Richard Morgan, on Thursday, from Rogers’ Warehouse, Frankwell.
To PICKLESCOTT—James Wild, from the Barge Inn, Wednesdays and Saturdays;
Wm. Griffith, from the Seven Stars, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
To POOLE—R. Jones, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from Circus Yard.
To PONTESBURY & MINSTERLEY—Thos. Everall, from Rogers’ Warehouse,
Frankwell; Thomas Davies, from the Queen’s Head, Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Saturdays.
To PRESTON BROCHHURST—Trevor, from the Bull’s Head, Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
To PULVERBATCH—Richard Dovaston and Philip Morris, from the Spread Eagle,
on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
To SHAWBURY—Thomas Richards, from the Mermaid, Saturdays; Thos.
Humphreys, from the Bell, on Saturdays.
To STRETFORD BRIDGE—Thos. Humphreys, from the Bell, on Saturday.
To TREWERNE AND WELSHPOOL—Thos. Williams, from the Queen’s Head,
Wednesdays and Saturdays.
To UFFINGTON—Elizabeth Davies, from the White Hart, Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
To WELLINGTON—Edward Thomas, from the Barge Inn, Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Saturdays; and Jackson, from the Lion and Pheasant, on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
To WELSHPOOL, AND NEWTOWN—Robert Sackett, from Rogers’ and Crowley’s
Warehouses, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and Edward Harris,
from the Queen’s Head, on Wednesdays.
To WESTBURY—John Handley, from the Mermaid, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
To WESTON & HAWKSTONE—John Phillips, from the Queen’s Head, Wednesdays
and Saturdays.
To WITHINGTON—Thomas Leary, from the Yorkshire House, on Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
To WOLVERHAMPTON—Frederick Worthington, from the White Hart, Saturdays.
To WORTHEN—William Downes, from the Elephant and Castle, on Wednesdays
and Saturdays.
THE ALBRIGHTON DIVISION.
The Albrighton division was formed into a separate jurisdiction for
magisterial purposes under the authority of an Act of parliament, passed
in the 4th of William IV. It comprises the following places:—The
parishes of Battlefield, Broughton, Fitz, Grinshill, Preston Gubballs,
and Uffington; the chapelries of Albrighton, Astley, Clive, and Hadnal;
and the township of Acton Reynold, Albrightlee, Harlscott, Hencott,
Longner, Berwick, Leaton, Merrington, Newton and Wollascot; and the
extra-parochial liberty of Haughmond. It may be necessary to observe,
that the arrangement of this work being by hundreds, the townships, or
chapelries, comprised in the several hundreds, will be found
alphabetically arranged, under the head of the respective town or
village, in which the parish church is situated.
ALBRIGHTLEE,
a small township in St. Mary’s parish three miles N.N.E. from Shrewsbury,
containing 742A. 2R. 21P. of land, is the property of Andrew William
Corbet, Esq. At the census of 1841 there were 8 houses and 45
inhabitants. The principal residence is an antique house of timber and
plaster, occupied by Mr. John Minton, who farms a considerable portion of
the land in the township, and is also a maltster.
HARLSCOTT
township, situated two and a half miles N.N.E. from Shrewsbury, is partly
in St. Alkmund, and partly in that of St. Mary’s. In 1841 there were 8
houses and 41 inhabitants returned as in the former parish, and 6 houses
and 28 inhabitants in the latter. The land owners are Andrew William
Corbet, Esq., and Scarlett LLoyd Parry, Esq.
The principal residents are Thomas Briscoe Barber, farmer; Scarlett LLoyd
Parry, Esq., solicitor; John Ralphs, carpenter; and William Hewlett,
shoemaker.
HENCOTT,
a small township with a scattered population, is about one and three
quarter miles N. from Shrewsbury. Colonel Wingfield is the only
proprietor in this township, which in 1841 had 14 scattered houses and a
population of 84 souls. The Shrewsbury and Chester railway intersects
this township. The soil for the most part is a fertile loam.
The following are the principal farmers, viz.:—Robert Legh, Cross Hall;
Ann Bromley, Hencott farm, Robert Parry, manager; Edward Randles, Old
Heath; and Joseph Yates, Old Heath.
BATTLEFIELD
is a small parish, pleasantly situated three and a quarter miles N.N.E.
from Shrewsbury, which contains 1,008A. 0R. 3P. of land, the whole of
which is the property of Andrew William Corbet, Esq., of Sundorne Castle.
In 1801 there was a population of 83 souls; in 1831, 70; and in 1841
there were 14 houses and 64 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,008. 6s. 8d.
The name is derived from the battle fought here on the 21st of July,
1403, between Henry IV. and the forces under Percy, Earl of
Northumberland, and generally denominated the battle of Shrewsbury, which
will be found noticed in a preceding page. The king afterwards built a
collegiate church for secular canons, upon the spot where the battle was
fought, and “endowed it with a piece of ground, with all the buildings on
it, within the lordship of Albrighton Husee, in the field called
Battlefield, which piece of ground was ditched in, and contained in
length and breadth two acres of land, together with two inlets and
outlets along the lands of Richard Husee, one twenty feet wide and the
other fifteen feet wide.” No doubt appropriate buildings for the
residence of the canons and servants of the establishment were erected on
the land inside this ditch: these probably were demolished at the period
of the dissolution of monasteries, but no remains of them are now to be
seen.
THE CHURCH, a venerable fabric dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, consists
of nave, chancel, and embattled tower ornamented with pinnacles; the
nave, however, has long been roofless, the windows are destroyed, and the
tower is in a dilapidated state. Divine worship is now performed in the
chancel, which has been neatly fitted up, and a new font recently added.
The fine east window was formerly richly adorned with stained glass. In
a recess on the south side of the altar is a mutilated carving of the
Virgin Mary, with a small figure of the dead Saviour on her lap. A
beautiful monument of the white Grinshill freestone, enriched with Gothic
tracery, remembers John Corbet, Esq., Emma Elizabeth, his wife, and John
Kynaston Corbet, their son. About half a century ago, when the vault was
made in which rest the remains of Mr. Corbet, the workmen discovered an
ancient stirrup and bridle bit, which had lain among the ashes of the
slain since the period of the battle which gave origin to the church.
Near the chancel wall, surrounded by pallisades, is the tomb of the Rev.
Edward Williams, incumbent of this parish and Uffington, who died on
January 3, 1833, aged 70 years. The living is a perpetual curacy,
returned at £233, in the patronage of A. W. Corbet, Esq.; incumbent, Rev.
J. O. Hopkins, who is also the perpetual curate of Uffington.
ALBRIGHT HUSSEY, an ancient moated residence, situated about half a mile
from Battlefield church, was formerly the seat of the Husseys, a family
of consequence in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The mansion, in the
reign of Charles I., became the seat of the Corbets, who resided there
for more than one hundred years. One of the rooms has a fine oak chimney
piece, most elaborately carved. Near to the mansion formerly stood a
chapel, the remains of which, and the old font, are still to be seen.
Roger Roe, rector of the chapel of St. John the Baptist, at Albrighton
Husee, by his will, dated 1444, ordered his body to be buried near the
high altar of Battlefield church, and bequeathed to the five chaplains in
the college three silver chalices, one paxbrede of silver gilt, two
silver cruets, three brass bells hanging in the belfry, two cases after
the manner of Sarum, otherwise called lyggers, three gilt copper crosses,
two new missals, two new graduals, three old missals covered with old
leather, one old case, one processional, one executor of the office, one
book of collects, four placebo and dirage, one pair of vestments of red
velvet, one red velvet cope, two velvet dalmatics, one pair of vestments
of white silk, one white silk cope, and four pair of other vestments.
Mrs. Margaret Jones, in 1773, left £50, and directed the interest to be
given to the poor of the parish on Easter Sunday.
DIRECTORY.—Henry Colley, farmer, Huffley; Edward Moreton, farmer,
Allbright Hussey; Martha Winnall, farmer, Battlefield farm
BROUGHTON,
a parish and township in the Albrighton division, also contains the
township of Yorton, which conjointly contain 878A. 2R. 1P. of land, and
in 1841 had 37 houses and 188 inhabitants. The soil is mostly a stiff
loam, and the meadow land is of good quality. There are 27A. of woods
and plantations in the parish. The principal land owners are Viscount
Hill, Spencer Roger Dickin, Esq., Mr. William Teece, and Cornelius
Maddocks, the former is lord of the manor. Rateable value of the parish,
£1836. 10s. THE CHURCH is a small ancient structure, dedicated to St.
Mary, and was formerly subordinate to that of St. Mary, Shrewsbury; it is
built of rubble stone, and rough cast, and has nave, chancel, porch, and
small turret. The living is a perpetual curacy returned in £67, in the
patronage of Viscount Hill, and incumbency of the Rev. Francis Parkes.
It is related on a late occasion the parish clerk of Broughton was
desired to acquaint the congregation during public worship that the then
officiating minister would perform divine service at that church and at
the Clive _alternately_, when, not exactly understanding the meaning of
the latter term, he very gravely gave notice the Rev. Mr. W. “will preach
here and at the Clive to _all eternity_.” The tithes are commuted for
£105, Henry Lister, Esq., is the impropriator. In the field where the
church stands an attempt has recently been made to open coal works; it
appears that coal was found and lime works were also established, but the
project was shortly after abandoned.
DIRECTORY.—Mr. William Clay, The farm; Mr. Alderton Clay, The hall;
Joseph Molynax, blacksmith; Mr. Samuel Sherratt, The villa, William
Sutton, wheelwright.
YORTON,
a small scattered township in the parish of Broughton, is situate about
one mile from the church. The population and acres are included in the
returns for Broughton. Viscount Hill is lord of the manor, Robert
Panting Gardener, Esq., Mrs. Sarah Bayley and others are land owners.
The greatest portion of the township is in the hands of R. P. Gardner,
Esq.
YORTON VILLA, the residence of the Rev. William Jaudwine, M.A., is a
square stuccoed house pleasantly situated, and beautified with pleasure
grounds, and shrubberies laid out with great taste. The following are
the principal residents in this township:—Those with † affixed reside at
Yorton Heath, Rev. William Jaudwine, M.A., The villa; † Thomas George,
shopkeeper; † George Lea, farmer; † Joseph Lea, farmer; Lucy Martin,
farmer; † Benjamin Shuker, farmer, Black Birch. Thomas Gregory carrier
to Shrewsbury on Wednesday and Saturday.
LONGNER
is an isolated portion of the parish of St. Chad, situated three miles
south east from Shrewsbury. Robert Burton, Esq., of Longner hall, is
owner of the whole township, which in 1841 is returned as containing four
houses and 13 inhabitants. The hall is a handsome and commodious
mansion, with projecting gables ornamented with turrets and pinnacles,
and fronted with the beautiful white Grinshill free stone; it stands on
an acclivity commanding a rich view of the surrounding country, and of
the Severn, which rolls immediately beneath it. The views up and down
the river and over the adjoining highly cultivated and well wooded
country are peculiarly picturesque and beautiful, affording a great
variety of landscape scenery. An extensive and finely timbered park
surrounds the hall, the immediate vicinity of which is tastefully
ornamented with pleasure grounds and shrubberies. The interior of the
mansion is elegantly furnished, and contains some beautiful paintings; a
fine portrait of Queen Elizabeth is supposed to have been presented by
her Majesty to the ancestors of the present proprietor. A magnificent
gothic window of stained glass ornamented with figures of different
members of the family, lights the entrance hall.
In the garden is a tomb placed over the body of Edward Burton, Esq., a
zealous protestant in Queen Mary’s days, and is by Fox, in his Acts and
Monuments, named among those who by various means escaped persecution.
He one day sitting in his parlour alone, meditating on the troubles of
the times, and the deliverances he and others had found; and whilst thus
reflecting heard a general ring of bells in Shrewsbury, which he
concluded must be for the accession of the Lady Elizabeth to the throne.
Anxious to know the truth, and not daring to send any of his servants to
inquire, he sent his eldest son—a youth about sixteen years of age,
ordering him if the bells rang for the Lady Elizabeth’s accession to
throw his hat up into the air on his arrival at a certain place where he
could he seen from the hall. The young man finding it as was expected,
threw up his hat, which his father seeing, was suddenly affected with a
transport of joy, that he with difficulty reached a chair, and
immediately expired. By his will he ordered that his body should be
buried in the parish church of St. Chad, in Shrewsbury, and that no mass
monger should be present at his interment. His friends designing to
execute his will in this respect, brought his corpse to the church, and
were there met by the curate, who said that “Mr. Burton was an heretic
and should not be buried in his church.” His friends were therefore
obliged to carry his body back again, and bury it in his own garden. A
monument was set over him, which, being injured and defaced with the
weather, Edward Burton, Esq., his grandson, in the year 1614, re-edified
the tomb. The following is the epitaph placed on the tomb, written by
Sir Andrew Corbet, Bart.:—
“Was’t for denying Christ, or some notorious fact,
That this man’s body Christian burial lack’d?
Oh no! his faithful true profession,
Was the chief cause, which was then held transgression;
When popery here did reign, the See of Rome,
Would not admit to any such a tomb,
Within their idol temple walls; but he
Truly professing Christianity,
Was like Christ Jesus in a garden laid,
Where he shall rest in peace till it be said—
Come faithful servant, come, receive with me,
A just reward for thy integrity.”—1614.
There is a free school at Longner, situated in the park, which is
supported by R. Burton, Esq.; 42 children are now taught in the school.
The principal residents at Longner are Robert Burton, Esq., Longner hall,
and Robert Weatherby, schoolmaster.
FITZ
is a parish and village delightfully situated on a gentle eminence 5¾
miles N.W. from Shrewsbury; the country around is fertile, and pleasingly
diversified with graceful undulations; the scenery is very beautiful, and
includes the picturesque windings of the river Severn. The parish
contains 1512A. 1R. 32P. of land; in 1801 there were 236 inhabitants; in
1831, 211, and in 1841 fifty houses and a population of 246 souls.
Rateable value, £2,774. 6s. The river Perry intersects the township, and
has its confluence with the Severn a little below Mytton. The soil is
rich, producing good wheat and barley, and there is some rich pasture
land. The Shrewsbury and Chester railway passes this township over
Leaton Heath, where there is a station, about a mile and a half from
Fitz.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Paul, is situated on an eminence, and
consists of nave and chancel, with a lofty square tower, in which is one
bell. It is a birch fabric with stone finishings, and contains a fine
toned organ; the pews are of oak, and there are some interesting
monuments within its sacred walls to the families of Wood, Powell, Lloyd,
Jones, Denstons, Hopkins, Pytons and others; it is also beautified with
two finely executed stained glass windows. Twenty-two free sittings were
added in 1842, at the expense of the Rev. William Hopkins, then rector of
this parish. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s books at £5.
5s. 8d., now returned at £272 in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor,
and incumbency of the Rev. Daniel Nihill, M.A., who resides at the
rectory, a pleasantly situated mansion near the church. There are 34A.
2R. 1P. of glebe land, and the tithes were commuted in 1839 for £266.
There is a neat school in the village, built in 1850, at the cost of near
£100, which was raised by subscriptions, and a collection in the church;
45 children are instructed. A residence has been provided for the master
near the school.
THE HALL, a handsome stuccoed mansion, pleasantly situated and beautified
with pleasure grounds, is the residence and property of Richard
Middleton, Esq. Among the land owners in the parish are John A. Lloyd,
Esq.; Robert A. Slaney, Esq., M.P.; Richard Middleton, Esq.; Mr. Joseph
Hignett, Mrs. Morris, Mr. Richard Vaughan, Rev. Edward H. Dymock, Mr.
Richard Lloyd, James Payne, Esq., Mr. James Davies, Devisees of late Sir
John Betton, and others. The Duke of Cleveland is the lord of the manor.
MYTTON
is a scattered village in the parish of Fitz, salubriously situated,
containing some good residences, and surrounded with picturesque scenery.
Mytton is celebrated as the birth place of Edward Waring, M.D., whose
mathematical publications prove the extent and profundity of his
knowledge. He was born in the year 1734, and after being educated at
Shrewsbury free school, was sent on one of Millington’s exhibitions to
Magdalen College, Cambridge, where he applied himself with such assiduity
to the study of Mathematics, that when he left the university he carried
with him the credit of being one of the most able mathematicians that
ever filled the professor’s chair. In 1776 he entered into a matrimonial
connection with Miss Oswell, and not many years after retired from the
university, first to a house in Shrewsbury, and at length to his own
estate at Plealey, near Pontesbury, where he died on the 15th of August,
1798, in the 64th year of his age.—GRAFTON is another small village in
the parish of Fitz. Here are several good farms, and Grafton Lodge, a
good house pleasantly situated, the residence of John Henry Denston, Esq.
FITZ DIRECTORY.—John Bather, Esq., Richard Middleton, Esq., The hall;
Rev. Daniel Nihill, M.A., The Rectory; _Farmers_, Joshua Burroughs,
Leaton Heath; Richard Middleton, Samuel Onions, Leaton Heath; Thomas
Vaughan, corn miller; John Walmsley, Leaton Heath; Alban Davies,
fisherman; Maria Davies, schoolmistress; William France, farm bailiff;
John Vaughan, butcher.—GRAFTON DIRECTORY: Mrs. Ann Denston, John Henry
Denston, Esq.; Edward Davies, farmer; John Davies shopkeeper; Richard
Davies, blacksmith; Richard Lloyd, wheelwright; John Pugh, farmer; and
Thomas Vaughan, farmer.—MYTTON DIRECTORY: William Davies, farmer; John
Evans, farm bailiff; Mrs. Jemima Hopkins; John Litttlehales, basket
maker; Mrs. Elizabeth Morris, farmer; William Rowland, farmer and corn
miller; Richard Wildig, farmer.
GRINSHILL
is a parish and township seven miles N. from Shrewsbury, which contains
872A. 0R. 34P. of land, the chief owners of which are Viscount Hill, Sir
Andrew Vincent Corbet, Bart., trustees of Shrewsbury School; Rev. John
Wood; Mr. Richard Kilvert; P. Gardner, Esq.; Mr. William Embrey Wood; Mr.
John Williams; and the devisees of the late John Kilvert. Viscount Hill
is Lord of the Manor. The beautiful and romantic village of Grinshill is
delightfully situated, and contains many good residences, occupied by
respectable families. In 1801 there was a population of 179 souls, and
in 1841 there were 56 houses and 255 inhabitants. Rateable value, £587.
5s. 6d.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to All Saints, has a neat, light, and beautiful
appearance, and exhibits the decorative style of English architecture; it
is built of the Grinshill free stone, and ornamented with a square tower.
The interior consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles: a neat mural
tablet remembers Robert Embrey, and other members of that family. The
living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £82, in the patronage and
incumbency of the Rev. John Wood. The parsonage, near the church, is
pleasantly situated, and the grounds neatly ornamented with shrubberies.
THE INDEPENDENT METHODISTS have a small stone chapel, built in 1843. The
Free School in connection with the church was built by, and is supported
by, Sir A. V. Corbet. There are 56 scholars attending the day school.
The spacious building occupied by Mr. Barkley as a classical and
commercial school, was built about half a century after the Shrewsbury
Free School, for the safety of the masters and scholars of that seminary,
in case any contagious disease should prevail in that town.
THE QUARRIES, where the beautiful white Grinshill freestone is got, are
very extensive, and give employment to a considerable number of hands.
Many of the churches and public buildings in the county are built of this
stone, which is of a fine close quality, and superior to most others for
carving and ornamental purposes.
CHARITIES.—_Major Richard Corbet_ bequeathed £20, and _Mrs. Judith
Corbet_ a like sum, and directed the interest to be expended in books and
the education of poor children; _Eleanor Allen_ and _Thomas_, her sons,
left £20 for the poor. _William Key_ left £50, the interest to be given
to the minister of this parish, if approved of by his trustees, if not to
the poor. _Thomas Embrey_ left £10. _John Kilvert_, £5; and an unknown
donor £9, for the benefit of the poor. _The Rev. Mr. Price_ left £12.
for the instruction of two children. The above moneys were laid out in
the purchase of 10A. 2R. 20P. of land, at Coton, which was let on lease
in 1757, for the term of 100 years, at the yearly rent of £4. 18s. The
premises are stated now to be worth £20 a year. Of the rent, £1. 10s. is
paid to the minister, £2. 2s. to the schoolmaster, and the residue is
distributed among the poor. _Sir Andrew Corbet_, in 1830, gave £15. 15s.
to the poor of this parish.
Barkley Richard, boarding school, The Grove
Blantarn Robert, farmer
Boora Charles, farmer
Carline John, quarry master and contractor
Cureton Edward, quarry master & stonemason
Downes Andrew, quarry master & stonemason
Downes Mrs. N., dress maker
Downes Nathaniel, tailor and draper
Griffiths William, parish clerk
Higgins John, farmer
Huffa William, blacksmith and vict., Barley Corn Inn
Jessop Francis, butcher and salesman
Jessop John, farmer, Hill farm
Killan John, butcher and horse breaker
Kilvert Mrs. Catherine
Matthews John, farmer
Naylor Miss, school teacher
Nelson Arthur, farmer
Onslow Mrs. M., boarding house and vict., Elephant and Castle
Onslow Margaret, farmer and maltster
Phillips William, shopkeeper & shoemaker
Smith Thomas, quarry master and mason
Williams Henry Parton, farmer
Williams Joseph, wheelwright
Wood Rev. John, M.A., the Parsonage
Wood William Embrey, Esq., the Vineyard
HAUGHMOND,