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BURTON-UPON-STATHER,or Burton Stather, was in ancient times the metropolis of the busy Trent, but its market was discontinued many years ago, and it now a small town, with only about 600 inhabitants, on the brow of a bold cliff on the east side of the Trent, 22 miles below Gainsbro', 5 miles from the Humber, and 8 miles E.N.E. of Crowle. Its parish contains 3534A. 1R. 25 p. of land, and had 779 souls in 1841, including the small villages of Thealby, 1 1/2 mile E.; and Normanby, 1 mile S.E. of the town; as well as part of Coleby (which is mostly in West Halton,) and the Ferry House, near the staith, or Stather, at the foot of the hill, half a mile N.W. of the town. The Earl of Lancaster, in the eight of Edward II., obtained a charter for a weekly market and two annual fairs at Burton. The former has long been obsolete, but the fairs are still held on the first Monday in May, and the first Monday after Martinmas day; and a feast is held at Whitsuntide. The town is said to have been greatly reduced in size by an extraordinary tempest, which entirely destroyed a number of houses on the side of the cliff, and did much damage to the church. In 1770, the banks of the Trent gave way, and all the low grounds about Burton were inundated. On February 20th, 1777, the brig Phoenix, bound from London to Gainsbro' with 20 barrels of gunpowder on board, took fire, and blew up opposite Burton Stather, where the explosion unroofed several houses, and did much damage to others. Petty Sessions are held here on the first and third Friday of every month. Samuel Slater, Esq., is lord of the manor, and holds a court leet and baron at Easter, but the greater part of the parish belongs to Sir Robert Sheffield, Bart, of NORMANBY HALL, which was rebuilt about seven years ago, and is now a large handsome mansion,in an extensive and well wooded park, 1 mile S.E. of Burton, on the eastern declivity of the hill, commanding extensive prospects.
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