Part 109

To LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, &c.—Crowley and Co., from the Cross Keys every Monday, Tuesday, Wed. and Friday, and to Ironbridge and Broseley on Tuesday and Friday; T, Moseley, agent

To LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, &c.—Pickford and Co., from the Cross Keys daily

To CROFTON—John Beddoes, from the King’s Head

To STOKE & LUDLOW—T. Colton, from the King’s Head

To CORVE DALE—Edward Hopkins, from the King’s Head

To CHURCH STRETTON—J. Jones, from the Bell

To KIDDERMINSTER—Saml. Hill, from the Black Horse

To LUDLOW HALL—From the Squirrel, Monday

To LUDLOW & KIDDERMINSTER—Samuel Breakwell, from the New Inn

To MUNSLOW—J. Edwards, from the Raven

To STOTTESDEN—Edward Bytheway, from the Ball

To WOLVERHAMPTON—Rd. Beeston, from the Fox, on Tuesday, Thurs., & Sat.

BURWARTON

is a parish and village in the Cleobury division of the Stottesden hundred, on the turnpike road from Bridgnorth to Ludlow, nine miles south-west from the former, and ten miles north-east from the latter. The parish contains 1,236 acres of land, and in 1801 there were 107 inhabitants; 1831, 112; and in 1841, 27 houses and a population of 151 souls. Rateable value, £1,115. 11s. 6d. The Hon. G. F. H. Russell is the principal landowner, and occasionally resides at BURWARTON HALL, an elegant free stone mansion, in the Italian style of architecture, delightfully situated in a park richly clothed with sylvan beauty, and watered by several mountain streams. There are some fine lakes of water, and to the north-west of the park is the majestic Brown Clee Hill, which adds much to the picturesque beauty of the scenery. The pleasure grounds and shrubberies are laid out with a pleasing variety, and kept in the most admirable order. THE CHURCH, a small structure dedicated to St. Lawrence, has recently been repaired and beautified by the Hamilton family; the east window is ornamented with stained glass, and cost upwards of £50, which was defrayed by Lady Hamilton, who also presented the communion table. The pulpit and seats are of oak, elaborately carved, and there is accommodation for about ninety persons. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £4. 6s. 8d.; gross income, £140; patron, Rev. John Churton; incumbent, Rev. T. Theodosius. The tithes have been commuted for £90. The WESLEYAN METHODISTS have a small chapel at Burwarton. The Hamilton Russell Arms Hotel and posting house is a commodious inn, and the post office for a wide district. Letters arrive from Bridgnorth at 11 30 A.M., and are despatched at 3 P.M.

DIRECTORY.—Hon. G. P. H. Russell, Burwarton Hall; John Bradley, farmer; William Jones, vict., the Hamilton Russell Arms; James Prece, carpenter; Rev. John Rathbone, curate; John Reynolds, shoemaker.

CAINHAM

is an extensive parish and scattered village three miles south-east from Ludlow, comprising upwards of 3,040 acres of land. At the census of 1801 there were 711 inhabitants; 1831, 1,005; 1841, 973. Gross estimated rental, £3,730. Rateable value, £3,333. 5s. The principal landowners are Major Calcott, Hon. R. H. Clive, and Sir W. R. Broughton; the former is lord of the manor. CAINHAM COURT, an elegant mansion surrounded by plantations and shrubberies, was formerly the residence of the Calcott family; it is now unoccupied. Not far from the above mansion is the site of an ancient castle, noticed by Leland, who observes, “Kainsham or Kensham Castle, clene down, stood within two miles of Ludloe, on a hill top.” The place is now known by the name of Castle Fields, in which is a deep and wide entrenchment. Tradition says that this was a depository of the military stores of Cromwell, during the siege of Ludlow Castle. In the neighbourhood of Cainham apples are extensively grown for making cider. THE CHURCH, a venerable structure, picturesquely situated, and dedicated to St. Mary, has a massive low tower containing three bells. It consists of nave, chancel, and north transept, the latter having been recently added at a cost of £140, of which sum the Hereford Diocesan Society contributed £60. The interior has a neat appearance. The beautiful altar was added at the expense of the late vicar. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s book at £4. 13s. 4d., in the patronage of Charles K. Mainwaring, Esq.: incumbent, Rev. Charles Adams. There are upwards of 240 acres of glebe land. THE METHODISTS have a small chapel here.

THE DISTRICT OF ST. PAUL’S KNOWBURY is partly in this parish and partly in that of Bitterley. A considerable portion of the scattered district called BENNETT’S END is in the former parish. In 1839 a church was erected at a cost of £1,200, which is dedicated to St. Paul. The structure is built in a simple style of architecture, and has a square tower. The living is a perpetual curacy; and the patronage is vested in the Bishop of Hereford: incumbent, Rev. Burleigh James. In connexion with the church, spacious schools have been erected, by the Hon. R. H. Clive, who also munificently supports the same: upwards of one hundred children are educated in them. THE METHODISTS AND PRIMITIVE METHODISTS have small meeting houses. The labouring population of this locality are chiefly employed in collieries and brick works. The chief landowners are the Hon. R. H. Clive, Sir W. R. Broughton, and William Poyser, Esq.

CAINHAM DIRECTORY.

Adams Rev. Charles, vicar

Bozwood Thos., wheelwright

Corbett Thomas, shoemaker

Gould Mary, farmer

Grosvenor William, farmer

Harding William, blacksmith

Langston Captain, Poughnill

Medlicott Sarah, farmer, Pervin

Morris Benjamin, farmer

Small Edward, farmer

Small Elizabeth, farmer

Small William, farmer

Swift George, farmer, Camp farm

Ricketts Gregory, farmer

Turley Benjamin, miller

Turley Samuel, farmer, Poughnill

KNOWBURY DIRECTORY.

Bate Wm., vict., Golden cross

James Rev. Burleigh, incmbt.

Lewis James, agent to Hon. R. H. Clive, and Sir W. R. Broughton

Meyrick Thos., vict., Crown

Meyrick Wm., vict., the Oak

Poyser William, coal & lime master, and manufacturer of bricks, tiles, drainage pipes and earthenware

Price, B. J., schoolmaster

CHELMARSH

is a parish and small village, pleasantly situated on a gentle eminence, four miles S.E. from Bridgnorth, which contains 3,126 acres of land, having a rich loamy soil in some parts, and in others a strong clay. There is a small colliery on the western side of the village, and free-stone is got from the quarries on the common. Rateable value of the parish, £3,660. At the census of 1801 there was a population of 411 souls; and in 1841, 104 houses and 495 inhabitants. CHELMARSH COMMON is an unenclosed piece of land, containing 119 acres. The principal landowners are Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq.; John Nicholls, Esq.; John F. Wylde, Esq.; Edward Hughes, Esq.; and Mr. Richard H. Gwyn; besides whom are several other smaller proprietors. Earl Edwin was lord of Chelmarsh before the Conquest, and for some ages afterwards it was the inheritance of the Mortimers. In the 49th of Edward III., Edmund Lord Mortimer gave the manor to the Abbey and Convent of Wigmore, to maintain a secular priest resident in the church of Lentwardine, to sing mass, and daily pray for the souls of himself, family, and ancestors. THE CHURCH is an ancient structure, consisting of nave, chancel, and north aisle, with a tower, in which is a peal of six musical bells. The aisle is separated from the nave by four pointed arches, and there is a gallery at the west end. The east window is beautified with stained glass. A tablet in the chancel, dated 1645, remembers John N. Minnis. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s book at £6. 5s. 8d., now returned at £264; patron, Sir John Seabright; incumbent, Rev. Charles W. Blathwayt, B.A. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £237, and the rectoral for £369. 3s., of which £358 are paid to Sir John Seabright, and £11. 3s. to Edward Hughes, Esq. There are 24 acres of glebe land. THE NATIONAL SCHOOL, a neat stone structure, built in the year 1850, has a residence for the teacher annexed. About fifty children attend. CHELMARSH HALL, an ancient structure, in the Elizabethan style of architecture, was formerly the residence of the Nicholl family. It is now the property of John Nicholl, Esq., but occupied as a farm house. HEMPTON’S LOAD is a small village in the parish of Chelmarsh, two miles south-east from the church, pleasantly situated on the banks of the Severn, which is here crossed by a ferry. SUTTON is a small hamlet, about a mile south from the church.

POST OFFICE—_At George Dudley’s_. Letters arrive at 9 A.M., and are despatched to Bridgnorth at 4.30 P.M.

Ball Thomas, woollen draper, tailor, & farmer

Barker Thomas, blacksmith

Bishop Francis, farmer, The Hall

Blathwayt Rev. Charles Welfitt, B.A., vicar, The Vicarage

Corfield William, farmer, Spadeley

Detton Richard, tailor, The Common

Detton William, tailor, Hempton’s Load

Dovey William, joiner and carpenter

Draper George, farmer, Hempton’s Load

Draper John, farmer, Sutton

Dudley George, postmaster and parish clerk

Evans John, beerhouse-keeper, The Common

Fellows Wm., blacksmith, Hempton’s Load

Gwyn Richard Hodges, Esq., Astbury Hall

Hughes Edward, farmer, Hempton’s Load

Jordin John, farmer

Jordin Thomas, shoemaker

Lewis Thomas, shoemaker, Hempton’s Load

Mapp Thos., maltster & hop merchant, Sutton

Mapp William, maltster and farmer, Sutton

Martin John, farmer and ferryman and vict., The Unicorn, Hempton’s Load

Page John, blacksmith

Page Thomas, corn miller

Perry John, beerhousekpr. & bricklayer, The Common

Powell Richard, wheelwright and carpenter

Radner William, beerhouse and shopkeeper, The Common

Scoffham Henry Francis, butcher and shopkeeper

Spare Mary, schoolmistress (national)

Weaver James, farmer, Hempton’s Load

Williams Richard, cooper, The Common

Wyer Richard, farmer, New House

Wylde John Fewtrell, Esq., The Uplands

Wylde Rev. Charles Edmund, The Uplands

CHETTON

is a parish and pleasantly situated village, four miles and a half S.W. of Bridgnorth, partly in the Chelmarsh and partly in the Cleobury divisions of the Hundred of Stottesdon. The parish contains 3291A. 1R. 12P. of land, the gross estimated rental of which is £4,495. 13s. 6d. Rateable value, £4,026. 18s. 0d. In 1841 there were 113 houses and 580 persons in the Chelmarsh division, and 19 houses and 113 persons returned as in the Cleobury division. Population in 1801, 526; in 1831, 627. The principal landowners are Lord Liverpool; John and George Pritchard, Esqrs.; Thomas Pardoe Purton, Esq.; John Baker, Esq.; John Dallewy, Esq.; and George Joseph Dallewy, Esq.; besides whom there are several smaller proprietors. The tithes are commuted at £569. 14s. 9d.

The celebrated Wheatland hounds, belonging to John Baker, Esq., are kennelled in this parish. The country over which they hunt embraces the Wrekin and surrounding district. The hounds have been in the possession of the present proprietor for eight years, and were principally bred from the packs of Lord Yarborough, the Belvoir, the Shropshire, and Mr. Hellier’s. There is a small colliery and also a brick manufactory in this parish.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Giles, is a stone structure, with square tower, containing six bells, recast in 1829, at which time the tower was rebuilt. The interior consists of nave, chancel, and gallery, on which is a small organ. The church has a chaste appearance, and has been recently repaired at the joint expense of the parish and the late Venerable Archdeacon Vickers, formerly rector of Chetton. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £11, in the patronage of T. W. Wylde Browne, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Richard Herbert. THE NATIONAL SCHOOL is a neat brick building, erected in 1820. The average attendance of boys and girls is about forty. Mrs. Ann Adams is schoolmistress. FAINTREE, FAVON-TREE, or FANONIA-TREE, is a township in Chetton parish, five miles S.W. of Bridgnorth. The name signifies the western town. The township is situated on elevated ground, facing the west, or Favonian wind, and hence its name. This manorial estate was formerly the property of the Briggs family, from whom it was purchased by the ancient family of the Pardoes of Cleeton, in Bitterley parish, whose descendant, Thomas Pardoe, Esq., died, leaving an only child, Esther, with whom this manor passed in marriage to John Purton, Esq., of Eudon Burnall, in whose family it now continues, Thomas Pardoe Purton, Esq., being its present proprietor, who resides at Faintree Hall, a neat brick residence, erected in the year 1802, upon the site of an ancient edifice. EUDON BURNALL and EUDON GEORGE are small townships situated about a mile from the church.

CHARITIES.—_Dorothy Holland_, by will, dated 1723, bequeathed to the poor of this parish the sum of £20, in trust, to be placed out at interest, and distributed to twelve poor people of the parish in bread, on Easter days and Christmas days.

_Richard Pardoe_, by will, dated 1760, bequeathed the sum of £100, to be placed out at interest, which was to be divided into forty parts, one of which should be paid in bread every week to the poor and indigent persons of the parish, in the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, November, and December, for ever.

_Henry Aston_, who died in 1736, bequeathed the sum of £20, the interest thereof to be applied in teaching the poorest children in the parish to read.

_Thomas Pardoe_, by will proved in 1802, gave the sum of £50, the interest thereof to be applied in the teaching of poor children to read whose parents were not rated either to the church or poor.

_Sarah Pardoe_ also gave the sum of £50 in the year 1805, the interest to be disposed of in the same manner as the preceding charity.

LOUGHTON is a chapelry and village in the parish of Chetton, nine miles north-east from Ludlow, which contains 851A. 3R. 14P. of land, the rateable value of which is £635. 1s. At the census of 1801 there were 130 inhabitants; 1831, 112; and in 1841, 19 houses and a population of 113 souls. The duke of Cleveland and Viscountess Boyne are the principal landowners. The chapel is a small fabric of free stone of unpretending appearance, exhibiting the style of architecture prevalent in the sixteenth century. The living is a curacy, subordinate to the rectory of Chetton.

Adams James, gardener

Adams Ann, schoolmistress

Baker John, Esq., Walsbatch

Broom George, shoemaker, Eudon Gorge

Corfield Cornelius, farmer, Eudon Gorge

Corfield Thomas, farmer and cider shop, Tedstill

Dallewy John, Esq., Lower House

Davies James, farmer, Hollicott and Cockshutt

Edmonds Joseph, farmer, Down House

Farmer Thomas, farmer, Lower Faintree

Fletcher Benjamin, farmer, The Bush

Foxall Harry Smith, farmer, Lower Faintree

Gordon Alexander, farmer, Eudon Burnall

Gratton John, miller, Eudon Gorge

Griffin Geo., relieving officer

Hall Edward, jun., farmer, The Drales

Harley Edw., farmer, Eudon Gorge

Herbert Rev. Richard, rector, The Rectory

Hinsley John, farmer, Little Cockshutt

Jones Thomas, shopkeeper

Jones William, shoemaker and beerseller, Old Field

Porter William, farmer and beerseller, Down

Porter William, wheelwright, Down

Purton Thos. Pardoe, Esq., banker, Faintree Hall

Reece Harriet, farmer, Criddon

Reynolds Wm., shoemaker and vict., Old Inn

Rudd John, farmer, Scotland

Smith James, farm bailiff, Tedstill

Taylor Thomas, farmer, Upper House

Wallace William, farmer, Hill Farm

Wall Thos., farmer, Archley

Walters Thos., miller, Down Mill

Yeardley Wm., blacksmith and farmer, Down

LOUGHTON DIRECTORY.

Blakemore Jesse, farmer

Chatham William, farmer

Evans John, shoemaker

Hall Richard, farmer

Kitson Mary, farmer

Lawley John, farmer

Noakes Thomas, shopkeeper

CLEOBURY MORTIMER

is parish and market town in the Cleobury division of the hundred of Stottesden, situated 137 miles N.W. of London, thirty-three miles S.S.E. of Shrewsbury, eleven miles E. of Ludlow, and eight miles W. of Bewdley. It is divided into four quarters, viz.: Cleobury Town Liberty, West Foreign Liberty, East Foreign Liberty, and Doddington Liberty, which together contain 7,671 acres of land, of which 738 acres are in woodlands, 104A. 0R. 14P. of public roads, 2A. 2R. water, and 619A. 2R. 3P. in common lands and waste. Rateable value of the parish, £7,300. At the census in 1841 there were 364 houses and 1,730 inhabitants; population in 1801, 1,368; and in 1831, 1,716, William Lacon Childe, Esq., is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are the Earl of Craven; Sir Edward Blount, Bart.; W. L. Childe, Esq.; Charles Wickstead, Esq.; Mrs. Lucy Botfield; Beriah Botfield, Esq.; John Downes, Esq.; Richard and Henry Backhouse, Esq.; Trustees of Cleobury School; George James Compson, Esq.; Thomas Foxhall, Esq.; and Thomas Pardoe Purton, Esq., besides whom are a number of smaller freeholders. The tithes are commuted for £676. 12s. 6d., of which £602. 10s. is apportioned to the vicar of the parish, £34. 10s. to the Earl of Craven, and 12s. 6d. to William L. Childe, Esq.

The name of Cleobury Mortimer is said to be derived from its situation in a district abounding with clay, and from the Saxon word _Byrig_, a town, and the adjunct by which it is distinguished from North Cleobury is obtained from its ancient possessor, Ralph de Mortimer, who held it at the time of the general survey. The town principally consists of one long street extending from east to west, and contains several family mansions and good shops, in all the different branches of the retail trade. The labouring population are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. There were formerly extensive ironworks in the vicinity, but these have now disappeared. There are two paper mills in the adjoining parish of Neen Savage, carried on by Mr. T. L. Hall. The Clee Hill collieries, about three miles west of the town, have of late been little wrought, though they contain extensive fields of good coal, ironstone, and limestone. This town is generally thought to have been the birth place of Robert Langlande, author of the “Vision of Pierce the Ploughman,” which was published in the year 1369. A strong castle which formerly stood in this place was entirely destroyed in the wars between Henry II. and his rebellious barons; it was built by Hugh de Mortimer.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is an ancient and venerable structure, built of rubble stone, probably about the 14th century. Hugh de Mortimer settled this church for part of the endowment of the Abbey of Wigmore, about the time of Henry II. The square tower, containing a peal of six musical bells, a clock, and two dials, is surmounted by an octagonal spire of wood painted white. The interior consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles, the latter is separated from the nave by five pointed arches on each side. The chancel is separated from the body of the church by a pointed arch. The western gallery contains a fine-toned organ, built by subscriptions about seven years ago, at a cost of £250. On the south side is a stained glass window, with the representation of Christ and the emblems of the crucifixion, and underneath are the words, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd.” On the north side is a beautiful stained glass window in memory of Mary Ann, the wife of John Lynn Priest; and also a stained glass window containing figures of St. Anne and St. Mary the Virgin, erected in memory of Ann Golderby, who died in 1849. There are several marble tablets and tombs within the church, to the memory of deceased members of the various families in the neighbourhood. Within the entrance of the porch is the following epitaph to the memory of Honor Evans.

My days, alas! my mortal days, were short and wretched too: Evil and few, the patriarch says, and well the patriarch knew That death, like overflowing stream, sweeps all away; life’s but a dream, An empty tale, a morning flower, cut down and withered in an hour. Remember, Lord, man’s mortal state; how frail is life, how short the date, Where is the man that draws his breath, safe from disease, secure from death, For man, weak man is born to die, made up of guilt and vanity. Thy dreadful sentence, Lord, is just; return ye sinners to your dust.

The living of the church is a vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £12. 10s. 10d., in the patronage of William Lacon Childe, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Edward George Childe, M.A.

THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS have a small chapel in High street, built of brick. THE ROMAN CATHOLICS have also a chapel near Mawsley Hall, in this parish.

THE FREE SCHOOL was founded and endowed by Sir Lacon William Childe, knt., in the year 1714, for the education of the youth of Cleobury Mortimer; for which purpose he gave by will, dated 28th of October, 1714, all his personal estate, undisposed of, to be put out at interest or to be invested in land for the maintenance of a master, to whom he gave £30 for ever to teach and instruct the children of the parish. By an order of the court of exchequer, dated 19th of June, 1735, it was ordered that £200 should be laid out in the building or purchasing a school and schoolhouse, and that the residue of the trust money should be laid out in the purchase of lands, the rents and profits thereof to be applied to the payment of £30 a year to the schoolmaster, buying English books for the scholars, repairing the school and schoolhouse, and putting out six or more poor children of the parish to husbandry, as the trustees should think fit. By a further order it was directed that the securities should be called in, and the money invested in the South Sea Annuities, which produced in 1742 the sum of £2,475. 6s. which with an outstanding mortgage of £100 constituted the whole of the testator’s personal estate. In 1751, the sum of £2,700 was expended in the purchase of 348A. 3R. 36P. of land, in the parish of Cleobury Mortimer, which is now let at a yearly rent of £343. There is also funded property consisting of £1,700 south sea annuities; £1,600 three per cent. consols; and a sum of £600 composed of surplus income, and £198. 16s. received for return of property tax. Of this fund £1000 three per cents were bequeathed to the trustees in 1810 by Mr. John Winwood, of Bristol, towards paying an usher to assist in teaching. The interest of these funds with the rents of land beforementioned amount to the sum of £463. 1s. 5d. per annum. Upwards of 160 children are now educated in the school, of whom twelve boys and twelve girls are annually clothed, and a fee is given yearly for the apprenticing of six or more poor scholars to some mechanical or agricultural pursuit. The head master is appointed by William Lacon Childe, Esq., of Kinlet, as representative of the founder, and receives £60 per annum, besides other perquisites; especially an allowance of 30s. per head for copy books, &c. The Rev. Henry Kemp, B.A. is the head master: James Birchall, second master.

THE COUNTY COURT for the recovery of debts, and in all pleas of personal action where the damage does not exceed £50, is held monthly at the Town’s Offices, in the Lower town. The several parishes and places within the jurisdiction of the court are Aston Botterel, Bayton, in Worcestershire, Cleobury Mortimer, Coreley, Farlow, in Herefordshire, Highley, Hopton Wafers, Kinlet, Loughton, Mamble, Milson, Neen Savage, Neen Solars, Rock, in Worcestershire, Silvington, Stottesden, and Wheathill. _Judge_, Uvedale Corbett, Esq., Aston Hall: _Clerk_, Samuel Phillips Southam, Esq.; _Assistant Clerk_, William Nichols: _High Bailiff_, William Cooke: _Bailiff and Appraiser_, William Farmer.