Part 36

a small township adjoining West Felton, and four and a half miles south from Oswestry, intersected by the Holyhead turnpike road, and the Shropshire union canal, contains 341A. 3R. 9P. of land, and in 1841 had 29 houses and 110 inhabitants. The freeholders are J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq.; Mr. Edward Downes, Mr. John Brookfield, Mr. Richard Lloyd, Mr. William Manford, and Mr. Isaac Ratcliff. The land is of good quality, an undulating district, and well wooded. Rateable value, £598. 3s. Rent charge, £56. 16s. 7d.

THE NURSERY is the elegant seat of John Freeman Milward Dovaston, Esq., barrister, a gentleman of classical learning, high genius, ardent benevolence, and indeed possessed of every estimable quality which adorns the mind. It is deeply to be regretted that Mr. Dovaston has not been able to leave his bed for several years. It may be said that he has inherited the virtues of his father, John Dovaston, Esq., a gentleman of learning, science, and ingenuity, who died March 31st, 1808. He was born of humble parents, who lived on their small estate at West Felton. “He was taught to read by an old woman in the village, and that was the whole of his education; every other acquirement which he afterwards possessed in so eminent a degree was entirely his own. He was the eldest son of seven, all of whom he brought up to respectable professions. From his father he received his little estate, swallowed up by mortgages, which he redeemed at a very early period of life, by two voyages to the West Indies, and afterwards considerably increased by prudence and industry. Though he left scarcely any science untouched, his turn of mind was principally directed to antiquities, natural philosophy, music, mechanics, and planting; of the first he left a large collection of manuscripts, historical observations relating to Shropshire and the Welsh borders; on druidical relics, tracing traditional vulgar errors from the remote times of superstition. In mechanics he left a set of philosophical and musical instruments made by his own hands, and just before his death he projected an orrery to show the satellites on a new method. In planting he has clothed the country around him with forest and fruit trees, all raised and grafted with his own hands; and his villa (which from his fondness for planting he called “The Nursery”), is laid out with much taste and rural elegance. He was well versed in the Hebrew, Anglo-Saxon, and Latin tongues, and had some knowledge of Greek. His reading was very extensive, his mind vigorous, and his application intense. He was remarked for the plainness of his dress, yet his person always appeared dignified, and his manners were courteous and gentlemanly. He was fond of a cheerful glass, remarkably communicative and sociable, full of facetious anecdote, which he had a singularly agreeable manner of imparting. To the very last day of his life he rose at five, it being one of his maxims always to get start of the sun. Though he lived to the age of 68 years, it was the opinion of his medical friends that his excessive and laborious application of mind and body brought a somewhat premature decay. In his youth he was the close friend of Shenstone, to whose memory he was always much attached. On his death bed he spoke to his son these remarkable words:—‘Jack, I believe in my soul it has pleased God to prosper all my undertakings; my lad, be honest, and you will be independent; be liberal, and you will be esteemed; deserve God’s blessing, and you will be happy.’”

Dovaston John Freeman Milward, Esq., The Nursery

Brookfield John, painter, plumber, & glazier

Davies John, farmer

Downes Edward, Esq., Twyford House

Duckett William, Esq., The Cottage

Edwards Edward, farmer

Edwards John, farmer

Foulkes William, shoemaker

Howell William, grocer and draper

Jones Robert, superintendent of police

Lloyd Richard, vict., Punch Bowl

Morris Rev. John (Independent)

Phillips Ann, shopkeeper

Savin William, farmer, Ford’s & Hey’s farm

WOOLSTON,

a small village and township two miles and a half S.W. from Felton, has 501A. 2R. 14P. of undulating land, and in 1841 had 15 houses and 77 inhabitants. Rateable value, £748. 13s. Rent charge, £106. 4s. The landowners are Lady Tyrwhitt; Edward Beamand, Esq.; George W. Edwards, Esq.; and Mr. Samuel H. Burrows. There are several well built and pleasantly situated farm residences in this township. Coal is found here; and several years ago a party of miners opened coal works, but finding the seams of small thickness, and the water breaking in upon them, the works were abandoned. There is a well here called ST. WINEFRED’S WELL, which was formerly in great repute for its medicinal properties. The baths are walled in, and the water filters through a red grit stone rock; they are now in a delapidated and neglected state. WOOLSTON HOUSE, a modern erection of brick, pleasantly situated, is the residence of George W. Edwards, Esq.

DIRECTORY.—Edward Beamand, gentleman; George Withers Edwards, Esq., Woolston House; Richard Clarke, farmer; Richard Drury, farmer; John Sides, farmer; Richard Williams, farmer.

WHITTINGTON

is a parish and village, pleasantly situated on the turnpike road from Oswestry to Ellesmere, two miles and a half E.E. by N. from the former town, and sixteen miles N.N. by W. by railway from Shrewsbury. The parish comprises the townships of Berghill, Daywell, Ebnall, Fernhill, Frankton, Henlle, Hindford, Old Marton, and Whittington, which, together, in 1801 contained a population of 1,398 souls; 1831, 1,788; and in 1841, 1,919. The tithes of the whole parish are commuted for £1,000. The township of Whittington, in 1841, contained 164 houses and 808 inhabitants. The principal landowners are Edmund Wright, Esq.; Mrs. Lloyd; Richard Henry Kinchant, Esq.; William Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P.; Thomas Lovett, Esq.; Thomas Broughall, Esq.; Rev. John Davies; and Mr. Hugh Davies. Extent of parish, 3157A. 3R. 23P. Rateable value, £2,736. THE CHURCH is a plain brick fabric, rebuilt in 1806, at a cost of £1,500. The exterior is partially covered with inscriptions from the Holy Bible. The original fabric was of stone, and is said to have been built by the first Fulk Fitz Warine, out of the refuse of the materials when the castle was built. A commission was directed from the council in the Marches of Wales, A.D. 1630, to John Trevor and Richard Lloyd, gentlemen, to make a terrier of the glebe land of this church, as also to return an inventory of the utensils belonging to the same, amongst which there were three pairs of armour, furnished with two pikes and two head pieces. These are supposed to have been employed by the rector for the defence of the castle against the Welsh. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £25. 4s. 2d., now returned at £1,224, in the patronage of Mrs. Lloyd, who is also lady of the manor. Incumbent, Rev. Charles Arthur Albany Lloyd, M.A. There are 58A. 1R. 3P. of glebe land in this township.

The chief object of attraction at Whittington are the ruins of THE CASTLE. It is supposed to have been built in the year 843, by a British nobleman, who was succeeded by his son, Tudor Trevor, who, though possessed of many houses with rich and extensive domains, made this his chief residence. The descendants of Tudor continued possessed of the castle for several generations, and many families in this neighbourhood and North Wales boast their origin from him. At the Domesday survey this place is called _Wititone_, and consisted at that time of eight corn farms, twelve ox-stalls, and a very extensive wood; the cows yielding five shillings per annum, and all Welsh residents were obliged to pay twenty shillings among them. The Castle of Whittington next passed into the hands of Hugh, and afterwards of his brother Robert, sons of the Earl of Shrewsbury. Upon the defeat of Robert by Henry I. it was restored to the Peverels. William de Peverel had two daughters, the younger of whom was named Mellet, and being a valiant knight himself resolved to marry his daughter Mellet to none but a knight of consummate valour. Her father promised the Castle of Whittington as her dower. Several distinguished combatants assembled at Peverel’s Castle, in the Peak of Derbyshire, to contend for the fair prize. When Guarine de Metz, then Lord of Aldberbury, went there, and fighting with a son of the king of Scotland, and a Baron of Burgoine, overthrew his rivals, and obtained the beautiful Mellet. The posterity of this great man, for nine generations, assumed the Christian name of Fulk. They continued possessed of the castle from the end of the reign of Henry I. till the time of Henry VIII., a period of nearly four hundred years. On the rebellion of the barons against King John, Fulk joined with them, for we find his name among the number that were excommunicated by the Pope for extorting from John that firm basis of English liberty called MAGNA CHARTA. In the reign of Henry III., Fitz Guarine procured a grant of his estates to him and his heirs for ever; for which he gave the king two coursers and two hundred and sixty-two pounds,—an enormous sum in that age, and gives some idea of the wealth of Fitz Guarine. The same monarch granted him the liberty of a fair on St. Luke’s day, and a market on Wednesday, at Whittington; but on account of its proximity to Ellesmere and Oswestry, both market and fair have long been obsolete. Subsequently fairs were held on the last Thursday in April, July and November, but these have also been discontinued. After the castle passed into the hands of Henry VIII. we hear nothing further respecting it till the following reign, when the king presented it to Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, who forfeited it in consequence of being convicted of high treason. Shortly after, Queen Mary granted the castle to Fitz Alan, the last Earl of Arundel. He mortgaged it to several persons, who obtained the place in default of payment from him. William Albany, a chief man among the number, was, by the joint consent and approbation of the rest, put into sole possession of it. By the marriage of his great granddaughter with Thomas Lloyd, Esq., of Aston, Whittington passed into the hands of that family, and is now the property of Mrs. Lloyd. The castle was fortified with five round towers, each forty feet in diameter, and a hundred feet in height, and the walls were twelve feet in thickness. It was surrounded by a moat, part of which still remains, and the fosses and intrenchments may yet be traced to a considerable distance. About the year 1760, the eastern tower fell into the moat; and some years afterwards one of the northern towers and the western wall were taken down to repair the roads leading from Whittington to Halston-bridge. The towers of the gate-house are still entire; and some portions of the ancient building have been modernised, and converted into a dwelling, which is inhabited by Thomas Broughall, Esq.

THE FREE SCHOOL is endowed with a farm and two cottages, producing about £47 per annum. The school is taught in the Old Tithe Barn, a long brick building of considerable antiquity; about 90 children attend. There is also a girls’ school, where about 60 scholars attend. The rector is a liberal contributor towards the support of the schools. THE INDEPENDENTS have a small chapel here, built in 1844. BRABINS WOOD consists of a number of cottages and a Primitive Methodist chapel, about a mile S.E. from the church. The Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company have a station about a quarter of a mile west from the church. PARK HALL, an ancient mansion with projecting gables, chiefly composed of timber, and situated near the Oswestry road, about one mile and a quarter W. from Whittington, is the residence and property of Richard Henry Kinchant, Esq. The entrance hall is wainscotted, ornamented with paintings, banners, &c., and contains a massive oak table, cut from one plank, measuring 23 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2½ inches thick. Several of the apartments contain antique oak furniture elaborately carved, and the ceilings are of curious workmanship. There are also some fine paintings, chiefly family portraits. On the west side of the hall is the domestic chapel, which was probably erected in the time of Henry VIII.

CHARITIES.—_Robert Jones_, in 1679, devised all his lands and houses in Whittington, for the support of an “honest ingenious schoolmaster.” The premises consist of 5A. 2R. 28P. of land, and two dwelling houses built thereon. The land is stated to be worth about £11 per annum.

_Griffith Hughes_, in 1706, devised certain lands and a dwelling house, at Rhuabon, and directed out of the yearly proceeds 20s. to be paid for teaching poor children to read, in Aston township, and the residue of the rents and profits to be appropriated for educational purposes in Whittington and Rhuabon. The estate islet for £28 per annum. In 1813, a sum of £142, the produce of some timber cut and sold from the estate, was laid out in the purchase of a piece of land in Whittington, containing 2A. 1R. 15P., which produces a yearly sum of £5.

_Elizabeth ap Robert_, in 1675, devised two pieces of land in Pentrewerne, containing 7A. 1R. 18P., for the benefit of the poor of this parish. The rents were formerly applied in apprenticing children, but for some time they have been paid to the mistress of the girls’ school in Whittington. In the year 1822, a sum of £146 was laid out in the purchase of 1A. 3R. 16P. of land, in the township of Whittington. Of this sum, £5 was a legacy left to the poor by Richard Evans; £15 was the produce of timber cut and sold from the lands belonging to Trustan’s charity; £31. 16s. was money which had been paid for the property tax for several of the charity estates, but which was returned, and the residue was made up by the rector. The land is let for £5 per annum, which is paid to the schoolmistress.

_John Trustan_, in 1659, gave certain lands, and directed the yearly proceeds to be expended in bread, and distributed every Sabbath day for ever. The land devised, in eluding an allotment awarded in 1781, consists of 11A. 0R. 36P., and is let at a yearly rent of £12.

_Walter Rogers_, in 1685, left a rent charge of 40s. per annum, issuing out of land called Bryn Rhig. The amount is expended in flannel, and given away on St. Thomas’s day.

_Elizabeth Lloyd_, by will, 1696, bequeathed £200 to be laid out in the purchase of land, the yearly rent to be divided among twelve of the poorest families of the township of Whittington. It appears this sum was placed out at interest, and the principal and interest in 1837 amounted to £350, which sum was laid out in the purchasing of a rent charge of £14 per annum, issuing out of a farm in Whittington.

_Robert Conway_, in 1727, charged his lands in the parish of St. Martin with the payment of 20s. yearly, for the benefit of the poor of Whittington parish. The particulars of Sir Nathaniel Lloyd’s charity will be found noticed with Oswestry.

_Mrs. Frances_ has recently left £200, the interest to be divided among six poor widows of Whittington and Dudleston in equal proportions. The amount is invested in the three per cent. stock.

Broughall Mrs. Elizabeth

Broughall Mrs. Sarah, Penny-bryn

Broughall Thomas, Esq., The Castle

Hargreaves Mr. James, horse trainer

Jones John, station master

Kinchant Richard Henry, Esq., Park Hall

Lloyd Rev. Charles Arthur Albany, M.A., The Rectory

Lunt Mrs.

Peate Mr. Richard

Perkins Francis, post office

Thomas Mrs., Rose hill

Woods Rev. Robert M‘Clure, curate

Yates Richard, valuer and land surveyor, The Mount

Academies.

Jones Eliza

Roberts William Henry

Spencer John

Blacksmiths.

Briscoe John

Tudor John

Boot & Shoemakers.

Bickley Joseph

Grinley Joseph

Lea Richard, & rate collector

Butchers.

Haycock Thomas

Llewelyn John

Carpenters, &c.

Bowyer William

Griffiths John (wheelwright)

Mansell Edward

Marsh John

Nicholas Samuel

Farmers.

Davies David

Davies Robert

Holland George

Hughes Edward Foulkes, Park Farm

Jervis George

Jones Edward, Perry Moor

Jones Rd., Tinkers’ Green

Jones Thos., Brabins’ Wood

Munslow Rd., & maltster

Ward John, Donnet Farm

Inns & Taverns.

Boot Inn, George Jervis

Lion, Ann Venables

Beerhouses.

Davies David

Evans Nathaniel

Shopkeepers.

Davies John, and saddler and harness maker

French Ann

Parry Elizabeth

Venables Elizabeth

Watkin Henry

Tailors.

Price Richard

Williams Richard

BERGHILL

is a small township two and a half miles east from Whittington, comprising 688 acres of land, and had in 1841 six houses and 46 inhabitants. Rateable value, £592. 8s. 6d. Edmund Wright, Esq., of Halston, is the owner of the land in this township, which is intersected by the river Perry and the Shropshire union canal.

_The Farmers_ are Jonathan Grindley, Thomas Jones, Thomas Lee, John Morris, and Thomas Evans Thomas; Charles Sykes, gamekeeper to E. Wright, Esq.

DAYWELL

is a village and township two and a half miles north from Oswestry, and two and a half miles N.N.W. from Whittington, having in 1841 71 houses and 328 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,212. 4s. 6d. There are 1,134A. 2R. 18P. of land in the township, of which Joseph Venables Lovett, Esq., is a considerable owner; the other principal owners are John Wynn Eyton, Esq., Rev. E. Edwards, Mr. Joseph Bickerton, Mr. John Gardener, and Mr. Robins. The celebrated Watts Dyke makes its appearance at Gabowen in this township, and may be traced from thence into the parish of St. Martin. The extent between this dyke and Dyke Offa’s, which crosses the hills above Selattyn, is about four miles. The intervening space between these dykes is said to have been a common mart, where the English and Welsh met to carry on commercial intercourse with each other; but if either party transgressed these bounds, they were exposed to the severities of war. Upon Watts Dyke at a place called Bryna Castle, near to Gabowen, is the site of an old _Watchfort_, and another a little further on towards St. Martin’s. BRYNA CASTLE consists of a few cottages a quarter of a mile N.E. from Gabowen; here the Independents built a small chapel in the year 1831. BELMONT is a delightfully situated mansion in a fine park, the seat and property of J. V. Lovett, Esq. At GABOWEN there is a railway station on the Shrewsbury and Chester line of rails, which is 18 miles N.N.W. from Shrewsbury, and 24 miles S.E. from Chester. There is also a branch railway from here to Oswestry. UPPER HENGOED is a scattered district of houses at the north extremity of the township. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel here, built in 1839.

_Those with * affixed reside at Upper Hengoed_.

Bickerton Joseph, farmer, Rose Cottage

Cartwright Eli, shopkeeper

* Cound Thomas, shoemaker

Edwards David, farmer, Preese Henlle

Evans Thomas, farmer

Figg Francis Fowler, station master, Gabowen

Furmstone Mrs. Amelia, Rose Cottage

Gardener John, farmer, Bark House

Haycock Thomas, farmer

Howell Thomas, farmer

Jones Thomas, farmer

Jones Thomas, shopkeeper

Lovett Joseph Venables, Esq., Belmont

Morgan Richard, shoemaker

* Morris Thomas, maltster

* Phillips Mrs. Mary, Stone Cottage

Philips Philip, tailor

Price John, maltster and vict., Cross Foxes, Gabowen

Roberts Edward, farmer, Pentre Kenrick

Stewart Mrs. Alexander

Taylor Mr. Peter Poole, Green Bank Cottage

* Weston Edward, beerhouse keeper

Weston Owen, farmer

Williams Edward, farmer

EBNALL

township contains 1,033A. 2R. 32P. of land, and is situated four miles N.N.E. from Oswestry, and twenty-three and a quarter miles north from Whittington; in 1841 here were 51 scattered houses and 240 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,000. 2s. The principal landowners are John Venables Lovett, Esq.; Thomas Broughall, Esq.; Thomas George Warrington Carew, Esq.; Mr. Robins, Mrs. Ann Owen, Mr. Edward Griffiths, and others, are also proprietors.

_The Farmers_ are James Boodle, William Croft, Prees Henlle; Josiah Holland, Ann Owen, Elizabeth Owen, John Owen, Mary Price, and William Woollam; Thomas Davies, carpenter and wheelwright; John Eaton, blacksmith; Mr. Edward Griffith, Moor Wharf Cottage; John Jones, shoemaker.

FERNHILL,

a small township one and a quarter mile north from Whittington, contains 274A. 3R. 4P. of land, and in 1841 had nine houses and 65 inhabitants. Rateable value, £265. 18s. Thomas Lovett, Esq., is sole proprietor in this township, and resides at FERNHILL HALL, a neat mansion of free stone, which stands on the knoll of a hill, and commands some beautiful views of the surrounding country; the hall is surrounded with pleasure grounds and shrubberries, and the park is beautifully wooded with thriving plantations. The river Perry flows through this township; it is formed of several small streams which have their rise in the high grounds of Selattyn, and have their confluence in this township.

The principal residents are Thomas Lovett, Esq., Fern Hill Hall; Edmund Edmunds, farmer; William Broughall, farmer; and Richard Edwards, corn miller, Oak Mill.

FRANKTON,

commonly called WELSH FRANKTON, is situated three miles east from Whittington; the township contains 931A. 1R. 14P. of land, and in 1841 here were 54 houses and 275 persons. Rateable value, £85. 14s. 6d. The chief land owners are Edmund Wright, Esq., Thomas Broughall, Esq.; Joseph Dutton, Esq.; William Francis Oswell, Esq.; Mr. Landford and Mr. Thomas Danily. The high grounds in this township command a most extensive and delightful view of the fertile plains of Shropshire. A small chapel of ease stands on the road side leading from Oswestry to Ellesmere; there is a school adjoining, and a little higher up the road near the summit of the hill is a neat Independent chapel. The Shropshire union canal takes its course on the eastern verge of this township, where there are four locks, and a fall of about forty feet.

DIRECTORY.—_Farmers_, Thomas Danily, William Drury, John Nicholas, Stephen Walley; William Edwards, beerhouse and shopkeeper; Elizabeth Hodnet, schoolmistress; William Jenks, boat builder; William Francis Oswell, Esq.; Edward Teggin, blacksmith; Thomas Teggin, beerhouse keeper; Thomas Williams, provision dealer.

HENLLE,

usually called HENTLEY, is situated one mile and a half north from Whittington, and four and a half miles N.E. from Oswestry. The township is returned as having nine houses, 43 inhabitants, and 396A. 1R. 13P. of land. Rateable value, £340. 9s. 6d. The land owners are Thomas Lovett, Esq.; Mr. John Duckett, Mr. John Jones, and Mr. Thomas Hughes.

_Farmers_, Thomas Brookfield, John Danily, and maltster, Edward Davies, and Walter Munslow; Mr. John Duckett is also a resident here.

HINDFORD,

a small township with 196A. 2R. 10P. of land, lies a little more than a mile north from Whittington, and has 20 houses and 91 inhabitants. Rateable value, £241. 1s. 6d. Edmund Wright, Esq., and Mr. Broughall are the principal proprietors. The Chester and Shrewsbury railway intersects the township, and is crossed by a bridge on the road leading to Old Marton.

The resident farmers are Edward Edwards, William Jackson, and Thomas Parry; William Jackson, butcher.

OLD MARTON