able as the scene of an engagement between Edward the elder and the Danes in which the latter were overthrown with im mense slaughter. This battle is generally said to have taken place in 911; but upon this point there is considerable varia. tion among historians.* The number and extent of the lows or tumuli, to be seen here, are decisive monuments of this important victory. Wil lenhall, a village adjoining and situated within this hundred, though attached to the parish of Wolverhampton, deserves attention as the birth place of Dr. Wilkes,† to whose researches and collections the historian of the county is particularly indebted for much valuable information and critical disquisition. DUDLEY CASTLE. This noble work of antiquity is situated on the summit of a limestone hill at the distance of three miles to the south of Wednesbury. It is said to have been founded by Dodo, or Dudo, a distinguished Saxon chief about the year 760, from whom it likewise derived its name. After the Norman conquest it appears to have been bestowed upon William Fitz-Ausculph, who possessed no fewer than 25 manors in this county. During the contentions for the crown between king Stephen and the empress Maud this castle was fortified and maintained on the part of the latter by Gervase Pagnel, whose son having joined in rebellion against Henry the second, it was dismantled by the orders of that Monarch. This second Pagnel, dying without issue male, this Honour past by marriage to John de Somery. In the seventeenth • Vide ante, p. 721. Dr. Wilkes was a member of Trinity College, Oxford, and rector of Pitchford, in Shropshire. He collected materials for a history of that county, and is spoken of by Browne Willies, (Mit. Abb. Vol. II. p. 189) but to the antiquities of his native county, his attention was chiefly directed. Note by Boswell in his Life of Johnson, Vol. I. p. 123. teenth year of Henry the third it was seized for the king's use on account of Roger de Somery neglecting or refusing to appear in order to have the honour of knighthood conferred upon him. It was, however, soon after returned, and we find that about thirty years subsequent to this, the same Somery obtained a license to fortify it again. Issue male also failing in his family, it became the property of John Sutton who married Margaret, one of the heirs general in the reign of Edward the second. The Suttons were a respectable family in Nottinghamshire; and in consequence of their owning this castle one of them was called to the peerage by the title of lord Dudley. In the reign of Henry the eighth it was purchased by John Dudley duke of Northumberland, who lost it by rebellion in the reign of queen Mary. This nobleman is said to have made great repairs and additions to the buildings. After his death the queen bestowed it on Sir Edward Sutton son and heir of the lord Dudley, who had sold it to the duke. Anne, great granddaughter of this gentleman, carried it by marriage to Humble Ward, who was created baron ward of Birmingham in Warwickshire on the third of March, 1643. During the civil wars which now began to distract England, this castle was twice besieged; first in 1644, when after holding out for three weeks, it was relieved by a corps of the king's forces, from Worcester; and again in 1646, at which time it was surrendered to Sir William Brereton, commander of the Parliamentary troops by Col. Levison, governor for the king. Some affirm that this noble family still continued to reside here for a considerable period after the Restoration; but at length they deemed it expedient to abandon it, probably on account of the ruinous condition to which it had been reduced by the siege. Tradition says it has since served as a retreat to a set of coiners who, having set fire to the buildings, were thereby discovered, and compelled to seek some other refuge, in which to carry on their iniquitous profession. The title of viscount Dudley was renewed in 1763 1763, in the person of lord Ward, by the title of viscount Dudley, and ward of Dudley. From the lofty site of this castle the view from its ruins is noble and extensive, comprehending five counties of England and a great part of Wales. The sides of the hill on which it stands displays a beautiful and varied covering of trees. The mansion itself consists of a number of buildings surrounding a court, and encompassed by an exterior wall flanked with towers. Of these buildings the keep appears evidently to be the most ancient part. Next to it, in point of age, is the chapel in which there are two very noble Gothic windows. The great gateway, with the apartment over it, may have been erected about the same time. This entrance is very strong; and under the chapel is a vault called the prison, though most probably built for a cellar. None of the other buildings seem to be older than the time of Henry the eighth. In the kitchen, which is situated on the eastern division, are two chimney pieces of monstrous size, the fire places in one of them measuring no less than four yards and a half in width. In the great hall, there was formerly an oak table one yard in breadth, and twenty five in length, which now forms the table in the hall of a neighbouring gentleman; but part of it has been cut off since its removal. The greater portion of the castle is a complete ruin, but some, portion of it has been repaired within these few years. SEISDON HUNDRED. King's Swinford lies to the south-west of Dudley, near the boundary between this county and Worcestershire. It derived the regal part of its name from having been in the possession of the Conqueror at the time of the great Survey. The church here is an ancient fabric surmounted by a massive tower, and possessing no claims to admiration for the beauty beauty of its architecture. Over the south door, however, which is the principal entrance, there appear some remains of sculpture executed in a rude style. The monuments are numerous; but of these we shall only particularize one, not on account of its elegance, or the grandeur of the person who reposes beneath, but because it commemorates virtues of an humble stamp which unfortunately seldom meet with those marks of respect, which are so justly their due. This monument is nothing more than a plain stone, erected by Joseph Scott, Esq. and his wife in memory of Elizabeth Harrison, who had been thirty years in their service, and had all along conducted herself with such integrity, and evident anxiety for her master's interest, as drew from him the following poetical effusion, which forms her epitaph: "While flattering praises from oblivion save In all things faithful, every where a friend; And knew no interest but her master's weal, Her patron's love she dwelt on e'en in death, She departed this life June 19, Farewell thou best of servants, may the tear Prove to thy happy shade our fond regard, And all thy virtues find their full reward."" • We cannot help thinking that much practical good might result from a judicious erection of monuments like the present. Servants are far from being devoid of solicitude for distinction; and such a tribute to the memory of 1 In the middle of this village, stands the ancient manor house of Bradley Hall, a very curious half timbered mansion, which was for some time used as a Catholic chapel. Prestwood is a fine modern seat, placed on the site of one more ancient, built by Sir John Littleton, of which the gate. way still remains, forming a very picturesque appendage to the present residence. The surrounding pleasure grounds exhibit a most delightful variety of hill and dale, wood, and water, effected chiefly by the hand of nature. The Roman road passes in this vicinity, which abounds with extensive mines of coal, lying upon a stratum of clay, esteemed the best in England for making glass-house pots, from the great intensity of heat it is able to endure. This circumstance has already attracted hither several capitalists, in the glass trade, whose elegant villas tend greatly to the improvement and beauty of the neighbouring country. On Brierly hill, immediately adjoining, stands a small chapel built by subscription, on account of the distance from hence to the mother church. The first clergyman here was the Rev. Thomas Moss, author of the elegant little ""* called the "The Beggar.' poem, On Ashwood heath, in this parish, appear the remains of a Roman encampment, or fortification. It is of considerable extent, but surrounded by a single ditch, which shews it to have been only a temporary post. This camp is usually denominated by the people Wolverhampton church yard, from a tradition; current among them, that the cemetery of that parish was actually translated to this spot many years ago. The tumuli or barrows on Barrow-hill, which now seem to be entirely formed of solid rock, are supposed by Dr. Plot, to have been brought into that condition by the action of subterranean heat. At of one, who has attained the praise it conveys, can never be viewed by a fellow servant, without impressing him or her with a strong anxiety to deserve a similar eulogium. Shaw's Hist. Staff. Vol. II. 237, 238. |