to be distributed to the poor of Great Ness for the first three years,
and the fourth year to the poor of Kinnerley, and so on in rotation from
four years to four years. This gift and £5 in the hands of the parish
officers was laid out in the purchase of a piece of land in Melverley,
which now produces a yearly rent of £1. 10s.
_William Phillip_ left a rent-charge of 5s. yearly, to be distributed
among twenty poor housekeepers. The sum of 5s. is paid yearly to the
churchwardens of Great Ness, as charged upon the Plough Inn, at
Wellington, by Mr. Leeke, the owner of those premises.
DIRECTORY.—Thomas Justice Bather, Esq.; Rev. Henry Calverley Cotton;
George Edwards, Esq., the Hall; James Jones, gentleman. _Farmers_:
William Davies, grazier, William Hughes, Samuel Smith, John Sides, John
Wildblood. Thomas Davies, butcher.
ALDERTON
is a small township one and a half mile from Great Ness, having one
house, 13 inhabitants, and 196A. 3R. 10P. of land, with an undulating
surface and light sandy soil. The Earl of Powis is lord of the manor,
and sole proprietor. The tithes have been commuted, and £17. 15s.
apportioned to the impropriator, and £7. 7s. 6d to the vicar of Great
Ness. ALDERTON HALL is a neat brick residence, occupied by Mr. Thomas
Jones. The farm buildings are extensive, and near to the hall is a pool
of water of considerable extent. The rateable value of this township is
£234.
FELTON BUTLER
is a pleasantly situated township, with a scattered population, one and a
half miles S.W. by S. from Great Ness, having at the census of 1841
twelve houses and 65 inhabitants. It contains 534A. 3R. 3P. of land of a
light sandy nature, about two-thirds of which is arable. Rateable value,
£642. 18s. 9d. The Earl of Powis and Thomas Justice Bather, Esq., are
the landowners. The former is lord of the manor. One half of the
rectoral tithes are apportioned to the vicar of Great Ness, and the other
moiety of £28. 17s. 6d. to the prebend of Holgate. The vicar receives
£46. 15s. Mr. Thomas Harris resides at a very neat house, with grounds
tastefully laid out. The farm premises are of considerable extent and
conveniently arranged.
The principal residents are Thomas Harris, farmer and grazier; John
Lewis, jun., farmer; Thomas Lewis, farmer; and Robert Jones, shoemaker.
HOPTON,
a township in Great Ness parish, near to the Holyhead turnpike road,
contains 653A. 2R. 5P. of land, the soil of which is a mixture of peat
and sand, upon which rye, turnips, and some little wheat are grown.
There is some good pasture land below the cliffs. The village is divided
into what may be considered Higher and Lower Hopton, and is pleasantly
situated a mile and a quarter N.W. by N. from Great Ness, and eight and a
half miles N.W. from Shrewsbury. To the north-east of the village are
the Nesscliffe hills, which rise four hundred feet above the level of the
village. In 1841 there were 38 houses and 179 inhabitants. Rateable
value, £607. The Earl of Bradford is lord of the manor. The freeholders
are Mr. Richard Minton; Mr. Samuel Minton; Thomas Justice Bather, Esq.;
Mr. Richard Wildblood; the Earl of Bradford; Mr. Thos. Bather; Mrs.
Haddy; Mr. John Rodgers; Miss Williams; Mr. James Canlin; Mr. Charles
Lloyd; Mr. John Povey; Mr. William Payne; and Mr. James Jones. The
rectoral tithes have been commuted for £81. 15s., and apportioned to
Thomas I. Bather, Esq. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £32. There
are stone quarries here, from which a fine red freestone is procured, in
blocks of almost any dimensions. THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS have a neat
stone chapel near the village.
The principal farmers are Thomas Clayton, Startlewood; Edward Davies;
Samuel Minton; Richard Minton; and John Suckley. William Davies,
butcher.
KINTON
is a village pleasantly situated two miles W. from Great Ness, commanding
views of great strength and diversity; the township contains 1,163A. 0R.
3P. of land, the soil of which is sandy, upon a strong sub-soil,
producing good wheat and barley. The Earl of Bradford is lord of the
manor. The chief landowners are the Earl of Bradford, Mr. Richard
Wildblood, Thomas Justice Bather, Esq., Mrs. Haddy, Miss Williams, Mr.
Charles Lloyd, Mr. James Canlin, Mr. John Rodgers, Mr. William Payne, and
others are also proprietors. At the census of 1841 there were 21 houses
and 97 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,115. 2s. 2d. There are several
neat villa residences in the village. THE GROVE is a modern erection,
the residence of Mr. Robert Suckley, and has conveniently-arranged farm
premises attached. THE WOLF’S HEAD FARM, the residence of Mrs. Mary
Suckley, was formerly a noted public house, and is situated near to
Knockin Heath, on the side of the Holyhead turnpike road. It was the
rendezvous of thieves and vagabonds, and robberies were so frequently
committed in this locality that the stout-hearted had a dread on passing
this road.
Canlin Mrs. Maria
Canlin James, gentleman
Evans Edward, shoemaker
Gittins Thomas, blacksmith
Higginson William, grocer and provision dealer
Jones Richard, shoemaker
Lloyd Thomas, farmer
Massey James, farmer
Mansell Richard, farmer
Payne Mrs., gentlewoman
Suckley Mrs. Mary
Suckley Robert, farmer, The Grove
Taylor George, farmer
Wildblood Richard, farmer, The Hall
NESSCLIFFE
is a township in the parish of Great Ness, pleasantly situated on the
Holyhead turnpike road, four and a half miles W. by S. from Baschurch,
and eight miles N.W. from Shrewsbury. There are 28 houses and 189
inhabitants, and the township contains 86A. 5R. 13P. of land. Rateable
value, £157. Thomas Justice Bather, Esq., George Edwards, and the Earl
of Bradford, are the landowners; the latter is lord of the manor, and
holds a court leet. The village is remarkable for its clean and neat
appearance, and there are two respectable and commodious inns. An annual
fair is held here on the last Monday in April, and there are meetings in
the season for coursing, archery, and steeple chasing. There is a
prosperous friendly society in the village, having 267 members and a
reserve fund of £1,904. 5s. 9d. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £9,
and Mr. Payne and Mr. Bather, the impropriators, receive £3. 11s. 8d.
The endowed school, supported with money arising from the benefactions
noticed with the general charities of the parish, is situated in this
village. The school is capable of accommodating eighty children; there
are now 52 receiving instruction. The master receives 20s. per annum for
every scholar admitted; John Jones is the teacher. Over the school house
door is the following inscription, which has reference to a chapel
dedicated to St. Mary, which formerly stood near the site of the school:—
“God prosper and prolong this public good,
A school erected where a chapel stood.”
The school was built in 1753. This village is celebrated for its immense
quarries of red sand stone, from which blocks of almost any dimensions
can be raised. The red stone of which the castle, town walls, abbey, and
most other old buildings in Shrewsbury are formed, was in all probability
brought from this place. Nesscliffe hill will amply repay the labour of
an ascent, the prospect is most delightful and varied. On the side of
the hill is the celebrated KYNASTON’S CAVE, perched like an eagle’s nest
upon the brow of an overhanging precipice. Humphrey Kynaston was the
keeper or constable of Middle Castle, who from his dissolute and riotous
manner of life, was surnamed _The Wild_. The enormous debts he
contracted by his conduct caused him to be declared an outlaw, upon which
he fled from Middle Castle, and sheltered himself in a cave in Nesscliffe
rock, called to this day “Kynaston’s Cave.” It is divided into two rooms
by a strong pillar of the rock, upon which is carved, “H. K., 1564.” One
of these was the stall for the celebrated outlaw’s horse. The approach
was by a flight of broad steps, which have since been partly cut away.
Many a deed of daring is rehearsed of this high-born freebooter; among
others, his draining to Mr. Lloyd’s health, in that gentleman’s court
yard, the great hall tankard of ale; and while some of the retainers were
closing him in, and others were securing every way of escape, Kynaston
coolly pocketed the silver cup, and clapping spurs to his horse, cleared
the gates and the heads of his would-be gaolers at a leap. All his
depredations seem more to have been dictated by whim than a desire to
plunder, for he supplied the wants of the poor by dispensing the spoils
he abstracted from the rich. His grateful pensioners cooked for him in
return, and found provender for his elf-like steed; the rich paying him
tribute through fear, and the poor from gratitude. Kynaston was never
taken, but died, as tradition says, in his cave.
POST OFFICE.—_At Mr. Richard Minion’s_. Letters arrive at 5.40 A.M., and
are despatched at 7.20 P.M.
Bickley Andrew, farmer and vict., Nesscliffe Inn
Dovestan Thomas, stone mason
Evans Robert, maltster, farmer, and vict., The Pigeons
Evans Richard, wheelwright
Gittins John, blacksmith
Gittins Stephen, sawyer
Humphreys Thomas, joiner & cabinet maker
Jones John, schoolmaster
Lloyd Richard, blacksmith
Minton John, saddler and harness maker
Minton Richard, postmaster
Morris John, carpenter
Owen John, tailor and draper
Randell George, cooper
Roberts Elizabeth, shopkeeper
WILCOTT,
a township and small well-built village in the parish of Great Ness, one
and a half mile S.W. by W. from the church, having in 1841 eleven houses
and 57 inhabitants. The scenery in the vicinity of Wilcott is bold and
romantic; the soil is fertile, producing good wheat and barley. The
principal landowners are William Payne, Esq.; John Povey, Esq.; George
Edwards, Esq.; Richard Wildblood, Esq.; and Thomas Bather, Esq. At the
apportionment of the tithes, £76. 15s. was awarded to the impropriators,
John Povey, Esq., Thomas Bather, Esq., and William Payne, Esq., and £25.
15s. to the vicar of Great Ness. There are 374A. 0R. 22P. of land in
this township. Rateable value, £477. 2s. 9d. THE INDEPENDENTS have a
small chapel, built of stone, and situated between this village and
Kinton.
DIRECTORY.—Thomas Bather, Esq., The Villa; David Frumstone, blacksmith;
Thos. Higginson, farmer and maltster; Owens Owen, farmer, grazier,
maltster, and cattle salesman; William Payne, Esq.; Jane Price,
gentlewoman.
HORDLEY
is a parish and pleasantly situated village, three miles south from
Ellesmere. The parish comprehends the townships of Hordley and Bagley,
and contains 2,417A. 1R. 39P. of land, and in 1801 had a population of
247 souls; 1831, 325; and in 1841 there were 62 houses and 308
inhabitants. The township of Hordley contains 1,211A. 1R. 18P. of land.
Rateable value, £1,802. 2s. 6d. The soil is a mixture of sand and loam,
producing good crops of wheat, barley, and turnips; but there is a
considerable breadth of grazing land in this locality, which has a bold
undulating surface. The farm houses have a respectable appearance, and
are provided with convenient out-premises. Sir John Roger Kynaston,
Bart., is lord of the manor, and owner of the whole township. A
remarkable elm tree, of immense size, stands at the cross roads. The
canal to Weston and the Ellesmere turnpike road intersect the township.
THE CHURCH, situated at Higher Hordley, is a plain structure, with a
small turret, in which there are two bells. It consists of nave and
chancel, and contains neat tablets to Sir John Kynaston, Bart., John
Kynaston, Esq., and to the family of Cureton. The chancel contains a
fine altar-piece of elaborate workmanship; and there is a beautiful stone
font. The living is a rectory, valued in the King’s book at £3. 19s.
2d.; now returned at £330; in the patronage of Sir John Roger Kynaston,
Bart., and incumbency of the Rev. John Walter Moore; curate, Rev. William
Frazer. The tithes are commuted for £358, of which sum £272 are
apportioned to the rector of Hordley; £16 to the rector of Baschurch;
£40. 10s. to Mrs. Topp; and £29 to other impropriators. THE RECTORY is a
commodious and modern erection, situated on a gentle eminence about a
quarter of a mile south-east from the church. It was built by the
present incumbent, aided by a grant from Queen Anne’s bounty. The old
rectory is now occupied as a farm residence. A NATIONAL SCHOOL and
residence for the teacher was built at Lower Hordley, near the centre of
the parish, in 1844. The average attendance of scholars is about sixty.
It is supported by subscription and a small payment from the children.
There are 28A. 2R. 24P. of glebe land in the parish.
DIRECTORY.—Stephen Burroughs, farmer, Lower Hordley; Mary Cureton,
farmer; Rev. William Frazer, curate, the Rectory; John Groom, farmer;
Richard Harper, blacksmith; Thomas Hewitt, farmer; Joseph Hignett,
farmer; Joseph Hignett, farmer, Dandyford farm; Edward Jones, parish
clerk and rate collector; Robert Lewis, farmer, Lower Hordley.
BAGLEY
is a township and village in the parish of Hordley, the population of
which is returned with that village. The township contains 1,206A. 0R.
21P. of land. Rateable value, £1,785. 10s. The landowners are Rowland
Hunt, Esq.; Rev. John Walter Moore; John Dodd, Esq.; Mr. John Groom; Mrs.
Davies; Mrs. Leigh; Mrs. Topp; Hon. Thomas Kenyon; Mr. Edward Lewis; Mr.
Joseph Hignett; Mr. Edward and John Martin; Mrs. Sutton; Mr. John
Langford, and others. Rowland Hunt, Esq., is lord of the manor. The
township is bounded by the river Perry, and intersected by the Ellesmere
and Weston canal. There are several farms here of considerable extent,
and the farm premises are extensive and conveniently arranged.
DIRECTORY.—Samuel Bickley, farmer and maltster; Jane Davies, farmer; John
Davies, farmer, The Oaks; Samuel Cheshire, blacksmith; Stephen Denston,
Esq., The Hall; John Dodd, farmer; William Griffiths, farmer; John
Higgins, grocer and vict., Fox Inn; Thomas Lea, farmer; Joseph Lea,
farmer and butcher; Edward Martin, farmer; Sarah Nickson, farmer; Richard
Paddock, farmer, Bromley Green; Robert Pembury, farmer, Bromley House;
Edward Stant, farmer; Edward Tomlinson, wheelwright; Edward Wilson,
wheelwright.
LOPPINGTON
is a parish and pleasantly situated village two and a half miles W.W. by
S. from Wem. This place, from its contiguity to Wem, was the scene of
several skirmishes between the royal and the parliamentary forces in the
civil wars. In one of these skirmishes the royal party set fire to the
floor and roof of the church, which being covered with shingles was the
more easily accomplished, and the parliamentary soldiers who had taken
refuge in the church, were compelled to surrender it to the king’s party.
The parish of Loppington comprises the townships of Loppington, Burlton,
and Noneley, and contains 3,411A. 1R. 36P. of land, of which 97 acres are
in woods, plantations, and fox covers. Gross estimated rental, £5,162.
12s.; rateable value, £4,197. 15s. The Duke of Cleveland is lord of the
manor, and holds a court. At the census in 1841 there were 612
inhabitants. The township of Loppington contains 1159A. 0R. 33P. of
land, and in 1841 had 68 houses and 331 inhabitants. Major Thomas
Dicken, is the most considerable landowner; George Wycherley, Harriet
Kynaston, Thomas Lloyd Dickin, Esq., The Trustees of the Poor’s Land, Mr.
William Williams, Rev. William Thomas, Robert Chambre Vaughan, Esq., and
Thomas Windsor, are also proprietors. The soil is in general a strong
clay, and a mixture of turf and sand. There is a flat of waste land
called the Brown Moss, of which the freeholders are entitled to the
herbage; the moss extends into other townships and covers a considerable
surface; 7A. 0R. 21P. are within the bounds of Loppington township.
THE CHURCH is an ancient structure, dedicated to St. Michael, consisting
of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a square tower, in which are
three bells; the nave is lofty, and supported by arches rising from oaken
pillars; the body of the church is neatly pewed with oaken sittings, and
there is an antique stone font. The north wall was demolished during the
civil wars in 1650; it was rebuilt and the interior beautified in 1655.
There is a very handsome marble tablet to Richard Marigold Noneley and
others of the family; the families of Dickin, Chambre, Wingfield, Payne,
Groom, Chester, Griffiths, and others, are also remembered on other mural
tablets. The living is a vicarage valued in the king’s book at £6. 12s.
1d., now returned at £270 in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor and
incumbency of the Rev. William Thomas, M.A. The vicarial tithes of
Loppington township are commuted for £111. 16s., and the rectoral for
£93. Thomas Dickin, Esq., is the impropriator. There are 24A. 1R. 26P.
of glebe land. THE VICARAGE is a commodious brick residence, pleasantly
situated a little S.W. from the church, with pleasure grounds tastefully
laid out. LOPPINGTON HOUSE, the mansion of Thomas Dickin, Esq., J.P., is
a handsome and extensive range of building, the front of which is
ornamented with a portico; it is surrounded with a park of considerable
extent finely wooded; the pleasure grounds and shrubberries are laid out
with great taste, and beautified with fine shrubs and choice flowers.
THE HALL or Manor House, a good brick residencies is occupied by Mr.
James Baddaley, farmer.
CHARITIES.—_John Kynaston_, by his will, bearing date 30th May, 1694,
devised a house, garden, stable, and croft, in the township of
Loppington, to his kinsman, Roger Kynaston, and his heirs, to the use of
the then schoolmaster of Loppington, and his successors as a salary, for
their pains in teaching to read six of the poorest children within the
parish, to be appointed by the said Roger Kynaston and his heirs; and if
there should happen to be no schoolmaster, he directed that the profits
of the premises should be to the use of Roger Kynaston and his heirs.
The property devised by the testator consists of a public house in
Loppington, with a stable, garden, and croft, containing altogether half
an acre. The property, when the Charity Commissioners published their
report, was claimed by Thomas Kynaston, grandson of Richard Kynaston,
named in the following conveyance:—“By indenture, bearing date 17th
November, 1741, between Roger Kynaston, grandson of Roger Kynaston, the
devisee above-mentioned, of the one part, and Richard Kynaston, of
Loppington, of the other part, reciting the will as above extracted, the
said Roger Kynaston, party thereto, in consideration of £4 conveyed to
the said Richard Kynaston and his heirs, the messuage, tenements, and
lands, and all other the premises in the said will mentioned, and all his
estate and interest therein, subject nevertheless to the trusts in the
said will mentioned concerning the same.” The premises are let for £13
per annum, an additional sum of £2 being paid by the tenant for a piece
of garden formerly no part of the trust premises. The rent of £13 is
received by Thomas Kynaston, and he pays thereout £2 yearly to a
schoolmaster for the instruction of six poor children. The residue of
the rent Thomas Kynaston reserves to his own use; but it is clear that
the whole of the rent above-mentioned is applicable to the charitable
uses mentioned in the testator’s will, and that notwithstanding that in
the conveyance of 1731, £4 was paid as a consideration, Thomas Kynaston
can only be considered as a trustee for such charitable uses. It is
stated that within the last twenty years Thomas Kynaston has laid out
upwards of £300 in rebuilding and improving the premises, but as he has
been in possession between thirty and forty years, and during that time
has enjoyed the benefit of all the surplus rent beyond the yearly sum of
£2, there seems to be no reason why the schoolmaster should not from the
present time receive the benefit of the whole rent. It seems also
desirable that new trustees should be appointed; but considering the
testator vested the property solely in his kinsman, Richard Kynaston, and
his heirs, we apprehend that a conveyance to new trustees would not be
enforced in a court of equity, provided the said Thomas Kynaston gives up
all claim to any beneficial interest therein.
_Jane Manlove_, in 1751, bequeathed £10, and directed the interest to be
disposed of in the purchase of clothing for poor widows; the interest to
be applied two years to poor widows resident in Loppington township, and
the third year to widows of Burlton township.
_Thomas Price_, in 1797, bequeathed £50, the interest to be applied in a
distribution of bread every Sunday; he also bequeathed the residue of his
personal estate, after the payment of certain legacies, for the same
purpose. To this legacy of £50 and £30 in augmentation thereof out of
personal estate, and the sum of £10 given by Mrs. Menlove, as
above-mentioned, £10 was added by the parish to make up £100, which sum
was laid out on mortgage of three cottages in Wem, the deed bearing date
the 1st August, 1820. The interest, £4, is distributed according to the
donor’s intentions. The particulars of Richard Corbet’s charity will be
found noticed with Wem. There is a farm of about 63 acres of land in
this parish, the rent of which for a great number of years (certainly
from 1690) has been considered as applicable to the repairs of the
church, the relief of the poor, and such other purposes as the
parishioners should direct, and has been so applied at their discretion.
_Mary Griffiths_, in 1837, bequeathed £300 in the three per cent.
consols, and directed the interest to be distributed in money or clothes
for the benefit of the poor.
POST OFFICE.—At Elizabeth Matthews. Letters arrive by foot post from
Middle at 10 a.m., and are despatched at 3 p.m.
Allen William, bricklayer and plasterer
Astley Thomas, farmer and shopkeeper
Austin John, shoemaker and shopkeeper
Baddaley James, farmer, The Hall
Barnes Mr. William
Bickerley Margaret, farmer
Booth Thomas, gentleman
Brown Charles, farmer and gamekeeper
Capp John, gentleman
Cheetwood Samuel, farmer, Stump House
Chorley James, schoolmaster and assistant overseer
Danks Henry, farrier
Dannelly Richard, farmer and vict., Fox Inn
Davies Joseph, farmer
Dickin Thomas, Esq., Loppington House
Dovaston John, farmer and gardener
Eaton Richard, wheelwright
Eddowes Rev. John, curate
Evans Henry, farmer and wheelwright
Evans Richard, farmer
Harper Hannah, farmer
Harper Samuel, farmer
Heatley Thomas, farmer
Jones John, farmer, Hollywell Moor
Kynaston Harriett, corn miller
Kynaston Rebecca, vict., Dickin’s Arms Inn
Matthews Thomas, farmer
Price John, tailor, The Lodge
Pugh Joseph, farmer
Shingler Miss, gentlewoman
Stanway William, farmer
Thomas Harwood, solicitor
Thomas Rev. William, M.A., The Vicarage
Thomas William, surgeon
Turner Ann, farmer
Vaughan Edward Goldsborough Chambre, Esq., Wood Gate
Watson Robert, farmer and shoemaker
Williams Robert, gentleman
Williams William, blacksmith and vict., Blacksmith’s Arms
Wycherley George, gentleman
Wycherley Robert, farmer
BURLTON