RUGELEY (St. Augustine), a market-town and parish, in the union of Lichfield, E. division of the hundred of Cuttlestone, S. division of the county of Stafford, 9 miles (E. S. E.) from Stafford, and 127 (N. W. by N.) from London; containing 3774 inhabitants. This parish includes a portion of Cannock chase, the whole of which, comprising nearly 20,000 acres, still uninclosed, was, together with the manor of Rugeley, granted by Henry VIII. to William, first Lord Paget, ancestor of the Marquess of Anglesey, the present lord of the manor. The town is agreeably situated near the south bank of the river Trent, on the road from Stafford to Lichfield; it is lighted with gas, is remarkably clean, and of respectable appearance. There are several good streets; two of them, called Albion-street and Church-street, have been lately formed, and many of the houses in the latter are of a superior order. The trade is greatly promoted by the proximity of the Grand Trunk canal, which connects the navigation of the rivers Trent and Mersey, and passing northward of the town, between it and the river, communicates with the Brereton collieries, in the parish, by a tramroad, and not far distant is carried over the Trent by a fine aqueduct. The Trent-Valley railway, also, completed in 1847, runs near the town. Here are an iron-foundry, and mills for rolling sheet-iron, also a small manufactory for sugar of lead and verdigris: hats were formerly made to a considerable extent, but this branch of trade has very much declined. The market is on Thursday. Fairs take place on April 15th; June 1st, a very large horse-fair, which continues till the 6th, on which day is also a large cattlefair; October 21st, for cattle, sheep, and horses; and the second Tuesday in December. The powers of the county debt-court of Rugeley, established in 1847, extend over part of the registration-district of Lichfield. A court leet is held in October.
The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £5. 2., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, the appropriators: the great tithes have been commuted for £405; and the vicarial for £315, with a glebe of 8 acres. The present church was erected in 1822, with stone given by the Marquess of Anglesey; it has a tower, and contains 430 free sittings, in consideration of a grant of £800 from the Incorporated Society. Of the old edifice, the tower and chancel remain entire, and the latter is used as a schoolroom; the arches are in ruins. A district church has been built at Brereton. There is a place of worship for Independents, and one for Wesleyans at Glover's-Hill. The free grammar school is said to have been founded in the time of Elizabeth, but the date is not known; the endowment consists of land and houses in the parish, and produces about £320 per annum. The school is free to the sons of inhabitants of the parish, and the average number of free scholars, for some years past, has been about 50; the master is allowed to take 20 boarders, and may also admit 11 day-scholars from the neighbouring parishes, who pay for their education. Bamford's school was established by John Bamford, who by will dated February 11th, 1733, gave £400: this benefaction having been augmented, the income is now £35 per annum. A national school for girls was founded by the Hon. Mrs. Curzon, now Lady de la Zouche; and an almshouse, for four women, by Mrs. Hopkins.
