Henry Fletcher_, rector of Smethcott, had that day transferred £200 navy
five per cents, in the name of the rector, the Rev. William C. Curtis,
curate, and Mr. Prestland, his attorney, in trust for the poor of this
parish, for educating six poor children, and for relieving six of the
most necessitous poor widows. Mr. Fletcher died on the 17th of February,
1830, and the sum of £10 was paid on account of this charity by his agent
shortly after. Of the £10 received, £6 are applied in relieving the
distressed poor, and £4 in educating poor children.
BETCHCOTT is a small township in this parish, a short distance from the
village of Smethcott, having 625 acres of land, 3 houses, and 32
inhabitants. Rateable value, £357. The Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis is
the landowner.
PICKLESCOTT, another small township in the parish of Smethcott, has 531
acres of land, and in 1841 had 33 houses and 143 inhabitants. Rateable
value, £435. 5s. There are a few scattered houses in the parish of
Smethcott, usually called THE HAMLETS, which contain 427 acres, and in
1841 are returned as having 15 houses and 67 inhabitants. Rateable
value, £270. 5s. 1d. The Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis is the landowner.
_Those marked_ 1 _reside at Smethcott_; 2 _Betchcott_; 3 _Picklescott_; 4
_The Hamlets_.
3 Bromley Richard, farmer
4 Bromley Richard, farmer
1 Bromley William, farmer, New Hall
4 Bromley William, farmer, Underhill
3 Broxton William, farmer
1 Buddicom Rev. Robert Joseph, The Rectory
1 Davies Thomas, farmer
3 Gamble Edw., blacksmith
1 Gittins Robert, farmer
1 Groves William, farmer
4 Gwilliam Edward, farmer
4 Hill William, farmer
1 Hill William, joiner
3 Howell Richard, farmer
2 Massie Charles, farmer
1 Meredith John, farmer, New House
2 Parry John, farmer
1 Rogers Richard, farmer
1 Rogers Robert, farmer
3 Rogers Thomas, farmer and vict., Bottle & Glasses Inn
2 Rogers William, farmer
4 Savage Jn., farmer, Coppice
3 Thomas David, blacksmith
3 Thomas Samuel, farmer
1 Vaughan Thomas, shop-keeper and post office
3 Willings John, farmer
STAPLETON
is a parish and village, five and a half miles S.S.W. from Shrewsbury,
comprising 870 acres of land, and in 1801 had 228 inhabitants; 1831, 235;
and in 1841, 46 houses and 257 inhabitants. A short distance from
Stapleton are the remains of an ancient barrow, which on being opened
some years ago was found to contain a large funeral urn placed near the
centre, the ashes it contained were no doubt the remains of a person of
distinction in former days. The Hon. H. W. Powis, and John T. Hope,
Esq., are the principal landowners. In the 18th of Edward I., Robert de
Stapleton had a grant of free warren in Stapleton; two years after the
king’s attorney brought a writ of right against the said Robert de
Stapleton, for the manor of his name as being seizen of King Henry II.,
the king’s ancestor, but without effect, for the said Robert died seized
of the manor, in the 49th of Edward III. THE CHURCH is a venerable
fabric dedicated to St. Julian. The living is a rectory valued in the
king’s book at £6. 7s. 6d., now returned at £624, in the patronage of the
Hon. Henry Wentworth Powis, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. E. R. B.
Fielding. An ancient residence, now partly surrounded by a moat,
exhibits a fine specimen of the domestic architecture of by-gone days;
the walls are of great thickness, and the house contains some beautiful
specimens in antique oak carving, which are in a good state of
preservation. The moat, now partly filled up, is about 200 yards in
circumference, and the width 36 feet. NETLEY is a small hamlet in this
township. Netley Hall is a good house, the residence of John Thomas
Hope, Esq.; a little west from it is the site of a British camp, some
parts of which have recently been levelled for agricultural purposes, so
that now only a part of it can be traced. In a field not far from here
were found four peculiarly hard stones, with a sharp axe-like edge all
round; they are known by the name of celts, and were used by the priests
to slay the victims of their sacrifices.
Bayley Wickliffe, blacksmith
Allen John, farmer
Allen Mary, farmer
Bromley Jeremiah, farmer, The Moat
Bromley William, farmer
Cassels Robert, farmer, Netley
Clayton John, farmer, Shady Moor
Cook Robert, farmer, Shady Moor
Dickin Edward, farmer, Netley
Evans Thomas, cow keeper
Fielding Hon. and Rev. E. R. B., The Rectory
Gittings William, farmer, Netley
Hope John Thomas, Esq., Netley Hall
Jones William, joiner
Philips Thomas, farmer, Shady Moor
Richards John, farmer, Vinnels
Sankey Edward, farmer, Netley Old Hall
Sankey Humphrey, farmer, The Moat
Woodfin John, farmer
SUTTON,
a small parish and pleasant little village one and a quarter mile S.E. by
S. from Shrewsbury, is watered by the Reabrook stream, upon the banks of
which two corn mills have been erected. This parish was formerly an
appendage to Wenlock priory, and extra parochial. At the general
dissolution of religious houses in the reign of Henry VIII., it fell to
the crown, at which time there was an hermitage here. The parish
contains upwards of 703 acres of land, and at the census of 1841 there
were 16 houses and 67 inhabitants. In 1801 there was a population of 45
souls here. The parish church is a very humble structure of primitive
simplicity, dedicated to St. John; it stands on a gentle eminence, and
commands some pleasing views of rural scenery. The living is a rectory
in the diocese of Hereford and archdeaconry of Salop, valued in the
king’s book at £3, now returned at £17 in the patronage of Lord Berwick
and incumbency of the Rev. Henry Hill. Divine service is performed once
a month. A short distance from the church is the celebrated SUTTON SPA.
“The spring issues from a rocky stratum of ash-coloured clay or
argillaceous schistus, containing (as appears by its effervesence with
nitrous acid) a small portion of lime. Fresh from the spring the Sutton
water is clear and colourless, and exhales a slightly sulphureous smell,
which is most perceptible in rainy weather. It sparkles little when
poured into a glass, having no uncombined carbonic acid in its
composition. When first drawn its strong salt taste is evidently mixed
with a chalybeate flavour; but the latter is wholly lost on exposure for
a few hours, bubbles of air repeating slowly, and a reddish sediment
lining the sides and bottom of the vessel. The Sutton water has by many
been compared with that of Cheltenham, and supposed to contain nearly the
same ingredients. It bears, however, a much closer resemblance to sea
water, and has accordingly been found most beneficial in those cases for
which sea water is usually recommended. In the case of scrophula, the
superior merits of sea water have been universally acknowledged. A
similarity of ingredients would naturally lead us to expect similar
effects from the Sutton water; and I am happy to bear testimony, says Dr.
Evans, that a twenty years attendance at the Salop Infirmary, as well as
in private practice, has furnished me with abundant proofs of its success
in the treatment of scorphulous affections; and in addition to the
properties possessed by the Sutton spring in common with sea water, it
enjoys an evident advantage in containing iron.” It is to be lamented
that there are not any accommodations for the residence of invalids. The
air is pure and salubrious, and as a site for building purposes the
immediate vicinity is peculiarly romantic and interesting. There is a
cottage at the Spa, where parties sometimes take tea, and a bath has been
erected, which is open to the public on reasonable terms. All parties
visiting the spring are allowed to partake of the water without any
charge. The land in this parish is the property of Lord Berwick.
DIRECTORY.—John Bemand, farmer; Joseph Clay, farmer; George Davies,
farmer; Thomas Pugh, corn miller; Edward Thornton, farmer.
WOOLSTASTON
is a village and parish five miles N. from Church Stretton, which
contains 834 acres of land. In 1801 there were 101 inhabitants; 1831,
89, and in 1841 17 houses and a population of 84 souls. In the 9th of
Edward I. Robert Burnel, bishop of Bath and Wells, had a grant of free
warren in Wolfestantone. In the 34th of the same reign we find John de
Sibeton had the privilege of free warren here, with the grant of a free
market to be held on a Wednesday, and a fair to continue for three days.
Upon the attainder of Lord Lovell in the time of Henry VII. this manor
was given to Jasper Duke of Bedford, but he dying without issue, Thomas
Duke of Norfolk had a grant of it in the 5th of Henry VIII. W. W.
Whitmore is now chief landowner in this parish. THE CHURCH is a small
structure, with nave, chancel, and tower. The living is a rectory valued
in the king’s book at £5, now returned at £162 in the patronage of W. W.
Whitmore, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. E. Carr. Richard Lucas, who
died about twenty years ago, was parish clerk for 74 years; he died at
the age of 95 years, and rung the church bell almost to the day of his
death. In the latter part of his life he would frequently observe he had
seen the end of all his parishioners three times over, and had been the
clerk to two rectors and six curates. THE HALL, now occupied by Mr.
Everall as a farm dwelling, was formerly a place of consequence, and the
residence of families of consideration. One of the apartments exhibits
some line specimens of carved oak; the floor, ceiling, and sides are all
of highly polished oak. A piece of land containing about four acres,
supposed to have been given by a person of the name of Pope, for keeping
the church in repair, is in the possession of the churchwardens, and is
let at the yearly rent of £1. 14s., which is carried to the account of
the church rates. There does not appear to be any document in the parish
relating to this land.
DIRECTORY.—Meole Rev. Henry, curate. _Farmers_, Richard Everall, The
Hall; Robert Heighway, and John Wigley. Mary Bowen, shoemaker.
THE MUNSLOW HUNDRED.
The hundred of Munslow comprehends the Upper and Lower divisions, and is
bounded on the north by the hundred of Condover, on the east by the
Wenlock Franchise, the Stottesden hundred, and a detached part of the
hundred of Overs; on the west are the hundreds of Clun and Purslow, and
on the south the county of Hereford. In the hundred of Munslow there is
much clay, with considerable quantities of a stony soil of a great
variety lying upon the lime stone. The upper surface of the rocks is
frequently broken up by the plough and becomes with the soil a rocky
loam, which produces good crops of grain. The population in 1821 was
10,478, exclusive of the borough of Ludlow; the number of houses 1,888.
In 1841 there were 12,043 inhabitants, of whom 8,126 were in the Upper
division, and 3,917 in the Lower division. At the same period there were
1,576 inhabited houses, 49 uninhabited in the Upper division, and 747
inhabited, and 36 uninhabited in the Lower division. The Lower division
comprises the following parishes, viz.: Abdon, Ashford Bowdler, Ashford
Carbonell, Bromfield, Clee, St. Margaret, Diddlebury, Easthope, Holdgate,
Hopton in the Hole, Halford Chapelry, Ludford, Munslow, Onibury, Richards
Castle, Skirmage Extra Parochial, Staneton Lacy, Stanton Long, Stoke St.
Milborough, Stokesay, Tugford, and Weston Cold.
The Upper division contains the parishes of Acton Scott, Cardington,
Eaton, Hope Bowdler, Rushbury, Shipton, and Church Stretton.
ABDON
is a small parish and village in the Lower division of the Munslow
hundred, ten miles south-east from Much Wenlock, which contains 710 acres
of land, the rateable value of which is £609. At the census in 1801 the
parish had a population of 134 souls; 1831, 170; and in 1841 there were
36 houses and 155 inhabitants. Sir Sidney Herbert is the principal
landowner and lord of the manor. THE CHURCH is a small structure
dedicated to St. Margaret, and consists of nave and chancel. The living
is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £3. 6s. 8d., now returned at
£147; patron, Sir Sidney Herbert; incumbent, Rev. John Sheppard. A
commodious school, with a residence for the teacher, has recently been
built by the lord of the manor, at a cost of upwards of one thousand
pounds; it is also munificently supported by the founder. About thirty
children attend.
DIRECTORY.—George Bradley, farmer; Thomas Bradley, farmer; Cheswick
Cooper, farmer; Rev. John Sheppard, rector; Robert Williams,
schoolmaster.
ACTON SCOTT, OR ACTON-ON-THE-HILL,
a parish in the upper division of the Munslow Hundred, three miles and a
half S.S.E. from Church Stretton, is bounded on the western side by the
Shrewsbury and Ludlow turnpike road, and that from Wenlock to Bishop’s
Castle passes through it. It is divided into the townships of Acton
Scott and Alcaston, and contains 1,889 acres of hilly land, moderately
fertile, resting on sand-stone, in some places rich in fossil shells, and
watered by the Quenny and Marbrook streams. At the census of 1801, the
parish contained 164 souls; 1841, 34 houses and 204 inhabitants.
Rateable value, £1,727. On an eminence, above the Shrewsbury road,
called the Castle Hill, it is supposed a fortification once existed; and
in a field, adjoining the church-yard, some remains of a tower were
standing in the memory of some of the old inhabitants, but all traces of
it are now gone. In the year 1817, in straightening a road, some remains
of a Roman ville were discovered, consisting of hypocausts, tiles, &c.
Several eastern coins were also found, which is remarkable as being the
only instance in which these coins have been found in Roman stations in
England. On some of the tiles were impressions of the sandals of the
Roman soldiers, made before the clay had been burned; there were also the
foot-marks of dogs and other animals. These remains were found within a
mile of the Roman road which runs from Wroxeter, by Church Stretton, to
Shenchester. The name of Acton is derived from _Ac_ (the Saxon for oak)
and _ton_ (a town), and that of Scott from a family who were very early
settled here, and about the 12th century ceased to use their original
name and adopted this of their residence only. At the time of the
Doomsday survey the manor belonged to Rainald, the Sheriff, and it
afterwards passed to the Fitzalans. In the year 1290, an inquest was
held to determine the boundaries of the royal forests in Shropshire, when
Acton Scott, Henly, and Alcaston, were declared to be without the limits,
though Shetton, Minton, and Rushbury, were found to be within them, and
subject to all the grievances of forest laws. The present lord of the
manor is Edward William Wynne Pendarves, Esq., of Pendarves, in Cornwall,
one of the representatives in parliament for that county, who succeeded
to the property in 1835, on the death of his brother, who inherited this
and other estates in right of his mother, the only daughter of Edward
Acton, Esq., of Acton Scott, the last male representative of the elder
branch of the family, who died in 1775, Sir John d’Albery Acton, Bart.,
being descended from a younger branch. The mansion house of Acton Scott
is of the Elizabethan period, with projecting gables and bay windows, and
stands in a commanding situation near to the church. It is at present
occupied by Mrs. Stackhouse Acton. The whole of the township of Acton
Scott is the property of E. W. W. Pendarves, Esq.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Margaret, though devoid of architectural
beauty, is remarkably neat, and contains a few monuments, chiefly to the
Acton family, and a brass tablet, of the date of 1579, to the memory of
Elizabeth Mytton. The tower is of much older date than the body of the
church, and was probably an appendage to the church to which the bishop
of Hereford inducted Hugh de Pentone (by lapse of time) in 1276. In the
tower are three bells, on two of which are inscribed in old letters:—“Ave
Maria in gratia plena dominus tecum,” and on the other, “Marie eternis et
bonis resonet campana.” The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s
book at £5. 10s.; patron, the lord of the manor; incumbent, Rev. Walter
Corbett, chancellor of the diocese; curate, Rev. George Magee. THE
RECTORY is a neat residence, pleasantly situated, and there are 40 acres
of glebe land. The tithes are commuted for £230.
CHARITIES.—_John Monsell_ devised four parcels of land, containing, by
estimation, 60 acres, in the parish of Mainstone, upon trust, to pay
thereout the following sums on the 1st March, viz.:—20s. to the parish of
Morvill; 10s. to the poor of Wistanstow; 10s. to buy Bibles for poor
children of Bishop’s Castle; and 5s. to the poor of Acton Scott. The
above sums had all been regularly paid when the Charity Commissioners
published their report, except the yearly sum of 5s. to Acton Scott,
which the owner of the estate agreed for the future to pay. In the
parliamentary returns of 1786 three donations are mentioned as given for
the benefit of poor housekeepers of this parish. To the two first,
amounting to £36, no names are given as the donors thereof; the third,
being £20, is attributed to _Edward Acton_. Interest on the sum of £56
is now paid, which is laid out in fuel by the resident curate, which he
distributes to the poor.
ALCASTON, a small village and township in the parish of Acton Scott,
comprises 527 acres of land, and is situated about a mile south from the
parish church. Rateable value, £381. 14s. Alcaston was at an early
period taken out of the manor of Acton Scott; it consists of three farms,
belonging respectively to Thomas Dunne, Esq., G. M. Benson, Esq., and the
Rev. Mr. Hill; the latter gentleman being of the same family as the Hills
of Hawkestone. This branch was settled here in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, and occupied a curious old timber mansion, a great part of
which was taken down about ten years ago. Mr. Benson’s farm house also
bears marks of antiquity; it is of brick, and has been moated, but it has
lost much of its ancient character by modern repairs. A portion of the
long line stone ridge, known as Wenlock Edge, stretches into this
township.
DIRECTORY.—The residents in Acton Scott are Mrs. Stackhouse Acton, The
Hall; Rev. George Magee, curate; John Monsell, farmer, Henley; Robert
Morgan, farmer, Church Farm; Joseph Hotchkiss, blacksmith; Mary Keep,
farmer; Thomas Parker, farmer. The residents of Alcaston are Benjamin
Martin, farmer; Richard Edwards, farmer; Thomas Lewis, farmer.
ASHFORD BOWDLER
is a parish and village delightfully situated on the south west bank of
the River Terne, on the southern verge of the county, adjoining
Herefordshire, and about three miles south from Ludlow. The parish
comprises upwards of 600 acres of land, the principal owners of which are
Mrs. Walker and General Russell. Rateable value of the parish, £884. 3s.
At the census in 1801, there were 79 inhabitants; 1831, 99; and in 1841,
17 houses and 96 inhabitants. The village contains several handsome
family residences, and a small but elegant church, consisting of nave and
chancel, with a tower surmounted with a spire. The living is a perpetual
curacy, valued at £55 per annum, in the patronage of the Walker family.
Mrs. Mary Green, of this parish, by will dated October 16th, 1832,
bequeathed to the minister and churchwardens for the time being, the sum
of £55, to be invested in the funds in trust, to pay the interest thereof
annually among such of the poor inhabitants as they should consider most
in need of aid. “Between the village of Ashford Bowdler and Ludlow is
Huck’s Barn, said to have been the residence of George Barnwell, the hero
of the popular tragedy named after him. Barnwell’s Green, near it, was
so called from his waiting there to rob his uncle as he returned from
Leominster fair: adjoining the green is the wood in which he perpetrated
the murder of his relative.”
The principal residents are Mr. William P. Bale, Grove Cottage; Isaac
Froggatt, farmer, Feather Knowl; Thomas Harper, farmer, Ashford Grove;
Thomas G. Powis, farmer; General Lechmere Russell, Ashford Hall; Robert
Thomas, Esq., Church House.
ASHFORD CARBONELL
is a parish and village delightfully situated in the lower division of
the Munslow hundred, three miles south-east from Ludlow. The parish
contains 1335 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £1,890. 5s.
11d. The principal landowners are J. F. Downes, Esq.; Mr. Walker; John
Carter, Esq.; and William Eaton, Esq.; besides whom there are a few
smaller proprietors. At the census in 1801, the parish contained 227
inhabitants; 1831, 289; and in 1841, 58 houses, and a population of 226
souls. The church is a small unpretending structure, the living of which
is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty: the living is
annexed to the rectory of Little Hereford, and the patronage is vested in
the Chancellor of Hereford Cathedral. The Rev. William Tomkin is the
officiating minister. ASHFORD HALL is an elegant modern mansion, on
rising ground, commanding extensive prospects, and embellished with
tasteful pleasure grounds. ASHFORD COURT, the residence of Mrs. Walker,
is also a handsome residence.
DIRECTORY—Mr. William A. Bate; John Bloom, boot and shoe maker; Mary
Eaton, farmer; William Eaton, farmer; Mr. Thomas Evans; Edward Evans,
maltster; James Davies, carpenter; Joseph Davies, carpenter; John F.
Downes, Esq., Ashford Hall; Thomas Cantrill, corn miller and vict., The
Bridge Inn; John Carter, farmer, Brook House; Henry George, farmer,
Huntingdon; John Jones, wheelwright; Mrs. Mary Lowe; John Mason,
wheelwright; James Powell, farmer; William Roberts, farmer, Huntingdon;
John Thompson, blacksmith; Mrs. Bridgett Walker, Ashford Court; Richard
Whiteman, farmer.
BROMFIELD