Part 87

is a populous and delightful village situated about a mile S. from Shrewsbury, and indeed may be considered a suburb to that town, as there is a continuation of pleasing villas and good residences, occupied by gentlemen and tradesmen, who have by the exertions of honest industry acquired a tolerable share of the conveniences and comforts of this life, scattered on the road from Shrewsbury to the church at Meole. The best situation for viewing this pleasing village is perhaps on the bank, just on crossing the bridge. In the front is the little bridge thrown over the Rea brook, which meanders through the rich meadows, covered with fruitfulness and studded with plantations. The quiet requirement of Meole, with the church embosomed in foliage, and a distant prospect of Shrewsbury, with its turrets, spires, and a pleasing variety of objects, adds much to the picturesque beauty of the scene. The parish of Meole embraces the townships of Newton and Edgbold, Nobold, part of Pulley, and also extends into the borough of Shrewsbury, and in 1801 comprised 1,253 inhabitants; 1831, 1207, and in 1841 there were 209 houses and 1,195 inhabitants. There are 2,487A. 1R. 34P. of land in the parish. Rateable value, £7,375. 15s. The landowners in Meole are Mrs. Bather, Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis, James Loxdale, Esq., George Jeffreys, Esq., and others; the former is lady of the manor. THE CHURCH, dedicated to All Saints, is a neat brick cruciform structure, with a short tower at the west end. It stands on the site of an ancient edifice taken down in the year 1799. The living is a vicarage valued in the king’s book at £5, now returned at £389 in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Edward Bather. There is a NATIONAL SCHOOL in the village, which was built by the late Ven. Archdeacon Bather. It is supported by voluntary subscriptions and a small charge from each scholar; 120 boys and girls are educated in the school. John Davies is the teacher. The rectoral tithes, not purchased by the landowners, are commuted for £24. 1s. 6d., and the vicarial for £196. 19s. 1d. A neat almshouse has recently been erected upon an elevated plot of land near the turnpike road. It is a brick structure with stone finishings, and was built with funds bequeathed by the late Mr. Evans, who also bequeathed certain funds for the endowment. There are nine poor widows inmates; each poor person has a convenient low room and a bed room, with a small plot of garden ground, and an allowance of eight pound per annum. There is a respectable inn and BOWLING GREEN kept by Mrs. Vicars, which is frequented by the tradesmen from Shrewsbury, who here spend a pleasant evening’s relaxation from business. There are collieries at Nobold and some other places, but no coal has been got at Meole for the last four years. The House of Industry noticed with the account of Shrewsbury stands within the bounds of this parish. There was formerly a castle at Meole, which in early times was the residence of the Mackworths; there are no vestiges of the structure left.

Andrews Thomas, farmer

Andrews William, farmer

Badger Joseph, beerseller

Badger Thomas J., Esq., solicitor, Kingsland House

Bather Rev. Edwd., vicarage

Bather Mrs. Mary

Blunt Mr. Henry

Bromley Robert, beerseller

Bullock Thomas, tailor

Burr George, lead merchant, Kingsland

Burr Thomas William, lead merchant, Kingsland

Craig Mrs. Elizabeth, Severn hill

Davies John, schoolmaster and assistant overseer

Darlington Thomas, shoe maker and parish clerk

Edwardes Lady

Edwards Mrs.

Evans Mr. John

Evans Mrs. Martha

Ford Mrs. Ann

Griffiths Thomas, butcher

Hale Miss Elizabeth

Hayward George, tailor

Hiles Timothy, corn miller

Hilditch Mrs.

Holbrook John, shoemaker

Homer Wm., land surveyor

Howells Charles, blacksmith

Hughes John, farmer and maltster

Hughes Wm., corn miller

Humphreys Rev. Henry

Jobson Thomas, farmer, Bank House

Kinaston Miss Eliza

Large Mrs. Elizabeth

Leake Mr. John, Port hill

Mancell Rev. Spencer Percival

Nevett Francis, farmer

Rowlands Benj., beerhouse

Rowlands Elizth., shopkr.

Rowlands Rd., wheelwright

Rowlands Simon, wheelwrt.

Smith John, Esq., Radbrook villa

Stephenson Mrs. Elizabeth

Vaughan Peter Fdk., farmer

Vicars Ann, vict., Bowling Green Inn

Ward Mr. Thos., Kingsland

Woodward Mr. John, Asylum

NEWTON AND EDGBOLD

is a small township in the parish of Brace Meole, about three and a half miles W.W. by S. from the parish church. In 1841 here were ten houses and fifty-six inhabitants; the rectoral tithes have been purchased by the land owners; the small tithes are commuted for £69 16s. 2d. The landowners are the Rev. Edward Bather, and George Jonathan Scott, Esq.

The residents are John Bather, Esq.; Jacob Brown, farmer and butcher; Richard Jones, farmer; and Thomas Morris, farmer.

NOBOLD,

another township, situated west by south of Meole, and three miles from Shrewsbury, in 1841 contained 44 houses and 187 inhabitants, the acres of which are included with Meole; the land owners here are Robert Parr, Esq., Mr. Berrington, William Henry Slaney, Esq., Mr. Richard Juson, the latter is also proprietor of the Corn Mill.

DIRECTORY.—Hartshorn Barney, shoemaker; Thomas Beacall, farmer; George Farmer, cattle dealer and farmer; Samuel Gammon, blacksmith; Elizabeth Griffiths, farmer; John Harris, wheelwright; Edward Heath, farmer; William Juson, farmer and corn miller, Red hill Mill; Thomas Ramsell, vict., Cock Inn; Thomas Ramsell, shopkeeper; Thomas Ramsell, beerhouse keeper.

PULLEY

is a township partly in Meole Brace parish, and partly in that of St. Julian’s, in the former in 1841 there were 77 houses and 295 inhabitants; and in the latter, three houses and 13 inhabitants. Mr. Timothy Hiles and the Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis are the principal landowners. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £64. 7s. 2d., and the rectoral for £63.

The principal residents are Miss Mary Flavell; James France, farmer; Thomas Griffiths, butcher; Samuel Hiles, farmer; James Hughes, maltster and farmer; John Mitchell, beerhouse-keeper; John Norris, farmer; Mrs. Woolaston, farmer.

PITCHFORD

is a pleasant village, containing some genteel residences, seven miles south from Shrewsbury. The parish contains 1,617 acres of fertile land; and in 1801 here were 220 inhabitants; 1831, 197; and in 1841, 35 houses and 186 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,868. 9s. Gross estimated rental, £1,998. 5s. The Earl of Liverpool is the landowner in this township. The name of the place arises from a spring, upon which a scum of a bituminous nature flows. Camden compares the scum of this well with the matter that is found in the lake Asphalites, in Palestine, and says there is a spring of the same kind in Samasota. This place was formerly the seat and inheritance of a family of the same name. In the 5th of Edward I. we find John de Pycheford held the manor by the service of one knight’s fee. The last of this family of whom we read is Ralph de Pycheford, who, in the time of Edward I., levied a fine to Walter de Langton, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and to his heirs of the advowson of the church and of lands in Albrighton “et de maner de Pycheford”. In the 15th of Edward II. that bishop was found to be seised of this manor at his death. THE CHURCH is a venerable fabric, dedicated to St. Michael, and contains a curious oaken figure in memory of a Baron de Pycheford, a crusader, in chain armour, who was buried here. There are also four handsome alabaster monuments to the ancient family of Ottley. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £6. 5s. 4d., now returned at £228, in the patronage of the Earl of Liverpool, and enjoyed by the Rev. Charles Powell Peters. PITCHFORD HALL, situated a short distance from the church, the seat of the Earl of Liverpool, is a fine and rare specimen of the old English mansion. The house is framed with timber springing into a variety of forms for its support, the interstices being filled with plaster and painted black and white. It is exceedingly picturesque in appearance, and the grounds are beautifully diversified and richly wooded. It was formerly the residence of the Ottley family. William Ottley was sheriff of this county in 1499, and again in 1513. The mansion, from its style of architecture, was probably built about that period.

CHARITIES.—In the parliamentary returns of 1786 it is stated that _Lucy Ottley_, by will, in 1687, gave £20, and _Sir Adam Ottley_, by will, in 1693, £50 to the poor of Pitchford, and that there was a parish stock of £20 then vested in Thomas Ottley, Esq., in respect of which sums £5 was paid yearly. This payment continued up to the year 1806, when Thomas Ottley, Esq., died, and his estates became the property of the Hon. C. C. Jenkinson, afterwards Lord Liverpool. In the year 1807 there is an entry in the parish book of £5, received from him, “to exempt him from serving offices,” and that the same sum was paid annually up to the year 1815 inclusive, and from that time the payment was no longer made. In a letter written by Lord Liverpool to the rector, dated 10th March, 1830, in answer to an application upon the subject, his lordship states that he took no personal property from the Ottleys, and that the payment of £5 made by him for a few years after he succeeded to the estate was to exempt him from serving the parish offices, and that when he took the office of overseer in 1815, the payment of course ceased.

DIRECTORY.—The Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, Pitchford Hall; John Durnell, surgeon; Maria Hancock, shopkeeper; George Haughton, farmer; John Lindop, farmer, Stockbatch; Richard Lloyd, tailor; Rev. Charles Powell Peters, The Rectory; Elizabeth Snaxton, farmer; John Turnbull, agent to the Earl of Liverpool.

SMETHCOTT, OR SMETHCOTE,

is a parish and village pleasantly situated in a hilly country, eight and a half miles south-west by south from Shrewsbury. The tops of the hills have a bleak and barren aspect, but the lowlands are clothed with rich verdure, and finely timbered, which gives the scenery a very beautiful and picturesque appearance. A waterfall a little south from the parsonage and the scenery in its vicinity are peculiarly attractive, and the frequent resort of pleasure parties. The parish contains the townships of Smethcott, Picklescott, and the hamlet of Walk Mills. In 1801 there was a population of 338 souls; 1831, 366; and in 1841, 371. The township of Smethcott contains 1,049 acres of land, and at the census of 1841 had 27 houses and 129 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,218. 5s. At the Doomsday survey, Edmund held of Earl Roger Smerecote in Conodoure hundred. In the 1st of Edward I. it was reputed among the fees belonging to the barony of Montgomery, then in the tenure of George de Cantilupe. In the 9th of Edward II., Edward Burnele was seized of the third of the ville of Smethcott, with the liberty of common in the woods there, and had 48s. 3d. issuing out of lands in that manor. Upon the attainder of Lord Lovell, 1st of Henry VIII., Smethcott was given to the Duke of Bedford in tail, who, dying without issue, 5th of Henry VIII., it was granted to the Duke of Norfolk. The principal landowners now are W. W. Whitmore, Esq., and Richard Bromley, Esq. THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Michael, exhibits the early English style of architecture, and was almost re-built a few years ago. It has a neat and chaste appearance. The expenses were defrayed by the liberality of the parishioners and the present incumbent. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £4. 9s.; now returned at £276; in the patronage of the trustees of Hulme’s charity; incumbent, Rev. R. J. Buddicom, M.A.

CHARITIES.—By indentures of lease and release, dated 30th September, 1741, _Henry Powis_, lord of the manor of Wilderley, conveyed to the overseers of Smethcott a cottage and land on Smethcott Common, in trust, for the sole benefit and advantage of the poor of the said parish. There are now four cottages, with a little garden to each, and three closes, containing about an acre and a half of ground altogether. Two of the cottages were occupied by paupers, rent free, and the other two for three pounds per annum each. The land is let at £4. 10s. per annum, and the whole of the rents received are carried to the poor’s rate. All these cottages and premises, about twenty years ago, were in the occupation of persons who, having been long in possession, refused to pay rent, or give them up. By the interference of the magistrates, they were obliged to pay an acknowledgement, and afterwards a full rent was paid. It appears from the terms in which these cottages were given, that they were intended for the benefit of the poor, and therefore any rates received from the premises ought to be given away in charity, and not carried to the poor’s rate.

An entry in the parish book, dated 24th May, 1810, states, that the _Rev. Henry Fletcher_, rector of Smethcott, had that day transferred £200 navy five per cents, in the name of the rector, the Rev. William C. Curtis, curate, and Mr. Prestland, his attorney, in trust for the poor of this parish, for educating six poor children, and for relieving six of the most necessitous poor widows. Mr. Fletcher died on the 17th of February, 1830, and the sum of £10 was paid on account of this charity by his agent shortly after. Of the £10 received, £6 are applied in relieving the distressed poor, and £4 in educating poor children.

BETCHCOTT is a small township in this parish, a short distance from the village of Smethcott, having 625 acres of land, 3 houses, and 32 inhabitants. Rateable value, £357. The Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis is the landowner.

PICKLESCOTT, another small township in the parish of Smethcott, has 531 acres of land, and in 1841 had 33 houses and 143 inhabitants. Rateable value, £435. 5s. There are a few scattered houses in the parish of Smethcott, usually called THE HAMLETS, which contain 427 acres, and in 1841 are returned as having 15 houses and 67 inhabitants. Rateable value, £270. 5s. 1d. The Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis is the landowner.

_Those marked_ 1 _reside at Smethcott_; 2 _Betchcott_; 3 _Picklescott_; 4 _The Hamlets_.

3 Bromley Richard, farmer

4 Bromley Richard, farmer

1 Bromley William, farmer, New Hall

4 Bromley William, farmer, Underhill

3 Broxton William, farmer

1 Buddicom Rev. Robert Joseph, The Rectory

1 Davies Thomas, farmer

3 Gamble Edw., blacksmith

1 Gittins Robert, farmer

1 Groves William, farmer

4 Gwilliam Edward, farmer

4 Hill William, farmer

1 Hill William, joiner

3 Howell Richard, farmer

2 Massie Charles, farmer

1 Meredith John, farmer, New House

2 Parry John, farmer

1 Rogers Richard, farmer

1 Rogers Robert, farmer

3 Rogers Thomas, farmer and vict., Bottle & Glasses Inn

2 Rogers William, farmer

4 Savage Jn., farmer, Coppice

3 Thomas David, blacksmith

3 Thomas Samuel, farmer

1 Vaughan Thomas, shop-keeper and post office

3 Willings John, farmer

STAPLETON

is a parish and village, five and a half miles S.S.W. from Shrewsbury, comprising 870 acres of land, and in 1801 had 228 inhabitants; 1831, 235; and in 1841, 46 houses and 257 inhabitants. A short distance from Stapleton are the remains of an ancient barrow, which on being opened some years ago was found to contain a large funeral urn placed near the centre, the ashes it contained were no doubt the remains of a person of distinction in former days. The Hon. H. W. Powis, and John T. Hope, Esq., are the principal landowners. In the 18th of Edward I., Robert de Stapleton had a grant of free warren in Stapleton; two years after the king’s attorney brought a writ of right against the said Robert de Stapleton, for the manor of his name as being seizen of King Henry II., the king’s ancestor, but without effect, for the said Robert died seized of the manor, in the 49th of Edward III. THE CHURCH is a venerable fabric dedicated to St. Julian. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £6. 7s. 6d., now returned at £624, in the patronage of the Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. E. R. B. Fielding. An ancient residence, now partly surrounded by a moat, exhibits a fine specimen of the domestic architecture of by-gone days; the walls are of great thickness, and the house contains some beautiful specimens in antique oak carving, which are in a good state of preservation. The moat, now partly filled up, is about 200 yards in circumference, and the width 36 feet. NETLEY is a small hamlet in this township. Netley Hall is a good house, the residence of John Thomas Hope, Esq.; a little west from it is the site of a British camp, some parts of which have recently been levelled for agricultural purposes, so that now only a part of it can be traced. In a field not far from here were found four peculiarly hard stones, with a sharp axe-like edge all round; they are known by the name of celts, and were used by the priests to slay the victims of their sacrifices.

Bayley Wickliffe, blacksmith

Allen John, farmer

Allen Mary, farmer

Bromley Jeremiah, farmer, The Moat

Bromley William, farmer

Cassels Robert, farmer, Netley

Clayton John, farmer, Shady Moor

Cook Robert, farmer, Shady Moor

Dickin Edward, farmer, Netley

Evans Thomas, cow keeper

Fielding Hon. and Rev. E. R. B., The Rectory

Gittings William, farmer, Netley

Hope John Thomas, Esq., Netley Hall

Jones William, joiner

Philips Thomas, farmer, Shady Moor

Richards John, farmer, Vinnels

Sankey Edward, farmer, Netley Old Hall

Sankey Humphrey, farmer, The Moat

Woodfin John, farmer

SUTTON,

a small parish and pleasant little village one and a quarter mile S.E. by S. from Shrewsbury, is watered by the Reabrook stream, upon the banks of which two corn mills have been erected. This parish was formerly an appendage to Wenlock priory, and extra parochial. At the general dissolution of religious houses in the reign of Henry VIII., it fell to the crown, at which time there was an hermitage here. The parish contains upwards of 703 acres of land, and at the census of 1841 there were 16 houses and 67 inhabitants. In 1801 there was a population of 45 souls here. The parish church is a very humble structure of primitive simplicity, dedicated to St. John; it stands on a gentle eminence, and commands some pleasing views of rural scenery. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Hereford and archdeaconry of Salop, valued in the king’s book at £3, now returned at £17 in the patronage of Lord Berwick and incumbency of the Rev. Henry Hill. Divine service is performed once a month. A short distance from the church is the celebrated SUTTON SPA. “The spring issues from a rocky stratum of ash-coloured clay or argillaceous schistus, containing (as appears by its effervesence with nitrous acid) a small portion of lime. Fresh from the spring the Sutton water is clear and colourless, and exhales a slightly sulphureous smell, which is most perceptible in rainy weather. It sparkles little when poured into a glass, having no uncombined carbonic acid in its composition. When first drawn its strong salt taste is evidently mixed with a chalybeate flavour; but the latter is wholly lost on exposure for a few hours, bubbles of air repeating slowly, and a reddish sediment lining the sides and bottom of the vessel. The Sutton water has by many been compared with that of Cheltenham, and supposed to contain nearly the same ingredients. It bears, however, a much closer resemblance to sea water, and has accordingly been found most beneficial in those cases for which sea water is usually recommended. In the case of scrophula, the superior merits of sea water have been universally acknowledged. A similarity of ingredients would naturally lead us to expect similar effects from the Sutton water; and I am happy to bear testimony, says Dr. Evans, that a twenty years attendance at the Salop Infirmary, as well as in private practice, has furnished me with abundant proofs of its success in the treatment of scorphulous affections; and in addition to the properties possessed by the Sutton spring in common with sea water, it enjoys an evident advantage in containing iron.” It is to be lamented that there are not any accommodations for the residence of invalids. The air is pure and salubrious, and as a site for building purposes the immediate vicinity is peculiarly romantic and interesting. There is a cottage at the Spa, where parties sometimes take tea, and a bath has been erected, which is open to the public on reasonable terms. All parties visiting the spring are allowed to partake of the water without any charge. The land in this parish is the property of Lord Berwick.

DIRECTORY.—John Bemand, farmer; Joseph Clay, farmer; George Davies, farmer; Thomas Pugh, corn miller; Edward Thornton, farmer.

WOOLSTASTON

is a village and parish five miles N. from Church Stretton, which contains 834 acres of land. In 1801 there were 101 inhabitants; 1831, 89, and in 1841 17 houses and a population of 84 souls. In the 9th of Edward I. Robert Burnel, bishop of Bath and Wells, had a grant of free warren in Wolfestantone. In the 34th of the same reign we find John de Sibeton had the privilege of free warren here, with the grant of a free market to be held on a Wednesday, and a fair to continue for three days. Upon the attainder of Lord Lovell in the time of Henry VII. this manor was given to Jasper Duke of Bedford, but he dying without issue, Thomas Duke of Norfolk had a grant of it in the 5th of Henry VIII. W. W. Whitmore is now chief landowner in this parish. THE CHURCH is a small structure, with nave, chancel, and tower. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £5, now returned at £162 in the patronage of W. W. Whitmore, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. E. Carr. Richard Lucas, who died about twenty years ago, was parish clerk for 74 years; he died at the age of 95 years, and rung the church bell almost to the day of his death. In the latter part of his life he would frequently observe he had seen the end of all his parishioners three times over, and had been the clerk to two rectors and six curates. THE HALL, now occupied by Mr. Everall as a farm dwelling, was formerly a place of consequence, and the residence of families of consideration. One of the apartments exhibits some line specimens of carved oak; the floor, ceiling, and sides are all of highly polished oak. A piece of land containing about four acres, supposed to have been given by a person of the name of Pope, for keeping the church in repair, is in the possession of the churchwardens, and is let at the yearly rent of £1. 14s., which is carried to the account of the church rates. There does not appear to be any document in the parish relating to this land.

DIRECTORY.—Meole Rev. Henry, curate. _Farmers_, Richard Everall, The Hall; Robert Heighway, and John Wigley. Mary Bowen, shoemaker.

THE MUNSLOW HUNDRED.