Noake's Worcestershire Page 327

STOKE PRIOR. 327

Stoke Prior.

THIS village, between Bromsgrove and Droitwich, in Saxon times belonged to the Prior of Worcester, and hence the latter portion of its name. The church was appropriated to Worcester monastery, for the use of the chamberlain in providing vestments and shoes for the monks; and from this manor the tenants usually sent two fat cows to be killed for the monastery at the Feast of St. Mary. The Dean and Chapter of Worcester were lords of the manor till recently on its being handed over, with their other possessions, to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. There is a population of 1,622, and an acreage of 3,820, Crops grown, wheat, barley, beans, and mangolds.

Besides agricultural employments, salt-making is carried on at the extensive works of J. Corbett, Esq., and the manufacture of railway waggons at the Midland Company's works. The salt-works, which employ about 500 pairs of hands, were commenced here about forty-three years ago. For some years great difficulty was experienced in finding brine, and when found it was not of sufficient strength to render the works profitable. The present proprietor, however, has succeeded not only in rendering the works profitable, but in extending them, so that probably they are now the largest in Europe, having cost upwards of £400,000. Formerly, soap, soda, and various chemicals were manufactured here, in addition to salt, but the present proprietor took down the chemical works, and at the present time nothing but salt is manufactured. This trade fluctuates considerably, according to the demand and the state of competition with the works in Cheshire, and the salt manufactured abroad by solar evaporation. Stoke Works are capable of producing nearly 3,000 tons of salt per week, but the demand is very seldom equal to that. There are four