Part 26

is a small township about a mile north from Hadnal, which comprises 372A. 2R. 1P. of land, the rateable value of which is £551. 6s. 2d. Inhabitants in 1841, thirteen. Rent charge, £23. HARDWICK HALL, a handsome mansion delightfully situated in a well wooded park, was the country seat of that distinguished warrior, the late General Lord Hill, who greatly improved the hall and pleasure grounds, and erected a handsome lodge of Grinshill free stone, at the entrance from the Shrewsbury turnpike road. A more detailed account of this illustrious commander, who spent his last years amidst the rural beauties of Hardwick, has been given at a preceding page. The property is now vested in Viscount Hill, and the Misses Hill reside at Hardwick Hall. Robert Blantern, Hardwick Grange, is the only resident farmer in this township.

HASTON

township, situated one mile W.W. by N. from Hadnal, contains about 400 acres of good land, the owners of which are Viscount Hill, Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., and Messrs. Richard and William Boodle Pickstock. Rateable value of the township, £574. 18s. 6d. Population in 1841, 78, Rent charge, £62. There are two respectable farm residences in this place, one of which has recently been built by the Messrs. Pickstock. The resident farmers are Mr. George Blantern and Messrs. Richard and William Boodle Pickstock.

SHOTTON,

a small township pleasantly situated on elevated ground, two miles N.W. from Hadnal, contains 230A. 2R. 13P. of land, the rateable value of which is £417. 4s. 6d. Colonel Watkins owns the whole township. The number of inhabitants at the census in 1841 were twenty-two, at which period the land was divided into two farms. Within the last few years the two farms have been united, and the whole township is now farmed by Mr. John Groome. The tithes are commuted for £54. 5s.

SMETHCOTT

township, situated a mile and a half W. by N. from Hadnal, in 1841 had a population of seventy souls. The houses are scattered, and the land is well timbered, which gives the whole a pleasing and rural appearance. The township contains 588A. 0R. 28P. of land, the owners of which are Mrs. Sarah Bayley and the two Mr. Edward Groomes. Rent charge, £92. 3s. 6d. Rateable value, £767. 9s. 1d. The Black Birches is a handsome and pleasantly situated house, the property and residence of Mrs. Sarah Bayley; besides whom, Mr. Francis Lloyd Bayley, Mr. Edward Groome, farmer, and Mr. Edward Groome, farmer, are residents in this township.

PRESTON GUBBALS OR GOBALDS

is a parish township, and small village 4½ miles N. from Shrewsbury, on the turnpike road from that town to Chester. The township contains 1350A. 3R. 5P. of land, the principal owner of which is Lady Tyrwhitt; R. R. Slaney, Esq., M.P., is a small proprietor, and there are also a few small freeholders. The former is lady of the manor and impropriatoress. Population in 1801, 313, and in 1841, 388. Rateable value, £1,386. This place is said to have derived its name from one Godebalte, a clerk to Roger de Montgomery, and was anciently called the priests town of Godebalte, which eventually became corrupted to Preston Gubbals. THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Martin, is a small fabric of primitive simplicity, with a porch on the south side, composed of massive oak timber; the living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the vicarage of Prees, and is endowed with a farm at Criggion, in Montgomeryshire, of 58A. 3R., with a sheep walk of about 28 acres; the Rev. William Stephens Burd, M.A., is the incumbent, and resides at a neat residence near the church, which has been built with the intention of attaching it to the living. There is a small library, of standard divinity, in the vestry of the church, which was given by Charles Mather, Esq., for the use of the officiating clergyman. The tithes are commuted for £170. This township includes a portion of Bomere Heath, where there are a number of small cottages, and a Wesleyan New Connexion chapel within the bounds of it. In the parliamentary returns of 1786 it is stated that Richard Brethens in 1777 bequeathed £100 for the benefit of the poor of Preston Gobalds; the interest is usually laid out in coals, and distributed among the most deserving poor of the parish. Besides the farmers given in the directory, John B. Minor, Esq., holds the Lea Hall farm in the township. There are 220 acres of wood land in the parish.

DIRECTORY.—Rev. William Stevens Burd, M.A.; _Farmers_, Edward Acton, Robert Hales, and Richard Poole; William Littlehales, wheelwright; William Thompson, wood bailiff to Lady Tyrwhitt.

MERRINGTON

township, 1¼ miles N.W. from Preston Gobalds, and 5½ N.N.W. from Shrewsbury, contains 898A. 1R. 26P. of land, which is the property of Lady Tyrwhitt, except one farm held by R. R. Slaney, Esq., M.P. The population in 1841 was returned at 188 souls, at which time there were 46 houses. Rateable value, £1073 5s. 6d. This township comprises a considerable portion of BOMERE HEATH, which was enclosed upwards of forty years ago; it is now the most densely populated part of the township, and consists chiefly of small detached cottages, with a few acres of land or a garden plot attached to each cottage. Here is an Independent chapel, a Wesleyan chapel, and a Wesleyan New Connexion chapel, not far from each other, the two former are in this township, and the latter in Preston Gobalds township. There is also a free school for all the children in the parish, which is supported by R. R. Slaney. About two-thirds of the land in Merrington is arable, a deep loamy soil prevails in some places, and in other parts a cold clay.

DIRECTORY.—_Farmers_, John Jones, Joseph Kent, William Kent, John Shore, and William Shore; William Dodd, blacksmith; the rest are at Bomere Heath, Richard Ellis, shoemaker; James Holmes, contractor; Martha Owen, butcher; John Price shopkeeper; and John Wright, schoolmaster.

UFFINGTON

is a parish and small village delightfully situated on the banks of the Severn, three miles E.N.E. from Shrewsbury. The parish contains 1309A. 3R. 9P. of land, and forms a part of the Sundorne domain, which is the property of Andrew William Corbett, Esq. At the census of 1801 the population was returned at 120 souls and in 1841 there were 32 houses and 163 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1804. 19s. The picturesque beauty of the village, surrounded by a lovely and fertile country, and its contiguity to Haughmond Hill, which commands a most delightful view of the surrounding district, causes this to be a place of much attraction in the summer season for pleasure parties from Shrewsbury and other places. There is a good inn, with a spacious bowling green, which is kept in admirable order, where parties may recreate themselves and have every attention and comfort at a moderate charge, from the worthy host of the “Corbet Arms.” A spacious room which opens upon the bowling green will accommodate nearly a hundred persons.

About half a mile east from Uffington is HAUGHMOND HILL, from the summit of which is seen a most beautiful, panoramic view of the fertile plains of Shropshire, the lofty steeples of its ancient capital, the windings of the graceful Severn, and in the distance the blue mountains of Wales, whilst in the foreground is seen the stately mansion of Sundorne Castle, adorned with battlements and turrets, which forcibly reminds us of the beautiful lines of Mrs. Hemans:—

The stately homes of England, How beautiful they stand! Amidst their tall ancestral trees, O’er all the pleasant land.

Upon the summit of the hill has been built a castellated tower, which is a conspicuous object for many miles around. Near the tower is a steep crag, down which the Earl of Douglas leaped with his horse, on being closely pursued, after his escape from the battle of Shrewsbury. He was seriously injured by this daring act, and on his being taken prisoner, the king set him at liberty, in admiration of his valour.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a small fabric of venerable appearance, with a porch on the south side, and a small belfry. The interior harmonizes with the simplicity of the structure. The font is large and circular. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £49, in the patronage of Andrew William Corbett, Esq.; incumbent, Rev. John Oliver Hopkins, M.A. In the churchyard are several fine old yew trees.

PIMLEY HOUSE is a handsome residence, pleasantly situated about a quarter of a mile from the village. It stands on a gentle acclivity rising from the Severn, and commands some fine prospects. The house was completed in 1849; it is of brick, with stone finishings, exhibiting the Elizabethan style of architecture. Pimley House is the occasional residence of Andrew William Corbet, Esq., of Sundorne Castle.

A NEAT SCHOOLHOUSE and residence for the teachers was built in 1849, on the turnpike road leading to Shrewsbury, by A. W. Corbet, Esq., who also munificently supports the institution, which is free to all the children of the tenants upon the Sundorne estate. There is also a good Sunday school nearly opposite the church. This parish is intersected by the river Severn, and the Shropshire union canal.

Corbet Andrew William, Esq., Sundorne Castle, and Pimley House

Allen John, farmer, corn miller, and brick and tile makers

Bullock Richard, blacksmith

Davies John, farm bailiff, Pimley

Evans John, farmer

Evans Robert Lloyd, gentleman

Grice Thomas, vict., Corbet Arms

Hazledine John and Co., coal merchants; John Mabury, agent

Heath Thomas, shoemaker

Hopkins Rev. John Oliver, M.A., Parsonage

Jarratt Stephen, schoolmaster

Ralphs Samuel, carpenter and clerk

Sproston Edward, tailor

THE OSWESTRY HUNDRED.

The Oswestry hundred is bounded on the east by the hundred of Pimhill, on the north and west by Denbighshire, and on the south-west by Montgomeryshire. The river Ceiriog bounds the hundred at the northern extremity, and the Vernieu and the Severn form the southern boundary. The population of this hundred in 1821 was 17,189; and in 1841, 19,858, of whom 3,956 were in the lower division of the hundred, and 15,902 in the upper division. Of the total number of inhabitants at the latter period, 9,805 were males, and 10,054 females.

The lower division of the hundred contains the following parishes and townships, viz., Cotton, Dovaston, Eardiston, Edgerley, Felton West, Haughton, Kinnerley, Knockin, Kynaston, Maesbrook Issa, Maesbrook Ucha, Melverley, Osbaston, Rednal, Ruyton of the Eleven Towns, Sandford, Shelvock, Shotatton, Sutton, Tedsmore, Twyford, Tyricoed, Woolston, and Wykey.

The upper division contains Aston Abertanatt, Berghill, Blodwell, Bryn, Cynynion, Crickheath, Daywell, Ebnall, Fernhill, Frankton, Halston, Henlle, Hindford, Hisland, Ifton Rhyn, Llanvorda, Llanyblodwell, Llanytidman, Llanymyneck, Lynclys, Maesburg, Marton Old, Martin St., Middleton, Morton, Oswestry, Pentregaer, Porkington, Selattyn, Sychtyn, Sweeney, Treprenal, Trefarclawdd, Treflach, Trefonen, Weston Cotton, Weston Rhyn, Whittington, and Wootton.

HALSTON,

an Extra-parochial Liberty, three-quarters of a mile east from Whittington, and three and a quarter miles E.N.E. from Oswestry, contains upwards of 500 acres of land, which is the property of Edmund Wright, Esq., of Halston Hall. This place formerly belonged to the Knights Templars, or Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. It is called in deeds Halystone, or Holystone, and was formerly a sanctuary. Meyrick Lloyd, lord of some part of Uwch Ales, in the reign of Richard I., would not submit to the English government, to which the hundred of Dyffryn Clwydd, and several others, were at that time subject; and having seized some English officers, who came there to execute the laws, put several of them to death. From this fact the lands were forfeited to the king, and Lloyd fled and took sanctuary at Halston, where its possessor, John Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel, received him under his protection. It was given by this family to the Knights Templars, and in the 26th of Henry VIII. we find the commandary valued at £160. 14s. 10d. a-year. On the abolition of this religious order, King Henry VIII. empowered John Sewster, Esq., to dispose of this manor to Alan Horde, who made an exchange with Edward Mytton, Esq., which alienation was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth. Halston was the birth place of the celebrated General Mytton, who was born in 1608. By his courage and conduct many strongholds in North Wales and Shropshire were subdued, and he greatly distinguished himself in several battles. An ardent love of liberty, it seems, was the motive which governed his conduct; for finding that Cromwell’s views were ambitious, he resigned his command and retired. General Mytton died in London, in 1656: his remains were conveyed to Shrewsbury, and interred in St. Chad’s church. The church or chapel is a small fabric, situated in the park, about five hundred yards from the south front of the hall. The interior is neatly fitted up, and contains an ancient font, of an octagonal shape, rudely carved; an old stone coffin which has been dug up, lies near the tower. The living is a donative, without any other revenue than what the chaplain is allowed by the owner. The Halston estate, after being held by the Myttons from the time of Henry VIII. to the present century was sold in 1817 to Edmund Wright, Esq., the present proprietor. The hall, a spacious and elegant mansion of brick with a stone portico, has been greatly improved by the present owner. It is beautified with pleasure grounds and shrubberies, and opens into a beautiful and finely-timbered park of about 200 acres. Near the front of the hall is a fine sheet of water, and the river Perry, a small stream, takes its course through the park. The kitchen gardens are in a sheltered situation a little west from the hall, and cover upwards of five acres. Pineries and greenhouses are now in course of erection. At the census of 1841, Halston is returned as containing three houses and thirty-four inhabitants.

DIRECTORY.—Edmund Wright, Esq., Halston Hall; Charles Galloway, gardener, the Hall; Thomas Ward, farmer, Kinsall.

KINNERLEY

parish contains the townships of Kinnerley and Argoed, Dovaston, Edgerley, Kynaston, Maesbrook Issa, Maesbrook Ucha, Osbaston, and Tyrycoed, which together have an area of 5,891A. 2R. 28P. of land. Rateable value, £7,761. 9s. 9d. Rent charge, £942. 1s., of which £170 is apportioned to the vicar, and £772. 1s. to the impropriators. Population in 1801, 1,110; in 1841, 1,286.

KINNERLEY AND ARGOED, a township and pleasantly situated village, seven miles S.E. from Oswestry, and twelve miles N.W. by W. from Shrewsbury, contains 848A. 0R. 9P. of land, mostly an undulating district, producing good wheat and barley. The principal land owners are Edward Downes, Esq.; John Morris, Esq.; Mr. John Doune; Rev. Thomas Frank; Mr. John Hilton; Mr. William Parkes; Mr. John Lewis; Mr. Thomas Barlow; Mr. Henry Bowman; Mr. Edward Baddow; Mr. John Pugh; Mr. Edward Evans; the vicar of Kinnerley; Mr. Jones; Mr. Griffiths; and others. George Edwards, Esq., is lord of the manor, and holds a court, the jurisdiction of which extends over Kinnerley Argoed and Edgerley. It is stated in ancient records that Kinnerley Castle was plundered and destroyed by Llewellyn, prince of Wales, during the early part of the reign of Henry III. We afterwards find that he was compelled to promise to make satisfaction for the injury he had done; but it appears the restoration of the castle never took place.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is built of red sandstone, and has a square tower, with the date of 1600. The nave and chancel were enlarged and beautified in 1755. There are several beautiful monuments in the church, one of which remembers the Rev. John Bridgeman, D.D., bishop of Chester, who died in 1719. In the tower are three fine-toned bells, which were re-cast at Kinnerley. It is related that a farmer returning from Shrewsbury fair, where he had sold two cows named Dobbin and Golden, passing the furnace, was asked what he would give towards the new bells, when he jocularly replied that he would give Dobbin and Golden, at the same time emptying a large handkerchief of silver coin into the furnace. From this circumstance the bells have ever since been called Dobbin and Golden. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King’s book at £7. 6s. 8d.; now returned at £114; in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. Edmund Wolryche Orlando Bridgeman. The vicarial tithes of this township are commuted for £18. 12s. 2d.; and £103. 4s. 6d. are paid to Mrs. Tayleur, and £2. 16s. 6d. to other impropriators. There are 30A. 1R. of glebe land. The tithes formerly belonged to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, in whom the patronage of the living was also vested.

CHARITIES.—_John Payne_ left £6, _Edward Payne_ a yearly sum of 4s., and _Richard Payne_ the sum of 10s. yearly, for the benefit of the poor. These sums are secured upon a piece of land in Lwynygo. _Nicholas Thornes_ bequeathed £10, _Roger Thornes_ a like sum, and _Thomas Thornes_ £5, which gifts are secured upon land in Edgerley township, called Brokist. _Mr. Kynaston_ gave the interest of £10 to the poor; _Elizabeth Morgan_ bequeathed £50. _Henry Morgan_ a rent charge of 10s. per annum. The three last bequests are secured on land in Melverley. A yearly sum of £2 is paid to the churchwardens from land which was formerly the property of the Hanmer family. There are two pieces of land in Edgerley, the rent of which, £2. 17s. 6d. per annum, is received by the churchwardens, but from whom it was derived is not known. The amount of these rents, with the produce of the several charities above mentioned, being £11. 7s. 6d. per annum, are distributed in small sums on Good Friday. _Roger Gethin_ left £40, which was laid out in the purchase of two small crofts in Tyr-y-coed, for the benefit of the poor. The land produces £3. 10s. yearly. _John Hickin_ left a rent charge of 10s. yearly, and the poor have a like sum yearly from the bequest of _Margaret Dyos_—noticed with Great Ness. _Hester Farmer_, in 1691, gave the rent of a close every fourth year, to be distributed among the poor of Kinnerley. The field is now let for £23 per annum:—See the charities of St. Chad, Shrewsbury.

POST OFFICE—_At Mr. Jonathan Rodgers_. Letters arrive from Oswestry at 11.30, and are despatched at 2 40 P.M.

Barrett Richard, grocer and provision dealer

Bather Thomas, grocer, druggist and seedsman, wholesale and retail

Beddow Thomas, carrier to Oswestry and Shrewsbury

Bevan Edward, thrashing machine and drill man

Bridgeman Rev. Edmund W. O., vicarage

Croft William, farmer

Davies Thomas, blacksmith

Davies William, shoemaker

Downes Edward, Esq., Argoed hall

Glover Timothy, carrier to Oswestry and Shrewsbury

Griffiths Edward, carpenter

Griffiths Joseph, wheelwright

Hanmer John, corn miller

Jones Richard, shoemaker, Argoed

Morgan John, farmer

Morris John, farmer

Morris Richard, shoemaker

Parkes William, grocer and vict., Cross Keys

Pugh John, maltster and farmer

Roberts Edward, cooper

Rodgers Elizabeth, boarding and day school

Rodgers Henry, painter and glazier

Rodgers Henry, farmer

Rodgers Jonathan, vestry and parish clerk and assistant overseer

Rodgers Jonathan, vict., Swan Inn

Thornes Mr. Henry, Argoed farm

DOVASTON

township is pleasantly situated one mile and a half N.E. from Kinnerley, and seven and a half S.E. from Oswestry, and contains 353A. 2R. 10P. of land. In 1841 there were 39 houses and 157 inhabitants. Rateable value, £725. 8s. 6d. The soil is good pasture land, and, being a mixture of peat and loam, produces good barley. The Earl of Bradford is the lord of the manor; and the principal landowners are J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq., Mr. Richard Candlin, Mr. John Frank, Mr. John Hilton, Mr. James Jones, Mr. Joseph Lloyd, Mr. John Mansell, the Vicar of Kinnerley, Millington Hospital, Mrs. Thornes, Mr. Thomas Pugh, and Mr. Henry Whitford. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £6. 17s. 8d., and the rectorial for £36. 3s. 1d.

Bennion John and Edward, carpenters

Bevan John, farmer and carrier

Butler Samuel, farmer

Cambage George, farmer

Davies David, carpenter, The Heath

Davies Thomas, sawyer

Davis William, carrier

Edwards Richard, stone-mason

Griffiths Edward, sawyer, Knuckin Heath

Griffiths Samuel, carpenter

Grindley George, farmer

Jones Thomas, shoemaker

Jones Thomas, farmer

Lloyd John, wheelwright, The Heath

Mansell John, farmer

EDGERLEY,

a scattered village and township in the parish of Kinnerley, three miles and a quarter S. from Kinnerley church, contains 1383A. 0R. 9P. of land, and in 1841 had a population of 265 souls and 64 houses. Rateable value, £1,694, 4s. 8d. The rectorial tithes are commuted for £120. 18s. 4d., and the vicarial for £44. 9s. 9d. The following are the chief landowners:—The Earl of Bradford, Mr. Thomas Bather, Mr. James Candlin, E. H. Dymock, Esq., Mr. John Comberbach, Sir B. Leighton, Bart., Thomas Mansell, Esq., Mr. Owens, Mr. Parker, Messrs. Rogers, Rev. William Thomas, and others. George Edwards, Esq., is lord of the manor. PENTRE is a small scattered hamlet, in the township of Edgerley, where is a venerable ash tree of immense girth, remarkable as standing upon a site where the dioceses of Hereford, Lichfield and Coventry, and St. Asaph, all unite. It also marks the division of the parishes of Great Ness and Kinnerley.

Croxen Richard Jones, Esq.

Davies Mrs. Elizabeth, Edgerley Hall

Davies John, farmer

Davies Richard R., butcher

Edwards Richard, tailor

Evans Robert, mason

Heatley E., Brookhouse farm

Higginson Saml., victualler, Royal Hill Inn

Hopkins Richard, gardener

Jones John, farmer and butcher

Jones Thomas, farmer

Jones William, farmer

Lloyd John, wheelwright

Lloyd Samuel, farmer

Newall Thomas, farmer

Owens Robert, farmer

Price Jeremiah, farmer

Pritchard Thomas, horse breaker

Rigley Smith, beerhouse & shopkeeper

Rodgers William, farmer

Roberts William, farmer

Williams John, bricklayer

Williams William, farmer & grazier

KYNASTON

is a small township, mostly an undulating district, with a fertile soil, one mile and a half S.E. by S. from Kinnerley, and nine miles from Oswestry. In 1841 here were 32 houses and 135 inhabitants. The township contains 517A. 1R. 39P. of land, of which 245 acres are arable, 240 meadow, 11 woodland, and the remainder in gardens and homesteads. The landowners are the Earl of Bradford, Mrs. Eleanor Bather, Rev. S. S. Burroughs, Mr. John Candlin, John Hilton, Esq., Mr. William Duckett, Mr. Thomas N. Parker, and Mrs. Thornes. The tithes were commuted in 1836, when £11 was apportioned to the vicar, and £61 to the impropriators. The Independents and the Primitive Methodists have each a small chapel in this township. DIRECTORY.—Farmers: John Candlin, John Mansell, William Probert, William Rodgers, and William Rodgers, jun. William Davies, tailor.

MAESBROOK ISSA,