hundred, is remarkable in history as a place in which King Charles II.
concealed himself from his pursuers, after the unfortunate battle of
Worcester. The liberty comprises two houses and 691A. 2R. 17P. of land,
of which eighty acres are in woods, and is situated on the eastern verge
of the county, adjoining Staffordshire, seven miles east from Shiffnal.
The bold eminence upon which Boscobel is situated is most delightful, and
is one of the finest tracts of table land in England; the scenery is most
extensive, beautiful, and varied. Boscobel manor house is a spacious and
ancient timbered mansion exhibiting a fine specimen of the domestic
architecture of bygone days; part of it has been recently modernized and
stuccoed, which gives it a light and handsome appearance. The house
stands partly in Shropshire and partly in Staffordshire, and the southern
portion now forms the summer residence of the Misses Evans, of Darley,
near Derby. The dining room is spacious, and the walls are wainscotted
with oak, exhibiting some fine carving; on the right of the entrance is
shown the secret recess through which King Charles II. made his escape
from the house to the oak tree when pursued by the infuriated rebels.
There is a fine painting in this room of the youthful monarch, and in a
side room is a beautifully executed painting of Oliver Cromwell.
Although the interior of the mansion has been much improved and
beautified from time to time, yet whatever relates to the concealment of
the unfortunate Charles has been preserved with the greatest care. On
ascending the staircase is seen the bed room and the secret recess where
he took shelter from his pursuers, and which communicates with the garden
by a trap-door. In the upper room is what is denominated the “sacred
hole” from the circumstance of his majesty occasionally concealing
himself there, the trap-door and step-ladder remain in their original
state.
The following circumstances relating to this remarkable and interesting
event are taken from various authorities:—His majesty, as soon as he
perceived which way the victory at the disastrous battle of Worcester
inclined, was not unmindful to provide for his own safety. He had during
the battle performed all the offices both of a valiant man and a good
commander, riding about incessantly to encourage his soldiers, and when
he saw they began to fail he was heard to utter this pathetic expression,
“Rather shoot me than let me live to see the sad consequences of this
fatal day.” Many parties of horse were sent out through all the country
after the flying troops. Few of the infantry escaped from the field
alive, and but about three thousand horse, of whom one thousand were
taken near Bewdley by Colonel Barton, and more by others in different
places. In this fatal engagement the number of the slain was supposed to
be three thousand, among whom were many of the nobility and gentlemen,
and principal officers who supported the royal cause. The king lost a
hundred and fifty-eight stand of colours, his standard bearer, his collar
of S.S., his coach and horses, and other things of great value. His
majesty after the battle was very narrowly searched for, and it was on
his account that the greater diligence was employed in following and
intercepting the routed Scots; but notwithstanding all the search and
inquiry no news could be heard, nor could any one certainly tell what was
become of him. When the enemy had forced the gate, all possible care was
taken to secure his majesty, and for this purpose the Earl of Cleveland,
Sir James Hamilton, and others, kept the enemy engaged in Sudbury street,
while the king unpursued took his way with a body of horse through St.
Martin’s gate about six o’clock in the evening. When he arrived at
Brabon’s bridge, about half a mile from the town, he halted in order to
advise with a few noblemen and gentlemen that were with him, and as there
was not the slightest probability of being able to rally again, it was
determined with all speed to make their way to Scotland. Having
proceeded about half way to Presteign, the king was informed that a
detachment of troops was in pursuit of him, on which he immediately
changed his route to Shropshire, the Earl of Derby recommending Boscobel
house as a place of temporary sanctuary. Mr. Giffard and Mr. Yates
having been chosen as guides, they arrived at break of day, at a house
called White Ladies, about half a mile from Boscobel. This house was
formerly a monastery of Cistercian nuns, who from their habit were
denominated the White Ladies, and this name, notwithstanding the
abolition of the order, adhered to the house.
Here his majesty was committed to the care of the Pendrills, and for his
better disguise, put on the green Kendal breeches and leathern doublet of
Richard Pendrill. Lord Wilmot who performed the office of barber, cut
the hair of the King in a most rustic manner, and caused his hands and
face to be discoloured with the intention of giving him the appearance of
a country labourer. His majesty thus transformed, with a wood bill in
his hand assumed the character of a wood cutter, and was taken by a back
road into a wood called Spring Coppice belonging to Boscobel House, by
Richard Pendrill, who attended the King while the three other brothers of
Richard were set to watch and give intelligence of any threatened danger.
A short time after the King had left the house a party of horse came to
search it; it was therefore thought the safest course for his majesty to
remain in the wood all that day, although the rain fell in torrents. The
King being in urgent want of refreshment, made his wishes known to
Richard Pendrill, who accordingly applied to the wife of Francis Yates to
provide some provision for a person in want and to carry it to an
appointed place in Boscobel wood. She accordingly provided a dish of
such fare as her cottage afforded, and taking a blanket with her,
proceeded therewith to the wood. On her approaching the spot fixed upon
she perceived the King, who being much surprised at the appearance of a
woman, became apprehensive that she might possibly divulge the secret of
his retreat, till demanding of the good woman if she could be faithful to
a distressed cavalier, she answered “Yes Sire, I would rather die than
discover you.” At night his majesty resolved to proceed into Wales, and
take Richard Pendrill with him as his guide; they began their journey
that night to Madeley, where lived a zealous royalist named Wolfe. The
night was very dark and as they passed by Evelyn bridge, Richard
permitting a gate to clap too loudly, brought out a miller at that place,
and on his bidding them stand Richard ran through the water and the King
followed by the sound of his calfskin breeches. The miller imagining
that these persons were on the search was not less alarmed than they
were, having then under his protection in the mill several fugitive
loyalists who had escaped from the bloody field of Worcester. On their
arrival at Madeley they proceeded to Wolfe’s house, but there being so
many soldiers in the neighbourhood it was considered unsafe for them to
remain in the house, and they found refuge in a hay-loft which was their
bed till Friday night. It had been his majesty’s intention to pass the
Severn and so proceed into Wales, but learning that all the passages over
the river were strictly guarded and that all the ferry boats were
stopped, they returned somewhat late on Friday night towards Boscobel.
Colonel Carles, who when his majesty left Worcester was bravely combating
the enemy in Sudbury street to favour the King’s escape, was now come to
that place for refuge and relief. The Colonel who was well acquainted
with the house and its inhabitants, having been born and educated not far
off, was no sooner informed that the King was in the wood than he
hastened with joy to present himself to his majesty. After mutual
congratulations they proceeded to the house to refresh themselves, and
then immediately retiring into the wood and finding a large oak whose
branches afforded them a safe retreat, they ascended the tree, and with
the help of cushions made a tolerable abode there till night. At night
they betook themselves again to the house where his majesty thought
proper for the future to trust himself while he remained in that part of
the country, being much pleased with a secret corner which William
Pendrill shewed him, where the Earl of Derby concealed himself after the
misfortune of his defeat at Wigan. Being now in hopeful security he
permitted William Pendrill to shave him and cut his hair short at the
top, but leaving it long about the ears, as was the country mode in those
days.
On Humphrey Pendrill going to Shiffnal to pay his share of the monthly
tax, he was accosted at the house of Captain Broadway, by a colonel who
had come hither to enquire after the search of the White Ladies. The
colonel understanding that Humphrey lived near the place, put him to a
strict examination, and after he had tried the effect of menaces to
induce a confession, began to tempt him by the reward of the thousand
pounds which was offered to the person that discovered his majesty;
Humphrey’s discreet answers, however, rendered his dissembled ignorance
the more unsuspected. On this being told to his majesty he was
determined to leave Boscobel, and it was arranged that he should ride
upon Humphrey Pendrill’s mill horse, for Humphrey was miller at the White
Ladies Mill. The king mounted his steed on Monday evening and was
attended by four of the Pendrills and their brother-in-law Francis Yates,
who guarded him on the road with bills and pike staves. Humphrey led the
horse by the bridle, and on his majesty complaining that it was the
dullest jade he ever rode on, Humphrey made a witty apology for his steed
by telling his majesty that it was no wonder he went so slow since he
carried the weight of three kingdoms on his back. The King at this time
was dressed in a leathern doublet and an old greasy hat, his hands and
face being coloured with soot and walnut leaves. In this way they
journeyed to Moseley in Staffordshire, and there found a place of safety
in the house of Mr. Whitgrave, who had formerly been engaged in the
king’s service, and being a suspected person his house was searched while
the king was there, but the readiness of Mr. Whitgrave to let the
soldiers enter, and his open deportment, gave the men so much
satisfaction that they went away with little more than a bare enquiry.
The White Ladies was also searched the same day, on the information of an
ensign, and the proprietor strictly questioned about the king with a
musket presented at his breast. He acknowledged that a large party had
been there who had almost eaten him out of house and home, but the king
he did not know from any other man, and no such person being there to be
found, the searchers at last went away, storming that they had troubled
themselves so much in vain, and the ensign was paid for his diligence
with blows and contempt. The King on one occasion being concealed in a
house belonging to Mrs. Jane Lane, his pursuers having some idea of his
being there, came in a body to examine it, but on Mrs. Lane observing
their approach she immediately clad the king in a rustic dress and put a
slouched hat on his head, and on the entering of the soldiers Charles
looked around, which the good old dame observing seized a basting ladle,
and giving the king a sharp blow on the back exclaimed in apparent anger
“And what do you stare at, you dog you; why don’t you mind what you’re
about.” This reprimand furnished the King with a pretext for keeping his
eyes towards the spit, by which means he escaped discovery.
His majesty having gratefully acknowledged the kindness of Mr. Whitgrave,
went with Lord Wilmot to Colonel Lane’s, at Bentley, where shortly after
he had an opportunity of being conveyed to Bristol, in order to embark
for France. Miss Jane Lane procured a pass for herself and servant, to
visit a pretended sister of hers who resided near to Bristol, and in the
journey his majesty assumed the character of Miss Lane’s servant; Colonel
Lascelles, Miss Lane’s relation, with his wife behind him, accompanied
them; and Lord Wilmot, with a hawk in his hand, as if he had met them
accidentally, and had occasion to travel that way. In passing through
Broomsgrove they were obliged to employ a smith to shoe one of the
horses; the conversation of the bystanders was of the battle of Worcester
and the king’s escape. His majesty, amidst many conjectures, gave it as
his decided opinion that the king had fled to Scotland, and lay concealed
there. “I rather think,” replied the smith, “that he remains somewhere
concealed in England, and how glad should I be if I knew where.” On the
third day they arrived at the house of Mr. George Norton, of Leigh, about
two miles from Bristol, where the king was introduced as the son of one
of her father’s tenants, and on pretence of suddenly being attacked with
fever, kept his bed, and was attended by Dr. George, who asked the sick
man many questions about the king’s escape, and being told by his majesty
that he did not wish to be troubled with such questions, declared that he
could not help thinking that his patient was a sider with the roundheads.
His majesty had not been long here before he was discovered by the
butler, who had formerly been in the service of his royal father. This
man, on the promise of close secrecy and loyalty, was entrusted by his
majesty in several important services. From this place he proceeded
amidst great dangers, experiencing unchanging fidelity, to
Brighthelmston, in Sussex, when on the 15th of October, 1659, he took
sail in a small coasting vessel, employed in the colliery trade, and
being favoured with a prosperous gale they arrived in a short time at
Feccam, a small sea port in Normandy, his majesty assisting himself to
steer the vessel. From Feccam his majesty proceeded to Roan, and on the
30th October was met on his journey to Paris by his mother, the Queen
Dowager of Great Britain, his brother the Duke of York, the Duke of
Orleans, and other nobles of France, with a great retinue of English and
French gentlemen.
On the restoration of King Charles, the family of the Pendrills, who
consisted of five brothers, attended upon his majesty on the 13th of
June, 1660, at Whitehall, when the king was pleased to remark that the
simple rustic who serves his sovereign in the time of need to the extent
of his ability, is as deserving of our commendation as the victorious
leader of thousands. “Friend Richard,” rejoined the king, “thou wert my
preserver and conductor—the bright star that shewed me my way to
Bethlehem, for which kindness I will engrave thy memory in the tablet of
a grateful heart;” and having requested Richard to state to the lords in
attendance what passed when he quitted the oak at Boscobel, “Your
majesty,” replied Richard, “must well remember that when brother Humphrey
brought his old mill horse from White Ladies, not accoutered with
knightly gear, but with a pitiful old saddle and bridle; not attended
with royal guards, but only by half a dozen raw and undisciplined
rustics, who had but little else but good will to defend your majesty; it
was when your majesty mounted, and as we journeyed your majesty did most
heartily complain of the jade you rode on, and said it was the dullest
creature you ever met with, whereupon Humphrey remarked, ‘My liege, can
you blame the horse to go heavily when he had the weight of three
kingdoms on his back?’”
The royal oak before mentioned stood about 200 yards from the house, and
was a flourishing tree, the branches of which were so richly covered with
ivy that the soldiers who were in pursuit of the king, and who suspected
him to be there, could not discover him. In the course of time the
original oak was so mutilated by visitors that to preserve its remains
the Fitzherberts erected a brick wall around it. The tree, however, has
long been destroyed, and there is now standing on the site a flourishing
oak, produced from an acorn of the old tree, for the preservation of
which a lofty iron palisading surrounds it. The following inscription on
a brass plate is affixed to the bole of the tree:—
“Felicissimam Arborem,
Quam in Asylum Potentissimi Regis Caroli II.,
Deus optimus maximus per quem Regis regnant
Hic crescere voluit
Tam in perpetuam rei tantæ memoriam,
Quam in specimen firmæ in Regis fidei.
Muro cinctum posteris commendant
Basilius et Jana Fitzherbert.
Quod Pietatis monumentum vestustate collapsum,
Paternarum vertutum Hieredes,
Et evitæ in Principes fidei amulatores.
In integrum restituerunt
Basilius et Eliza Fitzherbert,
iiii Cal Junii, A.H.S., MDCCLLXXXII.
Qua ex arbore Quercum hanc uti fertur ortam,
Ferreis his quæ hodie sunt repagulis.
Circummunivit
Ejusdam hujusce agri possesor,
Evdemque erga Regis animo prædita.”
THE CONVENT OF WHITE LADIES.—Near half a mile south from Boscobel, in a
sequestered and romantic spot, are the ruins of the Nunnery of White
Ladies, an establishment of nuns of the Cistercian order, designated the
White Ladies by reason of the conventical habit which they adopted being
of that colour, as also to distinguish it from another establishment in
its immediate vicinity, denominated the Black Ladies, situated at
Bishop’s Wood, in the county of Stafford. The ruins of this venerable
structure are mantled with ivy, and the walls of the church are of
immense thickness, with a recessed circular doorway. It is dedicated to
St. Leonard, and the foundation is supposed to have been as ancient as
the time of King Richard I., or King John. The two seals that have been
met with relating to this establishment represent the virgin and child,
one of which bears the legend, “SIGILLUM COMMUNE NIGRARUM MONALIUM
D’BRE,” and the other “S. CONVENT. S. MARIE NIGRAS D’NARUM,” and seem to
have been used as the common seal of the White Ladies and Black Ladies
conjointly, these two houses having been considered as comprising the
convent of Brewood. The ruins and grounds of this religious house are
walled in, and the interior, which is spacious, is nearly covered with
gravestones. It is still used as a place of sepulchre by members of the
catholic religion. There are several tablets on the walls, and some
remarkable epitaphs. On a gravestone is the following inscription: “Here
lies Winifred White, late of Wolverhampton, who was instantaneously cured
of hemiphegia by bathing in St. Winifred’s well, Flintshire, June 11th,
1805. She died of consumption, January 13th, 1824, aged 45 years. May
she rest in peace.” The White Ladies Nunnery became celebrated in
history from the circumstance of its having afforded a temporary shelter
and a place of successful concealment to his Majesty King Charles II.,
immediately on his flight from the disastrous and fatal battle of
Worcester. At the dissolution of religious houses, this nunnery, then
styled the Convent of Brewood, consisted of six religious. The total
revenue was stated to amount annually to £31. 1s. 4d. In the reign of
Henry VIII. the site was granted to William Whorwood; it is now possessed
by the Catholic community. The Misses Evans are the principal
freeholders in Boscobel, and have been instrumental in building a church
at Bishop’s Wood, which has just been completed. The ladies also
liberally contribute towards the education of the children, and in
supplying the necessities of the poor in this vicinity.
The principal residents are Miss Elizabeth Evans, Boscobel House; Miss
Fanny Evans, Boscobel House; Mrs. Walker; Thomas Wilson, farmer, White
Ladies; Thomas Wilson, jun., farmer, Boscobel Farm.
CLAVERLEY
is an extensive parish in the Bridgnorth division of the Brimstree
hundred, comprising the townships of Aston, Beobridge, Broughton,
Claverley, Dallicott, Farmcott, Gatacre, Heathton, Hopstone, Ludstone,
Shipley, Sutton, and Woundale, and embraces 8,145A. 0R. 39P. of land. In
1801 there were 1,328 inhabitants; 1831, 1,521; 1841, 1,669; and in 1851,
1,612, of whom 825 were males, and 787 females. The last census shows a
decrease of 57 persons in ten years. Gross estimated rental of the
parish, £17,796. 8s. 2d. Rateable value, £15,766. 10s. The tithes have
been commuted for £2,060. 13s. 6d. The principal landowners are Edward
Lloyd Gatacre, Esq.; George Mackenzie Kettle, Esq.; Edward Farrer Acton,
Esq.; Farmer Taylor, Esq.; Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq., M.P.; William
Wilson, Esq.; John Wilson, Esq.; Thomas Wilson, Esq.; Thomas H. Windle,
Esq.; Thomas Boycott, Esq.; and Mrs. Emma Fox; besides whom there are
several smaller freeholders. The village of Claverley is well built and
pleasantly situated, six miles east from Bridgnorth, and ten miles
south-west from Wolverhampton. At the census in 1841, the township
contained 90 houses and 404 inhabitants. This was the birth-place of Sir
Robert Brooke, who was educated at Oxford, from whence he removed to the
Middle Temple. In 1553 he became chief justice of the common pleas, in
which office he conducted himself with inflexible integrity, and died in
1558. He published several works, among which are, “An Abridgment of the
Year Books,” in folio; “Certain Cases Adjudged;” and “Reading on the
Statutes of Limitations.” Richard Dovey, the founder of the Free School,
bequeathed eight shillings per annum to a poor man of this parish who
should undertake to awaken sleepers and whip out dogs from the church of
Claverley during divine service. King Charles II. granted the
inhabitants a charter to exempt them from paying tolls.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to All Saints, is an antique structure, exhibiting
various styles of architecture, and consists of nave, chancel, side
chapels, and side aisles, with a square tower, in which are six bells.
The body of the church is neatly pewed, and will accommodate about eight
hundred persons. There is a gallery at the west end, upon which is an
organ, erected in the year 1840 at a cost of £180. The pulpit is of oak,
and has been beautifully carved at the expense of the present incumbent.
The side chapels are the property of the ancient family of Gatacre. In
the south chapel is an altar tomb, dated 1558, on which are three full
length figures, in a recumbent position, in memory of Lord Chief Justice
Brooke and his two wives. On the sides of the tomb, in basso-relief, are
small figures of his eighteen children. A beautiful memorial window of
stained glass, exquisitely executed, remembers Colonel Gatacre, who died
in the year 1849. Another has been erected to the memory of Arabella,
wife of the late Colonel Gatacre. One of the windows has recently been
beautified with stained glass by Edward Lloyd Gatacre, Esq. The church
contains several neat mural tablets to deceased members of some of the
principal families of the parish. The font, which is of free-stone, has
been painted in imitation of marble. The living is a perpetual curacy,
returned at £267, in the patronage of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq.,
M.P.; incumbent, Rev. George Hilder Betterton Gabert, M.A. The parish
register dates from the year 1568. The ancient stone cross, now standing
in the church-yard, was removed from the central part of the village some
years ago, in consequence of its obstructing the traffic of the road.
This is called The Processional Cross of Claverley, and was erected, it
is presumed, in the 33rd of Edward III., to commemorate the dreadful
plague which devastated this neighbourhood, and carried the horrors of
death into every dwelling. When the tithes were commuted £1,599. 8s.
were apportioned to T. C. Whitmore, Esq., £448. 5s. 6d. to other lay
impropriators, and £12 to the Incumbent of Claverley. THE PARSONAGE
HOUSE is a neat brick structure, pleasantly situated near the church.
THE NATIONAL SCHOOL, situated on the east side of the church-yard, was
built in the year 1790; about 60 children attend. There is also a Girls’
School in the village, supported by voluntary subscriptions, which has an
attendance of about thirty children.