Cheshire, at the census of 1841 contained 24 houses and 145 inhabitants.
Rateable value, £1,148. 7s. The soil is mostly a strong clay; there is
some good meadow land in the township. The Earl of Powis and Lord
Kilmorey are the landowners. STYCHE HALL is an elegant mansion of brick,
with stone quoins and stuccoed, which produces a light and handsome
appearance. It is situated on a gentle elevation, and being lofty and
spacious, and approached by a fine portico, gives it an imposing aspect.
The front of the mansion opens into a fine extent of park-like grounds.
The offices and stables are behind the hall, and form a spacious
quadrangle. Styche is now the seat of Henry B. Clive, Esq., M.P., for
the borough of Ludlow. The celebrated Lord Clive, the founder of the
present noble family of Powis, was born at Styche. He was the son of
Richard Clive, Esq., and received his education first at the free-school
in Drayton, and afterwards at Dr. Stirling’s school, Hempsted. He
subsequently became a celebrated commander in the East India Company’s
service, and contributed to the prosperity of the company in a most
unexampled manner. He represented the town of Shrewsbury in parliament
from 1760 to 1774, but rarely spoke in the house, though upon special
occasions he displayed great powers of elocution. By his will he
bequeathed £70,000 to the invalids in the Company’s service.
DIRECTORY.—Henry B. Clive, Esq., Styche Hall; Thomas Akers, farmer,
Shavington Park; Samuel Beeston, farmer, Nobridge; Thomas Betterley,
farmer, Shavington; Richard Caldicot, farmer. New-street Lane; Charles
Gregory, farmer, Barnetts; John Horton, beerhouse-keeper; Abraham Price,
farmer; Thomas Sharratt, farmer, New-street Lane.
BEARSTON
is a township and small village, pleasantly situated four miles and a
half N.E. from Market Drayton, in the parish of Muckleston, which is
mostly comprised within the bounds of the Pirehill Hundred, in the county
of Stafford. THE CHURCH is also in Staffordshire, and situate about a
mile to the north of Blore Heath. It is an ancient structure, with a
lofty tower, from the top of which Queen Margaret witnessed the slaughter
at the battle of Blore Heath. The townships comprised in this county are
Bearston, Dorrington, Gravenhanger, and Woore. The township of Bearston
contains 1,084A. 1R. 6P., of land. The soil for the most part is a
strong loam, in other parts it is of a light sandy nature, particularly
near the banks of the river Tern. In 1841 there were 17 houses and 101
inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,196. 4s. 5d. Gross estimated rental,
£1,319. 9s. 8d. The land is the property of Thomas Kinnersley, Esq.,
except one farm, the property of the Rev. Hugh Ker Cokburne. The river
Tern here divides the county from that of Stafford, on the banks of which
is the Bearston Corn Mill, occupied by Mr. Bruckshaw, whose residence is
just within the bounds of this county.
DIRECTORY.—John Benbow, farmer; Thomas Bennion, farmer; George Bruckshaw,
farmer, maltster, and corn miller, Bearston Mill; Robert Tilsley, farmer.
DORRINGTON,
a small village and township, in the parish of Muckleston, five miles and
a quarter N.N.E. from Market Drayton, in 1831 contained 35 houses and 188
inhabitants. The township contains 965A. 0R. 35P. of land. Gross
estimated rental, £1,296. 3s. 6d. Rateable value, £1,181. 2s. 1d. Sir
J. W. L. Chetwode, Bart., is the principal landowner. Miss Birchall is
also a proprietor. PIPEGATE is a hamlet, a little to the east of
Dorrington. IRELANDS CROSS, a hamlet on the turnpike road to the north
of Dorrington. Here is the old Workhouse; a plain brick structure, now
unoccupied. Adjoining the workhouse are four small tenements, called THE
ALMSHOUSES, which are stated to have been built at the expense of the
parish. The inmates have no income, and they have been so long in
undisturbed possession, that they now claim them as their own.
DIRECTORY.—Thomas Ball, victualler, Fox and Hounds; Sarah Benbow, farmer;
Elizabeth Birchall, farmer; Mary Goodall, farmer; Henry Hopwood, farmer;
Jane Latham, beerhouse-keeper; Mary Lindop, farmer; Henry Taylor, manager
to Miss Birchall; Robert Timmis, farmer; Matthew and William Wildig,
joiners, builders, and brick-makers, Irelands Cross.
GRAVENHANGER,
a township six miles N.N.E. from Market Drayton, contains 1,144A. 2R. 9P.
of land. Gross estimated rental, £1,745. 9s. 7d. The principal
landowners are William Barber, Esq., Thomas Eld, Esq., Messrs. Wilkinson,
Mr. Samuel Sherrard, Miss Elizabeth Birchall, George Kendrick, Esq.,
Executors of the late Mr. Latham. THE HALL is an ancient residence,
occupied by Mr. John Beeston. Gravenhanger Moss is a tract of land of
about twenty acres unenclosed.
The principal residents are John Beeston, farmer, The Hall; Ralph Bennet,
farmer; Henry Buckley, beerhouse-keeper; Samuel Foxley, victualler, Crow
Inn; Robert Huntback, farmer; Jane Latham, farmer; Thomas Latham, farmer;
John Lea, farmer; Charlotte Morrey, farmer; James Sandbach, farmer,
Brooklands; Samuel Wilkinson, farmer.
WOORE
is a chapelry and considerable village, pleasantly situated at the
north-east extremity of the county, seven miles N.N.E. from Market
Drayton. The village contains many good houses, a neat church, and a
respectable hotel, and stands on a salubrious acclivity, which commands
extensive views of the surrounding country. The township contains
1,000A. 2R. 26P. of land, and in 1841 there were 98 houses and 372
persons. Gross estimated rental, £1,810. 15s. 2d. Rateable value,
£1,632. 17s. 9d. The principal landowner is George Kendrick, Esq. Mr.
Smith, Mr. Richard Clough, and the Devisees of the late Mr. Latham, are
also proprietors.
THE CHURCH is a neat structure, dedicated to St. Leonard, and has been
built about twenty years. The cost of the fabric was £1,300. The living
is a perpetual curacy, returned at £100, in the patronage of the Kendrick
and Kinnersley families alternately; incumbent, Rev. John Hawksworth,
M.A., who resides at the Parsonage, a neat residence a short distance
from the church. The old church was taken down on the erection of the
present structure, and stood near the site of the parsonage house. THE
NATIONAL SCHOOL was built by voluntary subscriptions and a grant from the
national society in 1832. At the present time, forty boys and sixty
girls and infants attend. The master has £15 per annum paid him, for
which fifteen children are educated free; the children of cottagers pay
one penny per week, and an additional charge is made for farmers’
children. THE MANOR HOUSE, a handsome residence embosomed in foliage,
was unoccupied when our agent visited Woore. THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS
have a small chapel here. FAIRS are held on the last Thursday in April
and November.
POST OFFICE.—_At John Hitchen’s_. Letters arrive from Market Drayton at
9 A.M., and are despatched at 4.30 P.M.
Baddiley Gregory, grocer
Bradbury William P., farmer and victualler, Swan Hotel
Brooke George, farmer
Buckley Thomas, grocer
Burslem Thomas, tailor
Collier George, cabinet and chair maker
Clough Richard, farmer
Clough Wm., schoolmaster
Dunkley Rev. John, curate
Goodall William, farmer, Woore Hall
Hayward Mr. John
Hawksworth, Rev. John, M.A. The Parsonage
Hitchens John, Post Office
Hough David, farmer
Hulse Mr., farmer
Jackson George, blacksmith
Latham Mr. Thomas
Lander George, butcher
Lewis Abraham, tallow chandler
Lewis John, shoemaker
Lindop John, victualler, The Falcon Inn
Minor Henry Robert, farmer
Morrey Richard, cooper and victualler, Coopers’ Arms
Morrey Thomas, shopkeeper
Mullington Mary, school-mistress
Nickson William, saddler
Rowley William, tailor
Salt John, surgeon
Taylor James, farmer
Vickers Richard, farmer
Watmough Charles, surgeon
Wayte Henry, shopkeeper
NORTON IN HALES,
a parish and village situated three and a half miles N.E. by N. from
Market Drayton, at the census of 1841 contained 64 houses and 312
inhabitants. In 1801 there was a population of 269 souls, and in 1831,
311. The parish contains 1,845 acres, the gross estimated rental of
which is £2,732, 16s. 8d. Rateable value, £2,475 1s. 8d. The tithes are
commuted for £305. P. Sillitoe, Esq., is the principal land owner, the
other chief owners are William Church Norcop, Esq., Mrs. Heath, and Rev.
Hugh Ker Cokburne, the latter of whom is lord of the manor. At the
Domesday survey Nortone in Odenet hundred was Held by one Helgot. THE
CHURCH is an ancient structure dedicated to St. Chad, consisting of nave
and chancel, with a handsome square tower at the west end, embattled and
ornamented with pinnacles; the chancel is of much older date than the
rest of the church. There is a magnificent monument of Derbyshire
alabaster, with full length figures, of Sir Rowland Cotton and his lady,
in a recumbent posture; it is dated 1686; the Cottons had a seat at
Etwall in Derbyshire, and Bellaport in this county. Over the tomb is an
ancient helmet. There is also a neat tablet in memory of the Cotton
family in the chancel. The church will accommodate about 100 hearers,
and there is a gallery at the west end which holds about fifty children.
The old antique font of rude construction is now disused and stands under
the tower; a small new font has recently been added and placed in the
chancel. The pews belonging to the rector and the lord of the manor are
handsomely carved. The curfew bell tolls at eight o’clock from
Michaelmas-day to Lady-day, a practice still continued in many of the
rural villages of this county. The living is a rectory valued in the
king’s book at £5. 9s. 4d., now returned at £330, in the patronage of W.
Silver, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Frederick Silver, M.A., who
resides at the RECTORY, a good stuccoed house pleasantly situated near
the north-east side of the churchyard. There are eleven acres of glebe
land. THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS have a small chapel in the village.
BELLAPORT HOUSE, the occasional residence of the lord of the manor, the
Rev. Hugh Ker Cokburne, is delightfully situated on high grounds, and
commands views of great extent and beauty. BRAND HALL, a good brick
mansion, the property of P. Sillitoe, Esq., was unoccupied when our agent
visited Norton.
CHARITIES.—The National School is a small structure, where about fifty
children are educated. In 1751 Margaret Higginson left £50 towards
founding a school at Norton; Sir Rowland Cotton gave a house of two bays
and a barn for the use of the schoolmaster, and Ralph Pilsbury left £6
towards teaching one child. It is supposed that the money given by Mrs.
Higginson was laid out in the purchase of land, though no deeds can be
found relating thereto. The property belonging the school consists of
the school, with a yard and garden, containing 1R. 9P., and an allotment
of 21P. added at the inclosure. The schoolhouse with a garden containing
19P., and two closes containing 5A. 0R. 20P., producing together a yearly
rental of £12. There is also a yearly sum of 4s. 9d. paid by the
churchwardens as the interest of £6 left by Ralph Pilsbury, the principal
having been applied to the use of the church previously to the year 1746,
from which period this payment has been made. In respect of this income
the master instructs seven children.
_William Shore_, in 1675, gave a rent charge of 26s. 8d. per annum,
issuing out of a meadow in Dorrington, for the use of the poor, and
afterwards in consideration of a sum of £40 conveyed the said land in
trust, that all the rents and profits should be disposed of for the
benefit of the poor. The said £40 having been given by various donors
for the good of the poor of this parish.
Several sums of money given by the Cotton family about the year 1694,
amounting in the whole to £80, were laid out in the purchase of land and
premises at Wem; the property consists of a house and about six acres of
land, which are let for about £15. 12s. per annum. The income derived
from the above estates forms one fund, which is distributed among poor
parishioners on Good Friday and Christmas-day.
_Richard Grosvenor_ left 20s. per annum to the poor. In the
churchwarden’s accounts about the year 1756, there is an entry of £30
paid by Robert Davison for the purpose of exonerating the estate which
then belonged to him from the rent charge, and the amount is carried to
the general account of the church rate. No payment has been made in
respect of this charity from the church rate, but we conceive that
interest on the purchase money ought to be paid from this account, for
the benefit of the poor.
Beech William, tailor, Norton Forge
Benton Thomas, farmer, Norton Wood
Blackhurst James, blacksmith and grocer
Bloore Thomas, wheelwright
Brookshaw George, blacksmith
Butters Snow, tailor
Churton Thomas, shoemaker, Forge
Clorley Thomas, parish clerk
Cokburne Rev. Hugh Ker, Bellaport House
Duckers Thomas, vict., The Crescent and Anchor
Eardly Richard, farmer, Bellaport Lodge
Eley William, butcher
Fox Henry, bailiff to Rev. H. K. Cokburne
Green Thomas, wheelwright, Norton Forge
Jones George, farmer
Jones Richard, farmer
Keay John, farmer and shoemaker
Leighton Daniel, farmer and maltster
Mate William, farmer, Norton Wood
Matthews John, farmer, Brand Common
Minshall William, shoemaker
Morris Richard, wheelwright and beerhouse
Randles William, grocer
Ratcliff Thomas, gardener, The Hall
Rowe Isaac, painter and glazier
Silver Rev. Frederick, M.A., The Rectory
Simcock Joseph, tailor
Snow Sarah, farmer
Spragg Samuel, gamekeeper
Walley Elizabeth, farmer
Wickstead John, master of National School
PREES
is an extensive parish and considerable village, situated on a gentle
acclivity, four miles north-east from Wem, and fourteen miles north-east
from Shrewsbury. The parish contains the townships of Calverhall or
Corra, Darliston, Fauls, Mickley, Millen Heath, Prees, Sandford, Steele,
Willaston, and the chapelry of Whixall, which together contain 14,160
acres of land, of which 2,657A. 1R. 10P. are in mosses, woods, covers,
and heath land. In 1801 the parish had a population of 2,653 souls;
1831, 3,355; and in 1841 there were 638 inhabited houses 24 uninhabited,
and 3,270 inhabitants. Rateable value, £17,466. 2s. 8d. The rectoral
tithes are commuted for £1,041. 1s., and the vicarial tithes for £636.
Some part of the land is mossy, others of a peaty nature, and in some
instances gravelly; there is also a portion of clay soils, of a reddish
colour. The township of Prees contains 3,854A. 3R. 11P. of land, and is
intersected by the Ellesmere, Whitchurch, Newport, Shrewsbury, and Market
Drayton turnpike roads. Rateable value, £5,474, 8s. 8d. In 1841 here
were 302 houses and 1,473 inhabitants. The land has a bold undulating
surface, and commands interesting views of the surrounding country.
Prees is celebrated as the birth place of the Salopian hero General Lord
Hill, and has acquired importance from its contiguity to Hawkston, the
magnificent seat of Viscount Hill. In the 43rd of Henry III. the Bishop
of Coventry and Lichfield had a grant of a market here on a Tuesday, and
of a fair on the eve, the day, and the morrow of St. Chad the Bishop,
with the liberty of free warren. In the 35th of Edward I. the market was
changed to Wednesday, but the markets were never of much consideration,
and subsequently were discontinued. Two fairs are, however, still held,
on the second Monday in April and the second Monday in October, for the
sale of sheep and cattle, which are well attended by the farmers and
graziers of the surrounding country. Viscount Hill is lord of the manor,
and the principal landowner. Sir R. C. Hill, Bart.; George Harper, Esq.;
John Dickin, Esq.; and a few others are also proprietors.
GENERAL LORD HILL, whose brilliant military services have acquired such
general renown, was born at Prees, August 11, 1772. His lordship entered
the army in the sixteenth year of his age, and commenced his military
duty at Edinburgh. His friends being anxious for his early promotion,
obtained permission for him to raise an independent company, which gave
him the rank of captain in the army, in the year 1792. In the interval
of his being attached to any particular corps, he accompanied Frances
Drake, Esq., on a diplomatic mission to Genoa, from whence Captain Hill
proceeded to Toulon, and was employed as aide-de-camp to Lord Mulgrave,
General O’Hara, and Sir David Dundas, successive generals there. He was
deputed by Sir David Dundas to be the bearer of the despatches to England
relating to the evacuation of Toulon by the British. He was shortly
after promoted to a lieutenant-colonelcy in the 90th regiment, and went
through a great deal of arduous duty at Gibraltar, and had his full share
in the memorable Egyptian campaign. In the action of the 13th of March
Colonel Hill commanded the advanced guard, and received a wound in the
right temple from a musket ball, the force of which was providentially
averted by a strong brass binding in front of his helmet; the blow,
however, was severe, and he was removed from the field of battle in a
state of insensibility. After the return of the troops from Egypt, the
90th was ordered to proceed to Ireland, where Lord Hill continued to
perform his regimental duty till he was appointed brigadier-general.
Early in the summer of 1808 he joined the army in England, destined to
act in the Peninsula. In the battles of Roleia and Vimiera he was fully
employed, and gained the thanks and approbation of his comrades; and
during the whole of Sir John Moore’s advance and retreat Lord Hill
continued indefatigible in his exertions. His humanity and attention to
the troops on their landing at Plymouth earned him the admiration of the
inhabitants, and he was voted the freedom of the borough. About this
time he became possessed of the seat and estate of Hardwick Grange, left
him by his uncle, Sir Richard Hill, Bart. At the battle of Talavera Lord
Hill was slightly wounded on the head, but his firmness and courage in
repelling the successive attacks of the French, greatly contributed to
the success of the day. The generalship and activity of Lord Hill in
surprising and capturing a French corps under General Girard, in Spanish
Estremadura, is deserving of commemoration. The force that Girard had
with him consisted of 2,500 infantry and 600 cavalry, the whole of which
were totally dispersed or captured. Among the latter were General Brune,
the Prince d’Aremberg, several colonels, thirty captains and subalterns,
and upwards of 1,000 soldiers, with the whole of their baggage,
artillery, and commissariat. The enemy’s loss in killed was very severe,
whilst from the activity and skilful manœuvres of Lord Hill, it was very
trifling on the side of the British. Lieutenant-general Hill, during his
detached command in Spain, was principally opposed to Soult, perhaps the
most able general whom Napoleon employed in that country; and the
acuteness of General Hill in foreseeing the intentions of that officer
very materially contributed to the happy results of the action at Buzaco.
In the memorable battle of Vittoria the centre of the allied army was
commanded by the Duke of Wellington, and the right by Lord Hill. Here
the enemy were completely routed, and the booty which was captured was
immense. Besides the baggage horses, and other articles taken on the
field, the value of the specie, plate, and jewels, was estimated at six
millions of dollars. Of this sum only 100,000 dollars came to the
military chest; the rest was divided by the troops on the spot. When
Lord Hill occupied the valley of Bastan with an army of 3,000 men, he was
attacked by a force of 14,000 men; but notwithstanding the superiority of
the numbers, the enemy acquired but little advantage over these brave
troops, during the seven hours they were engaged. At the conclusion of
another brilliant achievement shortly after, the noble Wellington rode up
to Lord Hill, and in the spirit of a great and candid mind said, “Hill,
this is all your own.” The various other engagements in which Lord Hill
took a prominent position, our limits will not allow us to notice. On
his return to his native country, every token of honour was manifested by
his grateful countrymen, and on his first visit to Shrewsbury thousands
went out to meet him, and his lordship was presented with the freedom of
the borough in a gold box. But the most splendid and durable token of
gratitude and esteem is the column erected in Shrewsbury to his honour,
which is the largest Doric column in the world. On the unexpected return
of Napoleon from Elba, the allied sovereigns immediately flew to arms, on
which occasion Lord Hill again obeyed the voice of his sovereign, and in
the memorable battle of Waterloo, on the 18th June, 1815, his lordship
gave fresh proofs of his skill, bravery, and intrepidity. In this
conflict Lord Hill’s favourite charger was shot under him; and whilst he
was on foot, completely exposed to the enemy, he was discovered by an
officer of Lord Wellington’s staff, who procured him the horse of a
French dragoon. For a full hour the officers of his lordship’s staff
were in a state of the greatest consternation, and twice met under the
apprehension that their beloved general had fallen. On the Duke of
Wellington accepting office as prime minister, in 1828, Lord Hill was
appointed commander-in-chief. The following are the titles and dignities
which he bore:—Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight
of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight of the Grand Cross
of the Guelphic Order, Knight of the Order of Maria Theresa, Knight of
the Russian Order of St. George, Knight of the Belgian Order of Wilhelm,
Baron Hill of Almarez, Hawkstone, and Hardwick Grange.
THE CHURCH, a venerable fabric of red sandstone in the Norman style of
architecture, consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles, and a square
tower, in which are six musical bells. The body of the church is of much
older date than the tower, which is of modern construction. The church
is entered by a fine old porch; the interior has a solemn and imposing
appearance; and the chancel contains several beautifully designed
monuments of exquisite workmanship: that to the memory of Sir John Hill,
with figures in _basso relievo_, is a most admirable specimen of modern
sculpture. Major-general Clement Hill is remembered on a neat tablet
erected by his friends and comrades in the Madras presidency, and by the
officers of the Royal Horse Guards, in testimony of their love for his
person and esteem for his character. He was born at Prees, on December
6th, 1781, and died at the Falls of Guersoppa, and was buried at Hanowar,
22nd January, 1845. There are various other memorials, and over the
charity box is a curiously-carved figure of the Saviour. The churchyard
is elevated, and commands a fine view of Hawkstone hills and the distant
country. There are several fine old yew trees of considerable girth.
The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s book at £10; now returned
at £507; in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield, and incumbency of
the Venerable Archdeacon John Allen, M.A. The rectoral tithes of this
township are commuted for £329. 15s. 9d., and the vicarial for £83. 2s.
7d. The vicarage, a good residence, has been rebuilt on the site of a
former edifice, by the present incumbent; the gardens and pleasure
grounds are tastefully laid out.
THE INDEPENDENTS have a small chapel in Prees, with a burial ground
attached; the Rev. Samuel Minshall is the minister. THE PRIMITIVE
METHODISTS also have a small chapel here. There is a NATIONAL SCHOOL and
an INFANT SCHOOL, which are numerously attended. PREES HALL, the
property and residence of Sir Robert Chambre Hill, Bart., J.P., is a
commodious, pleasantly-situated, and well built mansion of brick.