bestowed on Malvesyn, “one of those two hundred and sixty knights famous
in the conqueror’s army,” who fought in his cause at Hastings, and by
whose means he won the crown of England. Malvesyn having braved all the
dangers, and therefore having a right to share the spoils of victory,
would be eager to fix his residence on some of the conquered lands. His
valour was rewarded by the grant of the lordship of Rideware, which was
probably held by this Norman knight, under the Earls of Shrewsbury by the
knightly tenure of bearing arms against the Welsh. He got possession of
other lands about the same period, among which was the lordship of
Berwicke Juxta Attingham, which he held under the same barony, by
military service; and as the leading branch of this family gave their
name to the seigniory of Manvesin Rosny, in France, so we find the
younger branch communicated the same name to the respective lordships of
Manvesin Ridware, and Manvesin Berwick, in England, where this family
flourished in the days of our Henrys and Edwards—a knightly race in an
age of gallantry; foremost like their Norman kindred in deeds of arms and
works of piety. The situation, however, not being very distant from the
borders of Wales, and holding the domain by the tenure of border service,
his descendants found it no easy task to defend what their common
ancestor had won by the sword. In the reign of Henry IV. John Malvesyn
being slain at a hunting match, with men of Shropshire, at the Wrekin,
and dying without issue, his niece Editha carried the Berwick estate into
the family of Wydcomb, from whom it passed in like manner to the
Hambrooks, and was purchased from them by the ancestor of the present
proprietor, Lord Berwick.
CHILTON, CRONKHILL, and EMSTREY are three small townships for highway
purposes, in the parish of Atcham on the western side of the river
Severn, near the Holyhead and Shrewsbury turnpike road. The land in
Chilton is chiefly the property of Robert Burton, Esq. Cronkhill is the
property and seat of the Right Hon. Richard Noel Hill Lord Berwick, whose
principal seat is Attingham hall. The house at Cronkhill is a plain
stuccoed structure. EMSTREY is situated about two miles and a half from
Shrewsbury, and has upwards of 500 acres of land, which is the property
of Lady Tyrwhitt. UCKINGTON township is situated on the eastern side of
the Severn; the land is the property of the Duke of Cleveland, who is
also the impropriator.
CHARITIES.—_Joseph Jones_, by will, 1729, directed that six o’clock
prayers in St. Alkmund’s church, Shrewsbury, should be continued for
ever, for which purpose he gave a yearly rent charge of £7. 10s., issuing
out of his tenement and lands in Astley, £6 thereof yearly to be paid to
the vicar or curate of the parish of St. Alkmund, or St. Mary, or on
their neglect to such other minister of the church of England as should
read prayers in either of the said churches about the hour of six o’clock
in the evening, and 20s. to the clerk, and 10s. to the sexton for
officiating on such occasions; and in case of neglect or refusal, he gave
the said legacy to the poor of the parish of Atcham, to be applied in the
education of poor children, or in the maintenance of decayed
housekeepers; and he further directed that the payment of 20s. yearly,
for the instruction of two poor boys or girls in the charity school of
Shrewsbury, should be continued for ever, if his wife should think fit.
And as to the residue of the rents of the lands in Astley, he bequeathed
the same to his wife, with liberty for her to sell a parcel of land
called the Wood Meadow; and after her decease, without issue, he decided
that she, by her will or otherwise, should dispose of the remainder of
the rents reserved upon the lease to such charitable uses as she should
think fit; but for want of such appointment after his wife’s decease, he
directed that as there was divine service in the chapel of Astley only
every third Sunday in the month, 10s. monthly should be paid to a
minister to read prayers and preach in the said chapel every first and
last Sunday in the month; but in case of neglect or refusal, he gave the
rent charge to the poor of Atcham and Astley, or for educational
purposes, at the discretion of the trustees. As executor to Thomas Cox,
Mr. Jones had in his hands a legacy of £5, given for the poor of Atcham,
and a sum of £30 entrusted to him by the Bromley, to buy coals for the
poor of Shrawardine; for securing the payments of 5s. and 30s. as
interest of the above, Mr. Jones charged his lands in Astley and Coleham
with the payment thereof. Elizabeth Jones directed the six o’clock
prayers should he continued in the parish of St. Alkmund as mentioned in
her husband’s will; and the yearly sums of £6. 20s., and 10s. paid as by
him directed; and she appointed 40s. to be paid to the said minister to
provide candles during the winter, in case the parish should refuse, and
£5 yearly to be paid to the organist of St. Mary’s. The estate at Astley
contains 58A. 2R. 6P., and when the charity commissioners published their
report, produced a yearly rental of £60, out of which £6 is paid to the
minister of Astley, £5 to the organist of St. Mary’s, and £1. 10s. to the
poor of Shrawardine. Though the last-mentioned payment, and the interest
of £5 as Cock’s legacy, were charged upon the testators’ estates in
Shrewsbury and Coleham, as well as that in Astley, the Shrewsbury and
Coleham estates have been sold or passed to different hands as being
exonerated from the charge. Nothing has been paid for many years for
maintaining prayers in the church of St. Alkmund, or St. Mary’s,
Shrewsbury, the duty required not having been performed. The interest of
Cock’s legacy is to be considered as included in the portion of the
residue paid to the parish. After the payment of the several sums above
mentioned, and any incidental expenses that may be incurred, the residue
is divided between the parish of Atcham and the township of Astley, £40
generally to the former, and £10 to the latter. The Atcham portion is
disposed of with the produce of other charities, in money or clothing, on
St. Thomas’s day, chiefly among such of the poor as do not receive
parochial relief.
_Thomas Burton_, _Esq._, of Longnor, in 1730, bequeathed £10 per annum
for the use of the poorest inhabitants of this parish, and charged an
estate in Berwick with the payment of the same. The amount is given away
with the produce of Jones’s charity.
_The Countess of Harborough_, in 1765, left to the poor of this parish
the sum of £200, the interest to be annually distributed by the patron
and minister of Atcham. This sum was laid out, in the year 1792, in the
purchase of £193. 11s. 6d. stock, four per cent. annuities, and in the
year 1803 the sum of £44. 2s. 10d., which was raised by suffering the
dividends to accumulate, was laid out in the purchase of additional stock
to make up the sum of £250. The dividends, amounting to £8. 15. per
annum, together with £1. 5s. added by the vicar to make up the deficiency
occasioned by the reduction of the dividends, is also disposed of with
the produce of Jones’s charity.
_Margaret Thompson_, in 1751, gave £6, the yearly interest to purchase
bibles and prayer books for poor children. This sum is in the hands of
the vicar, and he applies the interest according to the donor’s
intentions.
_Thomas Hill_, in 1779, bequeathed £100 to the vicar, churchwardens, and
overseers of Atcham, on trust, to apply the interest in relieving the
necessities of the poor not receiving parochial relief. This gift is in
the hands of Lord Berwick, who distributes annually a quantity of meat
and provisions, exceeding the amount of the interest.
In 1666 _John Cox_ left £20 to the poor of the parish. _Joan Blakeway_,
in 1684, left a yearly sum of 6s. to be distributed among the poor.
_John Calcott_, in 1698, charged a tenement in Worthen with the payment
of 12s. and 7s. a year, to be distributed among poor housekeepers of
Atcham. He also charged the same premises with the legacy of Joan
Blakeley, of 6s. yearly. It is supposed that something was paid in
respect of these charities by Scarlet Lloyd, Esq., who died about fifty
years ago. Nothing, however, has been paid since that period; and though
some pains have been taken to discover the tenement in Worthen subject to
the payment of the charities, no satisfactory information has been
obtained.
_Richard Cox_ gave £5, and directed the interest to be expended in bread
and given to the poor on Easter day. The sum of 5s. was paid in respect
of this charity for several years, by Robert Burton, Esq., of Longnor,
supposing it to be charged on property taken by him from one of the
Calcott family, in exchange for other lands. On examining the title
deeds at a subsequent period, no such charge is mentioned, and he
therefore declined paying in any longer.
_Dorothy Whitcome_ left £10 for the benefit of the poor. In 1742, this
gift, by some means which we are unable to account for, was reduced to
£4. 7s. 8½d., and at a parish meeting held in that year, it was agreed to
distribute the principal among the poor.
ATCHAM, BERWICK, CHILTON, CRONKHILL, EMSTREY, AND UCKINGTON DIRECTORIES.
The Right Hon. Richard Noel Hill, Lord Berwick, Attingham Hall and
Cronkhill
Adams John, farm bailiff, Cronkhill
Burgwin Thomas, blacksmith, Atcham
Burton Rev. Henry, the Vicarage, Atcham
Casewell Thomas, shoemaker, Atcham
Clayton John, farmer, Berwick
Cotterill Edwin, farmer, the Grange, Atcham
Ditcher Joseph, farmer, Uckington
Hand Ann, vict., Berwick’s Arms, commercial and boarding house
Higgins John, farmer, Berwick
Hughes Hannah, vict., Horse Shoe, Uckington
Leigh Edward, coal agent, to Shropshire Coal Company, Atcham
Linell Henry, farmer, Emstrey
Lowe James, farmer, Uckington
Mancell Ann, shopkeeper, Atcham
Mason Robert, wheelwright, Atcham
Miller William, farmer, Uckington
Nunnerley William, coal agent to Hazledine and Co., Atcham
Peach Miss, boarding school, Chilton
Peach William, maltster & saddler, Atcham
Price John, farm bailiff, Berwick
Price William, farmer, Chilton
Rose John, farmer, Emstrey
Vaughan John, Esq., Chilton grove
Weatherby Robert, registrar, Atcham
BOLAS MAGNA, OR GREAT BOLAS,
is a parish and small rural village, in a retired part of the country,
seven miles W. by N. from Wellington. The houses are in general
scattered, but pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Tern, which
divides this parish from Little Bolas. The parish contains 1,784 acres
of land; mostly a bold undulating district, the soil of which is a
mixture of sand and loam. The meadow lands are highly fertile. In 1801,
there were 207 inhabitants; 1831, 255; and in 1841, 55 houses and a
population of 228 souls. Rateable value, £2,682. The principal
landowners are John Taylor, Esq., Thomas Taylor, Esq., Joseph Ogle, Esq.,
and Mrs. Pooler, besides whom there are several smaller proprietors. The
Newport, Preston Brockhurst, and Wellington turnpike roads cross the
township. THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a brick
structure, except the chancel which is of stone, situated on a gentle
eminence near the banks of the river Tern. It has a square tower, which
contains two bells. The interior has a neat appearance; it is pewed with
oak sittings, and has a small gallery. In the chancel is a neat tablet
in memory of John Ogle, Esq., and his wife, dated 1840. Another mural
tablet remembers Thomas Griffith, and several members of that family, and
is dated 1745. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £7.
9s. 4½d. Gross income, £368. 14s, in the patronage of Viscount Hill,
incumbent, Rev. John Hill, M.A., who resides at THE RECTORY, a pleasantly
situated house, on elevated ground, near the banks of the river Tern.
The rectory was built a few years ago by the present incumbent, in aid of
which a grant was obtained from the governors of Queen Anne’s Bounty.
There are 46 acres of glebe land. A small organ was purchased for the
church in 1843; the cost of it, £63, was raised by subscriptions, chiefly
given by the family of Hill. There is a SCHOOL in the village, where 20
children are educated free; other children are admitted on the payment of
a small sum weekly. BOLAS HOUSE, the residence of John Taylor, Esq., is
a spacious brick structure, surrounded with neat pleasure grounds and
park-like enclosures. BURLEIGH VILLA, a good house, with projecting
gables, is approached by an avenue of trees, and delightfully situated,
is the property and residence of Thomas Taylor, Esq. Bolas is celebrated
as the place where the late Marquis of Exeter domiciled for a time under
the assumed name of Mr. Jones, courted, and married Miss Sarah Hoggins,
and finally raised her to the rank of a British peeress. At the time Mr.
Cecil visited Great Bolas, Mr. Hoggins had a farm and kept a small shop.
One evening, just as the day had closed, a stranger presented himself at
the door, and stated that he was benighted in a strange part of the
country, and would be grateful for the accommodation of a bed, or, in
case that would be inconvenient, to rest on a chair or otherwise. Mrs.
Hoggins, however, very abruptly gave a refusal, but Mr. Hoggins expressed
it as his opinion that it was their christian duty to befriend the
stranger; to which Mrs. Hoggins eventually assented. In the morning, the
stranger arose, and went to survey the farm premises and stock; but the
principal object that attracted his attention was the farmer’s daughter,
Sarah, feeding the poultry. She was a handsome girl, with a lively and
cheerful countenance, bespeaking sensibility and happiness. The heart of
the stranger was no longer his own, but he determined not to be too
premature, and therefore made an agreement to become an inmate of the
farmer’s dwelling. He employed his leisure hours in assisting Mr.
Hoggins in the rural affairs of his farm, and in domestic matters as
occasion occurred, frequently visiting Wellington in the market cart.
Mr. Jones eventually began to manifest a degree of partiality for Miss
Hoggins, and placed her at a school at Wellington. This circumstance did
not escape the notice of the neighbours, and the mysterious stranger was
the talk of the surrounding district. Most people could discover that he
was no ordinary person, and various were the suppositions as to his real
character; but generally the idea prevailed among the gossips of the
neighbourhood that he was captain of a gang of robbers, and this opinion
was strengthened by the occasional visit of strangers and the absence of
Mr. Jones every now and then for a few days, after which he had always
plenty of money. He finally made proposals of marriage to Miss Hoggins,
whose heart had from the first felt a kindred flame, and he was
accordingly accepted. He then pressed his suit with the parents, but the
cautious mother sternly refused, and thought there might be some truth in
the supposition of her neighbours as to the real character of her guest;
but the father had observed their mutual attachment, and the
conclusiveness of his reasoning, “Has he not plenty of money to keep
her?” eventually prevailed with the good old dame. After his marriage
with Sarah, he engaged masters in every branch of polite education to
accomplish his bride. In the course of time the lovely bride had a
daughter, which died, and was buried at Bolas. Her second child,
Brownlow, became the Marquis of Exeter. On the demise of his uncle, in
December, 1793, he became entitled to the honours and estates of the
Earldom of Exeter; he, therefore, found it necessary to repair to London.
He accordingly set out, as on a journey of pleasure, taking his wife with
him, and on the route called at several noblemen’s houses, where, to the
astonishment of his wife, he was welcomed in the most friendly manner.
At length they arrived at the beautiful patrimonial seat of his lordship
(Burleigh, in Northamptonshire), and on approaching the house he asked
his wife, with an air of unconcern, whether she would like it to be her
home; which she immediately assenting to, he then said, “My dear Sarah,
it is yours!” and on making his appearance in front of the house, he was
instantly recognised, and received with acclamations of joy by the family
and domestics.
His lordship shortly afterwards returned to Bolas, discovered his rank to
his wife’s father and mother, put them in a house he had built there, and
settled on them an income of £700 per annum. He also amply provided for
the brothers and sisters of his countess; and generously pensioned all
the servants and workpeople of the villa. The countess, from her
pleasing and unassuming manners, was received with the greatest
cordiality in the high circle of her noble husband, and was introduced to
her majesty, the late Queen Charlotte. She, however, lived but a short
period to enjoy her exalted station, dying in child-bed January 8th,
1797.
MESSON is a small township, in Great Bolas parish, about half a mile S.E.
from the church, the acres of which are returned with the parish. The
landowners are the Duke of Cleveland, Joseph Ogle, Esq., Mr. Collier, Mr.
Samuel Miner, Mr. William Flemming, Mr. William Wild, and Mr. Thomas
Wild. At the census in 1841 the township contained 17 houses and 85
inhabitants. MESSON HALL is now occupied by Mr. Joseph Ogle, as a farm
residence.
CHARITIES.—_Elizabeth Walker_, in 1723, bequeathed £20 to the poor of
this parish, the interest to be expended in bread, and given every Lord’s
day among the poor. _John Whitfield_, who had lived 55 years a servant
in the family of Sir Rowland Hill, and who died in 1747, left £10 for a
distribution of bread on St. John’s day.
BOLAS DIRECTORY.—William Oxon, farmer; John Betley, farmer; John Blanton,
farmer; Samuel Brasenell, shopkeeper and victualler; Fox and Hounds;
Samuel Buckley, farmer and corn miller; Richard Cherrington, shoemaker;
Richard Fox, farmer; Rev. Matthew Kinsey, curate, The Rectory; Benjamin
Phillips, wheelwright; John Taylor, Esq., Bolas House; Thomas Taylor,
Esq., Burleigh Villa.
MEESON DIRECTORY.—Thomas Bellingham, farmer, Shrey-hill; Thomas Blanton,
farmer; William Flemming, tailor; Samuel Miner, farmer; Joseph Ogle,
farmer, Meeson Hall; Thomas Wild, shoemaker; William Wild, farmer.
BUILDWAS
is a parish township and small rural village delightfully situated near
the banks of the Severn, four and a half miles N.E. from Much Wenlock.
The parish contains 2,152 acres of land, of which 350 acres are in woods
and plantations, the remainder is about equally divided in arable and
pasture or meadow lands; the soil is mostly heavy, and produces good
wheat and barley. In 1801 there was a population of 258 souls; 1831,
240, and in 1841 there were 59 houses and 273 inhabitants. A beautiful
iron bridge of one arch 130 feet span was erected by the Coalbrook-dale
Company over the Severn at this place in 1796, at an expense of £6,034.
The rise of the bridge is 24 feet, and as the road-way could not be
carried to a greater height, advantage was taken of the Schaffhausen
principal by making the ribs rise to the top of the railings, and
connecting them to the lower ribs by means of dove-tailed king posts.
The old bridge, which had narrow arches that impeded the navigation of
the river, was carried away by a flood in 1795. Walter Moseley, Esq., (a
minor), is landowner, lord of the manor, and impropriator of the tithes,
which are commuted for £350. The incumbent of the parish has a payment
of £16. 2s. 6d. issuing out of certain lands contiguous to the abbey.
THE CHURCH is a small structure of free stone, dedicated to the Holy
Trinity, and consists of nave and chancel, with a wooden turret; it was
rebuilt in 1720. It contains several neat marble tablets, one of which
on the north wall remembers Margaret Smitheman, who died 1818; another on
the south side remembers John Smitheman, and is dated 1809; Humphrey
Wheeler and his four sons are also remembered on a neat mural tablet
dated 1739, besides which there are several others. The living is a
donative in the patronage of W. Moseley, Esq. Incumbent, Rev. John
Bartlett, M.A., who resides at Marn Wood, a pleasantly situated residence
just within the bounds of Madeley parish. The poor of this parish enjoy
the benefit of a rent charge of £5 per annum, the benefaction of Miss Ann
Lacon. The annuity is received by the churchwardens, who distribute in
equal moieties at Michaelmas and Lady-day among four poor widows in
shares of 12s. 6d. each. Near to the bridge there is a respectable inn,
conducted by Mr. William Jones.
BUILDWAS ABBEY.—The magnificent ruins of Buildwas abbey are situated in a
picturesque vale, near the banks of the river Severn, whose silvery
waters are here crossed by a noble cast iron bridge, having a span of 130
feet. The massive walls of the abbey, with the grey pillars and arches,
present a fine contrast to the rich verdure which surrounds them, and
being environed with high grounds crowned with timber, it presents one of
the most lovely spots for conventual retirement that can well be
imagined. The outer walls of the abbey church are almost entire. The
structure was cruciform with a massive tower in the middle, which rested
on four pointed arches. On each side of the nave are seven pillars, with
indented capitals, from whence spring arches with obtuse points. Above
is a clerestory with small round headed windows. The side aisles, the
transept, and the chapel of the choir are entirely in ruins. Under the
north wing of the transept is the crypt, the whole of which has evidently
been groined with stone, and was supported by circular and diagonal
pillars. Over the chapter house and other apartments forming the east
side of the cloister are the remains of a second story, which was
probably the dormitory. A little eastward of the cloister are probably
the remains of the refectory. The view of this venerable structure from
the west end is peculiarly striking: the huge pillars with their bold
arches and projecting capitals, the lofty arches which supported the
tower, and the windows of the gloomy choir, contrasted with the rich
verdure, and the luxuriant ivy mantling the walls, altogether form a
solemn spectacle of fallen grandeur. The abbey was founded by Roger de
Clinton, in 1135, for monks of the order of Savigny, who were afterwards
united to the Cistercians. The house was dedicated to St. Mary and St.
Chad, and the foundation was confirmed by King Stephen, in the year 1139.
Leland in his itinerary says, “Matilda de Bohun, wife of Sir Robert
Burnell, was founder of Buildwas abbey,” but among the charters of the
monasticon there is no mention of this Matilda, and the foundation is in
two or three places ascribed to Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Chester.
Rustandus, the pope’s legate, with the assistance of the bishop of
Hereford, extorted large sums of money from the clergy; the legate
summoned the abbots of the Cistercian order to meet at Reading, when he
demanded supplies for the use of the pope and the king, which amounted to
the value of their wool. The abbots made answer that the tax was very
grievous, and therefore could come to no resolution without the consent
of their convents. Rustandus incensed at that answer acquainted the king
that the Cistercians refused to grant him supplies. The king swore that
those who refused to submit to his demands should feel the effects of his
power. There was then at court the abbot of Buildwas, whom the king
reprimanded after this manner, “What is the meaning, abbot, that you
refuse to supply my necessities; am I not your patron?” To whom the
abbot replied, “I would to God, sir, you were our patron, our father, and
defender; but it does not become your majesty to extort money from those
who can only assist you with their prayers; let the exemplary piety of
the king of France be a precedent to your majesty in this respect.” The
king replied, “I demand both your money and your prayers.” “How is that
consistent,” said the abbot, “for one of them you must be without.” At
the suppression here were twelve monks who, according to Dugdale, were
endowed with £110. 19s. 3d. per annum, but Speed estimates the value at
£129. 6s. 10d. The site, with all the land in Shropshire, Staffordshire,
and Derbyshire, were granted to Edward Lord Powis in the 29th of Henry
VIII.
An extraordinary phenomena occurred on the 27th of May, 1775, at a place
called the Birches, situated between Buildwas and Ironbridge, which will
be found noticed with the latter place.
Moseley Mrs. Elizabeth, Buildwas Park
Moseley Walter, Esq., Buildwas Park
Bartlett Rev. John, M.A., Marnwood
Birkin Charles, farmer