ST.AFFORDSRIR~, Collegiate Churches, ten Priories, and six Nunneries, whilst the massive remains of fourteen military strongholds are still more or less evident. The Benedictines early established themselves at Burton Abbey, in 1002, and at the Priory of Lapley a few years afterwards. 1'hey also had foundations at the Abbey of Calwich, and the Priories ofTutbury, Blythe­ bury, Can well, and Sand well, together with the Nunneries of Farewell and Blackladies. The Augustinian Canons built the Abbeys of Ronton and Roccster, and had besides the Priories of Trentham, Stone, Stafford and St. Thomas at Lichfield. The Cistercian Order boasted of the three Abbeys of Croxden, Abbey Hulton, and Dieu la Cresse and they also . had a monastery at Radmore, in the forest of Cannock. The Cluniac monks never gained a footing in the county, but the remains of Dudley Priory, founded in 1140, just outside the border line still assert their near presence. Of the various orders of Friars, the Grey Friars were repre­ sented at Lichfield and Stafford, the Austin Friars at Stafford only. 1'he Knights Templar had a Preceptory at Keele, and also lands at Stoke. In Parish Churches, however, Staffordshire was not so richly endowed as many other counties, the approximate numbers, at the time of "the Domesday Survey, amounting only to about 28 or 30, though during the later Norman period the number increased at a rapid rate. The following were formerly Collegiate Churches, viz., . ·wol verhampton, Tettenhall, Gnosall, Lichfield, Penkridge, Stafford, &c. Tho mcdimval military remains comprise the Castles of Stafford, Wednesbmy, Chartley, Dudley, Alton, 1'utbury, Eccleshall, Caverswall, Heyleigh, Lichfield, Chesterton, N ~w­ castle, Stourton, and Audley, some of which have absolutely disappeared, whilst others frown formidably even in their ruin. The reflection is a sad one, that so few fragments of these once venerable and beautiful buildings remain to attest their former magnificence and splendour. Their sculptured stones have been interwoven with farmhouses, walls and mansions for many a mile around. The crumbling arches of Croxden, of Burton, and of Dieu la Cresse Abbeys still display .