STAFFORD, a borough and market-town of Eng land, and capital of the county of the same name. It is built on the north bank of the river Sow, about three miles from where it joins the Trent. Its form is that of an irregular ellipsis, the greatest breadth of which is from south-east to north-west. Formerly it was surrounded by a wall, and defended by a castle, some remains of which still exist; it had also four gates. It is a very ancient borough, having been in corporated by King John in the seventh year of his reign. Stafford is very pleasantly situated; the streets are in general well paved, and most of the houses are neatly and regularly built of stone, and roofed with slates. The principal streets are built in the form of a cross, and the two largest ones occupy the sides of the road from Newcastle-under-Line to Wolverhamp ton. It is 135 miles north-west from London, and 16 from Litchfield, in the same direction.
The public buildings are numerous. There arc two churches, St. Mary's and St. Chad's. The former is a spacious building, in the form of a cross, and con sists of a nave, two side aisles, a transept, and a chancel of three -aisles, in the middle of which is a large octagonal tower, with eight bells and chimes. The church also possesses a good organ, and a very ancient font. There are several fine monuments, both ancient and modern, in this church, the most re markable of which are, an altar tomb in honour of Lord Edward Aston of Tixal, and the Lady Ann, his wife; a monument to the memory of Sir Edward and Lady Aston, and one to Lady Barbara Crompton, wife to Sir Thomas Crompton, judge of the High Court of Admiralty in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
The other church, viz. that of St. Chad's, is a very ancient structure, with a line tower, but not contain ing any thing worthy of particular notice. The other public buildings are, the County Hall, ail extensive modern structure, 100 feet long in front, in which the assizes and quarter-sessions are held. The county infirmary is a plain and substantial edifice, built about the year 1772. The county gaol, which is opposite the infirmary, is a large and convenient modern build ing, with accommodation for 150 prisoners. The free school is an ancient edifice, founded by Edward the Sixth in 1550. Stafford contains a number of alms-houses, built for the accommodation of the in digent inhabitants of the town, each of which has a garden adjoining to it. Stafford is governed by a mayor, recorder, twelve aldermen, twenty common council men, a town clerk, two serjeants at mace, and other inferior officers. The principal manufactures are those of cloth, cutlery, shoes, and beer. The town enjoys a considerable trade with the neighbour ing counties by means of its canal. Stafford returns two representatives to parliament. The right of election is vested in the mayor, aldermen, and bur gesses, there being about 400 voters in all. In 1821, the population was 5736 of both sexes; the number of houses was 991; the number of families 1090; and the number of families employed in trade 712. See the Beauties of England and Wales, vol. xiii. p. 881.