Waterfall (St. James)

WATERFALL (St. James), a parish, in the N. division of the hundred of Totmonslow and of the county of Stafford, 7 miles (E. S. E.) from Leek, on the road to Ashbourn; containing, with the chapelry of Calton, 517 inhabitants, of whom 446 are in Waterfall township. The river Hamps, which encompasses about two-thirds of the parish, enters the ground at Waterhouses, and pursues a subterraneous course of about three miles to Ilam, where it emerges and joins the river Manifold. The parish comprises about 1200 acres, mostly a limestone soil, with a portion of clay, and diversified with hill and dale. Gritstone, and lead-ore, are found; and at the hamlet of Winkhill are two paper-mills, a flax-mill, and an iron forge and foundry. The living is a perpetual curacy, with a net income of £65; patron, A. Henniker, Esq.; impropriator, John Townsend, Esq. The church, with the exception of the chancel, was rebuilt about a century ago. At Winkhill is a place of worship for Wesleyans, and at Waterhouses one for Primitive Methodists. A school is aided by an endowment of £6. 12. per annum, with a house for the mistress.