Baswich, or Berkswich (Holy Trinity)

BASWICH, or Berkswich (Holy Trinity), a parish, partly in the union of Stafford, and partly in that of Penkridge, E. division of the hundred of Cuttlestone, S. division of the county of Stafford, 2 miles (E. S. E.) from Stafford; consisting of the chapelry of Acton-Trussell with Bednall, and the townships of Baswich and Brompton; and containing 1438 inhabitants, of whom 626 are in the township of Baswich. This parish, which lies on the road from Stafford to Lichfield, comprises by measurement 4951 acres, whereof 1644 are in Baswich township: the soil is gravelly, productive, and suitable to the growth of turnips and barley. The surface is undulated, the scenery picturesque, and the land entirely agricultural: the rivers Penk and Sow skirt the parish; the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal passes through it, and the Liverpool and Birmingham railway within two miles. Part of Cannock chase is within the parish. In Baswich township are the hamlets of Milford, Radford, Walton, and Weeping-Cross. The living is a vicarage not in charge; net income, £238; patrons, John Newton Lane, Esq., and the Rev. William Inge. The church is an ancient structure with a square tower. A chapel of ease has been erected at Walton, on a site presented by the Earl of Lichfield: it is in the early English style, with open sittings; the chancel has a window of triple lancet shape, embellished with stained glass, and a smaller window is also painted. The chapels of Acton and Bednall form a separate incumbency. A national and Sunday school is supported by subscription; at Milford is a day school maintained by Mrs. Levett; and a school at Brockton, in the parish, is endowed with 7a. 1r. of land, supposed to have been given by Mrs. Dorothy Bridgman, and for the proceeds of which nine children are taught.