Stowe (St. John the Baptist)
STOWE (St. John the Baptist), a parish, in the S. division of the hundred of Pirehill, union, and N. division of the county, of Stafford, 7 miles (N. E. by E.) from Stafford; containing, with the townships of Amerton and Grindley, and part of the townships of Drointon, Great and Little Haywood, and Hixon, 1267 inhabitants, of whom 156 are in Stowe township. The parish comprises 5008a. 2r. 31p. The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £61; patron, Sir John Cave, Bart.; impropriator, John Fitzgerald, Esq. The church is an ancient building, the nave of which is separated from the chancel by a handsome arch, said to be Saxon; it contains an alabaster monument to Devereux, first Viscount Hereford, and his two wives, with their effigies in a recumbent posture. The viscount, who distinguished himself in the wars against France in the reign of Henry VIII., resided and was buried here. There is a place of worship for Independents.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.