In the 19th century it contained four market towns, Leek, Longnor, Cheadle, and Uttoxeter, and about 80 townships located in 10 chapelries and 30 parishes.
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The River Dove forms its eastern boundary for nearly 30 miles, and separates it from Derbyshire; and for about 10 miles at its northern extremity, it is divided from Cheshire by the River Dane.
It is bounded on the north-east by Totmonslow (Totmanslow) hundred, on the east by Offlow hundred, on the south by Cuttleston Hundred and on the west and north-west by Shropshire and Cheshire.