ess of
this portion--we may now turn to the further consideration of its civil,
social, and industrial history.

[Picture: Decorative pattern]

XXV.--Manorial Government.

Willenhall is a township of some 1,980 acres in extent, carved out of the
ancient parish of Wolverhampton, and situated midway between that town
and the town of Walsall, being about three miles distant from either.
Strangely enough, Willenhall is included in the Hundred of Offlow,
although Wolverhampton, of which it once formed a part, is in Seisdon
Hundred. Willenhall has never been a civil parish (as previously
explained), nor has it been a market town; the small open market held in
its streets each week-end having grown up by prescription, but never
legally established by grant of charter.

The place grew up as a hamlet on the banks of a little stream, just on
the verge of Cannock Forest. As a village community it seems to have
been subject, so soon as its outer limits had been defined, to three
territorial lords. Reference to Chapter VI. will disclose that at
Domesday (1086) three hides of land in Willenhall belonged to the king,
and were part of the royal manor of Stowheath; two hides were the
property of the Church of Wolverhampton, and constituted the prebendal
manor of Willenhall; and a century or two later, the manor of Bentley,
evidently carved out of the royal forest of Cannock, became included
within this township.

Of STOWHEATH MANOR, the portions lying within Willenhall are a small part
of the modern township, together with Short Heath, New Invention,
Lanehead, Sandbeds, Little London, and Portobello. The remainder of this
manor stretches beyond the Willenhall boundary into Bilston and
Wolverhampton.

To a manor or lordship was usually attached a Court Baron, or domestic
court of the lord, for the settling of disputes relating to property
among the tenants, and for redressing misdemeanours and nuisances arising
within the manor. The business was transacted by a jury or homage
elected by and from the tenants.

How far the customary officers were chosen every year by the Willenhall
Court Baron cannot now be ascertained. Doubtless appointments were made
from time to time of such manorial tears as Hedgers and Ditchers, to look
after the highways and byways, a Common Pinner to impound stray cattle,
and Head boroughs or Petty Constables "to apprehend all vagrom men" whose
room was esteemed more high