BETLEY, a parish (formerly a market-town) in the
northern division of the hundred of PIREHILL, county
of STAFFORD, 7 miles (W. by N.) from Newcastle
under Line, containing 932 inhabitants. The living
is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Stafford,
and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, endowed with
£600 private benefaction, and £600 royal bounty, and
in the patronage of George Toilet, Esq. The church,
dedicated to St. Margaret, is an ancient structure, with
a tower, supposed to have been erected in 1713, as that
date appears on the vane: the nave is separated from
the aisles by pillars and plain pointed arches of wood;
several handsome monuments adorn the walls of the
chancel, which is of modern construction. There is a
place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. The village
is remarkably cheerful and pleasant, and contains several
respectable houses; in the neighbourhood are extensive
gardens, from which the town of Newcastle &
supplied with vegetables, for the cultivation of which
the soil is particularly adapted. Courts leet and baron
are held annually; and a fair for cattle takes place on
the 31st of July. Here is a charity school with a small
endowment.