ace of the ancient "Gospel oaks" in this locality.)

From Willenhall the party next proceeded to Bilston, where the third
reading of the Gospel was performed within the Chapel of that township.

From thence a move was made to Bradeley Hall, then in the occupation of
Mr. Nailer, at the bottom of whose garden was the site of an old well,
which had once been a bath, and here the Gospelling was again celebrated.

The procession was then resumed through Bilston by Catchem's Corner,
Goldthorne Hill, and the Penn Road, to St. John's Chapel, otherwise known
as the New Church, within which the Gospel was ceremonially read for the
last time. This concluded the perambulation, and an entry of its various
details were duly entered in the Parish Book, and signed by Tho. Walker,
minister, and Wm. Buckle and Jos. Smart, the two churchwardens.

[Picture: Decorative flower]

VI--Willenhall at the Norman Conquest (1066-1086).

After the Norman invasion of 1066 it took a number of years to complete
the conquest of the country. It was not till 1086 that the "Domesday"
Book was compiled--written evidence of a settlement of the land question
which, it was fondly hoped (and expressed in the name), would last till
"Domesday"!

The Domesday Book was a great national land register in which was entered
a record of every acre of land in England, its condition, its ownership,
and annual value at that time. For on land ownership alone then depended
not only the amount of the national revenue, but the strength of the
national defences. Willenhall, wrongly written by the Domesday scribes
as Winehala, is returned as being in the Hundred of Offlow, and having an
area of 2,168 acres.

Of this acreage 3 hides belonged to the old domains of the Crown, like
Bilston and Wednesbury (having formerly formed part of the dominions of
the Saxon kings), while but two hides of Willenhall land belonged to
Wolverhampton church. It is believed that the King's manorial portion
took with it Bentley, with its 1,650 acres.

Anyway, Willenhall having belonged originally to the ancient Mercian
kings, and having been held in succession by all the Saxon kings of
England to Edward the Confessor and Harold II., naturally passed as a
royal manor, or rather, a portion thereof, into the hands of the
Conqueror, being set down among the Crown lands as of "ancient demesne."

The Domesday Book also sets down among the possessions of the Canon