Norton-in-the-Moors in 1817

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

NORTON-IN-THE-MOORS.

Norton-on-the-Moors, is a parish of Pirehill North, situated about five miles N. N. E. of Newcastle, on the road between that town and Leek. It contains the townships of Bemersley and Norton; and among other hamlets, and places, are Milton, Whitfield, Ford-Green, Ball-Green, Norton-Green, Badiley-Edge, Brown Edge, &c. The two last are commons, on which are built several cottages, some scattered and some nearly adjoining each other. 

The village of Norton is situated on an eminence between two of the upper branches of the river Trent; the land in its vicinity is cold, and the country hilly. This district abounds with coal at various depths, some 80 yards deep and more. The strata are from four to seven feet thick. The price varies : at some pits it is sold at 8s. 4d. per ton. 

The Church is a plain small edifice of brick, which was probably re-built in the year 1738. According to a memorandum in the Parish register, " the old Church began to be taken down May the third, and the foundation of the new church was marked out May 6th, 1737." 

A square tower at the west end has its top corners ornamented with four balls or small globes, and is remarkable for containing the only doors of entrance, the chief of which is on the west side, and leads into the body of the church. The way to the gallery at the west end is by a flight of steps on the out-side and on the north side of the tower, which also leads to the belfry and station for the ringers. The bottom of the tower may be considered a kind of porch, which contains the following appropriate notice to the parishioners on a table hung against the wall : 

" As there is in many parishes a rule made, that, except the corpses be brought to church by fair day-light, precisely at a certain hour, they are not to be buried till the next morning.  And whereas there is in this parish a growing ill custom of burying at late hours, to the harm and danger of the living, without the least benefit to the dead.  And whereas many persons attending funerals complain of the inconvenience of being subjected to the cold and damp of the night Therefore, it is hereby ordered for the advantage of all, and the disadvantage of none, that every corpse shall be at the church at the times hereafter-mentioned, viz.  In November, December, and January, at half-past three.  In October and February, at four.  In all the other months, at five.  

THOMAS MIDDLETON, Curate. ' RICHARD BALL, Church Wardens,  FRANCIS HARGREAVES, J 1775." 

Benefactions. The following sums were left by the individuals hose names are here subscribed, as appears from the tables in the church : 

1. The yearly interest of sums bequeathed for the use of the poor. 

Hugh Ford (a) of the nearer side of the water, 4l. 

William Ford (b), father of H. F. (a) of the nearer house to Norton on Ford-Green, 6l 

William Forde (c), late of the further side of the water, 20l. 

Ellen Forde, (d) wife of W. F. (c) for poor householders, and to be dealt at the discretion of W. F.'s heirs, 30l. 

Hugh Meare, late of Norton-Hall Houses, 5l. 

Mr. John Pott, schoolmaster of Norton, (for poor householders), 10l. 

William Sherratt, late of Bearstone, in the county of Salop, 10l. 

Mr. Thomas Sherrett, 10l. 

The principal of this last charity, and for which the curate of Norton is trustee, lies on Mr. W. Sherrett's property in Milton. 

2. Annuity or yearly sum bequeathed for the use of the poor. 

William Meare, late of Pott-shrigley, in the county of Chester, left charged on a field called Annats-field, at Norton Green, the yearly sum of 2l. 10s. 

3. The yearly interest of sums bequeathed and to be distributed to the poor in bread. . 

Sir John Bowyer, Knight and Baronet, left 3l. 

Mr. Moor, 2l. 

Mr. Josiah Keeling, late of Milton, 12l. 

This last charity is directed to be distributed, the first Sunday in each month, publickly in the church. 

4. Poor's pew and seats in the gallery.

Hugh Forde, of Forde Green, did in his life give the furthermost pew situated in the north end of the gallery, and all the sitting in the arch in the wall in the middle part of the gallery, for the use of the poor inhabitants of this parish for ever. 

5. The yearly interest of sums bequeathed for the use and towards the maintenance of a schoolmaster. 

Ellen Forde (d) left 30l. 

Ellen Forde, daughter of W. F. (c), 20l. 

A School and House for the abode of the parish schoolmaster, is in the church-yard on the eastern side near the Lich-gate. 

The Living is at present (1817) a chapel of ease to Stoke-upon-Trent, but by an Act of Parliament passed eight or ten years ago, upon the death, cession, or other voidance of the present incumbent, it becomes a Rectory, and in addition to its present emoluments, (except £50. a-year now allowed by the rector of Stoke) will be endowed with all the great and small tithes of the township of Norton, which at present belong to the rector of Stoke. The Rev. Daniel Turner is the present incumbent. 

There are three Meeting-Houses belonging to Dissenters in this parish, the largest of which stands in the village of Norton. 

Several excommunications are recorded in the parish register, in the seventeenth century. The laxity of ancient church discipline in the present day makes such instances and events scarcely known, or very rare. 

This parish contains, 329 houses, 336 families ; 900 males, 861 females: total, 1,761 inhabitants.