Bushbury in 1859

BUSHBURY (ST. MARY), a parish, in the union of PENKRTDGE, partly in the E. division of the hundred of CUTTLESTONE, and partly in the N. division of that of SEISDON, S. division of the county of STAFFORD, 2 miles (N. by E.) from Wolverhampton; containing, with the township of Essington, and the hamlet of Moseley, 1509 inhabitants.

This parish, situated on the road from Wolverhampton to Liverpool and Manchester, comprises 6400 acres, of which 2950 are in the township of Essington  it abounds with coal, which is extensively wrought, and for the conveyance of the produce facility is afforded by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal, and the Grand Junction railway, which pass through the parish. Moseley Hall, then the residence of Thomas Whitgreave, to whom there is a marble tablet in the church, was the place of temporary concealment for Charles II., when on his way to Bentley. 

The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £7.11.5., and in the patronage of the Landowners; net income, £159. The church was built about the year 1460, and some years ago was repaired and enlarged. A parochial school is supported by subscription. 

An 1859 Gazetteer description of the following places in Bushbury is to be found on a supplementary page.

• Essington
• Moseley

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