Newcastle-under-Lyme,

Newcastle-under-Lyme, a parliamentary and municipal borough of Staffordshire, on the Lyme brook, 16 miles NNW. of Stafford and 147 by rail NW. by N. of London. Pop. (1801) 4604; (1891) 18,452. The aspect of the town has of late years been much improved by the widening of the main thoroughfares, and the erection of new public buildings, notably the town-hall (1890) and the high school (1876). The latter was reconstructed under a new scheme in 1874 from the amalgamation of various ancient charities (the earliest founded 1602); its distinctive features are the study of natural science and modern languages. The parish church, partly Early English and partly Decorated, was rebuilt in 1876 from designs of Sir Gilbert Scott, and has a quaint old square tower of red sandstone with pinnacles, and a fine peal of bells. The manu- facture of hats was formerly a speciality of the town, but has of late years been discontinued; brewing, malting, and the making of paper and army clothing are now the principal industries, whilst the surrounding district is noted for its potteries, and numerous coal-mines are worked. Of the castle, from which the town derives its name, all traces have entirely disappeared; it was built by Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, the youngest son of Henry III. Newcastle, which confers the title of duke upon the family of Clinton, returned two members to parliament from 1353 to 1885, since which time it has only had one representative.