Oswestry, bounded on the east by the Shropshire union canal; there is a
wharf near the Queen’s Head Inn, not far from which the townships of
Ashton, Wooton, and Twyford converge. At the census of 1841 here were 29
houses and 162 inhabitants. The tithes are commuted for £167. 2s. 4d.,
the impropriators Mrs. Lloyd receives £136. 1s. 3d., and Lady Tyrwhitt
£19. To the vicar of Oswestry was also apportioned £12. 1s. 1d.
DIRECTORY.—_Farmers_: John Jones, Thomas Roberts, Thomas Williams, and
Wm. Windsor; Francis Dodd, beerhouse; John Evans, blacksmith; John James,
vict., Queen’s Head; John Jones, provision and coal dealer; Richard
Jones, shoemaker; Thomas Lacon, shoemaker; Edward Kynaston, wheelwright;
Richard Thomas, gamekeeper to Mrs. Lloyd.
* * * * *
RUYTON OF THE ELEVEN TOWNS is a parish, containing the six townships of
Cotton, Eardiston, Ruyton of the Eleven Towns, Shelvock, Shotatton, and
Wikey, all situated in the lower division of the hundred of Oswestry, and
altogether comprising an area of 3,991 acres of land. In 1801, the
number of inhabitants was 720; in 1831, 933; and in 1841, 1,083, and 216
houses. George Edwards, Esq. is lord of the manor. The soil is a
mixture of loam and sand, producing good wheat and barley. There is also
some fertile grazing land. The farms are in some instances of
considerable extent, and are provided with good houses and commodious
outbuildings.
RUYTON OF THE ELEVEN TOWNS
is a place of great antiquity, and though now considered as a village
only, it was formerly a borough of honourable account. “Edmund, Earl of
Arundel, in the 5th of Edward II., obtained a grant of a market on a
Wednesday at his manor of Ruiton, in the Marches of Wales, and a fair to
be kept yearly, on the eve of the day of St. John the Baptist, and for
three days following.” The charter is confirmed by Richard II. and Henry
VI., and grants that the burgesses may have certain customs and laws as
freely as the burgesses of Shrewsbury. Fairs are held the second Monday
in April, July 5th, and second Monday in November. The market has long
been obsolete. Ruyton is pleasantly situated two and a half miles west
from the Baschurch railway station, ten miles N.W. from Shrewsbury, and
nine miles S.E. from Oswestry. The township contains 1,717A. 3R. 22P. of
land, and in 1841 there were 142 houses and 658 souls. Rateable value,
£1,865. 4s. 5d. The land rises into bold swelling hills, thickly studded
with plantations, and watered by the river Perry. The following are the
freeholders in this township:—Samuel Bickerton, Esq.; Robert Broughton,
Esq.; Robert S. Comberbach; John Comberbach; George Davies; Edward
Davies; Mrs. Edwards; Rev. George Evans; Richard Griffiths; Thomas
Griffiths; David Hiles; Thomas Hall; the Hon. Ths. Kenyon; John Kough,
Esq.; Henry Kent; Edward Leeke; Miss Middleton; Saml. Minton; Richard
Minton; Robert Peel; John Price; William Rodgers; John Thomas; and John
Walford, Esq.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has been built at
different periods. The chancel is very ancient, and the tower is massive
and lofty. The south side of the fabric was built about the year 1696,
and the north side was re-built and enlarged in 1845, when 96 additional
sittings were obtained, which, in consequence of a grant from the
Incorporated Society for building and enlarging churches, the whole are
declared free and unappropriated for ever. Previous to the alterations
there were 294 sittings, of which 30 were free. The body of the church
has a double pitched roof, supported by lofty pointed arches, and the
ceiling is of dark oak, which gives the interior of the edifice a very
interesting appearance. There are several neat mural monuments to the
families of Kinaston, Hunt, Evans, and others. The Kinastons were
formerly numerous in the parish. In the churchyard are some fine tombs,
beautifully chiselled, remembering some of the principal families who
were formerly residents in the parish. The living is a vicarage, valued
in the King’s book at £5. 18s., now returned at £313. The patronage is
vested in the Lord Chancellor. Rev. George Evans, M.A., is the
incumbent, and resides at the vicarage, which is pleasantly situated on
an eminence. The tithes were commuted in 1839, when £94 was apportioned
to the vicar, and £105 to the impropriators. There are 44A. 1R. 11P. of
glebe land. THE NATIONAL SCHOOL, a good building, with a residence for
the teacher, was built in 1819, by subscription, and a grant of £60 from
the National Society. It is endowed with £438. 11s. 10d., of which £200
is secured on the Oswestry House of Industry, and £238. 11s. 10d. are
invested in government securities, Mrs. Margaret and Mrs. Anne Kinaston
gave the site, and left £20 towards the repairs of the school. THE
INDEPENDENTS have a neat chapel and a residence for the minister, built
in 1833. The congregation is under the pastoral care of the Rev. David
Harris. THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS have also a chapel here. There is a
small Lock-up in the village. The following are the principal houses in
the township:—RUYTON PARK, the residence of the Hon. Charles Nowell Hill;
the VILLA, a modern erection of brick, the residence of Robert Broughton,
Esq.; west from the church is the residence of R. S. Comberbach, Esq.;
the HALL, a pleasantly situated house with projecting gables, is occupied
by the Rev. L. Slater, the officiating minister; the residence and
boarding school of the Rev. David Harris, lies nearly a mile north-west
from the church; the residence of Samuel Harmon, Esq., is also a good
house.
POST OFFICE.—_At Mary Cooper’s_. Letters arrive from Shrewsbury at 9.45
A.M., and are despatched at 4 P.M.
Alexander Elizabeth, farmer
Benbow Joseph, vict., Admiral Benbow Inn
Bickerton Samuel, farmer, Park
Bickley Miss, dress maker
Broughton Robert, surgeon, The Villa
Bullock Richard, corn miller and baker
Brown John, farmer
Comberbach Charles, farmer
Comberbach John, corn miller, New Mills
Comberbach Robert Suker, Esq.
Comberbach Thomas R., grocer and draper
Cooper James and Mrs., National School teachers
Cooper Mary, postmistress
Cooper Sarah, farmer
Cooper William, saddler and harness maker
Cooper William, bailiff
Corden Thomas, farmer, The Lawn
Croft John M., surgeon, The Cottage
Davies George, shoemaker
Davies Robert, butcher
Evans Rev. George, M.A., The Vicarage
Evans Mrs., gentlewoman
Fisher Charles, inland revenue officer
Foulkes Joseph, joiner and cabinet maker
Foulkes Joseph, farrier and horse breaker
Griffiths David, blacksmith
Griffiths Richard, farmer
Griffiths Richard, maltster and shopkeeper
Harmon Samuel, Esq.
Harris Rev. David, boarding school
Harris John, farmer, The Hill
Hiles Richard, maltster
Hill Hon. Charles Nowell, Ruyton Park
Jones George, farmer
Jones John, wheelwright
Jones Mrs., dressmaker
Jones Robert, saddler and harness maker
Jones Robert, quarry master, Queen’s court
Leek Edward, shoemaker
Llawalling Mary, vict., Talbot Inn
Lloyd John and Son, blacksmiths
Maddocks Thomas, farmer
Minton Mr., assistant overseer
Minton Thomas Rowland, butcher
Minton William Rowland, machine manufacturer
Morris Edward, shoemaker
Morris John, shoemaker
Morris Thomas, farmer
Parry William, mason
Pickering Miss
Price John, brazier and painter
Price Mary, draper and bonnet maker
Price William, tailor and draper
Roberts John, farmer
Slater Rev. Leonard, M.A., The Hall
Stant Thomas, builder and contractor
Thomas John, bricklayer
Stokes Joseph, cooper and undertaker
Tanswell Henry, hairdresser
Taylor John, carrier to Shrewsbury
Tomlinson Edward, wheelwright
Tomlinson Edward, farmer
Tomlinson Miss, dress maker
Timmis Lydia, vict., Commercial Inn
Timmis Thomas, farmer and maltster
Timmis Thomas, jun., farmer, The Hill
Vaughan William, farmer, The Lodge
Wace Charles R., solicitor, office, Powis Arms
Wilde Robert M., tailor, Blackbow hill
COTTON
(usually called COTON), a small township, salubriously situated, one and
a quarter mile S.W. from Ruyton, contains 233A. 2R. 9P. of land, and at
the census of 1841 had one house and 14 inhabitants. Rateable value,
£181. 15s. 9d. The tithes were commuted in 1847, when £10. 15s. was
apportioned to the vicar, and £40 to the impropriator, George Edwards,
Esq. Mr. Thomas Thomas is the principal landowner, and occupies all the
land in the township.
EARDISTON,
a village pleasantly situated two and a half miles west from Ruyton,
contains some good residences. The township is bounded by the London and
Holyhead turnpike road, and has 705A. 0R. 25P. of land, the soil of which
is mostly a stiff loam, with a portion of sand. In 1841 here were 26
houses and 160 inhabitants. Rateable value, £977. 4s. 6d. The
landowners are the Hon. Thomas Kenyon; Thomas Basnett Oswell, Esq.; Mr.
Thomas Wilkinson; Mr. John Wilkinson; Mrs. Cureton; Mr. Menlove; and a
few smaller proprietors. The vicarial tithes were commuted for £61 in
1847, when £120 was apportioned to the impropriators. There is a school
here, where about thirty children attend. The Hon. Thomas Kenyon gives a
yearly sum of £15 towards the support of the school, in consideration of
which twenty children are taught free.
DIRECTORY.—The Hon. Thomas Kenyon, The Pradoe; William Dovaston, tailor;
John Edwards, farmer; Joseph Edwards, grocer and vict., Barley Mow;
Joseph Evans, jun., mole catcher; William Gydvill, butcher; John Jones,
farmer; Thomas Basnett Oswell, Esq., Eardiston House; John Pearce,
blacksmith; Thomas Williams, maltster and farmer; Thomas Wilkinson,
farmer.
SHELVOCK
township contains 324A. 3R. 30P. of land, and is situated two miles and a
quarter S.W. by W. from Ruyton. Buckley Owen, Esq., is the land owner
and impropriator. In 1841 here were two houses and sixteen inhabitants.
Rateable value, £341. 7s. 9d. The principal residents here are Buckley
Owen, Esq., John Morris, farmer, and John Hughes, farm bailiff and
woodranger to B. Owen, Esq.
SHOTATTON,
a scattered village in the parish of Ruyton, two miles and a quarter S.W.
by W. from the church, in 1841 had 14 houses and 84 inhabitants. The
township has 850A. 3R. 1P. of land, of which 730A. 1R. 37P. are arable,
101A. 1R. 6P. meadow, and 26A. 3R. 38P. are in woods and plantations.
The soil is of a light sandy nature. Rateable value, £748. 15s. 5d.
John Arthur Lloyd, Esq., owns the whole township. The tithes were
commuted in 1838, when £30. 18s. were apportioned to the Vicar of Great
Ness, £15. 9s. to the Vicar of Ruyton, £93 to the late Countess of
Bridgewater, £11. 17s. 6d. to R. A. Slaney, Esq., M.P., £33. 10s. to J.
A. Lloyd, Esq., and £1. 17s. 6d. to several smaller impropriators.
The principal residents are Samuel Bickerton, Esq.; Joseph Humphreys,
farmer, Handley Hall; Robert Lee, farmer; Robert Wall, farmer; Samuel and
Joseph Briscoe, blacksmiths and agricultural implement makers; Samuel
Briscoe, registrar for the Knockin district; and John Lloyd, wheelwright.
WIKEY, OR WYKEY,
a township, two miles west from Ruyton, has 869A. 1R. 38P. of land, 31
scattered houses, and 151 inhabitants. The soil is a mixture of peat and
loamy sand. Rateable value, £800. 4s. 3d. The landowners are John
Basnett, Esq.; Richard Oswell, Esq.; T. B. Oswell, Esq.; Mrs. Richards;
Mrs. Cureton; William Price, Esq.; and the devisees of the late Mr.
Humphreys. The tithes were commuted in 1847, when £50. 8s. were awarded
to the Vicar of Ruyton, £20 to John Basnett, £3. 10s. to Thomas B.
Oswell, Esq., £25 to William B. Oswell, Esq., and £25 to Richard B.
Oswell, Esq. The Chester and Shrewsbury railway intersects the township.
The residents are John Basnett, Esq., The Hall; John Humphreys, farmer;
Richard B. Oswell, Esq.; Thomas B. Oswell, Esq.; Edward Jones,
blacksmith; and William Morgan, shoemaker.
SELATTYN
is a parish on the N.W. verge of the county, bordering on Shropshire,
comprising the townships of Upper and Lower Porkington, and containing
5,437 acres of land. In 1801 the parish embraced a population of 701
souls; in 1831, 1,143; and in 1841 there were 241 houses and 1,128
inhabitants, of whom 556 were males, and 572 females. The village of
Selattyn lies on an acclivity, three miles N.N.W. from Oswestry, and
consists of a few detached houses near to the church. The rest of the
population reside in dwellings which are scattered throughout the parish.
To the north and west of the village, a bleak and mountainous district
stretches to the extremity of the county. The principal landowners are
William Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P.; Thos. George Warrington Carew, Esq.;
John Wynn Eyton, Esq.; John Povey, Esq.; Richard Henry Kinchant, Esq.;
Mrs. Lloyd; Richard Lewis, Esq.; Thos. Jones, Esq.; Thomas Lovett, Esq.;
Mr. John Williams; Mr. John Edwards; Mr. Richard Jones; Messrs. Gilpin
and Owen; and the trustees of Shrewsbury Grammar School; besides whom are
several other proprietors.
THE CHURCH is a plain cruciform structure, with a square tower, and is
dedicated to St. Mary. A small organ was added in 1847, at a cost of
£70. The Rev. Thomas Edwards, who died in the year 1800, is remembered
on a neat tablet. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at
£12. 9s. 7d., in the patronage of Mrs. Lloyd, and enjoyed by the Rev.
Albany Rosendale Lloyd, M.A. The tithes were commuted in 1840 for £813.
James Wildig, one of the assembly of divines, and the Rev. Henry
Sacheverall, D.D., remarkable for their different principles, were
rectors of Selattyn. A CHAPEL OF EASE, dedicated to St. Barnabas, was
opened for divine service on June 11th, 1850, at Hengoed. It is a small
edifice, in the early English style, with nave and chancel, and has a
chaste and neat appearance. The cost of the structure was about £500,
which was raised by subscription, to which the rector was a liberal
contributor. The Rev. Thomas Lewis Lewis is the officiating minister.
Previous to the erection of this chapel there was a small place of
worship here, which has since been converted into a school, where about
fifty children are educated. THE FREE or PAROCHIAL SCHOOL is situated a
short distance from the parish church, where about 100 boys are educated.
There is also a girls’ school, where 40 children are instructed. Mr.
William Cullis, the teacher, is writing master to the juvenile branches
of the royal family, and has published a small school book, which has had
a large circulation. (For the endowment, see “_Charities_.”) The
village is supplied with an abundance of excellent water, by means of a
_Water Ram Fountain_, which was placed on the road side, at the sole
expense of the rector, in the year 1847. The water is brought from a
distance of about 1,000 feet, and rises 100 feet in perpendicular height.
There are lime works on the western verge of the parish. About half a
mile W. by N. from the church is a tower, upon the lofty summit of a
hill, which is a conspicuous object for many miles. It was built by the
Rev. Gerald Carew, and has the following inscription:—
GORSEDD ORWYNION.
It is recorded in the poems of the aged Prince and Bard,
Llywarch-hen,
that in the 7th century, from
this spot he saw his son Gwen slain in a battle
between the Britons and Saxons, on the brook Morlas below.
Oedd gwr-vy-mâb oedd ddysgywen hawl
Ar ryd Vorlâs-y-llass Gwen.
A sepulchral urn, containing bones, was found underneath this tower, A.D.
1847.
From the tower a most beautiful panoramic view of the fertile plains of
Shropshire is seen towards the south-east, and in the opposite direction
the bold and picturesque scenery of the counties of Denbigh and
Montgomery open to view. PORKINGTON, the seat of William Ormsby Gore,
Esq., M.P., lies about a mile N.W. from Oswestry. This plane takes its
name from _Brogyntyn_, an old castle of the Welsh princes, which stood in
the neighbouring grounds, and was surrounded by a deep fosse, which may
still be traced. Porkington is a Grecian edifice, with an elegant
portico. The park is extensive, and has a fine undulating surface,
richly adorned with timber, and the prospects are extensive, varied, and
beautiful. PENTRE-PANT HALL is a handsome residence, in a sequestered
situation about two miles south from Selattyn; the hall is elegantly
furnished, and the grounds beautifully wooded. It is the property of
Thomas George Warrington Carew, Esq., and residence of the Rev. Gerald
Carew. THE DERWEN is a neat house, S.E. from Selattyn, the residence and
property of John Povey, Esq. THE RECTORY is a pleasantly situated house,
a little south from the church.
CHARITIES.—_John Hanmer_, D.D., bishop of St. Asaph, by will, 1628, gave
the inheritance and fee-simple of his tenement in Selattyn to the use of
the poor of the parish.
_Charles Morris_, in 1721, bequeathed £500 in trust, and directed the
amount to be laid out in the purchase of lands, and out of the yearly
proceeds thereof 20s. to be paid yearly for a sermon on Candlemas-day,
and the residue to be employed for the maintenance of the poor charity
children and other poor persons of this parish. The legacy was laid out
in the purchase of land soon after the death of the testator, but there
are no title deeds now to be found in the parish relating thereto, and
that it is so intermixed with the property devised by Bishop Hanmer that
it would now be difficult to distinguish them. The whole estate consists
of 53A. 3R., including 18 acres of allotment, and about one rood of
ground, obtained by exchange with Mr. John Edwards. The estate produces
£60. 5s. per annum, to which is added 4s. yearly, the moiety of rent due
to this parish from certain land left by J. R. Powell. There is a school
and school-house on the premises, devised by Bishop Hanmer, the former of
which was built in 1812. The Rev. G. N. K. Lloyd, the rector,
contributed £100 towards this building, on condition that he, and the
successors to his property in this parish, should have the privilege of
sending to the school six poor children resident in, though not belonging
to, the parish, to be taught free. The school at Hengoed was built upon
land given by G. H. Carew, Esq., principally at the expense of the
rector, who gave £200, expressly upon the condition that the children of
all poor residents in the parish should be admitted to both the schools.
_Colonel Owen_ charged certain lands, which now form part of the
Porkington estate, with the payment of £6 yearly to the poor of this
parish. A yearly sum of £10 is now paid by Mrs. Gore to the rector, who
distributes the amount in sums varying from 5s. to 10s.
_Mrs. Margaret Ormsby_, by her will, dated 25th February, 1805, requested
those who should succeed her in the Porkington estate, to distribute £20
annually among poor persons in the neighbourhood. In compliance with
this request, the daughter of the testatrix gives £20 yearly among the
most deserving poor.
Carew Rev. Gerald, Pentre-pant Hall
Cullis William, schoolmaster
Drury Richard, farmer, Mardon
Edwards Mr. John, Tower hill
Edwards John, farmer, Fron
Edwards Richard, farmer, Pentre
David Edwards Richard, farmer, Underhill
Edwards Richard, corn miller, Oak Mill
Evans John, farmer, Paradwys
Evans John, farmer, Ty-cock
Fenna Richard, farmer, Gyrn
Gore William Ormsby, Esq., M.P., Porkington Hall
Hales Sarah, farmer, Cerny-bwch
Harding Mr. Frederick, Fron Lodge
Holland James, carpenter, builder & farmer, Peny-bont
Hughes Edward, farmer, Park Farm
Jackson George, farmer and butcher, Pentre-clawdd
Jones Isaac, blacksmith, Pant-glass
Jones John, farmer, Birch House
Jones John, farmer, Forrest
Jones John, farmer, Five Cross Lanes
Jones John, blacksmith, Pentrewerne
Jones John, wheelwright
Jones Thomas, farmer, White House
Kenrick Elizabeth, vict., Hart and Trumpet
Lewis Mrs. Letitia
Lewis Margaret, shopkeeper
Lewis Richard, farmer, Pentrewerne Cottage
Lewis Rev. Thomas Lewis, curate, Hengoed
Lloyd Mrs. Ann, Nant Issa
Lloyd Rev. Albany Rosendale, M.A., Rectory
M’Kie W. H., agent to W. O. Gore, Esq., Scybar Issa
Meredith Humphrey, farmer, Pentre David
Morgan George, farmer, Springs
Morgan Joseph, farmer, Tyng-drain
Newstead Mary, school teacher, Hengoed
Nicholas Thomas, parish clerk, assistant overseer, and collector of
assessed taxes
Peate Robert, farmer, Pentre clawdd
Povey John, Esq., The Derwen
Roberts Edward, farmer
Roberts John, maltster & vict., Cross Keys
Roberts Robert, shopkeeper
Sands Hugh, farmer, Cross lanes
Sands Thomas, farmer, Craignant
Thomas David, farmer, Llawry-pant, Ucha
Thomas John, corn miller
Thomas John, farmer, Penrhos
Thompson Thomas, farmer, Crown house
Vaughan Edward, farmer, Nantucha
Williams David, farmer, Pentrewerne
Williams Edmund & Thos., corn millers
Williams Richard, farmer, New Barn
Williams Samuel, farmer, Fron
Williams George, farmer, Grouse Lodge
Williams Peter, farmer, Selattyn Lodge
Williams Richard, blacksmith & beerhouse
Whitehurst John, Esq., Marddu
Wynn William Williams Edward, Esq., Sion House
SYCHTYN
is a township in the parish of Llansilin, with a scattered population, in
a bleak and mountainous district, five miles S.S. by W. from Oswestry.
The rest of this parish is included in the county of Denbigh. The
township contains 1,414 acres of land, and in 1841 had 55 houses and 251
inhabitants. Rateable value, £907. 1s. 6d. The principal landowners are
Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart.; John Wynn Eyton, Esq.; the Earl of Liverpool;
Thomas Fitzhough, Esq.; Richard Morris, Esq.; and Messrs. Poole and
Haslam. The Earl of Powis is lord of the manor. The tithes have been
commuted, and £96. 15s. awarded to the Bishop of St. Asaph, to whom
Robert Owen Tudor, Esq., is the lessee; £2 to the vicar of Llansilin, and
£1. 7s. to the parish clerk of Llansilin. There are extensive limestone
quarries in this township, and large quantities are annually burnt into
lime, and used for agricultural purposes. The Independents and Welsh
Methodists have each a small chapel in this township.
Davies Edward, farmer
Davies Edward, collector of rates
Davies Evan, farmer
Davies Richard, farmer
Edwards Edward, farmer
Griffiths John, farmer
Hughes Margaret, farmer
Jones Edward, lime burner and victualler, New Inn
Jones John, farmer and lime burner
Morris Richard, Esq., Pentre-cefn
Rees John, butcher
Richards Hugh, farmer and lime burner
Roberts Thomas, blacksmith
Roberts William, farmer
Rodenhurst John, farmer
Tudor Thomas, farmer
Williams John, farmer
* * * * *
WEST FELTON
parish includes the townships of West Felton, Haughton, Rednall,
Sandford, Sutton, Tedsmore, Twyford, and Woolston, together comprising
5,989A. 2R. 9P. of land, the soil of which is a mixture of sand and loam.
The meadows produce a fine herbage, and being intersected by the river
Perry, which, frequently overflowing its banks, and covering hundreds of
acres, produces the greatest fertility and luxuriance. In 1801 the
parish contained 926 inhabitants; in 1831, 1,093; and in 1841, 1,087.
Rateable value, £8,314. 14s. George Edwards, Esq., is lord of the manor.
The tithes were commuted in 1838 for the sum of £1,008.
WEST FELTON
is a well built village and township, intersected by the Holyhead and
London turnpike road, five miles S.E. from Oswestry and thirteen N.W.
from Shrewsbury. In the village are some good houses, and the immediate
vicinity is a rich farming district, in which are scattered several neat
villa residences. The township contains 800A. 3R. 15P. of productive
arable and pasture land, having a loamy soil with a mixture of sand. In
1841 here were 43 houses and 214 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,285.
10s. The principal landowners are John Freeman Dovaston, Esq.; Rev.
Peter George Bentley; Edward Frank, Esq.; Thomas Frank, Esq.; Rev. Thomas
Hunt; executors of the late R. L. Murray, Esq.; Mrs. Duckett; Mr. Richard
Fardoe; Mr. John Brookfield; George Withers Edwards, Esq.; Mr. John
Hopkin; Mr. Edward Rodgers; and Messrs. Sides.