BLITHFIELD, a parish in the southern division
of the hundred of PIREHILL, county of STAFFORD, 4
miles (N.) from Rugeley, containing, with the liberty
of Newton, 470 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in
the archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese of Lichfield
and Coventry, rated in the king's books at £10. 19. 2.,
and in the patronage of Lord Bagot. The church is
dedicated to St. Leonard. The river Blith runs through
the parish. Elizabeth Bagot and Jane Jones, in 1729,
gave land, now producing about £35 per annum, which,
with voluntary contributions, is applied to the support
of a school for the instruction of boys, and another for
girls, in which about forty of each sex are educate'd on
the National system.