is a considerable parish and village, pleasantly situated on the turnpike
road from Newport to Market Drayton, six miles N.N.W. from the former,
and five miles S. from the latter. The population of this parish is
widely scattered, and there are a great number of small detached
cottages. The parish contains 3,036A. 1R. 16P. of land, the soil of
which is various; in some parts a strong loam, and in other parts a light
sandy soil prevails. The land has a bold undulating surface, and on the
western verge of the parish are some thriving plantations. In 1801 the
parish contained a population of 536 souls; 1831, 805; and in 1841 there
were 173 houses and 897 inhabitants. There are 14A. 1R. 37P. of glebe
land. The tithes have been commuted for £530. Rateable value of the
parish, £4.722. 19s. 1d. Henry Justice, Esq., is a considerable
landowner. The other principal landowners are Robert Masefield, Esq.,
Richard Corbet Esq., Mr. William Griffiths, Mr. Henry Meakin, Rev.
Matthew Davies, the Trustees of Drayton Poor, Mr. John Griffiths, William
Howard, Esq., Mr. Walter Meakin, Mrs. Masefield, Mr. Thomas Poole, Mr.
Rowley, Mr. John Adams, Mr. Thomas Beeston, the Executors of the late
Colonel Dawes, and the Devisees of the Mr. Thomas James; besides whom
there are upwards of seventy small freeholders, who, in most instances,
own the cottages in which they live, and a small plot or a few acres of
land contiguous thereto.
THE CHURCH is a small venerable fabric, dedicated to St. Oswald, and is
situated on an elevated plot of land, nearly in the centre of the
village. The structure consists of nave, chancel, and a small south
aisle, with a square tower at the west end. A small gallery was erected
in 1831, with funds raised by subscriptions. The font is very ancient,
and is of a circular shape with an octagonal base. A neat marble tablet
has been erected in memory of Hannah Davies, who died in 1828, wife of
the Rev. Matthew Davies, formerly curate of Hinstock. There is also a
tablet in memory of the Vaughans, with the date of 1714/5. The living is
a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £5. 16s., now returned at £556.,
and enjoyed by the Rev. Bertie E. Johnson, M.A. There is a small
METHODIST CHAPEL in the village. THE NATIONAL SCHOOL, a neat brick
structure, was erected in 1839; seventy-five children attend. THE
RECTORY is an ancient residence on the north side of the church-yard.
HINSTOCK HALL, a handsome mansion of freestone, delightfully situated on
elevated ground, about a mile north-west from the church, is the seat and
property of Henry Justice, Esq. It is a modern structure, built about
sixteen years ago, beautified with pleasure grounds and shrubberies, and
sheltered with rising plantations. The situation commands extensive
views over the fertile plains of Shropshire and the adjoining county of
Stafford. PIXLEY are two good farm houses, situated near a mile west
from the church. The land is partly in this parish and partly in that of
Chetwynd; 89A. 1R. 32P. are in the latter parish.
POST OFFICE.—_At Mr. Samuel Cooper’s Falcon Inn_.
Justice Henry, Esq., Hinstock Hall
Abbotts Ann, schoolmistress
Adams John, farmer
Ash Charles, land surveyor
Blagg John, farmer
Bowring Robert, shopkeeper
Cappur Thomas, farmer, Gill of Stafford
Challenor John, shopkeeper
Churm John, farmer, Mount Pleasant
Churton Rev. Charles, M.A., curate
Cooper Samuel, victualler, Falcon Inn
Crump John, shopkeeper
Davies William, farmer
Eccleston James, farmer
Freeman John, farmer, Pixley
Glover Thomas, beerhouse
Goodwin George, wheelwright
Griffiths William, farmer
Hamlet William, shopkeeper
Hardy Sarah, farmer
Hardy William, farmer
Harvey James, maltster
Jackson George, shoemaker
Jackson John, farmer
Jackson Thomas, blacksmith
Jackson William, farmer
Lockley John, wheelwright
Lockley Thomas, farmer
Machin Jn., farmer & maltstr
Machin Mary, vict., Cock Inn
Maltby John, Esq., Hinstock Villa
Matthews John, horse dealer
Meakin Henry, farmer, Longpools
Meakin Walter, farmer
Morgan William, bricklayer
Nagington William, farmer, corn miller, and maltster, Shakeford
Pearse William, farmer and shoemaker, Lockley
Phillips John, farmer
Pitt George, shopkeeper
Podmore William, tailor
Poole Thomas, farmer
Pooler Benjamin, blacksmith
Reeves John, shoemaker
Reeves Mary, schoolmistress
Robinson Richard, farmer, Pixley
Sambrook Job, bricklayer
Sambrook John, bricklayer
Sambrook William, bricklayer
Sutton Mary & Ann, farmers
Talbot William, tailor
Titley Wm., farmer & butcher
Ward John, schoolmaster
Watts Andrew, farmer
Weat Wm., farmer & butcher
Woodcock William, farmer
Worrall Mary, farmer
Williams William, beerhouse
Wynn William, clock maker
HODNET
is a pleasantly situated and considerable village on the turnpike road
from Shrewsbury to Market Drayton, thirteen miles N.N. by E. from the
former, and six miles S.S. by W. from the latter. At the Domesday survey
Earl Roger held Odenet, which gave name to the hundred, which has since
undergone the denomination of Bradford North. In the 20th of Edward I.,
a _quo warranto_ was brought against William de Hodenet, to show what
right he claimed to hold a market, take assize of bread and beer, and
have free warren in the manor of Hodnet; for plea he produced the charter
of King Henry, father of the then king, which proved his right, and so
was dismissed with honour. The jury at the same assizes found that the
serjeantry of William de Hodenet was to be steward of the castle of
Montgomery, and to defend the outworks of the castle with his family and
servants, and that this serjeantry had been given to his ancestors by
Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Salop. The market at Hodnet has long been
obsolete, but fairs are held on the Monday before the second Wednesday in
March, May 4th, and the Monday before October 24th. These fairs are
usually well attended by the farmers residing in the surrounding
district. The parish of Hodnet contains the townships of Hodnet, Bolas
Parva, Hawkstone, Hopton and Espley, Kenstone, Losford, Marchamley,
Peplow, Woollerton and Weston under Red Castle. There are 11,596A. 1R.
6P. of land, the rateable value of which is £13,396. 6s. Population in
1801, 1386; 1831, 2097, and in 1841 there were 408 houses and 2185
inhabitants. The township of Hodnet at the census of 1841 contained 120
houses and 596 inhabitants, Odo Hodenet came into England with William
the Conqueror, and fixed his seat here; from this family the estates
passed by a female heiress to the Vernons, and Elisabeth Vernon carried
the estates by marriage into the Heber family, from which family it again
passed in like manner by an heiress to the present proprietor, Algernon
Charles Heber Percy, Esq., who resides at HODNET HALL, a plain stuccoed
mansion, in a low situation, a little south from the church; it was
formerly of considerable extent, and composed of timber and plaster, and
the cloisters were adorned with ancient armorial bearings, but only a
part of the original house is now standing, and that has been greatly
modernized. Near the hall is a large mound called Castle Hill, supposed
to have been the ancient residence of the Hodenets. The mound is planted
with trees, and was probably the keep of the castle, but not a vestige of
the stone work remains; the whole was surrounded by a moat, which may
still be traced. The high grounds above the hall, which are studded with
thriving plantations, were in former tithes a densely wooded park of
considerable extent, and well stocked with deer. No deer have been kept
there since the death of Sir Richard Vernon, who caused most of the
timber to be cut down. Viscount Hill is also a considerable land owner.
A. C. H. Percy is lord of the manor and patron of the living.
THE CHURCH is a spacious and elegant structure, consisting of nave and
south aisle, equal in size to the nave, and an octagonal Norman tower at
the west end, in which are six bells. The side aisle is divided from the
nave by seven pointed arches, rising from octagonal and circular pillars
alternately, and the roof is of timber stained in imitation of oak. The
structure has recently undergone a complete reparation, the entire cost
of which, with various embellishments, was £3,200, of which the
munificent sum of £1,000 was given by Thomas Cholmondely, Esq., late of
Hodnet Hall; Charles Cholmondely, Esq., gave £500; Lord Hill, £100; the
parishioners raised by voluntary subscriptions £170; and the rest,
£1,430, was given by the present rector. The organ cost £150, and was
the gift of Richard Cholmondely, Esq.; the communion plate cost £100.
The interior has a very chaste and imposing appearance, and at the east
end of the chancel there is a beautiful stained glass window,
commemorative of Mary Heber, who died in 1846, sister to the late Bishop
Heber. At the east end of the aisle are twelve stalls, six on each side,
which are for the use of the rector and the lord of the manor. The organ
stands at the west end of the nave in a beautiful recessed arch. At the
east end of the south aisle is a stained glass window, with
representations of the four evangelists, beautifully executed by Evans,
of Shrewsbury. The font is very ancient, and of an octagonal shape
rudely carved. Several handsome monuments ornament the church,
particularly one of fine statuary marble, exquisitely executed by
Chantrey, in memory of Bishop Heber, formerly rector of this parish.
Opposite it are two beautifully executed monuments of Grinshill free
stone, near to which is another in the same gothic style to the memory of
Charles Cooper Cholmondely, formerly rector of Hodnet, who died in 1831.
Near the west end of the nave, a handsome marble tablet remembers Lord
Hill and his Lady, the former died in 1814 and the latter in 1842; not
far from which Sir Rowland Hill, Bart., is remembered on an elegant
tablet; he died in 1783, and was buried in this church. On the same side
is an elaborately ornamented tablet to the Vernon family. A lofty slate
coloured marble tablet commemorates the death of several members of the
Hill family; there is also an antique tablet near the pulpit to the
memory of Hugh Pigot, who died in 1697, besides which there are various
other monuments which our limits will not allow us to notice. The living
is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £26 0s. 10d., now returned at
£2,336. The Rev. Samuel H. Macauley, B.D., is the incumbent, and resides
at the rectory, an elegant mansion of free stone, built by the late
Bishop Heber, in 1812; the house stands on an eminence a little S.W. from
the church, and commands most delightful views of the surrounding
country. The old rectory stood on the grounds adjoining the hall, a
little south from the church; not far from the rectory stood the tithe
barn of capacious dimensions, which, with the old parsonage, was taken
down soon after the erection of the present rectory. The tithes of this
parish have been commuted for £1,735. There is a national school where
fifty girls and sixty boys are educated. HODNET COMMON, situated on the
south and south-east side of the township, contains 375 acres, the whole
of which is the property of A. C. H. Percy, Esq., except about thirty
acres. A considerable tract of the common was enclosed in 1850. There
is a small lock-up with two cells situated on the Shrewsbury road.
The late Reginald Heber, the eminent Bishop of Calcutta, was rector of
Hodnet when he was raised to the episcopal dignity of Bishop of Calcutta.
He was born April 21st, 1783, at the Higher Rectory, in Malpas, of which
place his father was rector. He received his education, principally
under a private tutor, Mr. Bristow, at Neasdon, and in 1800 he removed to
Oxford, where he was a commoner at Brazennose College, and afterwards a
Fellow of All Souls. It was at Oxford that he laid the foundation of his
high fame. Besides being known for his general acquisitions in
scholarship, he gained every distinction which the university then had to
bestow, the regular under graduates and bachelors’ prizes. He was also
the successful competitor for an extraordinary prize that had been
offered for an English poem on the subject of Palestine. This poem is
now of standard reputation; and certainly, for splendour of imagery and
for poetical diction, it has deservedly placed its author—scarce twenty
years old when it was written—in an elevated rank amid our English poets.
After taking his degree, Heber left the university to engage in active
life. The living at Hodnet was at his option, and this circumstance,
coupled with his strong religious bias, determined him to devote himself
to the church as his profession. But as he was still young for holy
orders, he wished to employ two or three years in foreign travel; and the
customary route upon the continent then being shut up by war, he bent his
steps towards Russia and the east of Europe. At length the time arrived
when Heber was to devote himself seriously to the duties of his sacred
profession, in the humble office of a village pastor. There is on his
monument in Hodnet church, a delightful testimony how for fifteen years
he performed his pastoral duties “cheerfully and diligently, with all his
heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength.” And in this calm
retreat, which the subsequent changes in his fortune seemed only the more
to endear him to, he would cheerfully have closed his days. But his
reputation would not allow him to be buried in retirement. In 1823 he
was elected preacher at Lincoln’s Inn. This was an appointment
peculiarly suited to him. With what credit he acquitted himself is well
known, and it was generally believed that the highest honours awaited him
at home, when he was called to another sphere of action, by his
acceptance of the proffered bishopric of Calcutta. Never, it is
believed, did any man accept an office from a higher sense of duty; once
he declined the proposal; but his exalted piety considered it as a call
from heaven, from which he might not shrink; and he resolutely determined
to obey the summons. His career in India was short, but brilliant. It
is not easy to conceive a situation of greater difficulty than awaited
him there. He had to preside over a diocese much larger in extent than
the whole of Europe, with his clergy scattered about at stations
thousands of miles apart, and over a body of Christians living in the
midst of a multitude of misbelievers; and those Christians, if such more
than in mere name, accustomed to be a law to themselves in religious
matters; yet to all these difficulties Bishop Heber resolutely addressed
himself. He went forth strong and invincible; first, in his trust in
God, and next in that kindliness of disposition, which almost disarmed
opposition. His memorable exploit was his extra-ordinary visitation of
his diocese. Starting from Calcutta, he pursued the course of the Ganges
almost to its source; visited Himalaya mountains; crossed the northern
provinces of India; and, after visiting Bombay and the island of Ceylon,
returned again to Calcutta. We may easily imagine what must have been
the delight, to a mind ardent and poetical like Heber’s, to have had the
opportunity of visiting scenes so interesting and so novel; and we have
the advantage of knowing the impression they made on his mind, by the
posthumous publication of his interesting journal. It was not long after
the bishop’s return from the visitation of which we have been speaking,
that he undertook another episcopal visitation, when the hand of death
arrested him in his career of usefulness. On the 3rd of April, 1826, at
Tritchinopoli, he was found drowned in a bath, owing, it was supposed, to
the sudden transition of cold water, after great exertion in confirming
some native Christians. A deep and painful sensation was produced by his
unexpected decease, both in India and at home; and in him the Christian
civilization in the east seemed to have lost its most zealous, most
active, and most enlightened friend.
CHARITIES.—There was an old school in the church yard at Hodnet, which
was pulled down in 1814, and a new school and schoolhouse were built in
the following year, in a more convenient situation, chiefly at the
expense of Richard Heber, Esq., and with a sum of £25 given by Sir Andrew
Corbet to the poor, as hereafter mentioned. The master of the school
receives £8, as the interest of £200 left by Mrs. Sarah Price, for the
endowment of a free school, and he occupies the school house, paying the
church-wardens £1. 1s. annually, as interest of the £25 derived from Sir
A. Corbet’s benefaction. In consideration of the above the master
teaches seven scholars free. The site of the school and schoolhouse, and
the garden and play ground, including altogether about a quarter of an
acre, was given by Mr. Heber.—_Stephen Denstone_, of Ashley, left the
poor of the township of Hodnet £100, the interest to be distributed on
Stephen’s day yearly.—_John Stirrop_, in 1646, left £20 to the use of the
poor. This gift is stated in the parliamentary report to be
lost.—_Abraham Deshin_, in 1707, bequeathed £5, the interest to be given
in bread on Christmas-day.—_Mary Mollineux_ left £10, the interest to be
distributed by the ministers and churchwardens.—_Thomas Burrowes_ left
£100, and directed the interest to be given away on the 2nd of December
yearly.—_William Burrowes_ bequeathed £100 to the poor of Hodnet, the
interest to be given to the poor on the 23rd of September, yearly, by the
minister and churchwardens.—_Samuel Dickin_ left £20, the yearly proceeds
thereof to be distributed by his heirs for ever.—_Rowland Hill_
bequeathed £50 to the use of the poor.—_Thomas Hill_, _Esq._, son of the
said Rowland Hill, left £350 for the benefit of the poor.—_Mrs. Ann
Catchpool_ left £50 to the use of the said poor.—_John Hill_, _Esq._,
left £100, the interest to be expended in bread and given to the poor
every Sunday.—_The Right Hon. Richard Hill_, in 1726, left £100 for the
benefit of such poor as the minister and churchwardens should think
fit.—_Richard Clay_, in 1750, left £100 to the poor.—_Mrs. Brooke_, in
1756, left £100, the interest to be given at the discretion of Sir
Rowland Hill and his heirs.—_Sir Rowland Hill_, _Bart._, by a codicil to
his will, 1779, left £100 to the poor of this parish, to be distributed
at the discretion of his executor.—_Mrs. Jane Hill_ left £100.—_Sir
Richard Hill_, by his will, dated January 1st, 1808, left to his brother,
John Hill, £300, on trust, to pay the interest of £100 thereof, at the
rate of five per cent., among the poor of the parish of Hodnet, one half
to be reserved for the poor of the chapelry of Weston.—_Mr. Grocott_ left
£5 to be given in bread yearly.—_Stephen Stubbs_, in 1815, left £10, the
interest to be distributed yearly on St. Stephen’s day. A legacy of £50
was left by Sir Rowland Hill for the schooling of poor children. Some
lands called Steel Lands were sold by the parish about the year 1750 for
£92. The gifts amount in the whole to £1355, of which sum £150 were laid
out in the purchase of a messuage and lands at Hodnet in 1701; £56 in the
purchase of two cottages at Hodnet in 1728; £175 were paid into the hands
of Sir John Hill; £431 in the purchase of an estate at Wem: £450 were
held by Sir Rowland Hill, derived from the charities of Sir Rowland Hill,
and other members of that family, and a further sum of £138 from other
sources. The property at Hodnet consists of certain lands and a cottage
and poor house with a garden and croft adjoining, and a cottage and croft
on Hodnet Heath, with a right of common thereon, the whole of which
produces a yearly income of £35. 12s., which is distributed with other
charities hereafter mentioned. The property at Wem consists of five
closes of land, lying in two detached parcels near the town, containing
altogether about twelve acres and a half, let at a yearly rent of £40.
The sum of £160 placed in the hands of Sir Richard Hill was subsequently
laid out in the buildings at Hodnet. The rents derived from the estates
above mentioned, and the interest of the sum of £77, with the produce of
Price’s and Sir A. Corbet’s charities hereafter mentioned, amounted at
the time the charity commissioners published their report to £93. 1s. 6d.
The rent of the Wem estate is received by the churchwardens of Marchamley
division, and the remainder of the rents is received by the churchwardens
appointed for the division of Hodnet. Four shillings worth of bread is
placed in the church every Sunday, and given to 32 poor persons, and
bread to the amount of 15s. is also given on St. Stephen’s-day, and 5s.
on Christmas-day. Each of the churchwardens pays equally towards the
weekly distribution of bread, and each of them gives 30s. away on St.
Stephen’s day, as the interest of Denstone’s legacy. The churchwardens
of Marchamley also pay about 30s. annually towards schooling poor
children at Marchamley. The remainder of the money is distributed by the
churchwardens among the poor of their respective districts, in sums
varying from 3s. to 8s. Of the money in the hands of Sir Rowland Hill,
exclusive of the sum of £200 mentioned in the school account, and £77 for
which a promissory note was given in 1818, the charity commissioners
conceived that it could not be less than £558 when they published their
report, for which the sum of £21 is paid as interest, and distributed by
the rector of Hodnet, and a further sum of £4. 8s. is received by the
curate of Weston chapelry, which is distributed in small sums among the
poor.—_The Rev. Richard Price_, in 1730, devised certain premises to the
poor of Drayton and Hodnet, and directed that £5 per annum should be
distributed in bread every Lord’s day, and the residue employed for the
schooling of poor children in each place. The property now held by the
churchwardens of Hodnet in trust for this charity consists of three
pieces of land in Drayton, containing between three and four acres, which
produces a yearly rental of £12. 11s. 6d. The rents are carried to one
account with the other charity money, from which a very small portion
only is disposed of in schooling. It seems advisable that the rents
should be employed according to the particular directions of the
donor.—_Sir Andrew Corbet_, in 1815, gave £25 to the use of the poor of
Hodnet. This donation was laid out in the building of a new school, and
the yearly sum of £1. 1s. is paid in respect thereof by the master of the
school to the churchwardens, by whom it is distributed with the other
charities.
POST OFFICE.—_At Mr. Edward Jones’_, _schoolmaster_. Letters arrive at 8
A.M. from Market Drayton, and are despatched at 6 P.M.
Acton Rev. William, B.A., curate
Ashley Ann, schoolmistress
Ashley George, wheelwright
Baker Mr. John
Bellis Elizabeth, shopkeeper and baker
Baydon James, registrar of births & deaths
Cartwright George, vict., Unicorn
Cartwright Samuel, boot and shoemaker
Cartwright William, tailor
Churton Thomas, boot and shoemaker
Donkin Thomas, painter and glazier
Downes Thomas, parish clerk
Eason William, veterinary surgeon
Edge William, wheelwright
Ellerthorpe Mrs. Helen
Foster Alfred, tailor
Jackson Edward, butcher
Jones Edward, schoolmaster
Laytham Henry, wheelwright
Lees Barnard, surgeon
Lester John, farmer and vict., Lion Inn
Macauley Rev. Samuel Herrick, B.D., Rectory
Morris Samuel, saddler and harness maker
Pace Piercy, grocer, draper, and ironmonger
Percy Algernon Charles Heber, Esq., Hodnet Hall
Powell John, farmer
Powell Mrs. Sarah
Pratchett Miss Jane, Ash court
Pritchard & Co., chemist, druggist, draper, and silk mercer
Ridway William, boot and shoemaker
Robinson John, boot and shoemaker
Taylor George, tailor and woollen draper
Titley Charles, butcher
Trevor James, wheelwright and beerhouse
Walmsley John Allen, surgeon and coroner for North Bradford Hundred
Wardley Mary, farmer, Horn Farm
Watson Alexander, farm steward to A. E. H. Percy, Esq.
Wild George, maltster and vict., Bear Inn, and posting house
Wild Thomas, grocer and ironmonger
Worral Henry, blacksmith