the spider hangs and captures its prey as it falls upon the sheet. 
This immense family includes those usually separated under the names Epeiridte and Linyphiidts. 



30. Nesticus cellulanus (Clerck). 
Cannock. 

Known also as Linyphia cryptico/ens, Black- 
wall. 

31. Meta segmentata (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Very abundant. Known also as Epeira 
indinata, Blackwall. 

32. Meta meriarue (Scopoli). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Not uncommon. Known also as Epeira 
antriada, Blackwall, and a striking variety as 43 
E. celata, Blackwall. 

33. Cyclosa conica (Pallas). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

A few specimens only have been taken. 
Known also as Epeira conica, Blackwall. 

34. Zilla x - notata (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Very common. Known also as Epeira 
simi/is, Blackwall. 

35. Zilla atrica, C. L. Koch. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Almost as common as the above. Known 
also as Epeira callophylla, Blackwall. 

36. Araneut diadematus (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.) ; Cannock. 

37. Araneus gibbosus (Walckenaer). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

38. Pachygnatha clerckii y Sun dc vail. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 



39. Pachygnatha degeerii, Sundevall. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

40. Pachygnatha listeri, Sundevall. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Much rarer than the other two species 
above. 

4 1 . Linyphia triangularis (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

42. Linyphia clathrata, Sundevall. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Drapetisca soda/is (Sundevall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

44. Stemonyphantes lineatus (Linnzeus). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

45. Labulla thoracica (Wider). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

46. Bolypbantes luteolus (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

47. Tapinopa longideus (Wider). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

48. Lepthyphantes minutus (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

49. Lepthyphantes leprosus (Ohlert). 
Cannock. 

50. Lepthyphantes nebulosus (Sundevall). 
Cannock. 

51. Lepthyphantes ericeus (Blackwall). 
Cannock. 

52. Lepthyphantes tenuis (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 



122 



SPIDERS 



53. Lepthyphantes blackwaUii, Kulczynski. 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

54. Batbyphantes dorsalis (Wider). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

55. Bathyphantes gracilis (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

56. Bathyphantes concolor (Wider). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

57. Centromerus sylvaticut (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

58. Macrargus rufui (Wider). 
Cannock. 

59. Centromerus simplex (F. P.-Cambridge). 
Cannock, Brewery cellar. 

60. Microneta viaria (Blackwall). 
Cannock. 

6 1. Microneta fuscipalpis (C. L. Koch). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

62. Pedanostethus lividus (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 



63. Kulczynskiellum fuscum (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

64. Gonatium rubens (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

65. Dicyphus cornutui (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

66. Dicymbium nigrum (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

67. Erigone dentipalpis (Wider). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

68. Tiso vagans (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

69. Lophomma punctatum (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

70. Plcesiocrarus fuscipes (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

71. Entelecara acuminata (Wider). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

72. Arrecerus acuminatus (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.) ; Cannock. 



THERIDIID^E 

The members of this family have eight eyes, situated very much like those of the Argio- 
pidit ; but the mandibles are usually weak, the maxillae are inclined over the labium, and the 
posterior legs have a comb of stiff curved spines beneath the tarsi. The web consists of a 
tangle of crossing lines, and the spider often constructs a tent-like retreat wherein the egg-sac 
is hung up. The tarsal claws are three in number. 



73. Theridion pictum (Walckenaer). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 



74 



75 



Theridion iisyphium (Clerck). 
Cannock. 
Known also as T. nervoium, Blackwall. 

Theridion denticulatum (Walckenaer). 
Cannock. 



76. 



77- 



Theridion varians, Hahn. 
Cannock. 



Theridion ovatum (Clerck). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

78. Pholcomma gibbum (Westring). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

79. Crustulina guttata (Wicler). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

MIMETID^ 

Spiders of this family are similar in general respects to the Theridiidie, having eight eyes 
and three tarsal claws. The species of Era construct a small brown pear-shaped or cylindrical 
egg-cocoon suspended on a fine silken stalk. 

80. Erofurcata (Villers). Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

This spider is known also as E. thoracica and Theridion variegatum, Blackwall. 

DICTYNID^E 

The spiders belonging to this family possess three tarsal claws, and the eyes, eight in 
number, situated in two transverse rows, the laterals being in contact. The cribellum (or 
extra pair of spinning organs) and the calamistrum (a row of curving bristles on the protarsi of 
the fourth pair of legs) are present in all members of the family. They construct a tubular 
retreat with an outer sheet of webbing, which is covered with a flocculent silk made with the 
calamistrum from threads furnished by the cribellum. 

81. Amaurobiut fenestralis (Stroem). 82. Amaurobius similis (Blackwall). 
Handsworth (F.P.S.). Handsworth (F.P.S.). 

Not so common as simi/is. Known also as Common. Known also under the 
Ciniflo atroxy Blackwall. Ciniflo. 

123 



name 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 
ACARINA 

Mites 

The following list is compiled from the records contributed by Mr. Cyril Brett to the 
Reparts of the N. Staff. Field Club for 1902-3 (pp. 92-3), and 1905-6 (pp. 75-6). 



ERIOPHYINAE 

Eriophyes aucupariae, Conn. On Pyrus aucuparia 
Gaert., Alton, Aug. 1903 ; Rudyard, 25 
July, 1905 ; Manifold Valley, Aug. 190; 

- axillaris, auct. On Alnus glutinosa, Medic., 

Alton, 12 Sept. 1902 ; Consall, Rudyard, 
July, 1905 

invitarau, Nal. On Alnus glutinosa, Medic., 

Alton, 1 1 Sept. 1902 

goniothorax, Nal. On Crataegus oxyacantha, 

L., Alton, Aug. 1903 ; Belmont, July, 1905 

- lact'u, Nal. On Alnus glutinosa, Medic., Alton, 

12 Sept. 1902 

- macrochilus, Nal. On Acer campestre, L., 

Denstone, Aug. 1903 

- macrorbynchus, Nal. On Acer campestre, L., 

Denstone, Aug. 1903 ; near Prestwood, 20 
Aug. 1905 

- rut/it, Canest. On Betula verrucosa, Erhr., 

common, Alton, Sept. 1902 



ERIOPHYINAE continued 

Eriophyfs thomasi. On Thymus serpyllum, L., 
Ramshorn, July, 1903 

slmilis, Nal. On Prunus spinosa, L., Alton, 2 1 

July, 1904; Denstone, n Aug. 1905 

tctanothrix laevis, Nal. On Salix caprea, L., 

Alton, Aug. 1903 



PHYLLOCOPTINAE 

Pbyllocoptes acericola, Nal. On Acer pseudo- 
platanus, L., Dimmingsdale, 24 Sept. 
1902 

arianus, Nal. On leaves of Pyrus aria, Erhr., 

Belmont Woods, 22 July, 1905 

fraxini, Nal. On Fraxinus excelsior, L., Alton, 

Aug. 1903 ; Belmont, 22 July; Rudyard, 25 
July ; near Foxt, 31 July, 1905 



124 



CRUSTACEANS 



In maritime counties this branch of our fauna forces itself upon the attention of the most 
unobservant. In many inland districts, on the other hand, the keenest students of natural 
history have suffered it to lie in absolute neglect. Staffordshire, therefore, is rather exception- 
ally fortunate in having been long exempt from this indifference. The earlier notices, it is 
true, have their scientific interest suffused with an antiquarian glamour. At many points also 
they attest the presence of crustaceans in the bogs and streams of the county by implication 
rather than by express mention of any particular genera and species. Amongst these remote 
authorities The Natural History of Staffordshire, by Robert Plot, LL.D., Keeper of the 
Ashmolean Museum and professor of chemistry in the University of Oxford, has the first 
claim on our consideration. For a predominantly aquatic group of animals we must welcome 
Plot's quaint conclusion in dealing with the hydrography of the shire : 

All which summ'd up together, we find at the foot of the account, that it is water'd with no 
less than 24 Rivers of name, though a Mediterranean county ; besides the endless number of 
anonymous RinJles and small brooks that must needs attend them ; a number perhaps that very 
few Countries of the like extent can be found to surpass, if any that equals it. 1 

It is, in fact, in anonymous rindles and small pools that some species of Entomostraca are most 
surely obtained. For direct record, however, of any crustacean, Plot must be consulted in a 
part of his work which, with our modern views of classification, would be thought very unlikely 
to supply it. The heading 'Of Brutes' to the chapter in question is more concise than dis- 
criminating. ' Under the title of Brute!,' he says, ' I comprehend (as in Oxfordshire) all 
Animals whatever that have sense and locomotion, except the rational, whether they are the 
inhabitants of the Air, Water, or Earth, such as Birds, Insects, Fishes, Reptiles, and Quadrupeds.'' * 
A long period indeed elapsed before either popular or scientific opinion effectively disentangled 
Crustacea from the insects and fishes of this miscellaneous host. After a discussion of the 
burbot or birdbolt, sometimes called the nonsuch because of its rarity, and provisionally identified 
with Mustela Jluviatilis, Plot remarks : 

But though I heard only of this single fish that I think undescribed (for that there are a sort of 
Crevices in the stream that passes by Overend and Longdon, that will not boile red, is only 
accidental, as was shown before in Oxfordshire) yet I was informed of divers very unusual 
observations, concerning scaled, as well as smooth fish. 3 

The crevices mentioned in the queer parenthesis are obviously the common river crayfish, 
properly called Potamobius pallipcs (Lereboullet). In his next section Plot says : 

There are other fish, too, both of the scaled and shell'd kinds, that will live and breed in 
places very uncommon to their species, thus Gudgeons and Crevices live well and breed in the 
pooles at Bentley and thrive to a just magnitude, but then these ponds are always fedd with 
Springs. 

In the distinction between scaled fishes on the one hand and smooth or shelled fishes on the other, 
there seems to be a glimmering of suspicion that, though the crevice with its polished coat was 
just as much a fish as the barbel and the carp, it was still a fish with a difference. That the 
Entomostraca parasitic on carp and other freshwater fishes did not attract Plot's attention is a 
definite loss, as we are left without any of the unusual observations upon them which he might 
otherwise have reported. He discusses at much length the brine-pits of Staffordshire, but takes 
no notice of the so-called brine-worm, Artemia salina (Linn.), once so abundant at Lymington, 

1 Op. cit. chap. 2, 21, p. 43 (1686). * Ibid. chap. 7, p. 228. 

3 Ibid. 29, p. 241. 

125 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

in Hampshire. It may reasonably be inferred from Plot's silence on the subject that this 
interesting phyllopod did not occur in Staffordshire. 

An interval of more than a hundred years brings us to the publication of another important 
work, The History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, by the Rev. Stebbing Shaw, B.D., F.A.S., 
and fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge. Although this intervening period includes the 
birth and death of Linnaeus, and great strides in carcinology, due to such men as Pallas, 
J. C. Fabricius, and Herbst, it cannot be said that Mr. Shaw's work betrays any acquaintance 
with the progress made in this branch of science. Only a single passage from his two folio 
volumes, other than quotations from Plot, has any direct bearing on our subject. In the 
account of Mavesyn Ridware (proper), when describing the fishery within Armitage and 
Handsacre, he explains that there the River Trent is not navigable, adding, 

and perhaps within the boundaries of this fishery there is an unusual number of deeps and 
shallows, so necessary to the different tribes with which it is plentifully stored. The best sorts 
are pike, perch, greyling, eel, gudgeon, and crawfish in plenty ; more rare are trout and burbot ; 
of tench 3 or 4 in a year ; carp very rare ; and within memory a brace or two of salmon ; but 
these were white and out of season. Of the coarse sorts, barbel and chub may be seen in large 
shoals. 4 

The crayfish, it will be observed, is here still counted as a fish. To this day apparently the 
spelling and pronunciation of the name varies without rule in different parts of England between 
crayfish and crawfish. As a matter of convenience the latter should be restricted to the marine 
Palinurus, sometimes called the spiny lobster, leaving the term crayfish to the river species. 
Shaw's work contains a long catalogue of plants by Samuel Dickenson, LL.B., rector of 
BIymhill, Staffordshire, ending with 'Utricularia vulgaris hooded water-milfoile. Bogs. In 
a bog near BIymhill.' 6 Just as the names of fishes are an indirect testimony to the occurrence 
of various Entomostraca known to be commonly parasitic upon them, so the names of various 
water-plants in Mr. Dickenson 's list are a guarantee that a large assemblage of Cladocera and 
Copepoda, which almost invariably accompany these plants, will not be found wanting to the 
waters of the county. 

From the life of the celebrated entomologist and palaeographer, John Obadiah Westwood, 
it appears that he was born in Sheffield in 1805, and at first educated there, but afterwards at 
a school in Lichfield, whither the family had removed. 6 Professor Westwood, as is well 
known, made his mark in carcinology as well as in other departments of learning, and in this 
respect it is interesting to trace his connexion with this county. In the British Cyclopaedia of 
Natural History, by Charles Partington, Westwood wrote sundry articles on Crustacea, one 
of which contains the following passages : ' Cray fish. A crustaceous animal, belonging 
to the order Decapods and section Macroura, and forming the genus Potamobius of Leach, 
although Desmarets and others unite it with the lobster in the genus Astacus.' Further 
on he says : 

They are caught by sinking a net, or spiny faggots, in the middle of which a piece of 
putrid meat is placed. We well remember the delight with which in our schoolboy days we 
would escape from the trammels of Bonnycastle and Virgil, and go groping, with our shirt sleeves 
tucked up, in the holes in brooks where the crayfish were met with, and can therefore speak from 
experience of the sharpness of the bite they can inflict with their claws. 7 

As Bonnycastle and Virgil must have been concerned with his later schooldays, it is fair to 
conclude that the youthful Westwood was nipped by the chelipeds of Staffordshire crayfish. 
His determination of the generic name should not be overlooked. 

A few years later The Natural History of the County of Stafford, by Robert Garner, F.L.S., 
considerably enlarges our outlook. Under the heading ' Crustacea,' Mr. Garner supplies the 
following information : 

The animals composing the Crustacea are very beautiful ; most of them inhabit salt water, 
many, however, fresh, and of these some are interesting. 

Argulus foRaceus. Very common on the stickleback ; most of which little fish, in our canals, 
we have noticed to be affected with this parasite. The Argulus is very curious, and adheres to 
the fish by two round suckers, generally about the head, or to the side ; when detached it swims 
beautifully. 

' Op. cit. (1798), vol. i, pp. 1 88, 189. 5 Ibid. pp. 97-115. 

6 Diet. Nat. Biog., Art. ' Westwood.' ' Op. cit. (1836), vol. ii, p. 187. 

126 



CRUSTACEANS 

Astacus communis. Crawfish. Abundant in clear streams. This will live long out of water, 
but a short time if placed in water from a pond or well. 

Gammarus Pulex. Fresh-water shrimp. Common : this is by no means a test of the purity 
of water, as has been said ; I find it in muddy brooks, as well as in fountains. 

Asellus vulgaris. Common with the preceding. 

Cyclops vulgaris. This and the following are very minute, and both may be seen in water 
from most streams or ponds. 

Dapknia Pulex? 
The following are terrestrial : 

Oniscus Asellus. Common ; congregated under stones, &c. 

PorcelRo scaber. Abundant in decayed wood ; Swinnerton Park. 

Armadillo vulgaris. Under stones, &c. Cheshire cavern.' 

By the designation Astacui communis the river crayfish is evidently intended. The intima- 
tion that it will live longer out of water than in water from a pond or well is probably based on 
the amphibious habits of this animal. Those who try to domesticate it, often no doubt with 
the kindest intentions, plunge it into a bowl or other aquarium so plentifully supplied with 
water that the creature is soon practically drowned. Since it is not adapted for climbing steep 
and slippery walls of glass or earthenware, the depth of liquid in its prison should be only 
between one and two inches, to give it the same chance which it has in its native haunts of 
changing from aquatic to aerial surroundings. Other comments on Mr. Garner's records may 
be reserved till after the introduction of a still later and fuller authority covering much the 
same ground, but with additional knowledge and more regard for scientific classification. The 
work in question is The Natural History of Tutbitry, by Sir Oswald Mosley, bart., D.C.L., 
F.L.S., together with the Fauna and Flora of the district surrounding Tutbury and Burton-on- 
Trent, by Edward Brown, with an appendix. This local fauna contains the following 
notices : 

Sub-class Crustacea : 

Order Podophthalma. Tribe Decapoda Macroura. 

Family Astacidea. Astacus Jiuviatills (Fabr.). The Common Crayfish. This diminutive 
freshwater lobster is found abundantly in the Dove, in which stream it is easily captured by 
means of basket traps baited with bullock's liver. It is valued as an ornamental garnish for 
dishes, as well as for its own edible properties. It is found occasionally in the Wimshill Brook, 
a small stream that runs into the Trent, but I have never known it to be taken from that river 
itself. 
Order Edriophthalma. Tribe Amphipoda. 

Family Gammaridae. Gammarus pulex (Fabr.). The Freshwater Shrimp. Very 
abundant in the Trent. It is an interesting species to keep in an aquarium, owing to its lively 
and eccentric movements 
Tribe Isopoda. 

Family Asellidae. Asellus vulgaris (Latr.). The Freshwater Asellus. Exceedingly 
numerous in the Trent, where it abounds together with the last-mentioned species, more 
especially in the beds of Anacharis alslnastrum. It is probably to be found in all the running 
streams of the district. 10 Oniscus ascllus (Linn.). The Wood Louse. Very common under- 
neath stones and rotten wood. A large light-coloured form, occurring underneath stones at 
Dovedale, is probably a distinct species. 

Family Porcellionidae. Porcellio scaber (Latr.). The Scabrous Wood Louse ; Sclater or 
Slater. Common in similar situations with the last. Armadillo vulgaris (Latr.). The Lesser 
Pill Millepede. Common amongst moss and underneath stones. 
Order Poecilopoda. 

Family Argulidae. Argulus foliaceus (Jurine). The Fish Louse. Found sometimes para- 
sitic upon freshwater fishes in ponds. Daphnia pulex (Latr.). The Water Flea. Common 
in stagnant and slowly-running water. Daphnia vetula (Straus). The Blunt-headed Water 
Flea. Common in similar situations with the last. The bivalve shells of some species of 
Daphnia occur in the peat bed at Burton-on-Trent. 

Family Lynceidae. Several undetermined species of the genera Euryanus and Chydorus 
are common in stagnant water. 

Family Cypridae. Species of the genera Cyfrit and Candona are abundant in ditches. 
The minute shell-cases of these little animals are very " indestructible in their nature. A 
species of Cypris or Cythere occurs in a fossil state abundantly in the shales beneath the Wood- 
field seam of coal at Newhall and Swadlincote. 

8 Op. cit. (1844), p. 329. ' Ibid. p. 330. 

" Ibid. (1863), p. 130. " Ibid. p. 131. 

127 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Family Cyclopidac. Cyclops quadricornis (Mtlll.). The Four-horned Cyclops or Lesser 
Water Flea. This species swarms in water that is at all stagnant. I have known it to make its 
appearance in an elevated roof water-cistern a very few months after the cistern had been made. 
The eggs must, apparently, have been conveyed to the roof either by rain or wind. 
Order Rotifera. 

This order, which consists of interesting microscopic forms of life, has generally been 
classed with the Infusoria : but the organization of the Rotifera shows clearly they naturally be- 
long to the Crustacea, and that they follow the Entomostraca in a lineal series. The species of 
this order are not numerous in the district, but Rotifer vulgaris (Ehr.), the Common Wheel 
Animalcule, is very abundant in the dirt that accumulates in spouts and in roof-gutters, and it 
is a most pleasing object for the microscope." 

So full and intelligent an account of the Crustacea is quite exceptional in the faunistic 
catalogues of inland districts at the date when the above report by Mr. Edward Brown was 
published. That it should now in some points be open to criticism is in no way a reproach, 
but the natural consequence of such progress as science has happily been making in the 
interval. Thus, to begin with, the systematic position of the rotifers, as at present accepted, 
while ranking them far above infusorians, by no means gives them admission into the class 
with which we are here dealing. There is a vast group or phylum of animals to which 
Sir E. Ray Lankester has applied the term Appendiculata, because their more or less 
segmented bodies are capable of bearing on each body-segment a pair of hollow lateral append- 
ages or parapodia moved by intrinsic muscles and penetrated by blood-spaces. The phylum is 
divided into three sub-phyla, respectively called Rotifera, Chaetopoda, Arthropoda. See- 
ing that the Chaetopods or true worms are interposed between the first of these groups and the 
Arthropoda, with jointed legs, to which the crustaceans and other important classes belong, 
the relationship between a rotifer and a shrimp is evidently very remote. In the general 
history of animals this relationship is not to be disregarded, but it will not justify the inclusion 
of creatures so very distinct in one and the same class. 

The genera and species mentioned by Mr. Garner and Mr. Brown are not very 
numerous, compared with the whole number which will beyond doubt be eventually found 
within the waters of Staffordshire. But few as they are, they fortunately spread themselves 
over most of the chief sections of the class likely to be represented in the district. Any one, 
therefore, who made himself acquainted with these examples alone would lay the foundation 
for a very complete mastery of the whole subject. He would have to do, however, only with 
two of the sub-classes, the Malacostraca and Entomostraca, and in the former he would make 
no intimacy with the stalk-eyed, ten-footed, short-tailed, true crabs, the Brachyura. This 
highly organized group might be inclined, after Dr. Plot's example, to lump together almost 
all other crustaceans as being in comparison with their own intelligent selves mere brutes. In 
the tropics they have indeed some worthy competitors among the Macrura anomala. But 
none of the specially gifted land crustaceans have been attracted to our uncertain climate. In 
the central parts of England the highest representative of the class is the podophthalmous, 
macruran decapod, already often mentioned, Potamobitu pallipes. This is included with the 
lobster in the tribe Astacidea, but belongs to a separate family, the Potamobiidae. As being 
podophthalmous the river crayfish shares with an endless variety of crabs, lobsters, prawns, and 
shrimps, the peculiarity of having its eyes on movable stalks or peduncles. The theory is that 
the organs of vision have been developed on the pair of appendages pertaining to the first body- 
segment, although in almost all cases the segment itself has become immovably fused with the 
segment behind it. Also in common with the animals classified in popular speech under the 
four names above given, the crayfish is a decapod. Its ten feet are distributed in pairs to the 
body-segments numbered from the tenth to the fourteenth. The Malacostracan body is 
composed of twenty-one segments, each of them, with doubtful exception of the last, being 
endowed actually or potentially with a pair of appendages. More or fewer of these are called 
feet, according as they show more or less plainly an analogy with the legs and arms of verte- 
brate animals. From crabs the crayfish is separated by being macrurous or long-tailed. Yet 
in both the tail or pleon consists of the last seven body-segments, from the fifteenth to the 
twenty-first. But somehow, apart from the question of length or shortness, an additional 
distinction has arisen, that, while in the genuine Macrura the last segment but one always 
carries a pair of appendages, this pair is always wanting in the genuine Brachyura. 

The drop in dignity is rather abrupt from the only stalk-eyed decapod which our inland 
counties possess to the Edriophthalma tetradecapoda, or sessile-eyed, fourteen-footed Malacos- 

11 Op. cit. (1863), p. 132. 
128 



CRUSTACEANS 

tracans. The latter are so insignificant in size compared with the crayfish, and differ from it 
so much in general appearance as well as in some obvious details of structure, that an unin- 
structed observer would be little likely to suspect their near relationship. To Gammarus pulex 
(de Geer), so widely distributed and so abundant in our brooks and ponds, both Garner and 
Brown give the vernacular name of freshwater shrimp. Adam White, on the other hand, in 
his Popular History of British Crustacea, calls it the ' freshwater screw.' 13 In his general 
survey he had other uses for the term ' shrimp,' which precluded his applying it to any sessile- 
eyed species. The shrimp or shrimps of commerce, some of which can live in fresh water 
are Macrura decapoda like the crayfish. But G. pulex, besides having no ocular peduncles, has 
seven pairs of leg-like appendages, beginning with the eighth instead of the tenth body-segment. 
Nevertheless these striking differences do not outweigh its other shrimp-like affinities. The 
eyes, it is true, being seated in the head, give no direct evidence of the initial segment, but the 
second and third segments in front of the mouth are attested by the two pairs of antennae, a 
true crustacean characteristic, while at and behind the mouth we find in true malacostracan 
sequence the mandibles, two pairs of maxillae, and one pair of maxillipeds. The difference 
which then presents itself is far less schismatical than might at first be supposed. In the 
higher groups the eighth and ninth pairs of appendages are definitely organs of the mouth, 
known as second and third maxillipeds. These pairs in the lower groups are concerned more 
in grasping the food than in mincing it up. They are called gnathopods, a name which can- 
not well be distinguished by interpretation from maxillipeds, the implication being in each 
case that the appendages in question are either legs that have made themselves useful as jaws 
or jaws that have made themselves useful as legs. In the family Gammaridae, of which 
G. pulex is an excellent representative, the nearly related genera Niphargus and Crangonyx 
contain species which from their habitat have received the common designation of well- 
shrimps. It remains to be seen whether the wells of Staffordshire will, like those of some 
neighbouring counties, yield any of these exceptionally interesting and rather rarely-seen, 
forms. 

Like the Amphipoda just described the Isopoda are sessile-eyed. They have, too, the 
same disposition of the mouth-organs, followed by the legs in seven pairs. In both orders 
alike the cephalothoracic shield or carapace is only produced to cover the maxillipeds, not as in 
the Brachyura and Macrura extended to the fourteenth segment of the body. A rather start- 
ling difference, however, sets the two orders somewhat widely apart. For, whereas the 
breathing organs of the Amphipoda are, like those of the crayfish, all in front of the pleon, all 
those of the genuine Isopoda are within it. To counterbalance such separative distinctions 
among the malacostracan orders, it may be noticed as a unifying character that all along the 
line the sexual openings of the female belong to the twelfth body-segment, and those of the 
male to the fourteenth. Of freshwater isopods our Mediterranean counties, as Plot calls them, 
have only one species, the proper name of which is, not Asellus vulgaris (Latreille), but Asellus 
aquaticus (Linn.). It has as much or as little right as Gammarus pulex to be called the fresh- 
water shrimp. To call it, as Brown does, the freshwater Asellus, is not much to the purpose, 
because in this genus, established by Geoffroy in 1762, all the species belong exclusively to 
fresh water. It may also be thought superfluous to have the typical species named aquaticus, 
since none of the species are other than aquatic. But the explanation is found when we look 
a little further back into its scientific history. Linnaeus regarded it as belonging to the old 
comprehensive genus Oniscus, which at one time included all the terrestrial isopods, so that a 
species found constantly in water and nowhere else could naturally be distinguished as a water- 
dwelling Oniscus. Again, among the land-dwelling species Oniscus asellus, Linn., was the most 
familiar, so that Geoffroy, when separating the aquatic species from its sub-aerial companions, 
may have thought it well to preserve a memory of the old connexion by taking Asellus 
as the name of his new genus. The differences between the two species which are 
thus partially namesakes are now recognized as very considerable, with the result that Asellus 
aquaticus is allotted to a family Asellidae in the tribe Asellota, while Oniscus asellus stands in a 
family Oniscidae in the tribe Oniscidea. Concerning the large light-coloured form to which 
Mr. Brown alludes as possibly deserving to be specifically distinguished from the last-named 
species, the caution may be expressed that in some of our common land isopods variations of 
colour appear without affecting their other characteristics. This is eminently true of the next 
species, Porcellio scaber, Latreille. It belongs to the same family as the Oniscus, is nearly its 
equal in size, and perhaps fully its equal in abundance. It is rather narrower in shape and 

"Op. cit. (1857), p. 184. 
I 129 17 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

has a rougher surface. The flagellum or slender lash-like part of its second antennae is 
divided into only two joints instead of three, and the first two pairs of pleopods, appendages of 
the first and second pleon-segments, are furnished with pseudo-tracheae, aids to aerial respira- 
tion which are wanting in Oniscus. The third species of this tribe in Mr. Brown's catalogue 
should be called Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille). It belongs to a separate family, Armadilli- 
diidae. Its antennae and pleopods have the characters above mentioned as pertaining to 
P. scaber, but among marks distinguishing it from that species are the globular form into which 
the body can be composed, and the structure of the uropods or last pair of appendages, which 
have the outer branch laminar instead of cylindrical. The vernacular names, wood louse, 
scabrous wood louse or slater, and lesser pill millepede are of old standing and will not perhaps 
easily be dislodged, but they conceal the true position of these animals in the system of nature. 
By calling them woodland shrimps or garden shrimps we at least run a happy risk of bringing 
home to the unscientific understanding the fact that they are true crustaceans. The last of 
the three might better be called in English the pill shrimp than the pill millepede. It is pro- 
perly distinguished by Mr. Brown from Glomeris marginata, Olivier, the greater pill millepede, 14 
which really is not a crustacean, but a species of the family Glomeridae, in the order Diplo- 
poda, among the myriapods. Armadillidium vulgare, with its modest supply of fourteen legs, 
has no claim to be noted as either a lesser or a greater member of that many-footed 
company. 

The sub-class Entomostraca, divided into three great sections, Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, 
Copepoda, does not display that arithmetical unity of body segmentation observable in the 
Malacostraca. On the contrary, the segments are sometimes many more than twenty-one, 
and sometimes are left almost entirely to the imagination. The family Argulidae, which 
Mr. Brown assigns to the Poecilopoda, as to an order of equal rank with the Entomostraca, 
is now generally grouped with the latter. Its peculiarities, however, still leave its exact status 
uncertain. Some authorities place it among the Branchiopoda, others among the Copepoda. 
In the former section it has to be distinguished from the Phyllopoda and Cladocera as an order 
Branchiura, or as a sub-order, if the Branchiopoda are themselves regarded as an order. The 
genus ArgultU) O. F. Mtlller, has the strange character that its second maxillae are metamor- 
phosed into sucker-disks, by which it can attach itself firmly to a fish, and also march freely 
over the surface of its victim by holding on with one sucker and moving the other alternately. 
These disks are a striking example of the adaptability with which crustacean appendages lend 
themselves to varying circumstances. The adhesive apparatus in the Argulidae, however, 
is not always or entirely dependent on the method of suction, but is always partially and 
sometimes wholly contrived by hook and by crook. In any case the adhesion is intended to 
subserve another kind of suction, effected by the siphon or mouth-tube, in the structure of 
which the lips, mandibles, and first maxillae take part. An unpaired venomous sting may or 
may not be present. Argulus foliaceus (Linn.), sometimes called the carp-louse, is a very 
indiscriminate feeder, attaching itself not only to carp and sticklebacks, but to several other 
freshwater fishes, and even to tadpoles. It is a powerful swimmer. If it is to be classed with 
the parasitic Copepoda, it markedly differs from that group in general in that the females do 
not carry their eggs about with them after extrusion, but deposit them on some extraneous 
substance. 

Records of Phyllopoda arc for the moment wanting in this county. The Cladocera 
have received more attention. For though Mr. Brown's examples are for the most part very 
vague, a welcome contribution to this branch of our subject was supplied in 1895 in the 
Synopsis of the British Cladocera 1 by Mr. T. V. Hodgson, a gentleman since distinguished as 
biologist to the National Antarctic Expedition on the 'Discovery.' In the same year was 
published the first part of a classical work on this group, entitled Revision des Cladaceres, by 
Jules Richard. 16 M. Richard defines the Cladocera as 

small free Entomostraca, with distinct head, the rest of the body usually compressed from side to 
side, and enclosed in a two-valved carapace ; the antennae of the second pair two-branched, each 
branch carrying setae, and composed of only two to four joints ; the mandibles altogether devoid 
of palps ; the pairs of feet four to six in number, of which usually the majority or all are 
foliaceous, lobate ; the eye single." 

11 Nat. Hist. Tutbury, p. 137. 

11 Jount. Birmingham Nat. Hist, and Phil. Soc. 101. , 

" Ann. Sci. Nat. Zoo/, (ser. 7), vol. xviii, p. 279, continued in (ser. 8) vol. ii, p. 187 (1896). 

" Op. cit. 304. 

I 3 



CRUSTACEANS 

Unlike most crustaceans, the Cladocera swim by means of the branching second antennae, to 
which the name of the group refers. Another comparatively uncommon feature, uncommon 
at least as affecting adult life, is the extreme transparency of the test or carapace which covers 
without concealing the details of the organism. There are two sections of the group, each 
divided into two subsections, but as it happens all the species as yet definitely recorded from this 
county belong to one and the same subsection. In the section Calyptomera, the feet and 
body of the animal are well covered by the carapace. In the subsection Anomopoda, instead 
of six pairs of feet all alike foliaceous, branchial, and non-prehensile, there are five or six pairs, 
of which the two anterior are more or less prehensile, not branchial and foliaceous, and differing 
from the hinder pairs. - This sub-section includes the majority of the Cladocera in general, and 
among them that which is most widely known, Daphnia pulex (de Geer). The familiarity 
which breeds contempt allows men to speak and write of this innocent crustacean as 'the water 
flea.' That either Mr. Garner or Mr. Brown observed the true D. pulex in this county, it is 
impossible to guarantee. Within the genus Daphne or Daphnia there are many species and 
varieties which only experts laboriously distinguish. That the family Daphniidae is here 
really represented may be trusted from the mention of Daphnia vetula (Straus) as the blunt- 
headed water flea. But this species dates back further than Straus to O. F. Muller, and at a 
later date became the type of Schodler's genus Simocephalus, so named because the head is 
obtuse at the top instead of keeled, as in Daphnia. The new generic name, however, was 
preoccupied, and has recently been changed by Dr. Norman to Simosa. Two other members 
of the same family have been found by Mr. Hodgson in Staffordshire, namely, Scapholeberis 
mucronata (O.F.M.) at Kingswood, and Moina rectirostris (Jurine) in a horsepond near Harborne. 18 
The last genus is distinguished from the other three by not having a distinct rostrum, and by 
having the first antennae of the female long and freely mobile. In Daphnia the dorsal and 
ventral margins of the valves are drawn gradually together to end in a long or short process, 
which may be ventral, or inclining to dorsal, but which leaves nothing that can be clearly 
distinguished as a hind margin. In Scapholeberis, on the other hand, the straight or nearly 
straight ventral margins are produced into processes, the bases of which are connected with the 
dorsal edge by a clear stretch of hind margin. In Simosa the hind margin is large and rounded 
off at each extremity. Mr. Hodgson reports Ilyoeryptus sordidus (Lievin) from Kingswood. 
This mud-loving species belongs to the family Macrotrichidae, in which long and mobile first 
antennae are the rule, instead of the exception as in the case of Moina among the Daphniidae. 
The species with which we are here concerned is said to lead an unromantic existence, having 
given up the natural use of its second antennae as swimming organs, to employ them only for 
crawling over the mud or burrowing in it, usually in a considerable depth of water. Under 
the family Lynceidae Mr. Brown reports that several undetermined species of the genera 
Eurycercus and Chydorus are common in stagnant water. The statement is partially redeemed 
from indefiniteness by the circumstance that the former genus is, so far as known, represented 
in England only by a single species, Eurycercus lamellatus (O.F.M. ). Chydorus, it is true, has 
some four or five species recorded from the British Isles, but of these C. sphaericus (O.F.M.) 
is considered to be the commonest and most widely distributed of all the Cladocera, so that its 
occurrence here may be regarded as certain. Alonella nanus (Baird) was taken by Mr. Hodgson 
at Kingswood. For the family containing these three species the name Chydoridae should be 
adopted in place of Lynceidae, since the genus Lynceus has been shown to have its systematic 
place elsewhere. 19 A. nanus is said to be the smallest Entomostracan known at present. 20 It 
may well be called the dwarf, since the female is only just over and the male is just under one 
hundredth of an inch in length. Chydorus sphaericus, however, in the male sex is never much 
longer. But its female is sometimes twice as long, and this in turn is surpassed in sevenfold 
degree by the female of Eurycercus lamellatus. That species, therefore, exhibits a veritable 
giant measuring nearly a sixth of an inch from head to tail, and matching this length by a 
similarly unusual depth between the dorsal and ventral margins. 

Concerning the Ostracoda or box-entomostracans which, unlike the Cladocera, have no 
distinct head, but are shut up in their two valves like little molluscs authorities for this county 
supply no definite information. That species of the genera Cypris, Muller, and Candona, 
Baird, both belonging to the family Cyprididae, ' are abundant in ditches,' is a statement that 
would no doubt be applicable to all our counties. 

18 Synopsis, p. in. 

" TheZool. (1902), p. 101. 

* Journ. Quekett Microsc. Club (ser. 2), vol. viii, p. 444 (1903). 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Similarly, with regard to the Copepoda or oar-footed Entomostraca, the notice that 
Cyclops quadricornis, Mtlller, of the family Cyclopidae, occurs in stagnant water, is not very 
instructive. It is uncertain which of several species may be intended by the name quadricornis, 
and the use of it without any explanatory details implies a rather superficial acquaintance with 
Copepoda in general. 

In 1895 Mr. D. J. Scourfield made a guarded suggestion that the little-known ento- 
mostracan fauna of Wales might eventually show some essential differences from that of the 
south-east of England, which has been investigated with much assiduity. 31 Should this prove 
to be so it will be interesting to learn where the line of cleavage or fusion between the 
discrepant faunas should be drawn, and whether the rarities or distinctive species of east and 
west may chance to have a common gathering place in the waters of Staffordshire. 

11 Journ. Quekett Microsc. Club (ser. 2), vol. vi, 137. 



132 



FISHES 



In compiling the following list recently introduced species, such as 
the American brook trout (Salmo fontinalis, Mitch.), the rainbow trout 
(S. irideus, Giinther), etc., have not been mentioned, the indigenous and 
long-resident species only being included. I must here acknowledge 
my indebtedness to the lists of the late Robert Garner and Edwin 
Brown, the names of these authorities being mentioned whenever their 
observations have been quoted. A paper on ' North Staffordshire Fresh- 
water Fish,' by Mr. John R. B. Masefield, M.A., in the Annual Report 
and 'Transactions of the North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club and 
Archaeological Society, vol. xxviii., is especially useful from containing 
lists of localities which show the distribution of the several species in 
the district of which he treats. 



TELEOSTEANS 



ACANTHOPTERYGII 

1. Perch. Perca fluvlatUis, Linn. 
Common throughout the county. Perch 

have been taken in the Trent up to 4^ Ib. 
in weight. 

2. Ruffe or Daddy Ruffe. Acerina cernua, 

Linn. 

Common in rivers and canals. 

3. Bullhead or Miller's Thumb. Coitus gobio, 

Linn. 

Plentiful in streams and in rivers where 
gravel and stones are found. 

ANACANTHINI 

4. Burbot or Burbolt. Lota vulgaris, Cuv. 

Locally, Eel Pout. 

This curious and interesting fish is occa- 
sionally taken in the Trent and its larger 
tributaries up to 4 Ib. in weight. It has 
long been known as a Staffordshire fish, 
having been very quaintly described and 
figured by Plot in his Natural History of 
Staffordshire (1686). Plot's figure is a re- 
duced copy of a picture drawn for Colonel 
Comberford of a specimen ' taken in the 
Tame, near Faseley Bridge, by Goody er 
Holt, a Free Mason, as he was repairing 
it, August nth, 1654.' Plot recorded three 
other instances of the occurrence of the 
burbot in Staffordshire. 



HEMIBRANCHII 



Gastrosteus 



5. Three - spined Stickleback. 
aculeatus, Linn. 

This little fish is common in rivers, streams 
and ponds throughout the county, and the 
forms, originally described as distinct species 
and now considered only varieties, known as 
the rough-tailed (G. trachurus, Cuv.), half- 
armed (G. semiarmatus, Cuv.) and smooth- 
tailed sticklebacks (G. leuirus, Cuv.), are all 
found in the Trent and its tributaries. The 
brilliant colours assumed by the males during 
the breeding season, their pugnacity and especi- 
ally their nest-building, have rendered these 
little fish famous, but the nest, according to 
my own observations, is often a very flimsy 
affair, being at times merely a little heap of 
Conferva or other weed through which the 
body of the male has made a tunnel and 
which he jealously guards. The best example 
however of a stickleback's nest which I have 
ever seen I found in a pond in the neighbour- 
ing county of Leicester. This was a well- 
built, roughly cylindrical structure of roots 
and small twigs, so well placed together that 
the whole did not collapse when taken from 
the water. In this case the materials of the 
nest were not glued or cemented together in 
any way, and I have never been able to see 
the male engaged in strengthening the walls 
of his house by means of the sticky mucus he 



133 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



is said to exude for this purpose. 1 The parti- 
cular nest just described resembled very greatly 
a diminutive copy of the play-bowers of the 
Australian bower-birds, but unlike them was 
well roofed in above. 

The large short-spined stickleback (G. bra- 
chycentrus, Cuv.), regarded by GUnther as a 
separate species and by White and others 
as a variety only of G. acultatus, has been 
recorded from Stow Pool near Lichfield by 
Thompson in his Natural History of Ireland. 
In July, 1 836, Thompson obtained from Stow 
Pool the largest example of this fish which 
had come under his notice, and gives this 
place as the only English habitat known to 
him. Up to the present I have not met with 
this fish myself in Staffordshire, but have taken 
it in company with the common stickleback 
in Leicestershire and have kept it in aquaria. 
Unfortunately all my specimens proved to be 
females, and as they were unprovided with 
nests the ova were devoured by the other 
sticklebacks as soon as deposited. There is 
little doubt but for the solicitude bestowed 
on the developing eggs and young fry by the 
male fish the voracity of the stickleback would 
long ago have led to its own annihilation. 

Amongst the many names by which the 
common stickleback is known locally are 
robin applied to the male in his breeding 
dress, jack-sharp and jack-bannock. 

6. Ten-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus pungi- 

tius, Linn. 

Generally distributed, but not so abundant 
as the common stickleback. This is more 
slender in form than the last-named and less 
brilliantly coloured, being olive green on the 
back and white on the sides and belly. The 
fins and frequently the whole body are suf- 
fused with a yellowish tinge. The under- 
side is generally marked with little black 
spots, which in the male predominate to 
such a degree that it is not inaptly called 
the ' tinker ' by boys. 

HAPLOMI 

7. Pike or Jack. Esox lucius, Linn. 
Common and of large size. Several of 

20 Ib. weight have been taken near Burton, 
and fish of 30 Ib. and over have been re- 
corded from the Trent. 

OSTARIOPHYSI 

8. Carp. Cyprinw carpio, Linn. 

In the large pools and ponds of the county 



1 GUnther, quoting Coste, in Introduction to the 
Study of Fishes (1880), p. 506. 



and in the Trent carp of 1 5 (Plot) and even 
of 1 9^ Ib. have been recorded (Garner). 

9. Crucian Carp. Cyprinus carassius, Linn. 
Naturalized in ponds in the county, as are 

also its varieties, the gold carp (C. auratus, 
Linn.) and the Prussian carp (C. gibe/io, Bloch). 

10. Barbel. Barbus vu/garis, Fleming. 
Common in the Trent and the lower part 

of the Dove, and attaining a large size. There 
are several noted haunts of the barbel near 
Burton, and when fhe water is clear the fish 
may be seen rooting like swine in the mud 
of the deep holes. 

11. Gudgeon. Goblo fluviatilis, Fleming. 

12. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn. 

In rivers and meres : very common. In 
Aqualate Mere the hybrid between this fish 
and the bream (Abramh brama. Linn.), known 
as the Pomeranian bream (A. buggenhagii, 
Bloch) exists, and an interesting account of its 
capture there is given by the Rev. W. Hough- 
ton in his British Freshwater Fishes. 

13. Chub. Leuciscus cepha/us, Linn. 

14. Dace. Leuciscus dobula y Linn. 

Day Leuciscus vulgaris. 

15. Rudd or Red-eye. Leuciscus erythrophthal- 

mus y Linn. 

1 6. Minnow. Leuciscus pboxinus, Linn. 
Locally called ' pink,' from the bright tints 

it assumes in the breeding season. 

17. Tench. Tinea vulgaris, Cuv. 
In pools and meres. 

1 8. Bream. Abramis brama. Linn. 

In rivers and meres. Up to 7 Ib. in 
weight (Garner). 

19. White Bream or Bream Flat. Abramis 

b/icca, Bloch. 

This fish is included in the Staffordshire 
lists on the authority of the late Mr. Edwin 
Brown, who wrote : ' Bailey, the angler of 
Nottingham, says this fish is mixed up with 
the preceding in the Trent.' 

20. Bleak. Alburnus lucidus, Heck, et Kner. 

21. Loach. Nemachilus barbatu/us, Linn. 

22. Spined Loach. Cobitis taenia, Linn. 

This fish, generally considered somewhat 
rare, is common in the Trent, but is fre- 
quently confused with small individuals of 
the last species. The presence of the small 



134 



FISHES 



bifid spine beneath the eye will at once dis- 
tinguish the spined loach from the common 
or ' stone ' loach. 

MALACOPTERYGII 

23. Salmon. Salmo salar, Linn. 

Passes up the Trent on its way from the 
sea to spawn, but at Newton Solney, where 
the Dove joins the main river, the salmon 
almost invariably enter the smaller stream. 
At Dove Cliff, two miles above this point, is 
a well known salmon leap provided with a 
ladder, where on favourable occasions the 
keeper of the mill told me he had seen as 
many as twenty salmon ascend in an hour. 
Some individuals, especially when the river 
is in flood, pass onwards up the Trent and 
have even forced their way into ditches, 
where when the water has fallen they have 
met an ignominious death. 

24. Trout. Salmo trutta, Linn. 
According to the latest authorities the sea 

trout (S. trutta, S. cambricus) and the brown 
river trout (S. fario) are regarded as merely 
local races of one species. 

It is perhaps unnecessary to say that the 
brown trout is common in Staffordshire, and 
that from the days of Izaac Walton at least 
the Dove has been famous for its large and 
well flavoured fish. 

The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain has called my 
attention to the following records of what 
must have been the largest trout ever taken in 
Staffordshire : 

From the Zoologist for 1848, p. 2342 : 
' Capture of an enormous trout at Drayton 



Manor. A trout weighing upwards of 21 
Ib. and measuring 41 J inches in length was 
taken on the 4th of November [1848], in a 
small tributary of the Trent, on the property 
of Sir Robert Peel, at Drayton Manor. It 
was transmitted to London by Sir Robert, 
and a faithful portrait of the fish has been 
painted for the honourable baronet by Mr. 
Waterhouse Hawkins. Edward Newman.' 

Again, in the Zoologist for 1896, p. 360, 
the following extract from the Angler's Journal 
of 20 December, 1884, is quoted, and seems 
to indicate the same fish as that referred to by 
E. Newman, although the weights given are 
not identical : ' The largest English trout on 
record is believed to be that from Drayton 
Park, which weighed 22j Ib., the skeleton of 
which was presented to the College of Sur- 
geons.' 

25. Grayling. Thymallus vexillifer, Linn. 
Common in many of our rivers, especially 

the Dove and the Blythe. 

APODES 

26. Common Eel. Anguilla vu/garis, Turt. 
Both varieties of the common eel the 

sharp-nosed (A. acutirostris, Yarrell) and the 
broad-nosed eel or grig (A. /atirostris, Yarrell) 
are common in Staffordshire. Adult eels begin 
to descend the Trent towards the sea, with 
us, in July. They breed in the sea, and from 
the larval form, the Leptocephalus brevirostris, 
Kaup., is developed the young eel or elver 
which ascends the rivers in numbers during 
spring and early summer. 



GANOIDS 



27. Sturgeon. Acipenser sturio, Linn. 



made its way up the Trent as high as this 



The late Mr. Edwin Brown, writing in district [Burton], but no such occurrence has 
1863, says : 'Instances are on record of this, been known of late years.' 
the so-called royal, fish having in olden times 



CYCLOSTOMES 



28. Sea Lamprey. Petromyzon marinus, Linn. 
Rarely ascends from the sea as far as Staf- 
fordshire. Brown mentions an instance of 
one, 2^ feet in length, taken in the Dove in 
June, 1863. 



29. Lampern or River Lamprey. Petromyzon 

ftuviatilis. Linn. 
Not uncommon. 

30. Mud Lamprey or Pride. Petromyzon 

branchia/is, Linn. 



135 



REPTILES 
AND BATRACHIANS 

Staffordshire is not rich either in the number of species of its 
reptiles, as compared with more southern counties, or in the individual 
abundance of such forms which do occur within the county boundaries. 
Thus Staffordshire possesses two lizards the common lizard and the 
blindworm, and two snakes the harmless grass snake and the viper. 
Neither the sand lizard (Lacerta agi'/is, Linn.) nor the smooth snake 
(Coronella austriaca, Laur.) are found in Staffordshire, although both 
have been reported, on one occasion each, as met with by individuals 
quite incapable of identifying these species at a glance, and no specimen 
of either has hitherto been obtained in Staffordshire. 

Staffordshire can claim one species of frog, one toad and three 
newts in her list of batrachians. In the neighbouring county of 
Chester however the second British species of toad is met with 
the pretty active natterjack toad (Bufo calamita^ Laur.), and from thence 
many years ago specimens were introduced into Staffordshire by the 
late Mr. Edwin Brown, and turned out by Sir Oswald Mosley in his 
grounds at Rolleston. This colony still survived ten years after its 
introduction, so that it is just possible that descendants may still exist 
and be claimed as indigenous by some observer ignorant of their history. 
In a somewhat similar manner I was myself the means of unintentionally 
introducing the natterjack into Leicestershire, having presented a series 
of living specimens of various ages to the Leicester Museum, which I 
had collected in Lancashire. Some of these were turned out in the 
museum grounds by the curator, Mr. Montagu Browne, F.G.S., F.Z.S., 
as recorded in his Vertebrate Animals of Leicestershire and Rut/and, p. 182. 
It is scarcely probable that in this case any would long survive. 

It may be well to mention perhaps that the natterjack toad may 
readily be recognized by the yellow line down the middle of the back 
and by its active movements. It can also withstand heat far better than 
the common toad. 

REPTILES 

LACERTILIA Cannock Chase. In Staffordshire however it 

never appears in such numbers as it does in 

i. Common, Scaly, or Viviparous L.zard. the Charnwood Forest district of Leicester- 
Lacerta vtvifara, Jacqum. shire> where j haye more frequently met with 

Not uncommon in the wilder, heathy parts it than in any other part of the midlands 
of the county, especially in the north and on known to me. 

I 137 18 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



2. Blind-worm or Slow-worm. Anguls fra- 

gilis, Linn. 

Not uncommon in similar situations to 
those affected by the common lizard. The 
blind-worm varies greatly in colour according 
to age. The young, for some time after 
birth, are nearly white above and black below. 
Half-grown individuals are sometimes copper 
coloured, whilst mature specimens, especially 
females, become dark grey and so thick as to 
be mistaken for vipers at a casual glance by 
unsophisticated persons. Although usually the 
most gentle of reptiles and possessing only the 
startling habit of suddenly breaking off the 
tail when seized, such aged individuals will 
occasionally, though rarely, strike at the hand 
in a very snake-like manner. 

OPHIDIA 

3. Common Ringed or Grass Snake. Tropi- 

donotus natrix, Linn. 

Ray Natrix torquata. 
Generally distributed, but becoming more 



rare every year, although it holds its own 
against the advance of cultivation far better 
than does the viper or even the blind-worm. 

4. Viper or Adder. Vipera berus, Linn. 

Occurs at Chartley Park, Cannock Chase 
and other places in the county, but is de- 
creasing in numbers as its haunts become 
drained and the land cultivated. It was 
formerly abundant at Chartley, where Sir 
Oswald Mosley records that in a single day's 
shooting he has ' disturbed several of them ; 
and their venomous bite has sometimes proved 
fatal to valuable pointers, which stand at them 
as if they had the scent of game ' (Natural 
History of Tutbury, p. 60). 

Although the viper varies a great deal in- 
dividually both in ground colour and markings, 
this is largely a matter of sex ; bright, light- 
coloured specimens with a black, well defined 
zig-zag dorsal line being males, whilst the 
shorter, thinner-tailed females are brown or 
reddish with the markings more indistinct. 



BATRACHIANS 



ECAUDATA 

1. Common Frog. Rana temporaria, Linn. 
Common and generally distributed. 

2. Common Toad. Bufo vulgaris, Laur. 
Fairly abundant. 

CAUDATA 

3. Great Crested or Warty Newt. Molge 

crlitata, Laur. 
Common in ponds and ditches. 

4. Smooth Newt. Molge vulgaris, Linn. 
Abundant in similar situations to the last. 

This species possesses the power of restoring 
its damaged members, and is sometimes met 
with having additional toes on either the fore 
or the hind feet. Mr. James Yates, M.R.C.S., 
of Cambridge, for many years resident in Staf- 
fordshire, writes me under date 4 February, 
1901, that he has frequently seen newts in 
cellars from which they could not set out in 
search of ponds, and in such places he has 
' seen their eggs connected together like a 



string of pearls.' This is also the case, 
according to my own experience, when the 
ova are deposited in water containing no 
aquatic plants. Ordinarily, as is well known, 
the female newt carefully encloses each egg 
in the coil of a leaf which forms a hollow 
cylinder around it, and whilst it protects the 
egg allows free access of water to the develop- 
ing embryo. 

5. Palmated Newt. Molge pa/mata, Sch. 

Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, M.A., informs me 
that he has a note of the occurrence of this 
interesting species of newt in the south of the 
county, but in Staffordshire it would seem to 
be local, as I have been unable to meet with 
it in mid-Staffordshire, and Mr. Masefield 
himself has failed to obtain it in the Cheadle 
district. 

The palmated newt, especially when im- 
mature, is doubtless frequently confused with 
the smooth newt, from which however it can 
always be distinguished by its unspotted throat, 
and the male in the breeding season by his web- 
bed feet and the curious mucro or thread at 
the end of his tail. 



138 



BIRDS 

As Staffordshire is an exclusively inland county, and occupies an area 
comprising some of the highest land in the centre of England, with bleak 
moorlands rising to an altitude of upwards of 1,500 feet above sea level 
it contains no large rivers, but at the same time it is the birthplace of 
the Trent and the Dove, and numerous smaller streams which become 
tributaries of the Severn and the Mersey. These smaller streams have 
in many cases during past centuries gradually formed deep gorges and well 
sheltered and wooded valleys much frequented by many of the warblers 
and other small birds, and forming also the home of the dipper (Cinclus 
aquaticus] and the ring-ouzel (Turdus torquatus}. The large meres of 
Aqualate and Copmere and lakes and reservoirs at Trentham, Han- 
church, Rudyard, Madeley, Chillington and elsewhere find a home for 
the grebes and are frequented in winter time by many species of wild- 
fowl. In the south-east of the county we have the extensive and barren 
heather covered tract known as Cannock Chase, where the red grouse 
(Lagopus scoticus] and the black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), owing to careful 
protection, once more abound, after having at one time almost reached 
the verge of extinction. The physiographical features of the county 
before referred to attract several species of wild birds in the breeding 
season which do not nest in many counties in England, such as the curlew 
(Numenius arquata), the ring-ouzel (Turdus torquatus] , the grey wagtail 
(Motacilla melanope}^ and the dipper (Cinclus aquaticus}. Staffordshire also 
borders closely upon, if it does not actually lie within, the range of 
one of the great flight lines of many of our British migratory birds, 
namely that from the mouth of the Humber and the north-east coast 
across England to the Bristol Channel. ' By this flight line,' says 
Whitlock (Birds of Derbyshire, pp. 16, 17), ' travel in autumn the 
whimbrel, curlew, greenshank, green sandpiper, wood sandpiper, little 
stint, longtailed duck, common scoter, Manx shearwater, gulls, terns, 
lapwings, golden and ringed plovers, hooded crows, fieldfares, redwings, 
sky-larks, chaffinches and mistle-thrushes, with occasional visits of the 
grey plover and bar-tailed godwit.' The return migration of these birds 
takes place by the same route to a great extent, and these birds meet our 
spring migrants coming by the same route, and thus Whitlock goes on to 
say ' we have two opposing streams of birds on the move at the same 
time.' Referring to this same flight line Dr. McAldowie 1 says : 

I believe this migratory route to be of great ornithological importance not only to 
Staffordshire but to the country generally. It brings many fine birds to our county 

1 ' Birds of Staffordshire ' in Report North Staffordshire Field Club, \ 893, pp. 15-17. 

139 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

... I believe it is an ancient route and in pleistocene times was a great migratory 
highway and that it has been gradually abandoned by the majority of migrants since 
the formation of the present coast line . . . Staffordshire appears to be the natural 
boundary between the habitats of northern and southern species of birds in Great 
Britain, for example it forms the northern boundary of the Nightingale, the Nuthatch, 
the Reed Warbler and perhaps of the Hobby, and on the other hand to limit on the 
south the haunts of the Red Grouse and the Sandpiper ... A hill route migration in 
which the Dotterel and the Rough-legged Buzzard are prominent species also affects 
our county. 

The list of Staffordshire birds though somewhat deficient in aquatic 
species otherwise compares favourably with those of adjoining counties. 
At the time of publication of the Birds of Staffordshire (1893) no fewer 
than 234 species were included in the county list, of which 66 were 
then considered as residents, 30 as summer migrants, 18 as winter 
migrants and 120 as occasional visitors and stragglers. A revision of 
this list shows that considerable alterations must be made in order to gain 
a correct idea of our county avifauna. Three new species may be added 
since 1893, namely white-tailed eagle, shore-lark and flamingo. On the 
other hand the records of the following species must be considered as too 
doubtful to be retained in the list : black redstart (mistaken identification 
of eggs), pine-grosbeak and great black woodpecker ; and the following 
species were included in error, not having been recorded within the limits 
of our county : Bewick's swan, long-tailed duck, purple sandpiper, black- 
tailed godwit ; while the following species must be regarded as escapes 
and are not included in the British list : Virginian colin, Canada goose, 
Egyptian goose, summer duck. 

In the case of the following species the evidence is at present 
insufficient to admit them into our list : Aquatic warbler, Dartford 
warbler, firecrest, mealy redpoll, crested-lark, bean-goose, little crake, 
eared grebe, little stint, grey plover. 

The evidence is also somewhat unsatisfactory with regard to two 
species mentioned below, but they are retained in the list : blue-headed 
wagtail and marsh-harrier. 

The revised total, including the 3 new species and exclusive of 
the 21 which have been removed from the list, now amounts to 216 
Of these 94 breed regularly in the county and 9 others have been known 
to nest, while there is some reason to suppose that the hobby, shoveler 
.and spotted-crake may nest occasionally, and the hen-harrier, honey 
buzzard, kite, raven, bittern and bearded-tit undoubtedly bred formerly 
in the county. 

The following species regularly nest in the county : 

1. Mistle-Thrush 10. Lesser Whitethroat 19. Grasshopper- Warbler 

2. Song-Thrush n. Blackcap 20. Hedge-Sparrow 

3. Blackbird 12. Garden-Warbler 21. Dipper 

4. Ring-Ouzel 13. Goldcrest 22. Long-tailed Tit 

5. Wheatear 14. Chiffchaff 23. Great Tit 

6. Whinchat 15. Willow- Warbler 24. Coal-Tit 

7. Redstart 16. Wood-Warbler 25. Marsh-Tit 

8. Redbreast 17. Reed-Warbler 26. Blue Tit 

9. Whitethroat 18. Sedge-Warbler 27. Nuthatch 

140 



BIRDS 



28. Wren 

29. Tree-Creeper 

30. Pied Wagtail 

31. Grey Wagtail 

32. Yellow Wagtail 

33. Tree-Pipit 

34. Meadow-Pipit 

35. Red-backed Shrike 

36. Spotted Flycatcher 

37. Swallow 

38. House-Martin 

39. Sand-Martin 

40. Greenfinch 

41. Hawfinch 

42. Goldfinch 

43. House-Sparrow 

44. Tree-Sparrow 

45. Chaffinch 

46. Linnet 

47. Lesser Redpoll 

48. Bullfinch 

49. Corn-Bunting 

50. Yellow Hammer 



51. 
52. 

53- 

54. 
55. 
56. 
57 



Reed-Bunting 
Starling 



Magpie 
Jackdaw 
Carrion-Crow 
Rook 

58. Sky-Lark 

59. Swift 

60. Nightjar 

61. Green Woodpecker 

62. Great Spotted Wood- 

pecker 

63. Lesser Spotted Wood- 

pecker 

64. Kingfisher 

65. Cuckoo 

66. Barn-Owl 

67. Long-eared Owl 

68. Tawny Owl 

69. Sparrow-Hawk 

70. Kestrel 

71. Heron 



72. Mute Swan 

73. Mallard 

74. Teal 

75. Tufted-Duck 

76. Wood-Pigeon 

77. Stock-Dove 

78. Turtle-Dove 

79. Black Grouse 

80. Red Grouse 

8 1. Pheasant 

82. Partridge 

83. Red-legged Partridge 

84. Land-Rail 

85. Water-Rail 

86. Moorhen 

87. Coot 

88. Lapwing 

89. Woodcock 

90. Common Snipe 

91. Common Sandpiper 

92. Curlew 

93. Great Crested Grebe 

94. Little Grebe 



The following occasionally nest in the county : 



95. Stonechat 

96. Nightingale 

97. Twite 



98. Crossbill 

99. Wood-Lark 
IOO. Wryneck 



id I. Merlin 

102. Quail 

103. Redshank 



The birds of prey are well represented, and several species might 
once again become general if not destroyed owing to the supposed 
exigencies of game preservation and its accompanying cruel pole-trap, 
while on the other hand game preservation and the consequently quiet 
and carefully guarded woods have during recent years conduced to the 
nesting of the woodcock (Scolopax rusticula) in increasing numbers and 
of the tufted-duck (Fuligula cristata), many pairs of which now breed 
in the south-west of the county. 

The greater interest recently taken in wild bird life has directed 
public attention to our fast diminishing avifauna, with the result that the 
County Council orders made in pursuance of the Wild Bird Protection 
Acts are without doubt beginning to bear fruit, and it is possible that 
some species of wild birds such as the great crested grebe (Podicipes 
cristatus), the kingfisher (Alcedo ispida) and the white owl (Strix fammea) 
now fast decreasing in numbers in the county, may yet be saved. As 
education advances and the game preserver and gamekeeper become 
conversant with the life history and food of the hobby (Fa/co sub- 
buteo), the merlin (Fa/co <zsa/on), the nightjar (Caprimulgus europceus) 
and the woodpeckers, it is to be hoped they may stay their hand when 
on the trigger of deadly firearms, and also abolish the cruel pole-trap 
which even proves fatal sometimes to the very birds which it is supposed 
to protect. 

141 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



with supplement, 
Mosley, D.C.L., 



The bibliography of Staffordshire birds, or list of books containing 
references thereto, commences with the year 1676 and is as follows : 

1676. Ornithologia (London), Francis Willoughby. 

1678. English translation of same (London), John Ray. 

1686. Natural History of Staffordshire (Oxford), Dr. Robert Plot, LL.D. 

1798. History and Antiquities of Staffordshire (London), Stebbing Shaw, containing 

sketch of Zoology of Staffordshire by John H. Dickenson. 
1836. British Song Birds (London), Neville Wood. 
1836. The Ornithologist's Text Book (London), Neville Wood. 
1 844. Natural History of the County of Stafford, Robert Garner, 

i860. 
1863. The Natural History of Tutbury (London), Sir Oswald 

including the Fauna of Burton-on-Trent, Edwin Brown. 
1865 to 1903. Papers and Notes in Reports of the North Staffordshire Field Club, by 

Dr. McAldowie, Ernest W. H. Blagg, M.B.O.U., John R. B. Masefield, M.A., 

W. Wells Bladen and others. 

1878. Scientific Rambles around Macclesfield, J. D. Sainter. 
1879. 'Birds and their Habits,' pt. I, Midland Naturalist (London and Birmingham), 

H. G. Xomlinson. 

1880. ' Birds and their habits,' pt. 2, Burton-on-Trent Natural History Society Report. 
1 88 1. 'Our Summer Migrants,' Midland Naturalist. 
1892. Birds of Derbyshire (London and Derby), F. B. Whitlock. 
1893. Birds of Staffordshire (Stoke-on-Trent), A. M. McAldowie, M.D., F.R.S.Ed. 

To the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain our thanks are especially due for 
his invaluable assistance and for many notes and additions to the following 
list of Staffordshire birds. 



1. Mistle-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. 

Locally, Shrite, Stormcock (Garner), Thrice- 
cock. 

A common resident, nesting in woods, 
copses and orchards, and migrating south in 
severe weather. 

2. Sons-Thrush. Turdus musicus. Linn. 

O / 

Locally, Throstle. 

Common and partly migratory in winter. 
Pied varieties have occurred at Xhickbroom 
in 1842 and Swythamley in 1859 (Birds of 
Staffordshire, p. 36). 

3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. 

A winter visitor in flocks to our meadows, 
arriving in October and roosting in sheltered 
woods or thick shrubberies, where they are 
frequently followed and preyed upon by the 
sparrow-hawk. 

4. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris, Linn. 

A winter visitor in flocks, feeding upon 
holly berries, hips and haws, and occasionally 
remaining till May. A somewhat shyer bird 
than the redwing. Mr. E. Brown (' Fauna 
of Burton-on-Trent,' p. 94 in Sir O. Mosley's 
Nat. Hist, of Tutbury) asserts that a nest was 
obtained by Mr. Allen at Longcroft a few 
years ago. 



5. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn. 

Very common. Many migrate south in 
severe weather. Albino, pied and cream or 
buff varieties are not uncommon. 

6. Ring-Ouzel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. 

A regular summer visitant to the high 
moorland districts in the north of the county, 
where it nests regularly, assembling in flocks 
prior to migration in autumn. The berries of 
the mountain ash (Pyrus aucuparia) are a 
favourite food of this bird. 

7. Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.) 

A summer visitor to our heaths and moor- 
lands,even frequenting disused colliery mounds, 
but has diminished in numbers of late years. 

8. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.) 

Locally, Utic. 

A common summer visitant to heaths and 
meadows. 

9. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.) 
Formerly a common resident, but now only 

occasionally seen and its nest rarely found. 

I o. Redstart. Ruticilla phaenicurus (Linn.) 

Locally, Firetail. 
A summer migrant, generally distributed, 



142 



BIRDS 



and nesting in walls and holes of trees. It is 
a shy bird and its soft alarm note is frequently 
heard when the bird itself is not seen. Mr. 
E. W. H. Blagg has taken eggs with distinct 
fine red spots. 

[Black Redstart. Ruticilla titys (Scopoli) 
The Zoologist for 1852 (p. 3503) contains an 
account of the discovery of a nest supposed to 
belong to this species, which is also referred to 
by Hewitson in the third edition of his Eggs 
of British Birds (p. 1 06). The birds, how- 
ever, do not appear to have been identified at 
the nest, and the description of the ' situation 
in which the nest was found points pretty 
conclusively to the next species, which is known 
occasionally to lay white eggs.] 

1 1 . Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula (Linn.) 
Common and partially migratory in very 

severe weather. A pied variety was observed 
by Mr. E. W. H. Blagg at Forsbrook near 
Cheadle in 1892 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 

43) 

12. Nightingale. Daulias lusdnia (Linn.) 

A rare summer visitor. Mr. E. Brown 
(Fauna of Burton, p. 96) records it as extra- 
ordinarily abundant near Burton about 1853, 
but rare subsequently. Further notes of its 
appearances will be found in the Birds of 
Staffordshire (p. 43) and the Reports of the North 
Staffordshire Field Club for 1880, 1893 and 
1896. 

13. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein) 
Locally, Peggy Whitethroat. 

A very common summer migrant, arriving 
in May. 

14. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca 

(Linn.) 

A summer migrant, but rarer than the last 
named species. 

15. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.) 

A fairly common summer visitor, with a 
sweet little song. 

1 6. Garden-Warbler. Sylvia hortensis (Bech- 

stein) 
A summer visitant and generally distributed. 

[Dartford Warbler. Sylvia undata (Bod- 
daert) 

This species is said to have been observed 
on Cannock Chase, but no specimen appears 
to have been obtained, and without further 
evidence its occurrence so far from its usual 
habitat can hardly be considered as proved 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 47).] 



17. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatus, K. L. 

Koch. 

A resident and to be found in small family 
parties in winter. 

[Firecrest. Regulus ignicapillus (C. L. 
Brehm) 

Noted by Garner as 'occasional,' and 
included in Sainter's list, but no satisfactory 
identification of this bird has been recorded in 
the county.] 

1 8. Chiffchaff. Phylloscopus rufus (Bechstein) 
The earliest of our summer migrants, 

arriving in March and common in most 
districts. 

19. Willow- Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus 

(Linn.) 
Locally, Peep. 

A common summer visitant throughout the 
county. 

20. Wood-Warbler. Phylloscopus sibilatrix 

(Bechstein) 

A summer migrant, arriving later than the 
willow-warbler. It is generally distributed 
in fair numbers in the valleys of the county. 

21. Reed-Warbler. Acrocephalus streperus 

(Vieillot) 

Locally, Reed Sparrow (E. Brown). 
A local summer migrant to the Trent, the 
lower part of the Dove and the larger meres 
of the county, such as Aqualate, Copmere, 
etc. It is much less common now than 
formerly on the Trent and Dove. 

22. Sedge-Warbler. Acrocephalus phragmitis 

(Bechstein) 

A common summer visitor to marshy 
districts. 

[Aquatic Warbler. Acrocephalus aquaticus 
(J. F. Gmelin) 

A nest and eggs supposed to belong to this 
species have been taken at Copmere, but no 
specimens of the bird have been secured and 
the resemblance of the eggs of the aquatic 
warbler to those of the preceding species 
renders identification very doubtful (Birds of 
Staffordshire, p. 50).] 

23. Grasshopper-Warbler. Locustella navia 

(Boddaert) 

A summer migrant, local in its distribution 
and far from common. It has been recorded 
as nesting near Cheadle (1888), Trentham, 
Stone and Burton-on-Trent (see Reports of 
the North Staffs Field Club). 



143 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



24. Hedge - Sparrow. Accentor modularis 

(Linn.) 

A common resident throughout the county. 
It has a cheerful song, and is one of our most 
useful and harmless birds. 

25. Dipper. Cine/us aquaticus, Bechstein. 

A fairly common resident on most of the 
streams in the north of the county, nesting 
regularly under bridges and against rocks. A 
few nests are placed under banks and in 
hollows of tree stumps. It is also found 
occasionally in other parts of the county as far 
south as Stone, where it breeds, and Madeley, 
and it has been recorded in winter from 
Handsworth (12 Jan. 1882). 

26. Reedling or Bearded Tit. Panurus biar- 

micus (Linn.) 

The only record of this species is that of 
Garner, who says, ' Rare, but has occurred at 
Aqualate Mere and on the Dove : Mr. 
Emery ' (p. 280). Mr. Francis Boughey of 
Aqualate, writing on 9 December 1888, says : 
' I have still got two eggs that were taken out 
of a nest here in my possession ; they were 
taken out of a gorse bush about half a mile 
from the house ; the remainder of the nest of 
eggs were left to hatch which I believe they 
did and the old birds were seen often. I 
understand also that one specimen of the 
bearded tit was shot afterwards here.' 

27. Long-tailed Tit. Acredula caudata, Linn. 
Locally, Bottle Tit. 

Generally resident throughout the county, 
occurring in small flocks or family parties 
during the winter. 

28. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. 
Locally, Sawyer, Ox-eye, Blackcap. 

Resident and common. 

29. Coal-Tit. Parus ater, Linn. 
Resident and generally distributed, but not 

so common as the great or blue tit. 

30. Marsh-Tit. Parus palustris, Linn. 
Resident, but local and scarcer than the 

preceding species. 

31. Blue Tit. Parus caeruleus, Linn. 
Locally, Tomtit. 

Resident and common. 

32. Nuthatch. Sitta carsia, Wolf. 

Local and scarce. A few pairs however 
breed with us, and nests have been recorded 
at Eccleshall in 1884, and at Sandon and 
Barlaston in 1897 (Report North Staff's Field 



Club, 1898). Sir O. Mosley (Nat. Hist, of 
Tutbury, p. 48) relates how on 16 August, 
1846, at least a hundred of these birds visited 
the gardens at Rolleston, many remaining till 
the following November. Mr. Meynell 
reported it at Farley near Cheadle in 1889 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1890, p. 22). 

33. Wren. Troglodytes parvulus, K. L. Koch. 
Resident and common. In winter a number 

of these little birds frequently roost together in 
holes or old nests apparently for warmth 
(cf. Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 48, and Report 
North Staffs Field Club, 1896, p. 49). 

34. Tree-Creeper. Certhia familiaris, Linn. 

Resident, breeding not uncommonly in the 
wooded districts, but rarer in the north of the 
county. 

35. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla lugubris, Tem- 

minck. 

A partial migrant, many moving south in 
severe weather, although they may be seen 
during every month in the year. A common 
foster parent of the cuckoo and one of our 
most useful birds, being exclusively an insect 
feeder. 

36. White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn. 
Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 98) 

describes this bird as mostly occurring in 
autumn in the Burton district, and Messrs. 
E. A. Brown and H. G. Tomlinson have also 
noticed it on the Trent, but there is no 
definite record of its appearance in any other 
part of the county. Possibly it has been 
overlooked on account of its general resem- 
blance to the last species. 

37. Grey Wagtail. Motacilla melanope, Pallas. 
A resident or partial migrant, breeding 

annually by the Dove and other streams in 
the northern parts of the county, but scarce on 
the Trent, where however it is well known 
as a winter visitor. Normally the grey wag- 
tail does not breed in the counties south-east 
of Staffordshire, although it has been known to 
do so exceptionally. 

38. Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla 

flava, Linn. 

The evidence with regard to the occurrence 
of this species is not very satisfactory. Garner 
states that it occurs at Betley and it is also 
mentioned in Mr. Sainter's list. 

39. Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla rait (Bona- 

parte) 

A common summer migrant, arriving about 
the beginning of April, but Mr. H. G. 



144 



BIRDS 



Tomlinson has occasionally seen one in 
March at Burton (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 66). 

40. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivia/is (Linn.) 
Locally, Titlark, Bank Lark. 

A common spring visitor, generally dis- 
tributed throughout the county, except on the 
moors, where it is replaced by the meadow 
pipit. It is very conspicuous in spring on 
account of its habit of ascending from its 
perch on the top of a tree and returning again 
to its post with outstretched wings, singing all 
the way. 

41. Meadow-Pipit. Anthus pratensls (Linn.) 
Common on the uplands and moors, and 

partially migratory in its habits, moving south 
in severe weather. Many cuckoos are reared 
in nests of this species in north Staffordshire. 

42. Richard's Pipit. Anthus richardi (Vieillot) 
Garner in his Appendix (p. 34) mentions one 

example, which was obtained near Stone and 
was in Mr. Ration's collection (Garner MS.) 
Mr. R. W. Chase has an adult male which 
was taken near Handsworth on 21 October 
1887 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 59). 

43. Golden Oriole. Oriolus galbula, Linn. 
A rare visitor which has occurred twice. 

One was shot near Barton-urider-Needwood 
about 1869 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 59), and 
another was killed by a boy near Burton-on- 
Trent on 19 April 1871 (Birds of Derbyshire, 
p. 69). 

44. Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor, 

Linn. 

Another rare visitor, usually occurring in 
the autumn and winter months. Garner 
(p. 274) says it has been obtained at Need- 
wood, Bramshall, etc., and in his MS. notes 
mentions a later occurrence at Stone, where 
it was shot by Mr. Hatton (Birds of Stafford- 
shire, p. 60). Sir O. Mosley (Nat. Hist, of 
Tutbury, p. 37) mentions two : one shot at 
Burton Bridge on 2 December 1844, and 
the other killed by a stone on 4 April 1845 
between Dunstall and Burton (Zoo/, p. 1209). 
In the North Staffs Field Club Report for 1886 
two are recorded as having been killed near 
Alton in the spring of the previous year. 
Somewhere about this time one was shot at 
Mayfield and passed through the hands of 
Poole, the Ashbourne bird-stuffer. The latest 
occurrence is that of one at Grindon in 1898 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1899). 

45. Red-backed Shrike. Lanius collurio, Linn. 
A regular summer migrant to the south, 



but rare in the north of the county. Nests 
are mentioned in the Birds of Staffordshire 
(p. 60) at Clayton, King's Bromley (1891), 
near Stoke and Alton (1892). A pair gener- 
ally breed near the entrance to Dovedale. 

46. Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus, Linn. 

A rare winter visitor. Garner includes it 
in his list on the authority of Dr. Hewgill and 
Mr. Brown. Sir O. Mosley (Nat. Hist, of 
Tutbury, p. 43) says that it visits the banks of 
the Trent at irregular periods during the 
winter months, and that many were observed 
in the Burton district in 1827, l %35 ar >d 
1850. Writing later in the Zoologist (1868) 
he states that on Sunday, 31 May, a young 
bird was caught by his brother near a Pinus 
douglasii in his grounds. When placed on an 
iron railing the two old birds immediately 
came to it and were distinctly identified, the 
red marks on the wing-tips being clearly seen. 
Although the whole family were noticed by 
several people for upwards of a week after- 
wards none were captured. A nest was sub- 
sequently found on a branch of the Douglas 
pine about 60 ft. from the ground, and ' con- 
sisted of wool intermixed with fibres of grass 
and bits of the same fir.' In January 1893 
one was killed by a boy at Oulton near Stone 
while feeding on the fruit of the wild rose. 



47. Pied Flycatcher. 
Linn. 



Muscicapa atricapilla, 



A rare summer visitor, recorded by Garner 
from Bagot's Park and Trentham (1843). 
Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 94) says 
it has ' been killed at Bagot's Park and at 
Stretton, near Burton-on-Trent.' Mr. W. 
Wells Bladen found a nest at Sandon on 7 
May 1880 which he took to be that of this 
bird, but the date is unusually early and the 
situation unlikely. In 1883 Mr. E. W. H. 
Blagg obtained a male near Cheadle, and Mr. 
H. Meynell observed one at Alton on 2 May 
1889, while Dr. McAldowie saw one at 
Northwood near Trentham in June 1892. 
Mr. H. G. Tomlinson saw a cock bird in 
May 1898 near Tutbury, and Mr. Forshaw 
two at Uttoxeter the same year, and another 
was seen by the writer at Cheadle 28 April 
1902 (Reports North Staffs Field Club}. 

48. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa grisola, 

Linn. 

An abundant and familiar summer migrant, 
arriving in May and frequenting garden rail- 
ings and bare branches in orchards, from 
which it takes short flights in search of prey, 
returning to the same spot after the capture of 
each fly or other insect. Very soon after its 



145 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



arrival this bird proceeds to build its nest in 
creepers or shrubs trained against walls, or on 
beams or even door-hinges, seeming to prefer 
the vicinity of human dwellings. 

49. Swallow. Hirundo rustica, Linn. 

A common summer migrant, arriving 
according to F. B. Whitlock by the Trent 
valley migration route. Several instances of 
white or cream-coloured varieties are recorded 
in the Birds of Staffordshire, p. 64. In 1887 
many were killed by a sudden fall of tempera- 
ture in May (Report North Staffs Field Club), 
and the same thing appears to have taken place 
on 31 May 1855 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
p. 50). 

50. House-Martin. Chelidon urbica (Linn.) 
A common summer migrant, but decreasing 

in numbers owing chiefly to the persecution 
to which they are subjected by the house 
sparrow, which destroys both eggs and young, 
evicting the rightful owners from their nests. 
The latest date recorded for the stay of this 
species with us is 7 November 1891, on 
which date three were seen at Cheadle (Birds 
of Staffordshire, p. 65). 

51. Sand-Martin. Cotile riparia (Linn.) 
Locally, Bank Swallow. 

A common summer visitor, but rather local, 
varying in numbers according to the accom- 
modation afforded by gravel and sandpits, river 
banks and railway cuttings for nesting pur- 
poses. 

52. Greenfinch. Ligurinus Moris (Linn.) 
Locally, Green Linnet. 

Resident and abundant throughout the 
county, flocking in winter, and frequenting 
fields and stackyards. 

53. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. 
Although formerly regarded as a rare winter 

visitor, the hawfinch has established itself of 
recent years as a breeding species and now 
nests regularly in woods and orchards in many 
parts of the county. Mr. E. Brown (Fauna 
of Burton, p. 100) seems to have been the 
first to suspect that it bred with us (1863). 
At the present time it may be said to be 
abundant in the Cheadle and Stone districts, 
and breeds in fair numbers round Eccleshall 
and Abbots Bromley. In the autumn small 
flocks frequent gardens and feed on peas, 
cherries, yew, hawthorn and holly berries. 

54. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. 
Locally, Seven-coloured Linnet, Red Linnet. 

A partial migrant formerly abundant but 



becoming rarer every year. It still breeds in 
a few localities and is not uncommon in the 
damson orchards of the Dove valley. Flocks 
appear occasionally in the north of the county 
during the winter. The seeds of thistles 
form the principal food of this bird, and its 
wholesale capture is a serious injury to 
farmers. 

55. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.) 

A local winter visitor appearing in flocks 
which feed on the seeds of the alder (Alnus 
glutinosa]. Large numbers were observed in 
Consall Woods, October 1885, and near 
Trentham, January 1893 (Birds of Staffordshire, 
p. 67). During hard weather they have been 
observed feeding on the seeds of spent hops 
from breweries in the town of Stone. A 
regular winter visitant at Willoughbridge 
(Report North Staff's Field Club, 1894, p. 55). 

56. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.) 
Abundant and resident. Albino and pied 

varieties have frequently been met with (Birds 
of Staffordshire, p. 70). 

57- Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.) 
A resident in fair numbers, but local and 
frequently overlooked from its general resem- 
blance to the last species. Mr. W. W. 
Bladen noticed a colony at Stafford Castle in 
1879, an<1 Mr. E. W. H. Blagg observed a 
large flock at Rocester, but as a rule it is found 
in small colonies. 

58. Chaffinch. Fringilla ccelebs, Linn. 
Locally, Piedfinch, Piedy, Redfinch, Spink or 

Pink. 

A very abundant species, resident and 
assembling in large flocks in winter. 

59. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. 
A winter visitant arriving in flocks and 

feeding on beech mast. In severe weather it 
frequents stack yards in company with other 
birds. 

60. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.) 
Locally, Brown Linnet. 

A common resident, especially on downs 
and heaths. 

[Mealy Redpoll. Linota linaria (Linn.) 
Included in Mr. Sainter's list without any 
particulars. Further evidence is necessary 
before it can be admitted to our list.] 

61. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot) 
Resident and fairly common in some dis- 
tricts, nesting regularly near Cheadle, Sandon 
and in the Dove valley. 



146 



BIRDS 



62. Twite. Linota flavirostris (Linn.) 
Resident and not uncommon in the moor- 
lands in the north of the county. It is a 
northern species, and Staffordshire forms part 
of the southern limit of its breeding range. 

63. Bullfinch. Pj/rrhula europtea, Vieillot. 
A very generauy distributed resident. It 

is common in the woods of north Stafford- 
shire during the winter months. 

[Pine-Grosbeak. Pyrrhula enucleator (Linn.) 

Garner's work (p. 279) contains the follow- 
ing reference to this species : ' Needwood. 
Bred in an orchard, north Staffordshire, 1842.' 
Probably the hawfinch was mistaken for the 
present species.] 

64. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. 

An uncertain visitor occurring in flocks 
during the winter months. As it is a very 
early breeder possibly some of the birds which 
have been observed in the spring may have 
bred in the county. Garner records the 
crossbill as ' seen near Burton, Uttoxeter, etc.,' 
and E. Brown says it occurred plentifully in 
the fir plantations near Burton about 1838 
(Fauna of Burton, p. 100). It has also been 
reported from Barhill (near Madeley) and near 
Burton in 1879, and regularly for some years 
at Swynnerton (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 74). 
A bird in the red plumage from the Blurton 
collection of Staffordshire birds is now in the 
Derby Museum. Both old and young birds 
have been observed in woods near Cheadle 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1896). 

65. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. 
Local in the north of the county but not 

uncommon in the south and south-east, where 
it breeds. It also occurs in the west of the 
county at Willoughbridge (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1894, P r 55). 

66. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinella, 

Linn. 

Locally, Goldfinch. 

Very common throughout the county, sing- 
ing all through the summer from the highest 
twigs of hedgerows and feeding in winter in 
farmyards with other birds. 

67. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. 

A nest with four eggs is said to have been 
found at Eccleshall on 24 May 1883 (Birds 
of Staffordshire, p. 75). It is also said on Mr. 
E. A. Brown's authority to have been recorded 
from near Burton. 



68. Reed - Bunting. Emberiza schceniclus, 

Linn. 

Locally, Reed-Sparrow. 

Fairly common in the neighbourhood of 
water, especially where reeds are found. 

69. Snow - Bunting. Plectrophenix nivalis 

(Linn.) 

A rare winter straggler. There are two 
specimens in the Rolleston Hall museum, one 
of which was killed by a labourer with a 
stone on Rolleston meadows in October 
1847 (Nat. Hist. ofTutbury, p. 44). Garner 
records it as seen at Burton, Whitmore Heath 
and Swynnerton, and in 1871 he says it has 
been shot at Cloud Hill. Mr. R. W. Chase 
states that one was found at Beech Lanes, 
Harborne, on 9 February 1888 (Birds of Staf- 
fordshire, p. 76). Dr. McAldowie reports 
one shot on 22 January 1895 at Cliffe Ville 
close to Stoke-on-Trent while feeding in 
company with larks (Report North Staffs Field 
Club, 1895, p. 88). 

70. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. 
Abundant everywhere, often seen in im- 
mense flocks during the autumn and winter. 
Three white birds and one cream-coloured 
are recorded in the Birds of Staffordshire 
(p. 7 6). 

71. Rose-coloured Starling. Pastor roseus 

(Linn.) 

One was seen near Rushton Spencer in 
1875 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 77). 

72. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.) 

Still fairly numerous in wooded districts 
although persistently trapped and shot by 
keepers. 

73. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli) 
Locally, Chatterpie. 

Not very numerous, but one or two pairs 
are nearly always to be seen on the moorlands 
and near common lands. In winter flocks of 
twenty to thirty are sometimes seen in the north 
of the county, and Mr. R. H. Read once 
counted as many as ninety in one plantation 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1894, p. 50). 
Instances of the eviction of magpies from their 
nests by kestrels, and also apparently by jack- 
daws, have been noted in the Reports of the 
North Staffs Field Club. 

74. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn. 

A common resident everywhere, often 
nesting in large colonies in holes of trees 
where there is much old timber as at Okeover, 
as well as in chimneys and church towers in 



147 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



many towns and villages. At Moddershall 
near Stone a colony exists which usually build 
domed nests in high trees (Reports North Staffs 
Field Club, 1898 and 1901). A hatch of five 
chocolate-coloured jackdaws appeared atWood- 
head near Cheadle in 1900. 

75. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn. 
Formerly a not uncommon resident breed- 
ing amongst other places at Dovedale, Ramsor, 
Cheadle and Dimminsdale as late as 1844, 
and Copmere near Eccleshall (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1879, p. 6 1 ). Plot in his 
County History has the following curious note: 
' The worthy Mr. Chetwynd in his park at 
Ingestre observed young ravens to go to bough 
on New Year's day which therefore must be 
hatch't in the winter near Christmas, as some 
also were in Ashmer's Park near Wolver- 
hampton, an. 1665, by a Raven that constantly 
built there for many years.' Needwood 
Forest was also a well known haunt of this 
bird. At Swythamley where they formerly 
bred one was shot in 1850. In 1881 one 
visited Hardiwick Wood near Stone, and in 
the spring of 1883 one was seen in the early 
morning on Stoke-on-Trent church tower 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. So). In 1894 two 
were reported from Cheadle (Report North 
Sta/s Field Club, 1895, p. 47), and in 1898 
another was seen at the entrance to Dove- 
dale. 

76. Carrion-Crow. Corvus corone, Linn. 
Getting rarer every year through persecu- 
tion by game preservers, but still breeds in a 
good many places and is common in Dove- 
dale and the Ham valley. 

77. Hooded Crow. Corvus comix, Linn. 

A casual visitor on migration, recorded 
from Needwood, Uttoxeter, in 1841 (Garner), 
Swythamley (1853), on the Trent near Burton 
in January 1884, near Cheadle in 1886 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 79), and one in Hose 
Wood, Draycot-in-the-Moors, in November, 
1895 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1897, 
p. 51). 

78. Rook. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. 

Very abundant, rookeries being numerous 
all over the county. In winter immense 
numbers of rooks congregate together and 
roost in some sheltered wood, scattering during 
the day for many miles ajsuiid in order to 
feed and returning to the same roost every 
night. The average date for the first eggs 
in the north of the county is about 16 March, 
for about that time the hens first begin to 
stay all night at their nests. Pied varieties 
are not uncommon and albinos have been 



observed. In 1893 Dr. McAldowie estimated 
the number of rooks in Staffordshire at over 
60,000, but at the present time this number 
is probably below the mark. 

79. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn. 

A common resident even close to populous 
towns, but much persecuted by bird catchers 
and diminishing in numbers prior to the pub- 
lication of the Wild Bird Protection Orders. 

80. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn. 
Local and rare, but may have been over- 
looked. In Mr. Neville Wood's time it was 
plentiful in the Dove valley, from which it 
has now completely disappeared. A nest was 
found at Eccleshall in 1883 (Birds of Stafford- 
shire, p. 81), and Mr. E. A. Brown says it 
has occurred near Burton. Mr. James Yates 
records it at Sugnal (Report North Staffs Field 
Club, 1879, p. 62). 

[Crested Lark. Alauda cristata, Linn. 

Included in Sainter's list, but can scarcely 
be given a place in our local fauna without 
further evidence.] 

8 1. Shore Lark. Otocorys alpestris (Linn.) 
One occurrence only of this rare lark has 

been noted, a specimen having been shot at 
Enville near Dudley on 17 December 1879 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1900, p. 53). 

82. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.) 
Locally, Squealer. 

A summer migrant arriving in May, but 
nowhere abundant. Dr. McAldowie is of 
opinion that this species must have been less 
plentiful two centuries ago on the strength of 
the following passage from Plot's History of 
Staffordshire : ' Of unusual small birds here 
are also several . . . such as the Hirundo apus 
or black martin here called the martlet, which 
I believe is the bird intended by that name in 
Heraldry and not the Hirundo agrestis sive 
rustica Plinii, it having so very long wings and 
so short legs and small feet that it cannot 
easily rise from the ground unless it be very 
plain and free from grass ; wherefore it either 
always flies or sits on the top of Churches 
Towers or else hangs on other ancient buildings 
by its sharp claws, from which it falls and so 
takes its flight ; of these I saw at Shareshill 
near Hilton and Beaudesert.' 

83. v Nightjar. Caprimulgus europteus, Linn. 

Locally, Fern Owl, Goatsucker. 
A common summer migrant to our heaths 
and ferny commons. It is a most valuable 
bird, feeding exclusively on insects, many of 
which are injurious to the agriculturist. 



148 



BIRDS 



84. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. 

A rare summer migrant which has been 
recorded several times as nesting in the county 
at Rolleston and Sandon. 

85. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus vlridis 

(Linn.) 

A resident, generally distributed in wooded 
districts and on the heaths of central and 
southern Staffordshire ; common on Cannock 
Chase and around Ashley. 

86. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus 

major (Linn.) 

Resident, and not uncommon, especially in 
woods in the north-west and west of the 
county and on Cannock Chase. 

87. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus 

minor (Linn.) 

A local resident and has been recorded from 
Burton, Uttoxeter and Barlaston and found 
nesting at Sandon, Maer, Bishop's Woods, 
Dimminsdale near Cheadle and Ramsor. 
Probably the shyness of this little bird is the 
cause of its supposed scarcity. 

[Great Black Woodpecker. Picus martius, 
Linn. 

Garner says of this species, ' We may add 
Picus martius on Mr. Brown's authority.' Pro- 
bably the statement was based on a misunder- 
standing, for Mr. Brown when compiling his 
list of the birds of the Burton district omits 
all mention of this bird (1863).] 

88. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. 
Resident and formerly fairly common on 

all our streams and lakes, but now scarce ex- 
cept in the Dove valley below Dovedale, 
where a considerable increase in numbers has 
taken place during the last few years owing to 
the protection extended by several riparian 
owners. A few pairs still breed on backwaters 
of the Trent in the Burton district and on 
streams near Stone. 

89. Roller. Coracias garru/us, Linn. 
Included by Mr. Sainter in his list of birds 

recently met with near Macclesfield (1878). 
Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 102) 
states that one has ' been seen near Berkeley.' 

90. Hoopoe. Upupa (pops, Linn. 

A rare visitor on migration recorded by 
Garner from Abbots Bromley, Barton and 
Tutbury. ' One was winged a few years 
back at Whitmore and afterwards kept in a 
cage.' Sir O. Mosley (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
p. 48) saw one on the Dove while fishing 
near Rolleston. One was reported from near 



Loxley in the summer of 1885 by Mr. Wil- 
kins, and Mr. R. W. Chase records one in 
1893 from Quinton near Birmingham (Birds 
of Staffordshire, p. 86). 

91. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Linn. 

A common summer migrant arriving in 
April and especially plentiful in the moorland 
districts. The young cuckoo somewhat re- 
sembles a kestrel in the colour and marking 
of the plumage, hence a foolish saying that 
the young cuckoo eventually turns into a 
hawk ! Among the rarer foster parents re- 
corded from Staffordshire may be mentioned 
the thrush and the pheasant (Sandon Wood, 
1879) (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1896, 
p. 24). 

92. White or Barn-Owl. Strix famrnea, Linn. 
A resident, most valuable to the farmer and 

once common, but has unfortunately become 
rarer of recent years owing in a great measure 
to the use of the pole-trap. Still breeds where 
protected. 

93. Long-eared Owl. Asia otus (Linn.) 
Resident, and found in most thick fir woods 

where not killed by gamekeepers. 

94. Short-eared Owl. Asia accipitrinus (Pallas) 
A rare autumn and winter migrant. Gar- 
ner describes it as ' frequent,' and Mr. E. 
Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 92) says that 
many are killed in the Burton district at the 
beginning of winter by sportsmen. Sir O. 
Mosley shot one near Tutbury in October 
1840 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 37), and 
mentions others killed in the neighbourhood 
soon afterwards. To other parts of the 
county it is a rare occasional visitor but has 
been recorded from Swythamley, Eccleshall 
and near Alton in 1883 (Birds of Staffs, p. 
88). 

95. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.) 
Locally, Brown Owl. 

A not uncommon resident, breeding usually 
in hollow trees, but also occasionally in 
deserted nests. May frequently be heard 
hooting at night. 

96. Snowy Owl. Nyctea scandiaca (Linn.) 
The only reference to the occurrence of 

this species in the county is a rather vague 
notice by Mr. A. O. Worthington in Contri- 
butions to the Flora and Fauna of Repton, p. 77. 
' Sir John Crewe records one killed near 
Burton-on -Trent.' 



97. Marsh-Harrier. Circus eeruginosus (Linn.) 
Garner says, ' Not very rare,' but no further 



149 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



particulars are given, and without stronger 
evidence the record cannot be considered as 
satisfactory. 

98. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.) 
Formerly common and bred in the county, 

but now a rare occasional visitor. It is 
noticed without remark by Dickenson in 1 798. 
Garner describes it as occasional. In 1852 
one was shot at Swythamley, where it has 
bred. Mr. Sainter includes it in his list of 
breeding birds. At Burton it has once been re- 
corded (E. A. Brown). Near Stone it has 
been seen on the wing (Birds of Staffordshire, 
p. 90). One was shot on Cannock Chase in 
1899, and another in 1900, both in Lord 
Lichfield'scollectionat Shugborough. This bird 
is observed on Cannock Chase most years but 
unfortunately shot or trapped, or would pro- 
bably remain to breed (Report North Staffs 
Field Club, 1903). 

99. Common Buzzard. Buteo vulgaris, 

Leach. 

Now a rare visitor to the north of the 
county but eighty or ninety years ago it was 
a common resident in the wooded districts, 
such as Needwood Forest (Nat. Hist, of Tut- 
bury, p. 33). One was killed at Horninglow 
in 1860 (Fauna of Burton, p. 92), and others 
have been reported from Oakamoor in March 
1886, and also in 1893, May Bank in 1879, 
and Endon in 1894 (Reports North Staff's Field 
Club}. Mr. Sainter mentions one shot on the 
Roaches near Leek about 1872 (Sci. Rambles 
round Macclesfield). 

100. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus 

(J."F. Gmelin) 

Occasionally visits the moorlands of north 
Staffordshire on migration and has several 
times been observed in the south of the 
county. Garner mentions one shot near Leek 
and another from Needwood. This latter 
bird is probably the male in the Rolleston 
Hall museum which was shot at Rangemoor 
in 1840. Another was seen at Rolleston for 
several days in January 1846, but was not 
shot (Nat. Hist, of Tut bury, p. 34). One shot 
on Cannock Chase in January 1895 is now 
in the collection at Shugborough (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

101. Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetus (Linn.) 
Some doubt rests upon the reported occur- 
rences of this species, as probably the writers 
were not in every case competent to dis- 
tinguish between this species and the imma- 
ture sea eagle. Plot in 1686 writes, ' Witness 
the eagle in Beaudesert Hall killed in the Park.' 
Eagles have been observed too in the forest of 



Needwood. Garner in 1844 Sa 7 s '* nas been 
seen at Needwood ' in late years ' and that 
one was shot on Lichfield Cathedral in the 
reign of Charles I. About 1873 Mr. H. 
Evans and Lord Waterpark had a good view 
of one in Brakenhurst Cover perched in a tree 
about 60 yards away. 

102. White-tailed Eagle. Haliaetus albicilla 

(Linn.) 

The two eagles mentioned by Dickenson 
in 1798 as seen on Cannock Chase a few 
years before, and one of which was shot by 
Sir Edward Littleton's gamekeeper, have been 
proved to be of this species (' Notes on Birds ' 
by W. E. Beckwith in Trans. Shropshire Arch. 
Soc. 1887). 

103. Goshawk. Aitur palumbarius (Linn.) 
One was shot at Swythamley in 1853. 

Another, a male bird, was killed at Rolleston 
in 1877 and is now in the Rolleston mu- 
seum. 

104. Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter nisus (Linn.) 
One of the few hawks which still nest 

regularly in the county and is not uncommon 
except where exterminated by gamekeepers. 
Several instances have been recorded within 
the county where this bird has been killed 
outright or stunned by flying against plate- 
glass windows when in pursuit of small birds. 

105. Kite. Milvus ictinus (Savigny) 
Although at one time a common bird the 

kite has long been a rare visitor to the county. 
Garner speaks of it as ' occasional,' and says 
it has been trapped in Needwood Forest. Mr. 
E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 92) mentions one 
seen near Branstone in 1855, and Mr. Rising's 
collection contained a pair of Staffordshire 
killed birds, while Mr. R. W. Chase has one 
shot at Ornslow many years ago in his col- 
lection. The latest occurrence was in 1877 
one seen at Swynnerton (Birds of Staffordshire, 
p. 93). Dovedale is supposed to have been 
a former breeding place of this bird. 

1 06. Honey-Buzzard. Perms apivorus (Linn.) 
Garner records one shot at Trentham in 

1844, and in August 1885 (in error this date 
is given as October 1884) a second was shot 
at Swynnerton (Reports North Staffs Field Club y 
1885). J. E. Harting states that the nest 
has been found in Stafford (Buchanan) in his 
handbook. In the Zoologist, 1888 (p. 394) 
one is recorded as having been shot at Beau- 
desert on 27 July 1888, and another at 
Little Aston near Birmingham on 16 June 
1891 (Zool. 1897, p. 271). One shot at The 
Wergs, near Wolverhampton, 19 June 1903. 



150 



BIRDS 



107. Greenland Falcon. Fako candlcans Q. 

F. Gmelin) 

The only record is that of Garner, who 
states that it has been 'shot in Beaudesert 
Park' (p. 271). 

1 08. Peregrine Falcon. Fako peregrinus, 

Tun stall. 

The Rolleston Hall collection contains an 
adult female shot at Beaudesert, probably the 
bird referred to by Garner as having been 
killed there in 1841. An adult cock shot near 
Codsall in 1897 ' s now ' n tne possession of 
Mr. Heathley of Stoke-on-Trent. 

109. Hobby. Fako subbuteo, Linn. 

A scarce summer visitor, but has been ob- 
served several times. Garner's MS notes 
contain a reference to one shot in Needwood 
Forest in 1847. In 1883 Dr. McAldowie 
saw a hobby take a swallow on the wing at 
Han ford near Stoke (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 
95), and in the Rolleston Hall museum is a 
specimen which was shot in June 1890. 
Judging from the date this bird may have been 
breeding in the neighbourhood. Mr. R. H. 
Read shot a hobby at Lee Head near Maer 
in the summer of 1 88 1 (Report North Staff's 
Field Club, 1894, p. 48). 

110. Merlin. Fako eesalon, Tunstall. 

A few pairs still breed on the moorlands in 
the north of the county, and stragglers are 
occasionally observed in other parts. Garner 
records merlins from Needwood Forest, Tean 
and Burton, and the Rolleston museum con- 
tains one shot on 15 October 1853 ln tne 
churchyard (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 34). Sir 
O. Mosley in the same work describes it as 
' not infrequently seen,' and in the Derby 
Museum is a skin from the Blurton collection. 
One was shot in 1891 at Swythamley, where 
it breeds, and a nest with eggs was found 
' some years ago ' at Newcastle-under-Lyme 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 95). 

111. Kestrel. Fako tinnunculus, Linn. 
Fairly common and a partial migrant. Not 

so plentiful as formerly but still nests regu- 
larly. A most useful bird in helping to keep 
down mice and voles. 

112. Osprey. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.) 

An occasional visitant. Garner mentions 
specimens shot at Stafford and Burton ' a few 
years back,' and Sir O. Mosley observed one 
at Rolleston in 1841 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
p. 33). In the summer of 1860 Mr. Brown 
saw one near Burton which was afterwards 
shot lower down the Trent (Fauna of Burton, 
p. 227). Mr. R. W. Chase has an immature 



female in his collection shot near Lichfield 
26 September 1 88 1, and another was seen 
for a week at Copmere in October 1882 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 96). In January 
1893 one was shot at Sneyd Green near 
Burslem (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1894, 
p. 42). 

113. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.) 
A straggler to Aqualate on several occasions 

and has also been observed in the Trent 
valley. Dickenson in 1798 notes it as 'fre- 
quently seen in winter about Aqualate mere.' 
Sir O. Mosley says one was seen on the Trent 
and Dove about 20 years previously to 1863, 
and that he saw one fishing in the Dove ' be- 
tween 30 and 40 years ago ' (Nat. Hist, of 
Tutbury, p. 57). Mr. E. Brown records 
another killed at Burton in 1838 (Fauna of 
Burton, p. 110), and one was killed during 
the winter of 1885 at the same place (Natur- 
alist''! World]. There is also a specimen at 
Swythamley shot in 1872 (Birds of Stafford- 
shire, p. 97). 

114. Shag or Green Cormorant. Phalacro- 

corax graculus (Linn.) 

One shot at Burton weir by Mr. Charles 
Hanson 'some years ago' (1893) (Birds of 
Derbyshire, p. 152). Three were seen at the 
same place in September 1902 (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

115. Gannet or Solan Goose. Sula bassana 

(Linn.) 

According to Garner, ' Occasional on the 
Trent and Dove ; Aqualate.' Sir O. Mosley 
(Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 57) mentions one 
killed at Yoxall on 8 November 1853, and 
in the same work Mr. Brown says it has 
twice been killed within a few miles of Tut- 
bury (p. no), but probably one of these cases 
refers to the Yoxall bird. One shot near 
Grindon, 1899. On 4 August 1900 two 
were seen at Clifton flying down the Dove 
valley (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1901). 

1 1 6. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn. 
Locally, Yarn (Dickenson), Heronshaw (Plot), 

obs. 

A resident in fair numbers. Dr. Plot 
writing in 1686 says, 'and of unusual birds 
frequenting the water here are also divers 
kinds, some of them cloven footed and pisci- 
vorous though they build their nests on the 
tops of trees ; as the Ardea cinerea, or common 
heron or heronshaw whereof I saw divers 
sitting on the tops of the highest trees in 
Norbury Park." Garner in his supplement 
(1860) mentions nests at Swythamley, Trent- 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



ham and Betley, but none of these ever be- 
came established heronries. In 1893, when 
the Birds of Staffordshire was published, three 
heronries were mentioned at Aqualate, where 
there were only about six nests in 1892 but 
none in 1893, although as many as forty or 
fifty have been built in some years in Bagots 
Park, where there were nineteen nests on 
young oak trees in 1893, and at Patshull 
where there were about ten nests, and the 
birds are strictly preserved by Lord Dartmouth. 
In 1901 there were only two or three nests at 
Aqualate. The Aqualate and Bagots Park 
heronries are of ancient origin, but that of 
Patshull is more recent. A curious point in 
reference to the Aqualate birds is that every 
year one or more pairs nested among the 
reeds at the side of the mere. Some large 
pellets picked up at Bagots Park were com- 
posed of the hair of voles, rats and mice. 
Isolated pairs have been also known to breed 
in Dovedale and the Ham valley. 

117. Purple Heron. Ardea purpurea, Linn. 
One was shot at Wetmore on I July 1856 

(E. Brown, Fauna of Burton, p. 105). Some 
additional particulars are given in the Birds of 
Derbyshire, p. 154, on the authority of Mr. 
C. Hanson, who states that it was killed as it 
sat in a pollard willow on the banks of the 
Trent on the Derbyshire side, as he thinks. 

1 1 8. Squacco Heron. Ardea ralloides, Scopoli. 
Recorded as having occurred in the county, 

a male having been shot on the banks of the 
Dove near Colon on 17 May 1874 (Birds of 
Staffordshire, p. ioi ; see also Science Gossip, 
1875, p. 4). 

119. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Linn.) 
A rare straggler. Garner mentions one 

from the Dove or Trent (Mr. Emery), and 
Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 228) 
states that one was killed at King's Bromley 
about 1838. One is reported to have been 
shot near Hanley, May 1901, but further 
details are needed. 

1 2O. Bittern. Botaurus stellaris (Linn.) 
Formerly plentiful, nesting in the county. 

Sir O. Mosley states that when a boy he fre- 
quently heard in the evening the ' boom ' of 
the bittern, which then frequented the osier 
beds on the banks of the Trent and Dove 
(Nat. Hist. ofTuttury, p. 53). A few still 
visit us as winter migrants, but most of them 
are unfortunately shot. Stuffed specimens ob- 
tained in the district are to be found in many 
cottages round Eccleshall. In the Birds of 
Staffordshire (p. ioi) definite records of some 
twelve occurrences are given. 



121. White Stork. Cicoma alba, Bechstein. 
Garner says vaguely that it has occurred 

several times on the Dove (p. 284). Sir O. 
Mosley gives some details : one was shot by 
Mr. Emery some years since and another is 
said to have been obtained near Abbots 
Bromley (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 54, 
105). 

122. Glossy Ibis. P/egadis falcinellus (Linn.) 
One was shot on the Trent at Fradley in 

1840 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 54, 105). 
Another was shot 'many years ago' at Walton- 
on-Trent (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 159). 

123. Spoonbill. Platalea leucorodia, Linn. 
One shot by Mr. D. Hopkins in Rolles- 

ton Park on 14 June 1872, is now in the 
Rolleston Hall museum. 

124. Flamingo. Phoenicopterus roseus, Pallas. 
Early in September 1881 an adult flam- 
ingo was seen for a week or so on the estate 
of the late Sir John H. Crewe in the 
northern part of Staffordshire, but having 
crossed the river Manifold to another property 
it was captured and taken to the owner of the 
land, by whom it was kept alive for a few 
days and then killed (H. Saunders, Manual, 
ed. 2, 1899, p. 395, and Yarrell's British 
Birds, ed. 4, iv. 245). 

125. Grey Lag-Goose, dnsercinereus, Meyer. 
A rare winter visitor, formerly frequently 

seen passing over the county on migration. 
Sir O. Mosley and Mr. E. Brown agree that it 
was plentiful ' fifty years ago ' (i.e. about 1813), 
but it is doubtful whether any of the geese 
that still visit the Trent valley belong to this 
species. Mr. E. A. Brown has examined one 
killed at Burton and another was shot at 
Swythamley in 1869 (Birds of Staffordshire, 
p. 103). 

126. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons 

(Scopoli) 

This species is included in Garner's list but 
no details are given. It is however known 
to visit the Trent valley (Birds of Derbyshire, 
p. 1 60). One was shot near Wolverhampton 
12 January 1901 by Mr. Harold Twentyman 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

[Bean Goose. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin) 
Included in Sainter's list ; a very doubtful 
record.] 

127. Pink-footed Goose. Anser brachyrhynchus, 

Baillon. 

Probably this is the species most frequently 
seen in the Trent valley, but specimens are 



152 



BIRDS 



seldom killed. One killed at Winshill in 
1856 (Fauna of Burton, p. 107), and others 
have since been killed in the neighbourhood 
of Burton-on-Trent. 

128. Barnacle-Goose. Bernicla leucopsis 

(Bechstein) 

Occasionally shot near Tutbury ; one 
associated with some Canada geese at Rolles- 
ton in December 1859 (Nat. Hist, of Tut- 

bur y, p- 55)- 

129. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas) 
Included in Garner's list. One. seen in the 

flesh in March 1893 said to have been shot 
in Staffordshire (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 104). 
One shot at Rocester about 25 January 1903 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

[Canada Goose. Bernicla canadensis (Linn.) 
An introduced species, flocks of which 
often pass up and down the Dove valley.] 

[Egyptian Goose. Chenalopex regyptiaca, 
Linn. 

Has several times been shot on the Trent ; 
probably escaped birds.] 

130. WhooperSwan. Cygnus musicus, Bech- 

stein. 

Locally, Whistling Swan (Mosley), Elk or 
Wild Swan (Brown). 

Has frequently been observed in the Trent 
valley in small flocks. One was shot at 
Swythamley in 1875 (Birds of Staffordshire, 
p. 1 06). 

[Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell. 

The bird of this species mentioned in the 
Birds of Staffordshire, p. 1 06, was killed in 
Derbyshire.] 

131. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (J. F. Gme- 

lin) 

In a semi-domesticated condition on oui 
larger rivers and on lakes. 

132. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta 

(S. G. Gmelin) 

This beautiful duck has been shot several 
times in the county. The birds recorded by 
Mr. E. A. Brown as breeding near Burton- 
on-Trent were probably captives (Birds of 
Staffordshire, p. 106). 

133. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, 

Linn. 

Resident and fairly plentiful where pre- 
served on large meres. It is also numerous in 
the Dove valley between Rocester and Dove- 
dale. Our resident birds are frequently 
joined by flocks of migrants in winter. 



134. Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn. 

A very rare visitor. One obtained on the 
Tame at Comberford near Lichfield 22 
December 1873 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 
108). 

135. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.) 

A rare winter visitor. Mr. E. Brown 
(Fauna of Burton, p. 1 08) says that many 
have been killed on the Trent but it is now 
rarely seen there. A drake was shot at 
Rolleston on 3 April 1866, and two others 
at Woore in September 1896. Mr. Harting 
states that the nest has been found in the 
county (Handbook of Brit. Birds, ed. I, 
p. 62). 

136. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.) 

A winter visitor of which several occur- 
rences have been recorded. Not uncommon 
in the Tutbury and Burton districts (Nat. 
Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 56, 108). A young drake 
shot at Barlaston in November 1885, four at 
Leigh in 1895, one at Bloxwich in February 
1898, and a drake at Hilderstone Hall on 4 
February 1901 (Report North Staffs Field 
Club, 1901). 

137. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.) 

Breeds very sparingly in Staffordshire (Birds 
of Staffordshire, p. 108). In winter and spring 
small flocks visit the middle and south of the 
county. Frequents the scattered pits at Lea 
Head singly or in pairs most winters (Report 
North Staffs Field Club, 1894, p. 58. 

[Summer Duck. Aix sponsa (Linn.) 
One killed on the Trent near Drake- 
low a few years previous to 1863 (E. Brown, 
Fauna of Burton, p. 228). Probably an 
escaped bird.] 

138. Garganey. Querquedula circia (Linn.) 

Sir O. Mosley and Mr. E. Brown both 
state that this duck has occasionally but very 
rarely been killed on the Trent (Nat. Hist, of 
Tutbury, pp. 56, 1 08). No recent occur- 
rences. 

139. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.) 

A winter visitor frequently occurring in 
large flocks during severe weather on Aqua- 
late, Trentham, Rudyard and other large 
lakes as well as on the Trent. 

140. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.) 

A winter visitant, not uncommon on the 
Trent in hard winters such as 1890-1. 



141. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach) 
By means of careful preservation this duck 



153 



20 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



has now become resident and has nested regu- 
larly since 1880 at Weston Park on the 
borders of Stafford and Shropshire. About 
twenty pairs were breeding here in 1900 
(H. E. Forrest, Zool. 1900, p. 506). It also 
breeds at Patshull and is occasionally met 
with in other parts of the county, at Cheadle 
in 1886 and not infrequently on the Trent, 
Willoughbridge in 1892, Aston 1879 (Re- 
ports North Staffs Field CM, 1894, p. 58). 

142. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.) 
A winter visitant not uncommon on the 
Trent during the frost of 1890-1. Lord 
Lewisham observed several near Wolver- 
hampton in November 1887 (Reports North 
Staffs Field Club, 1 



143. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.) 
An occasional winter visitant. Frequently 

seen near Rolleston, and a female killed on 
22 November 1847 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
p. 56), one near Burton in 1881 (E. A. 
Brown), one near Cheadle in the winter of 
1888-9, two at Madeley in 1893, and one at 
Great Gnosall, 6 January 1901 (Report North 
Staffs Field Club}. 

[Long-tailed Duck. Harelda glacialis 
(Linn.) 

Included in the birds of Staffordshire, but 
the specimen referred to was killed at Twy- 
ford in Derbyshire (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
pp. 56, 109).] 

144. Common Scoter. CEdemia nigra (Linn.) 
A marine species which has frequently 

visited the Rolleston district. One remained 
on the pools at Rolleston in January and 
February 1854 (Nat. Hist, of 'Tut bury ', p. 56). 

145. Velvet Scoter. CEdemia fusca (Linn.) 
Dickenson in 1798 mentions one shot at 

Batchacre, and Garner (p. 287) gives also 
Aqualate and Burton-on-Trent, 1841, as 
localities for this species. 

146. Goosander. Mergus merganser, Linn. 
Locally, Sowgouder (Dickenson), Green- 

headed Goosander (Garner), obs. 
An occasional winter visitant. Dickenson 
in 1798 records it from Aqualate; Sir O. 
Mosley mentions two, a male shot on the 
Dove and female killed at Burton in January 
1854 (Nat. Hist. of Tutbury, p. 56). A female 
was shot at Swythamley in 1880 and another 
at Leigh on 1 1 January 1901 ; the latter was 
accompanied by a second bird (Report North 
Sta/s Field Club, 1901). Mr. R. H. Read 
has observed this bird at Sidway near Wil- 
loughbridge several times (Report North Staffs 



Field Club, 1894, p. 58). Three of these 
birds, a male and two females, were shot on the 
Sow at Shugborough a few years ago out of 
a flock and are now in Lord Lichfield's collec- 
tion (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

147. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus ser- 

rator, Linn. 

Has occasionally been shot in the Trent 
valley and is given in Garner's list, but with- 
out particulars (p. 288). One seen at Sid- 
way near Willoughbridge in the winter of 
1880 by Mr. R. H. Read (Report North Staffs 
Field Club, 1894, p. 58). 

148. Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn. 
Locally, Whiteheaded Goosander (Garner), 

obs. 

Sir O. Mosley records two killed at 
Sudbury on the Dove ' some years ago,' and 
a male and female shot at Fradley in 1855 
(Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 56). Mr. E. A. 
Brown also speaks of several records from 
near Burton. 

149. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba 

palumbus, Linn. 

Resident and very generally distributed. 
In winter its numbers are increased by 
migratory flocks which feed upon acorns in 
woods during severe weather. 

150. Stock Dove. Columba anas, Linn. 
Not so common as the last species and 

more local. Nests in hollow trees or thick 
ivy and in winter associates with wood- 
pigeons. 

151. Turtle-Dove. Turtur communis, Selby. 
A summer migrant which has extended its 

range of late years and is common in the 
middle and south of the county but rare in 
the north. First observed breeding at Chea- 
dle in 1887 and now nests there regularly, 
also at Oakamoor in 1901. 

152. Pallas's Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus 

(Pallas) 

The two great immigrations of this central 
Asian species took place in 1863 and 1888. 
In the first-named year the two first British 
examples were shot in Northumberland on 
2 1 May, and on the following day three more 
were killed out of a flock of about twenty near 
Eccleshall in Staffordshire by a man who 
was returning home at dusk when the birds 
flew over his head. In 1888 a female was 
shot at Rough Hill, Wolverhampton, on 23 
May, and in September a male at Ipstones, a 
moorland village five miles north of Cheadle 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 1 1 3). 



154 



BIRDS 



153. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Linn. 
Still breeds annually in the moorland 

districts near Cheadle and Leek, on the 
Weaver Hills, on Cannock Chase, in the 
Bishops' Wood near Eccleshall and at 
Chartley. 

154. Red Grouse. Lagopus scoticus (Latham) 
Locally, Garcock or Red Game (Plot), (obs) 

Resident and plentiful on the moors in the 
north of the county and also on Cannock 
Chase. In severe winters they have been 
seen at Rolleston (1859), Burton-'on-Trent 
(1860-1) and Cheadle (1885-6). In the 
Swythamley collection is a slate coloured 
variety shot in 1862 (Birds of Staffordshire, 
P . 1 1 8). 

155. Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus (Linn.) 
Abundant where preserved. Owing to 

crossing and interchange of eggs varieties of 
plumage are very common, and in some 
districts it is quite the exception to meet with 
the normal plumage of the old English bird. 

156. Partridge. Perd'ix cinerea, Latham. 
Not so common as formerly when there 

was more arable land. In September 1900, 
five specimens of a dark chestnut or ery- 
thristic variety were shot at Pyrehill near 
Stone, which correspond with the Perdix 
montana of Brisson (Report North Staff's 
Field Club, 1901). Two others of the same 
variety were shot near Pyrehill in October 
1901. Mr. J. Whitaker has a very pale 
bird from Staffordshire, formerly in the col- 
lection of the late Mr. F. Bond. Four 
others of the rufous variety, but three of them 
much splashed with creamy white, were shot 
on Lord Lichfield's Staffordshire estates and 
are in the Shugborough collection. 

157. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa 

(Linn.) 

Garner mentions this species as introduced 
at Teddesley, etc. It is still rare, but has 
been recorded from Great Barr (1881), 
Woore (1894) and Stone (1900), while nests 
have been found at King's Bromley (1886) 
and Caverswall (1896) (Reports North Staffs 
Field Club). In 1901 this bird was reported by 
sportsmen from several districts in the county 
and seems to be on the increase. 

158. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre. 
An occasional summer migrant. Sir O. 

Mosley mentions one killed at Rolleston on 
15 December, 1856 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
p. 52). Near Burton it has occurred several 
times and nests have been recorded from 



King's Bromley in 1887 and 1892 and near 
Stoke sewage works in 1893. Two brace 
were shot at Gnosall in September 1885, and 
it has also occurred several times near Eccle- 
shall (Reports North Staff's Field Club, 1888, 
p. 21, and 1894, p. 41). 

[Virginian Colin. Ortyx virginianus 
(Linn.) 

An introduced species mentioned in Mr. 
Sainter's list.] 

159. Land-Rail or Corn-Crake. Crex pratemis, 

Bechstein. 

A common summer migrant, arriving in 
April and leaving in September, but a few 
young birds occasionally stay later. 

1 60. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta 

(Leach) 

Occurs not infrequently in the lower part 
of the Trent valley but is a rare visitor to 
other parts of the county (Nat. Hist, of Tut- 
bury, p. 55). The Garner MS. mentions 
Burslem and Stone ; others have been recorded 
from Fauld (1841), Handsworth (3 Nov. 
1890) and Morredge (1891). Lea Head near 
Maer, 1881 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 
1894, p. 52). 

[Little Crake. Porzana parva (Scopoli) 
In Sainter's addenda (p. 147) but without 
any details.] 

161. Water-Rail. Rallus aquaticus, Linn. 
Not uncommon, but seldom seen. Said to 

have nested at Swythamley and certainly does 
so in the Dove valley. Usually met with by 
sportsmen in hard winters. 

162. Moor-hen. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.) 
Common on all our rivers, lakes and pools, 

and semi-domesticated, feeding on lawns at 
Trentham, Draycot-in-the-Moors Rectory, 
Milwich Hall and other places. 

163. Coot. Fulica atra, Linn. 

Frequent on large pools and meres but not 
so common as the moor-hen. 

164. Little Bustard. Otis tetrax, Linn. 
One specimen shot at Birchfield 'many 

years ago ' is now in the collection at Aston 
Hall. Another was killed by a keeper about 
1899 at Warslow and is now in the Calke 
Abbey collection. 

165. Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus (Linn.) 
A rare spring and autumn visitor on migra- 
tion. ' Its line of migration appears to be 



155 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



through Staffordshire by Cannock Chase and 
the hilly district in the south of the county ' 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 124). Ten were 
shot on Cannock Chase on 15 May 1875, 
two at Perry Barr in 1882, and one at Great 
Barr on 4 September 1887, and lastly one was 
shot by a keeper on the Weaver Hills in 
October 1895 (Report North Staffs Field 
Club, 1901). 

1 66. Ringed Plover. Mgialitis hiaticula 

(Linn.) 

Has occurred several times on the Trent 
but is a very rare visitor to other parts of the 
county. Recorded by Garner from the 
Churnet and Cheddleton and at Madeley 
(1889). 

167. Golden Plover. Charadrius pluvialis, 

Linn. 

Flocks occasionally visit us during the winter 
and early spring months. Garner records it 
from Uttoxeter and Stoke meadows (1843). 
Sir O. Mosley says considerable flocks are 
found occasionally in the meadows near Tut- 
bury after winter floods (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 
p. 52). Large numbers were seen at Draycot 
in 1884 ; one shot at Great Barr 2 January 
1885; recorded from Cheadle in 1886 ; flocks 
at Cauldon, Endon and Draycot in hard 
weather, 1890-1, and a flock of about forty 
at Cheadle in March 1892 (Reports North 
Staffs Field Club}. 

[Grey Plover. Squatarola helvetica (Linn.) 
Included in Garner's appendix (1860) 

without details. In his MS. notes Mr. Hilton 

is given as his informant.] 

1 68. Lapwing. Vanellui vulgaris, Bechstein. 
A common resident but partially migrant 

in severe weather. Diminishing in numbers 
owing to the persistent taking of the eggs for 
sale, thus depriving the farmer of one of his 
most useful friends. 

169. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpret (Linn.) 
Mr. E. A. Brown states that this bird has 

occurred near Burton-on-Trent (Birds of 
Staffordshire, p. 125). 

170. Oyster-Catcher. Heematopus ostralegus, 

Linn. 

A rare visitor. Garner and Sir O. Mosley 
say that it has occurred on the Trent, and 
the latter writer states that one was shot on 
the Dove on 10 September 1841 (Nat. Hist, 
of Tut bury, p. 53). In November 1883, two 
were seen at Wootton-under- Weaver, one of 
which was killed by a keeper and is now in 
his possession. One was picked up exhausted 



at Seabridge near Newcastle on 15 October 
1902 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

171. Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. 
Professor Newton (Dictionary of Birds, p. 

24) says : ' Plot mentions it so as to lead one 
to suppose that in his time (1686) it bred in 
Staffordshire. The actual words are, " Of 
whole footed waterfowl the Avocetta Italorum 
or Recurvirostra, is also found here as well as 
in the Eastern parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, 
there having been of them killed at the black 
lakes near Aqualet, eight of them being seen 
first in the morning and but six at night when 
they shot.' " It will be seen from the latter 
part of the passage that the evidence is not 
very conclusive. One was shot on the Dove 
near Scropton ' recently ' (Garner). 

172. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius 

(Linn.) 

A rare visitor. Garner and the authors of 
the Natural History of Tutbury record it from 
near Uttoxeter and other localities in the 
district, and Mr. E. A. Brown says it has 
occurred near Burton. Others have been 
killed at Harborne (Oct. 1885), Handsworth 
(16 Oct. 1891) and Rowley Regis (20 Oct. 
1891) (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 126). An 
adult female was shot on 4 October 1893, at 
Willenhall (Zoo/. 1894, p. 112). 

173. Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus 

hyperboreus (Linn.) 

One specimen shot at Handsworth on 24 
August 1887 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 126). 

174. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. 

A regular winter visitant, a fair number 
remaining to breed in the larger woods. In 
Garner's time it was noted as having bred at 
Betley, and more recently it has been recorded 
as breeding from Whitmore, Beaudesert, 
Needwood Forest, Marchington, Bishops' 
Wood near Cheadle, Ellastone, Stanton and 
Ham. Varieties of a light drab colour from 
Swythamley (1847) and cream colour (1871) 
are on record (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 127). 

175. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. 

Gmelin) 

Garner marks this species as ' occasional,' 
and Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 106) 
says two or three specimens have occurred in 
the district. 

176. Common Snipe. Gallinago coelestis (Fren- 

zel) 

Fairly common, nesting regularly in the 
north of the county. Sometimes met with in 
turnip fields in autumn. 



156 



BIRDS 



177. Jack Snipe. Galllnago gallinula (Linn.) 
A winter visitor. The earliest record of 

its arrival is 28 August 1884, when one was 
shot near Cheadle (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 
127). A curious variety is recorded from 
Endon with dirty white streaks in place of buff 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1901). 

178. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. 
Occasionally met with in autumn and 

winter in the Trent valley and probably on 
migration in other parts. One at Madeley on 
28 March 1892 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 128). 

[Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. 
Mentioned in Garner's list on Dr. Hewgill's 
authority without details.] 

[Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, Linn. 

The birds of this species recorded in the 
Birds of Staffordshire (p. 128) were not killed 
at Burton-on-Trent but on the Burton sewage 
farm which is near Egginton in Derbyshire.] 

179. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. 

Three shot near Burton on 5 October 1891 
(Birds of Derbyshire, p. 209), where they have 
occasionally been killed in former years. One 
was killed at Tittensor in December 1892 
(Birds of Staffordshire, p. 128; Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1893, p. 55). 

1 80. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.) 
Three shot at Walton-on-Trent about 

1878 (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 210). 

1 8 1. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn.) 

Two birds in immature plumage were shot 
near Burton in the summer of 1857 (Fauna of 
Burton, p. 1 06). 

182. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus 

(Linn.) 

A summer migrant breeding regularly on 
streams in the north of the county. In 1891 
a pair hatched off their young in the vicarage 
garden at Madeley (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 
129). 

183. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus 

(Linn.) 

An occasional visitor. Garner records one 
from Betley, and Mosley and Brown note it 
as frequently occurring. Several seen at 
Alton in \ 884-5 and one killed. The Rolles- 
ton Hall museum contains a specimen shot in 
January 1894, on the estate. 

184. Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.) 
Locally, Whistling Plover. 

Formerly only an occasional visitor, but 



within the last thirty years has established 
itself as a breeding species in the valleys of 
the Trent and lower Dove. A good many 
pairs now nest annually in the meadows by 
these rivers (Report North Staffs Field Club, 



185. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus 

(Linn.) 

Mr. Edwin Brown possessed one specimen 
which was killed on the Dove (Fauna of 
Burton, p. 1 06). 

1 86. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. 
Gmelin) 

Recorded in the Birds of Staffordshire (p. 
130) as having been sometimes seen near 
Burton-on-Trent and shot near Brereton 
Lodge. 

187. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica 

(Linn.) 

A rare straggler. Two were shot near 
Burton ' many years ago ' and identified by 
Mr. C. Hanson (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 215). 
Sir O. Mosley and Mr. Brown state that it 
has occurred several times on the Trent. 

[Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (J. F. 
Gmelin) 

The entry with regard to this species in the 
Birds of Staffordshire is erroneous ; no mention 
of it occurs in the Natural History of Tutbury.~\ 

1 88. Common Curlew. Numenius arquata 

(Linn.) 

A few pairs of these birds still breed on the 
moors in the north of the county and on 
Cannock Chase and Chartley under careful 
preservation. Several times recorded in other 
parts of the county (Report North Staffs Field 
Club}. 

189. Whimbrel. Numenius ph&opus (Linn.) 
A rare visitor. F. B. Whitlock says that 

a few pass up and down the Trent valley on 
migration to and from the north. Two 
whimbrels which were accompanied by a 
curlew at the time were shot at Swinscoe on 
30 April, 1899 (Report North Staffs Field 
Club, 1901 ; see also 1894, pp. 53-4). 

190. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra 

(Linn.) 

A rare straggler during the summer months. 
One shot near Patshull House, Wolverhamp- 
ton, about 1876 and another seen for some 
days in August 1886, on the same piece of 
water (Field). One killed at Madeley Pool 
in 1889 (Reports North Staffs Field Club) 
and another shot at Rolleston 10 May 1894 
is now in the museum. 



157 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



191. Roseate Tern. Sterna dougalli, Mon- 

tagu. 

A rare straggler noted in Garner's, Sir O. 
Mosley's and E. Brown's lists but without 
details. No recent occurrences. 

192. Common Tern. Sterna jtuviatilis, Nau- 

mann. 

An occasional visitor especially to the Trent 
and Dove valleys. One shot at Swythamley 
in 1862, and a flock visited Madeley Pool in 
1889 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 132). On the 
Trent it is not uncommon, and large numbers 
were seen in May 1842 (Nat. Hist, of Tut- 

v- 57)- 



193. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Nau- 

mann. 

Another occasional visitor. ' Great num- 
bers of this species visited North and South 
Staffordshire in May, 1842' (R. Garner, p. 
289). One taken near Hanley in September 
1888 (Report North Sta/s Field Club, 1889, 
p. 24). 

194. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. 
One was killed at Drakelow on 1 7 Sep- 

tember, 1855 (Nat. Hist. ofTutbury, p. 57), 
and another shot on the Trent near Burton 
(Birds of Derbyshire, p. 220), and one at Tean 
near Cheadle 5 August 1895, and one at Pipe 
Gate in August 1902 (Reports North Staffs 
Field Club}. 

195. Sooty Tern. Sterna fu/igmosa, J. F. 

Gmelin. 

A single specimen of this tropical species 
was killed near Tutbury in 1852 and is now 
in the collection at Drakelow near Burton- 
on-Trent. This was the first record of the 
appearance of this bird in England, though 
two other instances have since been noted 
(Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 57, 102). 

196. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. 
Has been shot on the Trent in several 

places near Burton (McAldowie, p. 138). 

197. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, 

Linn. 

The most common of all the gulls seen in 
the county, and this species once bred regularly 
at Norbury near Eccleshall. Dr. McAldowie 
says : ' The writings of Willoughby, Ray and 
Plot have made this gullery the most famous 
in the history of ornithology. No work on 
Staffordshire would be complete without a 
record of the writings relating to this interest- 
ing breeding place.' Ray visited the colony 
in 1662 and says : ' We diverted out of our 
way to see the Puits which we judged to be 



a sort of Lari in a meer at Norbury, belong- 
ing to Colonel Skrimshaw. They build 
together in an islet in the middle of a pool 
(Itin. pp. 216-7). 

Willoughby 's description states : ' Of this 
kind also are those birds which yearly build 
and breed at Norbury in Staffordshire in an 
island in the middle of a great pool. . . . 
When the young are almost come to their 
full growth those entrusted by the Lord of the 
soil drive them from off the island through the 
pool into nets set on the banks to take them. 
When they have taken them they feed them 
with the entrails of beasts, and when they are 
fat sell them for four pence or five pence 
apiece. They take yearly about a thousand 
two hundred young ones.' 

Plot says : ' But the strangest whole footed 
water fowl that frequents this county is the 
Larus cinereus Ornithologi, the Larus Anereus 
tertius Aldrovandi and the Cepphus of Gesner 
and Turner : in some counties called the 
black cap, in others the sea or mire-crow, here 
the pewit, which being of the migratory kind 
come annually to certain pools in the estate of 
the right worshipful Sir Charles Skrymsher, 
Knight, to build and breed.' He then pro- 
ceeds to describe in detail the arrival and 
nesting of these birds as well as the method of 
capture and disposal of the young, which 
realized an annual profit of from 50 to j6o 
at the rate of 5;. per dozen, ' they being 
accounted a good dish at the most plentiful 
tables.' 

Here they continued to breed for nearly a 
hundred years after occasionally shifting their 
ground until 1794, since which time scarcely 
a bird has bred in the county. 

198. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. 
An occasional visitor, generally in small 

flocks after stormy weather on migration. Sir 
O. Mosley records the visit of a flock of over 
100 to the pool at Rolleston (Nat. Hist, of 
Tutbury, p. 57). Two were shot at Whiston 
near Cheadle in September 1 888 (Report 
North Sta/s Field Club, 1890, p. 22). 

199. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, J. F. 

Gmelin. 

Parties are occasionally seen passing over 
the county, generally going north in early 
spring. They have been observed in the 
Trent and Dove valleys and also at Hanford^ 
while one was shot at Swythamley in 1875. 

200. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus, 

Linn. 

A rather infrequent visitor to the Trent 
valley, usually in immature plumage. An old 



I 5 8 



BIRDS 



bird was shot at Handsworth on 29 April 
1886, and an immature one at Cheadle in 
July 1899. 

20 1. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus mari- 

nus, Linn. 

An occasional visitor to the Trent valley. 
One recorded from near Stafford in 1899 
(Report North Staffs Field Club, 1900). 

202. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.) 
An occasional visitor, common in the Trent 

valley. Several were observed near Tunstall 
in January 1891 ; also recorded from Cheadle 
and Uttoxeter (Reports North Staffs Field Club, 
1892, p. 57, and 1896, p. 48), and from 
Madeley in 1889. 

203. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius poma- 

torhinus (Temminck) 

There is a rather doubtful reference to this 
species in the Natural History of Tutbury (p. 
58), but Mr. R. W. Chase has recorded one 
as shot at Oldbury in October 1879 (Birds of 
Staffordshire, p. 138). 

204. Arctic or Richardson's Skua. Stercora- 

rius crepidatus (J. F. Gmelin) 
Two immature birds killed near Rolleston 
(Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 58, III). 

205. Long-tailed or Buffon's Skua. Stercora- 

rius parasiticus (Linn.) 
Under the name of Arctic skua Sir O. 
Mosley doubtfully refers to this species as 
killed near Burton, but Mr. Brown makes no 
mention of it in his list. There is however 
in the Derby Museum a Staffordshire speci- 
men which formed part of the Blurton col- 
lection when dispersed in 1883, and an 
immature bird was shot on the Lichfield race- 
course on 7 October 1874 (Birds of Stafford- 
shire, p. 139). 

206. Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.) 

One recorded by Garner near Stoke-on- 
Trent in 1841 during a severe frost (p. 289). 

207. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.) 
Several were shot on the Trent after a 

storm about 1843 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 
57, 109). One was picked up exhausted 
between Walsall and Birmingham about 
1870 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 144), and 
another in a similar state at Wheaton Aston 
near Stafford in January 1901 (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1902). 

208. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus glaci- 

alis, Linn. 
This fine bird has occurred several times in 



winter within the county at Aqualate (Garner) 
on the Tame near Comberford, the Dove 
near Uttoxeter and several times on the 
Trent (Sir O. Mosley) and near Macclesfield 
(Sainter). More recent occurrences are at 
Rolleston, a female shot on 29 November, 
1869, and another about the same time at 
Wombourne near Wolverhampton, while a 
third was killed at Tipton on 8 January 
1877. 

209. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septen- 

trionalis, Linn. 

An occasional straggler. Garner records 
it from Rocester and near Uttoxeter. One 
was shot at Swythamley in 1880 and in 1871 
one was taken alive near Tean (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1886). An immature bird 
was also killed on the Dove below Okeover 
in the winter of 1895. 

210. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus 

(Linn.) 

Dr. McAldowie says truly : ' This fine 
bird is the greatest ornithological ornament of 
our county.' It breeds in some numbers at 
Aqualate and usually at Copmere and occa- 
sionally on other pieces of water such as 
Trentham Lake, Beech Pool, Knypersley 
(1892), etc. (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 142). 

211. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigena 

(Boddaert) 

Included in Garner's list without any 
particulars. One shot at Burton, April 1849 
(J. C. Garth, Zoologist, 1850, p. 2706). One 
obtained at Burton, 20 November 1 898 (Report 
North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 

212. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus 

(Linn.) 

This species is figured by Plot in his 
History of Staffordshire (tab. 22, fig. i), and a 
description is given of a specimen killed at 
Comberford which had apparently assumed 
the full breeding plumage. Garner includes 
it in his list, and in December 1893, one was 
obtained at Brewood reservoir (Report North 
Staffs Field Club, 1901). 

[Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigricollis (C. L. 

Brehm) 
Included in Garner's list without data.] 

213. Little Grebe or Dabchick. Podicipes 

fluviatilh (Tunstall) 
Locally, Dipper, Doucker (obs.) 
A resident on our larger rivers and pools, 
and a summer visitor to small sheets of water, 
but not so plentiful as in former years. 



159 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



214. Storm-Petrel. Procellaria pelagica, Linn. 
Occasionally storm-driven into the county. 

One was shot about 1885 at Buckmere by 
Dr. Baddcley, and two have been caught, one 
near Handsworth in October 1888, and the 
other between Smethwick and Birmingham on 
4 November 1863 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 

139)- 

215. Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceano- 

droma leucorrhoa (Vieillot). 
Another occasional straggler. Sir O. 
Mosley states that both this and the preceding 
species have been several times picked up 
exhausted on the banks of the Trent (Nat. 
Hist, of Tutbury, p. 58). One was found 
dead at Barton-under-Needwood in March 
1890, and another in a similar state was 
picked up in the grounds of Wootton Lodge 



on II November 1899 (not 1900 as there 
stated) (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1901), 
and Mr. Fitzherbert Brockholes reports 
another picked up in a turnip field at Swyn- 
nerton on 18 November, 1901. 

2 1 6. Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anglorum 

(Temminck) 

Has occurred several times in the county. 
One recorded from Weston in 1882, another 
rrom Kingsley on 9 September 1887, a third 
near Stone in September 1891, and a fourth 
at Lower Gornal near Dudley, 9 September 
1891 (Report North Staffs Field Club and 
Birds of Staffordshire, p. 140). On 3 Sep- 
tember 1892, one was caught in an exhausted 
state in Burton, and another is said to have 
been taken previously in the same district 
(Birds of Derbyshire, p. 232). 



ADDENDA 

The following records have been received since the above list was 
written : 



12. Nightingale. Daulias luscinia (Linn.) 

A recent occurrence of this species in the 
county is noted in Rep. N. Staffs. Field Club 
for 1905. 

I&A. Dartford Warbler, Sylvia undata 
(Boddaert) 

This species can now be included in the 
county list, as it is proved to have nested on 
Cannock Chase in 1870 (Zool. November, 
1903, p. 423, and Rep. N. Staffs. Field Club, 
1906, p. 46). 

57. Tree Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.) 

In 1905 and subsequent years this species 
has greatly increased in numbers, and nests 
regularly at Cheadle in boxes put up for tits. 

84. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. 

Mr. Walter Marchant observed one of 
these birds near Weston under Lizard on 
2O April, 1907. 

95A. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli) 

A bird of this species was shot in October, 
1906, in the county near Newport, Shrops. 
Probably it had strayed from one of the counties 
where many of this species have been turned 
out in recent years, and nest regularly. 



98. Hen Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.) 

One was shot at Enville in December, 
1879, and is now in Lord Bradford's collec- 
tion (Rep. N. Staffs. Field Club, 1905). 

1 1 . Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetus (Linn.) 

Mr. Francis Monckton, of Stretton Hall, 
states that a pair of eagles visited Somerford, 
near Brewood, in 1856 or 1857, and one was 
shot. He believes it to have been of this 
species. 

O2. White-tailed Eagle. Haliae'tus albicilla 

(Linn.) 

A young female was trapped on Cannock 
Chase on 4 December, 1905, and is now in 
Lord Lichfield's collection at Shugborough. 

ii 6. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn. 

A new heronry, with about nine nests, was 
found in a large wood near Cheadle in 1904, 
and a few pairs have nested every year since 
(Rep. N. Staffs. Field Club, 1904). 

126. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons 
(Scopoli) 

One shot near Stafford, and another at 
Stretton, near Stafford (Rep. N. Staffs. Field 
Club, 1906, p. 47). 



1 60 



BIRDS 

Cygnus muitcus, Bech- 



132. 



130. Whooper Swan 

stein 

Nine of these swans visited Gailey Pools on 
13 March, 1891 (Rep. N. Stafs. Field Club, 
1906, p. 50). 

J3OA. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bnv icki, Yarrell 
The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain saw a herd of 
forty flying down the Dove Valley near 
Mayfield on 27 February, 1904 (Rep. N. 
Stafs. Field Club, 1904). 

Common Sheld Duck. Tadorna cornuta 

(S. G. Gmelin) 
A flock of these birds was observed on 
Gailey Pools on 30 December, 1904, and one 
was shot at Cheadle 2 January, 1906 (Rep. 
N. Stafs. Field Club, 1906, pp. 48, 52). 

135. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.) 
Visits Gailey Pools most years. 

140. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.) 
Breeds at Gailey Pools. 

142. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.) 
This duck also visits Gailey Pools in winter. 

I43A. Long-tailed Duck. Hare/da glacialis 
(Linn.) 

One was shot at Weston by Lord Newport 
on 6 November, 1871 (Rep. N. Staffs. Field 
Club, 1905). 

144. Common Scoter. Oedemia nigra (Linn.) 

Small flocks were seen on Gailey Pools in 
August, 1887, October, 1890, and Novem- 
ber, 1891-2 (Rep. N. Stafs. Field CM, 
1906, pp. 42-52). 

148. Smew. Afergus albellus, Linn. 

An annual winter visitor to Gailey Pools. 

1 60. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta 
(Leach) 

One was shot at Gnosall in August, 1904, 
and being a young bird may have been bred 
in the county. 

1 66. Ringed Plover. Aegialitis hiaticula 
(Linn.) 

Two at Gailey Pools 24 September, 1896 
(Rep. N. Staffs. Field Club, 1906, p. 51). 

172. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius 
(Linn.) 

One shot near Anslow in November, 1904 
(Rep. N. Stafs. Field Club, 1905). 



Gallinago major (J. F. 



175. Great Snipe. 
Gmelin) 

One was shot at Stafford some years ago, 
and is now in the collection of Mr. Conway 
Morgan, of Stafford. 

i82A. Wood Sandpiper. Tetanus glareola 
(J. F. Gmelin) 

One was shot at Barr, near Birmingham, 
on 26 August, 1858 (Zool. 1858, p. 6266). 

1 86. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. 
Gmelin) 

Three were seen at Gailey Pools on 
10 August, 1896 (Rep. N. Stafs. Field CM, 
1906, p. 51). 

190. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.) 

Forty visited Gailey Pools in August, 1887, 
and stayed several days (Rep. N. Stafs. Field 
Club, 1906, p. 49). 

192. Common Tern. Sterna JJuviatilis, Nau- 
mann 

Occurred at Gailey Pools in 1896. 

206. Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.) 

One was shot on Gailey Pools 20 April, 
1889, and another at the same place in June, 
1901 (Rep. N. Staffs. Field Club, 1906, pp. 
49> 5 2 )- 

208. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus glacialis, 
Linn. 

One shot at Gailey Pools 4 January, 1898, 
and another seen there 4 January, 1899 (Rep. 
N. Stafs. Field Club, p. 51). 

2o8A. Black-throated Diver. Colymbus arcticus, 
Linn. 

One was shot at Gailey Pools, near Penk- 
ridge, II December, 1896 (Rep. N. Stafs. 
Field Club, 1906, p. 51). 

2 1 6. Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anglorum 

(Temminck) 

In June, 1904, one at Gailey Pools, and one 
at King's Bromley, 7 September, 1905 (Rep. 
N. Stafs. Field Club, 1906, p. 47, 50). 

217. Fulmar. Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.) 

A specimen of this bird was captured in a 
field at Perry Barr in January, 1863 (Zool. 
1863, p. 8448). 



161 



21 



MAMMALS 

Thirty-six species of mammals may be included in the fauna of 
Staffordshire as still, or very recently, living more or less in a state of 
nature within the borders of the county. 

Of the Cheiroptera or bats 7 species are recorded, the rarest being 
Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) of which one instance only is known. 
The whiskered bat (M. mystacinus) has of late years proved to be more 
abundant in the county than was formerly thought to be the case, especi- 
ally in the north. In other districts it may possibly be confounded some- 
times with a black variety of the pipistrelle. 

All five British species of Insectivora are represented in Staffordshire, 
the hedgehog, mole and common shrew abundantly, whilst the pigmy 
shrew and water shrew are more local in their distribution. 

The genuine wild cat and the wolf have, of course, long been ex- 
tinct in the county, although the latter continued abundant even in the 
reign of Edward II. The fox, the weasel and the stoat still abound, but 
the pine marten became extinct about fifty years ago, and the last pole- 
cat seems to have been killed about 1884. The badger, on the other 
hand, is still far from rare in the wilder parts of Staffordshire, and, 
thanks to the humane preservation that is afforded it at the hands of a 
small but, we are glad to note, increasing number of landowners, may 
probably long remain so. The outlook for the otter is not so bright, 
but it still occurs in most of our rivers, particularly in the Dove, where 
as I learn from the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, protection is afforded it ' by 
a few riparian owners, particularly Capt. H. E. Clowes of Norbury, and 
Mr. A. C. Duncombe of Culwich.' On the upper waters of the Dove 
otters are shot down relentlessly, and Mr. Jourdain considers that 'probably 
most of the otters that are seen on the Dove and Trent are wanderers 
from the protected length.' 

The rodents are well represented perhaps too much so, the brown 
rat especially being, sixty years ago, quite a scourge in the valley of 
the Trent. This happily is no longer the case, but it is still far too 
abundant and in some districts is almost as amphibious as the water 
vole. The black rat appears to have been early exterminated, as John 
Horatio Dickenson in his ' Sketch of the Zoology of Staffordshire ' in 
Shaw's History says that it had become extinct in his time (1798). The 
mountain or ' Scotch ' hare has been recently introduced into the moor- 
land districts of the county, but Staffordshire has long been noted for 
the large size and weight of its indigenous ' brown ' hares. 

162 



MAMMALS 

Turning now to the ungulates or hoofed mammals, passing reference 
must be made to the famous herd of wild white cattle at Chartley. 
These grand animals which numbered 29 head in March, 1901, by 
April, 1903, were reduced to less than a dozen through tuberculous 
disease. A fine young bull and three heifers have been separated from 
the remainder of the herd in the hopes that they may thus escape con- 
tagion. Should they unfortunately fail to do so there is every probability 
that this historic herd may speedily become extinct. 

Of our three species of deer the red deer is now entirely a park 
animal, although formerly common enough in the county, and even so 
late as 1853 one was at large in Swythamly Woods, and in 1870 one 
was killed there (vide North Staffs Field Club Report, 1894, p. 39). The 
wild fallow deer which in Dickenson's time, 1798, were estimated at 
more than 3,000, are now represented by a few scattered individuals 
wandering amongst the oaks and hollies in the Needwood Forest estates 
and on Cannock Chase ; but many are kept in semi-domestication in the 
deer parks of the county. 

The beautiful little roe deer owes its inclusion in our list to the 
discovery of its cast antlers in Needwood Forest by Sir Oswald Mosley, 
where it undoubtedly lived when the wild boar whetted his curved tusks 
on the trunks of the oaks, and possibly long after he was exterminated. 

CHEIROPTERA 






1 . Lesser Horseshoe Bat. Rhinolophus hippij- 

sideruS) Bechstein. 

This species is included by the late Mr. 
Edwin Brown in his Fauna of Burton-on- 
Trent, although his specimens came from 
Derbyshire, where it is not uncommon. The 
lesser horseshoe bat does not seem to have 
occurred in Staffordshire of late years, but I 
am still in hopes that further research in the 
limestone district of north Stafford will result 
in its discovery as a resident in the county. 

2. Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus, Linn. 
Generally distributed throughout the county. 

It may be seen on the wing from March till 
November, and is extremely active in turning 
and wheeling in the air, as well as in rising 
from the ground. 

3. Great Bat. Piphtrella noctu/a, Schreber. 

Bell Scotophilus noctula. 
White Vespertirio altivolans. 

This grand bat justly named by Mr. 
Trevor-Battye in honour of the great natura- 
list who first described it as a British species, 
White's bat is generally distributed in 
Staffordshire, and may be observed in flight 
from May till August or early September. It 
is often seen abroad in the day and then flies 
very high in the air, but I have frequently 



seen it skimming the meadows near Burton- 
on-Trent late in the evening at an elevation 
of 6 feet or less. At Trentham Park Mr. 
Collins obtained thirty specimens from a 
hollow ash in which they were hibernating. 1 
These were exhibited alive at the Annual 
Meeting of the North Staffordshire Field Club 
held at Stoke on Thursday, 19 March, 1891, 
Mr. Collins subsequently took ten specimens 
out of a hollow Scotch fir in the same locality. 3 
In captivity, for a bat, this species evinces 
considerable intelligence. One that I kept 
for several weeks became remarkably tame, 
readily recognized my voice and distinguished 
it from that of any other person. When 
called it hurried towards me with a peculiar 
movement of its long fore-arms as if it were 
mounted on stilts, and having reached me 
climbed about my person with every evidence 
of satisfaction. 

4. Pipistrelle. Pipistre/lus plpistret/us, Schreber. 

Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. 
Common and generally distributed. Owing 
to its partiality for house-roofs and churches 
this is our most familiar bat. Its winter sleep 

1 North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club Report, 
1891, p. 65. 

2 Ibid. 1894, p. 38. 



I6 3 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



is very slight and when the weather becomes 
mild this bat awakes and ventures out to prey 
upon the few insects which are then abroad. 
In different years I have seen it in flight 
during each month from January to Decem- 
ber. Mr. John R. B. Masefield has recorded 
the receipt, in June 1893, of sixty-one pipis- 
trelles from one of the lodges in Trentham 
Park 1 a very large colony for this species. 



5. Natterer's Bat. Myotis nattereri, Leisler. 

Bell Vespertilio nattereri. 

Rare. One example only recorded. Of 
this specimen the late Mr. Edwin Brown 
wrote : ' Captured in the roof of Stapenhill 
House some years ago, and is now in the 
Burton Museum." This was in 1863, and 
Burton does not now possess a museum. It 
would be interesting to learn if this specimen 
is still in existence, but up to the present I 
have been unable to trace it. 

6. Daubenton's Bat. Myotis daubentoni, 

Leisler. 

Bell f^etptrtilit daubentonii. 
Not common. Has occurred near Uttoxeter 
(C. Oldham) and at Stafford (L. E. Adams). 
In June, 1899, I saw two bats playing over 
the water of the Trent at Drakelow Deeps, 
which from their manner of touchine the 

O 

water, doubtless when taking gnats from the 



surface, and their silence whilst on the wing, 
I imagine to have been of this species. On 
the following evening I saw the same or 
similar bats on the Derbyshire side of the 
river which here forms the boundary between 
the two counties, at the point where the 
Leicester line bridge crosses the Trent. It 
is probable that when more attention has been 
directed to the habits of our local bats, Dau- 
benton's bat will prove to be much less un- 
common than is at present supposed to be the 
case. 

7. Whiskered Bat. Myotis mystacinus, Leisler. 

Bell Vespertilio mystacinus. 
First recorded for the county by Garner in 
his Natural History of the County of Stafford 
(1844), and again by Sir Oswald Mosley in 
the Natural History of Tut bury (1863), appar- 
ently from the same specimen captured near 
Burton. This bat was for many years con- 
sidered to be one of our rarest species. Of 
late however many examples have been cap- 
tured especially in the north of the county, 
and in the Cheadle district Mr. Masefield 
considers it the commonest bat. This is 
however by no means the case near Burton 
and south of the Trent, where, according to 
my experience, a small almost black variety 
of the pipistrelle is by far the most abundant 
species. 



INSECTIVORA 



8. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europeeus, Linn. 
Generally distributed and fairly common, 

though much persecuted by gamekeepers 
because of its depredations on the eggs and 
young of game birds. Rewards were formerly 
given in Staffordshire for killing hedgehogs. 

9. Mole. Talpa europaea, Linn. 
Common. 

10. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn. 
Locally, Nurserow. 

Common everywhere in fields and hedge- 
rows. 

11. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Linn. 

Bell Sorex pygmteus. 

Far less common than the preceding. The 
first local specimen was found dead near Con- 
sail on 17 September, 1885, by Mr. E. W. 
H. Blagg, and since then the remains of others 
have been found by Mr. L. E. Adams in the 
pellets disgorged by owls at Penkridge and 



near Stafford (reported by Mr. Masefield in 
N.S.F.C. Reports, 1886, 1897). 

12. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas. 
Bell Crossopus fodiens. 

Widely distributed in the county and not 
uncommon. I have myself observed it at 
various places in the Trent and in the Dove, 
and on one occasion an individual was cap- 
tured in the canal at Branston by a terrier 
belonging to me and killed before there was 
time for interference. This animal some- 
times wanders far from any water. Thus on 
1 8 August, 1899, 1 found an adult male speci- 
men lying dead on the roadside between 
Rolleston and Horninglow, and on the same 
road the dead bodies of four common shrews. 

The oared shrew, which was formerly con- 
sidered to be a distinct species, but is now 
known to be merely an aged form of the 
water shrew, is stated by Garner to have been 
taken several times at Great Fenton and other 
places in the county. 



1 North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club Report, 1894, p. 38. 

164 



MAMMALS 



CARNIVORA 



13. Fox. Cants vulpes, Linn. 

Bell Vulpes vulgaris. 
Common and generally distributed. 

14. Pine Marten. Mustela martes, Linn. 

Bell Marlei abietum. 

Extinct within the memory of men still 
living, and formerly fairly distributed in suit- 
able localities, especially in the northern half 
of the county. Garner says that it has 
occurred in v/oods in Dilhorne, Consall, in 
Needwood Forest and in the limestone dis- 
trict. It seems probable that the headquarters 
of this species in Staffordshire were the wood- 
lands of the north and east, and that it was 
never so abundant south of the Trent. Dick- 
enson writing about 1798, although well 
acquainted with the badger, otter and polecat, 
which he calls fitchet, does not mention the 
pine marten, so that it seems possible that 
even in his day the ' sweet mart ' was very 
rare even if at all known in the centre of the 
county with which portion he was evidently 
most familiar. 



15. 



Polecat or 
Linn. 



Fitchet. Putorius 



Bell Mustela putorius. 

Nearly if not quite extinct although for- 
merly occurring in most parts of the county. 
Dickenson knew it well under the name of 
* fitchet,' by which it is still commonly referred 
to in Staffordshire, and records that he has 
known ' a fitchet when confined and unable 
to escape, attack a large greyhound.' In 
1863 Sir Oswald Mosley wrote that it was 
still found near Tutbury, ' although becoming 
more scarce every year,' and at the same time 
Mr. Edwin Brown reported it as ' occasionally 
haunting detached out-houses ' near Burton- 
on-Trent. It appears to have maintained a 
precarious footing in the west of the county 
until about 1884, when, as I am informed by 
Mr. James Yates, M.R.C.S., one was killed 
at Swinnerton. On asking Mr. Yates for 
further particulars, he very kindly wrote me 
as follows, under date 29 January, 1901 : 'I 
am sorry I am not able to give you a very 
satisfactory account of the polecat which was 
killed at Swinnerton about 1884. I was told 
of the fact by a gamekeeper who lived between 
Trentham and Swinnerton, but I had not the 
opportunity of seeing the animal myself. 
When I was a boy the " fitchet " was fairly 
common at Horsley a farm a few miles from 
Eccleshall I have frequently seen them 
caught in a rat-trap which was covered with 



fine moss and half-surrounded by a fence 
made of sticks. The bait was usually a 
hen's egg.' 

1 6. Stoat. Mustela erminea. Linn. 
Common. In the winter specimens in 

the white or ' ermine ' dress are sometimes 
obtained. 

17. Weasel. Putorius niva/is, Linn. 

Bell Mustela vulgaris. 

Common, and more frequently seen near 
farms and out-houses than the last named. 



Badger. 



Meles me/es, Linn. 
Bell Melcs taxus. 



Notwithstanding the persecution to which 
the badger has been so long subjected, this 
animal is still far more abundant in Stafford- 
shire than is usually supposed. Its chief 
haunts are in the high banks and wild park- 
lands of the Needwood Forest district, and in 
the north and west. The nocturnal habits 
of the badger doubtless tend to its preservation, 
but occasionally it ventures from its burrow 
long before sundown, and has several times 
been seen and captured in broad daylight. 
Where it has long been undisturbed its bur- 
rows are extremely extensive and might almost 
be described as cavernous. Very heavy bad- 
gers are sometimes captured. One, weighing 
34^ Ib. was taken alive in 1894 in the Burnt 
Woods near Ashley, and the event was re- 
ported at the time in the Field newspaper. 

It is to be hoped that landowners will do 
all they can to discourage the destruction of 
this very interesting mammal. 

19. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn. 

Bell Lutra vulgaris. 

Although much rarer than the badger in 
Staffordshire, instances of the otter being seen, 
and too often killed, in the county are recorded 
nearly every year. Sometimes cubs are killed 
showing that the otter still breeds within 
the county boundaries. It occurs chiefly in 
the Trent, in the Dove and in other smaller 
tributaries, and also enters Staffordshire from 
the Severn which crosses the south-western 
extremity of the county near Arley. Otters 
have on several occasions come down the 
Trent to Burton, and on 23 April, 1884, 
they were seen from Burton Bridge, and, as I 
learn from Mr. J. E. Nowers, one was shot 
about this time within the borough boundaries. 
I heard of another example being seen near 
the weir in November, 1899, and chased by 
two ardent, if amateur, sportsmen with a 



165 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



terrier and a dachshund I need hardly say 
unsuccessfully. 

According to Sir Oswald Mosley, otters 
were formerly hunted in his district but never 
with much success, and the sport has been 
discontinued for many years. 



In Plot's time the otter must have been 
common in Staffordshire, for at Ingestre the 
worthy doctor was regaled with a dish of 
' potted ' otter, ' so well ordered by the cook,' 
he remarked, ' that it required a very nice 
palate to distinguish it from venison.' 



RODENTIA 



20. Squirrel. Sciurus leucourus, Kerr. 

Bell Sciurus vulgaris. 

Generally distributed in plantations and 
woods. 



Muscardinus avellanarius, 



21. Dormouse. 

Linn. 

Bell Myoxus avellanarius. 
Not rare in the wooded portions of the 
county, but owing to its retiring habits seems 
to be much less common than is really the 
case. Mr. James Yates writes me that he 
has seen the dormouse amongst hazels at 
Oakamoor, and at Keele he knew of a farmer 
who had taken several from a nest. These 
dormice were examined by Mr. Yates as 
well as the nest originally built by a wren 
which they had adopted as their home. 

22. Harvest Mouse. Mus minutus, Pallas. 
Occurs in cornfields and in rough marshy 

places. Mr. Yates, in the letter referred to 
above, writes as follows concerning this 
species : ' I have found the nest of the harvest 
mouse in many places at Keele, Horsley, 
Alton, etc., but I have never seen the nest 
fixed on corn-stalks. It has always been in 
very coarse grass or sedges ; in particular in 
tussocks of Carex paniculata. The nest is 
woven into a dense mass and it is very diffi- 
cult indeed to find the entrance.' To this I 
may add that the entrance always I believe 
in the side is frequently carefully closed by 
the mice, and although I have seen the nest 
built amongst corn, it is also sometimes affixed 
to brambles and even thistles as well as to the 
plants mentioned above by Mr. Yates. The 
notion that this species is confined to corn- 
fields is quite erroneous. 

23. Wood Mouse or Long-tailed Field 

Mouse. Mui syfvaticus, Linn. 
Common in fields and gardens. 

24. House Mouse. Mus musculus, Linn. 

25. Black Rat. Mus rattus, Linn. 

The black rat was probably very early 
driven out of Staffordshire by the brown rat 



and totally exterminated, for Dickenson says 
that it had become extinct in his time (1798), 



and as the earliest possible date of the arrival 
of the brown rat in this county is 1728, the 
latter must soon have entered upon a warfare 
of extermination against the creature it found 
in possession. 

26. Brown Rat. Mus decumanus, Pallas. 
Far too abundant, and in the valley of the 

Trent almost as amphibious as the water vole 
taking up its residence in the river banks, and 
feeding indiscriminately on dead fish, frogs 
and farmer's produce. Brown says that 
previous to 1852 the 'numbers that were 
found in the drains in our meadows were 
perfectly frightful,' but that the great floods 
which prevailed at Burton in that year con- 
siderably thinned their ranks, and they have 
never occurred in such numbers since. 

27. Field Vole. Microtus agrestis, Linn. 

Bell Arvmla agreit'u. 
Abundant. 

28. Bank Vole. Evotomys glareolus, Schreber. 

Bell Arvicola glareolus. 

Apparently much less common than the 
last-named species, but has probably been 
confused with it in many parts of the county. 
It has been reported from the northern 
district, and I have myself also found it at 
Tutbury and Horninglow in the east of the 
county. 

29. Water Vole. Microtus amphibius, Linn. 

Bell Arvicok amphibius. 

Common, and generally distributed. 

30. Common Hare. Lepus eurap&us, Pallas. 

Bell Lepus timldus. 

Common, and frequently attaining to a 
large size and heavy weight. 

31. Mountain Hare. Lepus timidus, Linn. 

Bell Lepus variobiRs. 

Introduced in the county. Mr. Masefield 
in the North Staffordshire Naturalist's Field 
Club Report, 1895, xxix. 46, says: 'Sports- 
men have reported to me last season that 
several mountain hares (Lepus variabilis) have 



166 



MAMMALS 



been killed around Cheadle some of these I 
find were turned out in the spring of last year, 
but Mr. Bill of Farley tells me that there 
have generally been a few in the moor- 
land district of our county.' Of course no 



one will suppose that the mountain or ' Scotch 
hare is indigenous in Staffordshire. 



32. Rabbit. 
Plentiful. 



Lefus cuniculus, Linn. 



UNGULATA 



33. Chartley White Cattle. Bos taurus, Linn. 

No account of the mammals of Staffordshire 
could be considered complete without refer- 
ence to the famous herd of white cattle so 
long preserved in a half-wild condition at 
Chartley Park by the Earls Ferrers. These 
magnificent animals are white, with the ears, 
hoofs, and generally the muzzle, black. Black 
spots and blotches are usually seen on the 
lower part of the fore-legs and sometimes on 
the hind-legs also. The horns are white finely 
tipped with black, are long and sweeping, not 
short and sharply curved upwards as in the 
Chillingham and Cadzow herds, and remind 
one of the fine Old English long-horn cattle 
and the Highland breed in the bold way in 
which they stand out from the sides of the 
head. A remarkable feature is a large tuft of 
long curly hair which adorns the forehead and 
reaches as low as the inner corners of the 
eyes, and especially in old bulls possesses a 
parting down the centre which gives to the 
tuft the appearance of a carefully arranged 
and very beautiful wig. In the cows the 
horns are thinner than in the bulls and with a 
more decided upward trend. 

As a rule the disposition of these Chartley 
cattle is mild and timorous, and when 
approached by strangers the herd slowly 
retreats. At certain seasons the animals be- 
come dangerous, and it is at all times unsafe 
to approach too closely to the cows when 
accompanied by their calves, the first signs of 
a projected attack being stamping with the 
fore-feet and an angry tossing of the head. 
When alarmed the members of the herd 
collect together and at first retreat a short 
distance. They then suddenly turn and face 
the object of their resentment, the herd 
standing in the form of a semicircle. On 
being further pressed they again retreat and 
again turn towards their adversary, and if still 
molested do not hesitate to charge. Few 
spectators, however rash and curious, will be 
found to await the latter consummation, and 
prudently retire to the shelter of some pine- 
clump or group of birch trees after one or two 
demonstrations of hostility on the part of the 
herd. Even young calves but a few days old 
when met with away from their dams butt 
with great spirit and fierceness. 



Black calves are occasionally born and are 
invariably destroyed by the keepers, but black 
and white calves seem to be unknown. The 
birth of a black calf was anciently considered 
to foretell disaster to some member of the 
Ferrers family. 

Originally driven into Chartley Park from 
Needwood Forest by William, Earl of Derby, 
in the reign of Henry III., these cattle have 
been carefully preserved pure by his descend- 
ants, the Earls Ferrers, and although inbred 
for over 650 years they still survive. At 
times however they have been very near 
extinction, for about twenty years ago they 
were reduced to 17 head. By 1887 the herd 
had doubled in numbers, and from 1890 to 
1900 averaged about 45 head. Within the 
last few years the numbers have steadily 
declined, and in April, 1903, they were 
reduced to less than a dozen. 

34. Red Deer. Cervus e/afhus, Linn. 

The red deer preserved at Chartley, Bagot's 
Park, and elsewhere in the county are probably 
the direct descendants of the wild deer which 
anciently inhabited Needwood Forest, the 
largest herd being that at Chartley which now 
numbers 50 head. 

35. Fallow Deer. Cervus dama, Linn. 

Although not indigenous to Staffordshire any 
more than to other parts of these islands, 
fallow deer have from very ancient days 
abounded in the county and great herds 
wandered at liberty on Needwood Forest, and 
in smaller numbers on Cannock Chase, down 
to comparatively recent times. In 1798 
Dickenson estimated the number of deer on 
Needwood Forest at more than 3,000, and 
remarked that many of them were of the dark 
brown variety ' introduced from Norway by 
James I.' Dickenson, like many a writer 
since his day, was probably in error when he 
penned the remark quoted above, for Mr. 
J. E. Harting has shown (Essays on Sport and 
Natural History) that a dark race of fallow 
deer existed in England as early as 1465. 

In a state of semi-domestication fallow deer 
are kept in the deer-parks at Chartley, Bagots- 
Bromley, Wooton, Dunstall, etc., whilst a few 
exist in a state of freedom on Cannock Chase, 



167 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



and one or two stray an finals appear from time 
to time in the woods and plantations at Swilcar 
Lawn and elsewhere on Needwood Forest. 

36. Roe Deer. Capreolus capreolus. Linn. 

Bell Capreolus cafrea. 

Sir Oswald Mosley (Natural History of 
Tutbury y p. 1 7) says: 'Several horns of the roe- 



buck have been found on Needwood Forest,' 
and then goes on to describe the fallow deer 
found there before the enclosure ; with this 
exception I can find no recent reference to the 
occurrence of this little deer in Staffordshire, 
and it seems certain that for the last hundred 
years at least the roe deer has been extinct in 
the county. 



NOTE. I cannot conclude this paper without expressing my indebtedness to the pages of 
the Reports and Transactions of the North Staffordshire Field Club (especially the Reports 
of the section on Zoology compiled by the chairman, John R. B. Masefield, Esq., M.A.) 
and to the works of Plot, Dickenson (in Shaw's Staffordshire), Garner, Sir Oswald Mosley 
and Edwin Brown. My thanks are also due for much interesting information to James 
Yates, Esq., M.R.C.S. ; to J. E. Nowers, Esq. ; and for particulars as to the cattle and deer 
of Chartley Park to Earl Ferrers' head keeper, Mr. W. Goring. 



168 



PREHISTORIC MAP 

of 

STAFFORDSHIRE 



Reference 

* Miscellaneous finds. Neolithic Implements etc: 

* Bronze Implements 

9 Interments These are m&rked &pproxim&lely: it is not 
possible in such a sm&ll m&p 
to indicate Uielr exact position 
or precise number 




DERBYSHIRE 



EARLY MAN 



I 



BRACES of man in very early times, prior to the period of written 
records, are by no means rare in Staffordshire, and although the 
actual antiquities are now somewhat scattered, it is an interesting 
fact that Dr. Robert Plot, in his well-known Natural History of 
the county, was one of the first to record and figure prehistoric implements 
of bronze and stone. The book was printed in 1686, and contains in the 
tenth chapter ' Of Antiquities ' descriptions and copper-plate engravings of 
several well-known types of Neolithic and Bronze Age weapons. The 
fact that Dr. Plot assigns the bronze celts, etc., to a Roman origin excites no 
wonder when it is remembered that the field of prehistoric archaeology was at 
that time quite unexplored. One must be grateful, rather, for such an early 
record of local antiquities. 

Of the earliest prehistoric period, the Palaeolithic Age, when man 
shaped his flint tools merely by chipping and was ignorant of the art of 
grinding them, Staffordshire affords no evidence. 



THE NEOLITHIC AGE 

The traces of man's presence in Staffordshire in the Neolithic Age are 
neither numerous nor important, but, as will presently be shown, they are 
really of considerable interest as showing the diffusion of what was probably 
the earliest race to inhabit this part of Britain. 

A word or two may here be said as to the conditions of life at this 
remote period. The Neolithic Age represents a phase of civilization ante- 
cedent to the use of metal, yet not devoid of certain accomplishments. For 
instance, Neolithic man was able to make his tools and weapons of stone and 
flint not merely by chipping, but also by grinding, whereby regular smooth 
edges were produced. He was able to till the soil, to construct dwellings 
and to throw up earthworks as a defence against his enemies. He had also 
acquired the art of making a rough kind of pottery. Altogether, considering 
the very early period in which he lived, he had made substantial progress in 
civilization, and it is practically certain that our inability to recognize his 
proper place in the scale of human progress arises, not so much from the bar- 
barity of the times, as from the fact that many traces of such a remote period 
have necessarily perished by decay. 

Dwellings, and many of the appliances of Neolithic life, have to a very 
large extent been swept away, and this gives a special value to the buried 
sepulchral remains, both in the form of actual human remains and grave 
furniture, such as pottery, flint implements, and many other objects which 
were commonly interred with the dead. 

The stone implements found in Staffordshire, some of which evidently 
belong to the Neolithic Age and some to the Bronze Age, present one or two 
i 169 22 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

interesting facts which are worthy of consideration. These points consist 
mainly of the association of the stone objects with other articles rather than 
individual and actual features, and they tend to illustrate the transition and 
overlapping of the ages of stone and metal. 

Thus, in the Mouse Low barrow, a flint arrow-head (a weapon which 
it was formerly the custom to regard as Neolithic) was found in a Bronze 
Age drinking-cup, a circumstance which implies but does not prove con- 
temporaneity, because the arrow-head may have been preserved as a relic 
from a former age. At Mouse Low, also, two barbed arrow-heads of flint 
were found in association with bone pins. The same combination of 
objects was found in Ribden Low barrow. 

Thor's Cave, at Wetton, furnished two decidedly curious objects, viz., 
a carved sandstone vessel and a bronze kettle-like vessel. The objects are 
probably both later than the Bronze Age, as the handle is of iron. The 
sandstone vessel belongs to a type found in more abundance in Scotland than 
England, where they are decidedly rare. 

In the details of the contents of Staffordshire barrows given in this 
article it will be noted, again and again, that flint flakes and implements occur 
in the sepulchral mounds in intimate association with burnt burials and 

pottery bearing the char- 
acteristics, both in fabric 
and decoration, of the 
Bronze Age. The con- 
clusion to which these 
facts point is that the two 
races, the Neolithic and 
the Bronze-using people, 
intermingled, intermar- 
ried, and buried their dead 
side by side, some indivi- 
duals retaining the old cus- 
toms and others adopting 
the new. 

The bone pins re- 
ferred to may be either of the Neolithic or the Bronze Age. Their purpose 
has been the subject of a good deal of speculation amongst antiquaries, 
some regarding them as instruments for piercing leather or soft materials. 
When they occur in barrows, however, there seems reason to believe 
that they served as fastenings for some kind of shroud in the case of unburnt 
interments, and in the case of burnt burials it is believed that they served to 
pin together the cloth in which the ashes were placed, after being collected 
from the funeral pile. 1 

THE BRONZE AGE 

The main points of difference between the later age of stone or the 
Neolithic Age, and the earliest period of metal or the Bronze Age, may be 
summed up in a few words, although it would be difficult, if not impossible, 
for us in modern times to realize all that the great transition meant. 

1 Evans, Stone Imp. (and ed.), 432. 
170 




GRANITE AXE-HEAD FOUND AT STONE (12 in. in length) 



EARLY MAN 

The introduction of metal in the place of stone must have given to the 
possessors immense advantages in warfare, in the chase, and in the ordinary 
pursuits of life, and one would naturally be inclined to imagine that a struggle 
for supremacy would take place between those who possessed the secret of 
working bronze, and those who did not possess it. If such a conflict occurred 
it must have been of short duration ; at any rate its effects are not per- 
ceptible in the surviving remains, sepulchral deposits indicating that there 
was a more or less friendly relation between the two races. 

The knowledge of working in bronze is believed to have been intro- 
duced by a branch of the Celtic family known as Goidels, or Gaels. 

One natural effect of the discovery of the properties of such a metal as 
bronze was to put into the hands of the builders of houses the power of 
cleaving and shaping large timbers. Houses of the Bronze Age, therefore, 
in strong contrast with those of the Neolithic circular huts, were built in 
rectangular plan and with regular gabled roofs. 

From what has been already stated it will be gathered that the evidence 
of the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age, as far as Staffordshire is concerned, 
indicates a considerable amount of transition and overlapping. This is more 
particularly apparent, perhaps, in the case of sepulchral deposits, and it will 
be convenient at this stage to deal with these remains before describing the 
isolated finds which are unquestionably referable to the Bronze Age. 

SEPULCHRAL MOUNDS OR BARROWS 

Some important details of the prehistoric archaeology of Staffordshire 
are given in Bateman's Ten Years' Diggings, a work published in 1861. 
The facts were obtained by Mr. Samuel Carrington during exploratory 
excavations in barrows extending over the years 1848 to 1858. The fol- 
lowing are the more important of the discoveries. 

1. Barrow situated on a hill called Hanging Bank, at Ecton Mine, 
20 yds. in diameter, 4ft. high, and concave in centre like a bowl. In the 
middle was found a deposit of calcined human bones accompanied by bones 
of the water-rat in abundance, and also a large bone pin 5 in. in length, two 
spear points and two arrow-heads of flint, all of which bore traces of having 
passed through the fire. 

2. Barrow on Arbour Hill, near Throwley Hall, 30 yds. in diameter. 
This contained a cist constructed of flat slabs of limestone neatly arranged. 
In the cist were found burnt human bones and a flint arrow-point. There 
was a smaller cist adjoining the eastern end of that just described con- 
taining burnt bones. Another interment contained two skeletons in close 
proximity and each buried in a contracted posture. One skeleton, that 
of a young person, was accompanied by a slender arrow-head of flint. In 
yet another interment in this barrow was found an iron spike about 3 in. 
long, which had been inserted into wood. 

3. Barrow on the top of Mare Hill, near Throwley Hall. In this was 
found a grave cut in the rock, containing two skeletons with a spear-point 
of calcined flint. A piece of pottery, and a small quantity of lead (which 
had been accidentally fused from metalliferous gravel present upon the spot 
where a cremation took place) were found near the grave. 

171 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The barrow also contained a cist in which were three interments on 
different levels. A bronze dagger 3 in. in length was found with the remains 
of the burnt burial, which occupied a middle position between the lowest 
interment, which consisted of almost an entire skeleton, and the uppermost, 
which was the skeleton of a child. 

In still another part of the barrow, at a depth of about 2 ft. from the 
surface, was the skeleton of a child, laid on the left side, with the knees 
drawn up. An ornamented vase or urn, 5 in. in height, lay close by. In 
addition to the interments described traces of three or four other burials were 
noticed. It is obvious that the barrow must have been an important burial- 
place and that both Stone Age and Bronze Age folk buried their dead within it. 

4. A barrow at Deepdale, 17 yds. in diameter and of small elevation, 
was found to contain a grave in which was a human skeleton, in a crouched 
posture, accompanied by a well-preserved bronze dagger provided with three 
rivets by which it had been fastened to a semi-lunar handle. 

5. A barrow, called Mouse Low, situated between Deepdale and the 
village of Grindon, 14 yds. in diameter, and about 2 ft. high, upon being 
examined was found to contain the skeleton of a large man in contracted 
posture. Near the head was a peculiarly elegant and well-finished drinking 
cup, within which there were two implements cut from the ribs of a large 
animal, a spear head, and two beautiful barbed arrows of white flint. Out- 
side the cup were two more arrows of the same kind. 

6. Small barrow, known as Green Low, at Castern. In this was found 
the skeleton of a child, with a flint arrow-point, and certain objects of 
later date, including a Roman fibula of bronze. 

7. Musden Low, a barrow situated on Musden Hill, near Calton, 
originally 27 yds. in diameter, on examination was found to contain a 
skeleton completely embedded in rats' bones. Close by were found the 
remains of a burnt interment, the fire employed for which having partially 
blackened both the skeleton and the rats' bones. Calcined implements of 
flint, and pieces of urns, ranging apparently from the Celtic to the Romano- 
British period, were found in the barrow. 

8. A tumulus called Thorncliff, situated on Calton Moor, about a mile 
from the village of Calton, contained the remains of a large skeleton ' accom- 
panied by a neat instrument of flint and a bronze dagger, with three rivets 
of the usual form.' 

9. A second barrow at Musden Hill (see 7) upon being opened was 
found to contain a human skeleton with the head to the outside of the 
barrow. Above and around it were fragments of two globular narrow- 
necked urns, ornamented with a few projections upon the shoulders, which 
had contained burnt bones. The discoverers were inclined to assign this 
interment to the Anglo-Saxon period, but it seems just possible that the 
pottery found was Neolithic. 

10. A barrow on Readon Hill, Ramshorn, was opened and found to 
contain about the centre two extended skeletons. They were accompanied 
by an iron spear and a narrow iron knife. These may have been Anglo- 
Saxon interments. 

1 1 . A barrow at Dale, near Stanton, on being opened was found to contain 
two skeletons lying on the original surface of the earth. These presented 

172 



EARLY MAN 

evidences of an unusual method of sepulture differing from any other 
that had previously been noticed. It was clear that the bodies had been 
intentionally subjected to the action of fire upon the spot where they 
lay, in such a manner as to preserve the bones in their natural order, 
entire and unwarped by the heat. The bones, which were of both sexes, 
were surrounded by charcoal and earth, to which a red colour had been 
imparted by the operation, themselves exhibiting a curious variety of tints 
from the same cause. They were accompanied simply by some chips of 
flint and one piece of primitive pottery. 

12. Two contracted and much decayed skeletons inclosed within a rude 
kind of cist, and accompanied by ' a few mean implements of flint,' were 
found in a barrow at Stanton. 

1 3. Another cist-burial was discovered in a barrow called Ribden Low, 
situated between the villages of Cotton and Caldon. There were actually 
two cist-burials in the mound, and the objects found with the skeletons com- 
prised three barbed arrow-heads of flint, three large flint implements, five 
bone implements, and two very small pieces of bronze slightly ornamented. 
The bone implements were of peculiar interest from the fact that some were 
pointed at each end and perforated through the middle, and had apparently 
been used as netting tools. 

14. A barrow of unusual form near the village or Calton, opened 
in 1849, was found to contain evidence of repeated interments dis- 
tributed throughout the area of the mound. The barrow was of the 
type designated ' Druid Barrows ' by Stukeley and Hoare. Charcoal and 
numerous calcined flint implements were found in association with the 
human remains. 

15. In a barrow situated on an eminence called the Cop, near Calton, 
was found an interesting example of the careful interment of part of the 
head of an ox. It also contained (i) a small quadrangular cist, in which 
were the bones of a young person about twelve years of age ; (2) another 
small cist constructed of four flat stones ; and (3) still another cist of circular 
form. Within the small cist (2) was found the right half of the upper jaw 
of an ox, making the fifth instance of the intentional burial of ox bones, a 
circumstance which goes far to prove the existence of some peculiar super- 
stition or rite connected with the bones of that animal. 

1 6. In a tumulus situated midway between Throwley and Calton, and 
composed almost entirely of burnt earth, was found a deposit of large pieces 
of calcined human bone placed within a circular hole in the natural soil 
about a foot deep. This hole was of well-defined shape, resulting from 
contact with a wooden or wicker-work vessel in which the bones were 
placed when buried. On the bones lay part of a small bronze pin, and a 
very beautiful miniature ' incense cup' 2 J in. high and 3 Jin. in diameter. 
Among the bones were found two small pointed pieces of flint and a quartz 
pebble, and close by the deposit were four other small heaps of calcined bone 
in the form of powder. 

17. In a field called Stonesteads, a quarter of a mile from the village of 
Waterhouses, was a barrow in which the skeleton of a tall and strongly-built 
man was found lying on a pavement of thin flat stones raised 6 in. above 
the natural level of the ground. Near the feet was the tusk of a large boar 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



rubbed down on the inner surface to about half the natural thickness. Part 
of an arrow-point and several pieces of cut bone were found near the 
skeleton. 

1 8. Cist interment at Lumberlow, near Waterhouses. The cist con- 
tained the skeleton of a fully-grown young person, a good spear-head of 
mottled grey flint, and a highly polished flint implement of uncertain use. 
Above it were numerous pebbles, the leg-bone of a large dog, and a little 
charcoal. 

19. ' Druid Barrow,' called Farlow, near Caldon. This contained the 
skeleton of a young person laid upon the ribs of an ox or other large animal 
placed transversely to the human bones, at regular intervals side by side. 
The barrow also contained the skeleton of a young person in a rock grave, 

accompanied by an ornamented 
vase 5 in. high, perhaps a ' drink- 
ing cup.' Part of a large urn, 
the upper portion of which 
was ornamented with cheverons, 
had been found at an earlier 
period, and was broken up into 
fragments in order that each 
bystander might possess a me- 
mento of the discovery. 

20. Swinscoe. An im- 
portant elliptical or long bar- 
row, called Top Low, measur- 
ing 45 ft. long by 21 ft. wide, 
was found, on examination, to 
contain evidences of no less 
than fourteen interments. The 
barrow is believed to have been 
originally circular, and to have 
assumed an elliptical shape in 
consequence of subsequent addi- 
tions. The following are brief 
particulars of the various burials 
in this barrow, which are also 
indicated on the accompanying 
plan : 

1. Skeleton of a young person 
in a contracted posture in a shallow 
grave, cut about six inches deep in 
the chert rock, having a stone 
placed on edge at each end. With 
it were a three-cornered piece 
of flint and a small bronze clasp 
which had been riveted to a 
strap. 

2. Skeleton of young adult, 
with an upright stone at the head, 
and a round-ended flint near the 
feet. 




PLAN OF INTERMENTS IN BARROW AT TOP Low, 
SWINSCOE 



174 



EARLY MAN 

3. Skeleton of middle-aged person, accompanied by a neatly chipped spear-nead of 
flint. 

4. Skeleton of a young hog inclosed in a roughly constructed cist. A tine from a 
stag's horn was buried with the hog. 

5. Cinerary urn decorated with a cheveron pattern containing calcined bones, portions 
of bone implements (probably tools for modelling pottery), and part of a fine flint which had 
been damaged by fire. 

6. Skeleton with legs drawn up. Near it was a thin layer of charred wood and two 
flakes of flint. 

7. Deposit of calcined bones. 

8. Skeleton accompanied by an arrow-head of white flint, and pieces of ornamented 
pottery. 

9. Two skeletons, one that of an adult, the other that of a child a few months old. 

10. Skeleton of an aged man with legs drawn up, accompanied by a handsome drinking 
cup 7 J in. high, and a few chippings of flint. 

1 1. This was a somewhat doubtful deposit near one end of the ellipse, consisting mainly 
of rats' bones, pebbles, and a long triangular flake of calcined flint. 

12. Decayed bones including part of a skull were placed within a pentagonal cist, and 
covered by a broad and thin slab. 

13. Skeleton of very young person, placed close to an upright flat stone, and accom- 
panied by a flint chip. 

14. Skull, much decayed, accompanied by one piece of burnt flint. 

The great importance of this series of interments within one mound is 
obvious ; and not the least remarkable feature is the cist containing the 
skeleton of a hog. This deposit, it will be noticed, occupies practically the 
central position in the barrow. It is impossible to resist the impression that 
this burial must have been closely associated with superstitions or religious 
beliefs of the ancient people who here buried their dead. 

21. Wetton near Hill. Two skeletons were found in this barrow, one 
being accompanied by a beautiful little earthen vase, 4^ in. high, with a 
fluted border and four perforated ears. Pieces of flint and a tine of stag's 
horn lay near. 

22. Ham. In a barrow on the top of Hazleton Hill above Inkley 
Wood, and at the back of Ham Hall, were found : 

1. A rock grave surrounded by flat stones placed on edge, and divided into two equal 
compartments by the same means, one containing calcined human bones, two inferior arrow- 
points of flint and a broken pebble, and the other containing wood ashes and a few pieces 
of bone. 

2. A plain urn of thin pottery inverted over a few burnt bones which lay on a flat 
stone. 

3. Pieces of a coarse urn, black ashes, burnt earth, a fine circular instrument, and 
numerous pieces of calcined flint, all contained in a depression in the earth. 

4. A similar deposit surrounded by large stones containing a few calcined bones, a fine 
round instrument and chippings of flint, and a piece of lead weighing 3^ oz. 

5. There were also found in the barrow four more circular instruments, numerous 
pebbles, and a piece of iron ore. 

23. Gateham. In a flat barrow near Gateham were found, under a 
broken urn with cheveron pattern in dotted lines, a few crumbling fragments 
of calcined bone. 

24. Blore. Barrow in a field called Nettles. On being opened there 
were found a deposit of calcined bones and a broken urn of red clay contain- 
ing a small vase or incense cup. The larger vessel had a deep border orna- 
mented with diagonal lines disposed in triangles in alternate directions. 

175 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Traces were also found of a later interment consisting of parts of an unburnt 
skeleton, a small iron ring, and the bottom of a kiln-baked vessel of blue clay 
turned on the potter's wheel. 

25. Stanshope. In a barrow here four different interments were dis- 
covered, viz. : 

1. Two deposits of calcined bones. 

2. Calcined bones, two flint implements, and two bone needles. 

3. Two skeletons buried in a kind of cist, and 

4. A very large and coarse sepulchral urn inverted over a deposit of burnt bones. 

The first and second interments had been made in natural clefts of rock. 

26. Wetton. In 1849 a very large cist was found in a barrow at 
Long Low, near Wetton, the stone-paved floor of which was covered from end 
to end with remains of human beings, bones of the ox, hog, deer, and dog, 
also three very finely chipped arrow-heads and many other pieces of calcined 
flint. The discovery was one of unusual interest and importance, and there 
was evidence that the remains discovered represented at least thirteen human 
beings, some being women. 

The barrow evidently belonged to a period anterior to the discovery of 
metal, and may be regarded as a typical Neolithic sepulchral mound. 

27. Ecton. A barrow on Ecton Hill was opened and found to contain 
a deposit of burnt bones placed in a large urn, with a projecting border 
ornamented with diagonal lines. 

28. Musden. Fourth barrow. This was found to contain twelve 
interments. 

29. Caldon Hill. A third barrow opened here contained a broken, 
slightly ornamented cinerary urn and some burnt bones, beneath which was 
a small hole in the rock filled with charcoal. One arrow-head and some 
flint chippings were found in the barrow. 

30. In a barrow on Calton Moor were found a cist with double walls of 
stones set on edge covered over by two larger slabs and inclosing a deposit of 
calcined bones accompanied by two burnt flint implements. 

3 i . Mayfield Low, Mayfield. This was a flat barrow, 1 8 yds. in diameter, 
containing a stone cist in which an urn was found. 

32. Castern. In a barrow situated between Bitchin Hill and Castern, 
I 8 yds. in diameter, were found (i) the decayed skeleton of a young person, 
(2) a large skeleton lying on its left side in a contracted posture, at the 
bottom of an oval grave, (3) quite near the skeleton a highly polished stud 
of jet with two oblique holes meeting at an angle behind, (4) a small piece 
of calcined flint, (5) many rats' bones, and (6) the remains of a young 
person. 

33. Grindon. In the hamlet of Deepdale a barrow was opened con- 
taining the skeleton of a young person, some bones of a child, and broken 
pieces of a drinking cup. 

34. Throwley. Barrow containing large sepulchral urn with the mouth 
uppermost, in which were found a double-edged axe of basaltic stone, 
bronze awl, and bone pins, &c. 

35. Blore. Barrow called Lady Low containing deposit of calcined 
bones, arrow-head of flint, bone pin, and fragments of very thin bronze ; 

176 



EARLY MAN 

also a small oval cavity suggestive of a wooden or wicker vessel long since 
decayed. 

36. Throwley. In a barrow at Throwley Moor, opened by Mr. 
Carrington in 1849, we re found fragments of a large but plain, globular 
earthen vessel, perforated at the side with two small holes. 

37. At Stanshope, a hamlet in the parish of Alstonfield, a barrow at 
Ram's Croft Field was opened, and in it were discovered several interments 
and flint implements, bronze dagger, earthern drinking cup, &c., indicative 
of the Bronze Age. 

38. Wetton, Thor's Cave. An interment of considerable importance was 
opened here. Near the centre, about a foot below the surface, two curious 
vessels were found ; one of rather globular form, 4 in. high, carved in sand- 
stone, and ornamented by four grooves round the outside ; the other was a 
bronze pan or kettle, 4 in. high and 6 in. across, and was furnished with a 
slender iron bow like a bucket handle. It had been first cast and then 
hammered, and was found in an inverted position. 

In addition to the above barrows, some important sepulchral deposits 
were found at Warslow, Elkstone, Sheen, and Leek, and fuller details than 
are here necessary may be found in Bateman's Ten Tears' Diggings. 

This important group of ancient burials in North Staffordshire, large 
as it is, may really be considered as part of the group in the adjoining county 
of Derby. The sepulchral pottery and other remains found in the course of 
the explorations of Mr. Thomas Bateman, his son Mr. William Bateman, 
F.S.A., and their antiquarian coadjutors, are now preserved as part of the 
Bateman Collection in the Public Museum, Weston Park, Sheffield. 8 The 
collection also comprises many antiquities of like character found under 
similar circumstances in Derbyshire and in the North Riding of Yorkshire. 

Compared with the Derbyshire barrows, the Staffordshire interments 
afford proportionately a larger number of drinking-cups, some examples of 
which are figured in this article. 

These vessels, known as ' drinking-cups,' are of peculiar interest from 
the fact that they usually occur with unburnt burials, and are sometimes 
found in association with implements of flint and polished stone. There is 
reason to believe that they represent the earliest type of pottery made by 
Bronze Age man in this country. The name ' drinking-cup ' has been 
applied not as an indication of the purpose of this class of pottery, but 
simply to identify the form. Like ' incense-cup ' and ' food-vessel,' it has 
been adopted as a convenient method of describing Bronze Age urns, &c., 
without any intention of defining their purpose. Vessels of the drinking- 
cup type occur throughout England, and particularly in Wiltshire, but 
they are not found in Ireland. 

The methods of ornamentation are ingenious, consisting, as will be 
noticed in the accompanying plates, of horizontal lines running round the 
circumference of the vessels, and a series of zig-zags or cheveron-like mark- 
ings, which appear in some cases to have been impressed in the moist clay 
by means of an instrument having a series of tooth-like projections. The 
result is a number of punctured marks, and this is particularly well 

' The writer wishes to record his thanks for the permission of the museum authorities to inspect and 
photograph the objects found in Staffordshire. 

I 177 2 3 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

shown on the vessel, 7 in. high, found in a barrow at Stanshope. Here 
the horizontal lines, as well as the rather roughly executed zigzags, have 
been produced with the same instrument. 

Another interesting ' drinking-cup,' of even larger size, measuring 
8| in. in height, found in a barrow at Castern, is represented beside the 
Stanshope specimen. The ornamentation, which is of the same general 
character, has been executed with far more care. 

In the Mouse Low and Top Low examples the body of each urn 
is covered with a species of lozenge ornament produced by ingenious varia- 
tions of the cheveron form. The four urns figured on this plate afford 
what, perhaps, may be taken as a chronological sequence in the appearance 
and development of the rim. In the Stanshope urn it is entirely wanting ; 
it appears in the Castern cup as a bevel on the upper part sloping inwards ; 
and in the two other specimens we find two stages of the appearance of a 
raised rib, and the development of breadth of rim. 

The four vessels figured in the second plate furnish examples of types 
quite distinct from the ' drinking-cup ' form. The Throwley ' incense-cup ' 
is figured full-size, namely 2j in. high. Its ornamentation consists of both 
horizontal lines and roughly -executed cheverons. The lip is well developed 
and projecting, and the outline has a character which suggests a somewhat 
late date. Just below the middle ridge of the body there are shown two 
holes pierced through the clay. Perforations of this kind, but proportion- 
ately larger and more numerous, are usually found in * incense-cups,' and 
afford one of the reasons why this term was applied to them. This kind of 
small vessel is always found in association with burnt burials, and their 
geographical distribution corresponds with that of cinerary urns. 

The three other urns figured belong to a type usually called ' food- 
vessels,' the predominant forms of which will be seen from the illustrations. 
The three specimens given are arranged, as far as may be, in order according 
to development, especially with regard to their outline, and the growth of 
hollows or grooves round the body. The decoration of the Mare Hill urn 
has obviously been produced by means of a sharp flat instrument, possibly a 
flake of flint, or a fragment of stone rubbed down for the purpose. The 
other urns are decorated with less care but in a similar manner. The 
occurrence of fragments of bone, the remains of a cremation, in the Narrow- 
dale Hill urn enables us to classify it with the grave furniture of a burnt 
burial, and it may therefore be regarded as a small cinerary urn made possibly 
to contain only a portion of the remains of the body. 

These interesting pieces of pottery, apart from their antiquity and the 
information they give as to ancient interments, have a special value from the 
fact that they represent probably the very earliest efforts in the direction of 
the artistic decoration of pottery. 

Amongst the antiquities of unquestionable Bronze Age character found 
in the county there are some of very great importance, although the finds 
cannot be considered remarkable numerically. 

One of the more important discoveries was the hoard of bronze weapons 
found in the year 1824 at Shenstone. It comprised, according to the brief 
account published in Arcbaeologiaf ' two swords, some spear-heads, celts, and 

* Arch, xxi, 548-9. 
I 7 8 





'DRINKING Cup' (7 in. high), STANSHOPE 



'DRINKING Cu-p' (SJ in. high), CASTKRN 





'DRINKING CUP' (8J in. high), MOUSE Low, 
NEAR DEEPDALE 



'DRINKING Cup' (7 in. high), TOP Low, 

NEAR SwiNSCOE 



PLATE I : BRONZE-AGE POTTERY FOCND IN SEPULCHRAL BARROWS 



EARLY MAN 

several reliques, all of bronze.' The discovery of ' fragments of human bones, 
and a piece of decayed wood about the size of two hands,' by labourers 
employed in digging out sand, suggested to the discoverers that the deposit 
was of a sepulchral character ; indeed, the account communicated to the 
Society of Antiquaries of London expressly mentions ' a grave cut north and 
south in the sand-rock.' The explanation, apparently, is that a hoard of 
bronze objects was hidden during the Bronze Age on Greensborough Hill, a 
pleasant knoll overlooking an extensive tract of country. On the same 
natural hill, either before or after this period, a grave was cut into the 
ground, and some human remains were deposited therein. 

Hoards of bronze objects, of which this affords an instance, are among 
the most valuable of the traces of this remote age which we possess. We 
may regard them, in certain respects, as of even greater importance than 
sepulchral deposits, partly from the fact that the contents are of a practically 
indestructible character, but mainly because they represent the collected 
valuables belonging to a worker or dealer in bronze. The archaeological 
value of associated objects of one definite period is, of course, very great, 
proving the contemporaneity of forms of tools, weapons, &c., in the earliest 
age of metal. 

In addition to the Shenstone hoard there are several individual bronze 
objects worthy of note. Among them are : 

1. A bronze armilla, made of a flat piece of metal, half an inch in breadth, having on 
the outside a lozengy pattern engraved, found at Castern, near Wetton. 

2. Another armlet (imperfect), made of thick bronze wire, found in a barrow at 
Wetton. 

3. Bronze knife-daggers found at Lett Low, near Warslow ; Musden ; Lady Low 
Barrow, near Blore ; and Stanshope. 

4. Palstaves found at firewood ; Biddulph ; Bushbury ; and Stretton. 

5. Bronze sword with seven rivet-holes found at Alton Castle. 

6. A leaf-shaped spear-head found at Yarlet. 



THE EARLY IRON AGE 

Staffordshire has furnished only a few remains which can be with any 
certainty referred to this, the last period of prehistoric time. The intro- 
duction of iron as a material for making implements and weapons must have 
given an immense advantage to its possessors, and it marked a very distinct 
stage in the progress of human civilization. It is possible that the fewness of 
Early Iron Age discoveries in the county may be accounted for by the perish- 
able nature of the newly-discovered or imported metal, but it is perhaps more 
particularly due to the comparative shortness of the period between the 
introduction of iron and the beginning of the historic period which dates 
from the appearance of the Romans. 

Among the discoveries to be recorded is a leaf-shaped iron lance-head * 
found in 1895 at Stone, 6 in association with a flint flake, and bones of Bos 

4 Mr. Reginald A. Smith, F.S.A., who has kindly favoured the writer with his opinion on this lance-head, 
considers that, whilst the form of the blade resembles Anglo-Saxon workmanship, the unsplit socket is 
sufficient and conclusive evidence that it belongs to the Early Iron Age. 

' North Staffs. Nat. field Club and Arch. Soc. Tram, xxx, 108-1 5. 

I 79 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



primigenius, B. tongifrons, horse, red deer, sheep, and goat. These discoveries 
were made in the course of excavations for a deep-drainage scheme. 

Another indication of this early period was found in the Late Celtic 
ornament on a bronze bowl found in an interment at the Upper House, 
Barlaston, soon after the year 1850. All the circumstances 
of the burial point to an Anglo-Saxon date, but the orna- 
ment certainly displays Late Celtic tradition. 

An interment in a barrow called Steep Low, near 
Alstonfield, which the late Mr. J. Romilly Allen considered 
to be of the Early Iron Age, 8 was discovered by 
Mr. Thomas Bateman in 1845. The barrow, a mound 
about 50 yds. in diameter, and 1 5 ft. in elevation in the 
centre, was constructed almost entirely of loose stones, a 
circumstance which made its exploration at once difficult 
and dangerous. Previously to the examination by 
Mr. Bateman the neighbouring villagers, in the course of 
searching for treasure, had found the skeleton of a 



\ 



Romanized Briton, extended on its back, accompanied by an 
'/ W iron spear-head, a lance-head and knife of the same, placed near 

the head, and three Roman coins, in third brass, namely, one of 
Constantine the Great, one of Tetricus, the other illegible from the 
friction of sand-paper applied by the finder. . . . They also found 
some pieces of a highly-ornamental drinking-cup, a curious piece of 
iron ore, and various animal bones. 7 

In addition to these relics there were found (i) a 
small stud or circular ornament of amber, perforated with 
a double hole at the back for attachment, and (2) a large 
plain urn of globular form, with four holes through the 
upper edge, and containing burnt human bones, two 
quartz pebbles, and a piece of flint. 

Two important gold collars or torques have been 
found in the county ; one at Pattingham in 1700, mea- 
suring 2ft. in length, and weighing 3lb. 2oz., and another 
at Hanbury in 1848, which is now in the royal collections 
at Windsor Castle. 
The writer desires to express his thanks for kind assistance to Mr. Charles 
Lynam, F.S.A., and Mr. Reginald A. Smith, B.A., F.S.A. 



IRON LANCE-H HAD 
FOUND AT STONE 
(f Actual Size) 



TOPOGRAPHICAL LIST 

Arch. Journ. = Archaeological "Journal. 

Arch. = Archaeologia. 

Evans, Bronze Imp. = Ancient Bronze Implements, &c. By Sir John Evans. 

Evans, Brit. Coins = Ancient British Coins. By Sir John Evans. 

Evans, Stone Imp. = Ancient Stone Implements, 2nd ed. By Sir John Evans. 

ALTON. Perforated stone axe-hammer, in the possession of Mr. Walker of Alton. 

ALTON Castle. Bronze sword with seven rivet-holes. \_Arch. xi, 431 ; Evans, Bronze Imp. 282.] 

BARLASTON. Bronze bowl with late Celtic ornamentation. [Arch. Ivi, 44, 45.] 

Celtic Art, 68. 

r Vestiges of the Antiq. ofDerb. 76-7. 

1 80 








INCENSE Cup' (2^ in. high), THROWLEY 





URN ['Fooo VESSEL'?] (5 in. high), MARE HILL 



'FooD VESSEL' (6 in. high), WETTON HILL 




URN CONTAINING BONES (5$ in. high), NARROWDALE IIit.L 
NEAR ALSTONFIELD 



PLATE II : BRONZE-AGE POTTERY FOUND IN SEPULCHRAL NARROWS 



EARLY MAN 

EERESFORD HALL. Barbed flint arrow-head. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 396.] 
Socketed chisel, or celt of bronze. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 404.] 

BREWOOD. Palstave, without loops. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 403 ; Evans, Bronze Imp. 86.] 
BUSHBURY. Palstave, without loops. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 403 ; Evans, Bronze Imp. 86.] 
CALDON. Neolithic flint celts. 
CASTERN. Piece of sandstone rubbed hollow on one side, found in barrow. Jet button, ij in. 

in diameter, found in barrow. [Evans, Stone Imp. 263, 455.] 

Bronze armilla, found in barrow. [Bateman, Ten Years' Diggings, 167.] 
CHEADLE. Stone celt found in a peat bog. 
ELKSTONE. Large piece of sandstone, with a small bowl-shaped concavity worked in it (? Neolithic), 

found in a barrow. [Evans, Stone Imp. 253.] 
GRUB Low (situated between Grindon and Waterfall). Leaf-shaped arrow-head of flint, found 

with bones in a barrow. [Evans, Stone Imp. 377.] 

HANBURY. Fine gold collar made of seven strands of twisted wire uniting in a loop at each termina- 
tion, found in 1848, and now in the royal collection at Windsor Castle. [Arch, xxxix, 175-6.] 
HANDSWORTH. Bronze palstave without loops, described by Plot [Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 403] as 

the ' brass head of the bolt of a Catapulta.' 
ILAM. Plain bronze celt, described by Plot [Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 403-4] as the ' Head of a Roman 

Securis with which the popae slew their sacrifices.' [Evans, Bronze Imp. 42.] 

At ILAM MOOR. Bronze awl found in barrow. [Evans, Bronze Imp. 190.] 
LADY Low. Small bronze blade found in barrow. [Arch, xliii, pi. xxxiii, fig. 4.] 

Bronze dagger found in barrow. [Evans, Bronze Imp. 224.] 
LEEK. Flint arrow-head, with jagged edges and two barbs, found near Leek. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of 

Staffs. 396 ; Evans, Stone Imp. 362.] 
LEIGH. Bronze celt, or axe-head found at the foot of a rounded eminence. [Trans. N. Staffs. 

Field Club, xxxix, 141.] 

MILWICH. Stone celt or hatchet, 7 in. long, found in a stream. 
MORRIDGE. Bronze palstave without loop, found in a barrow. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 403 ; 

Evans, Bronze Imp. 86.] 
MOUSE Low. Flint arrow-head (? Neolithic), found in Bronze Age drinking-cup. [Evans, Stsne 

Imp. 399 ; Bateman, Ten Tears' Diggings, 1 1 6.] 

Bone pins, found with two bashed flint arrow-heads. [Evans, Stone Imp. 432]. 
MUSDEN. Trimmed flint flake, flat on one face and carefully chipped to a convex shape on the 

other, found in barrow ; probably a knife of the Bronze Age. [Evans, Stone Imp. 330.] 

Bronze knife-dagger found in barrow. [Evans, Bronze Imp. 240.] 
NEEDWOOD FOREST. Polished flint celt and Bronze Age palstave, with loop (broken), f .and in 

1864, both now in the British Museum. 
PATTINGHAM. Gold torque, found in 1700. [Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough, 1789), ii, 380; Arch. 

xxxiii, 176.] 

RIBDEN Low. Flint knife, probably of the Bronze Age, found in barrow ; a'so barbed flint arrow- 
heads and bone pins found in barrow. [Evans, Stone Imp. 330, 432.] 

SAXON Low. Fragments of Bronze Age urns, now in the possession of Mr. Charles Lynam, F.S.A. 
SHARPCLIFFE, NEAR LEEK. Perforated boulder or pebble, stone maul, and bronze (or rather nearly 

pure copper) palstave, with curiously narrow blade. 
SHENSTONE. Hoard of bronze objects, comprising two swords, some spear-heads, celts, and several 

other relics, found at Greensborough Hill, lying in loose sand. [Arch, xxi, 548-9.] 
STAFFORDSHIRE, LID Low. Fragments of a Bronze Age urn, now in the British Museum. 
STONE. Fine perforated axe-head of granite, 12 in. long, now in the British Museum. [Evans, 

Stone Imp. 202]. 

Early Iron Age leaf-shaped lance-head. [N. Staffs. Nat. Field Club Trans, xxx, 108-15.] 
STRETTON. Bronze palstave with one loop. [Arch, v, 113.] 
TRENTHAM. Neolithic celt, now in the possession of Mr. Masefield. 

WARSLOW. Bronze knife-dagger found in Lett Low, a barrow. [Evans, Bronze Imp. 225.] 
: WATERHOUSES. Socketed and looped bronze celt, now in the British Museum. 
WETTON LONG Low. Three leaf-shaped arrow-heads and many hakes of flint. [Evans, Stone Imp. 

377.] Imperfect armlet of thick bronze. 
THOR'S CAVE. Two curious vessels, one of carved sandstone, and one of cast and hammered 

bronze, with iron handle, found in barrow. [Evans, Stone Imp. 45 1 ; Evans, Bronze Imp. 409 ; 

Bateman, Ten Tears' Diggings, 173.] 
WEAVER HILLS, between Ramshorn and Blore. Stone axe, entirely ground, and the sides having an 

inward curvature. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 397.] 
YARLET. Socketed bronze spear-head. [Plot, Nat. Hist, of Staffs. 404, pi. xxxiii, fig. 8.] 

181 



ROMAN MAP 

STAFFORDSHIRE 

Scale of Miles 



R eference 

O Camps. / 'Possibly Roman) + Burials. 

D Pillages. H, Lead. 

A Villas. 
Miscellaneous finds. 



n Cafes. 

- Roman Road. 

----Probable. Roman Roods, 




ROMANO-BRITISH 
STAFFORDSHIRE 



DURING the period of the Roman occupation of Britain there 
were no districts which correspond to our present counties. 
Neither the boundaries of the British tribes nor those of the 
Roman administrative areas, as far as we know them, agree 
exactly with existing county boundaries. 1 At the time of the Roman invasion 
the greater part of Staffordshire was most probably inhabited by the 
Cornavii, a British tribe whose territory, we learn from Ptolemy, writing 
about A.D. 1 20, included Deva (Chester), and Viroconium (Wroxeter). 2 

The Roman occupation under the Emperor Claudius began in A.D. 43 ; 
at first the subjugation of the country was comparatively easy. A strong 
foot-hold was obtained in Kent and Essex, and then the army was formed into 
three divisions, the Second Legion going south-west towards Somerset and 
Devon, the Fourteenth and Twentieth Legions north-west towards Shrews- 
bury and Chester, and the Ninth Legion north towards Lincoln. Professor 
Haverfield, in writing of this period, divides Britain into two districts ; s the 
lowlands, comprising the southern, south-western, and eastern districts up to 
the Humber he describes as civilian ; whilst the uplands, including the 
northern and western districts, he describes as military. The former, 
including probably the southern and middle parts of Staffordshire, was 
occupied by A.D. 47 or 48, and the latter, possibly comprising the northern 
part of the county, which partakes of the characteristics of Derbyshire, was 
subjugated about A.D. 48 or shortly afterwards. 

There can be little doubt that at the time of the Roman occupation of 
Britain, Staffordshire was woodland or waste, and thinly populated. For this 
reason the Romano-British period as regards this district has little history. 
The county is mostly hilly. In the north it rises in places to 1,500 ft. ; in the 
middle it is undulating and was formerly forest ; to the south it is again 
hilly. By the Romans it would have been thought unattractive and inhos- 
pitable, and it therefore became to them merely a portion of territory through 
which roads and waterways passed across Britain. Except in the extreme 
north of the county few, if any, Roman remains have been found away from 
the great highways the roads and the rivers. 

1 Much of the information contained in this article has been taken from Professor Haverfield's contribu- 
tions on ' Roman Remains ' to the volumes of this series. 

' Ptolemy, Geographic (ed. Firmin Didot, 1883), i, 99. There is no satisfactory evidence that the 
Cornavii also inhabited Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and part of Derbyshire, as stated by Camden, Horsley, 
and Baxter. See as to this point Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough) ; Horsley, Brit. Rom. 368 ; Baxter, Glossarium 
Antiqultatum Brit. (1709), 73 ; Haverfield, in V.C..H. Warw. i, 229. 

3 V.C.H. Derb. i, 192. 

183 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The iron and coal fields of Staffordshire, which attract so large a 
population in the present day, were little if at all known during the 
Roman occupation. Iron ore was possibly smelted in the district during 
the late Celtic age, in evidence of which some smelted ore has been found 
in barrows, probably of this date, at Alstonfield and elsewhere,* but nothing 
has hitherto been discovered to indicate that it was worked here in the Romano- 
British period. The Romans apparently used coal as fuel in this country, 
but there is no evidence that the Staffordshire coalfields were known to them. 

Lead-mining was carried on actively in Derbyshire by the Romans, and 
there is some evidence that this mineral was worked in the northern part of 
Staffordshire, which forms a portion of the same beds. At Wetton there 
appears to have been a Romano-British village where lead ore and the 
remains of a smelting furnace are said to have been found. 6 This village, 
being within the lead-mining district, may have been a miners' settlement, 
and from the objects found in it the inhabitants appear to have been poor 
and probably of the labouring class. One pig of lead was discovered beside 
Watling Street, at Hints in the south-east of the county, but from the inscrip- 
tion upon it there is no doubt that it came from the Flintshire mines and had 
no connexion with the locality in which it was found. 6 

What is now known as potter's clay is not found in Staffordshire, 
and though there can be little doubt that clays indigenous to the county 
were used for pottery discovered at Viroconium and on other Roman sites, 7 
there is no evidence in favour of its local manufacture on any considerable 
scale, as at Castor in Northamptonshire, or at Upchurch, and in the New 
Forest. It has been thought that indications of ancient kilns have been 
discovered at Burslem, but whether they were Roman is altogether uncertain. 
Pieces of rough pottery are said to have been found in digging foundations 
in the neighbourhood, but again there is no certainty as to their Romano- 
British origin. 8 

We are no better off with regard to the agricultural resources of the 
middle and south of the county. As yet there have been found none of the 
villas so frequently discovered in the south of England, which formed the 
country houses of the wealthy, and the farm-houses of the agricultural class. 

The most important of the permanent settlements of the Romano- 
British period in the county is Letocetum often, but incorrectly, called 
Etocetum now Wall, at the crossing of Watling Street and Rycknield 
Street. From the remains found this would appear to have been one of the 
more important ' stations ' along Watling Street, and perhaps even a small 
walled town with buildings of considerable size. 

The actual site of Pennocrucium, a station on Watling Street which is 
placed at Stretton, is not definitely known, and there is nothing apparently 
above ground to indicate its position. It was probably only a small posting 
station, such as existed elsewhere along the Roman roads, without 
masonry walls or earthworks. The name survives in Penk and Penk- 
ridge. At Chesterton there is a large camp which may have formed a 

Bateman, Vestiges, 76, 77, &c. 

Bateman, Ten Tears' Diggings, 194-6 ; Carrington, ReRq. v, 20 1 ; Intellectual Observer, vii, 391. 

See Hints in Topog. Index. 

Wright, Celt. Rom. Sax. ; Jewitt, Ceramic Art in Great Brit. 32. 

Aikins, Hist. Manchester, 524-6 ; Ward, Hist. Stoke-on-Trent, 24. 

184 



ROMANO-BRITISH STAFFORDSHIRE 

station on the conjectured Roman road from Derby, which runs through 
Stoke-upon-Trent and continues in a north-easterly direction. At Rocester 
is another Roman site near the same road. Romano-British villages 
existed at Wetton and Uttoxeter, and a settlement probably adjoined the 
cemetery discovered at Yoxall. There are some indefinite records of settle- 
ments at Madeley and Tettenhall, but they are too vague to enable zn^ 
opinion to be formed regarding them. Besides these there are numerous 
camps generally attributed to the Roman period which appear mostly to lie 
in the valleys of the rivers. Along the western side of the River Dove below 
Dovedale there are camps at Okeover, Rocester, and Uttoxeter ; in the 
Trent valley, at Stoke-upon-Trent and Stone ; in the valley of the Churnet, 
at Leek ; in the valley of the Penk, at Teddesley Hay and Shareshill ; in 
the valley of the Stour, at Kinver and Kingswinford ; and in the valley of 
the Smestow River at Seisdon. These may possibly have been used during 
the early part of the Roman occupation and afterwards abandoned, or may 
have been Romano-British villages. But most of them probably are not 
Roman at all, and in hardly any have Roman objects been found. The 
spade alone can decide their origin and use. 

The limestone region on the border of Derbyshire contains numerous 
caves of various forms and sizes, which have at different times provided 
habitations for men or beasts. The best known of these belong to pre-historic 
ages, but a few of them have been found to contain in the upper and lower 
strata of their floors traces of habitation dating from the Roman period.* 
The most important of such caves in Staffordshire are ' Thor's Cave,' 10 near 
Wetton, ' Thirse House ' at Alton, and that known locally as ' Old 
Hannah's Cave ' near Redhurst. 11 The explanation usually offered of the 
cave life of the Romano-British period is that fugitives took refuge in these 
caves in the fifth or sixth century, when fleeing from the English invaders. 12 
But, as Professor Haverfield has pointed out, the evidence of date from the 
remains found contradicts this theory, as hardly a trace occurs of anything 
later than the third century. The objects also in the more important caves 
imply a tolerably long occupation, and a more plausible explanation is that 
in some hill districts cave life formed a feature of Romano-British civiliza- 
tion. Here, apparently, some of the poorest and wildest of the hill-men 
lived, probably largely on robbery. Plot mentions that as late as 1680 
Thirse House Cave at Alton or Alveton was definitely occupied, and doubt- 
less many parallels could be cited from even later ages. 13 

Sepulchral mounds or barrows exist in great numbers over Staffordshire. 
Many were scientifically excavated by Mr. Bateman and Mr. Carrington 
between 1848 and 1858. In these tumuli were found numerous varieties of 
remains, chiefly Celtic, but including a sufficient number of Roman objects 
to show that the barrows were occasionally used, or perhaps re-used, for 
sepulchral purposes during the Roman period. 14 

Only four hoards of coins have been recorded in the county, one at 
Tatenhill of thirty gold coins dating from B.C. 29 to A.D. 96 ; one at Rowley 

9 y.C.H. Derb. \, 233. 10 See Wetton in Topog. Index. 

11 N. Staffs. Field Club, xxxiii, 105. " Green, Making of Engl. 67-68. 

" Haverfield in V.C.H. Derb. i, 242. Besides the caves in Derbyshire and Staffordshire others occur in 
the limestone hills of Craven in West Yorkshire, also near Arncliffe, Settle, and Giggleswick, and two in 
Devonshire. " Bateman, Ten Tears' Diggings, Int. xii, xiiu 

I 185 24 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Regis, of over a thousand silver coins, covering the ' whole period ' of the 
Roman occupation ; one at Madeley of late copper coins, from A.D. 235 to 
340 ; and one at Mayfield, which was dispersed and the coins unidentified. 
Three gold coins were found at Alton dating from A.D. 70 to A.D. 96. No 
very definite information can be deduced from these particular finds beyond 
the fact that the Romans probably occupied this part of the country from an 
early period. 

A reference should perhaps be made to the theory which has been put 
forward 15 that a line of forts was built between the Dove and the Severn by 
Ostorius Scapula after the campaign of A.D. 50, which line formed the Limes 
Britannicus of the Notitia. This limes consisted of a supposed chain of stations 
with a connecting road, and an occasional raised earthwork or wall for further 
defence. The most important evidence of the link between the various 
stations is the Grey Ditch at Bradwell in Derbyshire, considerable traces of a 
vallum on a hill called Gun above Leek in Staffordshire, and of a vallum or 
raised road in the neighbourhood of Ranton Abbey. Leek is identified as the 
Concangios of the Notifia, Stone as Lavatres, Gnosall as Veterum or Veteris, 
and Shifnal as Braboniacum. Professor Haverfield, however, states that the 
Grey Ditch is not Roman, 17 and it is plain that Lavatres, Veteris, and 
Braboniacum probably represent Lavatris, Verteris, and Bravonacis, three 
stations in the second Iter of Antoninus which lay between Isurium (Aid- 
borough in Yorkshire) and Carlisle, and must have been far removed from 
Staffordshire. Professor Haverfield has further shown that the whole theory 
of the Ostorian forts has been founded upon a corrupt text and bad translation 
of Tacitus. The passage referred to does not relate to a line of forts, but 
probably to a consolidation of the Roman dominion within the frontiers of 
the Severn and Trent. 18 

THE ROADS 

There are two sources from which evidence of Roman roads can be 
obtained, namely, archaeological and literary. The first of these is supplied 
by the actual remains, such as Roman milestones or ancient metalling, and 
occasionally by the persistent straightness with which a road runs from one 
Roman site to another. The written evidence is principally obtained from the 
Itinerarium Antonini, a Roman road-book which gives the distances between the 
'stations' on the various routes in the empire. The date of this work is uncer- 
tain. Only one of the routes mentioned in this itinerary passes through Stafford- 
shire, and that is the well-known Roman road called, since the Saxon period, 
Watling Street. There are also portions of the Rycknield or Icknield Street, 
and a road running from Derby possibly to Chester. Besides these there are 
certain roads which have been suggested as Roman, some of which are prob- 
able, but there appears to be insufficient evidence for the others. 

i. Watling Street. This road forms a part of the second Iter of the 
Antonine itineraries. It starts from the Roman port of Richborough in Kent 
and runs in a north-westerly direction through London and the Midlands to 

15 The Rev. T. Barns in Antiq. xxiviii, 337 et seq. 

16 Netitia Dignitatem (ed. O. Seeck, 1876). 17 y.C.H. Deri, i, 255. 

18 Tacitus, Ann. xii, 31 ; H. Bradley, Academy, April, July, 1883; V.C.H. Somert. i, 217; V.C.H. 
Northanti, i, 213. 

186 



ROMANO-BRITISH STAFFORDSHIRE 

Wroxeter. Its course is definite almost throughout its length, being used at 
the present day as one of the main highways across England. After leaving 
Viroconium (Wroxeter) it runs to Uxacona (probably Oakengates in Shrop- 
shire), eleven Roman miles; thence to Pennocrucium (which has been identified 
with Stretton where the road crosses the River Penk), a distance of twelve 
Roman miles, which corresponds approximately with the actual distance. 
The next station from Pennocrucium is Letocetum or Etocetum (Wall), 
according to the itinerary a distance of twelve Roman miles, which, if the 
identification of Pennocrucium with Stretton is correct, is too short, the 
actual distance being about thirteen and a quarter English miles or fifteen 
Roman miles. A little to the east of Wall Wading Street crosses Rycknield 
Street. From Letocetum the road runs to Manduessedum (Mancetter in War- 
wickshire), and so on in a south-easterly direction. Throughout its course in 
Staffordshire Wading Street runs from point to point in straight lines ; that is 
to say from Oakengates to Gailey, 2 miles east of Stretton, it runs almost due 
east and west. From Gailey it turns slightly southward to Wyrley Common 
and Knaves Castle, and then again turns almost due east and west to Wall. At 
this point its course is not quite certain, the existing road called Watling Street 
from the south-east joins the Rycknield Street about three-quarters of a mile 
south of Wall, but apparently the Roman road turned in a south-easterly 
direction a quarter of a mile east of Wall, following the line of an existing 
footpath, and joined the present road at Lawton Grange, continuing in a 
straight line to Hints. It there takes another turn in a slightly less southerly 
direction to the county boundary at Fazeley. 1 On the 25-in. Ordnance map 
the position of a stone to the south-east of Wall is marked which is supposed 
to indicate the intersection of Watling Street and Rycknield Street. 

2. Rycknield or Icknield Street. This road starts from the Fosse at 
Bourton-on-the- Water in Gloucestershire, running through Alcester and 
Birmingham, where it enters what is now the county of Stafford. Its 
course in this county does not exist as a modern road to the south of Kettle 
House in Perry. From this point it runs for approximately four miles in 
an almost straight line to the park of Little Aston Hall, and for about two 
miles of this distance it forms the county boundary. A piece of it, about a 
quarter of a mile in length, is found slightly to the north at Little Aston, 
where again it is lost till another small portion of it is apparent at Shenstone 
in a short straight piece of road about half a mile in length, running from 
the Waterworks northward towards Chesterfield. Here again it is lost, but 
it probably crossed Watling Street at the point where the site of a stone before 
referred to is shown on the Ordnance maps, and thence in a straight line to 
Knowle Farm, where it changes its direction a little to the east, and continues 
in a straight line to Branston, where its course is again lost for about two and a 
half miles. It is, however, found again to the north of Burton-on-Trent, 
whence it runs in the same straight line to the county boundary, crossing the 
River Dove at Monks Bridge and keeping a direct course to Derby. At 
Wichnor Bridges the road was formed on piles over the marshy meadows, and 
when in 1795 these bridges were destroyed by a flood the road was washed 
away, leaving the piles exposed. 2 It is of course not wholly certain that these 

1 Codrington, Rom. Roads in Britain, 75-6 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 3. 

1 Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs. \, 1 8, 125 ; Pennant, Journey from Chester to London, 121-3. 

187 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

piles date so far back as the Roman period. There is no indication of a station 
between Wall and Derby, a distance of about twenty-four miles, but not being one 
of the Antonine routes we have little information in this respect regarding it. 
At Sutton Coldfield, where it forms the boundary between the counties of 
Stafford and Warwick, it was in 1752 said to be in its original condition, and 
was described as 

a very spacious road, not less than sixty feet in breadth, though the surface be in general 
over-run with heath, and for a short space in the park overspread with oaks of considerable 
magnitude ... It is formed by gravel and materials on the spot, high raised in the centre, 
the preservation wonderful owing to its not being a public road.* 

3. Road from Derby to Stoke-upon-Trent, This road, which has also been 
called Rycknield Street, 4 apparently follows an almost straight line from Derby 
past Rocester to Totmonslow near Draycott-in-the-Moors, and then turns 
slightly northward to Stoke-upon-Trent, from which point its course is lost. 
An ancient boulder pavement was found at Stoke-upon-Trent in 1903 ' at 
the junction of the London Road and High Street which probably formed a 
part of this road. 

4. Probable road from Stretton to the Longford Road. There are indications 
of a Roman road running apparently from Whitchurch in Shropshire to 
Stretton, identified as Pennocrucium on Watling Street, which would have 
formed a short cut to Chester. Certain traces of it are found in the 
long straight piece of road called the Long Ford, running from Bletchley 
near Market Drayton to Hinstock in Shropshire. It is here lost for nearly 
two miles, and then forms the county boundary between Shropshire and 
Staffordshire for about three miles. Its course is again lost, but it probably 
passed to the north of Aqualate Mere in Forton parish by Rye Mill to a point 
near to Longnor Hall, where there is a straight road of about three miles in 
length which joins Watling Street at Stretton. 6 

English antiquaries have often laid down on their maps and in their 
books a ' Via Devana ' running more or less directly from Colchester by 
Cambridge and Huntingdon to Leicester, and finally to Chester, the Roman 
fortress of Deva. There is no evidence of the existence of this supposed 
'through-route' across Britain, and the name ' Via Devana' is a modern 
invention. Parts of the route may be accepted as independent roads of really 
Roman origin, 7 and it has been suggested that this way crossed Staffordshire 
from Burton-upon-Trent, through Needwood Forest to Uttoxeter, thence to 
Longton and Chesterton, and so on to Chester. There does not seem, how- 
ever, to be any evidence of this road in the county. 8 

Other supposed Roman roads are one from Wroxeter to Chesterton, and 
another from Chester to Chesterton. The existence of these roads has been 
suggested by reason of the identification of Chesterton with the Antonine 
station of Mediolanum, mentioned in the second and tenth itineraries. But 
the exact site of Mediolanum referred to in the second itinerary is quite 

J Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 1 8. For the name of the road, Rycknield or Icknield Street, see 
Professor Haverfield's notes in V.H.C. Warw. i, 241 ; V.C.H. Derb. i, 245-6. 
4 Molyneux, Journ. Brit. Arch. Asioc. xxix, 288 ; f.C.H. Derb. i, 246. 
1 North Staffs. Field Club, xxxviii, 159. 

' See y.C.H. Shrops. i, section on Roman roads, for a further account. 
1 y.C.H. Northants. i, 207. 
1 Molyneux, Journ. Brit. Arch. Asm. xxix, 288. 

188 



ROMANO-BRITISH STAFFORDSHIRE 

unknown. It is impossible that it can have been situated at Chesterton, 
as by the course of the itinerary it must have been somewhere to the 
west in Shropshire. The reason for identifying Mediolanum of the tenth 
itinerary with Chesterton is that its position agrees approximately with 
the distance given by Antoninus (nineteen Roman miles) from Condate 
(Kinderton in Cheshire), the previous station; but it is improbable that there 
should have been two stations of the same name comparatively near to one 
another. 9 The remains as yet discovered at Chesterton do not indicate more 
than the existence of a large rectangular camp of an (as yet) undetermined 
age, lying on the west side of the road leading from Audley to Newcastle- 
under-Lyme, here called Newcastle Street, which road may here be part ot 
a Roman highway from Stoke-upon-Trent to Kinderton. The evidence as 
to its identification with Mediolanum, however, is wholly inconclusive. 



INDEX 

ALSTONFIELD. In 1845 a large barrow called 'Steep Lowe" was opened near Alstonfield. It was 
about 50 yds. in diameter, 15 ft. in central elevation. A skeleton, two iron spear-heads, a 
drinking cup, some smelted iron ore, animal bones, and three Roman coins were found. The 
coins were third brass, one of Tetricus (A.D. 768-73), one of Constantine (A.D. 306-37), 
the third was undecipherable. Later, other objects, probably of an earlier period, were 
found. [Ante, ' Early Man ' ; Bateman, Vestiges of Antiq. of Derb., 76-7.] In the following 
year two barrows were opened in Stanshope Pasture, near Dovedale, in the same parish. One 
contained coarse pottery, calcined bones, and flint ; the second a few fragments of a human 
skeleton and some pieces of Samian ware. Bateman records that this is the only instance of 
Samian ware being found in a sepulchral deposit in the counties of Derby and Stafford 
[Bateman, op. cit. 86]. 

ALTON. In 1725, about 900 yds. from Alton Castle, were found three gold coins, one of Vespasian 
(A.D. 70-7) ; one of Titus (A.D. 79-81) ; and one of Domitian (A.D. 81-96). Plot mentions 
that a cave at ' Alveton ' called ' Thurse House 'was inhabited as late as 1680. It was of 
the same type as the limestone caves of Derbyshire, and ' Thor's Cave ' [see Wetton. Plot, 
Nat. Hist. Staffs. 172 ; V.C.H. Deri, i, 233, note i]. 

ARELEY. (See UPPER ARELEY.) 

BARR. (See GREAT BARR.) 

BILSTON. Coins are said to have been found here [Willmore, Hist. IVahall, 25]. 

BRANSTON. On the summit of a hill (called Sinai Park) in the village are the remains of a 
' Roman camp.' Stebbing Shaw and others have endeavoured to identify the site with the 
station of Ad Trivoman mentioned by Richard of Cirencester, though not by Antoninus, but 
the evidence of a Roman station either of this name or on this site is very problematical 
[Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 21 ; Reliq. ii, 208]. 

BURTON-ON-TRENT. Stukeley supposed that a Roman station was situated here, but no record of 
the discovery of Roman remains has been made, except the somewhat indefinite statement 
that in pulling down the old bridge over the Trent in 1876 it was found that the buttresses 
were built on oak piles, and some of the older stones were thought to be Roman [Pitt, Hist. 
Staffs., 41 ; Burton-on-Trent Nat. Hist, and Arch. Sac. v, pt. i, p. 4]. 

CALLINGWOOD. (See TATENHILL.) 

CASTERN. (See ILAM.) 

CHESTERTON. The distance given in the tenth tier of the Antonine Itinerary from Mediolanum to 
Condate (Kindeston), 19 Roman miles, has been thought sufficient to justify the identification 
of Chesterton and Mediolanum, but as has been stated under the heading of 'Roads' in this 
article, the evidence of such an identification, as far as our present information goes, appears 

9 There is probably an error in the distance in this section of the second itinerary (f.C.H. Shropt. i, ' Roman 
Remains '). The Mediolanum of the second iter was on the road from Viroconium (Wroxeter) to Deva 
(Chester) between Rutunium near Roden in Shropshire and Bovium, probably near to Stretton in Cheshire. 
Mediolanum was described by Ptolemy as a town of the Ordovices, which would also place it west of 
Staffordshire. See further Chesterton in Topog. Index. 

189 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

to be inadequate. The name alone is suggestive of Roman origin. The north vallum and fosse 
still remain, and the east and west defences can be traced [jfourn. Brit. Arch. Assoc. (New Ser.), 
ii, 121 et seq.]. The camp forms a parallelogram measuring 365 yds. by 300 yds. (outside 
measure), and incloses upwards of 20 acres, the ditch being about 20 yds. wide. So far as 
is known no Roman or other relics have been found on the site. Erdeswick, writing 
about 1603, mentions remains of masonry which were to be seen in his time in sufficiently 
good preservation for it to be perceived ' that the walls have been of marvellous thickness ' 
[Erdeswick, Surv. of Staffs, (ed. Harwood, 1844), 22]. The site was excavated in 1905, and 
the only result was the finding of some pieces of flat red sandstone joined with mortar. 
Mr. Charles Lynam, however, does not seem to have considered that the mortar was Roman 
[Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. (Ser. 2), ii, 121 et seq.]. 

CROXDEN. Roman remains are reported to have been turned up on a farm about three-quarters of 
a mile south-east of Croxden Abbey. The supposed Roman road between Hollington and 
Rocester is not far from this place [Antiq. xxviii, 255]. 

ELLASTONE. Some gold coins of the Roman period ' are said to have been found near Wootton 
Lodge [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 32]. 

FORTON. Plot and Camden record 'some Roman works' at Moreton, not far from this place. 
The Ordnance map marks a Roman well on the north side of the mere called Aqualate in 
this parish [Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 395 ; Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough), ii, 380; Antiq. xxviii, 
255]. At Oulton, about a mile off, some arms were found which it has been suggested were 
Roman [Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 275]. 

GREAT BARR. On Hardwick Farm, about half a mile from the Icknield Street, was found the 
boss or umbo of a shield, thought to be Roman. It was made of bronze ornamented with 
embossed figures, and measured about 2 in. across [Willmore, Hist. Wahall, 25]- 

GREENSFORGE. (See KINGSWINFORD.) 

GOURNAL. (See SEDGLEY.) 

HAWKBACK. (See UPPER ARELEY.) 

HINTS. In 1771 a pig of lead was discovered on Hints Common, with the following inscription 
on the bottom, in relief : IMP. VESP. vu. T. IMP. v. cos. (Imperatore Vespasiano septimum. 
Tito Imperatore quintum, Consulibus). On the side, DECEAN. G. The date would have been 
about A.D. 76. The letters on the side are thought to refer to the Deceangi, a tribe which 
inhabited the district about the county of Flint, and the pig is, therefore, supposed, with others 
found in different parts of the country, to have come from that locality. The weight is 
150 lb., the length 22^ in., and it was found at a depth of 4 ft. below the surface. It is now 
in the British Museum [Gent. Mag. (1772), p. 558 ; (1773), p. 6 1 ; Camden, Brit. (ed. 
Gough), ii, 382 ; Httbner, Corpus Inscrip. vii, 1205 ; Arch, v, 371 ; Ivii, 402 ; Arch. "Joum. 
xvi, 28 ; Haverfield, Proc. Sac. Antiq. (Ser. 2), xv, 187 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 164 ; Stebbing 
Shaw, Hist, Staffs, i, 331]. 

HOPTON. An iron spear-head was found when making a road near Hopton in 1792 which Bateman 
thought to be Roman [Bateman, op. cit. 10]. 

ILAM. In 1845 two barrows known as Bitchenhill Harbour, between Wetton and Ham, were 
opened. In one was found the remains of an urn of coarse pottery with a deposit of burnt 
bones, and a third brass of Constantine the Great (A.D. 291-306) [Bateman, op. cit. 8iJ. 
A small barrow called ' Green Low ' in the hamlet of Castern was opened in 1 860. It was 
in the same field as a larger one excavated in 1846, which was not thought to contain any- 
thing Roman. In ' Green Low ' several articles of different periods were found ; a green hone 
celt, a round-ended flint, a piece of coarse pottery, and a very perfect harp-shaped bronze 
fibula, said to be of a Roman type. These articles appeared to be independent of each other 
or of any interment. In another cutting the skeleton of a child with a flint arrow point was 
discovered, and in a third trench another juvenile skeleton. Pieces of stags' horns, animals' 
teeth, rats' bones, numerous pebbles and flints were also found [Bateman, Ten Fears' Diggings, 
116 ; Ante, 'Early Man']. 

KINGSWINFORD. There is said to be a Roman camp, on the level ground called Ashwood Heath,, 
near Greensforge, in the parish of Kingswinford. It is square, easily to be traced, and lies on 
the south-east side of the road. It measures 206 yds. in length and 160 yds. in width, 
containing an area of 6f acres, and is surrounded by a single ditch [O.S. Staffordshire, 25 in., 
Ixx, 4], It used to be known as ' Wolverhampton Church Yard.' The road crosses it, and 
the western side is*the most perfect. Coins have been found in the locality. The camp at 
Chesterton in Shropshire, on the same road, is said to resemble it very closely [Ante, 
'Ancient Earthworks'; Camden, Brit. (add. by Gough), ii, 380; Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 
406 ; Erdeswick, Survey of Staffs. 374 ; Cox, Mag. Brit, v, 35, 46 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist* 
Staffs, ii, 233 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 5, 193]. 

190 






ROMANO-BRITISH STAFFORDSHIRE 

KINVER. On the height known as ' Kinver Edge ' half a mile east of the village, are the remains 
of an encampment of oblong form measuring 300 yds. by 1 80 yds., with a single ditch [Past, 
' Anct. Earthworks']. It is supposed to be Roman, but there is no record of Roman remains 
having been found within it [O.S. Staffordshire, 25 in. Ixx, 15], Near it is a large square 
stone about 6 ft. in height and 1 2 ft. in circumference, tapering towards the top, where it is 
divided into three. It is known as the ' Barton,' ' Boltstone,' or ' Battlestone,' and is generally 
considered Celtic, like the ' Devil's Bolts ' in Yorkshire, or ' Devil's Coits ' in Oxfordshire. 
Mr. Coote suggests, however, that it was an agrimensura or terminal stone [Coote, Romans of 
Britain, 98 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staff's, i, 22, 37, 263 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 197 ; Cox, 
Mag. Brit, v, 33 ; Camden, Brit. (adds, by Gough), ii, 381]. There are no records of coins 
or other remains discovered in the neighbourhood. 

LEEK. There are traces of an entrenched camp of an oblong shape, with rectangular corners, in 
the fields to the east of Abbey or Abbey Green Farm, at a little distance from the town \Antiq. 
xxxviii, 337 (1902)]. On the top of a hill called 'Gun,' about i miles from the abbey, is 
another square entrenchment, said to be Roman, but the identification of both sites is very pro- 
blematical \_Antiq. xxxviii, 359; Staffs. Field Club (1902-3), xxxviii, 150]. Several relics, 
thought to be pieces of Roman armour, &c., have been found near the town [Kelly, Dir. 224.]. 

LICHFIELD. A tradition exists that ' Christianfield,' near Stitchbrook, was the supposed scene of the 
execution of i, ooo martyrs during the persecution of Maximian (A.D. 286), but no evidence 
can be adduced in support of this legend. At Pipe Hill, between Wall (q.v.) and Lichfield, 
are the remains of what is called a ' barricade,' said to be of the Roman period [Plot, Nat. Hist. 
Staffs. 3989]. It is made of the whole trunks of oak trees, fixed at some depth in the ground. 
The upper part had, of course, vanished, but a great deal of the lower part was found intact, 
the wood being quite black, uniform in length and shape, the marks of the axe being still 
visible. From some which had apparently fallen and remained whole under the surface, it 
was concluded that the height was 12 ft., the largest diameter being from 12 in. to 14 in., and 
it is said to have been flanked with bastions. Each piece of timber had a cavity 4 in. wide, 
3 ft. from the top, cut down its middle. The barricade was traced for 500 yards, not quite 
straight, so as to include a natural swell or bank of earth. Palisades as defences were, how- 
ever, used for a considerable time before and after the Roman occupation of Britain, and the 
structure was possibly of a date later than the Roman occupation. A copper coin of Hadrian 
(A.D. 1 20) was found on the site [MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. xxvi, 317 (1794) ; Erdeswick, Surv. 
of Staffs, (ed. Harwood), 302 ; Pitt, Hist. Staff's, i, 128 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staff's, i, 19]. 

LONGDON. To the north-east of Longdon Church are traces of a fortification thought to be Roman, 
the east and west sides being still apparent [Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs, 406 ; Cox, Mag. Brit, v, 
35 ; Antiq. ii, 272]. The remains consist of several short lengths of slopes, but without 
discernible boundaries [Post, 'Anct. Earthworks']. 

MADELEY. In 1817 two urns, containing a quantity of Roman copper coins, were turned up by 
the plough on a farm called Little Madeley Parks, about three miles from Chesterton. The urns 
were destroyed ; a horseshoe and a key were found at the same time. The coins identified 
were as follows : Maximinus (A.D. 235-238), Diocletian (A.D. 284-305), Constantine (A.D. 
306-337), Licinius (A.D. 307-324), Crispus (A.D. 317-326), Constantine P.F. (four reverses) 
(A.D. 317-337), Constantine Junior (four reverses) (A.D. 337-340) [Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 447]. 
During draining operations in a field called 'Cheshire Meadow," foundations of buildings, 
carved and moulded stone work, are said to have been discovered ; a field adjoining this, called 
Wall Croft, has a deep fosse and a vallum, which may give its name to the croft. In Made- 
ley field is an entrenchment, and in 1871 Roman pottery, corroded pieces of iron, and an iron 
fibula were found there. Near the camp is a hollow, paved with large boulders, and over the 
field traces of roads and buildings are said to exist below the surface. A little north of the 
camp, at Overton, a circular leaden case was found, from i6in. to i8in. across, gin. in 
depth, which, it is suggested, may have been a sepulchral urn case, but it is doubtful if it was 
Roman [Redfern, Hist. Uttoxeter, 63]. 

MAYFIELD. In, a field called Dale-close, an urn containing Roman coins was found, and in Church- 
town-field in Upper Mayfield another urn was discovered [Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 404 ; Cox, 
Mag. Brit, v, 105 ; Brayley, Beauties of Engl. and Wales, xiii, pt. 2, pp. 1006, 1018]. 

MORETON. See Forton. 

OFFLEY (or HIGH OFFLEY). It was conjectured by Pitt in his history of Staffordshire that the 
station called Mediolanum stood here, but there is little evidence in support of such a theory. 
Traces of a Roman road are thought to have been discovered, and Roman coins in great 
numbers, tiles, armour, fragments of pottery, &c., have been found on the side of a hill south 
of the churchyard [Pitt, Hist. Staffs. 319]. These remains have either been grossly 
exaggerated by Pitt or his informants, or they indicate a house or hamlet of some sort. 

191 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

OGLEY HAY. There are slight remains of an earthwork here, known as ' Knaves' Castle ' [Post, 
' Anct. Earthworks' ; Erdeswick, Surv. of Staffs. 302]. 

OKEOVER. A square intrenchment, called 'The Halsteads,' about a quarter of a mile south of the 
church, is considered possibly Roman [Cox, Mag. Brit, v, 107 ; Plot, Hist. Staffs. 404]. 

PATTINGHAM. Several Roman relics (not described) are said to have been found here at different 
times [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, ii, 279 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 188 ; Cox, Mag. Brit, v, 43 ; 
Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough), ii, 380], 

PIPE HILL. See Lichfield and Wall. 

ROCESTER. While making foundations for a cotton mill in 1792 some foundations were discovered, 
together with a brass spear-head and some copper coins, much corroded and defaced, which 
were, however, thought to be Roman. Human bones and fragments of pottery were also 
found [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 34, note]. In a field near the church is an earthwork 
about 45 yds. square, with a circular mound in the centre, and the remains of a vallum on 
three sides [Antiq. xxviii, 238 ; Redfern, Hist. Uttoxeter, 65]. About three-quarters of a 
mile north of Rocester is a ' camp ' called Barrow Hill, on the side of Dove Cliff. The 
camp is rectangular, with rounded angles, measuring 147 yds. north and south, 167 yds. east 
and west, and contains an area of 6f acres. The north-west and south-east angles are extant, 
and the sides can be traced. In 1894 some fragments of Roman pottery and glass were 
disclosed slightly under the surface [Post, 'Anct. Earthworks'; N. Staffs. Field Club (1894)]. 
In a barrow or tumulus to the north of the camp Roman coins and pottery were found in 
1872 [O.S. Staffs, xxvi, 6]. 

ROWLEY REGIS. In 1794, in pulling down an old stone wall, an urn, described as an 'earthen 
globe,' was found, containing about 1,200 silver coins. They were all dispersed except 300, 
which were kept by the Rev. J. Cartwright, and were said to cover the whole period of the 
Roman occupation [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 35 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 8]. In 1804 a 
further discovery of coins was made, one said to be a silver denarius of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 
161-180) [Gent. Mag. 1805, ii, 696]. 

RUSHALL. In 1795 some silver and two copper coins, together with two pieces of metal, supposed 
to be fibulae, were found in digging a canal here [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 35 ; Pitt, 
Hist. Staff s.i, 148]. 

SEDGLEY. At Gournal, in the parish of Sedgley, Roman foundations are supposed to have been dis- 
covered in the sixteenth century, and mention is made of ' grindstones ' or querns being found 
in the same place, but there is nothing to show that they were Roman [Erdeswick, Surv. of 
Staffs, (ed. Harwood, 1844), 370]. 

SEISDON. On Seisdon Common, near Abbots' or Apwood Castle, is a small square intrenchment 
with a single ditch, situated on a round promontory. [Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough), ii, 381 ; 
Pitt. Hist. Staffs, i, 187 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staff's, ii, 210]. Near the common is a large 
triangular stone called the War Stone, which Mr. Coote suggests is a ' trifinnial ' boundary 
stone [Coote, Romans of Britain, 97 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 187 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs. 
ii, 210]. 

SHARESHILL. On the north and south sides of this village were vestiges of two encampments,, 
supposed from their square form to have been Roman ; remains of one still exist [Post, ' Anct. 
Earthworks'; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 259 ; Brayley, Beauties of Engl. and Wales, xiii, 868]. 

STAPENHILL. Roman coins were found here in a Saxon cemetery [P.C.H. Derb. i, 262]. 

STONE. An urn of unglazed red clay was dug up in the corner of Stoke Lane, at the east entrance 
into Stone. It was of a wide-mouthed or ' bell ' shape, diameter 3^ in. at the bottom, 9 in. at 
the top ; height i o in. ; it was ornamented with incised lines in a zigzag pattern, and contained 
ashes and small pieces of human bones [Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 6 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs* 
i> 35]- There is a square entrenchment a mile out of Stone, at Hollywood, in a coppice 
known as Campfield, and in the meadows near the Hilderstone Brook is another earthwork with 
a double fosse, the outer one representing a quadrilateral figure of 200 yds. A small bronze 
Roman coin was dug up here. On the road from Stone to Gnosall was a 'high paved way* 
near Eccleshall, mentioned by Plot about 1686 [Antiq. xxxviii, 361 ; Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 
402]. 

STRETTON (near Brewood). The site of Pennocrucium, the Roman station of the Antonine Itinerary 
on Wading Street, 12 Roman miles from Uxacona (Oakengates) and 12 from Letocetum 
(Wall), is generally thought to be here because the distances approximately agree. The name 
Pennocrucium suggests a connexion with the River Penk which the Watling Street here 
crosses, and the name of Stretton suggests a Roman site. No Roman coins or other antiquities, 
however, have been discovered, but no systematic excavations have been attempted. There 
are two small eminences near the street, called Rowley Hill and Beacon Hill. The larger, 
Rowley Hill, occupies about five acres, rises from meadows near the river, and is sur- 

192 



ROMANO-BRITISH STAFFORDSHIRE 

mounted by a tumulus in which a few Celtic remains have been found [Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 
260; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 31; Wright, Celt. Rom. Sax. 124; Horsley, Brit. 
Rom. 420 ; MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. i, 203 ; Arch, v, 1 13 ; Plot, Hist. Staffs. 401]. 

STRETTON (near Burton-on-Trent). In the ' Monks' Bridge,' which crosses the river here, certain 
remains of wooden piles have been found, which, it has been suggested, formed part of a 
Roman bridge carrying the Rycknield Street across the River Dove [Trans. Burton-on-Trent 
Nat. Hist, and Arch. Soc. iv, 32 ; cf. Burton-on-Trent]. 

TATENHILL. An old road way, a field or two from the east end of the church, is said to be of 
Roman construction. An ornament, probably a fibula , was found in 1819 near the road 
[N. Staff's. Field Club, xxxvii, 153; MS. Min. Antiq. Soc. xxxiv, 188]. In the hamlet of 
Callingwood, about a mile west of the Rycknield Street, on the border of Needwood Forest, 
were found in 1793 upwards of thirty gold coins in very good preservation ; of Augustus (B.C. 29- 
A.D. 14), Nero (A.D. 54-68), Galba (A.D. 68-69), Vespasian (A.D. 70-79), Domitian (A.D. 
81-96) [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staff's, i, 18, 35 ; Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 8 ; Gent. Mag. (1796), 
983 ; Reliq. ii, 209]. 

TEDDESLEY HAY. In Teddesley Park is a small square entrenchment, and in the fosse a short 
sword or dagger of iron, considered Roman, was found in 1780 [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs. 
ii, 2]. 

TETTENHALL. In the hamlet of Wrottesley are the remains of foundations. Dr. Plot, about 1686, 
stated that he was able to trace the lines of streets, &c. The circuit of the whole was said to 
be between three and four miles, lying partly in Staffordshire, partly in Shropshire. The foun- 
dations have unfortunately been dug up and used for various purposes. Squared stones, metal 
clamps or hinges, and a bronze dagger have been found at different times. There is, however, 
no evidence as to the date of these remains, which may have been later than the Roman period. 
Near the place is the ' Low Hill ' field, where many human bones have been discovered [Plot, 
Nat. Hist. Staffs. 394 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, ii, 194 ; Cox, Mag. Brit, v, 47, 48]. 

UPPER ARELEY. A square entrenchment surrounded with double, and on one side treble, ditches 
is in Areley Wood. Remains indicative of a Roman settlement are said to have existed at 
Hawkback. Roman coins have been found in the vicinity, some said to be gold, one of Tiberius 
(A.D. 14-37) [P' tt > Hist. Staffs, i, 202; Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough), ii, 381 ; Stebbing Shaw, 
Hist. Staffs, ii, 253]. This parish, originally in Staffordshire, is now included in Worcester- 
shire. 

UPPER STONNAL. On a hill in this parish a camp exists which Plot thought Roman. Spear-heads 
and other implements have been dug up on the site, but whether they were of Roman date is 
uncertain [Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 396]. Coins are also said to have been found in the neigh- 
bourhood [Willmore, Hist. Wahall, 25]. 

UPPER TEAM. In 1728 two urns of unglazed red clay, holding about six quarts apiece were found 
in a garden. They were in an inverted position, and under one of them were several frag- 
ments of human bones, skulls, &c. [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 35]. 

UTTOXETER. Romano-British pottery and bronze articles have been found here. In 1872 two 
pieces of pottery were found on LJttoxeter Heath, near the Ash bourne Road. An entrenchment 
on the south of the town is quadrangular in form and of a fairly large size ; the north side is 
perfect, in a field known as the ' Sandfort ' field. The west and south sides are also dis- 
cernible. Pottery has been found on the site, and an amphora near it. In Bradley Street 
numerous fragments of pottery were found, also a large quantity of grey clay, and one piece of 
unfinished ware, which led to the conjecture that the articles may have been manufactured on 
the spot. There were found also a bronze buckle, part of a brass fibula enamelled in red, a 
white hard metal button or ornament, a bronze disc, a piece of lead with a circular edge, the 
handle of a bronze key, a quern, boars' tusks, pieces of iron, a coin, and fragments of pottery 
scattered for 70 yds. round. Only one piece of Samian ware was discovered. In all parts of 
the town potsherds and small coins have been found [Redfern, Hist. Uttoxeter, 50-1]. At 
Stramshall in this parish a field was opened in five different places, and fragments of pottery 
were discovered at each place, but no Samian ware. An old well near the church, surrounded 
by pavement a foot below the surface, was supposed to be Roman [Journ, Brit. Arch. Soc. 
xxix, 263]. It was faced from top to bottom with stone ; at the bottom was a sandstone flag, 
with a hollow space chiselled out in the centre about one foot in width. Pottery was found 
in a bank near it [Redfern, Hist. Uttoxeter, 59]. 

WALL. Here was undoubtedly the station of Letocetum or Etocetum of the Antonine Itinerary 
and the ' Lectoceto civitas ' of Ravennas, the distances laid down in the second Iter 
agreeing approximately with the actual measurements [Haverfield, V.C.H. Wore, i, 214; 
Horsley, Brit. Rom. 436; Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. ii, 15; Arch, viii, 95; xi, 92; Pitt, 
Hist. Staffs, i, 4 ; Wrottesley, in N. Staffs. Field Club Trans. (1901-2), xxxvi, 130-1 ; 

i 193 2 5 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Stukeley, I tin. Cur. i, 58 ; Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough), ii, 385]. The site of the Roman town 
appears to have been on high ground north of Watling Street, extending from a line running 
north in a field called Castle Croft on the east to the brook just beyond the village pound on 
the west ; the northern limit appears to have been to the north of a field called ' the Butts,' 
and so in a line eastward. This would give an area of about 30 acres. Indications of earth- 
works may perhaps be traced here and there along these lines. Unlike the usual practice of 
the Roman period the town does not stand at the actual crossing of the two Roman roads, 
but is about half a mile from the point where Watling Street crosses Rycknield Street. 
Unfortunately, we know very little of the Roman town ; from time to time excavations 
have been made, but no plans having been preserved they have yielded us practically no 
information. 1 It is conjectured that Letocetum was a walled site, as foundations of a 
wall about II ft. thick, traced for 50 yds., were discovered by the late Colonel Bagnall 
in 1887 in Castle Croft, which could scarcely have been other than the east wall of the 
town, but the report on the excavations gives neither the exact site nor direction of the 
wall [Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. xlvi, 228]. Probably it was this same wall which was 
referred to by Stebbing Shaw, writing about 1752, who stated that by the side of the road 
going northward from Wall to Pipe Hill (probably Wall Lane) the Roman walls were then 
to be seen extending for 100 yds. made up of ragstone with sloping courses of bonding 
tiles held together with very strong white mortar. The best portion of the wall was in 
Stebbing Shaw's time to be seen in the garden of Mr. Thomas Jackson [Stebbing Shaw, 
Hist. Staffs, i, 1 8, 19, 356]. The only pieces of Roman wall now showing above ground 
are at the points marked A and B on the accompanying plan, and apparently belonged to 
some important building. Although a considerable quantity of Roman remains, including 
some tesserae and the base of a column, have been found on the south side of Watling Street, 
there is great doubt whether the Roman area extended across the road. There is no evidence 
that the tesserae and base were in situ, and the other remains discovered indicate rather the 
site of the cemetery, which undoubtedly extended along Watling Street to the east of Wall 
[Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 401 (1686)]. 

Probably the greater part of the remains have been found in the field called ' the Butts,' on 
the west side of the site. Erdeswick, writing in the sixteenth century, speaks of walls being 
visible here which were afterwards carried away for building purposes. Writers of the 
eighteenth century mention walls 3 ft. thick, 12 ft. high, running equidistant 12 ft. apart, 
forming rooms 'like square cellars' [Stukeley, Itin. Cur. i, 58 ; Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough), 
ii, 385 ; Erdeswick, Surv. of Staffs, (ed. Harwood), 301; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 18, 19]. 
Plot, in 1686, mentions that in the field called 'the Butts' he was shown two pavements 'one 
above another at least 4 ft.,' the uppermost (which lay within 18 in. of the surface) being 
made for the most part ' of lime and rubble stone ' ; and the lowermost ' of pebbles and gravel 
knit together with a very hard cement about 4 in. thick laid upon a foundation of Roman 
brick ; and under them boulder stone of a foot thick or more.' Above the uppermost of 
these Roman coins were often found, and he was shown three, one of Nero (A.D. 54-68), one 
of Domitian (A.D. 81-96), and one undecipherable [Plot, Nat. Hist. Staffs. 401]. In 1887 
some excavations were made by Colonel Bagnall, and in the lower part of ' the Butts,' 
south of the footpath across the field, several chambers were discovered, each about 6 ft. 
square with floors of layers of charcoal. A large quantity of roof-tiles and common pottery, 
some blue-grey, some red and whitish yellow, and some with potters' marks ; tiles with 
PS on them (now in the Lichfield Museum) and animal bones, quantities of wall-plaster, 
with stripes of red, brown, and green, many oyster and snail shells, fragments of Bangor slates 
perforated with holes for nails, many iron nails and some circular earthen pipes about I J in. 
in diameter were also found. Near these chambers, in a hedge, was discovered a large worked 
stone with a hole in the middle where a hinge might work, and not far off what is thought to 
have been a road made of common pebbles {Joum. Brit. Arch. Assoc. (Ser. i), xlvi, 22731], 
It is said in Lomax's Guide to Licbfield that a man employed in draining the land near Wall 
mentioned that he often found coins and other relics, and once, where the church now is, he 
found 'a figure of earthenware as big as a man, but a woman's figure in a strange dress 
with a man's cap like a soldier's helmet ; we broke it in pieces to mend the bank of the 
drain.' The coins were said to be of Tiberius (A.D. 14-37) an< ^ otners > ' n gW, silver, and 
copper. Not far off, but whether within or outside the Roman town is not stated, a farmer 

1 These finds are recorded by ' Antiquary ' in a letter to the Staffs. Advertiser in 1859 ; by Col. Bagnall 
in a communication to the Birmingham and Midland Institute in 1873, and by Mr. J. T. Irvine in the 
Journ. of the Brit. Arch. Assoc. for 1890. All three accounts appear to be substantially the same, and to note 
the same discoveries. 

194 




s 

z 
a* 



195 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 




found three earthen r esses full of bones, bat brake diem to 
Butts, other walls weie found, apparently of a large number of 

copprr articles, draught to be a buckle and a brooch, and bones of a;Ml There a a 
tradition in die neighbourhood dut a subterranean passage went from ' die Butts ' to Casde 
Croft, and dtat it was opened when die road was altered, bat k could not be found in 1872, 
-hough search was made for it \Jmrm. Brit. Arct. Asm. (Ser. \\ rhri, 227-31]. The field 
called 'Casde Croft* is said to hare been surrounded by walk, apparently risible in 1817, and 
in a garden there pavements, said to be ' of Roman brick, and great qiiaKBJCs of 
stones were dug up [Pitt, Hist. Staffs, i, 128-9; Cox. Mag. Brit, r, 25]. 

Some excavations were made in 1859 in Casde Croft, when a trench was a 
a wall, apparently to die south-west of die field running paraDd to Wading Street, and 
' a quadrangular room was opened, though not cleared, with a floor about 3 ft. below die 
surface composed of hard concrete curaed with a coat of plaster. Here was an abundance 
of ridged tiles of fine red clay.' These tiles were probably floe-tiles, one of diem had die 
letters PS upon it (see awte) ; slates of a greenish colour widi nail or peg boles and die 
"*"f^ ptryr ^ of wall plaster corered with stripes of red, tf t t fm } yellow, uuwii ana white vuc 
also found. Animal bones, oyster shells, potsherds, glass, coins supposed to be of Nero (A.D. 
54-68) and Constantius (A.D. 291-306) were ako discovered and sent to die Lkhfield 
Museum [Letter by 'Antiquary ' to die Staffs. Advertiser, 1 8 June, 1859]. This site was 
apparently again excavated in 1872 ; a small chamber, die walk of which were 2 ft. thick, 
was disclosed. No coins were found, bat Samian ware and other pottery, large worked stones 
about i ft. square, fragments of roofing-tiles, coloured wall plaster widi floral ifc , blocks of 
concrete made of pounded brick and Wakall lime, ako pebbles and lime and a great variety of 
other remains of buildings were discovered. Human and animal booes are said to hare been 
found \Jrum. Brit. Arch. Ass*. (Ser. i), xxix, 1 1 6]. Many fragments of Samian 
were discovered in Castle Croft, though there were none in ' die Butts.' A few coins, ; 
of flint and a very little ?lass were also found. In die field on die south side of Wading 
Street called Chesterfield w*-e found remains which have been conjectured, probably on 
insufficient grounds, to hare been lead works. There are no traces of masonry, but at about 
4 ft. from die surface a layer of clay was found, about 6 in. thick, and under it, in different 
places, charcoal and sand ; the clay must hare been brought to die spot, as diere is none in die 
neizhbourhood. Beneath it were quantities of animals' bones, and pieces of iron and iron- 
cinder. One piece of iron was thought to be a horse-bit, and two were probably door-handles 
1 6 in. in lenzth. Very little pottery was seen, bur quantities of lead and copper, some umhJ 
!ead, a copper key, a finite, small copper naik, pieces of plate or sheet copper, a few coins and 
some fragments or" glass. A considerable amount of ashes and burnt day was ako found with 
the metals [^jin. Brit. Ar;b. AUK. (Ser. i), xlvi, 227-31]. In Chesterfield Roman COMB 
were found. One of Nero (A-D. 54-6?), one of Vespasian (A.D. 709), one of Domrtian 
(A.D. 8 1-96} 'O.S. Kiii, 6], also the remains of a column, already alluded to, a piece of Samian 
ware, some tnstrat from a pavement, ice. A gold Otho (A.D. 69) was dog up in 1690, but 
exactly where is not known [Plot, \af. Hist. Staffs. 401 ; Erdeswick, Sxrv. rf Staffs, (ed. 
Harwood), 301 ; Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 18]. Colonel Bagnall states dut he was told 
upon good authority diat in Green Lane, near the point where it branches off from Wading 
Street, a stone coffin containing human remains was discovered [jfmrm. Brit. Arch. Ante. 
(Ser. i), xlvi, 230]. If die coffin was Reman this is an improbable site, as die Romans did 
not bury their dead within their towns. 

Probably we h^ve here a village or even a small town, but proper excavation alone can 
tell us its story. 

WAI* *ii- At Linley, near Wakall, a fibula and several coins were found in 1759 [Willmore, Hist. 
Walsall, 25]. 

WEDXESBCKT. A quantity of Roman coins in good preservation was dug up on Sir H. St. Paul's 
properrr in 1817. Among diem were said to be coins of Nero (A.D. 54-68), Vespasian (AJX. 
70-9), 'and Trajan (AJ>. 98-117) \Gtmt. Mag. (1817), ii, 551 ; Willmore, Hist. WabalL, 

25]-' 
Wrrros. Between 1848 aad 1852 die fields known as die ' Borough Hole' near Wetton were 

systematically excavated, and die sites of numerous dwellings, forming probably a Romano- 
British village, were discovered. This settlement may possibly hare been inhabited by die 
miners who worked at die lead mines in this district during die Romano-British period. 
Pavements of rough limestone, large blocks of stone, quantities of charcoal, ashes, animal 
bones, numerous pieces of Roman and British pottery, broken querns, iron utensik, &c. 
were disinterred. Coins of Gallienus (A.D. 253-68), Tetricus (A.D. 268-73) an ^ 

196 




OI.TCT FICIZ WU-L 




TJIE 



22* " 



PIG OF LEAD, FOUND AT HINTS 




IRON KNIFE, 
FOUND AT WETTON 





LEAD COLLAR, 
FOUND AT WKTTON 



IRON KNIFE, 
FOUND AT WETTON 




BONE DRINKING-CUP, 
FOUND AT WETTON 




WHETSTONE, FOUND AT WETTON 




HORN OBJECT, FOUND AT WETTON 



197 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

(A.D. 306-37) were found, some glass and a plain bronze ring fibula. In one place a 
female skeleton with some beads, &c., and in other places human bones and skulls were dug 
up. Among the two or three fibulae found was one in bronze, enamelled with red and yellow 
lozenges, but most of the articles were of a rough and primitive character [Carrington, 
Reliq. v, 2OI ; Bateman, Ten Tears' Diggings, 193-203 ; Intellectual Observer, vii, 391]. The 
site has evidently been used as a quarry for building materials by the inhabitants of the neighbour- 
hood. The following articles found at Wetton were preserved in Mr. Bateman's collection 
[Catalogue Bateman Collection, Lomberdale House, 1855]. Those marked with an asterisk were 
afterwards presented to the Sheffield Museum [Catalogue Bateman Antiquities, Sheffield Museum, 
1899] : * Part of a reeded handle from a glass vase ; pieces of burnt glass ; lilac and blue glass 
beads ;* harp-shaped bronze fibula, enamelled with a diamond pattern in yellow, red, and 
green ; * bronze ring fibula, if in. in diameter ; small slip of bronze, perforated at each end ; 
bronze pin i in. long, the thicker end representing the foot of an ox ; iron knives, one 
with stag's horn handle, fibulae ; shears, spear-heads, nails, &c. ; two cinerary urns ; fragments 
of mortaria and other vessels ; * small cylindrical vessel, 3^- in. high, if in. in diameter, with 
cheveron pattern, made of one large bone ; two imitations of brass coins of Tetricus ; * two 
flat sandstone pebbles, worked to a circular shape, 2 in. and 2 J in. in diameter ;* perforated disc 
of red earthenware ijin. in diameter ;* whetstones, one of grey sandstone, in Sheffield 
Museum ; * pieces of red paint ; pieces of stag's horn with marks of tooling. Twenty-three 
barrows or lows have been investigated in the vicinity since 1845, which showed evidences of 
occupation from remote times to the Roman period. A ' third brass ' of Gallienus (A.D. 
253-68) was found in one of them with a skeleton. ' Thor's Cave,' which is in the side 
of a lofty precipice above the River Manifold, about half a mile from Wetton, was explored in 
1864-5, anc l ' n it were found Samian and other Roman potsherds, stone querns, a sandstone 
disk, bone pins and combs, iron knives and arrow-heads, a lead spindle-whorl, a 'second brass' 
coin of Hadrian (A.D. 1 17-38), a bronze armlet, pins and two fibulae, which maybe ascribed to 
the second or early third century. All these objects were found in the earth forming the floor 
of the cave, together with many animal bones and signs of cooking and. fires. Some human 
bones were also discovered, but no distinct vestiges of a burial [Pitt, Hist. Staffs. \, 240 ; 
Haverfield in F.C.H. Derb. i, 238 ; Carrington in Reliq. v, 20117 ; Brown in Mid. 
Scient. Assoc. Papers (1864-5)]. Professor Haverfield identifies ' Thor's Cave ' with Thirst or 
Thirse House, the name of one of the most extensively explored Romano-British caves in 
Derbyshire, and also of two other caves in Staffordshire, one at Alton and one near Wetton 
\y.C.H. Derb. i, 233, n. l]. 

WICHNOR. In the park are remains of an intrenchment where several Roman coins have been 
found [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 18, 125 ; Pennant, Journey from Chester to London, 
121-2]. 

WOLSTANTON. See CHESTERTON. 

WOLVERHAMPTON. A Roman urn, 9^ in. deep, 2 ft. in girth in the thickest part, of a coarse 
texture and pale red clay, was found in 1793 near St. Peter's Church. It lay on its side 9 ft. 
below the surface, and contained dark earth. The surrounding stratum was sand. Near it 
were considerable remains of human bones and teeth [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. Staffs, i, 35]. A 
bronze ring was also found here [Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2) vi, 415]. 

YOXALL. In levelling a piece of ground in 1778 nearly forty urns of coarse brown pottery were 
found, containing ashes and fragments of human bones. Most of the vessels were broken in 
taking them up, but one is in the Lichfield Museum. The site was probably a Romano- 
British cemetery near to which there may have been a settlement [Stebbing Shaw, Hist. 
Staffs, i, 35, 331 ; Gent. Mag. xliv, 358 ; Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough) ii, 393]. 



198 



of 



<: 



STAFFORDSHIRE 



Sca-le of Miles 



'- 




c E 



Interments . 

+ Mis c e //& n e ou s fin c/s . 






ANGLO-SAXON 
REMAINS 



districts occupied by the Teutonic invaders of Britain in the 
sixth century are approximately defined by sepulchral relics re- 
covered from the soil. Such discoveries are, in the nature of 
things, accidental, and are generally due to workmen, who are 
seldom at the pains to ensure a complete record of the finds. Much valuable 
material has been lost in this way, and doubtless many areas at present un- 
productive only await excavation to fill up gaps in our knowledge of the 
period ; but it may be taken for granted that where, in spite of all hindrances, 
much of the kind has been discovered the pagan population was comparatively 
dense. The converse is not so safe a rule, but negative evidence may be some- 
times corroborated by a consideration of the geographical features, as the early 
Anglo-Saxon settlers were all on the same level of culture, and would have 
the same preferences in the matter of soil and situation. To such arguments 
may be added the few indications in history or tradition as to the origins of 
England, but it must be confessed that for most of the English counties early 
records are either wanting or open to more than one interpretation, and it is 
now only in the domain of archaeology that there is any hope of fuller 
information. 

The present county owes its geographical limits to the political arrange- 
ments of the later Saxon period, when England had become a kingdom ; but 
as most of the remains to be considered in this chapter are clearly of the pagan 
period, the present boundaries must be disregarded in favour of certain 
archaeological and physical divisions. Further, for the period in question, 
the coalfields and potteries may be neglected, though during the Roman 
occupation coal was evidently used for fuel, and the clays of this neighbour- 
hood were used for pottery. 1 A pastoral and agricultural people would 
naturally settle in the vicinity of rivers, which, indeed, offered one of the 
easiest roads into the interior before the primeval forests were cleared or the 
marsh lands drained. 

The accompanying map, which aims at locating all the authentic Anglo- 
Saxon discoveries of the pagan period, makes it clear that the earliest Teutonic 
settlements fall into two main groups, on the north and east of the present 
county. Except for the south Staffordshire coalfield, practically all south of 
Cheadle and Stone is Triassic formation, consisting of the Keuper and Bunter 
beds, which are peculiarly productive of forest. Such, for instance, is the 

1 Hence the name ' Salopian ' applied by Thos. Wright and others to pottery found on the Roman site of 
Uriconium (Wroxeter), and probably manufactured in the vicinity of Broseley. 

199 




A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

geological basis of the vast areas known as Sherwood, Arden, and Charn- 
wood, where no Anglo-Saxon remains are found ; and it is not, therefore, 
surprising to find that Needwood and Cannock Chase are similarly unpro- 
ductive. Besides the two coalfields (Cheadle and Potteries) in the north of 
the county there is an area, mainly east of Leek, consisting of Yoredale and 
carboniferous limestone rock connected with a much larger area of the same 
formation in the north-west of Derbyshire. South of High Peak this soil 
was evidently appreciated by the early Anglo-Saxon inhabitants, who have 
left numerous traces of their settlements and civilization. South of Ashbourne 
and Derby is an unproductive area of Triassic formation continuous with 
central Staffordshire, but Anglo-Saxon cemeteries again appear in the Trent 
valley at Melbourne and Foremark. 8 

It is with the traces of a further advance up the Trent valley that a survey 
of post-Roman Staffordshire may best begin ; and the first discovery on entering 

this county from this 
side has, indeed, been 
noticed under Der- 
byshire, as the site 
has only recently 
been added to Staf- 
fordshire. 

The most im- 
portant Anglo-Saxon 
discovery in the 
county was made in 
1 88 1 at Stapenhill, a 
village just within 
the boundary of Bur- 
ton - on-Trent, 
though on the Der- 
byshire bank of the 
river. 8 The site of 
what proved to be a 
cemetery is on the 
crest of a ridge 1 20 ft. 
above the level of the 
Trent and 300 ft. a- 
bove sea-level. The village lies to the north, the parish church being about 
half a mile north-north-west; and the burial ground lies between the Stan ton 
and Rosliston roads, but nearer the former. Plans and details of the burials, 
with several plates of the antiquities discovered, were published in the follow- 
ing year by the Burton-on-Trent Natural History and Archaeological Society, 
and an excellent description of the excavations undertaken by a committee for 
the society was furnished by Mr. John Heron.* From that account a good 
deal may be learnt with regard to the first Anglo-Saxon occupation of this 
part of the county, and the following is a summary, with additional remarks 
as to similar finds elsewhere. 

1 The distribution is clear from the map of Anglo-Saxon remains in V.C.H. Derb. i, 265. 

* Ibid, i, 266, 273. ' Trans, vol. i, 156-93, plates i-x, and frontispiece. 

200 



nl 





FIG. i. BRONZE BROOCHES, TWEEZERS, AND CHATELAINE, STAPENHILL 



ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 

The actual area of the brickfield examined was about 150 ft. by 96 ft., 
its length being approximately on an east-and-west line. While excavating 
for brick-earth the workmen came upon two large earthenware urns, and 
straightway destroyed them in the vain hope of finding treasure. The frag- 
ments show their Anglo-Saxon origin, and one, if not both, contained in- 
cinerated human remains. Near the spot was found an iron javelin head, 
6 in. long, which may safely be attributed to the same era. Two skeletons 
laid at full length were next discovered, and others were subsequently un- 
earthed, but further investigations were entrusted to the society by the pro- 
prietor, and proved most successful. As many as thirty-one skeletons were 
noticed, in various conditions, and five cases of cremation are recorded, the 
ashes having been collected and placed in rudely-made cinerary urns of the 
ordinary type. In nineteen cases the direction of the interment could be 
determined, the head in five cases being at the west end of the grave, as was 
customary in early Christian times. Six more were approximately north- 
west, and four inclined towards south-west, showing that the western position 
was by far the most usual here ; and the 
variations to the north or south may pos- 
sibly be due to the interments having been 
made at different seasons, bearings being 
no doubt taken at sunrise or sunset for the 
purpose of orientation. The head in one 
case, however, was at the east end, another 
lay east-north-east, and two more south- 
south-east, so that uniformity was not 
enforced ; and it would in any case be rash 
to infer that the east-and-west burials were 
necessarily Christian. Cremation, which 
appears to have been practised side by side 
with inhumation on this site, was frankly 
pagan, and even apart from signs of partial 
cremation noticed in some cases, the pre- 
sence of weapons, ornaments, and utensils in several of the graves shows that 
the Christian rule was not rigidly observed. 

The richest and most interesting grave was that of a woman of middle 
age, whose height was 5 ft. 10 in. The bones were in excellent preser- 
vation, and the body had been laid on the back with the head towards 
the west ; the right arm was by the side, the left across the chest, and the 
legs straight. Close to the left side of the head was a vase of dark pottery 
decorated in the usual manner, with groups of incised lines and a band of 
stamped star pattern (fig. 2). It measured 5^ in. in height, with a maximum 
diameter of 5 in., being somewhat smaller than the average cinerary urn. 
On either shoulder was a brooch of bronze-gilt, with trefoil or cruciform 
head and punched borders (fig. i). It belongs to a type fairly common 
in this country, and related to the ' long ' brooch of Scandinavia, though the 
latter terminates at the foot in a conventional horse's head. The spreading 
foot of the Stapenhill example points rather to Prussia as the centre of dis- 
persion,' but it is clear that the evolution of the brooch was not uniform in 

5 Haakon Schetelig, Cructfirm Brooches of Norway, 49, 50, 86, 146. 

26 




FIG. 2. VASE FOUND AT STAPENHILL (J) 



2OI 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

all the Teutonic areas, and this expanding foot seems to be a specially 
English feature. Round the neck of the skeleton was a string of 
twenty or more beads, some being annular specimens of dark blue glass, 
and one (described as glass) was evidently of crystal ; four were of 
amber, roughly shaped like a spindle-whorl ; one consisted of a pierced 
garnet disc, and the rest were of opaque glass of various colours. Near 
the beads were several pieces of tubular bronze, such as have been found 
elsewhere on necklaces ; and on the chest were fragments of a clasp, 
apparently of the type sometimes found at the wrist, to fasten a bracelet. 
An iron buckle at the waist evidently belonged to a leathern girdle, and 
there were also two key-shaped objects of bronze which are usually called 
chatelaines or girdle-hangers, and may have been worn as a symbol, just 
as keys were carried by Roman matrons. A spindle-whorl of Kimmeridge 
shale completed the list from this burial, which agrees closely with 
several in the Anglian districts, and may be regarded as typical of the 
richer class. 

It will not be necessary to describe the graves individually, but the next 
deserves special mention. Of the skeleton, nothing remained but the teeth * 
of a child, but from their position it was clear that the body had been buried 
unburnt, or possibly after partial cremation, as a small vase near the teeth 
showed traces of intense heat. In the position of the shoulder was a small 
gilded bronze brooch of a form most unusual in England, but allied to certain 
German specimens, and near it lay four beads, including Roman melon- 
shaped specimens of turquoise glass. The partial burning suggested here 
finds parallels in the same cemetery and elsewhere in England. Two Stapen- 
hill burials one in a triple grave and the other that of a body with the head 
west-north-west were surrounded by a ring of charcoal, 7 and in the former 
case the bones that remained showed evident traces of fire, while in two other 
graves were lumps of iron that had been subjected to great heat. Though 
in some cases decayed wood may have been mistaken for charcoal (which is 
often found in graves), there is positive evidence at Stapenhill of a practice 
that may well represent a compromise between the pagan and Christian 
ritual. It is most improbable that the bulk of unburnt burials are those of 
Christian Anglo-Saxons, but it is fairly certain that no convert was cremated 
at that period ; and in view of Christian relics in the adjoining county of 
Derby it is possible that a ceremonial burning of the dead was retained, in 
deference to pagan traditions, for some time after inhumation had been 
introduced. The transition may be further illustrated by the unburnt graves 
at Stapenhill that have not the Christian orientation, but the question cannot 
be settled without further evidence. The direction of the Stapenhill 
interments without grave-furniture is by no means uniform ; and weapons 
were found in others, a spear or lance-head, when present, being on the right 
of the skull ; and in one case a shield lay on the left arm, the iron boss and 
handle being preserved, as well as several rivets, that showed the ' war-board ' 
to have been f in. thick. The knife, which was commonly carried by both 
sexes for use at meals, was frequently found in this cemetery, but its position 
was not constant. A few rude vases of pottery were found either near the 

A similar case at Wyaston : V.C.H. Derb. i, 269 ; Bateman, Ten Tears' Diggings, 1 8 8. 
7 For examples in Derbyshire see f.C.H. Derb. \, 274. 

\ 



ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 

head or shoulder, and were probably placed in the grave to contain food or 
drink for the dead, 8 though they may also represent the cinerary urns of the 
pagan period. 

One skeleton was found without the skull, and the upper part of another 
was wanting. This may be due to subsequent disturbance (and there seems 
to have been much rubbish buried on this site), but such occurrences are not 
uncommon, 9 and may be due to the fortune of war, stray skulls being 
included in several graves at Mitcham, Surrey. Nor are flexed skeletons 
peculiar to this cemetery ; slight contraction of the lower limbs was noticed 
in five cases ; but such was the general rule in the extensive cemetery at Slea- 
ford, Lines., and many casual instances are recorded 10 both in England and 
across the Channel. 

Bronze was comparatively scarce, but besides the objects already 
mentioned was a ring-brooch from a child's grave, which also contained 
beads and a coin of Constantine (struck in 327) pierced for use as a pendant. 
A pair of tweezers was found with another skeleton, the customary knife in 
this instance being still in its sheath ; one cinerary urn contained an engraved 
spindle-whorl made of deer-horn, and inside another, with cremated bones, 
were several beads and part of a thin bronze disc, which was doubtless the 
base of a brooch of the ' applied ' variety, the position of the pin-head and 
catch being distinguishable on one side. The type is practically confined to 
England, a late Roman specimen from Sigy, near Neufchatel (Seine- 
inferieure), 11 giving some clue to its origin : the principal site is the ceme- 
tery at Kempston, Beds., but all were there found in association with 
skeletons. 12 It is noteworthy that the same cemetery produced a trefoil- 
headed brooch almost identical with that from Stapenhill, and what seems 
to be the prototype of the equal-armed brooch here illustrated (fig. i). 
The latter closely resembles one from Cambridgeshire, but the type is 
rare in England, and only a few specimens are known abroad. This 
equal-armed brooch differs widely from that found in southern France, 
and probably reached England and southern Scandinavia from the neigh- 
bourhood of Hanover, where elaborate examples of earlier date are 
comparatively common. And it is remarkable that the fifth-century 
specimens in England outnumber those of the sixth, which are plain and 
common-place as that from Stapenhill. The evolution of this type has 
been briefly indicated by Dr. Bernhard Salin, who illustrates the specimens 
mentioned above. 133 

Both at Stapenhill and Kempston were found coins of the Constantine 
period, pierced for suspension, and tubular ' beads ' of bronze. Further, the 
cinerary urns and accessory vessels are of the same types, and both cemeteries 
contained cremations as well as inhumations. Partial cremation was also 

8 Pottery vessels were included in coffins of the Middle Ages: Arch, xxxvii, 417. 

* White Horse Hill, Berks. (Crania Britannica, pt. ii) ; E. Yorkshire (Mortimer, Thirty Tears' Researches, 
pp. xxxiii, xxxvi, 321) ; Mitcham, Surrey (Arch. Ix, 53, 57). 

10 Sleaford, Arch. 1, 385 ; other instances in E. Yorks. ; Kempston, Beds. ; Marston St. Lawrence, 
Northants ; Leagrave, Beds. Cf. Cochet, Normandie Souterraine (ed. 2), 218. 

11 Proc. Soc. Antij. Land. (Ser. l), iv, 237. 

11 V.C.H. Beds, i, 180 (figs, n and 13 on plate) ; other brooches referred to are fig. 2 on plate, and 
' engraved bronze brooch ' on p. 1 79. 

u * Die A Itgermaniiche Thlenrnamentik, 74, figs. 1 74, 1 76, 699, &c. 

203 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

noticed at Kempston, and the following extract throws some light on the 
process : 

A pit was discovered over 7 ft. in length, from 3 to 4 ft. wide, and the same in depth, 
where a body stretched at full length had been consumed by fire. About 2 ft. from the 
surface was a large quantity of ashes, and among them were found portions of a human 
skull, vertebrae and other bones, all charred, but the leg-bones showing less traces of fire 
than the rest of the skeleton. In the ashes and on the left side of the body was a long 
iron spear-head witli a portion of the wooden shaft left in the socket, and also an iron 
knife ; while surrounding these remains lay numerous pieces of charred wood, and ends of 
branches not quite burnt through. It seemed as if the pit had been partially filled with 
live embers, on which the deceased was laid, and then large branches heaped over. 13 

Animal bones were found in at least four of the Stapenhill graves, and 
in large quantities elsewhere on the site, especially in a trench 92 ft. long, 
5 ft. 9 in. deep at the south end, and 2 ft. 6 in. deep at the north. Plans 
and sections are given in the original account, but it seems clear that this 
fosse had nothing to do with the burials, but was dug for the reception of 
rubbish by the previous Romano-British, or even pre-Roman, inhabitants; 
and, to judge from the few Anglo-Saxon sherds near the surface of the ditch, 
the site may have been occupied by Teutonic settlers before it was appro- 
priated for burials. No grave-mounds were observed by the excavators ; and 
as the plan shows great irregularity, surface indications were perhaps 
dispensed with altogether, but even on sites where some memorial must have 
existed to mark the regular lines of interments u all trace has disappeared 
before our time. The discoveries in this cemetery are held to prove that 
the two rites of burial (cremation and inhumation) were practised by 
contemporaries, and such seems to be the case on certain other sites ; but the 
contention would be hard to prove by crucial instances. 

Facing Stapenhill, on the other side of the Trent, is another Anglo- 
Saxon burial ground, of which a few details are recorded by Molyneux. 16 
Some gravel pits adjoining the Lichfield Road, close to the Leicester branch 
of the railway, yielded about 1868 an iron spear-head, gin. long and much 
corroded, also some fragments of brown pottery ' which agrees in appearance 
rather with the Saxon than the Roman form of manufacture.' The nature 
of these finds is clear from Stapenhill and other discoveries higher up the 
valley. 

The next site to be noticed is close to the Barton and Walton station,, 
on the south side, and is recorded by Molyneux. A ballast pit was 
opened by the Midland Railway Company about 1851, and a great number 
of urns containing human bones were then found about three feet below the 
surface. Some were described as British and others as Roman or Saxon, 
but as two iron knives were found with the bones in one specimen, and iron 
weapons were found in others, their Anglo-Saxon origin is fairly established. 
The field from which these remains were exhumed consisted of a somewhat 
circular knoll of gravel that sloped gently down to the banks of the old 
river-course, and was beyond question the site of an ancient cemetery. 16 

The sepulchral series from Wichnor, now happily preserved by the 
Natural History Society at Burton, includes some interesting types of the 

11 V.C.H. Beds. \, 177 ; Roach Smith, Collectanea Antiqua, vi, 205. 

14 Mounds existed on Farthing Down (V.C.H. Surr. i, 265), but not in recent times on High Down 
(r.C.H. Suss, i, 341). 

15 Burton-on-Trent (1869), 22. " Molyneux, Burton-tm-Trent, 189 note. 

204 



ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 

more ordinary objects, but has little artistic importance. The sand-pit, 
in which several burials were found, is alongside the railway on the east side, 
close to the junction of Wichnor, about ij miles south of the site just men- 
tioned ; and details have been kindly supplied by Mr. H. L. Hind, of Burton. 
The remains found in 1899" were about four feet below the surface 
of the pit, and more have been found since ; but the conditions were 
unfavourable for determining their association, and all that is now possible 
is to consider them under various headings as 
products of a single cemetery. Several warriors 
were evidently buried here, as six shield-bosses 
(fig. 6) are preserved, slightly varying in their 
dimensions, but all of the same general form : the 
largest diameter of the base rim is 6J in., with a 
height of 2| in., while the tallest specimen mea- 
sures 3 in., and is nearly 5 in. across at the base. 
These bosses are usually very well wrought and 
are exceptionally durable, testifying to the skill of 
the Anglo-Saxon armourer, whose praises were 
sung in verse and whose life was assessed very high 
in the primitive code of laws. The spear-heads 
belong to two main types (fig. 3), most on this 
site being of the willow-leaf form, one specimen 
measuring i6jin., without its point or socket. 
Three others belong to a common type with 
waved edges to the blade and a sudden widening 
at the base. The sockets, where preserved, are as 
usual split to receive and hold firmly the wooden 
shaft, and there is one ferrule, 3 Jin. in length, 
originally fixed to the butt-end. Of the small 
knife usually found in the graves, only a tang 
2|in. long remains, the bone or horn handle having 
perished. The only other iron object is a small 
oval buckle (fig. 4), but so corroded as to be 
barely recognizable. It probably belonged to a 
leather girdle, and the type is commonly found. 
Unfortunately only one brooch was found, and that 
is without the foot (or part of the stem below the 
bow), which is indicated in the illustration (fig. 5). 
It has a square head-plate with trefoil extensions, 
and closely resembles the only brooch of the kind 
found at Stapenhill. To the bronze body was 
attached an iron pin at the back, but only a rusted 
fragment remains. Remains of the textile which the brooch was used to 
fasten are often found preserved by rust on the back, but the only trace at 
Wichnor is on one of the spear-heads. There were besides several staves of a 
small bronze-mounted bucket, commonly found at the head or feet of the skele- 
ton, but at present of uncertain use and meaning. The present example was 
about 3! in. high, and the groove in which the bottom was inserted is plainly 

17 J. O'Sullivan, Trans. Burton-tm-Trent Nat. Hist, and Arch. Soc. iv, pt. ii, 80. 

205 




Fie. 3. IRON SPEAR-HEADS, 
WICHNOR (^) 




FIG. 4. IRON BUCKLE, WICHNOR, 
WITH SECTION ) 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

visible. Of pottery four well-preserved but very rude hand-made specimens 
are extant : they are quite devoid of ornament, and of different profile 
(see fig. 7), the base being more or less rounded as if intended to rest on 

soft earth, and the paste being soft and fairly 
smooth, of a brownish colour. The tallest measures 
51 in., and the smallest 3&in., and they were all 
evidently used as accessory vessels, not as cinerary 
urns to contain cremated remains. Mr. J. O'Sul- 
livan states that no bones, weapons, or other anti- 
quities were found with the two urns that were 
first discovered. All had been buried in holes or 
trenches, about 3 ft. or 4 ft. deep and about 8 ft. 
apart. The other objects enumerated above were 
found subsequently, but not in association with the pottery. 

At Burrough Fields Farm, 18 south of Walton, bones and other objects 
not specified were found many years ago, and the name is suggestive of a 
cemetery, but no other remains are reported from this part of the Trent 
Valley, and it is highly probable that Needwood and Cannock Chase 
discouraged further advance in this direction, at least along the main stream : 
the pioneers may at this point have turned south along the Tame and 
founded Tamworth. Whether the lower valley of the Dove was occupied 
by these early settlers is not apparent ; but there is one site to be noticed in 
the angle made by that river with the Trent, and its proximity to the Roman 
road which here passes into Derbyshire is significant. During excavations 
for the original branch of the North Staffordshire Railway, through the 
rising ground on the south or Burton side of Stretton, several cinerary urns 
of reddish clay containing bones and ashes are reported to have been found 
and, as usual, broken by the workmen. At the same time 
a human skeleton, lying at full length with the feet point- 
ing south, is said to have been discovered near the village. 
Some years previously numerous urns containing ashes and 
bones, deposited about 3ft. below the surface, were exhumed 
from some gravel workings in a field near the house occu- 
pied by Mr. Gretton at the Beach. They are described as 
being made of soft reddish clay, and the mouth of each 
was closed with a small slab of sandstone. The author 
refers the pottery to the Britons rather than the Romans, 
and adds that the skeleton may be later. 19 

Except that the pottery was evidently of poor quality 
and not wheel-made, one might be inclined to regard the 
cemetery as Roman, especially as it adjoined the Icknield 
Street ; but the sepulchral pottery of the Anglo-Saxons 
was a blackish or brownish grey, the larger (cinerary) urns 
being generally ornamented on the shoulder with incised 
lines and stamped patterns. No mention is made of such 
designs, but it is possible that red earth was still attached to the pottery when 
examined, and the ornamentation, if any, passed unnoticed. It should be 
remarked, however, that a few specimens found at Stapenhill were ' so highly 

w Trans. Burton-on-Trent Arch. Soc. iv, pt. ii, 81. " Wm. Molyneux, Burton-on-Trent, zi. 

206 




Fie. 5. BROOCH 

FOUND AT WlCHNOR 

<*) 






f- 

H 
O 
P-, 




207 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

burnt as to acquire a reddish-brown tinge, and are extremely hard to the 
touch.' so There is also some doubt as to the origin of the unburnt burial in 
the same neighbourhood. The grave-furniture, such as spear-head, knife, and 
shield, or brooches and beads, may have been overlooked or concealed by the 
workmen, and the position is by no means unusual at this period both in 
England (as at Little Wilbraham, Cambs.) and in Normandy. 

Obviously distinct from the sites already dealt with are several in the 
north-east angle of the county that as clearly range with a compact group 
beyond the Dove in Derbyshire, and the physical similarity of the two areas 
has been noticed above. At Steep Low, near Alstonfield, there seems 
clear evidence of secondary Anglo-Saxon burials. The large mound, 1 50 ft. 
in diameter and 15 ft. high, was opened in 1845, and found to contain 
Bronze Age incinerations quite near the surface, but the primary burial was 
not reached. Before the excavators arrived some villagers had found near 
the top the body of a ' Romanized Briton,' extended on his back, accom- 
panied by an iron spear-head, and a lance-head and knife of the same 
material 21 placed near the head, also three Roman coins, one being of 
Constantine (307-337), and another of Tetricus (268-273). The coins 
simply show that the burial was not earlier than the fourth century, and 
Constantinian coins are frequently found in Anglo-Saxon burials, whereas 
weapons are not found with Romano-British interments, either burnt or 
unburnt. Further, the present specimens have the split-socket characteristic 
of early Anglo-Saxon times, and it may be assumed that one warrior, at least, 
was laid to rest in a shallow grave cut in the mound that had been used for 
burials about 1,000 years before. 

At the Boroughs, Wetton, there seem to have been several Anglo-Saxon 
inhumations, but the remains 32 are very fragmentary, and the records in- 
complete. A flat bronze ring with rust at one point may be a ring-brooch 
with remains of the pin ; and an iron ring belongs to a type common in 
Anglo-Saxon graves, perhaps attached to the girdle. More determinate are 
a tanged knife, part of a pair of shears, and part of a whetstone of blue slate, 
all found with a skeleton here in 1852. There are Roman objects from the 
same site, and evidence of a Romano-British village near Wetton. 83 An iron 
spear-head lo^in. long, and a knife 6 in. long, found with a skeleton in a 
mound at the Boroughs in 1844, are sufficient evidence of an Anglo-Saxon 
warrior's burial, either primary or secondary, and render it at least probable 
that another iron knife, 6 in. long, also belonged to a burial of the period." 
A knife of this kind seems to have been commonly carried by both sexes for 
use at meals, and was usually deposited in the grave, as at Barlaston. 

Somewhat doubtful is an iron knife," now in fragments, from a barrow 
at Blore's field, Calton (1849); an ^ a ^ at i ron rm g> S8 if in. in diameter, 
found in a barrow near Blore in the same year is insufficient evidence of a 
burial, though such rings are frequently found in Anglo-Saxon graves. The 
presence of such people in the neighbourhood of Throwley is attested by an 
iron spear-head 27 of ordinary type gin. long found near the River Manifold 

10 Trans. Burton Nat. Hist, and Arch. Sac. i, 185. 

" Sheffield Mus. Cat. 99, 232 (figs.), 235 ; Bateman, Vestiges, p. 76. 

" Sheffield Mus. Cat. 195-219. Bateman, Ten Yearf Diggings, 194. 

" Sheffield Mus. Cat. 232 (1844), 235 (1857). " Ibid. 220. 

* Ibid. 139. Ibid. 232. 

208 



ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 

in 1858, and a glass bead 88 of ring pattern, I in. in diameter, found in a field 
in 1856. An almost identical bead, of translucent yellow glass with a thread 
of bright yellow within the ring, is exhibited with it at Sheffield, and came 
from Kirkham's land, Middleton Moor (by Youlgreave), Derbyshire. 

The Anglo-Saxon origin of a find on Readon (Wredon) Hill, one mile 
north of Ramshorn, is open to question. On 4 September, 1848, a barrow 
1 9 yds. in diameter and 3ft. high was opened and found to contain two 
skeletons extended near the centre, with no protection but a few stones in 
contact with one of the bodies, which was possibly interred later than the 
other. It was not more than 2 ft. from the surface, while the other lay on 
the natural level at least 3 ft. from the turf covering the mound. Of the 
former, the skull, which was that of a young man with a longitudinal index 
of 76, remained in perfect preservation with some of the hair, and a small 
pebble was found at the right hand. The lower skeleton was covered with 
a layer of charcoal, and the skull belonged to a middle-aged man. An iron 
spear-head lay at least two yards from the upper, and further from the lower 
burial, and measures 
I 3 in., with part of the 
shaft still preserved by 
rust in the socket. With 
it was a narrow war 
knife 8 in. long, and 
their association points 
to an Anglo - Saxon 
burial ; but they do not 
seem to have belonged 
to either of the bodies 
found. The microscope 
revealed the fact that 
the shaft of the spear 
was of ash, and the sur- 
face of the weapon and 
knife shows traces of 
grass and the larvae of insects with which they had been in contact. 8 

There are reasons for classing with those in the north (the nearest of 
which is 12 miles distant) an isolated burial in the Trent valley, but nearly 
30 miles above Wichnor, and separated by the whole width of Needwood 
Forest. This remarkable discovery was made in 1850 on the estate of the 
late Mr. Francis Wedgwood, at Barlaston, some twenty years before it was 
first published by Llewellyn Jewitt. 30 It has since been included in a paper 
on bronze bowls with enamel mounts, by the late Mr. Romilly Allen, 31 and 
an illustrated account was presented to the local society by Mr. Lawrence 
Wedgwood in 1905. 

On a slope of red sandstone a grave (fig. 8) 7 ft. long and 2 ft. wide was 
found cut into the solid rock when the gravel-pit hill to the east of the house 
was dug over for the planting of trees. It was evidently an isolated burial, and 

>8 Sheffield Mus. Cat. 227. " Diggings, 122-3 ; SheffieUMus. Cat. 162 (skull), 235. 

80 Grave-mounds and their Contents (1870), 258, figs. 434, 435 ; Lawrence Wedgwood, 'Notes on Celtic 
Remains found at the Upper House, Barlaston,' Trans. N. Staffs. Field Club, xl (1906), 148. " Arch. Ivi, 44. 
I 209 27 




SECTION OF THE GRAVE 
FIG. 8. GRAVE AT BARLASTOJ (PLAN AND SECT.-ON) 



29 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

lay north and south, the greatest depth (15 in. in the rock) being at the 
south-east corner. About 8 in. of soil covered the rock, and the floor of the 
grave at the north end was immediately beneath. At that end there was a 
basin-shaped cavity two or three inches deep in the rock beyond the original 
position of the skull, though the skeleton had completely disappeared. On 
the right or western side of the grave, near and parallel to the side, was a long 
two-edged sword, and to the north-east of the handle was an iron knife 
characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon period. 

Such is the story derived from the published accounts, and the site is 
now carefully railed in for preservation. A few remarks may be added by 
way of comment and illustration, but little is as yet known as to the precise 
significance of the enamelled bowls of this period found in various parts of 
England. The Barlaston specimen, though sadly injured by time, must have 
been exceptionally ornate, and is peculiar in having been cast, not wrought 
like the rest. It is on this account comparatively heavy, and there are marks 
of the lathe on the base, which seems to have been indented and ornamented 
on the outside 88 with the enamelled ring (fig. 9). The three discs were 
attached originally to the outside of the bowl at equal intervals below the 
rim, which is slightly thickened, and served, with the hooks above the discs, 
to form loops for suspension by three chains which have as usual perished. 
The enamelled discs are of the ordinary size and character, mounted in 
circular frames of bronze ; and the ornamentation on them and the ring that 
fitted into the base is of the late Celtic character. The enamel which fills 
the ground is of the usual red colour, but is remarkable in another respect. 
Irregularly set in it are discs of millefiore glass, produced by cutting thin 
slices off a bundle of glass rods so that the arrangement of the coloured 
chequers is constant. This inlaying of millefiore in enamel is again seen on 
similar discs for a bowl found in the north of England, and acquired for the 
national collection ; and the fourth enamelled disc in that find may well 
have been inserted in a broad ring at the base like that found at Barlaston. 
The narrow bronze bands ornamented with incised rings were evidently 
fixed horizontally to the outside of the bowl between the three discs, their 
centre line being about | in. below the rim, as is shown by rivet-holes for 
repair ; but these strips were originally fixed without rivets (perhaps by brazing), 
and the reason for their slanting ends is not obvious. They are 5 J in. long 
on the outside curve, whereas the intervals between the disc-frames must 
have been about /in., the circumference being about 27^ in., and each of 
the disc-frames being just over 2 in. across. 

Though an isolated burial the Barlaston discovery falls into line with 
others made just across the Derbyshire border. Remains of no less than 
three such bowls 33 have been found in the neighbourhood of Dovedale : at 
Middleton-by-Youlgreave, Over Haddon, and Benty Grange, the last lying 
in the grave beside the hair of a warrior, in association with a leather bowl 
ornamented with applied crosses. At Barlaston the bowl was found just 
where the head would have lain, and seems to have been in the centre line 
of the grave, so that perhaps the head rested within it at the time of burial. 

" At Caistor, Lines, the ring was apparently inside. The form of the base, whether indented or pro- 
truding, is often uncertain, but ornament may have been applied on both sides (Prof. Sec. Antiq. xxi, 78). 
" All noticed in Arch. Ivi, 42, 46 ; V.C.H. Derb. i, 271, 269, fig. on left of plate. 

2IO 







FIG. 9. REMAINS OF BRONZE BOWL AND ENAMELLED Discs FOUND AT BARLASTON 

211 




A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

According to the plan the knife would be as usual at the waist, and the 
sword, as occasionally elsewhere, 8 * beside the right leg. 

Special interest is attached to the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon jewel at 
a point between the burials of the north-east and Barlaston. The latter site 
now appears to be an outpost of the community centred in the Peak district, 
and in contact with the Celtic population which had not been displaced by 
the Teutonic advance westward. Jewellery of the period is specially abun- 
dant in Derbyshire, and extremely rare in the Trent valley cemeteries already 
noticed, so that the connexion is practically demonstrated in spite of the 
absence of details as to the discovery. All that is known is that in levelling 
a hedge bank at Forsbrook, about half a mile from Blyth Bridge station about 
1879, the coin-pendant here illustrated (fig. 10) was found by a labourer and 
subsequently passed into the British Museum. Its excellent condition sug- 
gests that it accompanied an unburnt burial, but nothing further was noticed 
on the site or in the neighbourhood. The centre of the pendant consists of 
a gold casting from a coin of the Emperor Valentinian II (37592), but the 
reverse is hidden by a plain gold plate at the back, and round the edge are 
slight mouldings separated by two twisted strands of gold. The front border 
is inlaid with garnets relieved by blue glass in the semi- 
circular cells, the whole being a typical example of Anglo- 
Saxon cloisonne work in gold. Some of the settings are 
now missing, both from the border and barrel-shaped loop 
for suspension, but otherwise the pendant is perfect. This 
style of ornament is particularly common in Kent, where 
the richest graves belong to the sixth and early seventh 
centuries, and any erroneous conclusions from the inclosed 
coin of the Staffordshire specimen may be avoided by 

FIG. 10. COIN-PEN- r , 1-1 i 

DANT, FORSBROOK (*) reference to other examples in the national collection. 
Thus a pendant from Bacton, Norfolk, which bears a 
striking resemblance to it, incloses a coin of the Emperor Mauritius 
(582-602) ; and a jewelled cross from Wilton, in the same county, with 
a coin of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (6 1 0-4 1 ) , 34a must be of 
about the same date, though of somewhat finer workmanship. That the 
coins of earlier emperors were utilized in the seventh century is shown by a 
somewhat plainer pendant, of the same type as that from Forsbrook, contain- 
ing a coin of Valens (36478) ; and one of Valentinian II was again copied 
for a bracteate found in England, and now in the British Museum. The 
embossed discs of gold-foil that are known under that name are plentiful in 
Scandinavia, and exceedingly rare in this country, but two specimens S4b are 
preserved from the adjoining county of Warwick ; and though the choice 
of a Valentinian coin for the design was no doubt accidental, everything points 
to a close agreement in date between the bracteates and coin-pendants set 
with garnets. Imperial coins had no doubt already become rare curiosities 
in England when the Anglo-Saxon goldsmith showed his skill upon them. 

According to the Ordnance Survey map (6 in. scale, xx, SW.) a Saxon 
sword and celt were found in 1834 about a quarter mile west of Alton 

84 At Sibertswold, Kent ; Inventorium Sepulchrale, 1 18, 124. The position varied, but the left side was 
more usual. Ma Both are illustrated in colours in V.C.H. Norf. i, 3412, figs. 2 and 7 on plate. 

" b y.C.H. Warw. i, 263-4, ^gs. 10, n, on coloured plate. 




212 



ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 

Towers, near the road from the station, but the association does not inspire 
confidence, and need only be mentioned. On the same sheet is marked ' the 
site of a battle between the West Saxons and Mercians A.D. 716,' at Slain 
Hollow, just over a quarter mile east of the mansion. The statement appears 
arbitrary, but it is possible that burials of some kind on the site have given 
rise to the name, and the tendency formerly was to regard such a discovery as 
proof of a battle in the neighbourhood. 

The foregoing survey of Anglo-Saxon remains in Staffordshire may now 
be brought into touch with historical records, though these refer mostly to a 
period subsequent to that treated above. The early history of Mercia is 
even more obscure than that of the other kingdoms that disputed the 
hegemony of Britain in the seventh and eighth centuries ; but the date of 
one important event can be decided within narrow limits. Penda, who 
came to the throne in 626, was apparently about eighty years of age at 
his death in 655. 85 He fell at the battle of the Winwaed as the stubborn 
antagonist of Christianity, and Oswiu the victor came into temporary pos- 
session of the great dominion built up by Penda, installing the latter's 
Christian son Peada as sub-king of the South Mercians in what is now 
Leicestershire. From that date Mercia officially professed the new faith, 
and in 673 the seal was set to its conversion by Archbishop Theodore, who 
consecrated St. Chad the first bishop of Lichfield. The see chosen, about 
nine miles from the royal seat at Tamworth, shows the political centre of 
gravity at that time, and marks the revival of Mercia under Penda's son 
Wulfhere, who acceded to the throne in 659 and reigned for sixteen eventful 
years. For a century and a half Mercia was the dominant power in England, 
under a succession of great kings ; but its fortunes as a Christian power will 
be followed elsewhere, and a few words may now be added as to the part 
played by those early settlers whose remains are here under discussion. 

The name Mercia is generally held to mean the march or border- 
kingdom ; and though Offa's Dyke shows the position of the frontier against 
the Welsh or Britons in the latter part of the eighth century, it is certain 
that two hundred years earlier the natives, who were slowly driven west by 
the English advance, retained a broad belt of country to the east of that 
north-and-south line. In this connexion mention must be made of the view 
that the battle of Fethan-Leag, mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 
under the year 584, was fought at Faddiley in Cheshire, five miles west of 
Nantwich. This location is supported by the tradition that Pengwyrn 
(Shrewsbury) was fired and Bassa's churches (perhaps Baschurch) wrecked, 
both sites being on the road north from Gloucestershire ; but on archaeo- 
logical grounds the site of the battle should rather be looked for somewhere 
on the Warwickshire Avon ; there was, in fact, a place called Faehhaleah not 
far from Stratford. 86 

In any case the West Saxons under Ceawlin at once retreated southward, 
and it may be assumed that beyond Staffordshire, if not along the western 
half of the county itself, the Britons were in possession when the Trent and 
Dove valleys were being colonized by Teutonic strangers. The evident 

33 Green has a note on these dates : Making of Engl. (1897), i, 97 ; see also Chadwick, Origin of the 
Engl. Nation, 1 6. 

36 Trans. Bristol ana" Glouc. Anb. Soc. (1896-7), 254 ; V.C.H. Warm, i, 252. 

213 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

connexion between the find at Barlaston and the series from the north-east 
of the county and the opposite district of Derbyshire has been already noticed ; 
and we cannot be far wrong in identifying the Dove valley colonists with the 
Pecsaetan, or dwellers in the Peak, mentioned in the remarkable list of settle- 
ments known as the Tribal Hidage, and dating from the first half of the 
seventh century. 37 These settlers were evidently accustomed to bury their 
dead in the grave-mounds or barrows of the Bronze period, but the reason 
may simply be that such mounds are particularly plentiful and conspicuous 
south of the Peak, and the practice was by no means confined to this area. 88 

The Pecsaetan were evidently included in the Mercian kingdom, but 
the archaeological material is too meagre to settle the question whether they 
were akin to the occupants of the Trent valley near Burton. The available 
evidence points to their isolation, and the frequent discovery of enamels executed 
in the traditional British style points to their close contact with the native 
element. Further investigations with regard to the manufacture and distri- 
bution of the enamelled bowls may eventually throw some light on this 
question of intercourse. 

In connexion with the English occupation of this district, reference may 
be made to the varieties of dialect observed within the county borders. 38 " 
East and west, approximately through Stone, runs the southern limit of the 
use of a ' suspended /, or a voiceless th, for the test-word the ; and this 
peculiarity of pronunciation suggests a somewhat close racial connexion 
between the inhabitants of the Potteries and those of Cheshire, Derbyshire, 
and Nottinghamshire, the limit following roughly the line of the Trent 
below Burton. Minor differences have also been noticed in this group of 
counties, and in view of what has been said with regard to north Staffordshire 
and Derbyshire, it is of interest to find that the dialect of Derbyshire south 
of Buxton is also heard along a strip of north-east Staffordshire parallel to 
the Dove, and bounded by a line from Buxton to Uttoxeter, thus embracing 
practically all the early burials apart from those in the neighbourhood of 
Burton. The latter is connected by dialect with south Staffordshire, north 
Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and east Shropshire. 

It is probable that the original centre of Mercia was the Trent valley 
near Burton, and the remains support the view that these were the most 
westerly body of Angles, their kinsmen (the Middle and South Angles) 
having occupied or obtained control of that part of the Midlands lying 
between Sherwood on the north and Arden and Rockingham Forest on the 
south. S9 They would thus be the neighbours of the West Saxons and their 
early allies the Hwiccas of the Lower Severn ; but as the southern kingdom 
declined, the Mercians pressed south and became the masters of south-east 
England in the days of Wulfhere. This digression will help to explain why 
there is much in the original West Saxon area that resembles the products of 
Anglian graves in Staffordshire and other parts of Mercia ; whereas objects 
distinctively West Saxon are not found in the northern Midlands. If there 

37 Trans. Roy. Hist. Soc. (New Ser.), xiv, 191. 

38 An example occurred at Oldbury, near Atherstone, Warwickshire (P.C.H. If am. \, 267) ; and many 
are recorded from Yorkshire. 

** These details are taken from A. J. Ellis, EngRsh Dialects, their Sounds and Homes, 7, 90, 92, 101, and 
map. 

39 For the limits of Mercia see H. M. Chadwick, Origin of the Engl. Nation, j. 

214 



ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 

was any racial difference between Angle and Saxon * it would naturally be 
reflected in the archaeological data. 

It is more than probable from the map that the Anglian immigrants 
who ventured farthest west ascended the Trent and its tributaries ; but 
another means of access to the interior must not be overlooked in tracing their 
progress. There were in the sixth century at least two Roman military roads 
available here for crossing vast areas that would otherwise have remained 
practically impassable. Neither forest nor swamp could deter the Romans, 
and most of their highways through Staffordshire are still in use to-day. The 
Watling Street, which enters the county at Fazeley, passes through Wall and 
westward south of Cannock on its way to Wroxeter and Chester, in long 
straight stretches ; and from the south the Icknield (or Ryknield) Street 41 
crosses it near Wall and then strikes north-east down the Trent valley. This 
road would not have materially assisted the newcomers, but the Watling 
Street communicated with the central plain and London ; and, at least in 
later Anglo-Saxon times, was recognized as a thoroughfare and controlled at 
the county border by the stronghold at Tamworth erected by ./Ethelflaed 
of Mercia in 914. When the West Saxons were pushing northward in the 
sixth century both roads would have been of strategical importance ; * 2 and it 
may have been originally due to such considerations that the Mercian king 
frequently resided at Tamworth.* 3 

What little is known concerning the pagan or semi-pagan settlers who 
gained a footing in Staffordshire in post-Roman times is derived from their 
grave furniture and modes of burial ; and it should be observed that nothing 
definitely referring to the Christian belief has been recovered from their 
cemeteries. Neither is there anything that can be referred to the fifth 
century, when we may suppose the Roman tradition was still strong and the 
Teutons were struggling to effect an entry on the east. It is therefore to 
the sixth and early seventh centuries that these remains must be attributed, 
and some of the graves without arms or ornaments may even be later, for 
though the priest may have effected this reform, it was not till the 
middle of the eighth century that the law as to burial of converts in the 
consecrated churchyard was rigidly enforced. Archaeology suffers by these 
changes, but the pious then began to found monasteries and secure charters, 
to build stone churches, and place carved monuments over their dead. From 
that time forward history is based on records and enduring stone. 

10 This point is disputed by Mr. Chadwick, op. cit. 88. 

11 The name is discussed in V.C.H. Derb. \, 246 ; see also Arch. Journ. xiv, 102. 

** Penda was at Cirencester in 628 ; Roman roads would have served him all the way. 
43 For details of the position see J. R. Green, Conquest of Engl. (1899), i, 223. 



215 



POLITICAL HISTORY 



THE history of Staffordshire from the English invasion to the 
Norman Conquest is closely connected with the history of 
Mercia. Staffordshire was 'Mercia proper.' 1 Tamworth, though 
never the capital in the sense that Winchester was the capital of 
Wessex, was the royal city of the kingdom, and was the favourite dwelling- 
place of several Mercian kings ; Repton in Derbyshire being their West- 
minster Abbey. 

There are unfortunately no peculiarly Mercian chronicles of early date, 
and its history has to be pieced together from references in West Saxon and 
Northumbrian chronicles, and from charters and laws. Its founders were 
the Angles, apparently the latest comers of the Low German tribes who in 
the first century after Christ were living on the right bank of the Elbe near 
its mouth. 2 

Whilst some of the Angles were pushing up the Soar to what is now 
Leicester, and others settling in Derbyshire, more important bands were 
coming along the Fosse Way and up the Trent, who founded Tamworth and 
Lichfield. For some time their settlements seem to have been confined to 
the district round these two places and the upper Trent valley. West of 
this the wild moorlands checked their advance, and they gained from their 
dwelling on the borderland between Angle and Welshman the name of 
Mercians or men of the March. 8 

The origins of Mercian history are involved in great obscurity ; all we 
know is that at the end of the sixth century the kingdom appears as a powerful 
state, but it has no distinctly recorded founder or date of origin.* In fact it 
grew from the union 5 of a large number of small and wholly independent 
principalities, in this differing from the other kingdoms. 6 

Crida, whose pedigree was traced from Woden, is the first Mercian 
chief mentioned in the documents that remain to us, and is conjectured by 
Henry of Huntingdon to have been the first king, 7 but Penda, who began to 
reign in 626, seems to have been the earliest who can claim the title without 
question. 8 Penda was a sturdy heathen, and came nearer to uniting the whole 
of England under one sceptre than any king before Egbert, but at last, on the 
banks of the Winwaed in 655, he was defeated by Oswy of Northumbria 
and killed. 

1 Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), i, 123. 

* Hodgkin, Political Hist. ofEngl. \, 80. For further particulars on this subject see the article on 'Anglo- 
Saxon Remains.' 

* Green, Making ofEngl. 85. * Freeman, Norman Conq. i, 25. 

5 As the name Mercia was extended to the whole of central England it must have lost its original signi- 
fication. 

6 Freeman, 'Norman Conq. \, 26-7. r Hist. Angl. (Rolls Ser.), 53. 

8 Turner, Hist, of Anglo-Saxons, i, 354. ; William of Malmesbury, Gesta Reg. (Rolls Ser.), 76. 

I 217 28 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

His death was of great importance to Mercia, for it removed the great 
obstacle to the spread of Christianity in the kingdom, which had already 
begun in the marriage of Penda's son Paeda to Oswy's daughter. 

After the victory of the Winwaed Oswy was virtually master of Mercia. 
His son-in-law Paeda was under-king of the portion of the kingdom south of 
the Trent, but he apparently kept Northern Mercia in his own hands. 9 
Paeda did not enjoy even this limited authority for long, as next year he was 
murdered, and in 658 Oswy was expelled and Wulfhere reigned once more 
over an independent Mercia. 

From the time of Wulfhere dates the bishopric of Lichfield. The 
first three Mercian bishops had no cathedral, no 'sedes,' they were missionaries; 
but St. Chad, the great bishop, whom Wilfrid recommended to Wulfhere, 
fixed his head quarters, and built a small church and monastery near the 
junction of Ryknield and Wading Streets in 669, 10 a centre which would 
give him easy access in every direction into his province. 

The Mercian kings of the end of the seventh and the beginning of the 
eighth century are not of great importance, and do not concern our county 
history except that Ceolred, who died in 716, was buried at Lichfield, 11 but 
from his death dates the period of the greatest glory of the kingdom under 
the two long reigns of Ethelbald and Offa, when it seemed as if the consoli- 
dation of England was to be worked out by Mercia instead of Wessex, and as 
if Lichfield rather than Winchester or London would be the capital of 
England. But Mercia at the end of Ethelbald's reign sustained a grievous 
defeat at Burford at the hands of Wessex, and her supremacy over that 
kingdom then apparently passed away for ever. 

His successor Offa, who reigned from 757 to 796, loomed more largely 
in the eyes of his European contemporaries than any previous king in 
Britain. Hadrian I, writing to Charles the Great, calls Offa ' rex Anglorum,' 
and Charles himself, in his famous letter, writes as ' the king of the Eastern 
Christians,' to the ' mightiest king of the Western Christians.' 

Offa, like many of the Mercian kings, was fond of the fertile valleys of 
the Dove and the Trent ; indeed, it was in such districts that nearly all the 
ancient towns that attained greatness were built, provided they also afforded 
means of defence and commanded the country around. Tamworth enjoyed 
all these advantages, and is called by Offa in a grant of land to Worcester 
Cathedral, dated 781,' his royal palace.' 12 

Cenwulf, the successor of Offa, maintained the greatness of Mercia for a 
time, but in 827 the kingdom had to submit to Egbert, and though retaining 
her own kings, they were only under-kings who received their crowns from 
their West Saxon overlords. 13 

The kings of Mercia, under the overlordship of Wessex, continued to 
hold their Witans, and there is a record of one held at Tamworth in 840 by 
Berhtwulf on Easter Day, but the business transacted there did not concern 
Staffordshire. 1 * 

Between 872 and 875 the Vikings marched through Mercia, dethroned 
Burhred, who retired to Rome, and set up a puppet Ceolwulf in his stead. 

Hodgkin, Political Hist, of Engl. i, 173. 10 Bede, Hist. Eccl. iv, 3. 

11 Henry of Huntingdon, Hist. Angl. (Rolls Ser.), in. " Birch, Cart. Sax. i, 334. 

11 Freeman, Norman Conq. (ed. 2), i, 40. " Birch, Cart. Sax. ii, 4-5. 

2l8 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

They settled at Repton in 874, and from there subdued the whole of the 
surrounding country, 15 destroying and plundering Tamworth and Stafford. 

When the Treaty of Wedmore put an end for a time to this ruinous 
war, Watling Street may be taken as the practical boundary between the 
Danelaw and Alfred's dominion. 18 Staffordshire therefore was divided 
between the two, the northern and central portions going to the Danes, the 
southern to Alfred. How far did the Danes fill up the district assigned to 
them ? This unfortunately is a question which as yet we have not sufficient 
materials to answer definitely. Our best guide is that of place-names, the 
commonest Danish terminations being 'by,' 'thorpe,' and 'toft,' and according 
to this test the Danes hardly left any permanent trace in Staffordshire. 

The contest soon broke out again. The Danes, thrown back from the 
Continent by a great defeat at Louvain, turned their attention to England 
with renewed vigour, and were assisted by their brethren of the Danelaw. 
A terrible internal struggle was waged all along the boundary, Watling 
Street, 17 and must have involved Staffordshire. 

However, a deliverer was at hand. In 910 Edward the Elder met the 
Danes at Tettenhall, 18 and defeated them, and from this time the Viking host 
was steadily pushed eastwards. The chief credit for the conquest of Danish 
Mercia must be given to Edward's ' manlike sister,' Ethelfleda, the ' lady of 
the Mercians.' The daughter of a Mercian princess and married to one who 
was probably connected with the royal line of Offa, she is one of the most 
capable women in English history. After her husband's death in 911 she 
won the ' love and loyalty of the Mercian people in an astonishing degree 
and wielded the warlike resources of the Midland Kingdom with wonderful 
energy and success.' 19 Her plan of campaign was to build a ' burh ' in the 
hostile territory and hold it against all comers till the surrounding country 
was entirely subdued. 

In the year 9 i 3 

God granting, Ethelfleda, lady of the Mercians, went with all the Mercians to Tnmworth, 
and built the burh there in the early summer, and before the following Lammas (Aug. i) 
that at Stafford. Then in the year after this that at Eddisbury in the early summer. 20 

The short time occupied in the building shows that the burhs must have 
been of very elementary construction. The burhs at Tamworth and Stafford 
are an excellent instance of the military genius of this warlike woman, as they 
blocked the way along the Trent and Watling Street, which the Danes 
used in order to effect a junction with their Irish brethren at Chester. 

Ethelfleda died at the Tamworth burh which she had built, in 918, and 
was buried at Gloucester. 21 Her precise relationship with her royal brother 
Edward is hard to define. She fought, made treaties, and governed with 
apparently entire independence, but she is always described as ' lady,' never 
as ' queen.' Probably Edward was her ' mund bora,' 23 or protector, and 

11 Angl.-Sax. Chron (Rolls Ser.), ii, 63. " Hodgkin, op. cit. i, 315. " Ibid, i, 309. 

" Angl.-Sax. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 77. Symeon of Dur. Hist. Reg. 112 (Rolls Ser.), and Flor. of Wore. 
Chron. i, izo, say 911. 

** Hodgkin, op. cit. i, 321. 

K Angl.-Sax. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 78-9. Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), i, 443, says she 
restored Tamworth and the tower at Stafford, no doubt referring to the fact that they had lain in ruins 
since 874. 

11 Angl.-Sax. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 81. " Hodgkin, op. cit. i, 322- 3. 

219 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

knowing her capacity allowed her the widest discretion, but not absolute 
independence. 

In the midst of so much warfare it is pleasant to be able to turn for a 
moment to a work of construction in which the creation of the county of 
Stafford formed part. Mercia, during its existence as a kingdom, was 
arranged in five regions, none of which bore the name of shire, one of them 
being ' Mercia proper with its bishopric of Lichfield and its royal city of 
Tamworth.' 23 These five regions represent the early settlements out of which 
the Mercian kingdom was created by Penda and his immediate predecessors, 
and which Theodore of Tarsus arranged as dioceses before their several 
nationality had been forgotten. After the reconquest from the Danes they 
were rearranged as shires and named after their chief towns by Edward the 
Elder, 8 * and in this they differed from the counties of Wessex, which keep to 
this day the names and boundaries of the principalities founded by the first 
successors of Cerdic. 

In the year 924 Edward the Elder died and was succeeded by his son 
Athelstan ' the glorious,' who, shortly after he came to the throne, had an 
interview with Sihtric, the Danish king of the Northumbrians, at Tarn- 
worth. 25 There Athelstan gave him his sister in marriage, in return for 
which Sihtric probably promised to become a Christian, but he is said to 
have repudiated both wife and religion before his death in the next year. 

Edmund his brother succeeded Athelstan in 940. 

In the first year of Edmund's reign Anlaf (Sihtric's son) after besieging Hamton without 
result turned his army towards Tamworth, and having laid waste the surrounding country 
met Edmund with his army. But there was no battle, for the two archbishops appeased 
both kings and prevented it, and peace was accordingly made. 26 

This peace lasted about a year, for in 943 Anlaf ' took Tamworth by storm 
and great slaughter was made on either side, and the Danes had the victory 
and led away great booty with them.' 27 

On Edmund's approach, however, they retired to Leicester, and in 944 
Anlaf was driven out of Northumbria and appears no more on the scene. 28 

In 957 England was divided between Edwy and Edgar, owing to the 
dissatisfaction of the people with the former's misgovernment, and Mercia, 
including of course Staffordshire, was again separated from Wessex and 
given to Edgar, 29 but as Edwy died in 959 the arrangement was short-lived. 

In 987 the Danes commenced anew series of invasions, and Mercia was 
ruled at this time by two men whose traitorous conduct is one of the puzzles 
of our history, Elfric and Edric ' Streona,' who did their best to render the 
resistance of England futile and the task of the Danes easy. 

Staffordshire, however, seems for some time to have escaped the terrible 
ravages which the rest of the country now suffered, but in 1013 Edmund 
Ironside and Uhtred of Northumbria ravaged Shropshire, Cheshire, and 
Staffordshire, because those counties had refused to help them against the 
Danes. 30 

* Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), i, 123. " Ibid. 

" Angl.-Sax. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 85. M Symeon of Dur. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 93. 

" Angl.-Sax. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 89. * 8 Hodgkin, op. cit. i, 340. 

" Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 460. 

30 Freeman, Norman Cony. \, 415, and Roger of Hoveden, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), i, 80. 



22O 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

In that year 31 the character of the Viking invasions changed, and a 
period of regular and systematic conquest under Sweyn and his son Canute 
set in. In three years Staffordshire changed kings three times: for in 1013 
it submitted with the rest of England to Sweyn; on his death, with the whole 
country, it reverted to Ethelred; and in 1016, on the division of the country 
at Olney, it went with the rest of Mercia to Canute. 

In the same year, just before the treaty, both Canute and Edmund harried, 
burned, and slew in the county. 82 

The career of the traitor Edric Streona was cut short by Canute, and 
he was succeeded as earl, for so the ealdormen were now called, of Mercia 
by Leofwine, who in turn was followed by his famous son Leofric. He died 
at Bromley in Staffordshire in 1057, and after Elfgar had been earl a few 
years Edwin, the last earl of Mercia, succeeded him some time between 
1062 and 1065, and is of interest to us as many of his estates lay in the 
county. 83 

On his death the earldom of Mercia came to an end, and its last earl 
cannot be said to have dignified that end. For though he had high birth, a 
handsome person, and winning manners, added to the piety of the age, he 
was politically worthless. 84 When Harold Hardrada sailed up the Tyne he 
left the coast unguarded ; when Harold the son of Godwine was marching 
south to fight William he hung back. He was one of the first to yield to 
William, yet he rebelled against the Conqueror, though his heart failed him 
before a blow was struck ; while his second attempt was futile and ended in 
his assassination, according to the English account, by his own men. 

His estates went into various hands, the king kept the lion's share, while 
many went to found the two palatinate earldoms of Chester and Shrews- 
bury. 86 

We have now reached ' the turning point of English history.' England 
seemed conquered by the battle of Hastings, but after a brief lull a series of 
isolated risings took place, which were beaten in detail by William. 

In 1069, when the Danes and English took York, Staffordshire and 
Shropshire broke out in revolt, probably at the instigation of Edwin. This 
district must have been imperfectly subdued up to this time. Both town 
and county paid dearly for their outbreak, for William in his northward 
march conquered them ; and the huge confiscations, which were always great 
in proportion to the resistance to his rule, show that the patriotism of the 
Staffordshire men had led to a vigorous contest that was punished with 
merciless severity. 86 

In the next year occurred William's celebrated winter march from York to 
Chester, and, provoked by the stern resistance he met then, the neighbouring 
counties, including Staffordshire, were fearfully ravaged ; ' men young and 
old, women and children, wandered as far south as the abbey of Evesham in 
quest of a morsel of bread.' " It was probably at this time that, according 
to his custom, William built the castle in the town of Stafford, which was 

11 It should be mentioned that Holinshed fixes the scene of the opening of the massacre of St. Brice's Day 
at Houndhill, five miles from Tutbury. 

" Angl.-Sax. Chron. (Rolls Ser.), 121. " Eyton, Staffs. Domesday, 32. 

" Freeman, Norman Cony, iv, 182. 35 Eyton, Staffs. Domesday, 32. 

* Freeman, Norman Conq. (ed. 4), iv, 282. " Ibid, iv, 315. 

221 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

destroyed before the end of his reign, and at the date of Domesday lay in 



rums. 88 



The displacement of the original landowners of the county after the 
Conquest was very thorough, no doubt aggravated by the resistance of 1069 
and 1070. At the time when the commissioners of the Domesday Survey 
visited the county something like half was woodland, and generally speaking it 
was thinly inhabited, incapable of ordinary taxation, and badly stocked. At 
this time the greatest landowners in the county beside the king were, first 
of all, Robert de Tocni, afterwards called de Stafford, who took his name 
almost certainly from Stafford, of which he was governor. All that he held 
in the county had belonged to its last Saxon earl, Edwin, and he was the 
largest lay owner. He was the younger son of Roger de Toeni, the hereditary 
standard-bearer of the Conqueror, but in spite of his descent and his great 
possessions he was not granted the dignity and power of an earldom. This 
Robert de Stafford was the founder of the great house of Stafford, whose 
descendants in the fifteenth century became dukes of Buckingham, and 
perhaps the greatest landowners in England. Next to him came Roger of 
Montgomery Earl of Shropshire, one of the four great palatine earldoms. 39 
Then came William Fitz Anculf, the owner, among other fiefs, of Dudley 
Castle, of whom nothing is known except that his entire barony came into the 
possession of Fulke Paynel, who probably married Fitz Anculf's heiress.* 
Henry de Ferrers, who built Tutbury Castle, was one of the commissioners 
of the Domesday Survey. His estates were more compact than those of 
most of the great nobles, whose holdings were split up partly by the policy 
of the Conqueror and partly by the scattered nature of the lands of their 
Anglo-Saxon predecessors. Hugh de Montgomery, one of the sons of Earl 
Roger, and Richard Forester also held estates in the county. 41 

Some lands still remained in the possession of Saxon thegns, and eccle- 
siastical landowners had a goodly share, the Bishop of Chester being the largest, 
while the others were the abbots of Westminster and Burton, the French 
abbey of Saint Remy at Rheims, and the canons of Stafford and Handone 
( Wolverhampton) . 

The castles mentioned at Tutbury and Dudley were most probably like 
other castles of this period, of very simple construction, and the name does 
not necessarily imply even the use of stone in their construction. 

After its terrible experience in the early part of the Conqueror's reign 
Staffordshire had peace till 1102, in which year the great house of Mont- 
gomery was in arms against Henry I. Robert of Belleme, another of the 
sons of Roger of Montgomery, forestalled Henry's summons to answer for 
his share in Duke Robert's invasion the preceding year '* by gathering an 
army of Welsh and Normans. With these he and his brother Arnold laid 
waste part of Staffordshire, and thence carried off many horses and other 
animals and some men into Wales. 43 

At this time we find Stafford Castle, evidently a successor of that which 
had so short a life in the reign of William I, in the hands of the king under 
William Pantulf as its governor ; and the castle, garrisoned by 200 men-at- 

13 Freeman, Norman Cmq. iv, 318. M Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), i, 294. 

40 Coll. for a Hiit. of Staffs. (Salt Arch. Soc.), ix (2), 6. " Eyton, Staffs. Domesday, chap. 4. 

" Davis, Engl. under Normans and Angevins, 124. Roger of Hoveden, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), i, 159. 

222 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

arms, was a royal base of operations against Belleme, 44 whose castles of Bridg- 
north and Shrewsbury were captured and he himself driven to Normandy. 
The downfall of this man, one of the worst examples of the turbulent Norman 
barons, was hailed in England with delight. 45 His life was spared, but his 
English domains, which included large estates in Staffordshire, were confis- 
cated. The royal castle after this declined in importance, and like many 
others degenerated into a gaol, though it was occasionally dignified with the 
name of castle, even as late as the reign of Henry VIII. 46 

The government of Henry I, ' the Lion of Righteousness,' though 
strong and just, was severe, and the chroniclers of the time frequently bewail 
the taxation which was ' not so burdensome by its weight as by its regular 
and inevitable incidence.' 47 

From the report of the sheriff of Staffordshire it appears that the annual 

ferm of the county, that is the amount arising from the king's demesnes, 

territorial rights, and profits from judicial proceedings, was in the years 

112930 about 127 i6j. jd, in ordinary or unpurified money. Before 

rendering his account the sheriff had to discharge the king's debts in the 

county by paying the royal benefactions to religious houses, providing for 

/ the maintenance of the stock on crown lands, the costs of public business, of 

provisions supplied to the court, and the travelling expenses of the king 

; within his district. 48 

When doing so at Michaelmas, i 130, among the items with which the 
sheriff of Staffordshire charged the king is 4 ios. paid for mead and ale in 
supply of a royal corrody (allowance for food), showing that the king had 
recently visited the county. 49 The Danegeld, the next most important item in 
the sheriffs account, and the most unpopular for out of it he probably made 
his greatest profit amounted in 1130 to 44 is., that is, 2s. per hide on 
440! hides, a large area of Staffordshire being ingeldable by prescription. 
The rate at which the county was assessed for this purpose works out at a^out 
one twenty-seventh of 1 to the square mile, a very low rate, as the normal 
rate per square mile was about one-seventh of i. This, however, was 
not altogether an indication of poverty, especially when we allow for the 
large portion of ingeldable land, for the rich county of Kent was assessed 
at one-fifteenth, and it is almost certain that the assessment differed 
according to the polity of the ancient kingdoms out of which England 
had been formed. 60 

The most heavily assessed counties, for instance, were those of Wessex, 
and Shropshire, part of which belonged to Wessex, was twice as heavily 
assessed as its neighbour Staffordshire. 61 At Michaelmas, 1 156, the ferm had 
increased considerably in amount, and among the deductions is 29 1 8j. for 
restocking all the royal manors in Staffordshire. 63 

In the wars of Stephen's reign the eastern half of England was nominally 
for the king and the western for Maud, but really the former controlled little 
more than the counties round London, and the latter Gloucestershire and the 

" Eyton, Staffs. Domesday, 20. " Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), i, 334. 

46 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii (2), 8. The collections made by this society must be gratefully acknow- 
ledged as giving most valuable assistance to the writer of this article. 
" Stubbs, Const. Hist, i, 339. 48 Ibid. 411. 

" Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), i, 5. w Round, feud. Engl. 95. 

" Ibid. 96. " Call. (Salt Arch. Soc.), i, 21. 

223 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

neighbouring parts. The rest of the country was a scene of anarchy and 
feuds between rival nobles. Of the great men of Staffordshire Robert de 
Ferrers, the third and surviving son of Henry de Ferrers the Domesday 
commissioner, raised a body of men from the country round his castle of 
Tutbury and from Derbyshire to assist in defeating the Scots at Northallerton 
in 1 1 38," and for his valour was made an earl by Stephen. It should not be 
forgotten that the creation of earls by both Stephen and Maud was an 
expedient for strengthening their respective parties, and it is possible that 
the frequent changing of sides which marked the struggle may have been 
caused by the desire of these newly-created nobles to obtain confirmation of 
their titles from both competitors. 64 

One staunch supporter in Staffordshire Stephen had in the person of 
Robert Marmion, the lord of Tamworth Castle." When the king was taken 
prisoner at Lincoln his estates were given by the victorious Maud to Sir 
William de Beauchamp, but Sir Robert was loyal in spite of adversity, and 
fighting against the Earl of Chester at Coventry met his death by a curious 
accident. Matthew Paris describes him as a warlike man, 68 who had expelled 
the monks of Coventry from their church and made a castle of it, and falling 
into one of the ditches which he had dug for its protection, he broke his 
thigh and was dispatched by a common soldier as he lay helpless. 67 

Ralph Paynel of Dudley, the son of Fulke Paynel, who is thought to 
have married Fitz Anculf s heiress, fortified the castle against Stephen, who 
besieged it, and ' having burnt the country around and taken a great booty of 
animals, he went on against Shrewsbury Castle.' 68 Gervase Paynel, too, 
Ralph's son, held Ludlow against the king. 

The evils of ' uncurbed feudalism ' during Stephen's reign of anarchy 
made the law and order enforced by Henry II additionally welcome. His 
activity in carrying out his reforms caused him to exercise a close superin- 
tendence over his officers, and between 1155 and 1 157 he was three or four 
times in Staffordshire. In 1158 he came to Tamworth with a considerable 
train, among whom was Thomas Becket the chancellor, and they were the 
guests of Robert Marmion at Tamworth Castle. But the great measures 
which were the glory of Henry's reign found no favour with the baronage, 
who saw their own influence limited by them, and in 1173 they formed a 
vast conspiracy, finding in the discontent of the king's sons a sufficient 
pretext. The revolt, though unsuccessful in 1173, was renewed next year. 
But Henry had the support of the Church, the towns, the mass of the people, 
and the new official class, and by August the rebellion was over and the 
castles of the rebels were surrendered one by one with little resistance, among 
them being Tutbury. 69 Robert de Ferrers had assisted in the burning of 
Nottingham, and was then besieged by the Welsh at Tutbury, but on the 
approach of Henry's army he went to Northampton and there submitted to 

a Dugdale, Baronage, i, 259. M Stubbs, Const. Hist, i, 391. 

55 This Robert was the son of Roger Marmion, who had probably been given the forfeited estates of Robert 
Dispensator by Henry I. 

M Cbron. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 177. 

57 Dugdale, Baronage, i, 376. Round, Feud. Engl. 195, does not allow the disinterestedness of Robert 
Marmion ; he says, ' in their rivalry for Tamworth the Marmions embraced the cause of Stephen, and the 
Beauchamps that of Maud, their variance being terminated under Henry II by a matrimonial alliance.' 

58 Flor. of Wore. Cbron. (Engl. Hist. Soc.), ii, no. 
" Roger of Hoveden, Cbron. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 65. 

224 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

the king. 60 Gervase Paynel also took part in the rebellion, and for his share 
in it his castle of Dudley was demolished. 61 

In 1 175 Henry was again in Staffordshire, and when at Lichfield on his 
way to Nottingham, pleas were held there by William Fitz Ralph, Bertram 
de Verdon, and William Basset in Curia Regis. 62 

The possessions of the crown all over England had been considerably 
diminished during the reign of Stephen, who had granted many estates in 
order to obtain the support of those whom he thus favoured, and none of 
Henry IPs acts was more unpopular with the barons than his command that 
the royal demesnes bestowed by the late king should be restored. 63 The 
estates of the crown in Staffordshire in the reign of Henry II consisted of 

(a) Such manors as having been in the crown or in the Earl of Mercia 
before the Conquest remained in the crown at the date of Domesday, and 
came into Henry's hands as ancient demesne or ancient escheat, and composed 
his ferm of the county : M Trentham, Penkridge, Wednesbury, Walsall, Wig- 
ginton, Kingswinford and Clent, Tettenhall, Tarbeck, Alrewas, Bromley 
Regis, Rugeley and Cannock, Meretown, Wolverhampton, Willenhall, 
Bilston, Rowley Regis, Wolstanton, Penkhall, Leek. Between the date of 
Domesday and the accession of Henry II, Trentham, Wolstanton, and Leek 
had been given to the Earls of Chester, but the grants were revoked by 
Henry. 

(b] Estates of ancient demesne or escheat which were never incorporated 
in the ferm of the county, but were given in charge to bailiffs, fermors, and 
trustees other than the sheriff : Borough of Stafford, Half borough of Tam- 
worth, Kinver, Cannock and its forest, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hopwas. 

(c) Another kind of crown estate consisted either in the ferm of manors 
which had been severed from the king's demesnes and granted to fermors 
before the accession of Henry II, or in the extra values placed upon estates 
of ancient demesne or ancient escheat after his accession, these were : Brome, 
Stafford Mill, Stafford Smithy, Rowley Regis, Cradley Mill, Trentham 
Market, Walsall, (Clent, Kingswinford, Meretown had a collective ferm set 
upon them), Alrewas, a house in Stafford which had belonged to Walter the 
Provost, who had been outlawed in 1 175 and his house seized by the sheriff 
as an escheat of the crown. 

(d] Escheated ' tainlands ' which were always waste, and in the king's 
hands because no one had wanted them. 

At the same time the estates of the Earl of Chester in the county 
probably comprised the following : Chartley, Sandon, Eiford, Drayton, 
Pattingham, Leek, Endon, Rudyard, The Rushtons, Alton. 66 

From 1184 the see of Lichfield 66 was occupied by a man who, like 
many of the ecclesiastics of that age, was also a keen politician and man of 
affairs, Hugh of Nonant, who combined the parts of bishop, soldier, justiciary, 

60 Matt. Paris, Chrtm. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 297, says that in 1175 Tutbury was levelled with the ground 
by Henry's orders in revenge for the wrongs which its owner had often done. 

61 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), ix (2), 8. 

68 Eyton, Itm. of Hen. II, 193. ^ Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), i, 489. 

61 This list is taken from Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), ii, 171. 
65 Major-General the Hon. G. Wrottesley in Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), i, 231. 

64 The name Lichfield for the see is used to avoid confusion ; it was frequently called the see of Chester 
and Coventry in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. 

I 225 29 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

and sheriff at various periods of his life. He was sheriff of the county from 
1190 to 1194," at a time when John strove to undermine the authority 
of his absent brother, which William Longchamp upheld. Staffordshire 
felt the effect of John's schemes, and the sheriff charged the crown with 
,9 2s. 6d. for defending the county against malefactors ; he was also granted 
jT26 from the king's purse to preserve the peace. 88 The shrewdness of this 
bishop was equal to his activity ; he took advantage of Richard's insatiable 
desire for money to buy the estates of Cannock and Rugeley from him for 
25 marks (16 13^. 4*?.), and they were added to the possessions of the see. 

King John favoured Staffordshire with several visits, no doubt because the 
county was particularly loyal to him, also because he was fond of hunting in 
its forests. 69 In March, 1 200, he came through Burton to Lichfield, where 
he spent two days ; in 1204 he was again at Lichfield for three days, and 
two years afterwards paid another visit, at which date he bestowed the first 
charter on Stafford, though he never visited that town. 

A letter written by Thomas de Erdinton, sheriff of Salop and Stafford- 
shire in 1215, to the king in answer to his question, who, and how many 
knights bore arms against him in the war, shows the state of parties in 
Staffordshire clearly. He tells the king that in the county of Stafford there 
were not any opposed to John at first except Robert Marmion (he incurred 
John's anger by this opposition so that his castle of Tamworth was ordered to 
be razed, but the order was not carried out), who still remains disaffected, 
and Hervey Bagot, who had made himself Sheriff of Staffordshire by means of 
the barons, but had accepted the king's peace at the hands of the Earl of 
Chester ; and also except two brothers of Hervey Bagot, who were still 
against the king in the following of Fulk Fitz Warin. 70 

Ranulph Earl of Chester, whom Dugdale calls ' the greatest subject of 
England of his time,' was one of John's chief supporters, though he was not 
afraid to rebuke him for his evil life. 71 For his services to King John William 
de Ferrers was confirmed in his earldom of Derby, and was also rewarded by 
many grants of lands. At the 'fair of Lincoln' in 1217 the newly -created earl 
and the Earl of Chester helped to overthrow the French party, 72 but in the 
rising of Richard Earl of Cornwall, in 1227, both these great barons joined 
him. The two earls, indeed, seem to have been great friends, and in 1217 
they went a pilgrimage to Palestine together. 

Ranulph of Chester was the last earl but one of his line, and his sister 
Agnes brought Chartley to the Ferrers family by marrying William de 
Ferrers. 73 On the death of Ranulph's nephew John the earldom came to the 
crown. 

During the early years of Henry III Staffordshire played very little part 
in history, though the Bishop of Lichfield, Alexander de Stavenby, was a 
politician of considerable eminence. In the middle of the thirteenth century 
several catastrophes, due to natural causes, occurred in the county. On the 
night of 2 October, 1254, Burton was visited by a fire, but the amount of 
damage is not recorded, 74 and in the same year, about 20 November, 

67 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), ii, 10. Ibid, ii, 14. " Eyton, Antlj. ofShrops. ii, 185. 

70 Eyton, Antlq. ofShrops. x, 326. " Dugdale, Baronage, i, 42. 

71 Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. ii, 541. n Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 45. 
74 Ann. Man. (Rolls Sen), i, 323. 

226 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

great floods are recorded by which a large number of people of both sexes, 
old and young, and little children in their cradles, were drowned. In 
the next year an extraordinary hailstorm visited the valley of the Trent, 
followed by a whirlwind which levelled trees and buildings with the earth, 
and there was a universal destruction of hay by floods such as had not happened 
for many years. 75 

Through the writs of protection, issued to those who applied for them 
while employed in the king's service, we are enabled to obtain an authentic 
record of those Staffordshire tenants who fought in the various wars of the 
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. These writs gave complete protection 
against all personal actions and against any pleas in the superior courts of law 
except pleas of dower and last presentation. 

When Henry III invaded Brittany in 1230 such writs were issued to 
the following Staffordshire tenants : 76 Ralph Basset of Drayton, 77 Ralph 
Basset of Weldon, William de Aldithele (Audley), Henry de Aldithele, 
William de Dustun, Hervey de Stafford, 78 Adam Mauveisin, Nicholas de 
Verdun, John Fitz Philip, William Basset, Roger de Somery, 79 Hugh de 
Oddingesele, Geoffrey de St. Maur, Ralph de Pexhale. 

In 1253, during the suppression of the rebellion in Gascony by 
Henry III, the following had writs of protection in the county : 80 John de 
Chetwinde, Ralph de Arderne, Walkeline de Arderne, Adam Mauveisin, 
William le Blund, Robert de Stafford, Peter de St. Maur, Adam de Brimton, 
Philip Marmion, Warinne Fitz Gerald, John de Kaumville, Geoffrey de 
Genville, John de Verdun, Richard de Alazun, Roger de Somery, Roger de 
Monhaut, William Hose. 

In 1257 several Staffordshire tenants assisted the king against the Welsh, 
and others accompanied Richard Earl of Cornwall, who had been elected 
king of the Romans, to Germany. In the former expedition, when Henry 
went on to Chester, he left part of his army with Richard de Clare, who 
made a secret journey, with only one knight, to confer with Queen Eleanor 
at Tutbury Castle, where Eleanor is stated to have been staying instead of at 
Nottingham because she could not endure the smoke of the sea coal. 81 

We have now come to the great crisis of Henry's reign, when clergy 
and laity found a leader against his misgovernment in Simon de Montfort, 
and in the barons' wars that ensued Staffordshire was almost wholly against 
the king. Not more than three of the principal tenants of the county were 
on his side : Philip Marmion, the last of the male line of that family, whose 
daughter Jane married Sir Alexander de Freville, James de Audley and Roger 
de Somery ; while of the lesser tenants, only William Bagot of the Hyde, Adam 
de Brimton, William Wyther, and Hugh de Okeover adhered to the king. 
Against him were Robert de Ferrers, Hugh le Despenser the Justiciary of 
England, Ralph Basset of Drayton, Henry de Verdun, William de Handsacre, 

74 Ann. Mon. (Rolls Sen), i, 336. 

: Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii (l), 2 ; Cat. of Pat. 1225-32, p. 357. 

77 This Ralph Basset of Drayton is the one of whom Dugdale says he was first of the family in any way 
memorable ; Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 375. 

78 Hervey de Stafford was the son of Millicent, the daughter and heiress of Robert de Stafford who had 
married Hervey Bagot ; ibid, i, 613. 

79 Roger de Somery must have been the de Somery who, in 48 Hen. Ill, was allowed to crenellate 
Dudley Castle because he supported the king against the barons. 

60 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii (2), 3 ; Pat. 37 Hen. III. " Ann. Mm. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 203. 

227 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

John Fitz Philip, Geoffrey de Gresley, John de Audley, Roger Bagot of 
Brinton, John de Swynnerton, Richard de Bromley, William de Rideware, 
Giles de Erdington, and many more. 8 * 

Against Robert de Ferrers Henry had a special grudge because he had 
married the king's niece, Mary of Angouleme, and yet was opposed to him. 
This was aggravated by Ferrers capturing Prince Edward and imprisoning 
him. In 1264 he defeated the royalists at Chester, but soon after Edward, 
his old opponent, laid waste his lands in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, and 
demolished his stronghold of Tutbury. 85 Such determined hostility brought 
about his own downfall and that of his family. In 1265 he was brought to 
trial, confessed, and was forgiven, yet with extraordinary infatuation he again 
raised an army and seized Chesterfield, 84 but was defeated, attainted, and his 
lands confiscated. 

Immediately after the battle of Lewes, Earl Simon, acting in the name 
of Henry, appointed for the first time a ' custos pacis ' in every county in 
England, who appears to have superseded the sheriff and wielded almost 
despotic power, the custos for Staffordshire being Ralph Basset of Drayton, 85 
who at the battle of Evesham fell fighting against the king with Hugh le 
Despenser, Richard Trussel of Kibblestone, and William de Bermingham. 88 
The last-named was a tenant of Roger de Somery, one of Henry's few 
supporters, and their being found on opposite sides shows that the feudal tie 
was severed. 87 

It is perhaps fitting that in the early years of the reign of the great legis- 
lator Edward I the history of Staffordshire should be concerned with a famous 
lawsuit, which not only is a good illustration of the litigation of the time, 
but was important in the annals of the county. In the second year of the 
reign Robert de Ferrers, the staunch opponent of Henry III, sued Edmund 
Crouchback, the late king's son, to whom all Ferrers' lands, with two ex- 
ceptions, had been given, that he might redeem his lands according to the 
Dictum de Kenilworth. 

This was an agreement drawn up between Henry and his tenants in 
chief during the siege of Kenilworth, by which those who had been disin- 
herited might upon submission recover their estates, and was published on 
31 October, 1266. In it was a special clause by which Ferrers was to pay 
seven years' revenue and give up his castles. 88 Edmund appeared and said that 
Ferrers could not claim the benefit of the Dictum de Kenilworth, since after 
it was passed he had offered of his own free will to redeem his lands and 
himself from prison for 50,000 ; an enormous sum when its present value 
is considered, and especially considering that the annual value of the Earl of 
Derby's estates at this time was put at jf^ooo. 89 

This sum was to be paid by the Quindene of St. John the Baptist, and 
if not paid then Edmund was to hold the land until it was paid, and he 

81 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii (2), 5. ra Dugdale, Baronage, 263 ; Ann. Mon. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 230. 

94 Ann. Man. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 370 ; Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 16. Robert de Ferrers, though hostile to 
the king, was not a loyal supporter of the barons ; Rishangcr says of him, ' fidus nee Regi nee Baronibus' ; 
Chnn. and Ann. (Rolls Ser.), 13. In the summer of 1263 he marched about the country plundering and 
burning indiscriminately. He incurred the hostility of Simon de Montfort at Lewes and was imprisoned by 
him ; Engl. Hist. Rev. x, 3 I. 

85 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 4. " Ann. Mon. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 365. 

87 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 6. M Stubbs, Const. Hist, ii, too. 

89 Dugdale, Baronage, i, 265. 

228 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

produced the charter of Robert de Ferrers to that effect. Robert pleaded 
that this charter was signed by him when in prison under duress, and, there- 
fore, could not invalidate his claim. However, Edmund's answer to this was 
that Robert after the execution of the charter had come before the king's 
chancellor and enrolled the same, and that an act so done could not be pleaded 
as the act of a prisoner. Robert was obliged to admit he had acknowledged 
the validity of his act before the chancellor, but he still maintained he had 
done it under duress, for the chancellor had come to him in prison with the 
charter in his hand, and he had acknowledged it under bodily fear; moreover, 
the chancellor had come to him privately and not as chancellor. But 
Edmund finally pleaded that as Robert did not deny he had acknowledged 
the deed, nor its enrolment, he could not appeal to a jury now, and the 
court found in his favour because they could not go behind the chancellor's 
rolls, especially when the said chancellor had quitted office and delivered 
up his rolls to the king, who had given them into other custody. 90 

Thus the bulk of the estates of this great family passed away from them 
into the hands of the house of Lancaster, and the title of earl disappeared with 
them, but John the son of Robert de Ferrers received again from the king 
the castle and honour of Chartley, and his family long flourished as Lords 
Ferrers, Barons of Chartley, until Anne, heiress of William Lord Ferrers, 
married Sir Walter Devereux, in the reign of Henry VI, and Chartley 
passed into that family. 91 

In 1275 the king cautioned Bogo de Knoville, Sheriff of Shropshire and 
Staffordshire, regarding his dealings with Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, who 
was at that time dreaming of driving the Saxon from Britain, and, conse- 
quently, refused to do homage to Edward I, a refusal that next year caused 
Wales to be invaded, and its conquest begun. 93 

When in 1282 the Welsh broke out into revolt and made their last bid 
for independence, many Staffordshire men were ordered to take the field at 
once, others were summoned to be at Worcester, the usual basis of operations 
against Wales, by Pentecost. 93 Among them were William de Aldithel, 
Roger de Somery, Geoffrey de Geneville, Richard Basset of Weldon, Richard 
de Harcourt, Theobald de Verdun, Nicholas the Baron of Stafford, and John 
Fitz Philip. 

Edward was a great general, and neglected no preparations ; no less than 
310 carpenters and 1,000 sappers were to attend the king's army, of whom 
Staffordshire and Salop together contributed fifteen carpenters, and forty 
sappers, according to their population. 

A proclamation was issued that markets were not to be held in Stafford- 
shire and other counties until further orders, Chester being appointed 
temporarily as the sole market for Stafford, Lancaster, and Derby. 94 The 
careful preparations and sound strategy of Edward had their reward and the 
war was soon over. After a portion of the English troops had been cut to 
pieces in the Isle of Anglesey, among whom was Sir Thomas de Haughton, 
a Staffordshire knight, Llewellyn was surprised and killed near Builth in 

90 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), vi (i), 63, from Coram Reg. Roll.Trin. 2 Edw. I. 

91 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 29 ; Dugdale, Baronage, i, 265 et seq. 
" Rymer, FoeJtra (orig. ed.), ii, 53. 

* Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 10; Rymer, Focdera (orig. ed.), ii, 1 89. * Col!. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 1 1. 

229 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

December, David was executed at Shrewsbury in the following year, and 
with them fell Welsh independence. 

In the rising of 1287 Staffordshire and Salop were ordered to array 500 
footmen and no less than 2,000 sappers and wood-cutters 95 against the 
Welsh, and it was during this campaign that Nicholas the Baron of Stafford 
was killed by the walls of the castle of Drosselan falling on him. 96 

War in the Middle Ages was nearly always followed by demoralization 
in civil life, so we are not surprised to find in 1286 grievous complaints of 
many persons that many malefactors were overrunning the county and per- 
petrating robberies, homicides, and other enormities. The sheriff was there- 
fore ordered to bestir himself to preserve order, and among other things to 
clear ' the passes' of the woods. 97 

In the famous expedition to Flanders in 1297, when Roger Bigod Earl of 
Norfolk refused either to go or hang, Staffordshire tenants mustered in great 
force, and the long Scottish wars having now commenced a fresh field was 
open for their warlike energies. 

July 22, 1298, was the day of the battle of Falkirk, when Edward com- 
pletely defeated William Wallace, and it was in this fight 'that the valiant Lord 
Rafe Basset of Draiton ' said to the Bishop of Durham, who at the head of 
the second division hesitated to attack, ' My lord bishop, you may go and say 
mass,' and rushed himself upon the enemy, 98 dispersing the Scottish cavalry. 9 * 

But the stubborn Scots refused to recognize that they were beaten, and 
year after year Edward continued his efforts, in which he was aided mainly 
by levies from the more northern counties, Staffordshire performing its due 
share of service. Thus in 1300 the commissioner of array for the county, 
William de Stafford, was ordered to select 500 footmen and take them to 
Berwick-on-Tweed. 

In 1301 writs were issued to all those tenants who held 40 in land, 
and the return 100 gives 835 for England exclusive of Durham and Chester; 
Staffordshire furnishing seventeen, 101 Salop eleven, and Devon making the best 
show with seventy-seven. 

Besides these, a month earlier, John de Ferrers, Hugh le Despenser, 
Geoffrey de Caumville, Ralph de Grendon, Edmund Baron Stafford, and 
Theobald de Verdun, jun., were summoned. 108 

In 1306, the year when Scotland was offering a national resistance for 
the first time, Ralph Basset and Roger de Mortimer were arrested by 
the Sheriff of Staffordshire for leaving the king's army in Scotland without 
leave, and all their lands taken from them. However, their punishment was 

91 Rymer, FoeJera (orig. ed.), ii, 345. * Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 14. 

97 Cat. of Close, 1279-88, p. 434. " 8 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 20. 

99 But it was not until the king brought up the archers and the third division of horse that the day was 
won. Fortescue, Hut. of the Army, \, 18. 

100 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 22. 

101 The Staffordshire tenants holding 40 in land were John Doyley, Robert de Staundon, William de 
Stafford, Hugh de Blunt, William de la More, Richard de Draycote, Geoffrey de Gresele, Robert de Knytele, 
Robert de Tock, William Wyther, John Hamelyn, Ralph le Botiller, jun., Edmund de Somerville, Philip de 
Chetwynde, John Fitz Philip, Richard de Vernun, Henry Mauveysyn. 

"" The following Staffordshire tenants holding ^40 in land were returned under other counties : John 
de Longford and William de Montgomeri under Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire ; Roger Basset and Henry 
de Erdington under Somerset and Dorset ; Robert de Stapleton, Roger de Morteyn, Walter de Aylesbury, 
and Ralph de Grendon, under Warwickshire and Leicestershire ; Adam de Brimpton, Robert de Halughton, 
and Walter Beisin under Salop ; John de Harecurt and Adam de Brimpton under Oxfordshire and Berkshire ; 
John de Wasteneys under Lincolnshire. Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 23-5. 

2 3 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

of short duration, for in the next year they were pardoned at the intercession 
of the queen and their lands restored. 

The year 1295 is one of the most important in English history, for it 
may be accepted as fixing finally the right of shire and town representation, 10 * 
although there were for some years afterwards various anomalies which only 
illustrate the growth of the new system. To a Parliament summoned to 
meet at Westminster in lago, 10 * when two or three knights were summoned 
from each county probably to grant the king more money, Staffordshire had 
sent two representatives, William de Stafford and William de Mere, but from 
the model Parliament of 1295 must be dated the first regular members of 
Parliament as we understand them to-day. 

To this came earls, barons, two knights chosen in the court of each 
shire by writs sent to the sheriff of the shire, and two citizens from every 
city or borough, chosen, like the knights, in the county courts. The arch- 
bishops and bishops brought the heads of their chapters, their archdeacons, 
one proctor for the clergy of each cathedral, and two for the clergy of each 
diocese. 105 To this 'inauguration of the representative system' 106 Staffordshire 
sent four members, two for the county, Henry de Creswall and Richard 
Caverswall, and two for the borough of Stafford, 107 William Reyner and John 
Beton. 

The Parliament of 1296 was constituted in the same manner as its 
famous predecessor, but the returns are wholly lost, and in that of 1297, 
when two knights from each county were summoned, but no representatives 
from the cities and boroughs, the returns for Staffordshire are missing. 

In 1298 the model of 1295 was reverted to, but though Stafford county 
sent William de Stafford and Henry Mauveysin, the borough made no return, 
and so for the next two or three Parliaments the borough of Stafford is some- 
times represented and sometimes not. However, in 1304-5 the county for 
the first time sent six members altogether, two for the county, two for Lich- 
field borough, and two for Stafford borough. 

The borough representation, however, in Staffordshire, as all over Eng- 
land, was irregular. In 1307 the county only was represented, whereas in 
1311, 1312, and 1313 the county, Lichfield, and Stafford sent two members 
each, while in 1315 Lichfield drops out again, as in the next year did Staf- 
ford borough. 108 

Edward I, the great general, statesman, and lawyer, died 7 July, 1307, 
and on the accession of his worthless son we enter upon an era of cruelty, 
luxury, factions, foreign wars, social rebellion, and religious divisions. In the 
same year we find the king forbidding the holding of a tournament at Staf- 
ford, and the sheriff ordered to make a proclamation that no one is to hold a 
tournament without the king's special licence. 10 ' The reason in this instance 
is not given, but such displays were sometimes forbidden as tending to disturb 
the king's peace. 

105 Stubbs, Const. Hist, ii, 235. 

104 Close, 1 8 Edw. I, pt. vi, m. 8 d. To this Parliament thirty -seven English counties sent two members 
each, and this county representation was maintained until 1545. Lane Poole, Historical Atlas, notes on 
map xxiii. 

104 Stubbs, Const. Hist, ii, 132. 1M Ibid. 133. 

107 Parl. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (l), 6. In the same Parliament Worcestershire was represented by no less 
than sixteen members, Derbyshire by four, and Salop by six. 

103 Ibid. Ixii (i). 109 Rymer, FoeJera (orig. ed.), iii, 76. 

23 1 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

It was about this time that John de Somery, lord of Dudley Castle, took 
upon himself so great an authority in Staffordshire that no man could ' have 
law or reason by means thereof,' and he domineered there more than a king, 
so that no man could abide in those parts unless he well bribed John de Somery 
for protection or helped him in building Dudley Castle, and the said John 
beset men's houses in that county to murder them, and extorted large sums 
of money from men. 110 This John was the last of the male line of Somery ; 
his sister Margaret married John de Sutton, and brought Dudley into that 
family. 

In 1312, when the barons beheaded the hated Piers Gaveston on Black- 
low Hill, several Staffordshire tenants were on their side. Edward was 
greatly enraged at his favourite's death, but was unable to exact any punish- 
ment on his executioners, for his army deserted him, and pardons were granted 
to all those implicated, among whom were U1 : William Trussell, Ralph de 
Grendon, Roger de Somerville, Nicholas de Audele, John de Swynnerton, 
Thomas de Ardene, Robert de Wolseley, Edmund son of Edmund Trussell, 
John d'Oddyngesels, Hugh de Meignell, Philip Hastang, Roger de Swynner- 
ton, Nicholas de Longford. 

The disastrous battle of Bannockburn was fought in 1314, a contest in 
which the number of the English troops has been much exaggerated, but we 
know that Staffordshire and Salop provided no less than 3,000 footmen 
equipped to proceed against the Scots. 112 Besides the foot-soldiers, the sheriffs 
of Salop and Staffordshire were ordered to furnish twenty carts with four 
horses, and send them to Berwick on Tweed, while twenty-nine of the chief 
men of the county, including the Bishop of Lichfield, followed the king to 
the unfortunate campaign, the chief absentee being Thomas of Lancaster, 
who, through his father Edmund Crouchback, now held the Ferrers estates 
in the county. 113 After Bannockburn, Edward was hard pressed for men, and 
at the Parliament at Lincoln, in which Lancaster was made president of the 
royal council, the lords and knights promised him a foot soldier from every 
rural township, 114 and the sheriffs were ordered to certify the towns or vills 
in each hundred. In answer to this the sheriff of Staffordshire returned the 
names of twenty-eight towns in Offlow Hundred, thirty in Cuttlestone Hun- 
dred, twenty-one in Totmonslow Hundred, forty-four in Pirehill Hundred, 
and twenty-five in Seisdon Hundred, a total of I48. 116 However, these men 
were never employed ; Lancaster refused to join the army, and the summonses 
were countermanded. The commissioners appointed to make this levy were 
William Trussell, John Giffard of Chillington, and William Trumwyn, the 
last-named being also the Parliamentary representative with Robert de Tok at 
Lincoln when the levy was ordered. 116 

In 1315 the condition of England was miserable in the extreme, dearth 
and pestilence were added to the misfortune of an unsuccessful war, and to 



110 Dugdale, Warwickshire (ed. 1656), 538. 

111 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 31 ; Cal. of Pat. 1313-17, p. 21 et seq. 



'" Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 32, where the total number of infantry is put at 17,500 ; but were not 
many of the orders sent to the sheriffs lost ? See Oman, Art of War in the Middle Ages, 573. 

113 Stubbs says of him : 'His hatred for his cousin was a stronger motive than his ambition, or else 
he was a traitor to his country as well as his king. . . . The Scots spared his estates when they ravaged 
the North, his own policy towards them was one of supineness, if not of treacherous connivance ' ; Const. 
Hist, ii, 357. "' Ibid, ii, 356. 

114 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 35 ; Par!. Writs, ii (4), 394. m Purl. Accts. and Papers, kii (i), e I 

232 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

crown all came the king's constant demands for more money. We are not, 
therefore, surprised to find that certain of the people of Staffordshire refused 
to pay the twentieth granted to Edward, alleging that the said tax had been 
given the king under certain conditions, namely that he would observe the 
Great Charter, the Forest Charter, and other ordinances, and would have a 
perambulation of the forests conducted, and these things had not been done. 
The king professed great astonishment, as he had commanded the said ordin- 
ances to be observed in every particular. Apparently with a real desire to 
learn the truth of the matter, he issued a commission to make strict inquiry 
into it. 117 

At the end of 1321 Edward with unwonted energy resolved to attack 
the party of the great Earl of Lancaster, to whose ascendancy he could no 
longer submit. In reply Lancaster collected an army of about 30,000 men 
at Tutbury, one of his many castles, and his principal residence. On the 
king's approach, in order to prevent his crossing by the bridge at Burton on 
Trent to attack Tutbury, he erected defences on the east end of the bridge 
about 10 March, 1322. The vanguard of the king made an assault upon 
these, and was repulsed with loss. 

A halt was called for a few days, and at a council of war it was decided 
to divert the enemy's attention by keeping up the attack on the bridge at 
Burton 118 and push on with the rest of the troops to Salter's Bridge, a few 
miles distant. However, before this was carried into effect a man who had 
suffered from the exactions of Lancaster, who had made the monks of 
Burton Abbey assist him with money and provisions, and quartered his 
soldiers on the inhabitants of the town, informed the king of a ford at 
Walton, by which he crossed. He was on the point of attacking when 
suddenly the younger Despenser leapt from his horse, 119 and prostrating 
himself before the king on the snow which then covered the ground, be- 
sought him not to unfurl his standard, for those whom he was about to 
attack were the nobles and lieges of his kingdom, and were not led by wise 
advice but excited by youthful ardour, and if the king's standard was 
unfurled universal war would lay waste the whole land, which could hardly 
be controlled in the king's time. Whatever might have been the effect of 
this curious speech, the day was already won, for in the meantime the 
vigorous attack on the bridge at Burton had engaged all the enemy's 
attention, and when the king was across the river he had almost surrounded 
Lancaster's army. They were seized with panic, and having set fire to part 
of Burton escaped in the smoke to Pontefract. 120 

At Tutbury the king captured some wounded who had been abandoned 
in the hasty flight, and remained there five days, ordering the arrest of 
Thomas of Lancaster and his supporters. 121 He then set out for Pontefract, 
where he heard the news of Lancaster's defeat at Boroughbridge, a defeat 
soon followed by his trial and execution. In these troubles several Stafford- 
shire tenants fought against the king, among them James and John the 
sons of William de Stafford, William de Chetelton, Nicholas de Longford, 

117 Rot. Par/. (Rec. Com.), i, 449. "' Holinshed, Chron. of Engl. ii, 566. 

119 Chron. of Edio. I and Edvi. II (Rolls Ser.), ii, 75, 267. 

IJO Thos. of Walsingham, Hist. dngl. (Rolls Ser.), i, 1 64. A chest full of coins discovered in the River 
Dove in 1831 is supposed by Mosley (Hist, of Tutbury) to have formed part of Lancaster's treasure. 
121 Rymer, FoeJera (orig. ed.), iii, 933. 

I 233 30 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

William Malveisin, Richard de Stretton, John de Miners, Thomas Wyther, 
John de Swynnerton, William de Stafford, and the elder and younger Hugh 
de Audley. 

On the other hand, for their loyal services, John de Somery, whom we 
have seen lording it over the county, and Ralph Basset of Drayton, were 
rewarded by grants of manors. 18 * 

Such rebellious conduct as that of Lancaster could only be followed 
by the seizing of his estates into the king's hands ; but on the accession of 
Edward III an Act of Parliament reversed the attainder, and Henry the 
brother of Thomas succeeded to nearly all his vast possessions. 123 An in- 
quisition taken at that time mentions the following in Staffordshire : Tutbury 
Castle, Tutbury, Rolleston, Barton, Agardsley, Marchington, Uttoxeter, 
Needwood Chase, Yoxall Manor, Rowley Park, Newcastle under Lyme, 
Keele. m 

In 1333, when Edward was raising forces for the endless wars against 
Scotland, the greater part of the 1,000 foot soldiers to be raised from Salop 
and Staffordshire were to be archers, and it was by the bowmen's shafts that ' 
the battle of Halidon Hill was won and Bannockburn avenged. Edward III 
had profited by the tactical ability and experience of his grandfather, the 
first great encourager of the use of the long bow. 

The writ summoning sixty hobelars m or light horsemen from the 
county in 1335 shows that the light cavalryman of the day was somewhat 
heavily armed. He was to have a horse, an aketone, or heavily-plated 
doublet, a bacinet, a ' pisam ' or a ' colarettum,' steel gloves, sword, dagger 
and lance, or other arms. 126 They differed from the pauncenars in not having 
a habergeon or sleeveless coat of chain mail, and as a rule the hobelars 
did not carry lances. The heavy cavalry of the time was composed of the 
men-at-arms, so-called because they were covered with defensive armour 
from head to foot, while their horses after 1298 were also heavily protected. 
These men at arms were all squires and knights. 

In 1336 the military equipment of the time is further illustrated in 
the arms demanded from the 2,000 men arrayed by Staffordshire in that 
year. Those having land or rent between 40 and 20 were to be provided 
with competent arms and horses according to the late proclamation of the 
king; those having 15 of land, or chattels to the value of 40 marks, with 
a hauberk, steel cap, sword, dagger, and horse; those with 10 of land or 
chattels to the value of 20 marks with hauberk, steel cap, sword, and dagger; 
those having IOQJ. of land with a steel cap, sword, and dagger, and lastly those 
having land between 4OJ. and IDOJ. with sword, bow, arrows, and dagger. 127 

At the commencement of the great war with France the English 
armies were raised by commissioners of array, who chose from each county 
a certain number of men-at-arms, archers, and other soldiers, and from the 



a Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 43. 

ln Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 57, 58 ; Rymer, Foedera (orig. ed.), iv, 285. 
IM Cat. of Inf. p.m. (Rec. Com.), ii, 8. 
115 So called from the hobbies or ponies on which they rode. 

IK ' 



' These men seem more heavily armed than the ordinary hobelar, whose arms are stated by Fortescue 
(Hist, of the Army, \, 28) to have been merely an iron helmet, aketon, gloves, and sword ; Coll. (Salt Arch. 
Soc.), viii, 53. Bacinet, according to Littre, was a kind of bonnet placed under the helmet ; colarettum, 
a gorget ; pisam, a weight (?) 

117 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 57 

234 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

muster rolls of thirty-seven counties in February, 1339, we see that fewer 
and possibly better men were picked in that year than in the year of 
Bannockburn, Staffordshire furnishing 55 men-at-arms, 220 archers, and 
220 other armed infantry. 128 

During the course of the war the system of indenture came into use 
by which the king bargained with his baron or knight, as the case might 
be, for the production of a certain number of men, in return for payments 
on the part of the sovereign. The men were freely enlisted, and better 
soldiers than the pressed men, and were largely recruited from old soldiers 
who pursued the trade of war because they liked it. 

The sinews of war were provided by the Parliament, which in 1338 129 
granted Edward half the wool in the kingdom, amounting to 20,000 sacks. 
The commissioners appointed to collect the share of Staffordshire were two 
knights, Sir Robert Malveisin, and Malcolm de Wasteneys (who was also a 
member for the county in that year), 130 as well as five merchants, Roger 
Bride, Henry de Tytnesoure, Nicholas Reyner, Thomas the Goldsmith, and 
John le roter. 131 Many of the men of Staffordshire concealed their wool, and 
the king appointed William de Myners his sergeant-at-arms to inquire into 
the matter and seize the wool which had been hidden and send it to the ports 
named to receive it. 

At Crecy in 1346 Staffordshire was well represented. Ralph de Stafford, 
who had been made seneschal of Aquitaine in the previous year, and at the 
siege of Aiguillon filled the breaches in the walls with wine casks full of 
stones, 132 had an eminent command in the van of the army under the Black 
Prince, and was one of those who made the famous report on the number of 
the French slain : eleven great princes, eighty bannerets, 1,200 knights, and 
30,000 common soldiers. 133 Beside him served a great number of the 
foremost men in the county. In addition to the usual writs to the com- 
missioners of array writs were sent to the mayors of the towns, and while 
London was ordered to supply 100 men-at-arms and 500 armed men, 
Lichfield provided fifteen men, Stafford eight, Tamworth four, and New- 
castle under Lyme three. 134 The pay of the men who fought at Crecy seems 
very high allowing for the difference in the value of money ; an earl received 
6s. 8</., a knight 2s., an esquire is., a mounted archer, a pauncenar, and a 
hobelar 6d., a foot archer 3^. per day, the Welsh spearman coming at the 
bottom of the list with 2</. m 

About this time Tamworth was visited by one of the fires that were 
frequent in an era of wooden houses, and was so burnt that the great part of 
the people of the town described themselves as reduced to beggary, yet in 
spite of this calamity the tax gatherers demanded of them the full amount of 
their taxes, a harshness which they petitioned the king to mitigate. 



136 



"' Oman, Art of War In the Middlt Ages, 593 ; Rymer, Foedera (Rec. ed.), ii (2), 1070. 

189 In this Parliament Stafford county and borough only were represented. 

150 Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (i), 123. 

131 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 62. Nicholas Reyner and John le roter were members of Parliament 
about this time. 

131 Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675),!, 160. I!S Ibid. 

134 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 80. 13i Fortescue, Hist, of the Army, \, 30. 

136 Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), ii, 189, where the date of the petition is 1347, yet in Rymer's Foedera 
(Rec. ed.), iii, i, 57, the king is stated to have ordered a new assessment in 1345 because the town had 
suffered from fire. And see Cal. Close, 1343-6, p. 605. 

235 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The return of the triumphant king and his nobles from their conquests 
at Crecy and Calais was naturally celebrated after the fashion of that age by 
jousts, tournaments, and other chivalrous festivities, and in April, 1348, 
Lichfield was selected as the scene of one of these rejoicings, which were 
celebrated with great splendour. 

The prevailing dress for both ladies and gentlemen was a blue cloak 
with a white hood presented by the king, and the ladies wore various masks 
or visors. 137 Among those who were thus clothed from the royal wardrobe 
were Sir Walter Manny, John de L'Isle, Hugh Courtenay, John Grey, 
Robert de Ferrers, Philip de Spenser, Roger de Beauchamp, Miles de 
Stapleton, Ralph de Ferrers, and the Earl of Lancaster, while among the lady 
recipients were the king's daughter Isabella, the ladies Ulster, Juliers, Wake 
and Segrave, and Darcy. These ladies, with others of high rank, watched 
the king and seventeen knights joust with the Earl of Lancaster and thirteen 
knights, and it is not unlikely that here the incident took place which 
suggested to the chivalrous king the founding of the Order of the Garter. 138 

In May, 1 349, the Black Death which had first appeared in England in 
the preceding year showed itself in Derbyshire, and for the next four months 
raged with fury throughout the kingdom. 

At Poictiers in 1356, ' a battle far more hazardous and far better fought 
than that of Crecy,' 139 Staffordshire was represented by Edward le Despenser, 
James d'Audley, Sir Richard de Stafford, and Ralph Basset of Drayton, who 
was as doughty a knight as his ancestor who won fame at Falkirk. Sir 
James d'Audley and his four squires, two of whom, by name Dutton and 
Delves, were Staffordshire men, performed prodigies of valour, fighting in 
front of the army. 140 

For the expedition of 1359, which ended in the treaty of Bretigny, 
Staffordshire contributed forty to the number of mounted archers ' of the 
best and strongest in their counties, clothed uniformly,' U1 who were now 
superseding the hobelars, and were like the dragoons of the seventeenth 
century, rather mounted infantry than regular cavalry. One of the 
commissioners who drew up the treaty which ended the war was Ralph 
the great Earl of Stafford, a man renowned in war and peace, who had been 
created earl by Edward III, and was one of the original Knights of the 
Garter. He died in 1372. His son Hugh was worthy of him, and equally 
active in his country's business; in 1376, at the meeting of the Good 
Parliament, although he belonged to the court party, he was one of the four 
earls appointed with four bishops arid four barons to confer with the 
Commons, 142 and was a member of the standing council which the Commons 
proposed and the king accepted. 

When John of Gaunt in 1373 was smitten with the 'midsummer 
madness ' which made him dream of conquering France and Castile he had 
Tutbury Castle, which had been neglected since the downfall of Thomas of 
Lancaster, prepared for his children and the ' queen of Castile.' It was one 
of the numerous castles, more than thirty in number, which this great 
prince held in England, and had come to him through his marriage with 

'" Archaeohgia, xxxi, 118. m ReKj. six, 87. 

139 Oman, Art of War in Middle Ages, 632. " CoU. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 99. 

141 Ibid. 102. I4> Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), ii, 449. 

236 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

Blanche, the heiress of the great house of Lancaster. Newcastle under Lyme 
was another. To each of his castles Gaunt appointed a constable who was 
responsible for its military efficiency, whose duty it was to provide it with 
artillery and bows and arrows, see that the walls were in repair, and super- 
intend the new work of his master, the greatest builder of the age. In time 
of war no one could pass the gates without a mandate under the duke's seal, 
and in time of peace the constable might have the custody of civil prisoners, 
debtors, and other evil doers until the justice in eyre came on his circuit. 143 
Needwood Chase was one of Gaunt's innumerable hunting grounds. 

It was at this halcyon period in the history of Tutbury Castle that the 
famous minstrels' court and the king of the minstrels were instituted. For 
Gaunt did not spend much of his time there with his wife, as his attachment 
to Catherine Swynford had alienated his affections, and it was to distract the 
attention of his neglected wife as well as to satisfy her great love of music 
that the court was established. Indeed, it had become necessary, for 
Constance of Castile had introduced so many musicians, including some from 
her own land, that her husband appointed a governor over them with the 
title of king of the minstrels, and soon afterwards a court was established to 
hear plaints among them, which were carried out with strictness and 
regularity. 144 

The reign of Edward III cannot be dismissed without a reference to 
the great number of crimes of violence which the Plea Rolls and similar 
records of the time mention. 145 So frequent were they that a petition was 
made 146 to his successor in 1379 by the people of Staffordshire and other 
counties that men from Cheshire were continually coming by day and night 
in great numbers to make war, and riding through the county, robbing, 
burning, and ravishing, and ' suddenly beating and maiming divers men ' of 
the county, returning to the county of Chester without being arrested, so 
suddenly did they come and go, to the great mischief and annoyance of 
Staffordshire and the other counties. And because Cheshire was a palatine 
county and there was no forfeiture for such crimes done outside their county 
they did not fear to commit any misdeed, so that many men dared not 
dwell in their houses. In spite of complaints to Parliament these grievances 
had not been remedied, and the men of the said counties petitioned that 
these criminals should be restrained. The king promised in answer to remedy 
this state of affairs. 

There is another petition in the same Parliament 147 from the men of 
Staffordshire as well as Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and 
Salop bearing equal testimony to the inefficiency of the law. Therein it is 
stated that Welshmen who had purchased lands in those counties came often 
with their kindred and friends in bands of from one to three hundred or 
more, armed and in warlike manner to kill, rob, and ransom, and take 
beasts, goods, and chattels, and convey them away to Wales, where the 
sheriffs and other officers of the king dare not exercise jurisdiction ; thus 
the said counties have been wasted, and in a short time would be utterly 

143 Armytage Smith, "John of Gaunt, zl8. " 4 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 77. 

144 One of the grave evils at this period was that justices of assize acted in their own counties, and being 
friends or often relations of the local magnates, allowed them to set the law at defiance with impunity. 
Stubbs, Const. Hist, ii, 640. This was put an end to by statute in 1384 ; Rot. Par/. (Rec. Com.), ii, 334. 

146 Rot. Par/. (Rec. Com.), iii, 81. " 7 Ibid. 

237 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

ruined. They therefore prayed that henceforth no Welshmen of pure blood, 
except those in the retinue of the king or his nobles, should purchase any 
lands in the said counties under pain of forfeiture. Their petition did not 
mend matters, for shortly afterwards the same incursions are complained of. 

By the Great Revolt of 1381 Staffordshire, and the whole of the West 
Midlands from Gloucestershire to Derbyshire, seem to have been practically 
undisturbed. There was no more local disturbance than was common to all 
counties of mediaeval England when village ruffianism was a normal 
feature. 148 The figures returned by the collectors of the Poll Tax of 1381 
give the number of people in the county over the age of fifteen as 15,993, 
but the figures are not to be relied on, being in many cases obviously 
manipulated. 1 *' 

Let us turn for a moment from the wars, lawlessness, and murders of 
the time to the doings of men who were laying the foundation of better things. 
In the Parliament of 1355 Newcastle under Lyme was first represented 
by John de Blorton and Richard de Podmor ; the county sending Sir John 
de Draycote and Walter Verdoun, while Stafford borough sent Adam 
Rotour and William de Homeresleye ; Lichfield makes no appearance. 160 
The like representation occurs from 1358 till 13701, when the borough of 
Stafford drops out. 

To the Great Council, called at Winchester in June of the same year, 
the county, Stafford borough, and Newcastle under Lyme sent one member 
each as directed. 151 To the Parliament of January 1376-7 the county sent 
Sir Nicolas de Stafford and Adam de Peshale ; Newcastle, Richard Buntable 
and Thomas Thicknesse ; Stafford borough, Robert de Mersshe and Henry 
Prest ; U2 but next year the county only was represented. For many years 
after this Staffordshire was generally fully represented with the exception of 
the borough of Lichfield. 

In 1 398, after the coup d'etat by which he overthrew the lords appellant, 
we find Richard II at Lichfield, where he kept Christmas with due 
solemnity, 163 and while there he issued a pardon to those Staffordshire men 
who had supported the lords. 16 * In the next year he passed through Lich- 
field on his way from Chester to London, practically a prisoner in the hands 
of Henry of Lancaster, to deposition and death. 

At the commencement of the next reign Lichfield was again the scene 
of important events. In July, 1402, upon hearing of Edmund Mortimer's 
defeat by the Welsh, Henry IV ordered the sheriffs of twenty-one counties 
to array and forward all their available forces to meet him at Lich- 
field by 7 July, and a few days before that the Prince of Wales had gone 
forward to Tutbury. From Wigmore southwards the defence of the 
frontier was entrusted to the Earl of Stafford, and north of Wigmore to the 
Earl of Arundel, who commanded the Staffordshire levies. However, these 
elaborate preparations came to nought, the weather was exceptionally bad, 
and the English host was driven from Wales without effecting anything. 

148 Oman, The Great Revolt of 1 381, p. 142. "* Ibid. App. ii. 

160 Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (i), 158. 

141 One member of each constituency who had attended the previous Parliament was summoned, but 
the member for Stafford borough must have been summoned for this Parliament only. 
151 Par/. Acctt. and Papers, Ixii (l), 196. 

143 Trokelowe, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), 224. IM Rymer, Foedera (orig. ed.), viii, 40. 

238 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

The ill success of Henry in Wales was in striking contrast to the 
success of the Percys at Homildon Hill, and was a decided factor in forming 
against him the great league of Northumberland and his son Hotspur, 
Douglas, Glendower, and Mortimer in 1403. Henry was at Lichfield on 
1 1 July, on his way to Scotland to assist Northumberland, and probably 
there heard the news of the Percys' rebellion. He accordingly changed his 
plans, and resolved to strike a sudden blow at the rebels in the west, and 
from Burton on 1 6 July he ordered the sheriffs of several counties, including 
Staffordshire, to cause proclamations to be made that all lords, knights, esquires, 
and yeomen of their respective bailiwicks should hasten sufficiently armed 
to the king's person to resist Sir Henry Percy, and they were to arrest any 
person suspected of rebellion whom they might meet. 155 The king's com- 
missioners to issue this proclamation in Staffordshire were the Earl of Stafford 
and Robert Fraunceys the sheriff. The king also wrote from Burton to the 
council in London for money, assuring them he was strong enough to over- 
throw any combination of his enemies, and then marched through Lichfield 
with all speed to Shrewsbury, evidently without waiting for the money or 
the men he had asked for when at Burton, and on the 2ist the battle was 
fought, and Hotspur defeated and slain. 156 At the battle, in which the 
men of Cheshire fought gallantly for Hotspur, Edmund the fifth earl of 
Stafford and father of the first duke was killed fighting for the king. 157 

Staffordshire must have been, unlike Cheshire, overwhelmingly on the 
king's side, as the estates of the house of Lancaster had now come to the 
crown, and Stafford, the most powerful noble in the county, was loyal to the 
throne. 

There is, however, an account of a fight which shows some difference 
of opinion, for the two knights Sir Robert Mauveisyn and Sir William 
Handsacre marching, the former to help Henry and the latter Hotspur, for 
Shrewsbury met not far from their own homes, and in the fight that followed 
Sir William was slain, and Sir Robert went on to meet his death at 
Shrewsbury. 158 

Four days after the battle Henry was at Stafford, and stayed at Lichfield 
from the 26th to 2 8th July on his way to Derby. In the summer of 
1404 Henry IV, who, although only thirty-seven, seems to have already fatally 
impaired his original energy, retired to his northern castles and was at Tutbury 
in the middle of August, where he remained until the 2ist, proceeding to 
Lichfield, where he had ordered a grand council to assemble. 159 From a list 
still preserved 16 it consisted of eight bishops, eighteen abbots and priors, 
nineteen lords and barons, and ninety-six representatives from the counties, 
the cities and boroughs not being represented. The situation to be faced was 
serious ; in Wales the garrisons were clamouring for pay, as neither the king 
nor anyone else seemed to have any money, 161 the troops in Scotland were 
mutinous, and an invasion was expected from France. It was decided that 
ihe king should not go to Wales, but remain near Tutbury ready for 

155 Rymer, Foedera (orig. ed.), viii, 313 ; Cal. ofPat. 1401-5, p. 297. 

156 Wylie, Engl. under Hen. 1Y, i, 35 I. 

157 H. S. Riley, Annals ofRlc. II and Hen. IV, i, 370. 

158 Shaw, Hist, of Staffs, i, 4950, 179. Political differences were aggravated by a family feud. 

159 Royal and Hist. Letters of Hen. IV (Rolls Ser.), i, 433. 

160 Sir Harris Nicolas, Ordinances of P.O. (Rec. Com.), ii, 85. '" Stubbs, Const. Hist, iii, 41. 

239 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

emergencies till the Parliament which was summoned should meet at 
Coventry and writs were issued to the sheriffs to summon the forces. 

Henry was perpetually in want of money, and at this juncture the Bishop 
of Lichfield, John Burghill, lent him the not very munificent sum of 
100 marks. 162 Loans of this kind were of very little use, and the council 
issued an order from Lichfield suspending all payments of pensions and 
annuities from the Exchequer until the next meeting of Parliament, or until 
further orders. 163 

After this important council was dismissed Henry still remained in the 
north, and on i September left Lichfield for Tutbury, where he received two 
commissioners from Robert III, king of Scotland, and took an oath to observe 
the truce with him. 16 * 

To the Parliament which had been summoned to meet at Coventry in 
October, 1404, Staffordshire, like most of the other counties in England, sent 
no borough representatives ; the members for the county were Sir Robert 
Fraunceys and Sir John Bagot. 165 

In 1407 we have a harrowing tale of the disorder wrought by war in the 
county. Constant attacks were made on the king's estates, the houses of his 
tenants broken into, the roads about Lichfield and Stafford were swarming 
with marauders, women and old men were waylaid and beaten, and one of the 
king's officers was attacked while collecting the taxes and stabbed to the 
heart. 166 The chief leaders of these riots were said to be Hugh de Erdeswyk, 
Thomas de Swynerton, John Myners and his two brothers Thomas and 
William. 

In the second year of his reign the lawlessness of the county brought 
Henry V in person to Lichfield, where he remained two months hearing 
every kind of plaint. The number of assaults, woundings, robberies, and 
murders committed by gentle and simple is almost incredible. Occasionally 
the county was in a state of civil war owing to these private feuds, which 
were aggravated by the political dissension of the day, as shown by such 
presentments as the following : Hugh Erdeswyk of Sandon and Robert his 
brother, with many other malefactors to the number of 1,000 men, had 
congregated to kill Sir John Blount and other liegemen at Newcastle under 
Lyme, and they kept the field arrayed as for war three days ; and on another 
occasion, members of the same family with a large body of men beat and 
wounded several of their neighbours, and would have killed them, but were 
prevented by a great posse of the county. In another case they entered 
the town of Newcastle and attacked the house of Sir John Boghay, and 
intended to kill him, because he had merely done his duty and presented them 
in the court leet, but he fortunately took refuge in a church and escaped them. 167 
About the same time we find Edmund Ferrers of Chartley and others presented 
for giving liveries of cloth to various squires and yeomen contrary to the 
statute. 

The question of livery 168 was one of the most important of the later 
Middle Ages, and the Statute Book is full of Acts on the subject. Livery 

16> Cat. of Pat. 1401-5, p. 407. I63 Wylie, Engl. under Hen. IY, i, 462. 

1M Rymer, FoeJera (orig. ed.), viii, 371. I6i Par!. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (i), 267. 

IM Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), Hi, 630. m Ibid. 

168 Livery (flberatlo) originally meant the allowance in food and clothes given to the servants and officers of 
great households, but became restricted to the allowance of clothing only. 

240 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

was granted by great lords to many besides their servants in order to swell the 
number of their adherents, who were only too glad to avail themselves of the 
protection of the powerful at a time when the law was for the rich. If a 
man wore a lord's livery the lord would ' maintain ' his suit for him in the 
law courts, and liveries had also become the uniforms of factions. 169 Previous 
legislation having proved ineffective, a statute was passed in 1399 enacting that 
the lords might only give livery of cloth to their menial servants and officers, 
and ' them that be of their council,' 17 and it was clearly this statute m that 
Edmund Ferrers had broken. 

We also find Staffordshire petitioning against another grievance common 
enough then. The royal courts were, as we have seen, ubiquitous, and were 
preceded by a crowd of purveyors seizing provisions and demanding services, 
but paying little or nothing ; ' Every old woman trembled for her poultry, 
the archbishop trembled for his household and stud until the king went by.' 172 
In 1362 173 Edward III had renounced the right of purveyance except on 
behalf of the king and queen, and promised to make payments in ready money, 
but the promises were not kept. In 1406 Staffordshire with other counties 
complained that the purveyors of the king had taken cattle, sheep, pigs, corn, 
litter, and hay without paying, and the poor commons of the county had 
applied day after day to the treasurer of the king's household for their money, 
but only received ' sticks and tallies and promises to pay,' 174 to their utter 
destruction and ruin, so that they had nothing to live on and were becoming 
beggars. The king graciously answered that he was always willing that 
payment should be made by his purveyors, and they would find no fault in 
him in that respect for the future, and all the statutes previously made were 
to be observed. 

At Agincourt the county was represented by many valiant soldiers, 175 the 
following barons and bannerets displaying banners : Edmund Lord Ferrers 
of Chartley, Hugh de Stafford Lord Bourchier, and Sir John Blount. In the 
king's retinue were Sir John Gresley, Sir Thomas Gresley, Sir John Bagot, 
Ralph de la Pole of Newborough, John Chetwynd. 

In the retinue of Lord Ferrers of Chartley were William Handsacre, 
William Draycote, W T alter Yonge, John Bromshelf, and John Walker. 
These are described as ' lances,' that is, esquires or men-at-arms, and there 
were with them nine mounted archers. 

In the retinue of Sir John Blount were Richard Stafford, Thomas 
Gifford of Chillington, Giles Gifford, Thomas Newport, and Robert Whit- 
more, men-at-arms. 

In the retinue of Hugh de Stafford, lord of Bourchier in right of his 
wife, were Richard Hampton, Roger Snede, Nicholas Pershale, John Acton, 
and John Bromley, men-at-arms. 

In the retinue of Lord Grey were John Cokayn, William Bromley, 
Thomas Fitz Herbert, and John Curson, men-at-arms. 

169 Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 2), ii, 531 et seq. 

170 Livery of ' cloth ' was distinguished from livery of ' company,' which was an imitation of the order of 
the Garter, whereby lords wore each other's badges out of compliment. m I Hen. IV, cap. 7. 

171 Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 4), ii, 423. m Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), ii, 270. '" Ibid, iii, 592. 
176 This list was compiled by Maj.-General the Hon. G. Wrottesley from the Sloane MSS. 6400, 

Miscellanea, Treasury of Receipt ^, and the French Roll of 3 Hen. V (Rec. Ser.). See also Sir Harris 
Nicolas, Hilt, of Battle of Agincourt, names of dukes, erles, barons, &c. 

I 241 31 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

In the retinue of Richard Earl of Warwick were Humphrey Stafford, 
William Burmyngham, Richard Curson, Humphry and Edmund Lowe, 
Thomas and Edmund Swynarton, men-at-arms. 

With Sir William Bourchier were Sir Roger Aston and John Hampton 
of Stourton ; with Lord Talbot was Robert Erdeswick ; and William 
Trussell served with the Duke of Gloucester. 

In 1421 Humphrey, then Earl of Stafford, was retained by indenture 
to serve the king in France, on the rupture of the Treaty of Troyes, with 
nine men-at-arms besides himself, and thirty mounted archers, taking for 
himself 6s. %d. per day, for the rest of his men-at-arms twelve pence, 
and for his archers sixpence, 176 and supposing his men-at-arms were esquires, 
the scale of pay was the same as in the year of Crecy. In addition to their 
pay they were to have all prisoners they might take, except kings and 
kings' sons. In 1435 the number of his followers was more in accordance 
with his power and wealth ; he was retained to serve the king with 80 
knights and 523 archers. 

In 1453 the English were finally expelled from Southern France, and 
in this year the quota of archers demanded from Staffordshire was 173, 
Derbyshire sending 141, and Gloucestershire 424. 

Commissioners were to be sent into every shire, except Cheshire, to 
assign the number of these soldiers which each hundred, city, borough, 
township, village, and hamlet should be charged with, whose inhabitants were 
to be compelled by distress, if necessary, to provide them. The archers were 
to be ' ready sufficiently and defensibly arrayed as belongeth to an archer,' 
to take sixpence a day as pay, and to serve six months from the time of their 
appearance. 177 

In the Wars of the Roses, which we have now reached, the main 
strength of the Yorkists lay in the south and east, while the north was 
Lancastrian. To a great extent the wars were merely a series of faction 
fights, fought out by the heads of the great families and their retainers, during 
which the greater part of the commonalty went on with their daily business, 
but the great mass of the people were in favour of the Yorkists for 
the plain reason that the triumph of that party would give them the order 
and settled government under which that daily business might be carried on. 

Staffordshire was mainly Lancastrian. The Duchy of Lancaster had 
been merged in the crown on the accession of Henry IV, and Henry VI 
had granted it to Margaret of Anjou as part of her dower. Tutbury was 
the chief seat of the duchy, and most of the manors in the northern and 
eastern parts of the county were held under it. Moreover, the greatest 
landowner in the county, and perhaps in England, Humphrey, first Duke of 
Buckingham, was at first a Lancastrian, and so were the gentry who held 
under him ; but there were several of the great families on the Yorkist 
side, Wrottesley, Audley, Blount, Stanley, Sutton, Wolseley. 

The Duke of Buckingham was the son of Edmund Earl of Stafford who 
was killed at Shrewsbury, and Anne the daughter, and eventually sole heiress, 
of Thomas Duke of Gloucester, the youngest son of Edward III. When only 
twenty-eight he was, in 1430, made constable of France, and in 1440 was 
created Duke of Buckingham. 

176 Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 165. m Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), v, 232. 

242 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

In 1454 he is said to have had two thousand Stafford Knots, 
his badge of livery, made ' to what intent men may construe as their wits 
will give them.' 178 His estates at this time stretched all over central England, 
from Holderness to Brecknock, and from Stafford to Tonbridge. 17 ' 

The political state of Staffordshire in these wars is clearly shown by the 
first commission of the peace, issued by Edward IV in 1461, in which 
the only Staffordshire names are Sir John Sutton of Dudley, Sir Walter 
Blount, John de Audeley, John Harpur, Thomas Everdon, Thomas Wolseley, 
Thomas Asteley, Walter Wrottesley, and Nicholas Waryng. 180 

In the commission issued by Richard III the same policy can be traced, 
for the only names of landowners of the county are John Sutton Lord 
Dudley, John Blount of Mountjoy, John Gresley, Richard Wrottesley, 
Humphry Persall, Nicholas Mountgomery, Ralph Wolseley, and John 
Cawardyne. 181 

After the battle of St. Albans in 1455 there was no chance of peace, 
and in September, 1459, York raised his standard on the Welsh border, and 
it was to join him there that Salisbury, the father of the kingmaker, with 
about 7,000 men, marched southward from Middleham Castle. Margaret 
had collected 10,000 men at Market Drayton under two Staffordshire peers, 
James Touchet (Lord Audley) and John Sutton (Lord Dudley), 183 the queen 
herself being at Eccleshall with Prince Edward. 183 

To the queen, when at Eccleshall, Lord Stanley, who had been raising 
men for the Lancastrians in Lancashire, promised to fight against the Earl of 
Salisbury, and his failure to carry out this promise, although he was at New- 
castle, within a few miles of the battlefield, was a chief cause of the 
Lancastrian defeat at Blore Heath, for which treachery the Commons 
impeached him. 18 * 

York had arrived at Ludlow, and the Lancastrian forces prevented Salis- 
bury from joining him there. 

On 22 September Salisbury took up a strong position on Blore 
Heath, three miles east of Market Drayton, his front protected by the 
Hempmill Brook, a tributary of the Tern, ' not very broad but somewhat 
deep.' ' In the early morning,' on the twenty-third, to quote Hall's 
account : 185 

He caused his soldiers to shoot their flights towards the Lord Audeley's company, 
which lay on the other side of the said water, and then he and all his company made a sign 
of retreat. The Lord Audeley suddenly blew up his trumpet and passed the water. The 
earl of Salisbury, who ' knew the sleights, stratagems, and policies of war, suddenly 
returned ' and encountered Audeley when his forces were only partly across the water. 

' The fight was sore and dreadful,' but in the end ' the earl's army so eagerly fought 
that they slew the Lord Audeley and all his captains, and discomfited all the remnant of 
his people.' 

178 Paston Letters, \, 265 ; Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 165. m Diet. Nat. Biog. 'Stafford.' 

180 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc. New Ser.), vi (2), 217. 1SI Ibid. 249. 

188 The peerage had practically originated in the writ summoning John Sutton to Parliament in 1440, 
though a predecessor had been summoned as feudal baron of Dudley. He had been wounded at St. Albans 
in 1455. He was a successful 'trimmer,' as, though a supporter of Henry, he gained Edward IV's 
favour, and derived grants of land both from Richard III and Henry VII. Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), 
ix (2), 68. 

183 Paston Letters, i, 282. 

184 Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), v, 369. 

185 Hall, Chnn. (ed. 1809), 240. Holinshed's account is identical. 

243 






A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

If Holinshed 188 is correct in saying that 2,400 were slain in this battle the 
fight must have indeed been ' sore and dreadful,' as allowing the usual propor- 
tion of wounded to killed, more than half the two forces must have been put 
hors de combat. Among the prisoners taken by Salisbury was Lord Dudley ; 
on the other hand two of Salisbury's sons, pursuing the defeated enemy too 
far, were captured, but their father after his victory succeeded in effecting a 
junction with York at Ludlow. 

The Duke of Buckingham, who had been wounded 187 by an arrow 'in the 
vysage ' at the battle of St. Albans, where his eldest son was killed, did not 
remain quite loyal to Henry, no doubt recognizing the rising sun and fearing 
to lose his vast wealth. 188 However, on the whole he favoured the Lancas- 
trians, and was with the queen in London in I458 189 at the ' loveday ' 
between the two parties, and in 1460 received a grant of land from that 
party for his services. 1 ' He was slain just before the battle of Northampton 
in July of the same year. 191 

In 1470 Sir Walter Wrottesley, a staunch supporter of Warwick the 
kingmaker, probably lost his life in that cause. He was with Warwick and - 
Clarence when they were on their way to join Sir Robert Welles, who had 
been defeated in Lincolnshire. Welles disclosed the conspiracy that these 
two had entered into, and on the king summoning them to answer this 
charge they fled ; but Sir Walter was probably among those of Warwick's 
followers who were hanged at Southampton. 198 

During the Lancastrian period Staffordshire was until the Wars of the 
Roses well represented in Parliament ; the county, the borough of Stafford, 
and Newcastle under Lyme generally sending two members each, but 
Lichfield is not mentioned. The last-named town was one of those that 
did not value highly the privilege of representation. In fact it was regarded 
more as a burden than a privilege, so that there was great difficulty in finding 
duly qualified members. The only men who were anxious to be elected 
were the lawyers, who ' saw the advantage of combining the transaction of 
their clients' business in London with the right of receiving wages as knights 
of the shire at the same time.' m 

To the Parliament of 1414 held at Leicester, Stafford county sent two 
members, John Meverell and William Walshale, 194 the boroughs being 
unrepresented. 

In the ' Parliament of bats ' or bludgeons, summoned to meet at 
Leicester in February, 1425-6, where the parties of Gloucester and Beaufort 
met in hostile attitude, and Bedford arbitrated between them, 195 six 
members represented Staffordshire : the county sending Richard Lane of 
Bentley and Thomas Arblaster ; Newcastle, Robert Wodehous and Henry 
Lilie ; Stafford borough, Robert Whitegreve and William Preston. 196 

At the Parliament held at Westminster in 1455, when, after the battle of 
St. Albans, Henry was obliged to declare his enemies loyal, no returns have 

1M Holinshed, op. cit. ii, 251. 1SI Paston Letters, i, 327. 

88 Ibid, i, 335. "' Ibid. 416, 426. 

190 Rymer, Foedera (orig. ed.), xi, 443. 

191 Hall, Cbnn. (ed. 1809), 244. "' Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), vi, (2), 227 (New Scr.). 
193 Stubbs, Const. Hist. (4th ed.), iii, 407. "' Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (i), 282. 
19s Stubbs, Const. Hist, iii, 103, 387 ; Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), iv, 296-7. 

116 Par!. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (i), 311. 

244 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

been found at all for Staffordshire ; the same is the case in 1459 and 1460, 
doubtless owing to the confusion of the times ; while of the Parliaments of 
1461 and 14623 no returns for any part of England have been discovered. 
Constitutional forms were in abeyance, and the regular machinery of 
government paralysed. From 14623 to 1483 Parliaments were only sum- 
moned irregularly. 197 

The part played in the reign of Richard III by Henry Stafford the 
second Duke of Buckingham, grandson of the duke killed before the battle 
of Northampton, and descended both on his father's and mother's side from 
Edward III, 198 was as important as from his lineage and wealth we should 
expect. He was the greatest of the old nobility, possessing lands in half 
the counties in England, including in Staffordshire the castle and manor of 
Stafford and the manors of Billington, Bradley, Tillington, Madeley, Eaton, 
Darlaston, Doddington, Stalbroke, Packington, Wigginton, Hartwell, Tit- 
tensor, and the fourth part of the manor of Blymhill. 199 He was married to 
Catherine Woodville, but regarded his wife's family as upstarts, and was 
naturally in return hated by them. On the death of Edward IV he threw 
all his influence upon the side of the Duke of Gloucester, and he was mainly 
instrumental in effecting the arrest of his own brother-in-law Lord Rivers, 
and Lord Grey, and obtaining possession of Edward V. 

Gloucester was not lacking in gratitude for the support of the head 
of the old nobility, and he was invested with extraordinary powers in Wales 
and five of the English counties, made chief justice and chamberlain of the 
principality of Wales, and constable and steward of all the royal castles 
there, in the marches, and in the counties of Salop, Hereford, Somerset, 
Dorset, and Wilts. 200 

In Richard's coronation procession Buckingham's magnificence outshone 
everyone, his retainers all wearing his livery of the Stafford knot, 201 and 
immediately afterwards he was made steward of the honour of Tutbury and 
other Duchy of Lancaster estates in Staffordshire, and vast additions, by 
reason of his descent from the Bohuns, were promised to his enormous 
possessions. 202 Yet in a little while he was in revolt, why it is impossible 
to determine ; and after some hesitation, during which visions of claiming 
the throne for himself may have crossed his mind, he decided, with the 
connivance of his prisoner Morton, Bishop of Ely, to marry the earl of 
Richmond to Elizabeth of York, and place them on the throne. 203 His fall 
was terrible in its suddenness : the army he had collected dispersed in a few 
days, and he was a fugitive. He had been proclaimed a ' false traitor and 
rebel,' m his hiding-place was discovered, and on i November he was 
brought to Salisbury, where he was executed next day, and his vast estates 
confiscated. 205 

But the period of constant strife was nearly over. On 7 August, 1485, 
Henry Tudor landed at Milford Haven, and marched by way of Shrewsbury 

197 C. H. Parry, Parliaments and Councils of England under the above dates. 

198 His mother was Margaret, daughter of Edmund Beaufort, second Duke of Somerset, great-grandson 
of Edward III. '"Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 166 ; Cal. of Inj. p.m. (Rec. Com.), iv, 294. 

""Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 169 ; Diet. Nat. Biog. Stafford. 

101 Hall, Chron. (ed. 1809), 375. "'Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 168. 

""Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 169. *" Rot. Par!. (Rec. Com.), vi, 245. 

104 Hall, Chron. (ed. 1809), 395. 

245 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

to Stafford, having by that time collected a considerable force. In the 
mean time Richard had entrusted the defence of Lancashire, Cheshire, 
and North Wales to Lord Stanley and his brother Sir William, and had 
taken up his head quarters at Nottingham. From Stafford Henry marched 
to Lichfield, and lay without the walls in his camp all night, entering 
the town next morning, when he was received ' with all honour like a 
prince.' 

A day or two before, Lord Stanley with 5,000 men had been in the 
town, but evacuated it, being afraid to commit himself by any definite action, 
for he had been summoned both by Henry and Richard, and was as yet 
undecided. Henry left Lichfield and marched towards Tamworth, meeting 
on the way Sir Walter Hungerford, Sir Thomas Bourchier and others who 
joined him. 206 ' Divers other noble personages which inwardly hated King 
Richard worse than a toad or serpent,' also came to him now. 

Hall 207 gives a quaint account of Henry's wandering away from his 
own army near Tamworth, perplexed as to the future conduct of Stanley, 
and passing the night in a small village, three miles from the head quarters 
of his force, much fearing least he should be captured by King Richard's 
scouts. However he was unmolested, and next morning after giving an 
excuse to his men for his absence, and riding through the streets of the town 
so that all could see him, he went to Atherstone, where he had an interview 
with the Stanleys, then either returned to Tamworth, or slept where he 
was, and next day was joined by his army and marched on to Bosworth. 
Shakespeare makes him return to Tamworth, where on ' the plain near 
Tamworth ' 208 he makes his address to his troops. 

Among those who died fighting for Richard at Bosworth was Walter 
Devereux, who had married Anne the heiress of William Lord Ferrers of 
Chartley, and had been advanced to the dignity of a baron under the title of 
Lord Ferrers. 209 Henry VII had the good fortune to enjoy a reign which, 
compared with those immediately preceding it, was peaceful and quiet, and 
he had leisure to enjoy the sport of hunting, of which he was fond. Need- 
wood Forest was one of his hunting grounds, and he often brought his court 
to Tutbury for that purpose when on his way to Lathom House in Lanca- 
shire to see his mother the Countess of Derby. 210 

In 1512 Staffordshire was summoned to provide a contingent for war 
with France, Henry VIII having joined the Holy League ; and the Earl of 
Shrewsbury was directed to muster ' as many of our subjects able men for 
the war under the degree of a baron to do unto us service as be our own tenants, 
and other our subjects within our counties of Derby, Salop, and Stafford,' 
and those retained for the war were to have delivered to them tokens or 
badges to wear, but the expedition was a failure. 811 

The chief connexion of the county of Stafford with the political history 
of England during the reign of Henry VIII is furnished by the life of 
Edward, third Duke of Buckingham. In England, by the time of Edward I 
most of the feudal nobility of the Norman period had disappeared. In Stafford- 
shire, as we have seen, Fitz Anculf was soon only a memory, and the great 

106 Hall, Chrm. (ed. 1 809), 413. * Ibid. Ric. Ill, Act v, sc. 2. 

> Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), ">> 1 77- " Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 132. 

111 Rymer, Foedera (orig. ed.), xiii, 337. 

246 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

Ferrers family forfeited their estates after Evesham, the male line of the Earls 
of Chester came to an end with John Scot the last earl, and the Paynels in 
1194 handed on their estates through a woman. In England, as a whole, 
between 1290 and the opening of the Wars of the Roses, many more great 
houses of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries had vanished ; and those wars 
exterminated so many noble families that by the time of Henry VII their 
power and wealth were concentrated in a few hands. Stafford, Nevill, Percy, 
Howard, and Berkeley, were the chief of these. Edward Stafford, the third 
Duke of Buckingham, had received back his father's lands on the accession of 
Henry VII, with whom he was high in favour, and this royal favour he 
retained at the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. He accompanied 
Henry to the Field of the Cloth of Gold, 'fitting himself 212 with more 
splendour than any other nobleman.' The state he maintained was almost 
regal. But he was too great a man by descent, wealth, wide estates, and 
connexions to be allowed to live by his king. He was brother-in-law of the 
Earl of Northumberland ; his three daughters had married the Earl of Surrey 
afterwards Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Westmorland, and Lord Aber- 
gavenny, and his son had married Ursula, sister of Cardinal Pole, grandson of 
George Duke of Clarence. 

He was the mouthpiece of the old nobility for expressing their hatred 
of the upstart Wolsey, and it was to Wolsey he was betrayed. The charges 
against him when brought to trial were that he had listened to prophecies of 
the king's death and his own succession, and had expressed an intention 
to assassinate the king, a frivolous accusation, and probably untrue, but 
sufficient to get so dangerous a subject out of the way, and he was 
beheaded on Tower Hill, 17 May, 1521. On hearing of his death 
Charles V is said to have exclaimed, ' A butcher's dog has killed the finest 
buck in England.' 213 

The history of this illustrious house had of late been marked by a long 
list of calamities, the last four heads of the house had all met violent deaths 
as well as the eldest son of the first duke, and with the third duke the 
magnificence of the house departed for ever. His son Henry received back 
some of the family estates in Staffordshire and elsewhere, and in 1531 he 
was granted the castle and manor of Stafford. 21 * In Edward VI's first 
Parliament he was member with Richard Forssett for the borough of 
Stafford, 215 and by that Parliament he was restored in blood and made Baron 
Stafford. This barony devolved at last upon Roger, who sold the dignity to 
Charles I for 8oo. 215a 

New names were now arising in Staffordshire, as all over England, and 
old ones springing into greater prominence, and from the family of Dudley 
came men who had a decided influence on the history of their country, an 
influence which does not redound to their credit. 

Edmund Dudley, who with Empson is notorious for filling the coffers of 
Henry VII, was a representative of a younger branch of the Suttons of 
Dudley Castle, and was rewarded by Henry VIII for the vast stores of 

112 Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 170. 
11 Ibid. ; Burke, Extinct Peerage, Stafford ; Rupert Simms, Bibliotheca StaforJiensis ; Diet. Nat. Biog. 



114 Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), i, 170. 
" 5 Part. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (i), 376. 
I15a G.E.C. Peerage, vii, 214. 

247 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

wealth s18 which had been accumulated for him to squander by execution 
on Tower Hill. He had married his ward, Elizabeth daughter of Lord de 
Lisle, and their son was John, said to have been born near Okeover in 1502. 

John Dudley was able, tactful, and resolute, and soon made his way to 
the front. In 1536 he was sheriff of Staffordshire, and about that time 
bought the Dudley estates from a member of the Sutton family. 217 Created 
Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland, his ambition overleaped 
itself, and his design of bringing the crown into his own family is familiar 
to every one. 218 

He was the ablest man of his time, but unscrupulous ; he supported 
the reformers for his own gain, but on the scaffold attributed the troubles 
of England to the quarrel with the Papacy. 

His fifth son was Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, whose story is too 
well known to need repetition ; he is chiefly connected with Staffordshire 
by the fact that about the time he married his third wife Lettice, countess 
of Essex, 219 whose husband he was suspected to have poisoned, he bought 
Drayton Basset, where he visited her ; her son Robert, the second Earl of 
Essex, living conveniently near at Chartley. 

In 1547 the county had to bear its share in the war against Scotland, 
and the Earl of Warwick was commissioned for the ' North partes,' includ- 
ing Staffordshire, to levy all and singular the king's subjects who were ' habill 
and mete for the warres,' whenever he should think fit, and to drill and arm 
them at his discretion. To carry out this commission effectually all justices 
of the peace, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, stewards, and constables were to obey 
his orders. 220 

In 1570 Pius V issued a bull excommunicating Queen Elizabeth and 
declaring her to be deposed from the throne, an act which placed the Roman 
Catholics in England in a most unenviable position, as Romanism thereby 
became identified with disloyalty. It also had its effect on the conduct of 
Parliament, which in 1571 enacted penal statutes against the Catholics and 
made assent to the Thirty-nine Articles obligatory. Yet John Giffard of 
Chillington, a ' prominent papist,' in the year when the Armada brought 
forth all the patriotism of the country, did as many Roman Catholics did, 
took the oath of allegiance to Elizabeth. 221 His fourth son, as we shall see, 
was one of Walsingham's tools for intercepting the correspondence of Mary 
Queen of Scots when at Chartley. 

The intrigues of the Jesuits against Elizabeth provoked her to deal still 
more strongly with the recusants. In 1583 the sheriff of the county was 
ordered by Burghley and Walsingham to make an inventory of the property 
of Lord Paget at Beaudesert who was ' affected to the Romish religion ; ' 
and for favouring Mary his lands were forfeited. Elizabeth evidently had 

116 Henry VII after Bo^worth had rewarded many of his followers by grants of land in Staffordshire, but 
the greatest change was in the reign of Henry VIII, who dissolved thirty-six religious houses in the county, and 
gave them to different persons ; Harwood, ErJestvick, xi. The effects of the suppressior. of the monasteries 
are discussed in the Ecclesiastical and the Social and Economic Articles. 

117 Dugdale, Baronage (ed. 1675), ii, 216. 

118 Lord Guildford Dudley, the husband of Lady Jane Grey, was fourth son of the Duke of 
Northumberland. 

" This lady, of vigorous character and wonderful vitality, lived until 1634, when .she died at the age 
of 94. She was the great-niece of Anne Boleyn. 

" Acts of the P.C. 1547, pp. 118-19. MI Cal. ofS.P. Dam. 158:1-90, p. 561. 

248 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

good cause for watching the recusants in Staffordshire ; Thomas Morgan, 
Mary's most trusted agent, advised her 'if possible not to go out of Stafford- 
shire which is altogether in her favour,' SM and ' Ridworth ' (Ridware ?) is 
described as being ' a town where all are recusants.' 22S 

In 1585 people refusing to attend church were disarmed, and later on 
the arms taken from such persons were given to the queen's good subjects ; !2 * 
consequently fifteen recusants were formally disarmed, of whom Sampson 
Erdeswick of Sandon was one. The commissioners appointed to search for 
recusants displayed in some cases too much zeal, some of them having 
searched Sampson Walkeden's house at Stone in a manner which led to 
inquiry by the sheriff on the order of the council. 

There is a list dated I592 225 of recusants in the county divided into 
three classes, first those remaining at liberty, who were John Draicot of 
Painesley and Francis Gatagrea of Swynnerton, esquires ; William Stapleton 
of Bradley, John Stapleton of the same place, Philip Draicot of Leigh, Samp- 
son Erdeswick of Sandon, William Maxfield of Mere, gentlemen ; secondly 
those imprisoned, Humphrey Cumberford of Cumberford, Erasmus Wolseley 
of Wolseley Bridge, Hugh Erdeswick of Sandon; and thirdly those at liberty 
upon bonds, John 'Jifford ' of Chillington, Brian Fowler of the 'Manor upon 
Sow.' 

Queen Elizabeth visited the county in 1575 after her entertainment by 
Leicester at Kenilworth, from which place she came to Lichfield on 27 July, 
and thence went for some days to Chartley, whose owner, Walter Devereux, 226 
had just sailed to Ireland. 

Stafford made great preparations for her coming ; every house was 
newly painted, the streets gravelled, and the cross repaired. 

She arrived on 8 August, and was met by the bailiffs on foot, who 
presented to her a cup ' two foote or more in height,' which she most lovingly 
received, ' saying most gracious favourable words,' which were duly responded 
to. She then passed on to the market-place, and pausing there, asked the 
cause of the decay of the town, and was told that the decay of ' Capping ' 
and the taking away from the town of the assizes were the chief causes. 
Elizabeth answered she would renew and establish better the statute relating 
to capping, and the assizes should be held there for ever. After this gracious 
promise, she passed on through the town to the castle, where she dined and 
' sopted.' 

The petition of the Stafford citizens to the queen on the matter of the 
capping statute was backed up by a letter dated 27 September in the same 
year from Lord Paget to Burghley, bringing to his recollection a petition of 
the poor cappers of Lichfield for the better execution of the statute for the 
wearing of caps, and commending the petitioners to his lordship's notice 
as the cappers were so poor. 227 Elizabeth kept her promise, for not long 

m Rep. on Salisbury MSS. (Hist. MSS. Com.), iii, 148. 

m Cal. S.P. Dom. 1581-90, p. 540. *" Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. iv, 330. 

2 " Ibid, iv, 272. 

8M Walter Devereux, created Earl of Essex in 1572, was the grandson of Walter Devereux, Viscount 
Hereford, the grandson of Sir Walter Devereux, who had married the heiress of Lord Ferrers, and fell at 
Bosworth. The family of Devereux provided recorders of Lichfield for eight successive generations, probably 
a unique record. Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xi, App. v, 122. 

Rep. onSaRsbury MSS. (Hist. MSS. Com.), ii, 116. 

I 249 32 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

afterwards we read that the statute was daily put in execution in all parts of 
the realm. 839 

We have now to narrate the part which Staffordshire played in the 
captivity of Mary Queen of Scots, the most romantic figure in English 
history. 

In February, 1568-9, Mary arrived at Tutbury from Bolton, 289 having 
been transferred thither because of her many intrigues, in order that she 
might be in closer custody. Tutbury was at that time one of the seven 
mansions of George Talbot, the sixth Earl of Shrewsbury, who held it 
on a lease from the crown, and was used by him as a hunting box. His 
wife, the famous ' Bess of Hardwick,' owned two more in her own right, 
so that Shrewsbury was almost a king in that neighbourhood. As he was 
' half a Catholic ' and a nobleman of high rank and character, he seemed 
peculiarly fitted to be Mary's guardian. 

It cannot be said, reading the provision made for Mary, that she was so 
badly treated, in spite of the house being poor. She was allowed two 
physicians who slept in the house, a large suite of more than fifty persons 
attended her, ten horses were provided, 230 and 52 a week was allowed for her 
maintenance. 

She was not destined to stay at Tutbury long, for in the middle of 
March Shrewsbury received orders to remove her to Wingfield Manor, 
another of his mansions, and a great change for the better for the captive. 
In September Mary was taken back to Tutbury in order to be again in 
more strict custody, as Elizabeth had awakened to the danger of Norfolk's 
plot to marry Mary, who probably was all the time only using Norfolk as a 
tool whereby she might obtain her freedom. 

Her second visit to Tutbury marked an epoch in her captivity, for 
hitherto she had been treated leniently ; now her retinue was diminished and her 
actions more closely watched. She was at this time, indeed, the centre of plots 
against Elizabeth and her government which were backed up by Spain, and it 
was now that the conspiracy of the northern earls, Westmorland and Northum- 
berland, came to a head, and they resolved to march and deliver Mary from 
Tutbury, an enterprise which failed miserably. If it had been resolutely 
carried out it might well have succeeded, as the earls got within fifty-four 
miles of the castle, a weak place and easily stormed. It was to suppress this 
rebellion that Walter Devereux Viscount Hereford raised a troop of horse, 
and for his services was created Earl of Essex. 231 The attempted rescue 
caused Mary to be hurried off to Coventry 23a with orders that if she tried to 
escape she was to be executed forthwith. 

258 Acts of P.C. 1577-8, p. 341. The evils arising from the decay of the trade of cap-making, which 
had been the subject of several Acts of Parliament, by the disuse of caps, had received attention in the statute 
33 Eliz. cap. 19, some time before the queen's visit. By this every person, except maiden ladies, and gentle- 
women, all noble personages, and every lord, knight, and gentlemen of the possession of twenty marks in land 
by the year, shall on Sundays and holidays wear on their head a cap of wool made in England by the cappers. 
The penalty was 3/. ^d, per day. 

m Cal. of Scot. Pap. ii, 616. " MSS. Mary Queen of Scots, iii, 41 ; Cal. of Scot. Pap. ii, 617. 

831 Dugdale, Baronage (1675 ed.), ii, 177. There are many letters from Mary at this time in the Cal. 
of Scot. Pap. iii. In one dated from 'Tutbury the ix of November, 1569," to Cecil, she prays him to 
ask the queen to ' have pitie on our estait ' as the writer is waiting on her ' loofing friendship ' and has 
in no ways done anything to offend her, albeit the queen may be otherwise ' informit ' by the false inventions 
of 'our enemies.' 

131 Cal. of Scot. Pap. iii, 9. 

250 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

There is a letter from Mary dated from ' my prison at Tutbury, 
October ist,' complaining of the severity shown to her servants, and that she 
was not allowed to receive any news from Scotland or France : 

instead of which they have forbid me to go out, and have rifled my trunks, entering 
my chamber with pistols, not without putting me in bodily fear, and accusing my people, 
rifle them and place them under arrest. 233 

As soon as the rebellion was over Mary came back to Tutbury, 234 where, 
to prevent her escape, among other precautions, the lock of her outer 
chamber door was removed so that her movements might be watched more 
closely. Next May she went to Chatsworth. In the beginning of 1585 the 
ill-fated queen arrived again at Tutbury from Wingfield, most reluctantly, as 
it was the most wretched of all her prisons in England, and when she arrived 
she found her rooms had been unoccupied since her last stay. The place was 
miserably furnished, the walls damp, doors and windows ill-fitting, and in a 
letter written at the time Mary thus describes it : 

I am in a walled enclosure on the top of a hill, exposed to all the winds and in- 
clemencies of heaven. Within the enclosure there is a very old hunting lodge, built of 
timber and plaster cracked in all parts ; the said lodge, distant three fathoms or there- 
abouts from the wall, and situated so low that the rampart of earth behind the wall is 
on a level with the highest part of the building so that the sun can never shine upon it on 
that side nor any fresh air come to it ... The only apartments that I have for my own 
person consists of two little miserable rooms so very cold that but for the ramparts and 
entrenchments of curtains and tapestry I have made it would not be possible for me to 
stay in them. 

The garden for exercise was a potato ground ' fitter to keep pigs in than to 
bear the name of a garden,' and it need hardly be said that the sanitary 
arrangements were disgusting. 235 

The neighbouring gentry 238 lent her linen and bedding, otherwise she 
would have fared ill, as she was now a martyr to rheumatism ; and little 
pity could be expected from Sir Amyas Paulet, who was made her guardian 
in April. 

Elizabeth apparently was not aware of the wretched condition of the 
place, for when she heard of it she wrote expressing her anger at the persons 
' who had furnished Tutbury so basely, and thus given the Queen of Scots 
such just cause of complaint against her." 

When at Tutbury Mary was visited by Nicholas White, who discreetly 
advised that ' very few should have access to or conference with this lady, for 
besides that she is a goodly personage, she hath without an alluring grace, 
a pretty Scotch speech, and a searching wit clouded with mildness.' !S7 

At the end of the year she was removed to Chartley, avowedly in 
answer to her own demands for a less rigorously unpleasant residence, but 
really that Walsingham might trap her. 

Chartley was now in the ownership of the second Earl of Essex, then 
a very young man, whose consent to Mary's imprisonment there was not 

233 Cal. of Scot. Pap. ii, 682. *" Ibid, iii, 41. 

235 Strickland, Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, ii, 161. 

>3il An order was sent to Thomas Gresley, sheriff of the county 7 Nov. 1 5 84, to convey the household 
stuff of Lord Paget, who had lately been attainted, to Tutbury for the use of the Queen of Scots, but it was- 
of indifferent quality, as the best had been sold ; Harwood (ed. 1844), Erdeswick, 532 ; and see Cal. S.P. 
Dm. 1581-90, p. 226. Rep. on SaRibury MSS. (Hist. MSS. Com.), i, 400. 

251 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

asked, and who objected, when told it had already been decided upon, that 
the house was too small, and he wanted it for himself. It is described M8 
* as low and unhealthy, and the water surrounding it as of such depth as 
may stand instead of a strong wall,' and as having only one kitchen. 

Here Mary's health was very poor, so bad that an advocate of Eliza- 
beth's harshest measures wrote of her that she was ' so sickly and impotent 
her majesty thought it impossible she should be anyways able to annoy her 
or to do her any great harm.' 

Walsingham was firmly convinced that Mary deserved death, and that 
her death was necessary for the safety of England. He knew that Elizabeth 
would not consent to her death unless she knew and could let the world 
know that Mary had been plotting against her. At Tutbury Mary had had 
no chance to plot because she was so rigorously guarded ; at Chartley she 
was to have more scope, and the Babington conspiracy followed in the next 
spring. 239 

The plot was given ample time to develop, and it was not until August 
that the conspirators were seized, and it was then resolved to take stronger 
measures. 

Mary's health had improved at Chartley, and one day Paulet proposed 
a visit to Tixall, a house belonging to Sir Walton Aston a few miles 
distant, to see a buck hunt. On their arrival a party of horsemen awaited 
them, who poor Mary hoped were her friends at last come to rescue her. 
But their leader rode forward with a warrant for her removal to Tixall, and 
the sending of her secretaries to London, and she was forthwith hurried into 
the house and kept there seventeen days. Paulet in the meantime hurried 
back to Chartley, ransacked all Mary's papers, and sent every scrap to 
Windsor for Elizabeth's perusal. This done Mary returned there. 240 

The conspirators were tried and executed in September, a commission 
was appointed to try Mary in October, and she was removed to Fotheringhay 
at the end of September. 

In the year of the Armada letters were sent to the lords-lieutenant of 
several counties, including Staffordshire, for the training and mustering of 
soldiers, 241 and from the abstract of the certificate returned from the lord- 
lieutenant, the Earl of Shrewsbury, the following were the ' able trayned and 
furnished men in the county, * reduced into bandes under Captaines, and 
how they were soarted with weapons ' in April of that year. 843 

The ' ablemen ' numbered 1,910, the 'furnished' 1,000; there were two 
companies of ' trained ' men numbering 200 each, and one company of 
' untrained ' men of the same strength. 

The captains of the two trained companies were Ralfe Sneade and 
Thomas Horwood, and Ralfe Sneade commanded the untrained. 

138 Morris, Letters of Sir Amyas Paulet, 94. 

ro Innes, England under the Tudors, 335. It was at Chartley that the Queen of Scots received and 
dispatched her letters in the false bottom of a barrel of beer which used to come every week from Burton; 
and these Giffard read and betrayed. 

140 Hosack, Mary Queen of Scots and Her Accusers, ii, 385 ; Morris, Letters of Sir Amyai Paulet, 2506! seq. 
Paulet gives us a glimpse of the wealth of the country gentlemen of the time : ' Sir W. Aston saith he hath 
upon the point of a hundred persons uprising and downlying in his house'; Letters of Sir A. Paulet, 98. 
Sir W. Aston was thanked for 'yielding his house* ; Acts ofP.C. 1586-7, p. 210. 

141 Acts of P. C. 1588, p. 1 6. 
141 Harl. MSS. No. 168. 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

Each of the trained companies was armed thus : 

Men Shott Cortletts Bows Bill* 

200 85 cal.' 43 60 20 2O 

15 mus. 

The untrained company was armed in a slightly different manner : 

Men Shott Corsletts Bows Bills 

200 80 60 20 40 

The cavalry consisted of the following : Launces, 28 ; Light Horse, 
50 ; Petroneles, 26. 244 

The levies summoned to resist the Armada were in a very bad state 
of discipline ; Shrewsbury, the lord-lieutenant, complained to his deputy 
lieutenants that of the whole band of horsemen in Staffordshire only six were 
serviceable and furnished as they ought to be. 245 

It was the old tale enforcing the old lesson which the English have 
never learnt, that false economy in peace means extra risk and extra expense 
in war ; as Leicester wrote to Walsingham : ' Great dilatory wants are 
found upon all sudden hurly burlies. If the navy had not been strong 
enough what peril would England now have been in.' 346 

Of these inefficient troops Staffordshire furnished the commander-in- 
chief, Leicester, a man with no military capacity, but he fortunately had at 
his elbow Sir John Norreys, the one experienced captain available. 247 

In the order of 27 June, 1588, to the county levies in England to be 
ready to go where directed at an hour's notice 248 Staffordshire is not men- 
tioned, but in August of that year the county was ordered through the 
lord-lieutenant to furnish 400 foot, and share with Derbyshire in providing 
thirty-four horsemen to join the Earl of Huntingdon in the north, for the 
Spanish fleet was said to have landed men at Moray Firth. 249 In October 
again Staffordshire was one often counties which with London provided 1,500 
voluntary soldiers to go to the Low Countries. 250 In 1596 Staffordshire 
shared with the counties of Warwick, Worcester, Gloucester, and Salop in 
providing 800 men to go to Calles (Cadiz) in the brilliant expedition of 
Howard, Essex, and Raleigh, the contingent being ordered to march to 
Plymouth under Sir Christopher Blunt. 251 

In 1599 and 1600 constant levies of men were made in the county for 
the wars in Ireland, a service which was evidently very unpopular, as many 
of the men deserted and their places were filled up with much difficulty, 
a task which the authorities were by no means ready to perform. 252 

Under Henry VIII and his three successors a number of old electoral 
boroughs were revived, and others newly summoned, mainly for the purpose 

"* Presumably ' cal ' means calivers, which, according to Clepham (Defensive Armour of Mediaeval Times 
and the Renaissance, 225), means a 'harquebus or light musket, of a standard calibre, introduced into England 
during Elizabeth's reign, 4ft. loin, in length.' The musket was making its first appearance at this time. 

144 Petronel, ' a kind of hand bombard fired by a horseman from a forked rest fixed on the saddle.' 
When not in use it hung suspended from the rider's neck; Clepham, op. cit. 219. 

145 Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. iv, 332. 

146 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1581-90, p. 513. '" Innes, England under the Tudors, 362. 
" 8 Acts ofP.C. 1588, p. 137. 

149 Ibid. 231 ; Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xii, App. iv, 259, which says thirty-six launces instead of thirty- 
four horse. 

150 Acts ofP.C. 1588, p. 297. '" Rep. on SaKsbury MSS. (Hist. MSS. Com.), vi, 206. 
M> Acts ofP.C. 1 599-1600 passim, and Hut. MSS. Com. Rep. xii, App. iv, 276, 279, 331, 333. 

253 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

of creating votes in the interests of the crown, and the Parliamentary 
representation was practically set upon the basis which it retained till 
1 832."" 

Lichfield, which had been unrepresented for 200 years, again sent two 
members in 15523, Mark Wyrley and William Fitzherbert, the county 
sending to the same Parliament William Devereux and Walter Aston ; 
Newcastle, Roger Fowke and John Smyth ; and the borough of Stafford, 
Edward Colborne and Francis Smith. 354 In 1563 Tamworth appears for the 
first time, and the county in all was represented by ten members. 

These members sat for a considerable time, as this Parliament was 
repeatedly prorogued, partly on account of the plague which was then raging 
in London and Westminster, 265 and partly because under the Tudors it had 
become customary to resume business in repeated sessions with the same body 
of members. 256 The Parliament of 1572, to which the county again sent ten 
members, lasted eleven years. In 1601 a Northamptonshire gentleman, 
Robert Browne, was one of the members for Lichfield. 267 At the famous 
Parliament of 1621, which attacked monopolies, impeached Bacon, and entered 
in the journals of the House a protestation of their privilege to speak freely 
on all subjects, only to have it torn from the book by the king, Sir William 
Bowyer and Thomas Crompton represented the county ; William Wingfield 
and Richard Weston of Rugeley, 268 Lichfield ; Sir John Davis and Edward 
Kerton, Newcastle ; Matthew Cradock and Richard Dyott, Stafford borough ; 
Sir Thomas Puckeringe and John Ferrour, ' merchant of London,' Tarn- 
worth. 259 

In February, i 604, the government, alarmed at the result of the tolera- 
tion they had granted to the Catholics, determined on sterner measures, and 
the result was the Gunpowder Plot, of which Holbeche House saw one of 
the closing scenes. The original conspirators, Catesby, Thomas Percy, 
Thomas Winter, Guy Fawkes, and John Wright, were no obscure fanatics, 
but gentlemen of name and blood, and if they had kept the secret to them- 
selves the House of Lords would probably have been blown up. But they 
committed the fatal error of having too many accomplices, and determined 
that arms and men should be ready in the country to commence war as soon 
as Parliament was destroyed. Tresham betrayed the plot, and even then the 
conspirators would probably have escaped, but when they fled into the 
country, leaving Fawkes grimly sticking to his post, they raised open insur- 
rection. 260 As they rode through the country on the morning of 5 November 
they found that the zeal of most of their supporters had cooled, and 
only a few score joined them. What followed may be told in the words of 
the sheriff of Worcestershire to the council. After describing how the 
rebellious assembly had broken into Lord Windsor's house at Hewell on 
7 November, 'taking there great store of armour and artillery,' he relates how 
they passed that night into the county of Stafford unto the house of one Stephen 
Littleton, gentleman, about two miles distant from Stourbridge, ' whither we 

"' Lane Pool, Hist. Atlas. Notes on Map xxiii ; Gneist, Hist, of Engl. Part. (ed. 3), 232. 

154 Par/. Accts. and Pap. Ixii (i), 379 ; Shaw, Hist, of Staffs, i, 318. 

'" Parry, Paris, and Councils of Engl. 216. 

>M Gneist, Hist, of Engl. Par/, (ed. 3), 241. '" Par/. Accts. and Pap. Ixii (i),44O. 

m Afterwards baron of the Exchequer. '"Par/. Accts. and Pap. Ixii (i), 453. 

M0 Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 96. 

254 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

pursued, with the assistance of several gentlemen and the power and force of 
the country.' 

We made against them upon Thursday morning, and freshly pursued them until the 
next day, at which time about twelve or one of the clock in the afternoon we overtook 
them at the said Holbeche House, the greatest part of their retinue, and some of the better 
sort being dispersed and fled before our coming, whereupon and after summons and warning 
first given, and proclamation in his highness's name to yield and submit themselves, who 
refusing the same we fired some part of the house and assaulted some part of the rebellious 
persons left in the said house, in which assault one Mr. Robert Catesby is slain, and three 
others verily thought wounded to death as far as we can learn are Thomas Percy gentleman, 
John Wright and Christopher Wright, gentlemen ; and these are apprehended and taken, 
Thomas Winter, John Grant, Henry Morgan, Ambrose Rokewood, gentlemen, and six 
others of inferior degree. The rest of that rebellious assembly is dispersed. 261 

Percy, John Wright, and his brother died of their wounds, so that only 
Fawkes and Thomas Winter of the original five fell into the government's 
hands alive. In the meantime Fawkes, under dreadful torture in the Tower, 
was telling the council the whole of the plot, and it was not long before the 
plotters were tried and punished. 

James I visited Staffordshire more than once ; his fondness for hunting 
attracted him to Needwood, where his favourite eminence for resting and 
looking at the scenery was called ' The King's Standing.' 263 In 1 6 1 7 he visited 
Stafford, and was received most loyally, and in 1619, 1621, and 1624 he was 
at Tutbury, the scene of so much of his mother's misery. 

In 1625 Staffordshire gentlemen were fined for their non-appearance at 
the coronation of Charles I to receive the order of knighthood, the qualifica- 
tion for which had been fixed in the reign of Henry VI at the annual income 
of 40, an increase from the 20 enacted by the Statute ' de Militibus.' 
The fines had been levied at the coronations of Edward VI, Mary, and 
Elizabeth, but not by James I. 

The average fine imposed upon a defaulter in Staffordshire was 10, 
whereas the average fee for knighthood was between 60 and 70. So 
wide was the net cast that in Staffordshire a yeoman was summoned. 

The coronation was on 2 February, 1625-6, but it was not until 1630 
that decisive steps were taken to enforce the fines on defaulters residing at a 
distance from the capital, when special commissions were issued to prominent 
persons in each county, that relating to Staffordshire being addressed to 
Robert Earl of Essex, Walter Lord Aston, Sir Hugh Wrottesley, and Sir 
William Bowyer, kts., and Richard Weston, esq. 

Another commission was issued on 12 February, 16301, and another 
on 9 June, 1631. Altogether about 260 gentlemen compounded, the com- 
positions varying from 10 to $o, the former sum being that generally 
paid, and no doubt the far-reaching nature of these exactions helped to turn 
the country gentlemen against the king. The abolition of compulsory 
knighthood was one of the first Acts of the Long Parliament. 263 

In 1636 the Roman Catholics in the county felt the benefit of Charles' 
more lenient treatment of their co-religionists, to which he was urged by 
Henrietta Maria and the Archbishop of York. Wentworth and others were 
commissioned to lease to recusants in Staffordshire and other northern counties 

M1 S. R. Gardiner, What Gunpowder Plot Was, 46-7 ; Cal. S.P. Dam. 1603-10, pp. 247, 255. 

161 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 207. * B 1 6 Chas. I, cap. 20. 

255 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

lands which had been forfeited for recusancy, and to compound with them 
for sums of money due by reason of the same offence."* This leniency gave 
great offence to the Puritans, but was nobly rewarded in the approaching 
Civil War by the Roman Catholics. 

The same year the king visited Tutbury, and a proclamation was issued 
postponing Tutbury fair, the minstrels' court, and the bull-running from 
15 August to 22 August, as the king would be there on the ifth, intending 
to spend five nights. The reason given for this was that a great confluence 
of people being attracted to such scenes there was in these times, when the 
plague was an ever-threatening enemy, great danger of infection. 8 " 

In the second Bishops' War in 1640 Charles called on Staffordshire 
among other counties for its quota of men, who were furnished him in the 
case of the infantry by the train-bands and by impressment ; the cost of 
their equipment and maintenance until they had crossed the borders of 
the county * w was paid by the shire under the name of coat and conduct 
money, but many of the country gentlemen refused to pay it, and the crown, 
knowing its unpopularity, dared not prosecute them. The men were promised 
8</. a day, 367 but owing to the chronic emptiness of the royal exchequer 
often went unpaid. The cavalry contingent from Staffordshire numbered 
sixty-nine cuirassiers and thirty-one light horsemen. The infantry, who in 
the previous year had been drawn chiefly from the northern counties, were 
now drawn from the southern, which had no traditional feuds with the Scots. 
Insubordination was rife, the men supplemented arrears of pay by plunder, 
and in Staffordshire, among other offences, they pulled down fences and burnt 
them. 268 An amusing letter from the deputy-lieutenants of the county men- 
tions that it was necessary to put constables in charge of these defenders of 
their country, and even this precaution did not keep them within bounds. 
It is hardly necessary to say that these men on meeting the Scots ran like 
sheep. 

In 1641 the king visited the county, and in the same year the Commons 
expressed their opinion that the recusants in it should be disarmed of all war- 
like weapons, but without violence. 269 No doubt this was directed against 
them as a body of men who were known to be loyal to the king. 
But though there were many recusants the great body of the people of 
the county viewed the king's policy with alarm ; in May, 1641, more than 
2,000 of the knights, esquires, gentlemen, ministers, freeholders, and other 
inhabitants prayed the House of Lords to present to the king their loyal and 
humble desires that he would settle the militia question, and ' that he would 
lean upon the hand and follow the counsels of Parliament, and would send 
speedy succour to their brethren in Ireland.' 270 

On 10 January, 1642, Charles fled from Whitehall, and for the next 
eight months both sides with difficulty prepared for war a nation which 

164 Rymer, FotJera (orig. cd.), six, 740. ** Ibid, xx, 46. 

** Fortescue, Hist, of the Army, i, 1 96. The train-bands were now composed exclusively of musketeers 



and pikemen, bows and bills having been abolished in 1596, and calivers a generation later (Firth, 

Army, 8). They were only drilled once a month, and treated their drills as ' matters of disport and things of 

no moment." 

867 The ordinary pay of the infantry of the day, a labourer receiving from tenpence to a shilling. As 
money then went three times as far as it does now his pay was fair, but out of it he had to provide money for 
food and clothing ; Firth, Cromwell's Army, 189. ** Cal. S.P. Dam. 1640, pp. 477-8. 

169 Ibid. 1641-3, p. 100. m Hut. A/SS. Com. Rep. v, 23. 

2 5 6 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

for fighting purposes had become utterly demoralized by peace. Charles at 
first tried to raise soldiers by commissions of array, and, this failing, by dis- 
arming the train-bands and giving their weapons to his volunteers. Parliament 
also made the same attempt to use the train-bands and failed. 871 As the train- 
bands had proved unreliable both sides began the war by voluntary enlist- 
ment, appealing for subscriptions of men and horses, and this was succeeded 
by issuing commissions to officers authorizing them to raise regiments, an 
infantry regiment consisting of 1,200 and a cavalry regiment of 500 men. 
The regiments raised for the king, unlike those of the Parliament, seem to 
have been equipped at the expense of their officers, and were raised from the 
districts where the colonel's estates lay, Lord Paget's, for example, being 
raised in Staffordshire. 

The issue of the war was decided by two small minorities: ' The number 
of those who desired to sit still,' said Clarendon, ' was greater than of those 
who desired to engage in either party.' In Staffordshire, as in other counties, 
a neutral party was formed to oppose the entry of any armed party without 
the joint consent of king and Parliament, but these arrangements were short- 
lived. The Staffordshire Roman Catholics all fought for the king or remained 
neutral, as was inevitable ; but most of the Protestant landowners fought 
against him. Many, like Sir Edmund Verney in Buckinghamshire, believed 
the war was on behalf of the bishops, for whom they had no love, and a con- 
siderable number of landowners were neutral, the sequestrations after the war 
making many men out and out Royalists who would not have been so 
otherwise. 

A considerable amount of favour was, however, shown in these seques- 
trations, owing doubtless to bribery, the most signal instance of which was 
the case of Walter Astley of Patshull. He was stated to be a disaffected 
Papist, and had made his house a garrison for the king, for whom two of his 
sons had fought. An information was laid against him, but no proceedings 
taken, and he was eventually restored to the full possession of his estates. 2 " 
Summing up the position of Staffordshire landowers in the Civil War, sixteen 
Roman Catholics fought for the king, and seven remained neutral. Of the 
Protestants twelve fought for the king, twenty were neutral, and no less than 
forty were against him. Mr. Firth 27i) calculates that of the two Houses of 
Parliament thirty peers supported Parliament, eighty the king, and twenty 
were neutral ; of the Lower House 300 were for Parliament, 175 for the 
king, and as there were about 500 members, this would leave a score or so 
neutral. 

Comparing these sets of figures the country gentlemen of Staffordshire 
were more Puritan than the rest of England, for the House of Commons cer- 
tainly represented that class more than any other in the reign of Charles I, a 
period when its character and public spirit touched its highest level. Indeed, 
it was composed of the pick of the country gentlemen, uncontaminated by 
court life, and with no idea of office-seeking, 'who brought to the counsels of 
England a directness of intention and simplicity of mind, the inheritance of 
modest generations of active and hearty rural life, informed by Elizabethan 

771 Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 223 ; Firth, CromweWs Army, 16, 17. 
nl Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc. New Ser.), vi (2), 330. 
171 CnmweWs Army, 69. 
i 257 33 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

culture and spiritualized by Puritanism.' 37 * The rural labourer remained 
neutral to the end, his uneducated mind not grasping constitutional questions. 
The tenant farmer followed his landlord, the yeoman in the east was for 
Parliament, in the north and west for the king ; the tradesmen as a rule were 
for Parliament." 6 Following the examples of other counties, Staffordshire 
associated with Warwickshire in order to combine into active resistance the 
scattered elements of the Parliamentary party over a considerable area, 276 but 
the king had many friends in the county and received very good recruits from 
it at the beginning of the war, 877 the association being opposed at once on the 
king's behalf by Colonel Hastings, a younger son of the Earl of Huntingdon, 
who was one of the first to raise a troop. Although most of the gentry were 
for Parliament, of the strong places and country houses more were garrisoned 278 
for the king than for his foes. Lichfield declared for the king and raised a 
troop of horse ; Tutbury was garrisoned for him under Lord Loughborough ; 
so were Tamworth and Dudley Castle, the latter by Sir Thomas Levison. 
Eccleshall held out for him vigorously for a long time, the bishop, Robert 
Wright, helping in the defence, while other royal posts were Stafford Castle, 
Keele House, Patshull, Swynnerton, Bentley, Reynolds Hall. For the Parlia- 
ment were Painsley House, Caverswall Castle, Burton, Rushall ; and Birming- 
ham was hotly Roundhead. 

Robert Devereux, the third Earl of Essex, 379 was from the first opposed 
to Charles's political and ecclesiastical policy, and in 1 640 had first shown his 
hand by voting with the minority of the Lords who wished to refuse assistance 
to the king against the Short Parliament. Charles tried in vain to gain him 
over, and on 12 July, 1642, he was made general of the Parliamentary army, 
more on account of his character than his military experience ; but moral 
excellence in a military commander is not all-sufficient ; his tactics through- 
out the war were feeble, and culminated in the surrender at Lostwithiel. He 
had the good sense to resign before the second Self-Denying Ordinance, and 
died September, i646. !8 

After Charles had unfurled his standard at Nottingham on 25 August, 
1642, he withdrew to Derby, and then to Uttoxeter, 881 whence proceeding 
towards Stafford he and his staff passed Chartley Park, Essex's seat, which to 
the great chagrin of some of his officers was by the king's special mercy left 
untouched. At Stafford he was received loyally, and remained there a day 
or two before going to Shrewsbury. ' A more general and passionate expression 
of affection cannot be imagined than he received by the people of Derby, 
Stafford, and Shropshire as he passed.' 383 On the road from Nottingham to 

874 Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 102. *" Ibid. 277. 

876 S. R. Gardiner, Hist. ofGt. Civil War, i, 90. Staffordshire afterwards was also associated with Shropshire 
and Cheshire ; Hist. AfSS. Com. Rep. v, 72, 80. Clarendon says Shropshire, Cheshire, Warwickshire, Leicester, 
Derbyshire, and Northants associated with Staffordshire ; Hist, of Rebellion, vi, 274.. This association must 
not be confused with the more famous Eastern Association. 

177 Clarendon, Hist, of Rebellion, vi, 22. 

878 The garrison system proved the ruin of the king. Living at free quarters they devoured the 
country side, and as long as there was anything left to plunder would never move to where they were 
really wanted ; Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 245 ; Firth, Cromwell's Army, 26. 

m He had been restored in blood and honour by Act of Parliament in 1604. His wife, Frances 
Howard, left him for Carr, afterwards Earl of Somerset. 

880 Diet. Nat. Biog. Robert Devereux. 

881 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1641-3, p. 390. 

888 Clarendon, Hist, of Rebellion (Clar. Press cd.), vi, 29. 

2 5 8 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

Derby ' the lord Paget, who to expiate former transgressions ' 88S had raised a 
good regiment of foot, joined the king, and at Shrewsbury His Majesty was 
met by a great number of the gentry of the neighbouring counties, some of 
whom offered to raise levies for him at their own expense. Then Charles 
entered into negotiations with the Roman Catholics of Salop and Stafford- 
shire, ' of whom there were a good number of very valuable men,' with the 
result that they advanced him between 4,000 and 5,000,'"* and shortly 
afterwards he wrote to Sir Edward Mosley, high sheriff of Staffordshire, 
requiring him to use his utmost industry with the well-affected in that countv 
to persuade them to contribute horses, arms, ammunition, plate or money for 
his assistance. 88 ' 

At the outset matters went in Charles's favour, and in the midland 
counties in February, 1643, he was steadily gaining ground. Lord Brooke 
was therefore chosen to redeem the day at the head of the force of the 
associated counties. He drove the Royalists out of Stratford and advanced to 
Lichfield, where a force had garrisoned the close, aided in their object by the 
walls of Bishop Langton. He at once commenced the siege, and stepping 
into the street to watch the effect of a cannon shot aimed across the pool, was 
shot through the brain !88 by a bullet, according to tradition, from the gun of 
one of the sons of Sir Richard Dyott, who with the Earl of Chesterfield com- 
manded the cathedral garrison. The garrison were few in numbers, and ill 
provisioned, and in three days surrendered to Sir John Cell, who succeeded 
Lord Brooke. A contemporary broadside S87 printed in London makes the 
following comment on the shooting of Lord Brooke by Dyott : 

to whom he had immediately before shewne mercy, by which we may see what their dealings 
would be with us and all true Protestants if they were peaceably entertained into the city, 
like snakes received into our bosoms we should be in continuall danger of an unexpected 
generall throat cutting or some bloody tragedy : the Lord have mercy upon us and keep us 
from being a prey to the wolf-like cavaliers and bloody-minded Papists. 

The damage done during the siege, short as it was, to the cathedral at 
Lichfield, was immense, and the wanton destruction committed afterwards 
by the Puritans as bad. Even the records were destroyed, the gravestones 
stripped of their brasses, the tombs broken open and their contents scattered. 

Lichfield was not to remain long in the hands of the Parliament, for its 
loss was felt by the Royalists as weakening the king's hold upon the midlands 
where it was most important he should be strong. The Earl of Northampton 
was therefore dispatched from Banbury to retake it, and met Sir John Cell at 
Hopton Heath. Of the battle that ensued it may be instructive to give an 
account written by either side : the Royalist account is as follows 888 : After 
the surrender of Lichfield Stafford became the head quarters of the Royalists 
of the county, and against this Sir John Cell led his troops, flushed by the 
recent victory. But the Earl of Northampton 289 came to its aid, and Sir John 

283 William fifth Lord Paget had at first been against the king, and therefore made by the Parliament 
lord-lieutenant of Buckinghamshire ; Whitelocke, Memorials, 58. "* Clarendon, Hist, of Rebellion, vi, 65. 

195 Mosley, Hist. ofTutbury, 220. !M Gardiner, Civi/ffar, i, 112. 

887 Now in Bodleian Library. >8S Clarendon, Hist, of Rebellion, vi, 278 et seq. 

169 Clarendon says of him : ' He was a person of great courage, honour, and fidelity, and not well- 
known till his evening, having in the ease and plenty and luxury of that too happy time indulged to 
himself with that license which was then thought necessary to great fortunes ; but from the beginning of 
these distractions, as if he had been awakened out of a lethargy, he never proceeded with a lukewarm 
temper' ; Hist, of Rebellion, vi, 283. 

259 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Gell fell back to form a junction with Sir William Brereton, and then moved 
again towards Stafford. The earl marched to meet them with about 1,000 
men, the forces of the Parliament being about double, and found them await- 
ing him at Hopton Heath ; he charged them at once and dispersed them, 
taking eight pieces of cannon ; but in the second charge the earl's horse was 
killed under him, and he was surrounded. He refused to surrender, and was 
killed fighting gallantly. After this Sir Thomas Byron, who commanded the 
Prince of Wales Regiment, attacked the enemy's infantry, but the approach 
of night and the fact that many coal pits made the ground unfavourable to 
cavalry caused fighting to cease. In the night the enemy decamped, the 
Royalists, much fatigued and harassed, and having no officers to direct them, 
for Lord Compton and Byron were both disabled, retired to Stafford the next 
day. Clarendon puts the Roundhead loss at two hundred killed, and the 
Cavaliers' at twenty-five. 290 

The Parliamentary story of the fight is given by Sir William Brereton. 291 
On 19 March, about two o'clock in the afternoon, he joined Sir John Gell 
near ' Salt Heath,' and found the Royalists in much superior force, especially 
in cavalry, of whom, according to some, they had 2,500, whereas he only 
had 400 and some dragoons. He says the enemy came on with great resolu- 
tion and in good order, and they fought till all their powder and bullet was 
spent, and then fell to with the butt-ends of their muskets. The Roundhead 
horse, however, gave way, was disordered, and routed. He estimates his 
infantry force at 500 men, who were attacked by the royal cavalry, and by 
the first volley did great execution. This drove them back, only to make a 
second desperate charge which was repulsed, and this decided the day. 
Sir William puts the enemy's loss at 600 dead, and his own at thirty ; and 
among the enemy's slain were Captains Middleton, Baker, Leeming, Cressitt 
Bagott, and Biddulph of Biddulph, ' a recusant in Staffordshire.' 

Except with regard to the losses, the two accounts are not so divergent 
as many stories of battles written from opposing sides. The true account of 
the engagement seems to be that the Royalist cavalry drove the enemy off the 
field with their usual impetuosity, and pursued them too far. Brereton came 
up with fresh troops, and enabled those of the Puritans who were left to hold 
their ground. 292 

A letter 293 written by a Royalist who took part in the battle says that, 
besides those mentioned by Brereton, Captain Harvey and Ensign Bowyer, 
Lieutenant Greene and Cornet Hall were killed ; and Northampton's son, 
writing to his mother from Stafford on 22 March, confirms the story of 
the refusal of the Parliamentary generals to deliver up the body of Lord 
Northampton. Gell and Brereton also informed the son that his father's 
armour was so good that they could not kill him till he was ' downe and had 
undone his headpiece.' 2M 

As Northampton had failed in the object of his expedition, the recapture 
of Lichfield, the battle must be taken as a Royalist defeat. Rupert was sent 

190 A contemporary letter published in London, now in the Bodleian Library, agrees in the main with this 
account. 

191 Shaw, Hist, of Staffs. \, 54. Shaw states that his account of the Civil War was derived from contem- 
porary MSS. letters and papers which he had access to. B> S. R. Gardiner, Civil War, i, 123. 

*" Published in London by H. Hall, 1643, and now in the Bodleian Library. 
* Letter of same year, also in Bodleian. 

260 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

to do what Northampton had failed in, and on 3 April seized Birmingham, 
and on the loth laid siege to the close and cathedral at Lichfield, which 
surrendered after eleven days' resistance. It was during this siege that Charles 
delivered his final terms, which asked too much for the Parliament to grant. 

Soon after the battle of Hopton Heath, Stafford was captured by a very 
small force of Parliamentarians ; but the castle, under old Lady Stafford, 
refused to yield. The successor to Lord Brooke in command of the associated 
counties was the Earl of Denbigh, 295 who was appointed by Essex in June, 
1643, and this command he laid down in April, 1645, in obedience to the 
Self-Denying Ordinance. He joined the Parliamentary cause against the 
wishes of many of his family, probably because he was convinced the cause 
was just. He seems to have done his best to alleviate the miseries of war, 
and inspired the feeling that his justice could be relied on for the redress of 
injuries. On the occasion of some differences between Denbigh and ' some 
of the country,' which caused his absence for a time, 4,000 Staffordshire men 
presented a petition to the House of Commons that the dispute should be 
ended and the earl sent down again amongst them, and letters of the time 
show that his return to his command was eagerly looked for. 296 

There is a letter written by Essex in the summer of 1643, throwing 
light on the feeling of the county at a time when all seemed going in favour 
of the king, in which he says that then a formidable army could be raised 
from the associated counties of Stafford, Warwick, &c., as the people were 
then willing to rise, both because they feared the landing of the Irish in 
Wales, and many Papists were flocking to that district ; but expedition was 
necessary, or the people would return to their former coldness. 897 

After Rupert had retaken Lichfield he left a garrison at Burton before 
returning to Oxford, which garrison was almost immediately captured by the 
troops of the Parliament, and they in their turn were driven out by the 
queen in July, 1643. Altogether, Burton changed hands six times during 
the war. 

About this time the Duke of Newcastle ' came into our country,' 298 
where he had considerable estates, miserably plundered it, raised great 
sums of money, and made many recruits. 299 Wootton Lodge, the house of 
Sir R. Fleetwood, one of the strongest places in the county, ' manned with 
such a company of obstinate papists and resolute thieves as the like were 
hardly to be found in the whole kingdom,' was captured by the Parliamen- 
tarians. 800 In September, 1643, Sir William Brereton laid siege to Eccleshall 
Castle, then garrisoned by ' the great cowstealers the lord Capell his forces,' 
who sent to Hastings at Tutbury for relief. Hastings at once came to their 
aid, but Brereton laid an ambush for him into which he was decoyed by an 
assumed flight, suddenly attacked, and driven back to Tutbury. Hastings 
was himself besieged in Tutbury Castle, 301 and the place would have fallen but 
for the dissensions which were rife in the Roundhead army at that time, each 

195 This was Basil Feilding, second Earl of Denbigh. His father was mortally wounded in Rupert's attack 
on Birmingham ; his brother, also fighting for the king, was killed at the second battle of Newbury. 

196 Hist. AfSS. Com. Ref. iv, 255. * Ibid. 262. 

198 Firth, Duke of Newcastle, 144. *" Shaw, op. cit. i, 57. 

300 Shaw, Hist, of Staffs, i, 57. 

301 The town appears to have been under the power of the Parliament, although the castle was held for 
the king. Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 224. An excellent example of the divisions of the time. 

261 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

commander going his own way ; the consequence was that the castle held 
out till 1646, when it surrendered to Brereton. On another occasion, as 
Hastings was marching from Ashby to Tutbury he was attacked by the 
'valiant Moorlanders,' who routed his troops, killed 100, and took many 
prisoners. 802 As, however, they were unable to capture Tutbury, the Round- 
heads placed a garrison at Barton Blount, about four miles from the castle, 
to interrupt supplies and intercept its communications with the north, and in. 
the plain between many a skirmish took place. 

The general progress of the war in Staffordshire up to the end of 1643 
may be summed up as follows : On i May in that year the whole of the 
southern and central portions of the county were mainly for the king, and 
the northern for the Parliament ; by December, with the exception of a few 
isolated posts, only Lichfield and Tamworth and a small region round remained 
to Charles. 803 

In February, 1644, Captain Stone, one of the most prominent local 
Roundheads, with a small party marched against ' Pattishall' house, 'a popish 
garrison of the enemies,' strongly fortified, and seeing that the drawbridge 
was down, rushed in, and after some fighting took it, capturing Mr. Astley, 
the owner, two Jesuits, and about sixty or seventy officers and men. 80 * 

In May the Earl of Denbigh set out from Stafford with the intention of 
attacking Rushall Hall, then held by Colonel Lane, which had been captured 
by Rupert in the previous year, ' Mistress Leigh defending it gallantly with 
only her men and her maids ' ; and took with him two drakes, two sakers, 
and ' the Stafford great piece,' and among other troops the Stafford horse 
and the Stafford regiment of foot. The twenty-sixth of May was spent 
idly at Walsall and the ayth in preparing for the assault. Next day a 
small party of Royalists coming to Lichfield were beaten off, and on the 
twenty-ninth the bombardment of the house began, and was continued until 
9 p.m. The church, too, which had been garrisoned by the Royalists, 
was battered, and preparations were made for an assault. The hearts of the 
Cavaliers, however, failed them, and the place was surrendered, the garrison 
being allowed to march out without their arms and be conveyed to Lichfield. sos 

In the same month the Committee of Both Kingdoms stated that 
Lord Newcastle's horse had done great damage in Staffordshire and Leicester- 
shire, and recruited themselves to a great strength there, raising at least 
1,000 horse and ^io,ooo. so * Like the rest of England the county suffered 
severely from the exactions of both parties ; Uttoxeter in 1 644 alone paid 
158 towards the maintenance of the royal troops 307 at Tutbury, and in 
April of the same year Rupert plundered the town of Tutbury and stole forty 
of Hastings's own horses ! But though there was much plunder the war was 

301 Shaw, Hist, of Staffs, i, 60 ; Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 223. 

so> See maps to S. R. Gardiner's Hist, of Civil War, passim. In the map of 23 Nov. 1644, the above 
two places hold out, with a dwindling district round them. In the map of 23 July, 1645, Tamworth has 
gone. These maps must be taken broadly, as many small places held out for the king after the country around 
was practically in the power of Parliament. 

304 Shaw, Hist. ofStafs. i, 70. 

Ki Cat. S.P. Dom. 1644, p. 1778, giving Denbigh's own account. According to the True Informer of 
I June, 1 644, the force at Rushall was ' one of the most thieving garrisons of the Cavaliers in all that county," 
and had perpetually robbed the carriers who came from London and other parts to Lancashire ; Willmore, 
Hist, of Walsall, 317. 

" Cal. S.P. Dom. 1644, p. 168. M7 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 224. 

262 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

"humane, no portions of England were burnt to deserts, towns were not 
reduced to half their size, villages did not disappear wholesale. 808 

In June, 1 644, Lord Wihnot, the Earl of Northampton, and the Earl of 
Cleveland were sent to relieve Dudley Castle with a brigade of horse and 
1,000 foot ; but the fighting, judging by the losses incurred, must have been 
very mild ; and in a letter written soon after, Lord Denbigh, describing the 
engagement, says he beat the Royalists, and in his force was a Staffordshire 
regiment commanded by Colonel Symon Rugeley and Major Pinkeney. 309 

In October, Stafford, where there was a magazine of importance, was in 
danger of treason within the walls, and Sir William Brereton, acting on 
orders of the Committee of Both Kingdoms, occupied it and secured the 
suspected persons. 310 Among them were Colonel Lewis Chadwick, Lieut. - 
Colonel Chadwick, and Captain-Lieutenant Hughes, who were sent away 
to Eccleshall Castle, and Captain Stone was appointed to take charge of the 
place. 

In England the year 1 644 was disastrous for the king, and but for the 
victory of Lostwithiel his cause would have been utterly ruined. In Stafford- 
shire a list of the places held by the two parties in May, 1645, gi ven by a 
Royalist officer, Captain Symonds, discloses a very different state of affairs 
from that at the commencement of the war. ' Eccleshall, Stafford, Russell 
[Rushall ?] Hall, Chillington, Tamworth, Alton, Peynsley House, Caverswall 
House are,' he says, ' now in the hands of Parliament ; Lichfield and Dudley 
Castle are held for Charles.' 311 

In May of that year the king was marching north to the defeat of 
Naseby, and on the sixteenth the prince's head quarters were at Wolver- 
hampton ; the king lay at Bushbury. On the twenty-second the royal army 
arrived at Stone, the king lying at the house of Col. Crompton, ' a rebel,' 312 
and M.P. for the county 16461660. 

On the twenty-fourth it reached Uttoxeter, and marched that day by 
Sir H. Bagot's house in the moorlands, 'a rebellious place.' Although in the 
enemy's country, the king was unmolested, Lord Byron having informed him 
that the troops of the Parliament upon the news of His Majesty's advance 
had retreated. 313 On the twenty-fifth they reached Burton, the king lying 
at Tutbury Castle, then under Sir Andrew Kniveton. 

On 14 June came the crushing defeat of Naseby, the king losing all his 
infantry and all his munitions of war ; but he brought off his cavalry nearly 
intact from the field, 81 * and still had a force of all arms under Goring in the 
south-west. 

The unfortunate monarch was at Lichfield, 815 one of the few places now 
left to him, on 1 5 June, and lay in the Close ; and next day he marched to 
Wolverhampton, thence into Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Wales, and 
Shropshire, returning to Lichfield on 10 August, and having a skirmish with 
the enemy, from their post at Barton, near Tutbury on the thirteenth, in 

* M Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 230. 

** Cal. S.P. Don. 1644, p. 236. Lord Denbigh in his account says the fight for three-quarters of an 
hour was 'very hot,' yet the losses he mentions are trifling. " Ibid. 195. 

111 Shaw, Hist, of Staffs, i, 72 ; Harwood, Erdestolck, rvi. 
111 Shaw, op. cit. i, 72 ; Cal. S.P. Dom. 1644, pp. 521-2, 534-5. 

115 Clarendon, Civ. War, ix, 32. * 14 Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 267. 

sls Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. vii, App. i, 451. 

263 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

which the Royalists had the advantage ; 816 but on 24 September Charles saw 
from the walls of Chester the defeat of his last army at Rowton Heath. 

The castle of Tutbury was one of the last places in the county that held 
out for Charles ; the strength of its position and the bravery of its garrison 
had defeated numerous attempts of the Roundheads to take it. But larger 
forces were concentrated upon it, and on 30 March, 1646, Sir William 
Brereton closely invested it, and after three weeks' gallant resistance Kniveton 
surrendered on 20 April, i646, 817 and next year the castle was dismantled. 

In May Charles took refuge with the Scottish army at Newark ; on 
24 June Oxford capitulated, but it was not till 10 July that Lichfield's 
gallant resistance came to an end. 

In 1648 Staffordshire saw the closing scene of the second civil war. 
Charles's chief hope was in the Scottish army, which under Hamilton crossed 
the border, advanced through Lancashire, and was cut in two by Cromwell 
at Preston, and finally crushed at Wigan and Warrington. The incapable 
Hamilton, with the wreck of his army, reached Uttoxeter on 22 August, and 
there his worn-out soldiers refused to go any further. Three days after he 
offered to capitulate to the governor of Stafford, but before they came to 
terms, Lambert, who had been left by Cromwell to conduct the pursuit, 
came upon the scene, and Hamilton surrendered to him on the terms that all 
were to be prisoners of war, ' having their lives and safety of their persons 
assured to them.' 818 This put the finishing touch to the destruction of the 
last hopes of the Royalists. 

Three years later the connexion of the county with the Stuarts and 
their cause was again renewed. Charles was a fugitive from Worcester 
fight, and leaving behind him the small body of trusty adherents who had 
accompanied him at White Ladies, he took refuge in a wood called Spring 
Coppice on the Penderels' demesne, the family being tenants of the Giffards 
of Chillington. 319 

After his stay in Spring Coppice Charles put on rustic disguise at 
Richard Penderel's house and intended to cross the Severn at Madeley to take 
refuge with the loyalists in Wales. At midnight they reached the house of 
Mr. Wolfe, a Royalist gentleman residing at Madeley, who was informed of 
the rank of his guest, and as the hiding-places of the house had on former 
occasions proved useless, the king was placed in a barn among some straw. 
In the meantime Lord Wilmot had arrived at Moseley Hall, the owner of 
which, Mr. Whitgreave, had fought for Charles I. From there, on 5 Sep- 
tember, Wilmot found means of communicating with Colonel Lane of Bentley, 
a staunch Royalist as we have seen, who waited on Wilmot that evening, and 
offered his house and services in the royal cause. Charles, unable to cross the 
Severn, came to Boscobel again and there sat in the famous oak all day on 
6 September. The next day John Penderel and Mr. Whitgreave arranged 

316 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 228 ; Cal. S.P. Dam. 1645-7, pp. 70-1. 

317 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 229 et seq. In addition to the horrors of civil war Tutbury, Stafford, Lich- 
field, and other places in the county were ' grievously infected with the plague ' at this time ; Cal. S..P. Dom. 
1645-7, p. 520. 

318 Gardiner, Civ. War, iii, 448. On 22 Aug. the Committee of Both Houses told Cromwell they had 
written to Staffordshire and the neighbouring counties ' to send against the Scots all the force they can muster, 
and to endeavour to disperse and destroy them ' ; Cal, S./*. Dom. 1648-9, p. 252. 

519 The above account is taken mainly from J. Hughes, Boscobel Tracts, Clarendon's narrative being 
inaccurate. 

264 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

with Wilmot that he should meet the king that night at Moseley, whither he 
set out accompanied by the five Penderels and their brother-in-law, all well 
armed, Charles riding on Humphrey Penderel's mill horse, of whose roughness 
he complained. ' Can you blame the horse, my liege,' said the miller, ' to go 
heavily when he has the weight of three kingdoms on his back ? ' At 
Moseley he arrived safely, meeting Wilmot, and while there a party of Round- 
heads came in pursuit, but Mr. Whitgreave's self-possession foiled them. In 
the evening of 9 September the king went on to Bentley Hall, where, next 
morning, Colonel Lane converted his royal master into a serving-man with 
the intention of taking him to Bristol, and mounting his sister behind him 
the party rode off for Stratford, where they arrived safely, although 
the king rode right through some Roundhead horse on the way, and that 
night he slept safely at Long Marston, about four miles beyond Stratford. 
At the Restoration the Parliament granted Mistress Lane 1,000 to buy 
a jewel for this service, 320 and the king granted an addition to the arms of 
the family. 

In the first Protectorate Parliament, summoned in September, 1654, in 
which the Conservative Puritans were in the majority, 321 several knights 
were ordered to be returned for each county, but few burgesses were 
summoned, and accordingly the county of Stafford sent three members, the 
Right Hon. Sir Charles Wolseley, bart., Col. Thomas Crompton, and Thomas 
Whitgreave ; Newcastle sent Edward Keeling of Wolstanton ; Stafford 
borough John Bradshawe, serjeant-at-law, who had presided at the king's 
trial ; Lichfield sent Thos. Miners, and Tamworth was unrepresented. 
In the Parliament of 1656 the representation of the county was similar, 
Stafford borough sent Martin Noele of London, Newcastle Col. John Bowyer, 
Lichfield Thos. Miners. 323 In the Cavalier Parliament the county and the 
four towns each again sent two members, who, as it lasted until January, 
16789, were subject to many changes. 

The reign of terror which the infamous fabrications of Titus Gates 
brought upon the Roman Catholics found its victims in Staffordshire. At 
the assizes held in August, 1 679, nine persons were accused of being Popish 
priests, two of whom were ordered to be removed to London, and five being 
' violently suspected to be Jesuits ' were to remain in custody till the next 
assizes that evidence might be accumulated against them. The remaining 
two, Andrew Bromwich and William Atkins, were indicted for high treason 
in- taking orders beyond the sea, and afterwards coming into England and 
seducing His Majesty's subjects to their popish religion, it being fully proved 
against them both that they had said mass and administered the sacrament 
in the popish manner to the witnesses that gave evidence against them, 
whereupon, after a full hearing they were both found guilty. 323 

In the year 1715 Jacobitism seems to have been rampant in Stafford 
fanned by the zeal of the rector, who had ' by his uncharitable tenets and 
unchristian raillery so inflamed the minds of the unthinking that their 
insolence towards the Dissenters since his coming is almost unaccountable.' 32 * 
He was also very industrious in promoting the interest of Mr. Sneyd, who 

10 Harwood, Erdeswick, 410. " Trevelyan, Engl. under the Stuarts, 307. 

>n Purl. Accts. and Paps. Ixii (i), 516. sn Domestic Intelligence, 26 Aug. 1679. 

114 flying Post, 8 Sept. 1715. 

i 265 34 f 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

had been a member of the last Parliament, 325 and was an unsuccessful candidate 
for that of 17141 5. The Pretender's health was openly drunk, and his birth- 
day solemnized with ringing and other rejoicings. 

H's exhortations infuriated the mob to such an extent that on 7 July 
they began to pull down the Presbyterian meeting-house, that day being 
publicly kept in celebration of the late glorious peace of Utrecht with bon- 
fires all over the town, in express contempt of the Whig government, and 
with the connivance of the magistrates. They continued at their work for a 
fortnight unhindered, and the sheriff of the county allowed a month to pass 
before he ordered a court to be summoned in the Shire Hall, and then only 
a small number of the rioters, in spite of positive evidence, were found 
guilty. 828 A better spirit was shown at the assizes when the grand jury agreed 
upon an address to the king expressing their abhorrence of the recent riots 
and promising to discover the authors. This satisfied the king so well that 
the lords of the Treasury were ordered to pay the high sheriff, Sir Oswald 
Mosley, 500 as a reward for the extraordinary expenses he had incurred 
during the riots, during which his conduct was so dilatory. 827 Doubtless the 
Hanoverian dynasty at this time had to walk warily. 

In 1745 the invasion of the young Pretender again brought a Stuart to 
Staffordshire. When Charles's army crossed the border it consisted of 6,000 
men, of whom 500 were cavalry, but the Highlanders soon began to desert 
in great numbers, and by the time they reached Penrith there were only 
4,500 left. 328 Few recruits came to make good these losses, even Lancashire, 
devotedly Stuart by profession, was lukewarm in action. That so small and 
ill-disciplined a host could march into the heart of a powerful country un- 
molested was due to the gross military incapacity of the English generals and 
the extraordinary want of public spirit in the people, whose prevailing 
disposition was fear or sullen apathy, few being disposed to risk anything 
on either side. 329 

However, England recovered from the disgraceful panic that the 
Pretender's march had occasioned: Wade was with one army in Yorkshire, 
Cumberland with another cantoned from Tamworth to Stafford, and George II 
was gathering a third at Finchley. Early in December Cumberland's 
advanced guard was at Newcastle, with a small party of horse pushed 
forward. Charles's army divided into two columns, and Lord George Murray 
by a clever ruse deceived the duke, advancing to Congleton with his column, 
and driving before him the advanced party of horse some way on the road to 
Newcastle. 

Cumberland, thinking Charles was marching for Wales, pushed forward 
to Stone with his main body, but Murray turned suddenly to the left and 
gained Ashbourne by a forced march, and then joining the prince, who had 
marched through Leek with his motley host, headed by a hundred pipers, ' 
entered Derby, where his officers insisted on retreat. Cumberland mean- 
while had marched into Warwickshire to bar the way of the rebels to 
London, and there he received news of Charles's retreat. He immediately 

"* Ralph Sneyd of Keele and Henry Vernon of Sudbury were members for the county in the Parliament 
of 1713 ; Par/. Accts. and P apt. Ixii (2), 33. 

IK Flying Post, 8 Sept. 1715. m Cal. ofTreas. Paps, cxci, 31. 

m Stanhope, The Forty-five, 79. 

*" Lecky, Hist. ofEngl. in Eighteenth Cent. \, 4.22. 

266 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

turned northwards and went in pursuit through Lichfield, Uttoxeter, and 
Cheadle, ' over the most dreadful country.' 83 From Lichfield Cumberland 
wrote to Newcastle : 

They march at such a rate that I can't flatter myself with the hopes of overtaking 
them, though I set out this morning in a march of at least thirty measured 
miles. 331 

It was to be some time before he caught them up. 

The general feeling of the county in this rebellion seems to have been 
to the Hanoverian dynasty. The country people cheerfully brought 
their horses to the duke's army, and when he was pursuing the Pretender the 
country gentlemen did the same, 332 nor does the invading army seem to have 
attracted any number of Staffordshire recruits worth mentioning. 

Sir Richard Wrottesley, a staunch Whig and Hanoverian, armed his 
servants and tenantry for George II, and his father-in-law, Lord Gower, was 
raising forces on the same side in the north of the county, but the rebels 
retreated before they had a chance of proving their courage. 333 

Jacobites, on the other hand, like the Giffards and Astleys, in the same 
fashion as their fellows in the rest of England, ' spilt their wine more than 
their blood ' for the Stuart cause. 33 * 

No doubt their loyalty to the Stuarts was weakened by the fact that the 
Pretender had called the French to help him ; they were Englishmen first 
and Jacobites after, but the chief reason was perhaps that Walpole had given 
the country a long period of peace and prosperity. The estates of the 
country gentlemen had thereby increased largely in value, 335 and they were 
not likely to upset a rule which gave them so much benefit. 

The early military history of the county has been set forth in the fore- 
going pages, and we will complete it by a brief account of the regular and 
auxiliary forces since the beginning of the eighteenth century. 

In the year 1705 was raised the first regular battalion of infantry 
connected with Staffordshire, when Parliament, encouraged by the campaign 
of Blenheim, voted six new regiments, of which the one connected with 
this county alone, and originally known as Lillingston's Regiment, exists 
to-day. 336 

It did not partake in the glories of Marlborough's wars, for in 1706 it 
went to the West Indies, and is said to have remained there for sixty years, 
during which detachments served at the capture of Guadaloupe in 1759 and 
of Martinique in iy62. 

In 1745 it was, like the rest of the British forces at home and abroad, 
in a miserably neglected condition ; at St. Kitts not forty per cent, of the 

330 Contemporary Account of the Rebellion (Bod. Lib.), 63. 

331 Ewald, Life of Prince Charles Stuart, 1 84. *** Contemporary Account as before. 
833 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc. New Ser.), vi (2), 347. 

334 The chaplain at Okeover, Jeremiah Kitching, gives an amusing account of the exactions of the 
Pretender's troops : ' Upon Tuesday night we had five lay with us, and upon Friday night as they returned 
from Derby four lay with us and about seven o'clock at night came three horsemen and said they wanted 
armour and plundered the house and stables and barns and the church : and they have taken your best saddle 
trimmed with gold lace, and your lady's bridle and two other saddles . . . and upon Saturday morning came 
three ruffians . . . and pick the servants' pockets of their money and my silver tobacco box ' ! Coll. (Salt 
Arch. Soc. New Ser.), vii, 112. 

335 Morley, Walpole, 133. "* Fortescue, Hist, of Army, \, 450. 
07 Lawrence Archer, Brit. Army, 3 1 7. 

267 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

men were fit for service, their clothing was in rags, they had neither hats, 
shoes, cartridge boxes, nor swords. 838 

The regiment received its number of the 38th Foot in 1751, and was 
called the First Staffordshire Regiment in lySa. 839 

The long period of foreign service in the West Indies came to an end 
in 1765, but the 38th was one of the first regiments to be sent to America 
when war threatened. At the sanguinary combat of Bunker's Hill, out of 
400 men present 150 were killed and wounded. 340 After sharing in the 
victory at Brooklyn and the capture of Fort Washington, the regiment 841 
was stationed chiefly at New York and in Nova Scotia, and so missed most 
of the subsequent fighting, but the flank companies served at another capture 
of Martinique and Guadaloupe in 1794, and the remainder of the regiment 
shared in the disastrous retreat to Bremen. 

After fighting at the Cape of Good Hope and in South America the 
38th went to the Peninsula, and was at Rolica, Vimiero, and Corunna, then 
took part in the wretched Walcheren expedition, where it suffered dreadful 
losses from disease, and after recovering its strength went back to the 
Peninsula 842 and fought at Salamanca, Vittoria, San Sebastian, the passage of 
the Bidassoa, Nive, Nivelle, and Bayonne, and in 1815 this hardworked corps 
was summoned to join Wellington, but was too late for Waterloo. 

After service at the Cape, in the Burmese War of 18226, and in the 
Ionian Isles, it served all through the siege of Sevastopol, including the 
Alma and Inkerman, and greatly distinguished itself at the attack on the 
cemetery in June, i855. 343 

In the Indian Mutiny it fought in many actions and suffered severe 
losses at the capture of Lucknow, was in the Egyptian campaigns of 1882 
and 1884-5, and served with gallantry in the South African War ; altogether 
a splendid record. 

The next battalion in point of seniority is one now known as the first 
battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment, formerly the 64th Foot, which 
was formed in 1758 out of the then second battalion of the iith Foot, 841 
which after being engaged in the capture of Guadaloupe in 1759, fought all 
through the American War, but was not in the Peninsula or at Waterloo. 

The Persian War of 1856 then claimed its services, and thence the 
regiment was hurried off to help in quelling the Indian Mutiny, suffering 
considerable loss in the advance on Cawnpore under Havelock, Major Stirling 
being killed at the head of the regiment. 845 

In 1793 was raised the present second battalion of the South Stafford- 
shire, the old 8oth, by Lord H. Paget, nearly all the men coming from the 
Staffordshire Militia, 846 and its first service was in the inglorious campaign of 
the Duke of York in Flanders, where the regiment lost over half its strength 
in the retreat to Bremen. 

On their way to join Abercromby in Egypt in 1801 part of the 
regiment was wrecked, and another detachment was again wrecked on their 

38 Fortescue, Hist, of Army, ii, 565. 

39 Lawrence Archer, op. cit. 316. A second battalion of the regiment was formed during the 
Peninsular War, which fought at Busaco and Badajoz, and was disbanded after the peace. 

40 Fortescue, op. cit. iii, 160. M1 Lawrence Archer, op. cit. 316. *** Ibid. 317. S4S Ibid. 318. 
44 Fortescue, Hist, of Army, ii, 300. About the same time Pitt made the daring experiment of raising 

two regiments of Highlanders. S45 Lawrence Archer, op. cit. 449. 34e Ibid. 319. 

268 




POLITICAL HISTORY 

way from Egypt to India. There they remained from 1802 to 1818, 
during which time most of the recruits were derived from the Staffordshire 
Militia. 

In the first Sikh War the regiment made up for missing the Peninsula 
and Waterloo by distinguishing itself highly at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and 
Sobraon, but took no part in the Crimean War, and only reached India after 
the backbone of the Mutiny was broken, yet were in time to render valuable 
service as part of one of the flying columns in 1858. During the Zulu 
ar a company of the regiment was nearly annihilated at the Intombi 
Ri>er. M7 

The last regular battalion now connected with the county to be formed 
was the 9 8th or Second Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, raised at 
Chichester in 1824, which fought in the China War of 1841, the Punjaub 
campaign of 1846, the Indian Mutiny, 348 and also in the late war in South 
Africa. 

The condition of the militia during the seventeenth and the greater part 
of the eighteenth century can only be described as disgraceful. Under the 
early Stuarts they were hardly called out once in five years for drill. 349 In 
1745 the march of the Pretender with a few thousand irregular troops into 
the heart of England proved the utter incompetence of the constitutional 
force. 

The great Chatham inspired the country with a new spirit, and in 
1757, when England was fighting in all parts of the globe, among other 
measures of defence a new Militia Bill 360 was passed remodelling that force, 
but Staffordshire, instead of balloting for its quota, paid a fine. 

However, in 1778, ' owing to warlike preparations in France becoming 
every day more considerable,' su the militia of the kingdom were embodied 
and Staffordshire furnished 560 men ready to ' march to such posts as shall 
be judged proper.' 8ES Their colonel was Lord Paget, their lieutenant- 
colonel Sir John Wrottesley, and the other commissioned officers were a 
major, six captains, nine lieutenants, an ensign, and an adjutant. 853 

In order to establish the seniority of the various regiments for that year 
lots were drawn at the St. Albans Tavern in London by the lords-lieutenant 
or their deputies, and by this method Staffordshire came fortieth on the list. 



354 



347 Lawrence Archer, op. cit. 321. M Ibid. 450. 

519 Fortescue, Hist, of Army, i, 194. " 30 Geo. II, cap. 25. 

851 Military Entry Bk. No. 4, 148, P.R.O. 

351 Ibid. 148, 202. Clode, Military forces of Crown, \, 48. 

353 The property qualification required for officers of the militia by 30 Geo. II, cap. 25, was : 

For a colonel, an estate of the yearly value of 400 For a captain, an estate of the yearly value of 200 
lieut.-colonel 300 lieutenant, 100 

major 300 ensign 50 

Raikes, Hist. Rec. of First Reg. ofMiRtia, App. E. 

*" From 'A List of Officers of the Militia of England printed in London, 1779,' now in Bodl. 

Lib. which also gives the pay as follows : 

Subsistence 

j. d. 

Sergeant . . .10 

Corporal ... 8 

Private ... 6 
Drummers and Fifers, 

each 8 



269 



Full Pay 


Subsistence 


' 


d. 


!. 


d. 


Colonel . I 4 





18 


O 


Lieut.-Colonel 


17 


o 


13 


O 


Major 


15 


o 


1 1 


6 


Captain . 


10 





7 


6 


Lieutenant 


4 


8 


3 


6 


Ensign . 


3 


8 


3 


o 


Adjutant . 


4 


o 


3 


o 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

At the peace of 1783 the regiment, in common with the rest of the 
militia in the country, was disembodied, but in 179 3 s " it was called out 
again owing to the declaration of war by France and not disembodied till the 
peace in 1802, which was short-lived, for the year i8o3 356 saw England once 
more threatened by the ambition of Napoleon, so that in addition to the em- 
bodiment of the militia,'" volunteers were raised all over the kingdom, being 
encouraged to serve by exemption from service in the militia and regular 
army." 8 

Staffordshire's share of the volunteers was represented by eight troops 
of cavalry with a total strength of 664, under the Hon. E. Monckton, and 
troops were also raised by Bilston, Uttoxeter, Stone and Eccleshall, Hands- 
worth, Tamworth, and Walsall, the total number of cavalry for the county 
being 1,090."' 

The infantry were raised locally by companies varying in strength from 
one company of eighty from Bcrkswick and Walton to six companies of 
eighty men each from Newcastle, the total strength of the foot being 
5,425 ; 36 no artillery however was raised by the county. 

England was deeply stirred by the insatiable ambition of Napoleon, and 
Lichfield alone in August of this year raised 2,193 for clothing and arming j 
the volunteers within the city, 361 and six years before the firm of Robert Peel 
gave 10,000 to the ' voluntary contribution.' 362 

In i 805 George III, with whom the regiment, owing to its good conduct 
and excellent discipline while quartered at Windsor, was in high favour, con- 
ferred upon the Staffordshire Militia the title of ' King's Own,' and the 
facings were changed from yellow to blue. 

In 1806 the Staffordshire Volunteers were included in the 'North 
Inland District.' 363 The strength of the cavalry was 872 men and 930 
horses, but only 313 and 355 respectively were present at inspection, and of 
the infantry establishment of 5,440, only 3,521 were present. 

Both infantry and cavalry were raised locally as in 1 803, and of the former 
half are described as fit to act with troops of the line, two companies as 
' deficient in discipline,' the rest as ' advancing in discipline.' None of the 
cavalry were considered fit to act with troops of the line, but were all 
described as advancing in discipline except the Uttoxeter troop, which was 
' too few to judge of.' 8M 

The militia remained embodied until the peace in 1814, and on 
Napoleon's escape from Elba were again called upon, 365 being disembodied in 
1816. After Waterloo the militia was suffered to fall into decay until just 
before the Crimean War, when three battalions were embodied in Stafford- 
shire. 8611 The first went in 1855 to the Ionian Islands, where they remained 



147 



Militia Muster Bk. 1793, in P.R.O. Ibid. 1803. 

In 1803 the First Staffordshire Militia consisted of thirty-three commissioned officers and 838 
non-commissioned officers and men, under Colonel Lord Oxbridge. Militia Muster Bk. 1803. 
"' Clode, Military Forces of Crown, \, 312. 

*' Return of the Volunteers of the United Kingdom for 1803, printed for the House of Commons. 
* Ibid. The Commandant of the Caversall Moorland Company was the Rev. St. George Bowles. 
" From a list of subscribers in ' Lichfield Elections.' A collection of contemporary MSS. and extracts 
in Bodl. Lib. ' ' Lichfield Elections,' as above. 

10 Return of Yeomanry and Volunteer Corps, printed for House of Commons in 1806. 
44 Ibid. From 1793 to 1815 the Staffordshire Militia provided 100 officers and 4,000 men for the 
line. 

** Militia Muster Bk. 1815, P.R.O. * Ibid. 1853. 

270 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

until the next year ; the second did valuable garrison duty, and the third 
furnished nearly 1,000 trained men for the regular army. 

In 1859 Staffordshire was one of the first counties to respond to the call 
for volunteers, and six companies were at once raised from Walsall, Longton, 
Hanley, Handsworth, Lichfield, and Wolverhampton ; and by the end of the 
next year forty companies of riflemen had been raised who were organized 
into five battalions, as well as one corps of artillery. 

In the territorial organization of 1881 the South Staffordshire Regiment 
\comprised the 38th Foot as first battalion, the 8oth as second ; while the 
third and fourth battalions were composed of the First Staffordshire Militia, 
with three volunteer battalions. 887 The North Staffordshire Regiment was 
composed of the 64th and gSth Foot and the Second and Third Staffordshire 
Militia with two volunteer battalions ; and this arrangement of the county 
forces remained for five and twenty years unaltered. 868 

To the South African War, 18991902, besides the two regular bat- 
talions mentioned above, Staffordshire sent all four militia battalions, seven 
companies of volunteers, and one company of imperial yeomanry. 

The list of members of Parliament for Staffordshire during the eighteenth 
century shows a constant succession of well-known county names : Wrottes- 
ley, Littleton, Bagot, Leveson-Gower, Dyott, Anson, Chetwynd, Paget, etc., 
for trade had made as yet little difference to the ascendancy of the old 
families. 

In 1747 the elections at Lichfield and Stafford were marked by 
unusual rioting ; at the former place the Hon. R. Leveson-Gower polled 
278 votes, and Thomas Anson, the brother of the great navigator, 272, the 
defeated candidates being Sir Lister Holt with 237 votes and G. F. Vernon 
with 229. s " 

An excellent example of the manner in which territorial magnates con- 
trolled elections at this period is given by the following agreement drawn up 
in October, 1765, between Lords Townsend and Weymouth respecting the 
Tamworth election : 

In consideration of opposition to Thurlow upon the Manour interest being dropped by 
Lord Townsend, Lord Weymouth agrees that if Townsend and Mr. Luttrell will each give 
.500 towards the election, Lord Weymouth will provide a seat in the next parliament for 
any nominee of Townsend's. 

Weymouth also agreed to fill up by his interest one half of the corporation with 
Townsend's friends. 870 Accordingly Edward Thurlow of the Inner Temple 
was elected for Tamworth in that year, and re-elected in 1770 on his appoint- 
ment as Solicitor-General, and again in the next year when made Attorney- 
General, 871 a position which he occupied till raised to the House of Lords. 

867 Army List, 1881. " Ibid. 1906. 

369 Contemporary MS. in ' Lichfield Elections ' in Bodleian Lib. The riots are thus alluded to by a 
contemporary rhymer : 

' At every meeting mobs arose, 
And freely dealt each other blows ; 
Highfliers quickly were brought down 
By a swinging knock o' the crown (!) 
In chanels weltring lay a squire, 
A lord perhaps flung in the mire.' 

'The Lichfield Squabble,' in Bodleian Lib. 
** Hut. AfSS. Com. Rep. xi, App. iv, 401. OT Par!. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 131, 143. 

271 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

In 1780 Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who although only twenty-nine 
had already written most of his famous comedies, began his long connexion 
with Stafford borough, a letter from the Duchess of Devonshire in his 
favour being of great service to him in the election. 37 * His first speech in 
Parliament was in defence of a charge of bribery brought against him by his 
opponent Whitworth, and it was successful in its object. 

Sheridan was re-elected in 1784, 1790, 1796, 1802, and in 1806 when 
appointed Treasurer of the Navy. 873 He was diligent in the discharge of his 
parliamentary duties, and an opponent of the Game Laws and, strange to relate, 
of gambling. In 1807 he was elected for Ilchester, but returned to his old 
love in 1812, and being unable to bribe the voters sufficiently was defeated, 
the successful candidates being Ralph Benson and Thomas Wilson. 374 

In 1790 Robert Peel of Bury, in the county of Lancaster, the father of 
the great statesman, was elected for Tamworth as an ardent supporter of Pitt, 
as being the great encourager of the commercial interests of England. 

In the election of 1799, when Sir John Wrottesley was returned at the 
head of the poll for Lichfield with 295 votes, the opposite side asserted that 
this total was swollen by 125 'unconstitutional votes of annuitants, and of 
those granted burgages during the election.' 376 In Sir John's election address 
he is especially recommended as one ' who will see that the Charities of | 
Lichfield are honestly and impartially applied. Therefore, my friends, be not 
imposed upon by the Black gowned tribe with young Hotspur at their 
head.' 378 

During the first quarter of the nineteenth century the county families 
maintained their position as parliamentary representatives, and though after 
1832 many new names appear with increasing frequency, especially for the 
new boroughs, it was not until after the Reform Bill of 1867 that they were 
ousted from the ascendancy they had held so long. 577 

In July, 1830, Sir Robert Peel, then Home Secretary and leader of the 
House of Commons in the Wellington Ministry, was elected for Tamworth, 
but by November he was in opposition, the reforming government of Earl 
Grey having come in. In 1835, as Prime Minister, he issued his famous 
Tamworth manifesto, indicating the principles and reforms of which he 
approved, and Tamworth had the honour of electing him until his death in 
1850. 

By the great Reform Bill the county of Stafford was divided into two 
divisions, the northern and southern, each sending two members, and three 
new boroughs were created, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton with two 
members each and Walsall with one. 378 

In 1835, after a contest lasting three weeks, Mr. C. P. Villiers began 
that long connexion with Wolverhampton which only ended with his death 
in 1898. In his first address to the electors he pledged himself to oppose all 
restrictions upon trade, and declared himself ' a decided advocate of triennial 
parliaments and vote by ballot.' 879 

171 Diet. Nat. Biog. Sheridan ; Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 168. 
m Par/, Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 181, 194, 207, 221. m Ibid. 264. 

375 'Lichfield Elections,' Bodl. Lib. 92. 376 Ibid. 55. 

177 See the lists in Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2). 

378 Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 345 ; 2 Will. IV, cap. 45. 

379 Diet. Nat. Biog. C. P. Villiers. 

272 



Ba 

M 



POLITICAL HISTORY 

By the Reform Act of 1867 the county was freshly divided into three 
divisions with two members each, the northern, eastern, and western, while 
a new borough, Wednesbury, with one member, was created, and Lichfield 
lost one of its representatives. 380 

The first Parliament after the Act was distinguished in the county 
history by the strong representation of the brewing interest, Mr. M. A, 
Bass being one of the members for the eastern division of the county and 
r. S. C. Allsopp another for the same division in 1873, while Mr. Thomas 
Salt was elected for Stafford borough in 1869. In the same Parliament 
Sir William Henry Lytton Bulwer, afterwards Lord Balling and Bulwer, 
was one of the members for Tamworth. 881 

By the Redistribution Act of 1885, Lichfield and Tamworth ceased to 
be represented as boroughs. Newcastle under Lyme, Stafford, and Stoke on 
Trent each lost one member. 

On the other hand Wolverhampton gained one member, and the new 
boroughs of Hanley and West Bromwich were created with one member 
each, while the county was re-divided into the following seven divisions 
with one member each : Leek, Burton, Western, North-western, Lichfield, 
Kingswinford, and Handsworth. 382 

sso p ar i j ccts _ and Papers, Ixii (2), 485 ; 30 & 31 Viet. cap. 102. 

881 Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 485. S6a 48 & 49 Viet. cap. 23. 



273 35 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC 

HISTORY 



IN the last two centuries Staffordshire has been transformed from a thinly- 
populated, poor, and mainly agricultural county, into one which is rich 
and densely populated, depending chiefly for economic prosperity on 
its mineral resources and the industries based on these. In the census 
returns of 1901, Staffordshire stands fourth on the list of English counties, 
but all the available evidence goes to show that in point of numbers and 
wealth this county ranked very low till the eighteenth century. 

The Domesday Commissioners of 1085 found but few people dwelling 
there, and mention many isolated estates all over the county which they 
describe as ' waste lands.' It is estimated that there was only one villein, 
boor, or serf, to two hundred and fifty acres of actual surface. 1 

The assessment returns at various dates since give the same result, from 
the Subsidy Roll of 13323 onwards, including the assessment for a special 
aid made by Henry VII in 1503.* 

Rather later, in the returns of a muster roll 20 July, 1573, it is said 
that the county is too poor to support the expense of training a large number 
of men, 3 and this is the general record till the middle of the eighteenth 
century. 

It is easy to see why it remained poor for so long, despite its rich stores 
of mineral wealth, notably iron and coal, for up to the eighteenth century 
the conditions were unfavourable for the development and expansion of its 
industry and commerce. 

It was only then that the use of coal for smelting iron became general, 
though Dud Dudley obtained a patent for his blast furnace for making iron 
by means of coal as early as 1639.* 

Further, since there was no great demand for Staffordshire coal till the 
epoch of the Industrial Revolution, the mines were little worked till the 
eighteenth century, nor could they be worked effectively till the ingenuity of 
engineers had discovered a means of pumping the water from the pits. 

Another great obstacle to industrial and commercial development was 
the lack of communication between this county and the rest of England. 
Nothing indeed is clearer than its isolation in mediaeval times, lying as it 

1 R. W. Eyton, Dom. Studies, Staffs. 1881, pp. 17, zi. 

' The (Pil/. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. x, 79 ; and Thorold Rogers, Hist, of Agric. and Prices, iv, 89. 

1 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1547-80, p. 465. 

4 See his Metallum Mortis, quoted by Stebbing Shaw, Hist, of Staff. \\, 8. 

275 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

did far from London, cut off from easy communication with the continent 
of Europe, shut in on the north by wild tracks of moorland and limestone 
hills, with the thickly wooded Cannock Chase on the south and the Welsh 
mountains as a barrier in the western distance. For the numerous rivers 
of Staffordshire, though excellent for fertilizing purposes, were practically 
useless for navigation. The Trent only becomes navigable at Burton, and its 
distance at this point from the eastern sea makes it negligible as a ready 
means of communication. All the other rivers of any importance take an 
easterly direction, and there was thus no way of reaching the western coast 
by water until the cutting of canals in the eighteenth century. As to the 
roads, which are now excellent, the evidence goes to show that in the central 
part of the county they were good, but not elsewhere. 
Dr. Plot, writing in 1686, says 

the highways, owing to the gravelly nature of much of the soil, are universally good, except 
in the most northerly parts of the moorlands, where they are nearly impassable . . . and a 
little about Wednesbury, Sedgley, and Dudley, where they are necessarily worn by the 
carriage of coal. 

He goes on to quote a remark of King James, who, speaking jocularly of this 
county, once remarked that it was ' fit only to be cut out into thongs to make 
highways for the rest of the kingdom.' 6 

But as the developing industry of the county was centred within these 
northern and southern parts, it was peculiarly unfortunate that the roads there 
should be so bad. The potters suffered much in the first half of the eighteenth 
century from the badness of the roads. Many of the materials for their 
manufacture had to be imported from outside the county, and these, as well 
as the finished goods for export, were conveyed by means of ' pot-wagons,' 
or on the backs of pack-horses. The roads are described as being narrow, 
with high banks at their sides, always, even in summer, soft and clayey, and 
full of deep ruts. In winter, the strings of pack-horses could scarcely get 
from place to place, and many a poor, horse fell dead on the roadside, breaking, 
as it fell, the heavy load of crockery it bore on its back. 6 

Besides coal and iron, Staffordshire possesses other mineral resources in 
limestone, alabaster, salt, clays and marls for the rougher sort of pottery ware, 
and a certain amount of good building stone. 

Its rock formation is of a kind to ensure a pure and plentiful water 
supply, owing to the porous nature of the new red sandstone which covers 
the greater part of the county. Besides this, the hill regions of millstone 
grit and carboniferous limestone which lie east of the northern coalfield are 
the source of innumerable springs of pure water, and the slope of the boundary 
hills such as Mow Cop and Cloud is such as to keep the streams well within 
the county. The millstone grit indeed and the coal measures throw off most 
of the 29 in. of annual rainfall, 7 though it is to be noted that the water drawn 
from the coal measures is contaminated, and therefore useless for purposes of 
consumption. Staffordshire gains a further supply from the limestone hills 
of Derbyshire, and it seems probable that the great underground reservoir of 

* Rob. Plot, The Nat. Hist, of Staff. (1686), no. Llewellyn Jewitt, The Wedgwoods, 170. 

' The general average for the county, calculated from the rainfall returns covering a period of twenty 
jrears, is 29 in. For the north-west it rises to 33*12 in. whilst in the south-east it only reaches 26 in. 

276 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

hard water beneath the town of Burton, and largely utilized for the making 
of beer, comes in part from that source. 8 

The limestone district in north-east Staffordshire does not get the full 
benefit of the streams that pass through it, owing to the porous character of 
the rocks, and to fissures through which much of the water disappears. A 
notable example of this may be seen in the Manifold valley, where the rivers 
Hamps and Manifold run underground for several miles of their course to 
reappear again together at Ham. 9 

It was along the river valleys that the most important towns of mediaeval 
Staffordshire were to be found Stafford, for instance, at the junction of 
several valleys encircled by small hills, Lichfield and Tamworth, respectively 
the centres of the ecclesiastical and political life of the old Mercian kingdom, 
Burton on the banks of the Trent, the seat of an ancient monastery dating 
back to the tenth century. Up to the eighteenth century the population 
was fairly evenly distributed over the county, with the exception of the barren 
moorland regions in the north and south. Its economic prosperity depended 
mainly upon agriculture, carried on chiefly in the well-watered fertile plain 
which lies between the northern and southern coalfields, and which is still 
largely an agricultural region. 

At the present day the greater part of the population is found massed 
together in two great industrial regions, known respectively as the Potteries 
and the Black Country, in the neighbourhood of the two great coalfields. It 
is here that the large towns of modern Staffordshire are to be found, for 
Stafford is no longer ' the most considerable town in the county, with the 
exception of Lichfield,' as it was in the time of Defoe (1778). 10 

Of the four largest towns, judged by the last census return (1901), three, 
Wolverhampton, Walsall, and West Bromwich, are in South Staffordshire, 
whilst the fourth largest, Hanley, is, of course, the chief of the pottery towns, 
being a county borough, but it was unknown to mediaeval Staffordshire, save 
as an insignificant part of the ancient parish of Stoke upon Trent. 

The situation of these North Staffordshire pottery towns is interesting 
and significant, showing that the manufacture of pottery has from very early 
times been the staple industry of the district. For though as towns they are 
of comparatively modern growth, they date back to early times as villages, 
and they are not situated along the outcrops of the main seams of coal, but 
extend in an almost continuous line from Longton in the south to Tunstall 
in the north along the outcrop of the quick burning coals, clays, and marls, 
which were once used in the manufacture of the coarse pottery of the early 
days, and are still used for making the ' saggers ' in which the ware is placed 
for firing in the ovens. Newcastle-under-Lyme is not, strictly speaking, 
within the Potteries, being situated on a wide strip of barren measures let 
down by the Apedale Fault between the pottery towns on the east and the 

8 H. Evershed, ' Agricultural Surv. of Staff.' Journ. Roy. Agric. Sac. (2nd Ser.), vol. v, 1869, p. 296. 

9 See Dr. Darwin's description of these rivers. The Botanic Garden, Part ii, Canto iii, 129 : 
' Where Hamps and Manifold their cliffs among On beds of lava sleep in coral cells 

Each in his flinty channel winds along, And sigh o'er jasper fish and agate shells, 

With lucid lines the dusky moor divides Till where famed Ham leads his boiling floods 

Hurrying to intermix their sister tides. Thro' flowery meadows and impending woods, 

Three thousand steps in sparry clefts they stray Pleas'd with light spring they leave the dreary night ! 

Or seek thro' sullen mines their gloomy way ; And mid circumfluent surges rise to light.' 

10 Defoe,, Tour through Great Britain (8th ed.), ii, 358. 

277 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

mining districts of Silverdale and Apedale on the west. Newcastle is therefore 
a residential rather than an industrial and manufacturing town, and may be 
regarded as a suburb for the whole of the pottery district. 101 

The rainfall varies greatly in different parts of the county, being especially 
heavy in the hilly moorland regions of the north and north-east. 

But, taken as a whole, the climate is too damp for corn growing, and 
both climate and soil are better adapted for pasturage, the central part of the 
county being composed largely of marls intermixed with a sandy, gravelly 
soil, found largely also on the borders of the southern coalfield. The rich 
alluvial deposit of the river valleys produces excellent grass, and even the 
limestone uplands produce, as Dr. Plot observed in 1686 

a short but fine and sweet pasture, and large oxen. Much more [he adds] can they breed 
and feed cattle in the rich meadows that adorn the banks of Trent, Blithe, Terne, Churnet, 
Hamps, and Manifold, and more especially on the famous Dove banks. 11 

With the exception of a tract of light land round Stafford, and extending 
thence through Lichfield to Tamworth, dairy-farms are the rule, Uttoxeter 
being specially famous for its dairy produce, which is sent thence daily to 
London and other parts of the country. 12 

Corn is grown to some extent on the drift plain which lies to the west 
of the pottery coalfield, but more and more arable land is being turned into 
pasture, as corn becomes less and less profitable, and the demand for dairy 
produce increases with the growth of industrial populations in the districts 
adjoining the agricultural area. 

The poverty of records for the period between the Domesday Survey 
(1085) and the opening of the twelfth century makes the student of social 
history in Staffordshire peculiarly grateful for any indication of the life of 
the people at this time. One very valuable record for a part of the county 
is to be found in the Burton Chartulary 13 containing the early surveys of the 
manors belonging to that monastic foundation, and a number of documents 
concerning the relationship between the monks and their tenants. The date 
of the surveys has now been conclusively fixed between the years iioo and 
ii33, u whilst the other documents refer to times as late as the reign of 
Edward II. 

The surveys show that the tenants on the Burton manors were divided 
into three main classes, consisting of those who paid rent for their land, and 
in addition performed certain fixed agricultural services ; others who held their 
land in return for fairly arduous labour services, with food contributions and 
an occasional payment, such as \d. at Martinmas ; and finally a third class 
of cottars who held a cottage and a croft in return for one day's work 
per week on the lord's land. Among the last class may be placed the 
' bovarii,' a few men on each manor who looked after the lord's oxen for 
the plough-team, and in return for these services possessed a cottage and 
a small plot of land. 

I0a W. Gibson, ' North Staff Coalfield,' Memoirs of the Geolog. Surv. of End. and Wales, iqoc, pp , 220 
11 Rob. Plot, The Nat. Hist, of Staff. (1686), 107. 

11 In Leland's day Uttoxeter was famous for its dairy produce. See his I tin. (3rd ed. Hearne, 1769), 
vii, 26, where he says 'the men of the town useth grazing, for there be wonderful pastures upon Dove ' 
" The Will. Salt Arch. Stic. Coll. v, pt. i. 

14 Engl. Hist. Rev. , 275 et seq. ; J. H. Round, The Burton Abbey Surv. 

2 7 8 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

There were no tenants paying rent alone without services, and none 
belonging to the class of wholly unfree cultivators, the ' servi ' of Domesday 
Book. 16 

The smith often held his land in consideration of giving his services to 
the monks, but at Stretton he had the option of paying i zd. a year instead. 18 

A consideration of the surveys shows that on the Burton manors, as else- 
where, it was customary for the ordinary villein to give two days' work per 
week to his lord, and to perform a certain number of miscellaneous services. 
For instance, the villeins on the Wetmoor manor had to plough twice yearly, 
to reap for three days in August, to attend the hunt, do a certain amount of 
carting, to make contributions of fowls at Christmas and to pay certain dues, 
such as 8d. for the use of the lord's fold. 17 

The rent-paying tenant was free from the ordinary 'week-work,' but he 
too had a number of services to perform, e.g., to lend his plough twice a year, 
as at Branston, Stretton, and Abbot's Bromley, to attend the hunt, to keep up 
the fences, to reap in harvest usually for three days. Sometimes, as at 
Bromley, Wetmoor, Appleby, and Finden, to go where the abbot bade him. 18 

Sometimes the manor was farmed by a number of the tenants, as at 
Bromley, 19 who performed certain services however in addition to payment of 
rent, the abbot keeping the wood and the profits thereof in his own hands. 

At Branston we get an example of a man holding 8 bovates of land 
and having seven men under him. 20 Very often one of the monks farmed the 
manor, as at Winshill, which Edric the monk farmed for 4 ioj. per year, 
exclusive of the wood, hay, and certain lands reserved to the use and profit of 
the whole monastic body. 21 Not much is to be gathered from these surveys 
as to the progress of the villeins towards commutation of services for money 
payment, for while there are instances of men holding land for services who 
formerly paid rent, as at Stretton, 22 there are other cases in which the opposite 
holds good. 

Later on, however, in the time of Henry III, we hear of an attempt of 
the ' customary tenants ' to gain their freedom from servile tenure, but un- 
fortunately they were not successful. The case came up for judgement at 
Westminster, and the record states that the abbot sued his tenants 

for customs and services due for the tenements they hold of him in Bromley, inasmuch as 
they held the tenements in villeinage, and owed villein services, viz., tallage once every year 
at his will, and merchetum for marrying their daughters and other services, and they owed 
tallage assessed at eight marks two years ago. 

The marriage payment here, as elsewhere, seems to have been the distinctive 
mark of servile status, and the tenants of Bromley denied that they owed 
either this or the tallage, and asserted that they held their tenements by 
certain fixed services and a payment of 2os. at Christmas. The final verdict 
was not given till 1252 at Nottingham, when eight knights and eight freemen 
who formed the jury stated that all the tenants named, and their ancestors 

15 The analysis of the Domesday Survey for Staff, gives only thirty-three servi for the whole hundred of 
Offlow, fifty-seven for Seisdon, sixty for Cuttlestone, sixty-eight for Pirehill, and thirteen for Totmonslow 
(R. W. Eyton, Dom. Studies, Staff. 1 5). 

" The Will. Salt Arch. Sac. Coll. pt. i, v (i), 19. " Ibid. 26. 

11 Engl. Hist. Rev. xx, 284-6. The Will. Salt Arch. Sac. Coll. pt. i, v, 20. 

M Ibid. 25. The usual holding was 2 bovates. ll Ibid. 24. " Ibid. 19. 

279 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

before them, held their tenements in villeinage, and gave merchetum for 
marrying their daughters, and every year they gave ' stud ' (tallage), some- 
times more and sometimes less, at the will of the abbot, and that they owed 
all villein services. 28 

The monks, it may be noticed, showed a good deal of pious indignation 
at the presumption of their tenants, and complacently contrasted the pride of 
the latter with their own humility, illustrating and concluding their homily 
by the text, ' God resists the proud and gives His grace to the humble.' 24 

It is to be feared that the relations of the abbots and their tenants were 
never of the friendliest, for when in the early years of the fourteenth century 
the abbot was prosecuted in the hundred of Pirehill for ' fraudulently con- 
cealing and disposing of the goods and chattels of Thomas earl of Lancaster,' 
the jury gave the verdict against him, and the abbot, who denied the whole 
story to the king, maintained that the jury was a packed one, consisting of 
men evilly disposed towards him. 26 Indeed, many instances might be given 
of the somewhat truculent behaviour of the abbots, not only towards their 
tenants but in their relations with the neighbouring landowners, with whom 
they were frequently in conflict. 

From an old survey of Tutbury, made in Elizabeth's reign, we know 
that the services of the villeins here were not commuted for rents till the reign 
of Henry V (fifteenth century), and reference is made to the heaviness of 
these services as they were enforced by the founder of Tutbury Priory in 1080: 

Part of the lands of the priory (says the survey) were granted to his bondmen, for no 
freemen would take land with such villainous customs as were found in an ancient record at 
Tutbury (called the Cowcher, and made in the time of Henry V), viz. to mow the grass in 
the meadows, make the hay and carry it into the castle, and the arable land to plow it, sow 
it, harrow it and reap it, and carry it either to the lord's manor house, or to the said castle, 
at their own costs and charges. 



They were also bound to divers customs, services, and carriages which 
at the making of the old Coucher were reduced to annual rents. 26 

From the available records we see that in the latter part of the thirteenth 
century the process of commutation was going on gradually all over the 
county, if not very rapidly. From a number of ' extents of manors ' of the 
time of Edward I " we see that the services were always appraised in terms of 
money, and it may be concluded that it was sometimes convenient to accept 
money payment rather than labour, whilst the next step to a general substitu- 
tion of money rents is not difficult. For instance, the ' works ' of the cus- 
tomary tenants at Swinford are valued at 5^. each. Again, in the manor of 
Sedgeley we hear of a great many services which the customary tenants ought 
to perform, such as mowing, reaping, carrying hay and wood, gathering nuts, 
and so on, but in each case they are valued in terms of money, and it is more 
than likely that the word ' ought,' which occurs in this and other records, 
points to an ideal of duty once regarded, but now repudiated. This conjecture 
is the more likely to be true in the case of Sedgeley, inasmuch as it was, even 
at that date, a place of some industrial and commercial importance for the 
same record speaks of four coal-pits, worth yearly 4, and of sixteen small 
shops. Still the peasants of Sedgeley were as yet only struggling to be free, 

a The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. pt. i, v, 64-5. " Ibid. 65. " Ibid. 4-5. 

" Stebbing Shaw, Hut. of Staff. (1801), i, 45. " The mil. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. pt. ii, ix, 26-29. 

280 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



'for the record also speaks of the profit accruing from the ' market ' of 
daughters, the special mark of servile status in those days. 28 

The examples cited refer to the eastern and southern part of the county. 
The state of affairs as it existed near the western border is illustrated by the 
record of a manor court held at Wrottesley in 1382, one year after the 
Peasants' Revolt. 29 Of the seventeen tenants four only were freeholders, six 
are described as ' holding in bondage,' and the rest were crofters or 
cottagers. Reference is made to a certain Hugh Roberdes who had lately 
died, leaving a daughter who had recently married with the permission of the 
lord. Yet all the tenants were paying rent for their holdings, despite the 
dependence of their position in some ways as shown by the lord's control 
over the marriage of their daughters indicated above. 

References to the food contributions of tenants holding in bondage persist 
till quite late in manor rolls, even when the tenants are paying rent, e.g. at 
Rolleston in I4I4. 30 In a list of receipts occurs the entry of 5^. J\d, and fifty- 
three capons, the rent of tenants 'holding in bondage.' Again, in 1480, in a 
bailiff's account we hear of the contribution of capons or fowls by the 
Walsall tenants, and reference is still made at that date to their 'works,' though 
these were by that time commuted. 31 

At Barton, in the honour of Tutbury, in 1463 some tenants were still 
holding land in return for services alone, 33 so that it is clear that villeinage and 
its servile accompaniments died but slowly in this county. A fairly late 
example of the way the ordinary villein was tied to the soil occurs in the 
record of a ' Magna Curia' held at Wrottesley in 1401, in which the jury 
presented that John de Green, ' the native,' had left his home without his 
lord's permission, a serious offence in mediaeval times. 33 

Of the wild, barren, moorland region of North Staffordshire we know 
but little in early times ; even now it is a thinly populated district, made up 
chiefly of scattered hamlets and villages, and containing scarcely any towns. 
In the fourteenth century, apart from the few villages in the region now 
known as the Potteries and those districts near the fertile banks of the Dove 
or its tributary streams, this part of the country had but little economic 
or social importance. 84 

With regard to the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, all the most recent 
researches have failed to discover that the Staffordshire peasants had any part 
in it, though we now know that the tenants on the bishop of Chester's manors 
in the Wirral were implicated. 

This must not be hastily taken to prove that the grievances of the Stafford- 
shire peasants were less severe than those of other counties ; their failure to 
participate in the movement may be regarded, in part at any rate, as a result 

18 The Will. Salt Arch. Sac. Coll. pt. ii, ix, 29. ** Ibid, vi (New Ser.), pt. ii, 175. 

30 Mins. Accts. bdle. 988, No. 20. 3I Ibid. bdle. 641, No. 1041 1. 

" Ibid. bdle. 371, No. 6197. 

The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. pt. i (New Ser.), 1 84. There are in Staffordshire, as elsewhere, numerous 
instances of survivals of manorial courts, e.g. the case of Standon, where we have evidence of the holding 
of a court baron at least as late as 1750, and the record of fines levied on freeholders for various offences such 
as omitting to repair roads, ditches, and fences (Edward Salt, Hist, of StanJon (1888), 137). 

" As to the early condition of the villages in the Potteries see Meteyard's Life of Josiah JVeJgatooJ, 
101, where she affirms her belief that for three or four centuries after the Norman Conquest the liberty of 
establishing a pot-works on the waste, and of digging for clay and coal, was conferred by manorial lords in 
return for services, commuted later for rents. 

I 28l 36 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

of their geographical position far from London and the eastern counties, 
and with little means of communication therewith. Besides, the reaction in 
favour of the ruling classes was so swift that the news of the rising probably 
only reached this county with the additional information that it had been 
put down by the most vigorous methods. Yet there is reason to suppose 
that the effects of the Black Death in depopulating the county were not 
quite so serious in Staffordshire as in some parts of England, and that, in con- 
sequence, the peasants here suffered somewhat less from the operation of the 
Statutes of Labour which had attempted, though vainly, to fix the rates of 
wages according to those which prevailed before the plague. There is a 
tradition that Wolverhampton was partially devastated by the disease, 86 and 
here and there in the records there are indirect references to its ravages. 88 
It was of course most unlikely that this county should have escaped the 
pestilence, and the general scantiness of the ordinary judicial records at this 
time renders it dangerous to make serious general statements. 

There is, however, a distinct statement on the matter in a letter directed 
to an official of the archdeaconry of Coventry and Lichfield in 1361, which 
points to the comparative immunity of the county in the second great 
visitation of 1361-2, if not in the earlier one of I 348-9." 

The pestilence (says the letter) with which God is visiting the sins of the people, has 
not yet come into this diocese, but many other parts of the country are rendered empty by it ! 
Prayer is therefore to be made in all churches for the staying of the Plague. 

Certainly it was felt severely round about the Staffordshire borders, as 
appears from various entries in the Episcopal Registers. Thus in 1380 a 
request was made by the monks of Bordesley, in the diocese of Worcester, 
for the appropriation of the church of Kinver in the archdeaconry of Stafford, 
the abbot pleading poverty on the ground that his chief endowment is in land 
and agriculture, which bring in nothing through lack of labourers owing to 
the pestilence. He states that an unusual number of guests have visited the 
monastery, and that the cattle plague has further reduced his resources. 88 

As regards the commercial and industrial development of Staffordshire, it 
is quite evident that there was but little progress between the eleventh and 
the sixteenth century. We know that the county suffered considerably in the 
civil war of Stephen's day, being for some time in the campaign of 1153 the 
head quarters of Matilda's son Henry. In 11878 the sheriff reports that 
84 hides of geldable land were so desolated that he could levy nothing 
on it. ' Lo it was near one-fifth of the geldable area of the county.' 89 

The growth of the towns was certainly late. From the Subsidy Roll of 
1332-3 we see that Stafford, one of the ten fortified English towns mentioned 
in Domesday Book, comes first, with a contribution of 13 8j. io</. 40 Lichfield 
is next on the list, and pays 12 ; the third town is Newcastle under Lyme, 
paying 10 1 3-r. 4*/., whilst Burton contributes only 8, and the other towns 
are inconsiderable, and come far behind. 41 

* F. Burleigh, Hist, and Descriptive Guide to Wolverhampton, 4. 
" The mil. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. vii, 38 ; ibid, xii, 98 ; ibid, xiv, 73. 

57 Reg. of Bithop Robert de Stretton (Lich. Epis. Reg.), printed in The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. viii (New 
Ser.), 99. 

>s The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. viii (New Ser), 141. 

89 Ibid. x. Ibid, x (i), 79-1 32. Ibid. 

282 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

From the Quo Warranto Pleas of 1293 we learn that Lichfield, 
Rugeley, Cannock, and Brewood possessed no market till the reign of 
Henry III, and the profits went, even then, to the bishop of Lichfield and 
Coventry. 42 The market at Wolverhampton also dates from this reign, as also 
does that of Stone. 43 

In a charter granted by King John to the burgesses of Stafford, that town 
gained the privileges of a free borough 'with freedom from toll, suits of shires 
and hundreds, and all other free customs of the free boroughs of England.' 44 

Tamworth also gained a charter of privileges in the reign of Edward III, 
though these were restricted to ' the men and tenants of that half the town 
of Tamworth which had been ancient demesne.' 45 In the same reign Walsall 
also gained a charter, giving the burgesses freedom from toll. 46 

The first city to obtain a charter of incorporation was Lichfield, in 1547. 
Stafford was incorporated two years later, 47 whilst Tamworth had to wait till 
I56o. 48 Newcastle gained its charter of incorporation in the reign of 
Henry VIII. 49 The other corporate boroughs of Staffordshire are of modern 
origin. 

After the dissolution of the religious gild of St. Mary, which had 
hitherto managed the affairs of the town, the only town possessing a merchant- 
gild in the fourteenth century seems to have been Newcastle-under-Lyme, and 
the attempts of that city to carry out a policy of trade protection were un- 
successful. In an interesting case which came before the judges in 127980 
the gild tested its powers of exclusive trading. It seems that a burgess of 
Stafford named William de Pykestoke had taken out a summons against 
certain burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme for carrying off and illegally 
detaining his chattels, viz. four ells of cloth. The Newcastle men admitted 
the fact, but in defence charged the said William with keeping a shop, cutting 
cloth, and selling wool and fleeces by the ell without having been received 
into the gild and contrary to the regulations of the gild granted to Newcastle 
by a charter of Henry III. 60 

Pykestoke on his part admitted that he was not a gild member, but 
pleaded that by virtue of the charter of King John making Stafford a free 
borough he ought to enjoy the liberty of free trade in Newcastle. He further 
asserted that he and other burgesses had enjoyed these privileges till a year 
ago, when their chattels had been seized as aforesaid. 

After many adjournments a jury decided in favour of the Stafford bur- 
gesses, despite the regulations of the gild, and awarded them 40^. damages 
and the restoration of their chattels. 61 

We see therefore that the general civic protection of the middle ages was 
not so firmly established in Staffordshire as in many other counties, where it 
had the disastrous result of driving trade and industry to the country villages 
to the impoverishment and depopulation of the towns. 52 

41 The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. vi (i), 244. " Ibid. 249. 

44 Merewether, Boroughs and Corporations, i, 408, who gives reference Rot. Cart. 2 John, m. 7, but this is. 
not printed by the Rec. Com. " Pat. 4 Edw. Ill, m. 32. 46 Ibid. 47 Edw. Ill, pt. 2, m. 35. 

" Merewether, Boroughs and Corporations, iii, 2281. " Ibid. 

49 Staff. Constitutional Mag. Feb. 1890, p. 303. 

M The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. vi (i), 1 1 1. " Ibid. 1 1 2. 

sf See Trans. Roy. Hist. Soc. vii (New Ser.), 1893, for acct. of the Mercers' Company, Lichfield, instituted 
1624 by the town authorities, who were empowered by royal charter to regulate the trade of mercers, grocers, 
linen drapers, woollen drapers, silkmen, hosiers, salters, apothecaries, and haberdashers. 

283 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The industrial development of the county was no more rapid at this time 
than its commercial progress. Staffordshire played no part in the early 
history of the woollen industry in England ; the Flemish weavers could not 
come 'so far inland as this to teach their craft; but some simple form of cloth- 
making there was here as in all parts of the country, and it is said that the wool 
trade was the staple trade of Wolverhampton until its decline in the sixteenth 
century. 

The returns of the Poll Tax of 1379-81 show that there must have 
been a considerable manufacture of cutlery at Rugeley, 63 and reference has 
already been made to the coal-pits of Sedgeley, which, however, only brought 
in 4 ioj. a year, so could not have been very extensively worked (between 
40 and 50 of modern money). 6 * Iron mines are also mentioned at Tunstall 
in 1361," but we know that until the eighteenth century there was no 
important industrial development in North or South Staffordshire. It is 
believed that iron smelting was carried on at Uttoxeter in the thirteenth 
century and wool stapling in the fourteenth. The smelting of iron went on 
to some extent in other parts of the country, but it was as yet effected by 
means of charcoal, easily procurable in a county so well wooded. For the 
rest the return of the Poll Tax of i 379-8 i for the hundreds of Offlow and 
Cuttlestone 66 shows us a miscellaneous population, shoemakers, smiths, 
carpenters, skinners, fullers, tailors, butchers, and a few weavers, with a very 
large proportion of agricultural labourers or husbandmen, about eighty-eight 
per cent, of the whole number, compared with twelve per cent, employed in 
trade and industry other than agriculture. 

The records of the administration of justice in the manorial and other 
courts, including those of the forest, throw a good deal of light upon the life 
and customs of the people in mediaeval times. They show us a community 
mainly agricultural whose misdemeanours are chiefly connected with field and 
forest. There are innumerable fines for depasturing sheep and cattle, inclosing 
parts of the forest for purposes of cultivation, and throwing down fences on 
the lord's land, and so on. 

In 1 129 the men of Arley are amerced ten marks for lands of the forest 
taken by them unwarrantably into cultivation, but the king releases them 
from the penalty ' for that the debtors were poor.' " 

After the passing of the Statute of Merton in 1235, which gave the 
freeholders the right to protest against encroachments of the lord on their 
pasture land, the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire are full of cases in which the 
tenant brings an action against the lord for this offence. The following case 
is only one of many of the kind : ' An assize if John Golde had unjustly 
disseised Milicent Basset of her common of pasture in five acres in Finchespath 
appurtenant to her free tenement. Verdict for Milicent.' 68 The fact that 
in most cases the tenants seem to have got favourable verdicts points to a 
rather general attempt on the part of the Staffordshire lords to ignore the 
rights of the freeholders in this respect. It is worth noting in passing that 
the Statute of Merton, which was really the first inclosure act, gave no 



a i 



' The mil. Salt Arch. Sac. Coll. xvii, 1 86. M Ibid. pt. ii, ix, 29. 

54 De Banco R. 405, Hil. 35 Edw. Ill, m. 299^. 

* The If ill. Salt Arch. Sue. Coll. xvii, 61-205. " Ibid, i, 8 ; Pipe R. 31 Hen. I. 

M The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. vi (i), 50 ; Misc. Assize R. 55 Hen. Ill, Lichfield ; also headed Plea 
Rolls of reign of Edw. I, No. 121 7. (The Rolls are not numbered in Salt.) 

284 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

rights of protest to the villein or the inhabitants generally, hence much 
inclosure must have taken place to the injury of these people. 

An interesting example of the summary method of dealing with 
'manifest felons ' occurs in the records of the Staffordshire Assizes in 1273. 

The jury of the hundred of Seisdon presented that Roger de Reyneyde was arrested 
upon suspicion of robbery and delivered to William , Peter, etc. to convey him to Bridg- 
north, and the said Roger escaped from their custody, and the said William and others 
followed him and cut off his head and brought it to Stafford. His chattels are worth 22d. t 
and the jurors say he was a robber and a malefactor. 59 

The first mention of a jury in criminal matters occurs in 1204 at 
Lichfield, 80 and numerous entries show the corporate responsibility of the 
hundreds for crime in their midst. 

Thus in 1 1 74 we are told that nine murders in Offlow Hundred had 
been assessed by the itinerant justices at the rate of one mark each, 61 and next 
year the ' tithing ' of Newbold was fined half a mark for the sins of one Brun 
of Newbold, an escaped felon whose chattels the sheriff had sold for five 
shillings. 63 Many examples might be given of the mediaeval custom of valuing 
the instrument of death, whether accidental or deliberate, and exacting the 
money from the owner or the locality implicated, as a payment or ' deodand ' to 
the king. For instance, the vill of Weston upon Trent is chargeable ' for a 
sword with which John Gardyner had been feloniously killed by Stephen Benet 
of Creswalle four shillings.' Likewise the vill of Leek has to pay 2s. 6d., 
the value of a horse which was the cause of death of a certain Adam, killed 
by accident. 63 

The number of private individuals who had the right to hang thieves on 
a private gallows in the fourteenth century seems to have been considerable, 
and included the priors of Stone, Trentham, and Lapley, as well as the abbot 
of Burton, whilst the claims of the bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and of 
the dean and chapter of Penkridge, were under consideration at the time when 
Edward I made his famous inquiry into feudal jurisdictions in the interests of 
national justice. 64 

With regard to wages and prices of provisions in mediaeval Stafford- 
shire the evidence is rather scanty, but there is enough to enable us to 
gather some general idea as to the changes in these between the eleventh 
century and the fifteenth, though not enough to warrant the drawing of any 
definite conclusions as to the local variations in the county. The rent of 
land was fairly steady during this time, and may be taken as 6d. per acre, 
rising to 8</. for specially good land, and falling to 4^. for poor soil. 

At Tutbury in 1257 a q uarter of wheat could be bought for 4^. 4</. 65 
A little later, in 1294, it was sold at 3^. 4^. per quarter at Stafford; 66 
at the same time a chicken could be bought for a halfpenny, and two 
oxen for i5/. at Wolverhampton. 67 In Berkeswich (Baswich) manor wheat 
varied from 3^. to 4^. per quarter in I3I2. 68 About the same time a 

The Will. Salt Arch. Sac. Coll. iii, 1 8. M Ibid, iii, 98. 

61 Ibid, i, 75 ; Pipe R. 21 Hen. II. " Ibid, i, 76 ; Pipe R. 21 Hen. II. 

88 Ibid, xvii, 1 3 ; quoted in extracts from Plea R. Lichfield, East, z Hen. V. 
" Ibid, vi (i), 243-9. " Mins. Accts. 40-1 Hen. Ill, bdle. 1094, No. 1 1. 

66 Bailiff's Acct. ; quoted in The Will. Salt Arch. Soc. Coll. vi (2), 71. " Ibid. 72. 

48 MSS. pertaining to the D. and C. of Lichfield, N. i. 

285 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

thatcher's wages in Berkeswich did not rise beyond a penny, though a 
carpenter could earn 3</." 

By the middle of the fourteenth century in the reign of Edward III 
wages had risen considerably : a thatcher could earn i\d. to ^d. per day, and 
other skilled labourers, such as carpenters and masons, rather more. 

By the middle of the fifteenth century another rise may be seen, and from 
a considerable number of individual accounts the wages of an unskilled 
labourer may be calculated at 4^. per day, whilst masons, sawyers, and 
carpenters earned $d. or 6</. 70 The average price of wheat for the whole 
country from 1260 to 1400 is estimated by Thorold Rogers at 5-r. \Q\d. per 
quarter; and from 1401 to 1540 one penny more, 71 and in estimating the 
purchasing power of the wages given above, it is usual to suppose the value 
of money in the fifteenth century to be twelve times as great as it is at 
present, 72 and is. per week was an ordinary estimate for the board of a 
workman. 73 

It is now recognized that the sixteenth century, though marked by 
glorious national achievements, was a period in which the mass of the people 
suffered considerably, and the inhabitants of Staffordshire were not exempt 
from the social distress of the time. The influx of silver from the 
South American mines (15401600), and the systematic debasing of the 
currency in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI led to a great rise in 
prices, and the contemporary documents constantly refer to the dearness of 
provisions, and especially of corn. Unfortunately for the labourer his wages 
did not rise in proportion, so that his lot was often very hard at this time. 

The dissolution of the monastic houses, of which there were thirty-six 
in Staffordshire, 74 meant inevitably, here as elsewhere, serious economic dislo- 
cation, for with the change of landlords came frequently change in the use to 
which the land was put, since the growing demand for wool for the expanding 
cloth industry caused many landowners to inclose for pasture land which had 
been formerly used for tillage. 75 

The tenants and labourers of the old monastic landowners in Staffordshire 
must inevitably have suffered by the change, even though there is good reason 
to suppose that inclosures were not nearly so widespread in this county as in 
many others. The report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into 
inclosures in 1517 shows that in this county, where the woollen industry had 
never been very important, there was no serious grievance. The total number 
of acres inclosed was slightly under five hundred (48 8 acres). Of these 
i 1 8 acres were in the hundred of Cuttlestone, of which 85 acres only were 
for purposes of pasture, and none occurred before 1502. In Pirehill Hundred 
100 acres had been inclosed, of which 60 were for a park and 40 for pasture, 
the earliest date of inclosure there being 1486. In Offlow Hundred 80 acres 

69 Mins. Accts. Edw. II, bdle. 1132, No. 7. 70 Mins. Accts. Hen. VI, bdle. 369, No. 6179, &c. 

" See Thorold Rogers, Six Centuries of Work and Wages, 330. 

"Ibid. 539. "Ibid. 329. 

74 Stebbing Shaw, Hist, of Staff, i, 51. 

1 Sir Simon Degge gives us some impressions of the evil results of the monastic dissolution. See, Sir 
Simon Degge, 'Observations on the Possessors of Monastery Lands in Staffordshire,' printed 1717, in Sampson 
Erdeswick's Surv. of Staff. He speaks of the ' Sacrilegious purchasers of this Age,' and asserts that the owners 
become bankrupt and sell, or else die without male issue, whereby their memories perish, and he adds, ' the 
next thing that hath been a great ruin to the gentry is their living and taking pleasure to spend their estate in 
London.' 

286 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

had been inclosed, of which only twenty were for sheep farming, the dates 
of inclosure being 1510 and 1576. One hundred and sixty acres of inclosed 
land were found in the liberty of the Duchy of Lancaster, but the whole 
extent was for park land. 

The fewest inclosures occurred in the Seisdon Hundred, 26 only, and 
only 3 of these for pasture. For Totmonslow Hundred there was no return. 
The total number of acres inclosed for pasture amounted to 148, whilst only 
28 were inclosed for tillage, and the remainder was imparked. No cases of 
eviction were mentioned. 76 

Unfortunately there is no information for Staffordshire in respect to the 
Inclosure Commission of 1548. 

The monks had, of course, been the great agents of charity before the 
dissolution of the monasteries in Staffordshire, and this event must have been 
one of the causes of the multitude of vagrants and beggars to which constant 
reference is made in the records of the time. And we know that the severe 
repressive measures adopted for solving this problem had to give place to 
more constructive and humane methods of dealing with the poor, methods 
which culminated in the great Act of 1601, which provided for the raising 
of a rate in each parish for relieving the impotent, setting the able-bodied to 
work, and apprenticing the pauper children to some useful trade. 

As we have already seen, there is ample evidence of the poverty of the 
county at this time. In 1559 it is said to be weakened by sickness. 77 In 
1593 there was a serious visitation of the plague in England, and more 
than eleven hundred are said to have died in Lichfield alone. 78 

We hear also of the decay of towns. For instance, when Queen 
Elizabeth visited Stafford in 1575 the burgesses complained of the decay of 
the town, and ascribed it to the depressed and dying state of the cap trade. 79 

Again, in an Elizabethan survey of Tutbury, the writer laments the 
general decay and depopulation of towns, and says that there ought to be 
more markets and fairs ' to make men more desirous to plant their habitations 
in these places.' 80 

Leland, who travelled through England in the years 15369, makes no 
mention of the Potteries. He describes Walsall as a little market town, and 
Burton as a place where ' there be many marbellers working in alabaster.' 8 
As yet there is no mention of the great brewing industry, nor of the clothing 
trade, which, according to Defoe, was carried on there with great profit in 
I7 7 8. 82 

The seventeenth century may be regarded as a time in which the way 
was prepared for the industrial developments of the eighteenth in Stafford- 
shire. By 1639 Dudley had got his second royal patent for smelting iron 
with pit-coal instead of charcoal, and he was carrying on his experiments with 
considerable success at Sedgeley in spite of fierce opposition and jealousy on the 
part of the neighbouring iron-masters. 83 The discovery of this new process, 

" See Inq. of 1 5 1 7 (Inclosures and Evictions), ed. from Lansdowne MSS. i, 1 5 3, by J. S. Leadam, M. A. 
Trans. Roy. Hist. Soc. (New Ser.), vi (1892), 310, 314. 

77 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1547-80, p. 122. Stebbing Shaw, Hist. ofS/af.i, 333. 

79 J. L. Cherry, Stafford in Olden Times (1890), quoting an old document. 

80 Stebbing Shaw, op. cit. i, 45. Tutbury paid l 161. ^d. to the subsidy of 1590. See Talbot Papers 
in Coll. of Arms, v, 218. el Leland, I tin. (ed. Hearne, 1769), 26. 

* Defoe, Tour Through Great Britain (8th ed.), ii, 365. 
83 Lord Dudley, Metallum Mortis, 16, 17. 

287 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

coming as it did at a time when the wood supply of Sussex, Surrey, and Kent 
was seriously diminished, was bound to lead eventually to great industrial 
developments in South Staffordshire where the coal and ironstone lay side by 
side. The manufacture of the iron into finished goods was also going on in 
the district. Henry Powle, who wrote an account of the iron trade in 1 677, 
points out how the ' sow ' iron made by the iron-workers in the Forest of Dean 
found its way up the Severn into the Staffordshire forges, and so to the work- 
shops of Wolverhampton, Sedgeley, and Walsall, where it was made into the 
hardware goods for which the district was already becoming famous. 84 The 
nail trade had become localized in Staffordshire towards the end of the six- 
teenth century, and the cost of nails, so typical an item of mediaeval accounts, 
was now no longer credited to the village blacksmith. Since 1565, when 
Shutz, a German, introduced 'slitting mills,' which prepared the rods 
for the nailers, this industry steadily developed, and in 1584-5 a Bill was 
brought into Parliament to regulate the trade by statute, and to make nailing 
a separate employment in Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Salop. 86 

Nail-making, which included the manufacture of nuts, bolts, rivets, and 
screws, was purely a domestic industry till the eighteenth century, and though 
the nail industry is now carried on largely in factories, there is still a con- 
siderable, though declining, amount of work done in the miserable little work- 
shops that adjoin the homes of the nailers in the neighbourhood of Sedgeley 
and Dudley and in some other districts. The conditions of these people seem 
always to have been bad, their hours long, and their pay poor. In an ' Essay 
to enable the Necessitous Poor to pay Taxes,' 86 it was stated that nailers 
worked from four in the morning on Monday till late on Saturday night, 
receiving for their work 3^., or less if the iron were bad. In 1760 screw- 
making began to be organized on the factory system, but little progress was 
made till the inventions of Whitworth in 1840, and the domestic system 
went on practically unchanged till 1861 in all other branches, despite 
numerous inventions between 1760 and 1841. The nut and bolt trade, now 
practically a factory industry, was the next to succumb, and at the present 
time only certain kinds of nails are made in domestic workshops, and chiefly 
by women, children, and old men. 87 

It is interesting to notice the relative wealth and importance of the 
Staffordshire towns at this time. In the assessment for ship-money, 1635, 
the whole county was assessed at 2,000. Lichfield contributed far the 
most, viz. 100 ; Walsall came next with a payment of 25 ; Stafford, not 
yet the seat of the boot and shoe trade, paid only 20 ; and Newcastle 
under Lyme i6. Ba The position of Walsall is interesting as evidence 
of the growing industrial prosperity of the South Staffordshire towns, 
and because it still stands second in the list of Staffordshire cities, though 
Wolverhampton and not Lichfield ranks first in point of population and 
general importance. 

Two years later, and again in 1665, when the plague was raging in 
London, the Walsall authorities took the most serious precautions to preserve 
the immunity of their town, as may be read in an old record of the regula- 

84 W. A. S. Hewins, Engl. Trade and Finance (1892), 14, 15. 

"Ibid. 1 6. "Ibid. 17. "Ibid. 19. 

w J. Langford, Staff, and Warvi. Past and Present, 429. 

288 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

tions issued to the constable of Walsall borough. 89 Four sufficient house- 
keepers are to be appointed to keep out all strangers from entering the town 
unless they bring certificates that they do not come from infected places ; 
and ale-house keepers are to refuse all guests save under the same conditions. 
This was in 1637, but in 1665 the regulations are more detailed and rigorous, 
and are interesting as a specimen of sanitary precautions in an age not given 
overmuch to such things. 90 The first regulation says : 

That if any carrier Shall for the future desperately adventure to travel to London untill 
it shall please God upon the removeall or good abatement of the Sicknes wee may goe with 
lesse danger and more Safety, and shall presume to come home to his owne house at Walsall, 
that his house shall be shutt upp for the space of one month at the least. 

The other regulations are similar in intention, and provide for the whole 
body of citizens acting as special constables to keep out infected persons. 
The strictest prohibitions are also laid on the inhabitants as to the entertain- 
ment of the aforesaid carriers or any suspicious strangers, and nobody is 

to receve any goods or wares brought down (by the carriers) before the same have been 
aired by the space of one month at the least, upon the payne of having their house shutt 
upp and to be other wayes proceeded against as dangerous persons and contemners of 
authority. 

From a document in the Corporation Records at Stafford we learn that 
in 1646 there was a great visitation of the plague in that town, ' which by 
that meanes is now growne so poore, that unless some speedie course be 
taken for their relief, the meaner sort of people must of necessitie break out 
for want of sustenance.' 91 

As for the Pottery district at this time, its area was much the same as 
at present, but the population was scanty, probably not more than four 
thousand ; and it was distributed in small hamlets and villages separated by 
strips of wild moorland, with two or three potworks in each village, each 
giving occupation to about eight persons. Sometimes the family alone were 
sufficient to carry on the various processes of the primitive manufacture of 
that day, and the women of the family usually had the task of driving the 
loaded and panniered asses to the distant towns where they sold their 
pottery, and whence they brought back food and other household necessaries 
on the backs of their animals. As late as 1653 Burslem is described as a 
mere village, with few houses and a scanty population. Hanley was still 
smaller, and Stoke on Trent a small aggregation of thatched houses and two 
potworks gathered round the ancient parish church. 92 

The pottery industry had existed in some rude form in North Stafford- 
shire from time immemorial, but though certain advances had been made in 
the seventeenth century, such as the discovery that glazing could be effected 
by salt in 1680, the manufacture of pottery was still in a primitive stage of 
development, was a purely domestic industry, and was confined chiefly to the 
making of common vessels of everyday use. No serious general advance was 
made indeed until the genius and industry of Josiah Wedgwood in the 
eighteenth century transformed a rude and primitive industry into an elabo- 
rate and beautiful art, and in so doing changed the social condition of a wide 
district and a large population. 

89 E. L. Glew, Hist, of Borough and Foreign of Walsall (1856), 119. * Ibid. 1 20. 

91 J. L. Cherry, Stafford In Olden Times, 56. M Meteyard, Life of Joslab Wedgwood (1865), i, 96-9. 

I 289 37 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

Dr. Plot, writing in 1686, says : 'The greatest pottery they have in 
this county is carried on at Burslem, . . . where for making their several 
sorts of pots they have as many different sorts of clay, which they dig round 
about the towne . . . the best being found nearest the coale.' 9S 

One of the chief articles made at Burslem was the long cylindrical 
butter-pot, made of coarse material and unglazed, which one may regard as 
the link between the industrial and the agricultural workers of Staffordshire, 
and symbolical of the dependence of the one upon the other. 

Dr. Plot mentions this butter-pot incidentally in his description of the 
dairy industry in the limestone district and on the banks of the Dove, 

from which limestone hills and rich pastures and meadow the great Dairies are main- 
tained in this part of Staffordshire, that supply Uttoxeter Market with such vast quantities- 
of good butter and cheese that the cheesemongers of London have thought it worth their 
while to set up a Factorage here for these commodities. . . The butter they buy by the 
Pot of a long and cylindrical form made at Burslem in this County of a certain size. 94 

The main feature of the industrial revolution in England at the end of 
the eighteenth century was the widespread change from a system of domestic 
industry to one in which large numbers of wage-earners worked in large 
factories belonging to capitalist landowners, a change which brought with it 
a vast increase in the population of this country and a redistribution of popu- 
lation. It was made possible by the discovery and working of the great 
coalfields of northern and midland England, accompanied by a succession of 
important mechanical inventions, and completed by the application of steam 
to machinery as a motive power, in place of water, which had been used in 
the new factories that sprang up all over the country in the latter part of the 
eighteenth century. In 1750 Staffordshire was still one of the thinly 
populated counties, though since 1700 it had probably increased its population 
by 30 per cent. 95 Toynbee estimated its population in 1750 as 140 to the 
square mile compared with 862 in 1881. The inventions we are accustomed 
to connect most nearly with the industrial revolution are those associated 
with the textile industries ; these only indirectly affected Staffordshire by 
increasing the demand for coal and also for machinery, both needed in 
increasing quantities by the growth of the factory system made possible by 
these inventions. There were new cotton factories started at the end of the 
eighteenth century on the banks of the Dove and Trent, at Fazeley, Tarn- 
worth, Rocester, Tutbury, and Burton. 96 But it was the inventions in con- 
nexion with the mining and iron industries that made the industrial expansion 
of Staffordshire possible at this date, and especially the introduction of the 
new steam-engine of Watt and Boulton, first used at the engineering works- 
at Soho, whence so much of the machinery of the factories was supplied. 
For though the coal had always been there, in Staffordshire, the mines had 
only been worked to a very slight extent ; hence neither the coal nor the iron 
industry could make much progress. The new engine was used not only to 
pump water out of the mines, but also to sink shafts to bring the coal up from 
the pits. 

93 Rob. Plot, The Nat. Hist, of Staff. (1686), 122. 

94 Ibid. 108-9. An Act f '66 1 regulated the size of this butter-pot ; it was to hold 14 Ib. of butter 
and to be made of material hard enough not to imbibe moisture ; it was, moreover, to be 14 Jin. high and. 
6 A in. in diameter. 

B Toynbee, Indwtrlal Revolution, 34-5. * Pitt, Agrlc. Surf. (1796), 171. 

290 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

The result was an enormous development in the output of coal in 
Staffordshire and the other coalfields of England, followed by an immediate 
revival in the coal and iron trades, which had greatly declined between 1737 
and I74O. 97 

At the same time there was a series of important inventions affecting 
the manufacture of iron, and as a result all the various branches of the hard- 
ware trade received an immense impulse, and population grew rapidly in all 
the towns and manufacturing villages of the district. 

In North Staffordshire a similar effect was seen in the mining and 
pottery industries. In the latter, great progress had been made under the 
influence and guidance of Wedgwood, especially since the introduction of 
china clay from Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall had led to the establishment 
of the porcelain manufacture in this county, and consequently to a vast 
extension of the pottery trade there. 

Arthur Young, whose account of his northern tour through England 
was published in 1771, speaks of the rapid increase of the industry and its 
considerable export trade to Ireland, most of the European countries, America, 
and the East Indies, despite the great obstacles arising from the extraordinary 
difficulty of transporting the goods to the coast by means of wagons and 
pack-horses along the narrow clayey roads which led out of the county. 98 

The success of Brindley's effort in 1758 in making a canal for the Duke 
of Bridgewater's colliery at Worsley caused the progressive spirits among the 
North Staffordshire manufacturers, led by Wedgwood, to agitate for a similar 
enterprise in that district. 99 There was great opposition from the people of 
Newcastle, as they feared the traffic might be diverted from their town, to the 
detriment of their trade. But despite opposition the Grand Trunk or Trent 
and Mersey Canal was opened in 1777, and very greatly increased the trade 
of the Potteries, passing as it does through its chief towns, and connecting 
these with the centres of the salt industry of Cheshire and with the ports on 
the coast, notably Liverpool. Other canals followed in quick succession, 
chief among them being the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal, projected to 
unite the Severn with the Trent, and connected with the system now known 
as the Birmingham Navigation, which in its turn connects Birmingham with 
Wolverhampton, Bilston, and other centres of the iron and coal industry in 
South Staffordshire, so that this district presents a perfect network of canals 
with innumerable foundries, coal-pits, and other works clustered along their 
banks for convenience of transport. 

Among other short branch canals may be mentioned one of eighteen 
miles which runs from Uttoxeter up the Churnet Valley till it joins the one 
at Caldon, and finally meets the Grand Trunk at Stoke on Trent. 

About the same time that canals were being constructed all over Stafford- 
shire, the turnpike roads were undergoing great improvement, firstly by 
means of Acts of Parliament which enabled tolls to be levied for their upkeep, 
and afterwards owing to the improved methods introduced by Metcalfe, 
Telford, and Macadam. 

There was an early system of primitive railways in this county, in con- 
nexion with the mines, e.g. there was a system of wayleaves at Newcastle 

w De Gibbins, Industry in Engl. (1906), 352-3. 

98 Arthur Young, Tour through the North of England, iii, 253. " L. Jewitt, The Wedgwoods, 163. 

2 9 I 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

under Lyme, where colliery owners paid as much as 500 per annum for 
leave to draw coal over the estates of landowners, and it is probable that in 
1750 every important mine had its accompanying railroad, with wooden tram- 
lines at first, followed by iron ones after I738. 100 Apart from these mineral 
lines no railroad passed through Staffordshire till the opening of the Grand 
Junction Railway in 1837, which connected London with Liverpool and 
Manchester by way of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford, and Chester. 
Others quickly followed, and to-day the chief lines running through the 
county are the London and North Western with its various branches, and 
the North Staffordshire Railway, incorporated 1846, which connects the 
Potteries with every part of the country, and which took over in that year 
the Trent and Mersey Navigation. The Great Western passes through only 
a part of South Staffordshire, whilst the Midland Railway skirts Staffordshire 
pretty closely from Tamworth to Burton. 

By 1 80 1 the industrial development of the county had produced a con- 
siderable effect upon the population. Burslem contained 6,578 persons, 
whilst Stoke on Trent, with Bucknall-cum-Bagnall chapelry, had a population 
of no less than 16,414. 

In South Staffordshire the face of the county was being rapidly changed, 
and contemporary writers 101 bear witness to the rapid rise in population 
in many parishes in recent years. The parish of Handsworth is a good 
example of this. By 1801 its population had risen to 2,719, owing to its 
nearness to Birmingham and the establishment of various manufactures in 
its neighbourhood, notably the great manufactory of Watt and Boulton at 
Soho, already mentioned. A few years before Soho had been a barren heath 
upon the bleak summit of which, says Shaw, stood a lonely warrener's hut. 102 

The scattered parish of Sedgeley with its nine villages numbered 9,874 10 * 
inhabitants, chiefly workers in coal and iron. 104 Wolverhampton, which in 
1750 is estimated to have contained only 7,454 persons, 105 had now a popu- 
lation of I2,565, 106 and Walsall (Borough and Foreign) was not far behind 
with io,399. 107 The borough of Stafford contained only 3,898 persons, 108 
and Lichfield, including the Close, 4,842. 109 In the purely agricultural 
districts the changes in population were not very important. 

The same period that saw the industrial changes in Staffordshire wit- 
nessed here as elsewhere the progress of a considerable agrarian revolution. 
Agriculture had changed very little since mediaeval times, and even the sub- 
stitution of pasture for tillage which marked the sixteenth century appears to 
have been less considerable in Staffordshire than in many counties. Some 
improvements were made in the seventeenth century, such as the use of 
winter roots, learnt from the Dutch, and a greater interest was shown in 
artificial grasses. Still even these improved methods were not universally 
adopted, and it was not until the next century that any general and marked 
change took place. 

The chief features of the agrarian revolution were the inclosure of the 
common fields, the consolidation of farms by capitalist landlords, the intro- 

"* J. Langford, Staff, and ffarttt. Past and Present, 59-60. 
01 Stebbing Shaw, op. cit. ii, 117, 134 ; Pitt, Agric. Sun>. 174. 
" Stebbing Shaw, op. cit. ii, 117. 1M Pop. Returns. 

M Stebbing Shaw, op. cit. 222. los J. P. Brown, The Offic. Guide to Wolverhampton. 

m Pop. Returns. lw Ibid. 1M Ibid. ' Ibid. 

292 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 

duction of a system of rotation of crops, and the extension of what is known 
as artificial pasture by the more extended use of rye grass, clover, and sainfoin. 
The Staffordshire agriculturists had moved but slowly in the way of supple- 
menting their natural resources, judging by the evidence of Pitt, who 
made an agricultural survey for the newly-formed Board of Agriculture, and 
reported on it in 1796. 'Upon the whole,' he says, 'to the eye of the 
intelligent agricultural stranger it would convey the idea of a county just 
emerging from a state of barbarism.' A want of initiative seems to have 
been general, and the farmers are said to suffer from ' want of education and 
reading, though they are not wanting in readiness to adopt established im- 
provements.' no 

A similar want of intelligence and adaptability in the agricultural 
labourer seems to be shown by the evidence of a farmer who had been 
successfully ploughing with Leicestershire ploughs, worked by ploughmen 
from that county. But when these men returned to their homes the ploughs 
were useless, ' for,' said he, ' they might as well have taken the ploughs with 
them, for Staffordshire men could not plough with them.' m 

Pitt reported that the most considerable portion of the cultivated land 
was by that time inclosed, only about one hundred acres remaining in common 
fields, viz. at Stafford, Stone, Cheddleton, and Bloxwich. 113 Most of the 
inclosures date only from the beginning of the eighteenth century, though 
there is evidence of a certain number of small inclosures made in the early 
part of the seventeenth century in the neighbourhood of the Dove and near 
Needwood Forest, viz. at Rolleston, Uttoxeter, and Marchington. 113 

Shaw refers to the inclosure of the land round Wolverhampton, mostly 
effected at the opening of the eighteenth century, and describes the great 
productiveness of a certain tract of meadow which was nothing but a morass 
in the sixteenth century, and was known as the ' Hungry Leas.' 1U 

The case of Elford parish, too, described by Mr. Bourne, and quoted by 
Pitt, is a good example of the beneficial results generally accruing from 
inclosure. 'The greater part of the parish of Elford,' says Mr. Bourne, 'was 
common field till 1765, when an Act was obtained for an inclosure. By 
inclosure rents have been trebled and the tenants are better enabled to dis- 
charge them. About five hundred acres out of nineteen hundred are in 
tillage, which we suppose bring as much grass to market as the whole parish 
did in its open state. The quantity of cheese made now in proportion to 
that made prior to the inclosure is more than three to one ; the proportion of 
beef and mutton produced on the land is still greater, as much as ten to one, 
for though there were sometimes many sheep kept in the common fields, 
they were so subject to the rot that little or no profit arose to the farmer, or 
produce to the community. Respecting population there were, prior to the 
inclosure, fifty-seven houses; there are now seventy-six, and 360 inhabitants; 
the increase is not due to manufactures, merely to improved cultivation, 
which demanded more labour.' lu 

" Pitt, Agric. Surv. (1796), 26. '" Ibid. 389. 

"* The period from 1760 to 1830 was remarkable for the great number of Inclosure Acts for this county 
passed by Parliament. 

"* Rentals and Surv. Duchy of Lane. (Rec. Com.), 930, 991. 
114 Stebbing Shaw, op. cit. ii, 165. 
" Pitt, Agric. Surv. 41. 

293 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

The consolidation of small farms was not so extensive in this county as 
in some districts, farms being found of all sizes from 20 to 500 acres. 116 The 
value of estates varied greatly from that of the great nobleman or rich 
commoner worth 10,000 per annum to the holding of the forty shilling 
freeholder of historic fame. 

The improvements in agriculture were, however, chiefly due to the 
moderate proprietors of 200 to 300 acres, or to the high-class tenant farmers, 
who had been the first to introduce new methods of cultivation and stock- 
breeding. 117 

The rental of farms at this time ranged from IQJ. to 30^. per acre, but 
as a large part of the land was in a backward state of cultivation the average 
price would fall below 2OJ. 118 

' Few fortunes,' says Pitt, ' are made by farming, unless the farmer is 
connected with some other employment,' and he sums up the farmer's troubles 
as high rents and taxes, especially the poor rate and the malt tax, and the 
rise in the price of labourers' wages, and of the price of agricultural imple- 
ments and other materials. 119 

This was, of course, the time of the French War, of Corn Laws, of 
great fluctuations in the price of wheat, and of a serious rise in the poor rate 
due largely to a short-sighted and demoralizing system of administration. 
These great fluctuations in price were welcomed by the capitalist farmers 
who could withhold their stock till prices rose, but the small farmer was 
often ruined by the low prices ; yet rents went up steadily. 120 The average 
price of wheat per quarter rose from 43^. in 1792 to 75^. zd. in 1795, and 
78.1-. jd. in 1796. In 1798 it had fallen to 5U. iod., but rose next year to 
69^., and in 1800 was as high as 103-1-. Io ^- m 

In 1796 a considerable part of the county was waste and unimproved 
land. Cannock Chase was still a wild heathery moorland tract, unsullied by 
the smoke of coke ovens. Part of the east side of Dilhorne Heath had been 
recently planted with potatoes which had produced excellent crops. ' In 
fine,' says Pitt, ' in this part of the moorlands the potato harvest is of great 
consideration, and the thirty thousand artificers and " yeomanry " there eat 
very little wheaten bread.' l2 ' 2 

The wages of agricultural labour varied considerably in different parts of 
the county, being highest always in the neighbourhood of manufactures, but 
having increased within the last two years, according to Pitt, about 10 per 
cent., this being due to the cutting of canals, in which work a labourer could 
earn 2J. >d. or 3^. per day without beer, compared with the is. or is. 6d. 
per day with beer, which is given as the average rate of an agricultural 
labourer's daily wages in ijq6. 

Similarly, the recent erection of cotton-mills in various places had made 
it extremely difficult to get female farm servants without paying excessive 
wages. A dairymaid earned 3 ioj. to 5 per annum at this time, and an 
under-dairymaid from 2 IQJ. to 3 ioj. ls * 

Admittedly the wages of the day labourer were inadequate to provide 
him with the necessary provisions at current prices. Beef and mutton could, 

16 Pitt, op. cit. 25, 26. > Ibid. 16-17. "' Ibid. 26. 

" Ibid. 32. lw Cunningham, Hist, of Industry and Commerce, ii, 477-9. 

" WHtaktft Almanack, 1906. Pitt, op. cit. 129. m Ibid. 155-6. "' Ibid. 156. 

294 



SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



however, be obtained at from ^\d. to \\d. per lb., and butter at lod. to is. 
Fuel was, of course, plentiful and cheap, and it was usual for the ordinary farm 
labourer to get a load of coal weighing nearly three tons as part of his harvest 
pay. In the moorlands a good deal of peat was dug for fuel, and wood was 
still used to some extent for smelting purposes. 125 

It is interesting to compare the state of things in 1796 with that 
recorded nearly three-quarters of a century later in i869. 126 In 1796 the 
amount of cultivated land was 600,000 acres, in 1869 it had fallen to 
570,000. During the same period the meadow and pasture land had been 
more than trebled, rising from 100,000 acres to 340,000 acres, an increase 
which has continued, as the Agricultural Returns for 1904 show an extent of 
438, 220 acres to be under permanent pasture. An immense and unparalleled 
rise in manufacturing industries is recorded in 1869, accompanied by a rise 
in agricultural wages, and an occasional scarcity of labour, which might have 
been very serious but for the increase in pasturage. 127 A point worth notice 
is the greater equality of wages in various parts of the county at the later 
date, due to improved means of communication by railways and the develop- 
ment of manufactures. For instance, the local industries competing with 
agricultural labour in the Uttoxeter district, which is not a manufacturing 
area, included in 1893 all the following winter work at the Burton 
breweries ; an iron-foundry at Uttoxeter employing 400 hands ; cotton 
mills in the Dove valley ; brass and copper works at Oakamoor ; collieries 
and a tape factory at Cheadle ; and, finally, alabaster and gypsum works 
at Draycott in the Clay, employing 100 men, at an average wage of 
1 8j. per week. 128 

At Uttoxeter itself the cottage accommodation is said to have been 
much improved since the growth of the ironworks, the increased population 
having led to a new demand for well-built cottages in place of the old 
insanitary ones, many of which were pulled down. 129 At Rocester, too, the 
cottages were found to be of good quality, many of them having been recently 
built by the owners of the large cotton-mills in the place. 130 The average 
weekly wages of an agricultural labourer in 1796, at the rate of 15^. for 
thirteen weeks and ioj. 6d, for the other thirty-nine, works out at i is. q\d. 
per week, whilst in 1869 a married ploughman obtained 1 2s. per week, a 
house and garden, an annual load of coal, and often a potato patch in his 
employer's field, making, as Evershed computes, an average of 151. per week. 

Midway between these two dates, in 1834, the average wages of an 
agricultural labourer amounted to los. in winter and 1 2s. in summer, 131 
whilst in 1892 the wages of the typical agricultural district of Uttoxeter are 
given as 15^. to 17^., compared with 14.*. in the same district in i867-7o. 13 ' 
' Compared with twenty-five years ago,' says Mr. Little, Senior Agricultural 
Commissioner, in 1893, 'wages are higher, food cheaper, hours of work 
fewer, and educational advantages greater.' 133 At the present time (1906) the 

115 Pitt, op. cit. 163. 1K 'The Agric. of Staff.' Journ. Royal Agric. Soc. (Ser. 2), v, (1869). 

'" H. Evershed, op. cit. 269. 

1W ' Rep. of Mr. Edward Wilkinson, Assistant Commissioner,' Rep. of Poor Law Commissioners (1893-4), 
vol. xxxv. [c. 6894, vi, 93]. m Ibid. 94. " Ibid. 95. 

131 Rep. of Poor Law Commissioners, 1834. App. B. I, pt. i, pp. 439(7-464. 
131 Rep. of Labour Com. iii, vol. xxxvii, pt. ii [c. 6894, xxv, 59]. 
131 Ibid. 1893-4, Rep. iii, 159. 

295 



A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 

wages of an agricultural labourer in this district vary from 1 6s. to 1 8j. with 
the 4 Ib. loaf at \\d. to $d. 

A good deal of light is thrown on the social condition of the people in 
Staffordshire by studying its Poor Law administration in various periods. We 
do not know much of its early history after the passing of the great Consoli- 
dating Act of 1 60 1, but here and there are indications of the difficulties 
experienced by the local authorities dealing with the care of the poor, and 
the need for special measures not laid down by the Act during times of 
special distress. For instance, in April, 1631, the justices of the peace for 
Stafford say they have adopted the measures directed by the ' Book of Orders ' 
for relief of the poor during times of scarcity of corn, viz. the enforcement 
of penalties in cases in which the fine was given to the poor, the sale of corn 
to the poor below market price, a compulsory reduction of the quantity of 
corn converted into malt, and the billeting of poor children on the inhabi- 
tants of the parish as apprentices. 134 The justices add, however, that there 
are great abuses in Lichfield, Stafford, and Tamworth, corporate towns, into 
which they have no authority to enter. A little later on in the same year 
they say they have procured the maltsters and ale-sellers of Lichfield, Burton, 
and Tamworth to contribute certain sums to the relief of the poor. 

The building of workhouses was slow in this county. The one estab- 
lished at Bilston in 1700 was the first in the district, being a two-roomed 
building belonging to one John Wooley of ' Ye Bull in Bilston ' : ' Ye in- 
habitants to have free liberty to place what poore persons they shall think fitt 
in yt part of my house wherein ye Widdo Bennett now is placed.' 136 

No workhouse was built in Walsall till ijiy and Shaw writing in 
i 80 1 gives an unfavourable account of the Wolverhampton workhouse. He 
describes it as dark, dirty, and ill-ventilated, surrounded by a high wall which 
prevents the circulation of air, adding that whenever small-pox, measles, or 
malignant fevers make their appearance, the mortality is very great. In 1801 
there were 131 inmates, of whom about sixty were children and the rest 
soldiers' wives with families, and others, either infirm, old, or insane. 
Those able to work made hop-sacks in a workshop provided by the parish, 
under a manufacturer who paid is. zd. per head for every pauper above eight 
years old who could work, for which he was entitled to their earnings, which 
generally amounted to 80 per annum. 137 

In the year ending 1793 the average number of poor in the house was 
sixty-nine, and the expenditure on food 2s. ^\d. per week for each person. 138 

In Stafford there were other devices for dealing with the poor. In 
1700 

one John Higginson did offer to take upon himself the general care of the poor of the 
corporation and to pay the several sums allowed for their support, he being remunerated for 
his trouble to the extent of