£4 3s. 4d., in the patronage of the Crown. Here are also chapels for Methodists and Independents, almshouses, and a Lancasterian school, supported by voluntary subscriptions. The brutal amusement of bull-baiting is here carried on, in defiance of all authority. The passion of the people of Wednesbury for their bulls appears only second to that of the ancient inhabitants of Congleton for their bears.
DUDLEY, a market town, parish, and borough, in the lower division of the hundred of Halfshire, county of Worcester. Pop. 23,043; An. As. Val. £20,833. Market on Saturday, fairs, May 8, for cattle, cheese, wool; August 5 for lambs, and October 2 for horses, cattle, cheese, and wool. This place derives its name from Dudo, a Saxon prince, to whom it belonged at the time of the Heptarchy. This prince built a castle here, in the year 700, which, during the war between Stephen and the Empress Matilda (1139), was garrisoned in her favour by Gervase Paganell. It was, how, ever, demolished in the reign of Henry the Second, and re-built in the reign of Henry the Third. In 1644 it stood a siege by the Parliamentary forces, against which it was successfully defended by Colonel Beaumont. In the siege it was very much injured, but was never repaired; a fire occurred in 1750, which completed its demolition. The remains are interesting to the stranger; they are surrounded by woods, through which are excellent walks, affording a variety of views of these most picturesque ruins.
