salubrious; but, from the irregularity of its soil and surface, it varies
in dryness and geniality. On the east, where the land is warm and flat,
the harvest is frequently ripe sooner than in the middle of the county,
where the vales are extensive, but the surface light, and the bottom
often clayey. But hay and grain are both gathered earlier in the middle
of the county than on the western side, where the vales are narrow, and
the high lands frequent and extensive, although the ground in general is
not so stiff, and lies for the most part on the rock. The easterly winds
prevail in spring, and westerly in autumn. Few counties are possessed of
a greater variety of soil than this, as will be seen on reference to the
respective parishes. Divided into nearly two equal parts by the Severn,
its southern portion assumes the mountainous character peculiar to the
counties of Montgomery and Denbigh, whilst the north half approaches more
nearly to a level, agreeably relieved by bold swells, and romantic
valleys finely wooded. The landscape possesses every variety of natural
charms, the bold and lofty mountain, the woody and secluded valley, the
fertile and widely cultured plain, the majestic river, and the
sequestered lake; and is no less rich in those remains of ancient times
which awaken a thousand enthusiastic reflections by engaging us in the
contemplation of the memorable events of our history.
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. Great improvements by draining, enclosure,
and superior management have been progressing for the last half century
in most parts of the county. This has been accomplished on many estates
by the united efforts of the landlords and tenants; the former finding
tiles and materials, and the latter performing all the draught work at
their own expense. The farms in Shropshire were formerly much smaller
than they now are, which was found a great obstacle to improvement. They
did not invite men of capital, and to manage a farm successfully, like
any other occupation or business, it is necessary that the occupant
should possess sufficient capital; for without it, it is useless to
expect improvement or profitable cultivation. The want of it is
unfortunately too common among farmers. Wanting it in the onset, they
have not been able to acquire any, and thus have gone on from year to
year with difficulty, perhaps deteriorating the soil, and reducing the
little capital they possessed. The farmers’ clubs, established for the
discussion of practical husbandry, have had a tendency to develop many
hidden facts, and to dispel deep-rooted prejudices by friendly argument
and interchange of thought. Farmers seldom meet to exchange ideas but at
these associations, which may be considered in the character of Normal
schools, where the old and young may impart and receive information on
many things connected with their occupation. On the whole Shropshire is
before many other counties in agricultural improvements. The judicious
application of capital, superintended by men of true practical science,
will make it one of the finest agricultural counties in England. The
farm houses are mostly composed of brick, and have been greatly improved
within the last thirty years, particular attention having been paid to
the conveniency of the outbuildings and farm yards, which in many
instances are of great extent and admirably contrived.
The following returns of the population of the fifteen Unions into which
the county of Shropshire is divided, are copied from the Parliamentary
reports of the census taken March 31st, 1851; viz:—Atcham Union, 19,318
inhabitants, 3,767 inhabited houses, and 125 uninhabited; Bridgnorth,
15,590 inhabitants, 3,164 inhabited houses, and 248 uninhabited; Church
Stretton, 6,160 inhabitants, 1,192 inhabited houses, and 43 uninhabited;
Cleobury Mortimer, 8,632 inhabitants, 1,771 inhabited houses, and 131
uninhabited; Clun, 10,118 inhabitants, 2,054 inhabited houses, and 125
uninhabited; Ellesmere 15,667 inhabitants, 3,148 inhabited houses, and
125 uninhabited; Ludlow, 17,045 inhabitants, 3,420 inhabited houses, and
172 uninhabited; Madeley, 27,626 inhabitants, 5,545 inhabited houses, and
154 uninhabited; Market Drayton, 14,160 inhabitants, 2,774 inhabited
houses, and 131 uninhabited; Newport, 15,623 inhabitants, 3,018 inhabited
houses, and 69 uninhabited; Oswestry, 22,795 inhabitants, 4,618 inhabited
houses, and 228 uninhabited; Shiffnal, 11,482 inhabitants, 2,239
inhabited houses, and 99 uninhabited; Shrewsbury, 23,095 inhabitants,
4,574 inhabited houses, and 252 uninhabited; Wellington, 20,760
inhabitants, 4,089 inhabited houses, and 156 uninhabited; Wem, 16,948
inhabitants, 3,469 inhabited houses, and 146 uninhabited. At the same
period there were 112 houses building in the various Unions throughout
the county.
MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS. The following is a list of the religious houses
and monastic institutions which formerly existed in Shropshire, with
their annual value as returned at their suppression. The Benedictine
monks had a great Abbey at Shrewsbury, returned as of the annual value of
£132. 4s. 10d. Haughmond Abbey, £259. 13s. 7¼d. Buildwas Abbey, £110.
19s. 3d. Wombridge Priory, £65. 7s. 4d. Battlefield College, £54. 1s.
10d. Tong College, £22. 8s. 1d. Lilleshall Abbey, £229. 3s. l½d.
Bridgnorth Hospital, £4. Ludlow Hospital, £17. 13s. 3d. Wenlock Priory,
£401. 0s. 7¼d. St. Chad’s College, Shrewsbury, £14. 14s. 4d. St. Mary’s
College, £13. 1s. 8d. According to Speed there was also a Monastery of
Black Monks at Bromfield, a Priory at Chirbury, with various cells and
chantries, which will be found noticed in the several parishes in which
they were respectively situated. It was one of the singular
characteristics of the Roman Catholic Church, that it gave scope to
partial reformation. What among Protestants would be called a new sect,
became in that church merely a new order. From time to time, men arose
to recall attention to some doctrine or practice, which had fallen into
disuse, and for a revival of which a necessity was felt. The church gave
scope to their zeal, and benefited by their efforts till they, in turn,
became rich and corrupt, and other reformers were needed. About the year
1120, the rule of St. Augustine was reformed by St. Norbet. He professed
that the Virgin Mary had pointed out the site on which he was to found a
new church, and that she had prescribed the white habits the monks were
to wear.
ABBEYS.—In a society of religious persons, whether male or female, where
an abbot or abbess presided, it was styled an abbey. The governor had
the sole power over the convent, could appoint or discharge any officer
at pleasure, and prescribe what rules the monks or nuns should be obliged
to observe. The abbots have enjoyed the privilege of conferring the
lower orders of priesthood, but in the essential points of jurisdiction
they were everywhere subject to the diocesan bishop. The consequence of
the abbots grew with the wealth of their monasteries, several received
episcopal titles and privileges, all held rank next to that of a bishop,
and had a vote in the ecclesiastical councils. Equal privileges and
rights appertained to the abbesses, as the superior of the nunneries,
except that they were not allowed to vote at synods. When the society of
religious persons consisted of men, it was called a monastery. There is
reason to believe that there were monasteries in Britain before the end
of the 4th century. In the course of the 7th century many monasteries
were founded in all parts of England. These monasteries were designed in
some places for the seats of the bishops and their clergy; in others, for
their secular priests, who preached and administered the sacraments over
the neighbouring country, and in most instances, they were seminaries of
learning for the education of youth. If a monastery or nunnery was
subject to another, it was called a CELL. The great English abbeys had
many such cells in distant places.
PRIORIES.—When the chief person in a Monastery bore the name of Prior, it
was styled a Priory. These religious houses were of two sorts—either
they were such whose prior was independent, or they were such as depended
upon some great abbey, from which they received their Prior, and to which
they were often obliged to pay a small pension or annual acknowledgment.
Whenever the Convent to which they belonged was beyond the seas, then it
was styled an alien Priory. These last transmitted their revenues to
their foreign superior, for which reason their estates were generally
seized to carry on the wars between England and France.
PRECEPTORIES.—Whenever the Knights Templars, or Hospitallers, had any
considerable manors or farms, they erected a church for the service of
God, and built a convenient house of habitation, to which they sent out
their fraternity, under the command of a Preceptor. CHANTRIES were
chapels erected and endowed for the singing of masses for the souls of
the deceased. Chantry rents are still paid to the Crown by the purchaser
of their lands. HOSPITALS were small convents, occupied by a few monks,
for the entertainment of all who went any pilgrimage on religious
pretence. GUILDS were societies of lay brethren, who lived together like
monks, but were of no professed order. THE GREY FRIARS were at first
called _Franciscans_, from the name of their founder, St. Francis: they
were likewise called _Minorites_, from their being the lowest and most
humble of all orders; and _Observants_, from their great strictness to
the rules of their order. They were styled mendicants, from their
professing wilful poverty, subsisting chiefly upon alms, which they used
to ask from door to door, by which they were distinguished from monks,
who kept at home within their convents, and lived in common upon their
substance. Their habit was a long grey coat down to their heels, with a
cowl or hood, and a cord about their loins, instead of a girdle. Many
privileges were granted them, and many of high degree were ambitious of
living, dying, and being interred in the habit of these Franciscans. The
_Black Friars_, so called from their habit, a black cope and cowl over a
white coat, were likewise called _Dominicans_, from their having been
founded by St. Dominick; and black preaching friars, because they were
the only preachers of all the friars. These monks obtained extensive
grants of land, and had many persons of note within their convents. The
_White Friars_ took their name from the dress they wore. They came into
England in 1325, and first settled at Canterbury.
ECCLESIASTICAL REVENUES.—The Ecclesiastical Commissioners were appointed
under an act passed in the 6th and 7th of William IV., for the general
improvement and equalization of the dioceses, for the dividing of
extensive parishes, and augmenting small livings, and the adopting such
other measures as may conduce to the efficiency of the Established
Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop
of London, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Lord High
Chancellor, the President of the Council, the Lord High Treasurer, and
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with others, form a body politic and
corporate, by the name of the “Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England,”
for the purpose of the said act. The Commissioners reported, in 1835,
that the total amount of the gross annual revenues of the several
Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sees of England and Wales was £181,631. The
total amount of the net annual revenues of the several cathedral and
collegiate churches in England and Wales was £284,241; and the total
amount of the net revenues of the same, £208,209. The total amount of
the gross annual separate revenues of the several dignitaries and other
spiritual persons, members of the cathedrals and other collegiate
churches, in England and Wales, was £75,854. The total number of
benefices, with and without cure of souls, the incumbents whereof have
made enquiries to the returns of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners,
omitting those which are permanently or occasionally annexed to superior
preferments, are 10,540; the gross annual revenue of these benefices is
£3,197,225; giving an average income of £303. The total number of
benefices, with and without cure of souls, in England and Wales,
including those not returned, but exclusive of those annexed to other
preferments, (about 24 in number) is 10,718; the total gross income of
which, calculated upon the average of those returned, amounts to
£3,251,159; and the net income thereof, £3,055,451. The number of
curates returned, as employed by resident incumbents, was 1000, whose
annual stipends or payments in money amounted to £87,075; affording an
average of £86, Those employed by non-residents were 4,124; the amount of
their stipends, £337,620; average, £79: and the average of the whole of
the curates’ stipends, £81. In concluding their report, the
commissioners state that the archbishops and bishops in possession of
their preferments, are subject to heavy expenses, and that the charges
for first fruits and fees generally exceed the amount of their receipts
for the first two or three years, after entering office.
QUEEN ANNE’S BOUNTY; FIRST FRUITS AND TENTHS.—From the earliest periods
every bishop and clergyman has been required to pay the amount of his
first year’s incumbency into a fund, and every succeeding year one tenth.
These first fruits and tenths were formerly collected at their full
value, and applied to the use of the pope, as early as the time of Pope
Nicholas (A.D. 1200). For this purpose a valuation was made of all the
livings in England, which is still preserved in the Remembrancer’s
office, and designated, “Valor of Pope Nicholas IV.” At the time of the
Reformation, King Henry VIII. passed a law, with the sanction of
Parliament, declaring that the first fruits and tenths should be
appropriated to the use of the state; and he caused an accurate and full
valuation to be made of all the ecclesiastical livings in England and
Wales, which were accordingly paid into the public exchequer, till the
reign of Queen Anne, with the exception of a short period in the reign of
Philip and Mary. Queen Anne, deploring the wretched condition in which
many of the clergy were placed, owing to the insufficiency of their
livings, came to the determination that the first fruits and tenths
should be paid into a fund, called _Queen Anne’s Bounty_, and that the
amount should be appropriated to the livings of the poor clergy. No
fresh valuation has been made since 1535, and registered in what is now
called the _King’s Book_, till that made by order of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners, in 1835, on which the payments are now regulated. That
the payments might not operate oppressively, the first year’s income was
to be paid in four annual instalments; and livings of small value were
entirely exempt, and hence, called “_Discharged livings_.” During the
time of Popery, a large portion of the tithes had been alienated from the
parishes, for the endowment of religious houses, or for chantries, to say
masses for the dead. These endowments, at the Reformation, being seized
by Henry VIII., left the greater part of the parochial livings very poor.
The governors of Queen Anne’s Bounty, sometimes aided by benefactions,
and at others by Parliamentary grants, for the endowment of churches,
have been able to augment many of the poorest livings, and now the
resources at the command of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, by various
reductions in cathedral and collegiate churches, will cause the church
livings, in a few years, to be considerably equalized: The receipts for
the year 1846, amounted to £206,502.
CHARITIES.—The parochial accounts of the posthumous charities are given
from the voluminous reports of the commissioners deputed by parliament to
enquire into the state and appropriation of public charities in England.
This commission commenced in 1817, and was not finished till the year
1839. The charities bequeathed by numerous individuals for the education
and relief of the poor of this county, produce collectively the large sum
of £21,578. 6s. 4d. In addition to this a very large amount is
subscribed by the benevolent inhabitants, for the support of the various
charitable institutions, among which are free schools, hospitals,
dispensaries, lunatic asylums, and various societies for relieving the
poor, &c. The summary of the reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry
into charities show that in England there are 442,915 acres, or about 690
square miles, belonging to charities, which is little less than the area
of Worcestershire. The rent of these lands is £874,313 per annum. The
amount of rent charge is near £80,000 per annum, a great part of which is
made up of very small sums. The interest of the money (above £6,000,000)
which belongs to charities is £255,151 per annum; the whole income of the
charity property inquired into by the commissioners is £1,209,395 per
annum. Now all this is not derived from one plain single source, but
from all the counties of England; from numerous rent charges, money in
the funds, mortgages, personal and turnpike securities, &c. Further,
this only includes the charities inquired into by the commissioners. We
believe that the commissioners have here and there missed a few
charities. New charities are daily increasing, and those not included in
the inquiry are very numerous.
PARISH REGISTERS.—The earliest of the parish registers date from the
establishment of the Church of England, injunctions to this effect having
been issued by Cromwell, Henry’s vicegerent in ecclesiastical matters in
1538. The canons now in force date their authority from the beginning of
the reign of James I., A.D. 1603. One of these prescribes minutely the
manner entries are to be made in the parish registers, and contains a
respective clause, appointing that the ancient registers, as far as they
could be procured, should be copied in a parchment book. This new
regulation appears to have been carried into effect, so that the only
parish registers now extant are transcripts commencing with Queen
Elizabeth’s reign. The parish register act of 1812 obviated some of the
previous sources of error, and insured the further usefulness of the
registers of that period. But a satisfactory system of registration was
not established until the year 1837, when the act for registering births,
deaths, and marriages came into operation in England and Wales. The
registration of births is considerably more complete than the old
parochial registers of baptism, and the register of deaths is believed to
be very complete.
A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL
SEATS & RESIDENCES OF THE NOBILITY, GENTRY, & CLERGY,
IN THE COUNTY OF SHROPSHIRE.
*** _To avoid increasing this List_, _the Villa Residences in the suburbs
of the Towns are not inserted_, _but will be found in the Directories of
the respective Parishes in which they are situated_.
* * * * *
THOSE WITH * AFFIXED ARE ACTING MAGISTRATES.
Abertannat Hall, 1½ mile S.E. of Blodwell, John Edwards, Esq.
Acton Burnell Hall, 8 miles N.E. of Shrewsbury, * Sir Edward Joseph
Smythe, Bart.
Acton Reynald, 7 miles N.E. by N. of Shrewsbury, * Sir Andrew Vincent
Corbet, Bart.
Adderley Hall, 4 miles N.W. of Drayton, * Richard Corbet, Esq.
Admaston Hall, 1½ mile N.W. of Wellington, The Hon. Charles Noel Hill;
Philip Buchannan, Esq.
Albrighton, 4½ miles S.E. of Shiffnal, Rev. George Woodhouse, The
Vicarage; Thomas Plowden Presland, Esq.
Aldenham Hall, 4 miles N.W. of Bridgnorth, Sir John E. D. Acton, Bart.
Apley Castle, 1¼ mile N. of Wellington, * St. John Chiverton Charlton,
Esq.
Apley Park, 4 miles N. of Bridgnorth, * Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq.,
M.P.
Argoed Hall, 7 miles S.E. of Oswestry, Edward Downes, Esq.
Ash Magna, 2 miles S.E. of Whitchurch, The Rev. William Bryans.
Ashford Hall, 3 miles S.W. by S. of Ludlow, * Major General Russell, C.B.
Astley House, 5 miles N.N. by E. of Shrewsbury, John Bishton Minor, Esq.
Aston Hall, 1 mile N.E. of Shiffnal, * Uvedale Corbet, Esq.
Aston, 2 Miles S.E. of Oswestry, * Edward Harvey Lloyd, Esq., The Hall;
Mrs. Lloyd.
Aston, 9 miles N. of Ludlow, * Francis Marston, Esq.
Atcham, 3 miles S.E. by E. of Shrewsbury, * Rev. Henry Burton.
Attingham Hall, 4 miles S.E. of Shrewsbury, The Right Honourable Lord
Berwick.
Badger, 5 miles S.E. by S. of Shiffnal, * Robert Henry Cheney, Esq., The
Hall; The Rev. Thomas T. Boddington, The Rectory.
Balswardyne Hall, 8½ miles S.E. of Shrewsbury, Sir George Harnage, Bart.
Baschurch, 8 miles N.W. of Shrewsbury, Edward Birch, Esq.; Rev. William
Jones.
Beckbury, 4 miles S.E. by S. of Shiffnal, Walter Stubbs, Esq.; Rev.
Walter Ralph Smythe.
Bellaport House, 4 miles N.E. of Drayton, Rev. Hugh Ker Cockburne.
Belleview, 1½ mile S.W. by S. of Oswestry, William Banning, Esq.
Belmont, near Oswestry, * Joseph Venables Lovett, Esq.
Berrington, 4½ miles S.E. by S. of Shrewsbury, The Hon. and Rev. T. H.
Noel Hill; Charles Arthur Williams, Esq., Eaton Mascott.
Berwick Upper House, 2½ miles N.W. of Shrewsbury, The Hon. Henry
Wentworth Powys.
Berwick House, 2 miles N.W. of Shrewsbury, * Thomas Henry Hope, Esq.
Besford, 3 miles S.E. of Wem, Joseph Taylor Reynolds, Esq.
Betton Hall, 2 miles N.E. of Drayton, William Church Norcop, Esq.
Bewdley, 8 miles E. of Cleobury Mortimer, * William Lacon Childe, Esq.,
Jun.; * Slade Baker, Esq.; * Arthur Lyttleton Annesley, Esq., Arley
Castle.
Birch Hall, 1 mile S.E. of Ellesmere, * Richard George Jebb, Esq.
Bishop’s Castle, 20 miles S.W. of Shrewsbury, * Rev. John Bright,
Totterton; * Rev. John Rogers, The Home.
Bitterley, 4 miles N.E. of Ludlow, * Rev. Charles Walcot; Sir Charles
Cuyler.
Blodwell, 6 miles S.S. by W. of Oswestry, Rev. John Parker; William
Lyons, Esq.
Bobbington, 8½ miles S.W. of Wolverhampton, Rev. Henry Pennant Cooke.
Boningale Hall, 5 miles S.E. by S. of Shiffnal, George Taylor, Esq.
Boreatton Park, 9½ miles N.W. by N. of Shrewsbury, Rowland Hunt, Esq.
Bridgnorth, 8 miles S.E. of Much Wenlock, Rev. George Bellett, St.
Leonards; Rev. Wm. K. Marshall, St. Mary’s Rectory; J. Baker, Esq.,
Walsbatch. (See also p. 626.)
Broadway, near Shrewsbury, * John Owen, Esq.
Bromfield, 2 miles N.W. of Ludlow, The Hon. Robert Henry Clive, Oakeley
Park.
Broseley, 4 miles E. of Wenlock, The Hon. and Rev. O. W. W. Forester, The
Rectory; * George Pritchard, Esq.; John Pritchard, Esq.; John Onions,
Esq., White Hall; * Richard Thursfield, Esq.
Bryn Harford near Oswestry, Charles Scarlett Andrews, Esq.
Brynn, 1½ mile N.W. of Blodwell, John Hamor, Esq.
Bryntanat Hall, 2¼ miles W. of Blodwell, William Henry Perry, Esq.
Buildwas Park, 4½ miles N.E. of Much Wenlock, Walter Moseley, Esq.
Buntingsdale Hall, near Drayton, John Tayleur, Esq.
Burcott, near Wellington, Charles Emery, Esq., The Hall; John Stanier,
Esq., Leaton Hall.
Burford, near Tenbury, * George Rushout, Esq., M.P., The Hall; * Rev.
James Wayland Joyce, The Rectory; Rev. Herbert MacLaughlin, Boraston
Rectory; Rev. Caleb Whiteford, Whitton Rectory.
Burleigh Villa, 7 miles W. by N. of Wellington, Thomas Taylor, Esq.
Burlton, 5 miles S.W. of Wem, Robert Chambre Vaughan, Esq., The Hall;
Edward Goldsborough Chambre Vaughan, Esq., Wood Gate.
Burwarton, 9 miles S.W. of Bridgnorth, The Hon. G. F. H. Russell, The
Hall.
Calverhall, 3 miles N.E. of Prees, John Whitehall Dod, Esq., Jun., Rev.
Edw. Mainwaring.
Cheswardine, near Market Drayton, Thomas Hudson, Esq., The Hall; Rev.
Charles Miller.
Cheshire Coppice, 3 miles N. of Wellington, William Henry Dickinson, Esq.
Chetwynd, near Newport, * John Charles Burton Boroughs, Esq.; Thomas
Collier, Esq., Beech Hill; Robert Fisher, Esq., The Lodge; William
Washbourne, Esq.; Rev. Thomas Whately, The Rectory.
Childs Ercall, 6½ miles N.W. of Newport, Rev. B. E. Johnson.
Chirbury, 2½ miles E. of Montgomery, Rev. James Wilding, The Vicarage;
Edward Humphries, Esq., Walcot.
Chorley, near Stottesden, Thomas Crump, Esq., The Hall.
Church Aston, near Newport, Ralph Ormsby Gore, Esq., The Hall.
Church Preen, 5½ miles W. by S. of Wenlock, Frederick Thomas Webster,
Esq.
Church Stretton, 13 miles S.W. by S. of Shrewsbury, Duppa Duppa, Esq.,
Kington; Rev. Hugh Owen Wilson, The Rectory.
Citadel (The), near Hodnet, Reverend John Hill.
Claverley, 6 miles E. of Bridgnorth, Rev. George Hilder Betterton Gabert,
The Vicarage: William Wilson, Esq., Beobridge; * Farmer Taylor, Esq.,
Chykenell.