Part 24

To MINSTERLEY—S. Madox, from the White Hart, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; and Samuel Swan and Joseph Hill, from the Castle and Falcon, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To MONTGOMERY—Ann Jones, from the Britannia, Wednesdays; John Oliver, from the Queen’s Head, Wednesdays and Saturdays; and R. Evans, on Wednesdays, from Lowe’s Warehouse, Mardol.

To MUCH WENLOCK—Richard Thomas, from his house, Abbey Foregate, Mondays; Richard Nicklin, from the Spread Eagle, on Wednesdays and Saturdays; Jeremiah Aston, from the Sun Tavern, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To NEWTOWN, LLANIDLOES, & ABERYSTWITH—Evan Reece, on Wednesdays, and Richard Morgan, on Thursday, from Rogers’ Warehouse, Frankwell.

To PICKLESCOTT—James Wild, from the Barge Inn, Wednesdays and Saturdays; Wm. Griffith, from the Seven Stars, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To POOLE—R. Jones, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from Circus Yard.

To PONTESBURY & MINSTERLEY—Thos. Everall, from Rogers’ Warehouse, Frankwell; Thomas Davies, from the Queen’s Head, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

To PRESTON BROCHHURST—Trevor, from the Bull’s Head, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To PULVERBATCH—Richard Dovaston and Philip Morris, from the Spread Eagle, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To SHAWBURY—Thomas Richards, from the Mermaid, Saturdays; Thos. Humphreys, from the Bell, on Saturdays.

To STRETFORD BRIDGE—Thos. Humphreys, from the Bell, on Saturday.

To TREWERNE AND WELSHPOOL—Thos. Williams, from the Queen’s Head, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To UFFINGTON—Elizabeth Davies, from the White Hart, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To WELLINGTON—Edward Thomas, from the Barge Inn, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; and Jackson, from the Lion and Pheasant, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

To WELSHPOOL, AND NEWTOWN—Robert Sackett, from Rogers’ and Crowley’s Warehouses, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and Edward Harris, from the Queen’s Head, on Wednesdays.

To WESTBURY—John Handley, from the Mermaid, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To WESTON & HAWKSTONE—John Phillips, from the Queen’s Head, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To WITHINGTON—Thomas Leary, from the Yorkshire House, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To WOLVERHAMPTON—Frederick Worthington, from the White Hart, Saturdays.

To WORTHEN—William Downes, from the Elephant and Castle, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

THE ALBRIGHTON DIVISION.

The Albrighton division was formed into a separate jurisdiction for magisterial purposes under the authority of an Act of parliament, passed in the 4th of William IV. It comprises the following places:—The parishes of Battlefield, Broughton, Fitz, Grinshill, Preston Gubballs, and Uffington; the chapelries of Albrighton, Astley, Clive, and Hadnal; and the township of Acton Reynold, Albrightlee, Harlscott, Hencott, Longner, Berwick, Leaton, Merrington, Newton and Wollascot; and the extra-parochial liberty of Haughmond. It may be necessary to observe, that the arrangement of this work being by hundreds, the townships, or chapelries, comprised in the several hundreds, will be found alphabetically arranged, under the head of the respective town or village, in which the parish church is situated.

ALBRIGHTLEE,

a small township in St. Mary’s parish three miles N.N.E. from Shrewsbury, containing 742A. 2R. 21P. of land, is the property of Andrew William Corbet, Esq. At the census of 1841 there were 8 houses and 45 inhabitants. The principal residence is an antique house of timber and plaster, occupied by Mr. John Minton, who farms a considerable portion of the land in the township, and is also a maltster.

HARLSCOTT

township, situated two and a half miles N.N.E. from Shrewsbury, is partly in St. Alkmund, and partly in that of St. Mary’s. In 1841 there were 8 houses and 41 inhabitants returned as in the former parish, and 6 houses and 28 inhabitants in the latter. The land owners are Andrew William Corbet, Esq., and Scarlett LLoyd Parry, Esq.

The principal residents are Thomas Briscoe Barber, farmer; Scarlett LLoyd Parry, Esq., solicitor; John Ralphs, carpenter; and William Hewlett, shoemaker.

HENCOTT,

a small township with a scattered population, is about one and three quarter miles N. from Shrewsbury. Colonel Wingfield is the only proprietor in this township, which in 1841 had 14 scattered houses and a population of 84 souls. The Shrewsbury and Chester railway intersects this township. The soil for the most part is a fertile loam.

The following are the principal farmers, viz.:—Robert Legh, Cross Hall; Ann Bromley, Hencott farm, Robert Parry, manager; Edward Randles, Old Heath; and Joseph Yates, Old Heath.

BATTLEFIELD

is a small parish, pleasantly situated three and a quarter miles N.N.E. from Shrewsbury, which contains 1,008A. 0R. 3P. of land, the whole of which is the property of Andrew William Corbet, Esq., of Sundorne Castle. In 1801 there was a population of 83 souls; in 1831, 70; and in 1841 there were 14 houses and 64 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,008. 6s. 8d. The name is derived from the battle fought here on the 21st of July, 1403, between Henry IV. and the forces under Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and generally denominated the battle of Shrewsbury, which will be found noticed in a preceding page. The king afterwards built a collegiate church for secular canons, upon the spot where the battle was fought, and “endowed it with a piece of ground, with all the buildings on it, within the lordship of Albrighton Husee, in the field called Battlefield, which piece of ground was ditched in, and contained in length and breadth two acres of land, together with two inlets and outlets along the lands of Richard Husee, one twenty feet wide and the other fifteen feet wide.” No doubt appropriate buildings for the residence of the canons and servants of the establishment were erected on the land inside this ditch: these probably were demolished at the period of the dissolution of monasteries, but no remains of them are now to be seen.

THE CHURCH, a venerable fabric dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, consists of nave, chancel, and embattled tower ornamented with pinnacles; the nave, however, has long been roofless, the windows are destroyed, and the tower is in a dilapidated state. Divine worship is now performed in the chancel, which has been neatly fitted up, and a new font recently added. The fine east window was formerly richly adorned with stained glass. In a recess on the south side of the altar is a mutilated carving of the Virgin Mary, with a small figure of the dead Saviour on her lap. A beautiful monument of the white Grinshill freestone, enriched with Gothic tracery, remembers John Corbet, Esq., Emma Elizabeth, his wife, and John Kynaston Corbet, their son. About half a century ago, when the vault was made in which rest the remains of Mr. Corbet, the workmen discovered an ancient stirrup and bridle bit, which had lain among the ashes of the slain since the period of the battle which gave origin to the church. Near the chancel wall, surrounded by pallisades, is the tomb of the Rev. Edward Williams, incumbent of this parish and Uffington, who died on January 3, 1833, aged 70 years. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £233, in the patronage of A. W. Corbet, Esq.; incumbent, Rev. J. O. Hopkins, who is also the perpetual curate of Uffington.

ALBRIGHT HUSSEY, an ancient moated residence, situated about half a mile from Battlefield church, was formerly the seat of the Husseys, a family of consequence in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The mansion, in the reign of Charles I., became the seat of the Corbets, who resided there for more than one hundred years. One of the rooms has a fine oak chimney piece, most elaborately carved. Near to the mansion formerly stood a chapel, the remains of which, and the old font, are still to be seen. Roger Roe, rector of the chapel of St. John the Baptist, at Albrighton Husee, by his will, dated 1444, ordered his body to be buried near the high altar of Battlefield church, and bequeathed to the five chaplains in the college three silver chalices, one paxbrede of silver gilt, two silver cruets, three brass bells hanging in the belfry, two cases after the manner of Sarum, otherwise called lyggers, three gilt copper crosses, two new missals, two new graduals, three old missals covered with old leather, one old case, one processional, one executor of the office, one book of collects, four placebo and dirage, one pair of vestments of red velvet, one red velvet cope, two velvet dalmatics, one pair of vestments of white silk, one white silk cope, and four pair of other vestments. Mrs. Margaret Jones, in 1773, left £50, and directed the interest to be given to the poor of the parish on Easter Sunday.

DIRECTORY.—Henry Colley, farmer, Huffley; Edward Moreton, farmer, Allbright Hussey; Martha Winnall, farmer, Battlefield farm

BROUGHTON,

a parish and township in the Albrighton division, also contains the township of Yorton, which conjointly contain 878A. 2R. 1P. of land, and in 1841 had 37 houses and 188 inhabitants. The soil is mostly a stiff loam, and the meadow land is of good quality. There are 27A. of woods and plantations in the parish. The principal land owners are Viscount Hill, Spencer Roger Dickin, Esq., Mr. William Teece, and Cornelius Maddocks, the former is lord of the manor. Rateable value of the parish, £1836. 10s. THE CHURCH is a small ancient structure, dedicated to St. Mary, and was formerly subordinate to that of St. Mary, Shrewsbury; it is built of rubble stone, and rough cast, and has nave, chancel, porch, and small turret. The living is a perpetual curacy returned in £67, in the patronage of Viscount Hill, and incumbency of the Rev. Francis Parkes. It is related on a late occasion the parish clerk of Broughton was desired to acquaint the congregation during public worship that the then officiating minister would perform divine service at that church and at the Clive _alternately_, when, not exactly understanding the meaning of the latter term, he very gravely gave notice the Rev. Mr. W. “will preach here and at the Clive to _all eternity_.” The tithes are commuted for £105, Henry Lister, Esq., is the impropriator. In the field where the church stands an attempt has recently been made to open coal works; it appears that coal was found and lime works were also established, but the project was shortly after abandoned.

DIRECTORY.—Mr. William Clay, The farm; Mr. Alderton Clay, The hall; Joseph Molynax, blacksmith; Mr. Samuel Sherratt, The villa, William Sutton, wheelwright.

YORTON,

a small scattered township in the parish of Broughton, is situate about one mile from the church. The population and acres are included in the returns for Broughton. Viscount Hill is lord of the manor, Robert Panting Gardener, Esq., Mrs. Sarah Bayley and others are land owners. The greatest portion of the township is in the hands of R. P. Gardner, Esq.

YORTON VILLA, the residence of the Rev. William Jaudwine, M.A., is a square stuccoed house pleasantly situated, and beautified with pleasure grounds, and shrubberies laid out with great taste. The following are the principal residents in this township:—Those with † affixed reside at Yorton Heath, Rev. William Jaudwine, M.A., The villa; † Thomas George, shopkeeper; † George Lea, farmer; † Joseph Lea, farmer; Lucy Martin, farmer; † Benjamin Shuker, farmer, Black Birch. Thomas Gregory carrier to Shrewsbury on Wednesday and Saturday.

LONGNER

is an isolated portion of the parish of St. Chad, situated three miles south east from Shrewsbury. Robert Burton, Esq., of Longner hall, is owner of the whole township, which in 1841 is returned as containing four houses and 13 inhabitants. The hall is a handsome and commodious mansion, with projecting gables ornamented with turrets and pinnacles, and fronted with the beautiful white Grinshill free stone; it stands on an acclivity commanding a rich view of the surrounding country, and of the Severn, which rolls immediately beneath it. The views up and down the river and over the adjoining highly cultivated and well wooded country are peculiarly picturesque and beautiful, affording a great variety of landscape scenery. An extensive and finely timbered park surrounds the hall, the immediate vicinity of which is tastefully ornamented with pleasure grounds and shrubberies. The interior of the mansion is elegantly furnished, and contains some beautiful paintings; a fine portrait of Queen Elizabeth is supposed to have been presented by her Majesty to the ancestors of the present proprietor. A magnificent gothic window of stained glass ornamented with figures of different members of the family, lights the entrance hall.

In the garden is a tomb placed over the body of Edward Burton, Esq., a zealous protestant in Queen Mary’s days, and is by Fox, in his Acts and Monuments, named among those who by various means escaped persecution. He one day sitting in his parlour alone, meditating on the troubles of the times, and the deliverances he and others had found; and whilst thus reflecting heard a general ring of bells in Shrewsbury, which he concluded must be for the accession of the Lady Elizabeth to the throne. Anxious to know the truth, and not daring to send any of his servants to inquire, he sent his eldest son—a youth about sixteen years of age, ordering him if the bells rang for the Lady Elizabeth’s accession to throw his hat up into the air on his arrival at a certain place where he could he seen from the hall. The young man finding it as was expected, threw up his hat, which his father seeing, was suddenly affected with a transport of joy, that he with difficulty reached a chair, and immediately expired. By his will he ordered that his body should be buried in the parish church of St. Chad, in Shrewsbury, and that no mass monger should be present at his interment. His friends designing to execute his will in this respect, brought his corpse to the church, and were there met by the curate, who said that “Mr. Burton was an heretic and should not be buried in his church.” His friends were therefore obliged to carry his body back again, and bury it in his own garden. A monument was set over him, which, being injured and defaced with the weather, Edward Burton, Esq., his grandson, in the year 1614, re-edified the tomb. The following is the epitaph placed on the tomb, written by Sir Andrew Corbet, Bart.:—

“Was’t for denying Christ, or some notorious fact, That this man’s body Christian burial lack’d? Oh no! his faithful true profession, Was the chief cause, which was then held transgression; When popery here did reign, the See of Rome, Would not admit to any such a tomb, Within their idol temple walls; but he Truly professing Christianity, Was like Christ Jesus in a garden laid, Where he shall rest in peace till it be said— Come faithful servant, come, receive with me, A just reward for thy integrity.”—1614.

There is a free school at Longner, situated in the park, which is supported by R. Burton, Esq.; 42 children are now taught in the school.

The principal residents at Longner are Robert Burton, Esq., Longner hall, and Robert Weatherby, schoolmaster.

FITZ

is a parish and village delightfully situated on a gentle eminence 5¾ miles N.W. from Shrewsbury; the country around is fertile, and pleasingly diversified with graceful undulations; the scenery is very beautiful, and includes the picturesque windings of the river Severn. The parish contains 1512A. 1R. 32P. of land; in 1801 there were 236 inhabitants; in 1831, 211, and in 1841 fifty houses and a population of 246 souls. Rateable value, £2,774. 6s. The river Perry intersects the township, and has its confluence with the Severn a little below Mytton. The soil is rich, producing good wheat and barley, and there is some rich pasture land. The Shrewsbury and Chester railway passes this township over Leaton Heath, where there is a station, about a mile and a half from Fitz.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Paul, is situated on an eminence, and consists of nave and chancel, with a lofty square tower, in which is one bell. It is a birch fabric with stone finishings, and contains a fine toned organ; the pews are of oak, and there are some interesting monuments within its sacred walls to the families of Wood, Powell, Lloyd, Jones, Denstons, Hopkins, Pytons and others; it is also beautified with two finely executed stained glass windows. Twenty-two free sittings were added in 1842, at the expense of the Rev. William Hopkins, then rector of this parish. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s books at £5. 5s. 8d., now returned at £272 in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. Daniel Nihill, M.A., who resides at the rectory, a pleasantly situated mansion near the church. There are 34A. 2R. 1P. of glebe land, and the tithes were commuted in 1839 for £266. There is a neat school in the village, built in 1850, at the cost of near £100, which was raised by subscriptions, and a collection in the church; 45 children are instructed. A residence has been provided for the master near the school.

THE HALL, a handsome stuccoed mansion, pleasantly situated and beautified with pleasure grounds, is the residence and property of Richard Middleton, Esq. Among the land owners in the parish are John A. Lloyd, Esq.; Robert A. Slaney, Esq., M.P.; Richard Middleton, Esq.; Mr. Joseph Hignett, Mrs. Morris, Mr. Richard Vaughan, Rev. Edward H. Dymock, Mr. Richard Lloyd, James Payne, Esq., Mr. James Davies, Devisees of late Sir John Betton, and others. The Duke of Cleveland is the lord of the manor.

MYTTON

is a scattered village in the parish of Fitz, salubriously situated, containing some good residences, and surrounded with picturesque scenery. Mytton is celebrated as the birth place of Edward Waring, M.D., whose mathematical publications prove the extent and profundity of his knowledge. He was born in the year 1734, and after being educated at Shrewsbury free school, was sent on one of Millington’s exhibitions to Magdalen College, Cambridge, where he applied himself with such assiduity to the study of Mathematics, that when he left the university he carried with him the credit of being one of the most able mathematicians that ever filled the professor’s chair. In 1776 he entered into a matrimonial connection with Miss Oswell, and not many years after retired from the university, first to a house in Shrewsbury, and at length to his own estate at Plealey, near Pontesbury, where he died on the 15th of August, 1798, in the 64th year of his age.—GRAFTON is another small village in the parish of Fitz. Here are several good farms, and Grafton Lodge, a good house pleasantly situated, the residence of John Henry Denston, Esq.

FITZ DIRECTORY.—John Bather, Esq., Richard Middleton, Esq., The hall; Rev. Daniel Nihill, M.A., The Rectory; _Farmers_, Joshua Burroughs, Leaton Heath; Richard Middleton, Samuel Onions, Leaton Heath; Thomas Vaughan, corn miller; John Walmsley, Leaton Heath; Alban Davies, fisherman; Maria Davies, schoolmistress; William France, farm bailiff; John Vaughan, butcher.—GRAFTON DIRECTORY: Mrs. Ann Denston, John Henry Denston, Esq.; Edward Davies, farmer; John Davies shopkeeper; Richard Davies, blacksmith; Richard Lloyd, wheelwright; John Pugh, farmer; and Thomas Vaughan, farmer.—MYTTON DIRECTORY: William Davies, farmer; John Evans, farm bailiff; Mrs. Jemima Hopkins; John Litttlehales, basket maker; Mrs. Elizabeth Morris, farmer; William Rowland, farmer and corn miller; Richard Wildig, farmer.

GRINSHILL

is a parish and township seven miles N. from Shrewsbury, which contains 872A. 0R. 34P. of land, the chief owners of which are Viscount Hill, Sir Andrew Vincent Corbet, Bart., trustees of Shrewsbury School; Rev. John Wood; Mr. Richard Kilvert; P. Gardner, Esq.; Mr. William Embrey Wood; Mr. John Williams; and the devisees of the late John Kilvert. Viscount Hill is Lord of the Manor. The beautiful and romantic village of Grinshill is delightfully situated, and contains many good residences, occupied by respectable families. In 1801 there was a population of 179 souls, and in 1841 there were 56 houses and 255 inhabitants. Rateable value, £587. 5s. 6d.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to All Saints, has a neat, light, and beautiful appearance, and exhibits the decorative style of English architecture; it is built of the Grinshill free stone, and ornamented with a square tower. The interior consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles: a neat mural tablet remembers Robert Embrey, and other members of that family. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £82, in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. John Wood. The parsonage, near the church, is pleasantly situated, and the grounds neatly ornamented with shrubberies. THE INDEPENDENT METHODISTS have a small stone chapel, built in 1843. The Free School in connection with the church was built by, and is supported by, Sir A. V. Corbet. There are 56 scholars attending the day school. The spacious building occupied by Mr. Barkley as a classical and commercial school, was built about half a century after the Shrewsbury Free School, for the safety of the masters and scholars of that seminary, in case any contagious disease should prevail in that town.

THE QUARRIES, where the beautiful white Grinshill freestone is got, are very extensive, and give employment to a considerable number of hands. Many of the churches and public buildings in the county are built of this stone, which is of a fine close quality, and superior to most others for carving and ornamental purposes.

CHARITIES.—_Major Richard Corbet_ bequeathed £20, and _Mrs. Judith Corbet_ a like sum, and directed the interest to be expended in books and the education of poor children; _Eleanor Allen_ and _Thomas_, her sons, left £20 for the poor. _William Key_ left £50, the interest to be given to the minister of this parish, if approved of by his trustees, if not to the poor. _Thomas Embrey_ left £10. _John Kilvert_, £5; and an unknown donor £9, for the benefit of the poor. _The Rev. Mr. Price_ left £12. for the instruction of two children. The above moneys were laid out in the purchase of 10A. 2R. 20P. of land, at Coton, which was let on lease in 1757, for the term of 100 years, at the yearly rent of £4. 18s. The premises are stated now to be worth £20 a year. Of the rent, £1. 10s. is paid to the minister, £2. 2s. to the schoolmaster, and the residue is distributed among the poor. _Sir Andrew Corbet_, in 1830, gave £15. 15s. to the poor of this parish.

Barkley Richard, boarding school, The Grove

Blantarn Robert, farmer

Boora Charles, farmer

Carline John, quarry master and contractor

Cureton Edward, quarry master & stonemason

Downes Andrew, quarry master & stonemason

Downes Mrs. N., dress maker

Downes Nathaniel, tailor and draper

Griffiths William, parish clerk

Higgins John, farmer

Huffa William, blacksmith and vict., Barley Corn Inn

Jessop Francis, butcher and salesman

Jessop John, farmer, Hill farm

Killan John, butcher and horse breaker

Kilvert Mrs. Catherine

Matthews John, farmer

Naylor Miss, school teacher

Nelson Arthur, farmer

Onslow Mrs. M., boarding house and vict., Elephant and Castle

Onslow Margaret, farmer and maltster

Phillips William, shopkeeper & shoemaker

Smith Thomas, quarry master and mason

Williams Henry Parton, farmer

Williams Joseph, wheelwright

Wood Rev. John, M.A., the Parsonage

Wood William Embrey, Esq., the Vineyard

HAUGHMOND,