Rushton Spencer in 1872

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RUSHTON, two townships and a chapelry in Leek parish, Stafford. The townships are Rushton-James and Rushton-Spencer; they adjoin each other; and the latter lies on the North Staffordshire railway, near the river Dane, 5 miles NNW of Leek, and has a station on the railway, and a post-office under Macclesfield. Real property, £1,762 and £2,537. Pop., 273 and 358. Houses, 55 and 78.

The manor of Rushton-James belongs to Antrobus, Esq.; and that of Rushton-Spencer to freeholders. The chapelry includes also the township of Heaton; and, in 1861, had a pop. of 1,027. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield. Value, £148. Patron, the Vicar of Leek. The church is very old, and was formerly called "the chapel in the wilderness." There are a Wesleyan chapel and a free school.

[Description(s) from The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72) - Transcribed by Mike Harbach ©2020]