General Information
|
Population |
| Total Population |
225(2004 Estimate) |
| No. Over 60 |
15% |
| No. Under 18 |
32.9% |
| No. BME |
Below 2.4% |
| Indices of Deprivation |
|
| Area KM2 |
810 |
| Population Density KM2 |
0.27 |
| Locality |
Three (Click
for more information) |
| Financial
Information |
| Annual Budget |
|
| Annual Precept |
£6,500.00 (2010/2011) |
| Grants Received |
|
| Spending per Resident |
|
| Average Council Tax Band |
£99.12 |
Hilton
Hilton was amongst the lands donated to the Monastery at
Wolverhampton upon its foundation in 994 by Lady Wulfrun. Hilton
Manor House, as Hilton Hall was first known, was constructed
by Sir John Swinnerton in
the early 14th century. The Swinnertons lived there for
two hundred years until Margaret Swinnerton married Henry Vernon in
1547. He was a descendant of Richard de Vernon, who had arrived
from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066.
The Hall, which was rebuilt in 1700, and extensively remodelled
in 1830, remained in the Vernon family for 400 years, through 12
generations of Vernons. One such was Admiral Vernon who, in 1739,
captured the Spanish stronghold of Porto Bello with only six ships
and became famous for this throughout Europe. The Portobello Tower,
which stands on the hill fronting the Hall, was erected in his
honour.
Admiral Vernon was nicknamed ‘Old Grog’ due to the boat cloak he
wore habitually, which was made of a rough silk called grogram. In
an attempt to stem drunkenness amongst his crews he forbade the
serving of raw spirits and ordered that the two half-pint rations
of rum or brandy served daily be watered down.
This was very unpopular with the seamen of the day, who named
the resulting drink ‘Grog’ in his ‘honour.’ Another member of the
family who made his mark was Richard Vernon (1726-1800) a horse
breeder, trainer and successful jockey. He was a founder member of
the Jockey Club and known as ‘Father of the Turf.’ Diomed, one of
the horses he bred and trained at Hilton Hall, won the first ever
Derby in 1780.
Information taken from South Staffordshire Reviewed with
the permission of Dr Paul Collins and Craig Walker
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