WETTON, a parish in the southern division of the
hundred of TOTMONSLOW, county of STAFFORD, 7
miles (N. W. by N.) from Ashbourn, containing 609
inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the
archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese of Lichfield and
Coventry, endowed with. £800 royal bounty, and £1200
parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of W. Burgoyne,
Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Margaret, is
ancient and much decayed: over the doorway is a
piece of rude sculpture. The river Manifold runs
through the parish, as far as Wetton-mill, then suddenly
disappears through the fissures of its  limestone bed,
and, continuing a subterraneous course for' about five
miles, emerges within a few yards of the place where
the river Hamps re-appears in like manner from its
channel underground. At Ecton hill are extensive lead
and copper mines, affording employment to a number of
men, women, and children. Within this parish is a
remarkable cavern of large dimensions, termed Thor's
House, in which the Druids, it is believed, sacrificed
to their god Thor. Twelve poor children are in-1
Structed for an annuity of £5, the bequest of William
Risbridger, in 1754. Wetton is in the honour of
Tutbury, duchy of Lancaster, and within the jurisdiction
of a court of pleas held at Tutbury every third
Tuesday, for the recovery of debts under 40s.