WHITTINGTON is a fine rural village, seated on a dry gravely soil, 3 miles E.S.E. of Lichfield, and comprising within its parish, 766 inhabitants, and upwards of 3,000 acres of land, all of which is enclosed, except Whittington Heath, (338A. 3R. 1P.) (Editor’s note: 338 acres, 3 rods, 1 perch) on the west side of the village, where Lichfield Races are held. This heath forms an excellent sheep walk and would, if enclosed be very productive for the growth of turnips and barley. Theophilus Levett, Esq. and Sir Robert Peel are the principal land owners; but the Marquis of Anglesey is lord of the manor, which passed with the other members of Longdon to his great ancestor, Sir Wm. Paget. General Dyott, of Freeford is lessee of the game. The Church has a lofty spire, and was rebuilt in 1762. It is in the appropriation of the dean and chapter of Lichfield, who have let the tithes on lease to the Earl of Lichfield, and Miss Wood, of Coleshill. The curacy is in the gift of T. Levett, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Thos. Levett, M.A. The wake is on the first Sunday after September 11th.
HUDDLESFORD, in this parish, is a hamlet on the Fazeley canal, 3 miles E. of Lichfield, and I mile N. of Whittington.
The Free School, at Whittington, was founded in 1741, by Sarah Neach (Editor’s note: Sarah Neal in other sources) of Lichfield, who endowed it with her house and croft, in Whittington, now converted into a house and large garden, occupied by the schoolmaster; and a smaller house, let for £3. 10s. per annum, which is paid to the master, together with the dividends of £288. 15s. 9d. three per cent consols purchased with £200, left in 1800, by the Rev. Richard Levett. The other moiety of the dividends is applied in repairing the school house, and in providing books and writing materials for the scholars, of whom ten are taught free. The benefactions to the poor are 10s. yearly, left by Matthew Wightwick, in 1650, out of a house, at Hopwas; 10s yearly, out of Rakemore meadow, left by Humphrey Deakin, in 1639; and £3 yearly from Hademore field, which was obtained from Lord Donegal, in exchange for Gib meadow, which had belonged to the poor from time immemorial.
In the following DIRECTORY, those marked 1 reside at Brookhay, 2 Huddlesford, 3 Lichfield turnpike, 4 Thatchmoor, 5 Whittington hurst, 6 Williford, and the rest in Whittington village
Arnold Mrs. Ellen
Beard John, tailor, and assistant overseer
Bircher John, schoolmaster
Bridgen John, bricklayer
2 Capper Thomas, corn miller, Bunnings mill
2 Chamberlain Fras. wheelwright
2 Chamberlain Wm. vict. Plough
Deakin John, shoe maker
Dean John, wharfinger, Streethay
Dyott Mrs. Mary
Elton John, gent.
Farnsworth Thomas, blacksmith
Hastelow John, vict. Peel’s Arms, and wharfinger, Canal bridge
Heathcote John, vict. Talbot
3 Hayward John, Horse and Jockey, beer house
Humphrey Jarvis, butcher
Langton Samuel, baker & shopr.
Levett Mary Ann
Nevill Charles, shoemaker
Nevill Edward, gent.
Nevill Francis, baker
Pass Ann, saddler
Pass John, shopkr. & beer house
Pass Wm. shoemaker
2 Perkins Jasper, wharfinger
Price Thomas, horse dealer
Poyser Thomas shopkeeper
Richards Thomas, horse breaker
Robinson Abraham, blacksmith
Smallman John, shoemaker
Smith Geo. bricklayer & beer hs.
Taylor John & Wm wheelwgts
Thompson Wm. butcher
4 Tomlinson James, wheelwright
FARMERS
Clarke Ann
Coleman John
2 Dennetts Thos.
1 Gouch Geo.
Nevill Francis
Nevill Hugh
5 Robinson John
Shuker William
Wootton
Smith Wm
5 Sparkes Thos.
6 Whittaker Jas.
© 2018 Whittington History Society