RUGELEY, a market-town and parish in the eastern division of the hundred of CUTTLESTONE, county of STAFFORD, 9 miles (E.S.E.) from Stafford, and 127 (N.W. byN.) from London, containing 2677 inhabitants. This town is agreeably situated near the south bank of the river Trent, on the road from Stafford to Lichfield; it is of remarkably clean and respectable appearance, and consists of several good streets, two of them recently formed, called Albion-street and Church-street; many of the houses in the latter are of a very superior order. Cannock heath is within a mile of the town, on the south. The trade of the place is greatly promoted by the proximity of the Grand Trunk canal, which connects the navigation of the rivers Trent and Mersey, and passing northward of the town, between it and the river, communicates with Brereton collieries by a rail-road, and not far distant is carried over the Trent by a fine aqueduct. Here are an iron-foundry, and mills for rolling sheet-iron, also a small manufactory for sugar of lead and verdegris; hats were formerly made to a considerable extent, but this branch of trade has very much declined. At Brereton, in this parish, are extensive coal-works belonging to Earl Talbot and the Marquis of Anglesey: the depth of the shaft is one hundred and twenty-seven yards; the strata of coal is five yards in thickness, and generally good, exclusively of some thin veins not yet Worked; about four hundred persons are employed in these works, most of whom reside in cottages on the estate. In sinking, good iron-ore is found in detached pieces, but not in sufficient quantity to pay the expense of working it. The market is on Thursday; fairs are held on April 15th; June 6th, a very large horse fair, which continues eight or nine days; and October 21st, for cattle, sheep, and horses. A court leet is held annually in October, by the lord of the manor, at which two constables are appointed. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, rated in the king's books at £5. 2., and endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty. The church, dedicated to St. Augustine, has been lately but indifferently rebuilt, with stone given by the Marquis of Anglesey; it contains eight hundred sittings, of which four hundred and thirty-two are free, the Incorporated Society for the building and enlargement of churches, &c., having contributed £ 800 towards defraying the expense. Of the old church, the tower and chancel remain entire, the latter being used as a school-room; the arches are in ruins. There is a place of worship for Independents, and one for Wesleyan Methodists at Brereton. The free grammar school was founded, in the 8th of James I., by Walter Wolsley, and endowed by him with estates now producing about £320 per annum, which is paid to the master, who has also a good residence; there are twenty boys on the foundation, besides which the master is allowed by the trustees to take boarders, and eleven day scholars, who pay for their education. Bamford's school was founded by John Bamford, who by will dated Feb. llth, 1733, gave £400 for the education of sixteen poor boys; this benefaction having been augmented by £50 left by Mrs. Mary Jenks, and further, in 1802, by a gift of £500 from John Riley, the income is now £35 per annum, and thirty-five boys are on the foundation, all of them appointed by the minister and churchwardens. A National school for girls was founded by the Hon. Mrs. Curzon; another at Brereton, by Mrs. Sneyd; and an almshouse here, for four old women, by Mrs. Hopkins.