from Hadnal, contains 230A. 2R. 13P. of land, the rateable value of which
is £417. 4s. 6d. Colonel Watkins owns the whole township. The number of
inhabitants at the census in 1841 were twenty-two, at which period the
land was divided into two farms. Within the last few years the two farms
have been united, and the whole township is now farmed by Mr. John
Groome. The tithes are commuted for £54. 5s.
SMETHCOTT
township, situated a mile and a half W. by N. from Hadnal, in 1841 had a
population of seventy souls. The houses are scattered, and the land is
well timbered, which gives the whole a pleasing and rural appearance.
The township contains 588A. 0R. 28P. of land, the owners of which are
Mrs. Sarah Bayley and the two Mr. Edward Groomes. Rent charge, £92. 3s.
6d. Rateable value, £767. 9s. 1d. The Black Birches is a handsome and
pleasantly situated house, the property and residence of Mrs. Sarah
Bayley; besides whom, Mr. Francis Lloyd Bayley, Mr. Edward Groome,
farmer, and Mr. Edward Groome, farmer, are residents in this township.
PRESTON GUBBALS OR GOBALDS
is a parish township, and small village 4½ miles N. from Shrewsbury, on
the turnpike road from that town to Chester. The township contains
1350A. 3R. 5P. of land, the principal owner of which is Lady Tyrwhitt; R.
R. Slaney, Esq., M.P., is a small proprietor, and there are also a few
small freeholders. The former is lady of the manor and impropriatoress.
Population in 1801, 313, and in 1841, 388. Rateable value, £1,386. This
place is said to have derived its name from one Godebalte, a clerk to
Roger de Montgomery, and was anciently called the priests town of
Godebalte, which eventually became corrupted to Preston Gubbals. THE
CHURCH, dedicated to St. Martin, is a small fabric of primitive
simplicity, with a porch on the south side, composed of massive oak
timber; the living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the vicarage of
Prees, and is endowed with a farm at Criggion, in Montgomeryshire, of
58A. 3R., with a sheep walk of about 28 acres; the Rev. William Stephens
Burd, M.A., is the incumbent, and resides at a neat residence near the
church, which has been built with the intention of attaching it to the
living. There is a small library, of standard divinity, in the vestry of
the church, which was given by Charles Mather, Esq., for the use of the
officiating clergyman. The tithes are commuted for £170. This township
includes a portion of Bomere Heath, where there are a number of small
cottages, and a Wesleyan New Connexion chapel within the bounds of it.
In the parliamentary returns of 1786 it is stated that Richard Brethens
in 1777 bequeathed £100 for the benefit of the poor of Preston Gobalds;
the interest is usually laid out in coals, and distributed among the most
deserving poor of the parish. Besides the farmers given in the
directory, John B. Minor, Esq., holds the Lea Hall farm in the township.
There are 220 acres of wood land in the parish.
DIRECTORY.—Rev. William Stevens Burd, M.A.; _Farmers_, Edward Acton,
Robert Hales, and Richard Poole; William Littlehales, wheelwright;
William Thompson, wood bailiff to Lady Tyrwhitt.
MERRINGTON
township, 1¼ miles N.W. from Preston Gobalds, and 5½ N.N.W. from
Shrewsbury, contains 898A. 1R. 26P. of land, which is the property of
Lady Tyrwhitt, except one farm held by R. R. Slaney, Esq., M.P. The
population in 1841 was returned at 188 souls, at which time there were 46
houses. Rateable value, £1073 5s. 6d. This township comprises a
considerable portion of BOMERE HEATH, which was enclosed upwards of forty
years ago; it is now the most densely populated part of the township, and
consists chiefly of small detached cottages, with a few acres of land or
a garden plot attached to each cottage. Here is an Independent chapel, a
Wesleyan chapel, and a Wesleyan New Connexion chapel, not far from each
other, the two former are in this township, and the latter in Preston
Gobalds township. There is also a free school for all the children in
the parish, which is supported by R. R. Slaney. About two-thirds of the
land in Merrington is arable, a deep loamy soil prevails in some places,
and in other parts a cold clay.
DIRECTORY.—_Farmers_, John Jones, Joseph Kent, William Kent, John Shore,
and William Shore; William Dodd, blacksmith; the rest are at Bomere
Heath, Richard Ellis, shoemaker; James Holmes, contractor; Martha Owen,
butcher; John Price shopkeeper; and John Wright, schoolmaster.
UFFINGTON
is a parish and small village delightfully situated on the banks of the
Severn, three miles E.N.E. from Shrewsbury. The parish contains 1309A.
3R. 9P. of land, and forms a part of the Sundorne domain, which is the
property of Andrew William Corbett, Esq. At the census of 1801 the
population was returned at 120 souls and in 1841 there were 32 houses and
163 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1804. 19s. The picturesque beauty of
the village, surrounded by a lovely and fertile country, and its
contiguity to Haughmond Hill, which commands a most delightful view of
the surrounding district, causes this to be a place of much attraction in
the summer season for pleasure parties from Shrewsbury and other places.
There is a good inn, with a spacious bowling green, which is kept in
admirable order, where parties may recreate themselves and have every
attention and comfort at a moderate charge, from the worthy host of the
“Corbet Arms.” A spacious room which opens upon the bowling green will
accommodate nearly a hundred persons.
About half a mile east from Uffington is HAUGHMOND HILL, from the summit
of which is seen a most beautiful, panoramic view of the fertile plains
of Shropshire, the lofty steeples of its ancient capital, the windings of
the graceful Severn, and in the distance the blue mountains of Wales,
whilst in the foreground is seen the stately mansion of Sundorne Castle,
adorned with battlements and turrets, which forcibly reminds us of the
beautiful lines of Mrs. Hemans:—
The stately homes of England,
How beautiful they stand!
Amidst their tall ancestral trees,
O’er all the pleasant land.
Upon the summit of the hill has been built a castellated tower, which is
a conspicuous object for many miles around. Near the tower is a steep
crag, down which the Earl of Douglas leaped with his horse, on being
closely pursued, after his escape from the battle of Shrewsbury. He was
seriously injured by this daring act, and on his being taken prisoner,
the king set him at liberty, in admiration of his valour.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a small fabric of venerable
appearance, with a porch on the south side, and a small belfry. The
interior harmonizes with the simplicity of the structure. The font is
large and circular. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £49,
in the patronage of Andrew William Corbett, Esq.; incumbent, Rev. John
Oliver Hopkins, M.A. In the churchyard are several fine old yew trees.
PIMLEY HOUSE is a handsome residence, pleasantly situated about a quarter
of a mile from the village. It stands on a gentle acclivity rising from
the Severn, and commands some fine prospects. The house was completed in
1849; it is of brick, with stone finishings, exhibiting the Elizabethan
style of architecture. Pimley House is the occasional residence of
Andrew William Corbet, Esq., of Sundorne Castle.
A NEAT SCHOOLHOUSE and residence for the teachers was built in 1849, on
the turnpike road leading to Shrewsbury, by A. W. Corbet, Esq., who also
munificently supports the institution, which is free to all the children
of the tenants upon the Sundorne estate. There is also a good Sunday
school nearly opposite the church. This parish is intersected by the
river Severn, and the Shropshire union canal.
Corbet Andrew William, Esq., Sundorne Castle, and Pimley House
Allen John, farmer, corn miller, and brick and tile makers
Bullock Richard, blacksmith
Davies John, farm bailiff, Pimley
Evans John, farmer
Evans Robert Lloyd, gentleman
Grice Thomas, vict., Corbet Arms
Hazledine John and Co., coal merchants; John Mabury, agent
Heath Thomas, shoemaker
Hopkins Rev. John Oliver, M.A., Parsonage
Jarratt Stephen, schoolmaster
Ralphs Samuel, carpenter and clerk
Sproston Edward, tailor
THE OSWESTRY HUNDRED.
The Oswestry hundred is bounded on the east by the hundred of Pimhill, on
the north and west by Denbighshire, and on the south-west by
Montgomeryshire. The river Ceiriog bounds the hundred at the northern
extremity, and the Vernieu and the Severn form the southern boundary.
The population of this hundred in 1821 was 17,189; and in 1841, 19,858,
of whom 3,956 were in the lower division of the hundred, and 15,902 in
the upper division. Of the total number of inhabitants at the latter
period, 9,805 were males, and 10,054 females.
The lower division of the hundred contains the following parishes and
townships, viz., Cotton, Dovaston, Eardiston, Edgerley, Felton West,
Haughton, Kinnerley, Knockin, Kynaston, Maesbrook Issa, Maesbrook Ucha,
Melverley, Osbaston, Rednal, Ruyton of the Eleven Towns, Sandford,
Shelvock, Shotatton, Sutton, Tedsmore, Twyford, Tyricoed, Woolston, and
Wykey.
The upper division contains Aston Abertanatt, Berghill, Blodwell, Bryn,
Cynynion, Crickheath, Daywell, Ebnall, Fernhill, Frankton, Halston,
Henlle, Hindford, Hisland, Ifton Rhyn, Llanvorda, Llanyblodwell,
Llanytidman, Llanymyneck, Lynclys, Maesburg, Marton Old, Martin St.,
Middleton, Morton, Oswestry, Pentregaer, Porkington, Selattyn, Sychtyn,
Sweeney, Treprenal, Trefarclawdd, Treflach, Trefonen, Weston Cotton,
Weston Rhyn, Whittington, and Wootton.
HALSTON,
an Extra-parochial Liberty, three-quarters of a mile east from
Whittington, and three and a quarter miles E.N.E. from Oswestry, contains
upwards of 500 acres of land, which is the property of Edmund Wright,
Esq., of Halston Hall. This place formerly belonged to the Knights
Templars, or Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. It is called in deeds
Halystone, or Holystone, and was formerly a sanctuary. Meyrick Lloyd,
lord of some part of Uwch Ales, in the reign of Richard I., would not
submit to the English government, to which the hundred of Dyffryn Clwydd,
and several others, were at that time subject; and having seized some
English officers, who came there to execute the laws, put several of them
to death. From this fact the lands were forfeited to the king, and Lloyd
fled and took sanctuary at Halston, where its possessor, John Fitz Alan,
Earl of Arundel, received him under his protection. It was given by this
family to the Knights Templars, and in the 26th of Henry VIII. we find
the commandary valued at £160. 14s. 10d. a-year. On the abolition of
this religious order, King Henry VIII. empowered John Sewster, Esq., to
dispose of this manor to Alan Horde, who made an exchange with Edward
Mytton, Esq., which alienation was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth. Halston
was the birth place of the celebrated General Mytton, who was born in
1608. By his courage and conduct many strongholds in North Wales and
Shropshire were subdued, and he greatly distinguished himself in several
battles. An ardent love of liberty, it seems, was the motive which
governed his conduct; for finding that Cromwell’s views were ambitious,
he resigned his command and retired. General Mytton died in London, in
1656: his remains were conveyed to Shrewsbury, and interred in St. Chad’s
church. The church or chapel is a small fabric, situated in the park,
about five hundred yards from the south front of the hall. The interior
is neatly fitted up, and contains an ancient font, of an octagonal shape,
rudely carved; an old stone coffin which has been dug up, lies near the
tower. The living is a donative, without any other revenue than what the
chaplain is allowed by the owner. The Halston estate, after being held
by the Myttons from the time of Henry VIII. to the present century was
sold in 1817 to Edmund Wright, Esq., the present proprietor. The hall, a
spacious and elegant mansion of brick with a stone portico, has been
greatly improved by the present owner. It is beautified with pleasure
grounds and shrubberies, and opens into a beautiful and finely-timbered
park of about 200 acres. Near the front of the hall is a fine sheet of
water, and the river Perry, a small stream, takes its course through the
park. The kitchen gardens are in a sheltered situation a little west
from the hall, and cover upwards of five acres. Pineries and greenhouses
are now in course of erection. At the census of 1841, Halston is
returned as containing three houses and thirty-four inhabitants.
DIRECTORY.—Edmund Wright, Esq., Halston Hall; Charles Galloway, gardener,
the Hall; Thomas Ward, farmer, Kinsall.
KINNERLEY
parish contains the townships of Kinnerley and Argoed, Dovaston,
Edgerley, Kynaston, Maesbrook Issa, Maesbrook Ucha, Osbaston, and
Tyrycoed, which together have an area of 5,891A. 2R. 28P. of land.
Rateable value, £7,761. 9s. 9d. Rent charge, £942. 1s., of which £170 is
apportioned to the vicar, and £772. 1s. to the impropriators. Population
in 1801, 1,110; in 1841, 1,286.
KINNERLEY AND ARGOED, a township and pleasantly situated village, seven
miles S.E. from Oswestry, and twelve miles N.W. by W. from Shrewsbury,
contains 848A. 0R. 9P. of land, mostly an undulating district, producing
good wheat and barley. The principal land owners are Edward Downes,
Esq.; John Morris, Esq.; Mr. John Doune; Rev. Thomas Frank; Mr. John
Hilton; Mr. William Parkes; Mr. John Lewis; Mr. Thomas Barlow; Mr. Henry
Bowman; Mr. Edward Baddow; Mr. John Pugh; Mr. Edward Evans; the vicar of
Kinnerley; Mr. Jones; Mr. Griffiths; and others. George Edwards, Esq.,
is lord of the manor, and holds a court, the jurisdiction of which
extends over Kinnerley Argoed and Edgerley. It is stated in ancient
records that Kinnerley Castle was plundered and destroyed by Llewellyn,
prince of Wales, during the early part of the reign of Henry III. We
afterwards find that he was compelled to promise to make satisfaction for
the injury he had done; but it appears the restoration of the castle
never took place.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is built of red sandstone, and has a
square tower, with the date of 1600. The nave and chancel were enlarged
and beautified in 1755. There are several beautiful monuments in the
church, one of which remembers the Rev. John Bridgeman, D.D., bishop of
Chester, who died in 1719. In the tower are three fine-toned bells,
which were re-cast at Kinnerley. It is related that a farmer returning
from Shrewsbury fair, where he had sold two cows named Dobbin and Golden,
passing the furnace, was asked what he would give towards the new bells,
when he jocularly replied that he would give Dobbin and Golden, at the
same time emptying a large handkerchief of silver coin into the furnace.
From this circumstance the bells have ever since been called Dobbin and
Golden. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King’s book at £7. 6s.
8d.; now returned at £114; in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and
incumbency of the Rev. Edmund Wolryche Orlando Bridgeman. The vicarial
tithes of this township are commuted for £18. 12s. 2d.; and £103. 4s. 6d.
are paid to Mrs. Tayleur, and £2. 16s. 6d. to other impropriators. There
are 30A. 1R. of glebe land. The tithes formerly belonged to the Knights
of St. John of Jerusalem, in whom the patronage of the living was also
vested.
CHARITIES.—_John Payne_ left £6, _Edward Payne_ a yearly sum of 4s., and
_Richard Payne_ the sum of 10s. yearly, for the benefit of the poor.
These sums are secured upon a piece of land in Lwynygo. _Nicholas
Thornes_ bequeathed £10, _Roger Thornes_ a like sum, and _Thomas Thornes_
£5, which gifts are secured upon land in Edgerley township, called
Brokist. _Mr. Kynaston_ gave the interest of £10 to the poor; _Elizabeth
Morgan_ bequeathed £50. _Henry Morgan_ a rent charge of 10s. per annum.
The three last bequests are secured on land in Melverley. A yearly sum
of £2 is paid to the churchwardens from land which was formerly the
property of the Hanmer family. There are two pieces of land in Edgerley,
the rent of which, £2. 17s. 6d. per annum, is received by the
churchwardens, but from whom it was derived is not known. The amount of
these rents, with the produce of the several charities above mentioned,
being £11. 7s. 6d. per annum, are distributed in small sums on Good
Friday. _Roger Gethin_ left £40, which was laid out in the purchase of
two small crofts in Tyr-y-coed, for the benefit of the poor. The land
produces £3. 10s. yearly. _John Hickin_ left a rent charge of 10s.
yearly, and the poor have a like sum yearly from the bequest of _Margaret
Dyos_—noticed with Great Ness. _Hester Farmer_, in 1691, gave the rent
of a close every fourth year, to be distributed among the poor of
Kinnerley. The field is now let for £23 per annum:—See the charities of
St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
POST OFFICE—_At Mr. Jonathan Rodgers_. Letters arrive from Oswestry at
11.30, and are
despatched at 2 40 P.M.
Barrett Richard, grocer and provision dealer
Bather Thomas, grocer, druggist and seedsman, wholesale and retail
Beddow Thomas, carrier to Oswestry and Shrewsbury
Bevan Edward, thrashing machine and drill man
Bridgeman Rev. Edmund W. O., vicarage
Croft William, farmer
Davies Thomas, blacksmith
Davies William, shoemaker
Downes Edward, Esq., Argoed hall
Glover Timothy, carrier to Oswestry and Shrewsbury
Griffiths Edward, carpenter
Griffiths Joseph, wheelwright
Hanmer John, corn miller
Jones Richard, shoemaker, Argoed
Morgan John, farmer
Morris John, farmer
Morris Richard, shoemaker
Parkes William, grocer and vict., Cross Keys
Pugh John, maltster and farmer
Roberts Edward, cooper
Rodgers Elizabeth, boarding and day school
Rodgers Henry, painter and glazier
Rodgers Henry, farmer
Rodgers Jonathan, vestry and parish clerk and assistant overseer
Rodgers Jonathan, vict., Swan Inn
Thornes Mr. Henry, Argoed farm
DOVASTON
township is pleasantly situated one mile and a half N.E. from Kinnerley,
and seven and a half S.E. from Oswestry, and contains 353A. 2R. 10P. of
land. In 1841 there were 39 houses and 157 inhabitants. Rateable value,
£725. 8s. 6d. The soil is good pasture land, and, being a mixture of
peat and loam, produces good barley. The Earl of Bradford is the lord of
the manor; and the principal landowners are J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq., Mr.
Richard Candlin, Mr. John Frank, Mr. John Hilton, Mr. James Jones, Mr.
Joseph Lloyd, Mr. John Mansell, the Vicar of Kinnerley, Millington
Hospital, Mrs. Thornes, Mr. Thomas Pugh, and Mr. Henry Whitford. The
vicarial tithes are commuted for £6. 17s. 8d., and the rectorial for £36.
3s. 1d.
Bennion John and Edward, carpenters
Bevan John, farmer and carrier
Butler Samuel, farmer
Cambage George, farmer
Davies David, carpenter, The Heath
Davies Thomas, sawyer
Davis William, carrier
Edwards Richard, stone-mason
Griffiths Edward, sawyer, Knuckin Heath
Griffiths Samuel, carpenter
Grindley George, farmer
Jones Thomas, shoemaker
Jones Thomas, farmer
Lloyd John, wheelwright, The Heath
Mansell John, farmer
EDGERLEY,
a scattered village and township in the parish of Kinnerley, three miles
and a quarter S. from Kinnerley church, contains 1383A. 0R. 9P. of land,
and in 1841 had a population of 265 souls and 64 houses. Rateable value,
£1,694, 4s. 8d. The rectorial tithes are commuted for £120. 18s. 4d.,
and the vicarial for £44. 9s. 9d. The following are the chief
landowners:—The Earl of Bradford, Mr. Thomas Bather, Mr. James Candlin,
E. H. Dymock, Esq., Mr. John Comberbach, Sir B. Leighton, Bart., Thomas
Mansell, Esq., Mr. Owens, Mr. Parker, Messrs. Rogers, Rev. William
Thomas, and others. George Edwards, Esq., is lord of the manor. PENTRE
is a small scattered hamlet, in the township of Edgerley, where is a
venerable ash tree of immense girth, remarkable as standing upon a site
where the dioceses of Hereford, Lichfield and Coventry, and St. Asaph,
all unite. It also marks the division of the parishes of Great Ness and
Kinnerley.
Croxen Richard Jones, Esq.
Davies Mrs. Elizabeth, Edgerley Hall
Davies John, farmer
Davies Richard R., butcher
Edwards Richard, tailor
Evans Robert, mason
Heatley E., Brookhouse farm
Higginson Saml., victualler, Royal Hill Inn
Hopkins Richard, gardener
Jones John, farmer and butcher
Jones Thomas, farmer
Jones William, farmer
Lloyd John, wheelwright
Lloyd Samuel, farmer
Newall Thomas, farmer
Owens Robert, farmer
Price Jeremiah, farmer
Pritchard Thomas, horse breaker
Rigley Smith, beerhouse & shopkeeper
Rodgers William, farmer
Roberts William, farmer
Williams John, bricklayer
Williams William, farmer & grazier
KYNASTON
is a small township, mostly an undulating district, with a fertile soil,
one mile and a half S.E. by S. from Kinnerley, and nine miles from
Oswestry. In 1841 here were 32 houses and 135 inhabitants. The township
contains 517A. 1R. 39P. of land, of which 245 acres are arable, 240
meadow, 11 woodland, and the remainder in gardens and homesteads. The
landowners are the Earl of Bradford, Mrs. Eleanor Bather, Rev. S. S.
Burroughs, Mr. John Candlin, John Hilton, Esq., Mr. William Duckett, Mr.
Thomas N. Parker, and Mrs. Thornes. The tithes were commuted in 1836,
when £11 was apportioned to the vicar, and £61 to the impropriators. The
Independents and the Primitive Methodists have each a small chapel in
this township. DIRECTORY.—Farmers: John Candlin, John Mansell, William
Probert, William Rodgers, and William Rodgers, jun. William Davies,
tailor.
MAESBROOK ISSA,
a township situated two miles S.W. by S. from Kinnerley, and seven and a
quarter miles from Oswestry, contains 864A. 3R. 28P. of land, and in 1841
had 19 houses and a population of 101 souls. Rateable value, £1,226.
17s. 2d. Of the land, 254A. 1R. 27P. are arable, 584A. 0R. 33P. rich
meadow land, and the remainder 24A. 2R. 12P. are in homesteads. The land
has an undulating surface, and the soil is a stiff loam, producing good
wheat and barley. The land owners are the Earl of Bradford, Mr. Richard
Bennett, Mr. R. J. Croxon, Mr. John Edmunds, Mr. John Frank, The Earl of
Liverpool, Mr. James Payne, Mr. Richard Savage, Mr. Hugh Skelhorn, the
executors of William Shuker, and the Vicar of Kinnerley. The Earl of
Bradford is lord of the manor. The vicarial tithes were commuted in 1845
for £25, and the large tithes for £103. 2s. 6d. The freeholders are the
impropriators. PENTREHEYLIN HALL, a delightfully situated residence
commanding beautiful views of the country, is the property of Richard
Jones Croxen, Esq., and residence of Mr. John Edwards. The farm premises
are spacious and admirably arranged. The cattle are chiefly stall fed;
there are stalls for feeding 90 head of cattle, besides accommodation for
upwards of fifty milk cows. The cheese made is of a superior quality.
Bennett Catherine, farmer
Brown Mrs. Elizabeth, Pentre Parva House
Brown Joseph, farmer
Davies John, farmer and corn miller
Edwards John, farmer, Pentreheylin
Edwards John and Sons, cattle dealers
Howells Samuel, wheelwright
Jones Edward, grocer, draper, and general provision dealer
Lloyd John, farmer, The Grove
Pritchard Samuel, farmer
Skelhorn Hugh, farmer
MAESBROOK UCHA