Pigot's National Commercial Directory For Rugeley in 1828-29
RUDGLEY, is a small market-town and parish, in the hundred of Cutlestone East, 126 miles from London, 23 miles from Newcastle, 9 miles from Stafford and 7 miles from Abbot Bromley and Lichfield, situated in the northern extremity of Cannock Chase; Cannock Heath approaching within a mile of the town, on the south. Dr. Wilkes traces the etymology of Rugeley from Ridgeley, a ridge of hills above the town; but is more probable that the appellation is derived from the ancient possessor of the manor, Simon de Rugeley, who in the reign of Edward III was appointed sheriff of the county, by the prince. The present lord of the manor is the Marquis of Anglesey, whose beautiful seat, Beaudesert, is about four miles hence on the road to Lichfield. The town has a remarkable neat, cleanly appearance; the houses are well built; and it has lately received the accession of a new street, called Albion Street, near the Market-place; another new one, to be called Church-street, is building, and some of the houses are already completed in a very tasteful style. The chief article manufactured here is that of hats, which are principally made by commission for London houses. There is also a considerable manufactory for sheet iron, conducted by Messrs Cheshire, Manners and Co.; of cut nails and brads, by Messrs James & Co.; and a pod, powdered and crystallized verdigris, by Messrs John Manners and Co. Who are the only persons engaged in this peculiar branch in this county: the preparation of verdigris in pods originated in France, and was introduced into this country not many years since. This little town is fast advancing into notice, and its prosperity is considerably enhanced by its great thoroughfare situation, and the advantage of inland navigation, that it enjoys by the great trunk canal which runs past the north side of the town, betwixt it and the rent. The old church has long been dismantled, and the new one erected close to it, presenting a singular and rather interesting contrast between the modern erection and that fast wasting by the devastating hand of time. Here is a free grammar school founded by Queen Elizabeth, and a charity school by John Bamford Cowper, esq. The market day is on Thursday, and the fairs are April 17th and June 6th for colts and horses, and October 21st for horses, sheep and cattle. In 1821 the population of the parish of Rugeley consisted of 2,677 inhabitants, which number is said to have much increased since that census.
POST OFFICE, John Wood, Post Master – Letter to LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, LICHFIELD Ec, are despatched at twenty minutes after two every afternoon by the LONDON and CHESTER Mail, and despatched at twenty minutes after eleven every morning. – Letters to CHESTER, STAFFORD and IRELAND, are afternoon. – Letters to LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, NEWCASTLE Ec, are despatched at ten every morning, and arrive every morning by a Mail car, and arrive every morning at half-past nine.
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Anglesey marquis of, Beaudesert
Anson Viscount, Shugborough
Barber Miss, Rugeley
Chadwick Hugo, jun. esq. Mavesyne
Redware
Chadwick Hugo, snr. esq. Hill Redware
Clarke Mrs, Rugeley
Cooper Rev. Philip, Hamstall Redware
Curzon Hon. Robert Hagley
Fitzgerald Sir Jas. Wolseley hall
Fortescue Mrs. S. Rugeley
Hamilton George, esq. Rugeley
Landor Miss. Rugeley
Oldham Jas. Oldham esq. Bellamore
Pearson Mrs. Hill Redware
Simpson Miss. R. Rugeley
Smith Edward, esq. Rugeley
Sparrow Mrs. Bishton hall
Tamworth Lord, The Mount
Watson Mrs. F. Rugeley
Webb Geo. Gent. Mavesyne Redware
Wolseley Sir Chas. Wolseley hall
Wright James, esq. Raven hill
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.
Bonney Rev. Thos. (gent’s brdg)
Dennis Misses (ladies’ boarding)
FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL – Rev Thomas Bonney, master
Ordish George
Sergeant Mrs. Colton hall
Sheridan Daniel Tuik (gents bdg)
Smart Rd. Geo ladies & gents bdg
ATTORNEYS.
Armishaw John
Hicken & Landor
Robinson Chas. B. Hill Redware
Salt John and Charles
Smith John
BAKERS & SHOPKEEPERS.
Birch Leigh
Brassington William, jnr
Chatterton Thomas,
Cheshire James
Lycett Thomas
Marsh Thomas
BOOKSELLERS, PRINTERS, Ec
Leonard James
Simpson John
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.
Bilyeld Robert
Cheshire George
Nixon Richard
Oughton William
Richardson Hy. (& leather cutter)
Waddams Joseph
BRAZIERS AND TINMEN.
Hawkins John
Mellard James (& ironmonger and dealer in china)
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BREECHES MAKERS.
Cope John, jun.
Wright George
BUTCHERS.
Smytheman Thomas, jun.
Whilton Edward
Whilton Thomas
Wilson John
CABINET MAKERS.
Bullock Robert (& builder)
Cheshire Thomas (& builder)
Keyte William
Remmington Alexander
COAL PROPRIETORS.
Anglesey Marquis of, HAYES’ COLLIERY
Talbot Lord, BRERETON COLLIERY
CORN MILLERS.
Godwin Alexander (& baker)
Nichols Charles
Sherratt John
Stonnier Richard
CURRIERS AND LEATHER CUTTERS.
Collins Joseph (& tea dealer)
White John
DRESS MAKERS.
Higgitt Selina
Maddison Mary Anne
Sleigh Mary
Wood Sarah
FIRE & OFFICE AGENTS.
ATLAS, William Turner
BIRMINGHAM, Wm. Walter Hawkins
NORWICH, James Moxon
GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
Bamford & Shaw (open Thursdays)
Dance Thomas (& druggist)
Hammond Henry (& seedsman)
Moxon James
Timmis Samuel
Turner William
HAT MANUFACURERS.
Higgitt Edith
Higgitt Gilbert (& shopkeeper)
Lenton Thomas
Nixon William
Sleigh Benjamin
Tooth Sampson
Woolon John
Young James
HAIR DRESSERS.
Allen Charles (& shopkeeper)
Tolley Edmund
INNS, TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.
Anchor, John Cope, sen.
Bell, George Gadsby
Dog & Partridge, James Frost
Lord Nelson, Humphrey Bould
Queen’s Head, Margaret Walton
Shoulder of Mutton, Thos Cheshire
Star, Robert Jones
Swan, Charles Salt (& brewer)
Talbot Arms, Thomas Masters
Talbot Inn, John Willis
White Horse, Robt. Tunicliff
White Lion, David Rose
JOINERS.
Smytheman, Thomas. Sen.
Smytheman William
Tarner Daniel
LAND SURVEYOR.
Bright John
LINEN & WOOLEN DRAPRS.
Collett Henry (& tailor)
Moxon James
Ottey William
Parkes Matthew
Timmis Samuel
Woodward Matthew
MALTSTERS.
Banks William, sen.
Cox Thomas
Ottey Walter
Salisbury Samuel
Young Thomas (& retail brewer)
MANUFACTURERS.
Cheshire, Manners & Co. (of sheet iron)
James George & Co. (of cut nails and brads)
Manners John & Co. (of pod, powdered & crystallized verdigris and sugar lead)
PAINTERS & GLAZIERS.
Todd William
Turpenny William
PLUMBERS, Ec.
Bennett Thomas
Hawkins Wm. Walter (& plumbers’ brass founder, & brass cock manufacturer)
SADDLERS AND HARNESS MAKERS.
Myatt George
Salisbury Samuel
SURGEONS.
Bamford William
Barnett Samuel
Fortescue Samuel
Salt Thomas
Tylecote Edward
TAILORS.
Emery Thomas (& upholsterer)
Hunt George & Son (& drapers)
Porter Thomas
Wooley Edward
TALLOW CHANDLERS.
Moxon Jas. (& stamp distributer)
Timmis Samuel
Turner William
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.
Gilbert Thomas
Maddison Robert
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Hine Richard (& blacksmith)
Oliver William
MISCELLANEOUS.
Allen James, blacksmith
Banks William, fellmonger & woolstapler
Birch Elizabeth, basket maker
Brassington William, snr. cooper
Cooper William, chair maker
Cox John, tanner & liquor merchant
Halbard William, locksmith
Hatfield Thomas, iron merchant, founder and blacksmith
Palmer Joseph, timber merchant
SAVINGS’ BANK, Town hall – (open on the 2nd and 4th Monday in every month) James Moxon, secretary
Wood William, auctioneer
COACHES.
TO LONDON, the Royal Mail (from Chester) arrives at the Post Office, every afternoon at 20 minutes after two; goes thro’ Lichfield, Tamworth, Hinkley, Northampton Ec. – the Royal Mail (from Liverpool) every morning at 20 minutes after seven; goes thro’ Lichfield, Coventry, Ec. – the Alliance (from Liverpool) calls at the Dog & Partridge, every afternoon (Sundays excepted) at five; goes the same route as the Liverpool Mail – the Herald (from Manchester) calls at the same Inn every morning (Sundays excepted) at three; goes thro’ Lichfield, Tamworth, Coventry Ec. – and the Umpire (from Liverpool) every night (Sundays excepted) at eleven; goes the same route as the Chester Mail.
TO BIRMINGHAM, the Express (from Liverpool) calls at the Talbot Arms, every morning at two; goes through Lichfield.
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TO CHESTER, the Royal Mail (from London) arrives at the Post-office, every morning at twenty minutes past eleven; goes thro’ Stafford, Eccleshall, Ec.
TO LIVERPOOL, the Royal Mail (from London) arrives at the Post-office, every morning at ten; goes thro’ Stone, Newcastle, Congleton, Knutsford and Warrington – the Alliance calls at the Dog & Partridge, every afternoon (Mondays excepted) at eight goes the same route as the Mail – and the Umpire, alls at the same Inn every morning (Mondays excepted) at half-past seven; goes thro’ Stone, Newcastle, Brereton green, Knutsford, Ec. – and the Express (from Birmingham) calls at the Talbot Arms, every morning at ten; goes through Stone, the Potteries, Ec.
TO MANCHESTER, the Herald (from London) calls at the Dog & Partridge, every morning (Mondays excepted) at eleven; goes thro’ Stone, Newcastle, Congleton, Ec.
TO UTTOXETER, Daniel Moorcroft’s Car from the Dog & Partridge, every afternoon at half-past one, for the conveyance of passengers and luggage.
CARRIER.
TO LICHFIELD, Joseph Hallom, every Friday, - And to STAFFORD, every Saturday.
CONVEYANCE OF WATER.
TO LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, BRISTOL, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER and all intermediate places, T and M Pickford and Co.
TO LONDON, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER and all intermediate places, Thomas Bache, Barker & Co. Wm. Henshall, Douglass and Co. Kenworthy and Co. Wm. Wakeman & Co. and Richard Snell and Co.
TO BIRMINGHAM, and all intermediate places, Cheshire Manners & Co. – And to BIRMINGHAM, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, Ec. Antwiss and Co. Crockett & Co. Danks & Co. And Worthington & Co.
TO DERBY, SHARDLOW, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, Ec. Thomas Best, Joseph smith and Sons, Soresby and Flack, and James Sutton & Co.
TO DERBY, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, SHARDLOW, STOURPORT, Ec. Ames and Co. Barnett and Co. And Matthew Heath. – George Marsh, agent and wharfinger.