expended in bread for the poor. The payment of this gift commenced in
1709, and the legacy is now considered to be secured by a bond in the
possession of the parish, given by the late Mr. John Perry, of Willey,
whose executors pay the money to the parish officers.
_The Rev. Francis Wheeler_, rector of Willey, bequeathed 10s. yearly, to
be paid at Christmas by the ministers of the two churches in Bridgnorth;
5s. each to be given to the poor of Willey in money or bread. This gift
is distributed at Christmas, together with the sacrament money and Evan’s
gift.
The following benefactions, also given to the poor of Willey, are
involved in much obscurity. _Elizabeth Weld_ in 1688 gave £10. _Dorothy
Weld_ in 1674 gave £10, the interest to be distributed on St. Thomas’s
day. _Mrs. Mary Saltalston_ £20, to be added to the poor’s stock, and
the interest of £10 to be distributed to the poor yearly. _Mary Ogden_
gave 40s. to the poor in 1680. _Judith Corbett_ £5 in 1691. _Mary
Evans_ £5 in 1729. _Mrs. Catherine Strange_ £20. From the parish books
it appears that £10 of Mrs. Saltalston’s benefaction, and £10 of Mrs.
Weld’s, were applied in 1712 towards building a new tower to the church.
It further appears that at a vestry meeting held 7th October, 1777, it
was agreed that £40, part of a stock of £60, left for the benefit of the
poor of Willey, and then in the hands of Mr. Thomas Perry, of the Dean,
should be laid out in the necessary repairs of the church, and that the
parish should pay reasonable interest for the same, to be distributed one
half on St. Thomas’s day, and the other half on Good Friday. Another
agreement, not entered in the parish books, dated 15th August, 1802, and
signed by Morgan Jones, minister, and two respectable farmers of the
parish, stating that the interest of the £40 mentioned in the former
agreement, which had never been paid, then amounted to £50, and agreeing
to consolidate the principal and interest, making together £90, and to
pay interest on the whole. From the entries in the parish books above
stated, it clearly appears that £60 of these benefactions were applied to
the repairs of the church, but what became of the rest we have in vain
endeavoured to discover. No interest appears to have been paid by the
parish, but there has been for many years an annual distribution of corn
made by the farmers to the poor on St. Thomas’s day, to the value of £5
and upwards.
The principal residents in Willey are the Right Hon. Lord Forester,
Willey Park; the Hon. and Rev. George O. Bridgeman; Henry Cartwright,
Esq., The Dean; George Goodfellow, bailiff to George Pritchard, Esq.;
Edmund Raby, farmer; and John Stobbs, farmer.
LUDLOW
is a borough and market town, on the southern border of the county, 143
miles N.W. by W. from London, and twenty-five south from Shrewsbury,
situated on an eminence, at the junction of the Corve with the Teme, and
surrounded by a country varied with delightful prospects in every
direction. This ancient and populous town is upwards of a mile in length
and half a mile in breadth, having a number of regular and wide well
paved streets, lying in diverging and inclined directions from the
highest and most central part of the town; a circumstance which greatly
promotes its cleanliness and salubrity. The houses in general are neat,
well built, and better arranged than those of most inland towns of the
same antiquity. The town is skirted by the rivers Corve and Teme, and
abundantly supplied with water by pipes from springs in the vicinity to
the public pumps, as well as from the river Corve by machinery and pipes
to the different houses. The glove trade formerly employed upwards of
one thousand hands here, but owing, it is thought, to the introduction of
French gloves, and the establishment of marts for articles of a cheaper
fabrication in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, the trade declined
some years ago, and has now become almost extinct. Malt is made to a
considerable extent, and there is a paper mill, and an establishment for
the manufacture of blankets and a coarse kind of woollen cloth chiefly
used for horse collars. The town has, however, been kept in a
flourishing state by the numerous respectable residents which the extreme
beauty of its situation has attracted to it. There is a market here on a
Monday for grain, provisions, and poultry, which is usually well
attended. Markets are also held on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,
for provisions. Fairs for horned cattle, horses, pigs, and general
merchandise, are held on the Monday before February 13th, Tuesday before
Easter, May 1st (for hiring servants), Wednesday in Whitsun-week, August
21st, September 28th, and the first Mondays in November and December.
Population in 1801, 3,897; 1831, 5,253. In 1841 the parish of St.
Lawrence contained 1,086 houses and 5,064 inhabitants; of whom 3,041 were
males and 3,157 females. Rateable value of the borough, £12,812. 4s. 9d.
An act of parliament was obtained in 1794 for lighting and paving the
town. The annual races are held in July, and continue for two days.
Ludlow was no doubt a town of note in the time of the Britons from the
British name it bears (_Dinan_), though we have no historical record left
of it. How it came to be called Dinan, a word of no affinity with
Ludlow, we have not found. After the conquest, a noble knight assumed
the name of Dinan in honour of the place. It may be observed that
_Dinas_ and _Dinan_ are words of frequent occurrence in the account of
British antiquities; and upon a careful investigation, it will generally
appear that places so denominated have been formerly occupied by some
chief or prince of the country. Ludlow seems to have been incorporated
from time immemorial. The earliest charter extant is one of confirmation
from Richard Duke of York, father of Edward IV. This charter, styling
the corporation as “the bailiff’s, burgesses, and commonality, of the
town and borough of Ludlow,” and conferring important privileges, has
ever since, till the date of the recent municipal act, been deemed, in
effect, the governing charter of the borough, though numerous charters
were hereafter granted by succeeding sovereigns. The following corporate
officers were appointed by charter, viz.:—Two bailiffs, two capital
masters and justices, a recorder, twelve aldermen, twenty five
common-council, a town clerk, coroner, three serjeants-at-mace, four
beadles, and a town crier. No small display of civic pomp and splendour
has been here exhibited in the annual election of the corporate officers.
The high bailiff was appointed by charter to be elected by the aldermen,
and the low bailiff from among the common councilmen; indeed the system
of self-election was strictly established, and so were its usual
consequences. The bailiffs, and recorder, or steward and capital
masters, were all appointed to act as justices of the peace, ex-officio,
within the liberties. General sessions of the peace were appointed by
Charles I. to be held quarterly, in the same week as the county sessions.
Capital convictions, it is said, with executions on the Gallows-hill,
anciently took place. Prisoners on higher offences were latterly,
however, sent to Shrewsbury gaol for trial at the assizes. The privilege
of burgess-ship was inherited by the sons of burgesses; and those who
marry their daughters were entitled also to be admitted into this body;
for which purpose they were required to petition, according to a
prescribed form given in a by-law made in the year 1663. A court of
record was instituted by Edward IV. for the trial of debts of 1s. and
upwards, and the trial of issues in all personal actions within the
municipality. Ludlow first returned members to parliament in the 12th of
Edward IV. The boundaries of the borough were little more than
co-extensive with those of the old municipal borough; but they have been
much extended. Previous to the passing of the Reform Act the borough
returned two members, as it still does, and is one of the polling places
for the southern division of the county.
Under the Municipal Reform Act, a commission of the peace has been
granted anew, and the court of quarter sessions re-appointed. Petty
sessions are held weekly, and a court leet annually for swearing in
constables. The borough is now governed by four aldermen and twelve
councillors, under the usual corporate style. The persons qualified to
vote for the town council, after the passing of the act, amounted to 307
in the parish of St. Lawrence, and seven in the township of Ludford, of
which latter district the boundary commissioners proposed the exclusion,
it being practically beyond the corporate limits. In other respects, the
boundaries laid down in their report are extended on the west and east;
particularly the latter, which stretches into the parishes of Stanton
Lacy, on building ground as far as the parliamentary borough. The
following is a list of the members of parliament, borough magistrates,
and corporate officers for the year 1851:—
_Members of Parliament_: Colonel Salwey and Henry B. Clive, Esq.
_Magistrates_: Francis Massey, Esq.; Humphrey Smith, Esq.; John Thomas,
Esq.; Robert Thomas, Esq.; and Benjamin Urwick, Esq.
_Mayor_: Richard Marston, Esquire. _Aldermen_: Francis Massey; Benjamin
Urwick; Samuel Valentine, and Henry Whittall. _Councillors_: Francis
Boulton, Joshua Cooper, George Griffiths, Ambrose Grounds, James Hand,
Charles Harper, James Jones, Horatio Russell, Edward B. Smith, Richard
Valentine, Philip Wayn. _Town Clerk and Coroner_: John Williams, jun.
_Treasurer_: Thomas Childe. _Assessors_: George Cocking and Richard
Jones. _Auditors_: Thomas Jones and Samuel Oliver. The corporate
property chiefly consists of that anciently belonging to Palmer’s Guild,
which in 1833 produced a yearly income of £2,120. 8s. 8½d. In 1840 it
was reduced to £968. 13s. This great reduction was caused by the
corporation having to pay several expensive law suits.
It is well known that the aboriginal inhabitants of this island made a
last and determined stand against their invading enemies in that district
which had its boundary in what in later times was called the Marches of
Wales, in which Ludlow seems to have been anciently included. This
tract, however, might be extended from time to time, one way or the
other, as either party occasionally gained ground; it is certainly known
that Ludlow was early occupied as a military station to withstand the
incursions of the Britons, who manfully disputed every inch of ground as
they slowly retreated before their powerful enemies. The Romans are said
to have been engaged nearly two hundred years in subduing Britain, and of
the active operations of the contending parties interesting traces yet
remain. Upon the remarkable hill called Caer Caradoc, historical
accounts agree in stating it to have been occupied by the brave
Caractacus, and many fierce battles to have been fought in its vicinity.
An ancient writer describes this place as “exceedingly well fortified,
both by nature and art, upon the toppe of an high hill, environed with a
tripple ditche of greate depth. There were iij gates, and on three sides
steepe headlong places, and compassed on the lifte hande with the river
Colun, on the right with Themis.” Different situations have been
ascribed to the scene of the last decisive action between Ostorius and
Caractacus, but none rest upon such strong grounds of probability as the
stations of Brandon Camp and Coxwall Knoll. The first of these is
situated a little west of the Roman road leading from Magna to Ariconium
or Wroxeter. The second is within sight, and distant from the Roman Camp
about three miles, near the village of Brampton Brian. It crowns the
summit of a lofty hill, and is of irregular shape, strong by nature, but
made stronger by art. A survey of these two camps by the antiquarian
must be peculiarly interesting, when he recollects that an Ostorius stood
on one camp and a Caractacus on the other; and that their heroic deeds
were recorded by the pen of a Tacitus. Each particular related by the
historian concerning their respective situations coincides with the
natural position of the river Teme and the camps of Brandon and Coxwall
hills. From the departure of the Romans to the Norman conquest history
supplies no certain information concerning Ludlow; yet it is probable
that there existed here a town or fortress previous to the recorded
erection of the castle.
LUDLOW CASTLE. It is recorded in old chronicles that “Roger de
Montgomery erected the greatest part of the castle, and fortified the
town with walls,” from which it may be inferred, that in the times and
place alluded to a town and fortress must have been co-incident with each
other. This Roger came over with the conqueror, to whom he was related,
and led the centre division of his army in the memorable battle which
secured the conquest of England, and was afterwards advanced to the
Earldoms of Arundel and Shrewsbury. He was the liberal founder of
several rich monasteries and churches, particularly the monastery of
Wenlock, and the abbey of Shrewsbury. Having completed his favourite
structure, “Ludlow Castle,” he enjoyed it until his death in 1094. It
was forfeited to the crown by the attainder of his son Robert, who being
banished the realm, King Henry I. gave Dinan or Ludlow, with the
territory of Corvedale, to a Norman Knight, known by the name of Fulke
Fitzwarine, surnamed de Dinan; between whom and Walter de Lacy, Lord of
Ewias by right of conquest, there arose several contests, whether out of
emulation, or about fixing the boundaries of their royalties, is not
known. In one of these skirmishes the said Sir Walter de Lacy, and his
trusty knight, Sir Ernauld de Lis, were taken prisoners of war and
carried to Dinan, where being in custody, by intriguing with a fair
damsel they found a way to make their escape. Gervas Pagnel, governor of
the castle, having betrayed his trust in joining the Empress Matilda,
King Stephen besieged it, and in conducting the operations of the siege
the king gave a signal proof of his courage and humanity. The young
Prince Henry, son of King David, who was actively engaged in this
enterprise, having approached too near the walls of the castle, was
caught from his horse by means of an iron hook fastened to the end of a
rope. Stephen, observing the perilous situation of the young prince,
boldly advanced and rescued him at the risk of his own life. What right
or title the several governors had in the reign of Henry II. is
uncertain; though it is most probable that they were only governors,
without any fixed interest, till the 16th of King John, when Walter de
Lacy had a grant of Ludlow, from whom the title of the place is clearly
derived to the house of York, whereby it became vested in the crown.
Between the governors of this castle and Hugh de Mortimer terrible
dissensions arose. At length it happened that Mortimer was surprised and
seized. He was conveyed to Ludlow Castle, and confined in one of the
towers, which to this day bears his name.
In the 47th of Henry III., Roger Mortimer, James de Alditheley, and Hamo
L’Estrange had a general rendezvous with the barons of the Marches at
Ludlow, to concert proper measures for suppressing the insolence of Simon
de Montford, Earl of Leicester, and the other barons who had taken up
arms against the king. The Earl of Leicester, to oppose the powers of
the Marches, made a league with Leoline Prince of Wales, who with united
forces attacked the castles of Hay and Ludlow, which were both burnt and
demolished. Roger Mortimer, governor of the castle in the time of Edward
II., was committed to the tower for a riot that he promoted on account of
his dissatisfaction with the ministry of the Spencers: being jealous of a
design against his life, he made an entertainment for Sir Stephen de
Segrave, the constable of the tower, and in the midst of their cups and
jollity, he privately gave him a soporiferous medicine, which, with the
contrivance of his keeper, gave him an opportunity of sliding down a
rope, and so flying into France. Upon his return, out of a grateful
acknowledgment of divine providence for his deliverance out of the tower,
he built a chapel in Ludlow castle, dedicated it to St. Peter, and
appointed a priest to celebrate divine service for ever. In the second
of Edward III. he was made chief justice of Wales, and created Earl of
March; and the same year he celebrated with great magnificence the feast
of the round table at Bedford. Soon after, the king making a progress
into Wales, he was entertained at Ludlow. The promotion of this lord to
exalted stations made him excessively proud, and he eventually fell into
disgrace at court. He was apprehended at Nottingham, and carried under
arrest to London; all his land being seized, and his chattles secured at
the same time to the king’s use. The two main articles against him were,
his having a hand in conspiring the murder of King Edward II., and his
lewd familiarity with the queen, for which he was executed near
Smithfield, where his corpse hung two days, and was exposed to greater
indignities than usual. The castle, on his insurrection, having come
into the possession of Richard Duke of York, was subjected to a siege by
the forces of Henry VI. As he advanced towards Ludlow, the army of the
Yorkists was drawn out into an intrenched camp in the fields of Ludford.
Sir Andrew Trollop, who had been made marshal of the Yorkist army,
deserted to the royalists, carrying with him the veteran troops under his
particular command, and betrayed all their councils to the king.
Dismayed by this defection, the Yorkists broke up their camp and fled,
and the Lancasterians entered Ludlow, and wreaked their vengeance on the
town and castle, which are said by old historians to have been plundered
to “the bare walls.” The Duchess of York, with her two sons, were taken
and placed in safe ward, and many of the rich partisans of the duke were
executed, and their estates confiscated.
Edward Earl of March was on the Welch border when he received the first
intelligence of the disastrous battle of Wakefield, and of the death of
his father. He had collected an army in the north and was already
marching against the Queen when he was called to oppose a large force of
Welsh and Irish, which, under the Earl of Pembroke were advancing in the
hope of making themselves master of his person. The two armies met at
Mortimer’s Cross, near Ludlow, and it is said that before the battle
commenced three suns appeared in the sky over the field, which approached
each other till they joined in one, and that Edward taking this as a
favourable omen subsequently adopted a sun as his badge in remembrance of
this circumstance. The Yorkists obtained a decisive victory and nearly
four thousand of the enemy were slain. All the persons of rank were
beheaded at Hereford in retaliation for the Queen’s cruelties at the
battle of Wakefield. Edward immediately proceeded to London and was
proclaimed king under the title of Edward IV. Among the towns which had
supported the house of York, none had been more staunch than that of
Ludlow. On the 7th of December, in the first year of his reign, he
rewarded the townsmen with a charter which extended the privileges of the
inhabitants. He created his eldest son Edward, then a mere infant,
Prince of Wales, and sent him and his younger brother to the Castle of
Ludlow. Hall, in his Chronicles, tells us that he was sent to Ludlow
“for justice to be doen in the Marches of Wales, to the end that by the
authoritie of hys presence the wild Welshemenne, and evill-disposed
personnes should repair from their accustomed murthers and outrages.” On
the King’s death, in 1483, the two princes were immediately recalled to
London, and perished there within a few weeks, amid the mysterious events
which attended the accession of Richard III. to the throne. In 1631, Sir
John Egerton was appointed Lord President of Wales and the Marches. At
this period Charles I. visited Ludlow, and was welcomed with much
ceremony and rejoicing, at which time the exquisite effusion, the “Mask
of Comas,” was performed before his Majesty. It is said to have been
founded on an incident which occurred in the Lord President’s own family,
and which is thus related by Nightingale:—“When the Earl had entered on
his official residence he was visited by a large assembly of the
neighbouring nobility and gentry. His sons, the Lord Brackley and Sir
Thomas Egerton, and his daughter, the Lady Alice, being on their journey,
were benighted in Haywood Forest, in Herefordshire, and the lady, for a
short time, was lost. Their adventure being related to their father on
their arrival at the Castle, Milton, at the request of his friend Henry
Lawes, wrote the Mask. Lawes set it to music, and it was acted on
Michaelmas night, the two brothers, the young lady, and Lawes himself,
each bearing a part in the representation.” The poem, familiar to every
English reader, has been allowed by the most competent judges to be one
of the finest compositions in the English language, and will ever be held
in peculiar estimation, as exhibiting the fair dawn of that genius which
burst forth in full splendour in the poem of Paradise Lost.
In the civil wars between Charles I. and the Parliament, Ludlow was
occupied by the royal party. In the summer of 1645, a force of nearly
two thousand horse and foot, drawn together out of the garrisons of
Ludlow, Hereford, and Worcester, were, by a less number of the
Parliamentary forces, defeated at Stokesay, near Ludlow. It was not,
however, till the following year that Ludlow Castle fell into the hands
of General Sir Wm. Brereton, to whom it was given up by Sir Michael
Woodhouse. The Earl of Bridgwater, governor of the castle, died in 1648,
and was succeeded by Richard Lord Vaughen, Earl Carbery. Samuel Butler,
the satirical author of “Hudibras,” was appointed his secretary and
steward. A tower is still shown as the place where Butler wrote a part
of his incomparable work, the first part of which was published in 1663.
This poem was universally admired; the King quoted, the courtiers
studied, and the royalists applauded it, but the author was the dupe of
promises which were never fulfilled. In the midst of disappointment and
neglect he published the third part in an unfinished state, and in 1080
he died in indigence.