proceeds to be expended in bread, and distributed every Sabbath day for
ever. The land devised, in eluding an allotment awarded in 1781,
consists of 11A. 0R. 36P., and is let at a yearly rent of £12.
_Walter Rogers_, in 1685, left a rent charge of 40s. per annum, issuing
out of land called Bryn Rhig. The amount is expended in flannel, and
given away on St. Thomas’s day.
_Elizabeth Lloyd_, by will, 1696, bequeathed £200 to be laid out in the
purchase of land, the yearly rent to be divided among twelve of the
poorest families of the township of Whittington. It appears this sum was
placed out at interest, and the principal and interest in 1837 amounted
to £350, which sum was laid out in the purchasing of a rent charge of £14
per annum, issuing out of a farm in Whittington.
_Robert Conway_, in 1727, charged his lands in the parish of St. Martin
with the payment of 20s. yearly, for the benefit of the poor of
Whittington parish. The particulars of Sir Nathaniel Lloyd’s charity
will be found noticed with Oswestry.
_Mrs. Frances_ has recently left £200, the interest to be divided among
six poor widows of Whittington and Dudleston in equal proportions. The
amount is invested in the three per cent. stock.
Broughall Mrs. Elizabeth
Broughall Mrs. Sarah, Penny-bryn
Broughall Thomas, Esq., The Castle
Hargreaves Mr. James, horse trainer
Jones John, station master
Kinchant Richard Henry, Esq., Park Hall
Lloyd Rev. Charles Arthur Albany, M.A., The Rectory
Lunt Mrs.
Peate Mr. Richard
Perkins Francis, post office
Thomas Mrs., Rose hill
Woods Rev. Robert M‘Clure, curate
Yates Richard, valuer and land surveyor, The Mount
Academies.
Jones Eliza
Roberts William Henry
Spencer John
Blacksmiths.
Briscoe John
Tudor John
Boot & Shoemakers.
Bickley Joseph
Grinley Joseph
Lea Richard, & rate collector
Butchers.
Haycock Thomas
Llewelyn John
Carpenters, &c.
Bowyer William
Griffiths John (wheelwright)
Mansell Edward
Marsh John
Nicholas Samuel
Farmers.
Davies David
Davies Robert
Holland George
Hughes Edward Foulkes, Park Farm
Jervis George
Jones Edward, Perry Moor
Jones Rd., Tinkers’ Green
Jones Thos., Brabins’ Wood
Munslow Rd., & maltster
Ward John, Donnet Farm
Inns & Taverns.
Boot Inn, George Jervis
Lion, Ann Venables
Beerhouses.
Davies David
Evans Nathaniel
Shopkeepers.
Davies John, and saddler and harness maker
French Ann
Parry Elizabeth
Venables Elizabeth
Watkin Henry
Tailors.
Price Richard
Williams Richard
BERGHILL
is a small township two and a half miles east from Whittington,
comprising 688 acres of land, and had in 1841 six houses and 46
inhabitants. Rateable value, £592. 8s. 6d. Edmund Wright, Esq., of
Halston, is the owner of the land in this township, which is intersected
by the river Perry and the Shropshire union canal.
_The Farmers_ are Jonathan Grindley, Thomas Jones, Thomas Lee, John
Morris, and Thomas Evans Thomas; Charles Sykes, gamekeeper to E. Wright,
Esq.
DAYWELL
is a village and township two and a half miles north from Oswestry, and
two and a half miles N.N.W. from Whittington, having in 1841 71 houses
and 328 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,212. 4s. 6d. There are 1,134A.
2R. 18P. of land in the township, of which Joseph Venables Lovett, Esq.,
is a considerable owner; the other principal owners are John Wynn Eyton,
Esq., Rev. E. Edwards, Mr. Joseph Bickerton, Mr. John Gardener, and Mr.
Robins. The celebrated Watts Dyke makes its appearance at Gabowen in
this township, and may be traced from thence into the parish of St.
Martin. The extent between this dyke and Dyke Offa’s, which crosses the
hills above Selattyn, is about four miles. The intervening space between
these dykes is said to have been a common mart, where the English and
Welsh met to carry on commercial intercourse with each other; but if
either party transgressed these bounds, they were exposed to the
severities of war. Upon Watts Dyke at a place called Bryna Castle, near
to Gabowen, is the site of an old _Watchfort_, and another a little
further on towards St. Martin’s. BRYNA CASTLE consists of a few cottages
a quarter of a mile N.E. from Gabowen; here the Independents built a
small chapel in the year 1831. BELMONT is a delightfully situated
mansion in a fine park, the seat and property of J. V. Lovett, Esq. At
GABOWEN there is a railway station on the Shrewsbury and Chester line of
rails, which is 18 miles N.N.W. from Shrewsbury, and 24 miles S.E. from
Chester. There is also a branch railway from here to Oswestry. UPPER
HENGOED is a scattered district of houses at the north extremity of the
township. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel here, built in 1839.
_Those with * affixed reside at Upper Hengoed_.
Bickerton Joseph, farmer, Rose Cottage
Cartwright Eli, shopkeeper
* Cound Thomas, shoemaker
Edwards David, farmer, Preese Henlle
Evans Thomas, farmer
Figg Francis Fowler, station master, Gabowen
Furmstone Mrs. Amelia, Rose Cottage
Gardener John, farmer, Bark House
Haycock Thomas, farmer
Howell Thomas, farmer
Jones Thomas, farmer
Jones Thomas, shopkeeper
Lovett Joseph Venables, Esq., Belmont
Morgan Richard, shoemaker
* Morris Thomas, maltster
* Phillips Mrs. Mary, Stone Cottage
Philips Philip, tailor
Price John, maltster and vict., Cross Foxes, Gabowen
Roberts Edward, farmer, Pentre Kenrick
Stewart Mrs. Alexander
Taylor Mr. Peter Poole, Green Bank Cottage
* Weston Edward, beerhouse keeper
Weston Owen, farmer
Williams Edward, farmer
EBNALL
township contains 1,033A. 2R. 32P. of land, and is situated four miles
N.N.E. from Oswestry, and twenty-three and a quarter miles north from
Whittington; in 1841 here were 51 scattered houses and 240 inhabitants.
Rateable value, £1,000. 2s. The principal landowners are John Venables
Lovett, Esq.; Thomas Broughall, Esq.; Thomas George Warrington Carew,
Esq.; Mr. Robins, Mrs. Ann Owen, Mr. Edward Griffiths, and others, are
also proprietors.
_The Farmers_ are James Boodle, William Croft, Prees Henlle; Josiah
Holland, Ann Owen, Elizabeth Owen, John Owen, Mary Price, and William
Woollam; Thomas Davies, carpenter and wheelwright; John Eaton,
blacksmith; Mr. Edward Griffith, Moor Wharf Cottage; John Jones,
shoemaker.
FERNHILL,
a small township one and a quarter mile north from Whittington, contains
274A. 3R. 4P. of land, and in 1841 had nine houses and 65 inhabitants.
Rateable value, £265. 18s. Thomas Lovett, Esq., is sole proprietor in
this township, and resides at FERNHILL HALL, a neat mansion of free
stone, which stands on the knoll of a hill, and commands some beautiful
views of the surrounding country; the hall is surrounded with pleasure
grounds and shrubberries, and the park is beautifully wooded with
thriving plantations. The river Perry flows through this township; it is
formed of several small streams which have their rise in the high grounds
of Selattyn, and have their confluence in this township.
The principal residents are Thomas Lovett, Esq., Fern Hill Hall; Edmund
Edmunds, farmer; William Broughall, farmer; and Richard Edwards, corn
miller, Oak Mill.
FRANKTON,
commonly called WELSH FRANKTON, is situated three miles east from
Whittington; the township contains 931A. 1R. 14P. of land, and in 1841
here were 54 houses and 275 persons. Rateable value, £85. 14s. 6d. The
chief land owners are Edmund Wright, Esq., Thomas Broughall, Esq.; Joseph
Dutton, Esq.; William Francis Oswell, Esq.; Mr. Landford and Mr. Thomas
Danily. The high grounds in this township command a most extensive and
delightful view of the fertile plains of Shropshire. A small chapel of
ease stands on the road side leading from Oswestry to Ellesmere; there is
a school adjoining, and a little higher up the road near the summit of
the hill is a neat Independent chapel. The Shropshire union canal takes
its course on the eastern verge of this township, where there are four
locks, and a fall of about forty feet.
DIRECTORY.—_Farmers_, Thomas Danily, William Drury, John Nicholas,
Stephen Walley; William Edwards, beerhouse and shopkeeper; Elizabeth
Hodnet, schoolmistress; William Jenks, boat builder; William Francis
Oswell, Esq.; Edward Teggin, blacksmith; Thomas Teggin, beerhouse keeper;
Thomas Williams, provision dealer.
HENLLE,
usually called HENTLEY, is situated one mile and a half north from
Whittington, and four and a half miles N.E. from Oswestry. The township
is returned as having nine houses, 43 inhabitants, and 396A. 1R. 13P. of
land. Rateable value, £340. 9s. 6d. The land owners are Thomas Lovett,
Esq.; Mr. John Duckett, Mr. John Jones, and Mr. Thomas Hughes.
_Farmers_, Thomas Brookfield, John Danily, and maltster, Edward Davies,
and Walter Munslow; Mr. John Duckett is also a resident here.
HINDFORD,
a small township with 196A. 2R. 10P. of land, lies a little more than a
mile north from Whittington, and has 20 houses and 91 inhabitants.
Rateable value, £241. 1s. 6d. Edmund Wright, Esq., and Mr. Broughall are
the principal proprietors. The Chester and Shrewsbury railway intersects
the township, and is crossed by a bridge on the road leading to Old
Marton.
The resident farmers are Edward Edwards, William Jackson, and Thomas
Parry; William Jackson, butcher.
OLD MARTON
township, three miles N.E. from Whittington, has four houses, 23
inhabitants, and 496A. 2R. 3P. of land, which is the property of Richard
James Griffiths, Esq., Rev. George Salt, and Mr. Jones. Mr. John
Pridden, who was born at Old Marton Hall, was one of the many instances
in which integrity and perseverance have introduced their votaries to
ease and affluence. His father dying when he was only twelve years old,
and his mother marrying again, he was subjected to the most unmerciful
and cruel treatment of a step-father. Having endured his unmerited
sufferings for several years, he bade adieu to his unpropitious home, and
arrived in London in March, 1748, where he soon found protectors in Mr.
Nourse and Mr. Manley, the latter of whom he succeeded in business as a
bookseller, where he soon found himself supported by a numerous and
respectable set of friends, and eventually rose to wealth and affluence.
To do good was his delight; to communicate happiness to all around him
was his unceasing aim. He died in 1807, and left two sons and three
daughters.
The resident farmers in Old Marton are Thomas Brayne, Stephen Burrows,
and Amelia Jones.
PIMHILL HUNDRED.
The Hundred Pimhill is bounded on the north by Flintshire, on the west by
the Oswestry Hundred, on the east by the Albrighton division and the
Bradford Hundred, and on the south by the Hundred of Ford and the
Albrighton division. The population of this hundred in 1801 was 11,874;
the number of inhabited houses 2,112. In 1841 there was a population of
11,857 souls, of whom 5,900 were males., and 5,857 females. At the same
period there were 2,297 inhabited houses, 48 uninhabited, and 10 houses
building. This hundred comprehends the Baschurch and Ellesmere
divisions. The former contains the following townships and chapelries,
viz., Alderton, Baschurch, Birch, Boreatton or Bratton, Ensdon, Eyton,
Felton Butler, Fennemere, Hopton, Kinton, Merehouse, Montford, Ness
Cliff, Ness Great, Ness Little, Newtown, Petton, Prescott, Shrawardine,
Stanwardine-in-the-Fields, Stanwardine-in-the-Wood, Walford, Weston
Lullingfield, Wilcott, and Yeaton.
The Ellesmere division contains Balderton, Birch and Lythe, Burlton,
Cockshutt and Crosemere, Colemere, Crickett, Criftins, Dudleston,
Eastwick, Ellesmere, Elson and Greenhill, Frankton, Hampton Welsh,
Hampton Wood, Hardwick, Hordley, Kenwick Stockett and Whattall, Kenwicks
Park, Kenwicks Wood, Lee, Lineal, Loppington, Marton, Middle, New Marton,
Newnes, Newton, Noneley, Northwood, Oteley, Newton and Spoonhill, Sleap
(part of), Stocks and Coptiviney, Tetchill, Trench.
BASCHURCH
is a respectable village, pleasantly situated about half a mile west of
the Baschurch railway station, and eight miles N.W. from Shrewsbury. The
parish contains the several townships of Baschurch, Birch, Boreatton,
Eyton, Fennemere, Merehouse, Newtown, Prescott,
Stanwardine-in-the-Fields, Stanwardine-in-the-Wood, Walford, Weston and
Yeaton, which together have an area of 10,758 acres of land. Rateable
value, £11,470. 11s. 6d. Population in 1801, 1,059; in 1831, 1,321; and
in 1841, 1,491. Baschuch is a place of great antiquity. Cynddylan, the
British prince, slain at Whittington by the Saxons, about the year 570,
was interred here. The parish church is one of the eighteen churches
found in the county at the Doomsday survey, at which time Baschurch was
the head of a hundred. About a mile from the village is a remarkable
British fortress, or hold, the remains of which are very distinct, and an
object of great attraction to the antiquary. It consists of two
positions, one a natural eminence about forty-five feet high, surrounded
at the bottom by a circular vallum; the other an elliptical entrenchment,
on which more pains have been bestowed, very much lower than the other,
and perfect on three sides, the fourth being open, and apparently
extended into a wider and more irregular form. The vallum of this
elliptical entrenchment, where it faces the eminence described above, is
thrice the height of any other part of it. These two positions are
surrounded, on one side by a deep pool, on the other sides by an
extensive tract of black peaty soil, which was probably at an early
period covered with water. The works are connected by a low road, made,
by incredible labour, of small stones heaped together; and both are
connected with the main land by a similar road leading across the morass
in a curve. If this road was covered with water, as probably it was to
the depth of a few inches, strangers would not know where it was; and the
loftier fortress had a farther defence in an interruption of the roads,
which do not reach all the way to it, but cease within a few feet of the
point of juncture, and thus act as a kind of rude draw-bridge, where
those in the fortress might lay down a plank for those without to pass
over. At the point where this interruption of the road exists, was
evidently the road into the fort, which is there defended by two
outworks; one on each side. It was in this fastness that Cynddylan,
imitating his aboriginal forefathers, who fortified themselves in woods
and marshes, sought an asylum after his expulsion from Pengwern
(Shrewsbury). No reason can be assigned why he should be buried at
Baschurch, but that his residence was in the immediate vicinity.
THE CHURCH is an ancient structure, dedicated to All Saints, and consists
of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a square tower, in which are four
bells. There is a gallery at the west end, upon which is a fine-toned
organ. The south side of the church was built about the year 1615, and
the north side in the year 1790. It contains several handsome tablets
and memorials to some of the principal families in the neighbourhood; one
of which, a handsome pyramidal monument of elegant and costly
workmanship, executed in marble, records the death of William Basnett,
Esq., of London, a native of Baschurch, whose nephew and adopted heir,
William Birch, assumed the name of Basnett. Another memorial remembers
Rowland Hunt, Esq., and there are others to the Preslands, Slaneys,
Mucklestons, and Corbets. There is an ancient Bible chained to the
reading desk. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King’s book at
£10. 16s., in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and enjoyed by the
Rev. William Jones. The church stands on the site of a former edifice,
which was burnt down in the year 1404. Divine service was performed in
the Manor House, at Walford, till a new church was built. A stone in the
churchyard remembers William Green, who died at the age of ninety years;
and about fifteen years ago Mrs. Jones Hill Green died at the age of
ninety-nine years. The tithes were commuted in 1844 for £285. The
vicarage is a good residence, pleasantly situated, and stands a little
east from the church. It has been considerably improved by the present
incumbent
NEWTOWN may be considered to form a part of Baschurch. It is a separate
township, situated between the railway station and the village, the
Shrewsbury and Chester railway intersecting the eastern side of the
township. In 1841 here were 25 houses and 131 inhabitants. There are
two neat and capacious schools at Newtown, and a preparatory school at
Weston, supported from the funds of Mrs. Harris’s charity. In
consequence of the advantages of gratuitous education, the village is
constantly improving. The salubrity of the air, the facilities of
railway communication, and the general order and quiet retirement, render
it a desirable place for the erection of villa residences. A commodious
inn has recently been built at the railway station, which is conducted by
Mr. Thomas Wilkinson. A market has been established on Friday, for the
sale of corn, butter, and poultry, which is held near the railway
station. There is a bowling green at the Admiral Duncan, and a female
benefit society, which is well supported. Rowland Hunt, Esq., is lord of
the manor. The principal landowners are the lord of the manor; the Rev.
William Jones; Robert A. Slaney, Esq., M.P.; Richard Edwards, Esq.;
Frederick Edwards, Esq.; Edward Edwards, Esq.; William Sparling, Esq.;
Mary Pickstock; and others are also proprietors. The soil is a mixture
of gravel and loam, highly productive, and about one half may be
considerable arable. The river Perry divides Baschurch from Ruyton, and
skirts Boreatton Park.
CHARITIES.—_Eleanor Harris_, by will, bearing date 17th May, 1709,
devised certain land and tenements, at Stanwardine-in-the-Fields, in
trust, to pay certain annuities therein mentioned, and to dispose of the
residue for the providing of schooling for the boys and girls of such of
the lowest rank of inhabitants within the parish of Baschurch as should
not be able to give them a proper schooling; and she directed that such
children should be taught to read and spell well, and to write fair hands
and cast accounts, so as to fit the boys for ordinary trades; and that
when the profits of the trust estate should be sufficient her trustees
should apply a reasonable part thereof for putting out the boys
apprentices, and for providing portions for the girls, to be given them
on marriage; and she further directed that her trustees should pay yearly
20s. to the officiating minister of the parish for a sermon in the
church, on the afternoon of the Sunday next after the anniversary of her
death, at which time she desired such minister to declare publicly the
principal directions of her will, to the intent that the same might never
be concealed or suppressed; and that the trustees should lay out 20s. for
a dinner for themselves. The property belonging this charity consists of
267A. 2R. 36P. of land and certain houses, besides 7A. 2R. 31P., which
was planted about fifty years ago with oaks, and the school premises,
consisting of 1A. 1R. 32P., at Newtown. When the Charity Commissioners
published their report the yearly income amounted to £323. 10s. The boys
are taught reading, writing, and accounts, and the girls reading and
needlework. They are all supplied with every article of clothing, except
linen, once a year, and with books and all school requisites; and they
are permitted to remain in the school till they are of sufficient age to
go out to service, or to be bound apprentice. When the children go out
to service they receive a complete suit of clothing, and a Bible and a
Prayer Book; and if they continue in the same place with credit for five
years, they receive a gratuity of £3; and if for seven years, £5. In
this respect no difference is made between the boys and girls. The boys
are occasionally placed out apprentice, with a premium of £6 each.
Nothing is paid out of the fund for marriage portions. There is also a
dame school supported out of the funds, for teaching the younger children
of poor persons residing at Weston. The present trustees are R. A.
Slaney, Esq., M.P.; William Matthews, Esq.; Richard Wall, Esq.; and Mr.
John Jebb.
_Thomas Baker_, in 1839, gave a rent charge of £4 per annum, to be
expended in bread, and given to the poor of the parish on Sundays for
ever.
_Edward Tomkies_, by will, in 1771, bequeathed to the poor of the parish
of Baschurch £100. The interest to be laid out in sixpenny loaves of
good bread, and given to the poor over and above their usual allowance on
Christmas days and Easter Sundays.
_Richard Wilkins_ gave £20, the interest to be distributed by the vicar
and churchwardens to such poor people as should not receive relief.
_Rev. John Barnet_ gave £20, and directed the interest to be distributed
to the poor.
A yearly sum of £4. 11s. 2d. is paid to a schoolmaster, as the interest
of £114 in the hands of R. Hunt, Esq. It does not appear from whose
benefaction this money was derived; but it appears it was formerly laid
out on turnpike security, with £130 belonging to two other charities,
making altogether £244; which sum was afterwards placed in the hands of
R. Hunt, Esq.
_Sarah Atcherley_ gave £30 to the poor, the interest to be given in bread
on Christmas days.
_Thomas Presland_, in 1779, gave £20, the interest to be distributed
yearly to poor distressed housekeepers.
POST OFFICE.—_At Mr. John Morris’s_. Letters arrive at 8.45 A.M., and
are despatched at 4 45 P.M.
_Those marked_ 1 _reside at Baschurch_; 2 _New town_; 3 _Railway
Station_.
1 Birch Edward, Esq., The Hall
2 Birch Miss M. A., boarding school
1 Buckley and Davies, milliners and bonnet makers
1 Carr William, tailor
2 Crookenden Mrs., schoolmistress
1 Davies Richard, baker and parish clerk
3 Haycock Robert, agent to the Brymbo Company, dealer in coal, lime,
slate, &c.
1 Hinksman John, shoemaker
2 Humphreys Mary, provision dealer
2 Jebb John, station master
2 Jones Joseph, farmer and maltster
2 Jones Joseph, butcher
2 Jones Mary, farmer
2 Jones Thomas, farmer
2 Jones William P. schoolmaster, and collector of rates
1 Jones Rev. William, The Vicarage
1 Leek Thomas, wheelwright
1 Matthews William, farmer
2 Morris Charles, licensed to let post horses
3 Morris Charles, agent to Mr. Ward for the Black Park Coal, dealer in
lime, slate, &c.
1 Morris John, grocer and innkeeper
2 Mullinex John, blacksmith
2 Oliver Joseph, shoemaker
1 Pickstock Henry, farmer
1 Poole Edward, tailor
2 Poole Sarah, beerhouse-keeper
1 Pugh John, shoemaker
1 Pugh Thomas, farmer
1 Roberts Thomas, blacksmith
1 Simpson John, joiner and builder
2 Throckmorton J. Esq.
1 Thomas John, shoemaker
3 Thomas William, agent to G. Young for the Cefn coal, and dealer in lime
and bricks, &c.
3 Wilkinson Thomas, victualler, Station Inn and Posting House, and
Admiral Duncan Inn
BIRCH
is a small township in the parish of Baschurch, two miles N.W. from the
Baschurch Railway Station, which in 1841 was returned as containing two
houses and twenty-two inhabitants. The river Perry divides this township
from Ruyton, and is skirted on the east by Boreatton Park. Rowland Hunt,
Esq., is the landowner, and lord of the manor. The township contains 432
acres of land. Rateable value, £439. The Birch Park farm is occupied by
John Vaughan.
BOREATTON, OR BRATTON,
is a township pleasantly situated nine miles and a half N.W. by N. from
Shrewsbury, and about two miles from the Baschurch Railway Station. In
1841 there were seven houses and 32 inhabitants. (The acres are given
with the parish.) Rateable value, £708. 5s. The soil is of a superior
quality, producing good wheat and barley. Large flocks of sheep are kept
in this neighbourhood. BOREATON HALL, an elegant mansion of brick in the
Elizabethan style of architecture, is the seat and property of Rowland
Hunt, Esq. The mansion is approached by a handsome portico of free
stone, supported by four circular pillars. The grounds are tastefully
laid out with pleasure grounds and shrubberies; and the Park, though not
of great extent, is richly wooded, and beautified with some fine avenues
of beech and other trees.