Worfield, two and a quarter miles north-east from the parish church. The
acres and population of the several townships in Worfield are included in
the general returns of the parish. The principal freeholders are the
executors of the late Mr. Eykyn, Mr. Green, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Patrick,
Mr. Thomas Priest, and Mr. John Richards. Ackleton House is a good
residence occupied by Mrs. Eykyn. ALLSCOTT is pleasantly situated about
a mile and a quarter north-west from Worfield; the land is the property
of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq. BARNSLEY township is situated two
miles south-east from Worfield, and the freeholders are Mr. John Hoccom,
Mr. William Hoccom, and Miss Hoccom. BENTLEY lies about two miles to the
south-west of Worfield, and is the property of George Pritchard, Esq.
Bentley House is a good brick residence beautified with tasteful pleasure
grounds, and occupied by Mr. William Sing. The farm premises which are
commodious are situate a short distance from the house. BROMLEY township
is chiefly the property of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq.; the village is
situated about a mile to the south-west of Worfield. BRADNEY, or
BRADLEY, a pleasantly situated township, half a mile east from Worfield,
is intersected by the Wolverhampton turnpike road. Bradney House, the
residence of Captain Brazier, is a beautiful modern erection with
pleasure grounds tastefully laid out. Warner House, an ancient
residence, is now occupied as a farm dwelling. Capt. James Brazier is
the land owner. BURNCOTE, or BURCOT, is a small rural village and
township situated on a gentle eminence; the principal freeholders are Mr.
John Bell Hardwick, Mr. Richard Hardwick, Mr. Parkes, and Mrs. Bache; the
township is bounded by the river Worf and the Shiffnal and Wolverhampton
turnpike road. In 1809, a large semi-circular cave was discovered at
Burcot, in which were found human bones, sculls, and the bones of several
animals. The ancient name of Bourncote, which in the Saxon language
means the cote or dwelling near to the river, of which this cave is
within a few paces serves to show the probability of this having been the
cote or dwelling, which may have given rise to the word Burcot, the
present name of the township. It is presumed the bones found in this
cave may have been those of persons who made this cave the place of their
occasional residence, and that it was destroyed by a sudden convulsion of
the rock, and downfall of the soil above it. CHESTERTON village is
delightfully situated on a gentle eminence, commanding fine views over a
country teeming with luxuriance. The residence of John Bache, Esq., is a
handsome mansion, with pleasure grounds most beautifully laid out. The
residence of Mrs. Marindin is also spacious and elegant. The landowners
are John Bache, Esq., Mrs. Marindin, Mr. Thomas Wilson, and Mr. Samuel
Marindin. Near to the village, which is about two miles N.E. from
Worfield, are the remains of a Roman encampment, which is said to have
covered an area of more than twenty acres. A small structure in this
township prior to the reformation was used as a chapel, but since that
period has been occupied as an humble dwelling; it was dedicated to St.
John the Baptist. CRANMERE, or CRANMERE HEATH, is situated about a mile
and a half to the N.W. of Worfield. The land is the property of William
S. Davenport, Esq., and Valentine Vickers, Esq. CATSTREE, another small
township, anciently formed part of the demesnes of the Saxon lords of the
manor of Worfield. The family of Catstree resided here till the year
1819. Thomas C. Whitmore, Esq., and W. S. Davenport, Esq., are the
landowners. EWDNESS, a pleasantly situated township on the Bridgnorth
and Shiffnal turnpike road, two miles north from Worfield, contains 441
acres of land, which is the property of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq.
Rateable value, £490. 4s. 10d. The tithes have been commuted, and £74
apportioned to the impropriator, and £22 to the vicar of Worfield.
Ewdness House is a commodious Elizabethan structure, with bay windows;
the interior contains some fine specimens of antique oak carving. The
house is occupied by Mr. Richard M. Barker. FENN GATE, a hamlet two
miles from Worfield, has only one farm. The land is the property of T.
C. Whitmore, Esq. HILTON is a pleasantly situated village and township
on the turnpike road from Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton, four and a half
miles N.E. from the former place. A small stream here called Hilton
Brook is crossed by a stone bridge erected in 1814, with funds raised by
subscriptions, and from the Bridgnorth turnpike trust. The principal
landowners are Mr. Samuel Ridley, Mr. Kettle, Mr. Thomas Smythe, Mrs.
Hammond, and Mrs. Smythe, besides whom are several other proprietors.
Hilton House, the residence of George Smith Dorset, Esq., is a handsome
residence with grounds tastefully laid out, besides which there are
several other good houses in the village. HOCCOM, or HOCKHAM, is a small
hamlet about two miles N.E. from Bridgnorth; the landowners are Mr. John
Meredith and Mr. William Sing. HALLON is a hamlet adjoining Worfield,
situated on a bold eminence. Hallon House, a beautiful modern erection
of considerable extent, is the residence of James Farmer, gentleman. The
freeholders are William S. Davenport, Esq., and Valentine Vickers, Esq.
HARTLEBERRY is situated N.W. from Worfield, about a mile and a quarter
from the church. Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq., is the landowner.
KINGSLOW is a small hamlet delightfully situated, three miles N.E. from
Worfield. The freeholders are Lord Lewisham and Mrs. Devey. Kingslow
House is a good residence occupied by John Farmer, gentleman. Stanlow
House is occupied as a farm residence by Mr. Thomas Wilson. The hamlet
of LITTLE GANE lies about three miles from Worfield; the freeholders and
residents are Samuel and Edward Ridley, gentlemen. OLDINGTON township is
situated two miles N.W. from Worfield, and is the property of Thomas C.
Whitmore, Esq. NEWTON, situated near to Oldington, is also the property
of the same gentleman. ROUGHTON is a well built and respectable village
on the Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton turnpike road, two and a half miles
from the former place; there are several genteel residences embosomed in
foliage, and beautified with tasteful pleasure grounds. The landowners
are John and George Pritchard, Esq., Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Stokes.
RIDDLEFORD, or RHUDDLEFORD, is of British derivation, and signifies the
Red Ford. It is a small township about two miles E. of Bridgnorth, which
formerly belonged to the family of the Walkers, a branch of the Walkers,
of Burncote and Roughton, who disposed of it to the Colley family, and
they to the late William Hardwicke, Esq., of Burncote, who married Miss
Mary Purton, by whom he had two children, John Role Hardwicke, Esq.,
deceased, and William Hardwicke, Esq., of Bridgnorth, an eminent
antiquary and genealogist, whose widow is the present proprietor. ROWLEY
is another small hamlet nearly a mile from Worfield, where William S.
Davenport and Mrs. Martha Johnson are the landowners. STANMORE is a
village and township on the Stourbridge road, two miles E. from
Bridgnorth. John and George Pritchard, Esqrs., W. S. Davenport, Esq.,
and T. C. Whitmore, Esq., are the landowners. Stanmore Grove, the
residence of R. Pigott, Esq., is a good house, pleasantly situated.
STABLEFORD, or STAPLEFORD, is a small hamlet two miles N. from Worfield,
not far from which runs the Cosford Brook. The freeholders are Mr.
Jasper, and the executors of the late Richard Taylor. SWANCOTE is
situated about a mile and a half to the N.E. of Bridgnorth. George
Pritchard, Esq., is the proprietor of the land. Swancote House, a
commodious residence pleasantly situated on a gentle eminence, and
ornamented with pleasure grounds neatly laid out, is occupied by William
Sing, Esq. WHEEL GREEN is a hamlet on the Bridgnorth and Northampton
turnpike road, three and a half miles N.E. from the former place, and
near to the river Worf. WINSCOTE is situated two miles from Worfield,
and the land is the property of T. C. Charlton, Esq. WYKEN, derived from
Wycke, (Saxon, “Place and Residence,” and Hen, British, “Old, or the Old
Place”), is a small township and manor within the parish and manor of
Worfield, situated about three miles N.E. of Bridgnorth. This manor was
granted, together with the church of Worfield, and chapel of Chesterton,
in the same parish, by King Edward II., in the 11th year of his reign, to
the dean of Lichfield, in exchange for the manor of Greenford, in
Middlesex. In the 2nd Edward VI., Richard William, then dean of
Lichfield, with the chapter conveyed this manor with the advowson of the
vicarage of the parish church of Worfield, and most of the great tithes
of that parish, to Sir John Talbot, Knight, of Albrighton, which manor
and tithes are now vested in William Sharrington Davenport, Esq., of
Davenport House, in Worfield parish. The chief landowner in this
township is Joseph Parkes, Esq., (in right of his wife Anna, the only
child of the late John Bache, Esq.,) who resides at Wyken House, situated
on the Streetford Brook, which has its confluence with the Worf below;
Mr. Nicholas and Mr. J. Mollineux are also proprietors in this township.
WORFIELD.
Bennett William, shopkeeper
Brown John, mill manager
Broadbent Rev. Cornelius Francis, M.A., The Rectory
Broughall Geo., corn miller
Clutton George, butcher
Clutton Mary, beer retailer
Crookshanks Alex., gardener
Crow Emily and Caroline, dressmakers
Cunliffe Rev. Henry, M.A., curate
Davenport Elizabeth, gentlewoman
Davenport Wm. Sharrington, Esq., and county magistrate, Davenport House
Hall John, vict., Grey Hound Inn
Humphreys Hugh, National School master
James Samuel, principal of Endowed Grammar School
Mead William, butler
Piper Mary, dressmaker
Piper Thomas, wheelwright
Powell Mr. Edwd., The Low
Price Richard, tailor
Pritchards Theophilus, game keeper
Rogers Thomas, shoemaker, and parish clerk
Sherry William, tailor
ACKLETON.
Eykyn Mrs., The Hall
Gibbons James, farmer
Holden Francis, blacksmith
Painter Thomas, shopkeeper
Poole Francis, beer-retailer and farmer
Priest Thomas, farmer
Richards John, maltster and farmer
Richards Sarah, farmer
Wilson Richard, maltster and farmer
ALLSCOT.
Reynolds Wm., shoemaker
Wray Richard, farmer
BARNSLEY.
Haccom Miss, farmer
Haccom John, farmer
Haccom William, farmer
BENTLEY.
Sing William, farmer
BROMLEY.
Iddins Thomas, farmer
Jones John, wheelwright
Smith Thomas, gentleman
Worrall Richard, farmer
BRADNEY.
Brasier Captain James
Gibbons James, farmer
BURCOTE.
Cartwright John, farmer
Hardwicke John Bell, maltster and farmer
Hardwicke Richard, farmer and corn miller, The Villa
Rowley Richard, machineman (lets)
Sharpe Mrs.
Turner Thomas, manager, Mill
CHESTERTON.
Bache John, Esquire
Holding Francis, blacksmith
Hunt John, farmer & miller
Johnson John, farmer
Marindin Ellen, gentlewoman
Smith Edward, farmer
CRANMERE.
Braidley Thomas, shoemaker
Humphreys John, farmer
CATSTREE.
Nicholls Sarah, farmer
Price John, farmer
EWDNESS.
Barker Richard M., farmer
FENN GATE.
Whitehouse Cornelius, farmer
HILTON.
Darley Thomas, farmer
Davies Edward Harrison, builder and maltster
Dorset George Smith, Esq., Hilton House
Gibbons James, Blue Barn farm
Lane James, beer retailer
Poole Mr. William
Pope William, wheelwright
Ridley Samuel, gentleman
Roles Benjamin, shopkeeper
Tolly John, blacksmith
White John, wheelwright and machine maker
Wilcox Richard, gentleman
HOCCOM.
Meredith George, farmer
Meredith John, farmer
Sing William, farmer
HALLON.
Barney Theophilus, blacksmith
Farmer James, gentleman, Hallon House
Tarrant Isaac, builder and joiner
Turner John, blacksmith
HARTLEBERRY.
Dudley Samuel, wheelwright
Littleford Thomas, senior, farmer
Wood Eleanor, shopkeeper and farmer
Wood Thomas, brick & tile maker, and farmer
KING SLOW.
Farmer John, gentleman, Kingslow farm
Wilson Thomas, Esquire, Stanlow
LITTLE GANE.
Ridley Samuel and Edward, farmers
OLDINGTON.
Worrall Arthur, farmer
Worrall Thomas, farmer
NEWTON.
Sing William, jun., farmer
ROUGHTON.
Meredith John, farmer
Pratt Edward Richard, farmer, miller, & corn factor, Brook Cottage; Corn
Mills at Smestow and Union Steam Mills, Tipton
Smith John, gentleman
Smith William, gentleman, The Hall
Smithyman Mrs Jane
Smithyman William, farmer
Stokes Martha Corser, gentlewoman
RINGLEFORD.
Ridley Samuel and Edward, corn factors, millers, maltsters, farmers,
seedsmen, and guano and tillage dealers
Wellings Benjamin, blacksmith
ROWLEY.
Johnson Martha, farmer
STANMORE.
Beeston Richard, farmer, carrier, and van proprietor
Pigot Richard, Esq., The Grove
Ridley Samuel and Edward, Grove farm
Tedstall Thos., beer-retailer
Warder James, farmer
STABLEFORD.
Hill Henry, farmer
Humphrey George, wheelwright
Jasper John, Esq., The Hall
Smith Thomas, farmer
SWANCOTE.
Sing William, Esq., Swancote House
WHEEL GREEN.
Hammond Jane, farmer and victualler, The Wheel, and Post Office
WINSCOTE.
Sing William, jun., farmer
WYKEN.
Adams Thomas, plumber, glazier, and painter
Bache Ann, gentlewoman
Lloyd James, shoemaker
Lloyd James, blacksmith
Mantle John, shopkeeper, market gardener, nurseryman and seedsman
Mollineux James, gentleman
Mollineux James, butcher and farmer
Mollineux Michael, farmer
Painter John, blacksmith
Parkes Joseph, Esq., The Hall
Piper Moses, shopkeeper
Powell William, bricklayer
THE CONDOVER HUNDRED.
The Condover hundred is bounded on the north by the liberties of
Shrewsbury, on the east by the South Bradford hundred and the Wenlock
franchise, on the west by the Ford hundred, and on the south by the
hundred of Munslow. The land presents a considerable inequality of
surface; the soil is various; in some places there is a good deal of
gravelly loam and sand, and in other places a clayey soil prevails, lying
upon the red sand stone. The Lyth hill stands within the bounds of this
hundred, and the lofty heights of the Caradoc, Lawley, and Longmynd
connect it on the south and west with the hundreds of Munslow and
Purslow. The population of this hundred in 1801 was 5,818, and in 1841,
7,349, of whom 3,701 were males and 3,648 females. At the latter period
there were 1445 inhabited houses and 73 houses building. This hundred
comprehends the Condover and the Cound divisions. The Condover division
contains the following townships and places, viz: Bayston, Betchcott,
Betton and Alkmere, Castle Pulverbatch, Chatford, Church Pulverbatch,
Churton, Condover, Cothercott, Dorrington, Frodesley, Lee Botwood,
Longnor, Meole Brace, Newton and Edgbold, Nobold, Picklescott, Pulley,
Smethcott, Stapleton, Sutton, Walkmills, Wilderley, Woolstaston, and
Wrentnall.
The Cound division contains Acton Burnell, Berrington, Church Preen,
Cound, Cressage, Harley, Kenley, Pitchford, and Ruckley and Langley.
ACTON BURNELL
is a parish and pleasant well-built village, seven miles S.S.E. from
Shrewsbury, comprising 2,650 acres of land, and in 1801 had 272
inhabitants; in 1841 there were 54 houses and a population of 311 souls.
Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, bart., is the land owner and lord of the manor,
and resides at the Hall, an elegant mansion of white free stone,
approached by a beautiful portico of the Ionic order; the pleasure
grounds are tastefully laid out, and the park commands a beautiful
prospect of the surrounding country. Near to the Hall are the ruins of
ACTON BURNELL CASTLE, which is memorable in history for a parliament held
here in the year 1283, by King Edward I., on which occasion the lords sat
in the castle and the commons in a barn. It was in this parliament that
the statute known by the name of the statute of Acton Burnell was made
for the purpose of enforcing the _statutuno de mercatoribus_. It
appoints the mode in which a statute merchant is to be made, and by whom;
fixes the manner of seizing and valuing goods for the payment of debts;
in what case the debtor shall be imprisoned, and how maintained in
prison; when sureties shall be compelled to pay the debts of their
principals, and when they are to be exempted, &c. Sir Robert Burnell,
who lived in the reign of William the Conqueror, had his seat here, and
his posterity flourished in this vicinity for a long period. Philip
Burnell, in the 54th Henry III., had the grant of a market on Tuesday,
and two fairs in the year, the one on the eve, the day, and the day after
the annunciation of the blessed Virgin, and the other on the eve, the
day, and the morrow of St. Michael the Archangel. Robert Burnell, bishop
of Bath and Wells, is said to have repaired or built the castle here in
the reign of Edward I. The walls of the castle are of immense thickness,
and adorned with battlements and rows of curiously carved windows. A
short distance from the castle stood the barn, where the commons are
stated to have assembled when the parliament was held here, it is now a
complete ruin, and the gables only remain. THE CHURCH is a venerable
fabric dedicated to St. Mary; the living is a rectory, valued in the
king’s book at £6. 10s., now returned at £350, in the patronage of Sir E.
J. Smythe and incumbency of the Rev. Edward Arthur Wainwright. Adjoining
the hall is a very beautiful CATHOLIC CHAPEL, which has recently been
considerably enlarged and improved at the cost of Sir E. J. Smythe. The
family at the hall and a great portion of the tenantry usually attend
divine worship here.
ACTON PIGOTT is a hamlet with one farm and a few cottages, one mile
north-east from Acton Burnell.
CHARITIES.—Several sums of money left to the poor by different donors
amounting in the whole to £20, were applied in repairing the workhouse,
and the inhabitants agreed to pay 20s. yearly out of the rent of the said
house, as the interest thereof, to be distributed in bread. _Edward
Bayley_, in 1789, left a rent charge of 10s. yearly for a distribution of
bread. _Thomas Smyth_, in 1673, left 5s. per annum for a distribution of
bread, to be paid “out of his estate to the world’s end, if his estate
should so long continue sufficient to make it good.” It does not appear
that anything has been paid in respect of this charity for a long period.
DIRECTORY.—Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, bart., the Hall; John William
Benbow, farmer; Edward Everall, shopkeeper; Eli Charles Moore, bailiff to
Sir E. J. Smythe; Thomas Morris, farmer; Peter Perry, farmer and
maltster, Acton Pigott; Thomas Reynolds, butcher; William Southall,
vict., Nag’s head; Rev. Edward Arthur Wainwright, rector.
RUCKLEY AND LANGLEY
is a small village and chapelry in the parish of Acton Burnell, about one
mile east from that place, and five and a half miles west from Much
Wenlock. At the census in 1801 there were eighty-two inhabitants; in
1841, fifteen houses and a population of eighty-three souls. The
chapelry contains 952 acres of land, which is the property of Sir Edward
Joseph Smythe, bart., who is also lord of the manor. The chapel is an
inconsiderable structure where divine service is performed only twice
during the year. The living is a curacy subordinate to the rectory of
Acton Burnell. LANGLEY HALL, an ancient mansion of considerable extent,
is now occupied as a farm house, and although much dilapidated it has an
imposing aspect, and shows many traces of its former grandeur. King
Charles during his troubles was for a short period concealed here; a fine
old oak table, elaborately carved, is said to have been in the hall since
the time of King Charles, and was used by that monarch as a dining table.
The _Farmers_ are George Carter, Langley; Ellen Evans, Causway wood;
Richard Farr, Mere Oak; John Grainger, Langley Hall; James Hartwright,
Ruckley; Richard Stedman, Park gate; and Edward Sumner, Ruckley.
BETTON AND ALKMERE is a small township in the parish of St. Chad, in the
Condover hundred. The parish of St. Chad is partly returned in the
Albrighton division and partly in the Ford division of the Ford Hundred,
but is chiefly situated within the limits of the borough of Shrewsbury.
The village of LITTLE BETTON, or BETTON STRANGE, is pleasantly situated
two and a half miles south from Shrewsbury, and was returned at the
census of 1841 as having ten houses and forty-eight inhabitants. The
land owners are Lord Berwick, and George Jonathan Scott, Esq., the latter
gentleman resides at a good house embosomed in foliage usually called
Betton Strange.
The principal residents are Joseph Cross, farmer; Thomas Elsmere, farmer;
and John Scott, Esq., Betton Strange.
BERRINGTON
is a small rural village pleasantly situated four and a half miles S.E.
by S. from Shrewsbury. The parish contains the several townships of
Berrington, Brompton, Betton, Cantlop, and Eaton Mascot, which together
in 1801 had a population of 603 souls; 1831, 684, and in 1841 there were
97 houses and 651 inhabitants. There was no separate return of the
respective townships at the census of 1841. The township of Berrington
contains 880 acres of land, with a fertile soil highly productive. Lord
Berwick and Sir Edward Smythe, Bart., are the principal landowners, the
latter is lord of the manor. The church is an ancient structure,
dedicated to All Saints; the living is a rectory valued in the king’s
book at £10. 12s. 1d., now returned at £400 in the patronage of Lord
Berwick, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. T. H. N. Hill. There is a
national school in the village, where 45 children are educated. BETTON
is a small township with 564 acres, which is the property of Lord
Berwick. Rateable value, £759. BROMPTON township has 864 acres, which
is also the property of Lord Berwick. Within the bounds of this township
at Cross Houses is situated the ATCHAM UNION HOUSE, a spacious brick
pile, calculated to accommodate 350 inmates. It consists of a centre and
wings; the receiving wards and infirmary are now in course of erection at
the back part of the premises, the estimated cost of which is £1,510; the
old infirmary was taken down in consequence of its being too small for
the accommodation of the patients. The average number of inmates in the
union house is usually about 200. The average annual expenditure on the
poor of the district for three years preceding the formation of the union
was £9,768. Total expenditure of the union for the year ending March,
1850, £4,101. 5s., being 4s. 4¾d. per head on the population comprised
within the union. Total number of admissions during the year, 586.
Total number relieved during the year, exclusive of vagrants, 703. The
union comprehends the following 43 parishes, viz.:—Acton Burnel,
Alberbury, Albrighton, Astley, Atcham, Battlefield, Bauseley, Berrington,
Cardiston, Church Preen, Church Pulverbatch, Condover, Cound, Cressage,
Criggion, Eaton Constantine, Fitz, Ford, Frodesley, Habberley, Hanwood,
Harley, Highley, Kenley, Leighton, Melverley, Minsterley, Montford,
Pitchford, Pontesbury, Preston Gubbals, Ruckley, Shineton, Shrawardine,
Stapleton, Sutton, Uffington, Uppington, Upton Magna, Westbury,
Withington, Woolaston, and Wroxeter. The guardians meet three times
during the month. _Chairman_: Sir B. Leighton. _Vice-Chairman_: Rev. H.
Burton. _Clerk_: Mr. Thos. Everest. _House Surgeon_: Mr. F. Whitfell.
_Relieving Officers_: Mr. George Jackson and James Hampton. _Governor_:
Mr. Robert Rowlandson. _Matron_: Mrs. Rowlandson. The New Connexion
Methodists have a small chapel in Brompton, which was built in 1836.
CANTLOP, a small township lying to the S.W. of Berrington, contains 681
acres of land, the rateable value of which is £839. The Earl of
Liverpool and E. W. S. Owen, Esq., are the principal landowners. EATON
MASCOT township contains 495 acres of land, which is the property of Mrs.
Williams. The rateable value of this township is £690.
CHARITIES.—_John Churm_, in 1629, gave £13, which was laid out in the
purchase of a rent charge of 20s. per annum, issuing out of a piece of
land called Leeberries. It is the practice to receive the payment once
in three or four years, and distribute it with other money to the poor,
in sums varying from 2s. to 5s. In 1723, _Richard Wellings_ gave £20 for
the good of the poor of Berrington. This money is now in the Savings’
Bank at Shrewsbury. _Margaret Thompson_ bequeathed £6 to buy Bibles for
poor children. This money is also in the Savings’ Bank. The interest on
this and the preceding legacy amounts to 21s. yearly, and in respect of
Thompson’s charity a Bible or prayer book is purchased for the use of the
Sunday school, or given to some poor person of the parish, and the
remainder is distributed among the poor.
BERRINGTON, BETTON, BROMPTON, CANTLOP, AND EATON MASCOT DIRECTORIES.
Bromley John, farmer, Betton
Bromley William, wheelwright, Berrington
Cadwallader Mr. Richard, Brompton
Calcott Charles, farmer, Betton
Calcott Mr. Richard, Brompton
Caswell James, shopkeeper, Brompton
Clark William, farmer, Cantlop
Dilcher Edward, farmer, Brompton
Dixon Joseph, farmer, Betton
Elsmere Thomas, farmer, Berrington
Hill Hon. and Rev. T. H. Noel, Berrington
James Rev. William J., curate, Cantlop
Jones Christiana, blacksmith, Berrington
Lateward John, wheelwright, Berrington
Lawrence William, farmer, Cantlop
Lee Richard, farmer, Brompton
Massie Richard, vict., Bell Inn, Berrington
Miere Joseph, farmer, Berrington
Millward Miss, school teacher, Berrington
Newell Edward and Son, tailors and drapers, Berrington
Onions Henry, butcher, Cross Houses
Parker Thomas, farmer, Cotons
Poole Thomas, farmer, Berrington
Rogers James, vict., Golden Cross, Cross Houses
Rowlandson Robert, governor of Atcham union house
Sides Thomas, shoemaker, Cantlop
Vickerstaff Thomas, beerseller, Cantlop
Wigley John, schoolmaster, Berrington
Whitfield Thomas, corn miller, Cantlop
William Charles Arthur, Esq., Eaton Mascot
Williams Mrs. Sarah H. H., Eaton Mascot
CONDOVER
is a considerable parish, embracing 7,422A. 3R. 21P. of land, of which
6,632 are titheable, and the remainder tithe free. In 1801 there was a
population of 1,451 souls; 1831, 1,455; and at the census in 1851 there
were 1,550 inhabitants. The parish embraces the townships and hamlets of
Condover, Dorrington, Bayston, Chatford, Boreton, Lyth, Ryton, Westley,
and Wheatall. The rectoral tithes have been commuted for £1,303. 5s. E.
W. S. Owen, Esq., is the impropriator. The vicarial tithes are commuted
for £211. 5s. The village of Condover is pleasantly situated in a
fertile vale, five miles south from Shrewsbury, on the road leading
towards Church Stretton and Ludlow. It is a place of considerable
antiquity, and retains the same name as entered in the Doomsday book.
William the Conqueror gave Condover to Roger de Montgomery, who gave the
church thereof to the abbey of Shrewsbury. Upon the attainder of the
last Earl of Shrewsbury of that family, it was seized by King Henry I.,
and continued in the hands of the crown until the 11th of Henry III.,
when that king granted it to his sister, the Princess of Wales. It was
subsequently granted to the Hastings, in whose family it continued till
the time of Edward I., when Robert Burnell, bishop of Bath and Wells,
became possessed of it by purchase. From the Burnells it passed to the
Lovells, and Lord Viscount Lovell forfeited it to the crown. King Henry
VIII. granted it to Richard Cornwell for the term of his life, and
afterwards to Henry Knyvett and his heirs male. George and John Isam,
who had the fee of this manor, sold it to Thomas Owen, Esq., whose
representative, Edward William Smythe Owen, Esq., a considerable
landowner in this neighbourhood, is now the proprietor, and resides at
THE HALL, an elegant mansion in the Elizabethan style of architecture,
built in the year 1598. It is surrounded by a park of considerable
extent, beautifully diversified with picturesque scenery. The Owen
family suffered much for their adherence to the royal cause during the
civil wars.
THE CHURCH, which was appropriated to the abbey of Shrewsbury, is
dedicated to St. Andrew. The living is a discharged vicarage, to which
belong all vicarial tithes and a rent charge of £69, payable out of the
Moot Hall estate. It is valued in the king’s book at £4. 14s. Edward W.
S. Owen, Esq., is the patron; incumbent, Rev. J. W. Harden.
BAYSTON HILL is a pleasantly situated village on the road from Shrewsbury
to Ludlow, partly in the parish of Condover and partly in St. Julien’s
parish. A small District Church was built here about eight years ago,
the necessary funds for which were raised by voluntary subscriptions.
The structure consists of nave and chancel, and a square tower. The
living is a perpetual curacy, enjoyed by the Rev. John Breese. Bayston
township, at the census of 1841, is returned as having 148 houses and
1,193 inhabitants; Chatford township, five houses and 29 inhabitants; and
Dorrington, 66 houses and 328 inhabitants. The above townships comprise
the whole parish.