Uttoxeter, a place of great antiquity, and most pleasantly situated on a hill of easy ascent, on the side of the river Dove, over which is a good tone bridge into Derbyshire. The town formerly suffered much by fire, but is now large and well built, with three streets branching from the market-place, which is neat and commodious. The church has a lofty steeple, with six bells, and a clock and chimes.

This town is surrounded with iron forges, and several considerable iron-mongers carry on a great trade here in that manufacture; and by the late inland navigation it has communication with the rivers Mersey, Dee, Ribble, Ouse, Trent, Derwent, Severn, Humber, Thames, Avon, &c. The market, which is on Wednesday, is reckoned one of the greatest in these parts for cattle, sheep, butter, cheese, corn, &c. The town is situated 135 miles from London, and contains according to the late population act, 926 houses and 4658 inhabitants.

Uttoxeter is remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants. Sir Simon Degge, who was born here, and died at the age of ninety-two, in a letter dated August 27, 1726, writes: "In the three weeks I have been at Uttoxeter there have been buried four men and two women, one woman aged 94, and the other 83: one man 91, another 87, and another 82, and one young man of 68. Yesterday I talked with a man of 90, who has all his senses, and walks without a staff; about a month since he had a fever and was speechless two days; his daughter is 60; and about six months since he buried his wife, who had lived 63 years with him, and was aged 85. In this town are now living three men and their wives, who have had 53 children, and each hath the same wife by which he had his children, now alive. They are all young men, the oldest not being above 60. I will only tell you that in 1702 there died here three women, their years as follow: one 103, the second 126, the third 87. "Sir Simon says, that he had seven brothers and sisters, all living together, not long since, and the youngest 60 years of age.

Uttoxeter was the birth place of the late Admiral Gardner, who opposed Mr. Home Tooke as a candidate to serve in parliament for Westminster, and succeeded, though the Admiral is said to have been more alarmed at his wit, satire, and eloquence, than at a shower of cannon balls from an enemy’s fleet.

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UTTOXETER, anciently “Uttoxethather,” “Uttokcester,” and “Utcester,” is a parish, market, and union town, and head of a petty sessional division and county court district, and junction station on the North Staffordshire railway: it is 136 miles from London, 36 from Birmingham, 15 north-east-by-east from Stafford, 15 north-north-west from Burton-upon-Trent, 12 south from Ashbome, 20 from Leek, 16 ½ from Stoke and 18 ½ from Newcastle in the Burton division of the county, hundred of South Totmonslow, rural deanery of Uttoxeter, archdeaconry of Stoke-upon-Trent, and diocese of Lichfield.

Evidence exists to show that Uttoxeter or its immediate suburbs was a British settlement before the Roman occupation, and is deemed also to have been a Roman station, various fragments of Roman pottery and metal work having been met with on the spot; in the Saxon period it belonged to Earl Algar, but after the Norman Conquest was bestowed by William I. on Henry de Ferrers, whose descendant, William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby of that name, granted the town its first charter, dated August 15th, 1252. In 1295 it was transferred, on his rebellion, to Edmund (Plantagenet), Earl of Lancaster, second son of Henry III., and on the beheading, in 1320, of the second earl, it became a demesne of the Crown, and was subsequently held by the famous John of Ghent, Duke of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III., on whose death, in 1399, it reverted to his son, Henry, Earl of Hereford, afterwards Henry IV.: in 1625 the manor and other appendages were sold to Lord William Craven and three others, and resold to the inhabitants for £3,120. During the Civil War the inhabitants, though suffering from the exactions of both parties, sided generally with the Parliament, but the town was thrice visited by the king in 1642, 1643 and 1645, and on the accession of Charles II. became demonstrative in its loyalty; great rejoicings took place here on the acquittal of the seven bishops in 1688, and in 1745 the Duke of Cumberland, advancing to meet the forces of Prince Charles Edward, remained here two nights. The town suffered severely from extensive fires in August 21, 1596, and in 1672; and in 1646 was visited by the plague.

The town stands on a fine dry elevation, on the borders of Derbyshire, about a mile from the river Dove, over which is a handsome stone bridge, and is considered a peculiarly healthy locality. From the High Wood, on the south side, the Weaver Hills, 1,500 feet above the sea level, stand out conspicuously; on the right is Doveridge; a little more distant, Eaton Bank; sweeping southward, Needwood Forest, and the winding current of the Dove, the valley of which is famous for its extent and fertility.

Uttoxeter is the junction of lines from Ashbourne, Manchester (via Macclesfield), Crewe (via Stoke), Derby and Nottingham, Burton-on-Trent and Stafford; these place the town in communication with all parts of the country: it is lighted with gas, and is well supplied with free pumps and conduits of soft water, the repair and upholding of which are defrayed out of the profits of the aftermath of Nether-wood and Broad meadows, containing together about 130 acres.

A church existed here in 1251, but this structure was replaced by another between 1307—77, to which the existing, tower and spire and some other remains belong; the greater part of the fabric, however, was rebuilt in 1828 at a cost of £6,000, and the present church of St. Mary is a building of stone in the Decorated style, consisting of a chancel, nave of six bays, aisles of equal height, vestry, south porch and a battlemented tower with angle turret and octagonal spire rising to a height of about 180 feet, and containing a peal of 8 bells, dating chiefly from 1729, a clock and a set of chimes: the spire was severely injured by lightning 6th February, 1814, and had to be partially rebuilt, and in 1849 and 1858 was further repaired: the Mynors family, of Hollingbury Hall, had a private chapel attached to the church, on the site of the present vestry, and there were also in the church in 1794 some curious monuments of this family, all of which have now disappeared; on the north side, surrounded by iron railings, are two memorials to the Kynnersleys, of Loxley, one of which, an altar-tomb of the 16th century, bears the engraved effigy of a knight in armour, beneath a canopy, and is inscribed to Thomas Kynnersley: one side is arranged in three compartments, carved with a representation of the “Crucifixion,” kneeling female figures, and shields of arms; the other altar-tomb, which is considerably lower, bears the recumbent effigy of a'religieuse and the date 1555; the sides are panelled in traceried circles with the arms of Kynnersley and Ferrers, but the end of the tomb, with the feet of the figure, has been sawn off: there are mural monuments to Thomas Lightfoot, 36 years vicar, ob. 1653, and Elizabeth his wife, ob. 1636; Sir William Milward, of Eaton, ob. 1630; and John Archbold, ob. 1629, aged 103: in the churchyard is a tomb inscribed to Lieut.-Col. Gardner, 11th Dragoons, d. 1762; and on the south side is a conspicuous monument, erected by their mother, to John Fox Croker, d. 1807, and Elizabeth Fox Croker, d. 1822: the stained east window was the gift of the late Thomas Hart esq. and Sir Thomas Cotton Sheppard bart., and there are two memorial windows to Thomas Sneyd Kynnersley esq., d. 1844; in August, 1648, the church was converted into a place of confinement for Scotch prisoners, who did great damage to the building, and left it in a lamentable state: in 1877 the chancel was lengthened and re-consecrated by Bishop Selwyn, and the organ removed from the west gallery into an organ chamber, erected over the old vestry, at a cost of £1,000: at the same time a reredos of Derbyshire marble was erected to the memory of C. T. Sneyd Kynnersley esq., of Loxley Park, who died in 1876, and another stained window inserted; in 1889 the church was further restored, at a cost of £1,000, when the Mynors and Kynnersley tombs were removed from under the north gallery stairs and repaired by Mrs. Sneyd Kynnersley, and placed on each side of the font, under the beautiful western arch, which is now exposed to view by the removal of the galleries: the communion plate includes a paten, given by Lettice Prett; a chalice by William and Ann Hart in 1637; and a flagon by Mrs. Sarah Smith in 1752: there are 1,322 sittings, 422 being free. The register dates from 1596, but a remark on the cover shows that there had been an earlier volume. The living is a vicarage, average tithe rent-charge £151, gross yearly value £200, net £170, with residence and 55 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Dean and Canons of Windsor, and held since 1854 by the Rev. Henry Abud M.A., of Wadham College, Oxford, prebendary of Lichfield, rural dean of Uttoxeter and surrogate; the Dean and Canons of Windsor are owners of the great tithes, amounting to £725 yearly, which are now in the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. There are two chapels of ease, one on The Heath and the other in Pinfold street, built in 1873 and 1886 at a total cost of £800.

The Catholic church of St. Mary, in Balance street, erected in 1839, is a structure of brick with stone dressings, in the Gothic style, and was enlarged in 1879 from designs by Mr. P. P. Pugin: here is a circular stained window over the entrance door, and a memorial window was erected in 1887 to Mrs. Bamford, of Uttoxeter, and there are several others: a new organ was erected in 1887 at a cost of £300.

The Congregational chapel, in Carter street, was built in 1827—8, the adjoining school room in 1842, and the minister’s house in 1848; the earliest chapel, standing in the same street, was erected in 1788. The Methodists erected their first preaching house here, in Balance street, in 1775, and John Wesley once preached in the Market place; the present chapel in High street was built in 1812, and opened by the celebrated Dr. Jabez Bunting. The Primitive Methodist chapel is in Carter street, and was built in 1841 and rebuilt in 1878. The Brethren meet at the Town Hall.

The Cemetery, laid out in 1861, occupies a site of about 3 acres on the Stafford road, west of the town; there are two mortuary chapels in the Gothic style, erected, with a lodge, from designs by Mr. B. Wilson, architect, of Derby, and costing altogether £1,333, the cost of the site and laying out being £671 17s. 2d.; it is under the control of the Parish Council.

The Town Hall, in the High street, was erected in 1854 at a cost of £4,000, and is a handsome building of brick with stone dressings, from the designs of Mr. Fradgely, architect; it contains rooms for the magistrates’ meetings, the county court, literary institute and police office with cells; the first stone was laid 25th August, 1853, by Lord Waterpark, and the building opened November 29th, 1854.

Here is an extensive brewery: some business is done in brick making, and there are large agricultural implement works, employing over 400 men.

The Market place is extensive, and from it the principal streets diverge. The market, a charter for which was granted to the burgesses by Robert de Ferrers, and subsequently confirmed to Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, in 1292, and to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, in 1308, is held every Wednesday, and is well supplied with corn and provisions, and every alternate Wednesday with a good number of cattle. At the back of the Town Hall is Smithfield Cattle Market, formerly held on market and fair days in the streets: this market occupies over an acre, and is fitted with stalls and pens at a cost of about £1,500: seven fairs are held annually, viz. for cattle, on May 6th, September 19th and November 11th and 27th; colt fair, September 19th; and for cheese, the Thursday after the second Tuesday in March, the first Tuesday in September and the second Thursday in November.

A Mechanics’ Literary Institute was established in the early part of the year 1839, but was superseded in 1855 by a new Institute, which occupies rooms, including a reading and news room and a library, at the Town Hall; the library now comprises about 800 volumes, and there are 200 members.

The principal hotels are the White Hart, in Carter street; the Cross Keys, in High street, and the Lion, in the Market place.

The Almshouses in Carter street, founded and endowed by Catherine Mastergent, by will, dated March 20th, 1646, and John Wright, by will, dated March 23rd, 1729, are for four widows: in the same street are other almshouses for eight widows, founded and endowed in the year 1700 by William Lathropp, and rebuilt in 1848 at a cost of £300: there are also a number of cottages in Pinfold lane, built by Joseph Bladon esq. of Old Field House, who died January 12th, 1863, in which aged persons, on a nominal acknowledgment, are permitted to reside.

By a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, dated 31st July, 1883, the aftermath of Broad Meadow and Netherwood Meadow, together about 120 acres, besides 7 acres of land anciently inclosed from Broad Meadow, is to be applied towards the expense of supplying the town with water; the average annual income is £50. William Phillips esq. of Springfield House, by will dated September 12th, 1863, gave £800 in trust for distribution in bed linen and blankets yearly. There is also a charity producing £50 yearly, founded by John Dynes, for putting out poor apprentices. The town has also other considerable charities, amounting altogether to about £225 yearly, which is distributed partly in clothing, fuel and provisions, and the residue in money.

Uttoxeter was the birthplace, January 15th, 1612, of Sir Simon Degge kt. judge of Western Wales, in the reign of Charles II.; he was also a famous antiquary, and wrote copious manuscript notes to Plott’s “Natural History of Staffordshire,” which are now in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, and to Erdeswick’s “Survey of Staffordshire,” and died in 1704, aged 92: Thomas Allen, the distinguished mathematician and philosopher, was born here 21st December, 1542, and in 1565 was elected Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford; he died at Gloucester Hall (now Worcester College) in 1632, aged 90: Samuel Bentley, the poet, was born here May 9th, 1720, and died 28th February, 1803, aged 83: Admiral Alan Gardner, born here 12th April, 1742, was the 8th son of Lieut.-Col. Gardner, 11th Dragoons, and entered the Royal Navy in 1755; he was some time from 1793 M.P. for Plymouth, and subsequently in 1796 for Westminster; for his distinguished services in the famous action of June 1st, 1794, he was made a baronet, 9th September in that year, and was raised to the Irish peerage as Baron Gardner of Uttoxeter, 29th December, 1800; he died in 1809: Mary Howitt, the well-known authoress, was also born here in 1805, in a house in Balance street; she died in 1888.

Dr. Johnston did voluntary penance in Uttoxeter Market place, by standing bare-headed in the rain, in remorse for having refused years previously to take charge of his father’s bookstall, while the latter was in in bed. Abas-relief copied from that at Lichfield has been inserted in the conduit in the market to perpetuate the event.

Several mineral springs exist not far from the town, including Pennycroft well on the north, and Moat spring, near Buttermilk Hill, both of which are sulphurous; a saline spring near Draycott mill, one purely vitriolic on Needwood Forest, and alumineous waters at Draycott.

The manorial rights are divided, the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot and other proprietors being lords of the manors. The surrounding county is principally devoted to grazing for dairy purposes, the pasturage being both rich and luxuriant.

Uttoxeter contained in 1891 a population of 5,516 in the civil and 5,098 in the ecclesiastical parish, including 77 officers and inmates in the Workhouse; the area is 9,209 acres; rateable value, £34,430, including the hamlets of Crakemarsh, Stramshall, and Creighton, Loxley, Woodlands, Woodgate, Little Bramshall, and Spath.

Woodlands is an extensive district of scattered farms, 2 miles south-east from Uttoxeter, pleasantly situated, and commanding a fine view of the vale of the Dove; it was formerly common land, but was apportioned to numerous small proprietors under the Inclosure Act, and now forms an important adjunct to the parish. Highfields is the residence of Mrs. Sneyd-Kynnersley.

The soil is loam: subsoil, gravel, apparently terminating at the lower edge of the town, on the south; the adjoining hills are clay and marl, and the Highwood consists of clay, with large boulders, marl, gravel, and sand. The land is chiefly in pasture for dairy purposes. The area 2,419 acres; rateable value and population included in Uttoxeter.

Petty Sessions are held at the Town hall, Uttoxeter. every alternate Wednesday at 12 noon. The following places are included in the division:-Abbot’s Bromley, Bagot’s Bromley, Bromley Hurst, Blithfield, Bromshall, Combridge, Crakemarsh, Calwich, Croxden, Dodsley, Draycott, Ellaston, Field, Fole, Gratwich, High Wood, Kingston, Loxley, Leigh, Moreton, Marchington, Marchington Woodlands, Mayfield, Middleton Green, Newborough (upper quarter), Newborough (lower quarter), Newton, Nobut, Okeover, Prestwood, Quixill, Rocester, Ramsor, Stramshall, Stubby Lane, Stanton, Thorney Lanes, Uttoxeter, Willslock, Withington & Wootton.

Uttoxeter Union

Board day every alternate Wednesday (large market day), at the Town hall at 11.0 a.m.

The Union comprises the following places.:-Abbot’s Bromley, Blithfield, Boylston (Derby), Bramshall, Croxden, Cubley (Derby), Doveridge (Derby), Draycott-in-the-Clay, Field, Gratwich, Kingstone, Leigh, Marchington, Marchington Woodlands, Marston Montgomery (Derby), Newborough, Norbury & Roston (Derby), Rocester, Somersal, Herbert (Derby), Sudbury (Derby) & Uttoxeter. The population of the Union in 1891 was 14,616; area, 65,443 acres; rateable value, 1895, £129,223.

The Workhouse, Heath, erected in 1788, & re-erected 1840, at a cost of £3,900, is a substantial edifice of brick, covering an area of 3 roods, & will hold 126 inmates.

Places of Worship, with times of Services

St. Mary’s Church, Rev. Henry Abud M.A. vicar; Rev. John Henry Lilwall Edwards B.A. curate; 11 a.m. 3 p.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily 8.30 a.m.

St. Mary’s Catholic, Balance street, Rev. John Joseph McGahren, priest; mass 11 a.m.; service & benediction 6.30 p.m. mass daily 8 a.m. & holy days 9.15 a.m. & 7.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Congregational, Carter street, Rev. Richard Barker; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Carter street, Rev. F. A. Ingram, 2.30 & 6 p.m.; tues. 7 p.m.

Plymouth Brethren, Town hall; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Wesleyan Methodist, High street, Rev. John Lamplough 10.30 a.m. & 6. p.m.; tues. 7 p.m.

Schools

Aleyne’s Endowed Grammar School, founded in 1558, restored in 1859 & reconstituted in 1886, has an endowment of £400 yearly. There are ten free scholarships, the examination for which is held in June; one exhibition of £50 yearly to Universities; school tuition fee £66s. & £5 5s.; boarders in headmaster’s house £40 in addition to tuition fee. The Master & Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, are the trustees.

National, Bradley street (boys, girls & infants), erected in 1855 & enlarged 1893, for 250 boys, 120 girls & 240 infants; average attendance, 170 boys, 110 girls & 172 infants.

New Day, High street, erected in 1812, for 180 children; average attendance, 164.

Catholic, Balance street, for 180 children: average attendance, 118.