Evil and few, the patriarch says, and well the patriarch knew
That death, like overflowing stream, sweeps all away; life’s but a
dream,
An empty tale, a morning flower, cut down and withered in an hour.
Remember, Lord, man’s mortal state; how frail is life, how short the
date,
Where is the man that draws his breath, safe from disease, secure
from death,
For man, weak man is born to die, made up of guilt and vanity.
Thy dreadful sentence, Lord, is just; return ye sinners to your dust.
The living of the church is a vicarage, valued in the king’s books at
£12. 10s. 10d., in the patronage of William Lacon Childe, Esq., and
incumbency of the Rev. Edward George Childe, M.A.
THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS have a small chapel in High street, built of
brick. THE ROMAN CATHOLICS have also a chapel near Mawsley Hall, in this
parish.
THE FREE SCHOOL was founded and endowed by Sir Lacon William Childe,
knt., in the year 1714, for the education of the youth of Cleobury
Mortimer; for which purpose he gave by will, dated 28th of October, 1714,
all his personal estate, undisposed of, to be put out at interest or to
be invested in land for the maintenance of a master, to whom he gave £30
for ever to teach and instruct the children of the parish. By an order
of the court of exchequer, dated 19th of June, 1735, it was ordered that
£200 should be laid out in the building or purchasing a school and
schoolhouse, and that the residue of the trust money should be laid out
in the purchase of lands, the rents and profits thereof to be applied to
the payment of £30 a year to the schoolmaster, buying English books for
the scholars, repairing the school and schoolhouse, and putting out six
or more poor children of the parish to husbandry, as the trustees should
think fit. By a further order it was directed that the securities should
be called in, and the money invested in the South Sea Annuities, which
produced in 1742 the sum of £2,475. 6s. which with an outstanding
mortgage of £100 constituted the whole of the testator’s personal estate.
In 1751, the sum of £2,700 was expended in the purchase of 348A. 3R. 36P.
of land, in the parish of Cleobury Mortimer, which is now let at a yearly
rent of £343. There is also funded property consisting of £1,700 south
sea annuities; £1,600 three per cent. consols; and a sum of £600 composed
of surplus income, and £198. 16s. received for return of property tax.
Of this fund £1000 three per cents were bequeathed to the trustees in
1810 by Mr. John Winwood, of Bristol, towards paying an usher to assist
in teaching. The interest of these funds with the rents of land
beforementioned amount to the sum of £463. 1s. 5d. per annum. Upwards of
160 children are now educated in the school, of whom twelve boys and
twelve girls are annually clothed, and a fee is given yearly for the
apprenticing of six or more poor scholars to some mechanical or
agricultural pursuit. The head master is appointed by William Lacon
Childe, Esq., of Kinlet, as representative of the founder, and receives
£60 per annum, besides other perquisites; especially an allowance of 30s.
per head for copy books, &c. The Rev. Henry Kemp, B.A. is the head
master: James Birchall, second master.
THE COUNTY COURT for the recovery of debts, and in all pleas of personal
action where the damage does not exceed £50, is held monthly at the
Town’s Offices, in the Lower town. The several parishes and places
within the jurisdiction of the court are Aston Botterel, Bayton, in
Worcestershire, Cleobury Mortimer, Coreley, Farlow, in Herefordshire,
Highley, Hopton Wafers, Kinlet, Loughton, Mamble, Milson, Neen Savage,
Neen Solars, Rock, in Worcestershire, Silvington, Stottesden, and
Wheathill. _Judge_, Uvedale Corbett, Esq., Aston Hall: _Clerk_, Samuel
Phillips Southam, Esq.; _Assistant Clerk_, William Nichols: _High
Bailiff_, William Cooke: _Bailiff and Appraiser_, William Farmer.
CLEOBURY MORTIMER UNION HOUSE is situated half a mile north-west of the
church. The union comprises the following parishes, viz.:—Aston
Botterel, Coreley, Farlow, Highley, Hopton Wafers, Kinlet, Loughton,
Milson, Neen Savage, Neen Solars, Silvington, Stottesden and Wheathill,
in the county of Salop; and Bayton, Rock and Mamble, in the county of
Worcestershire. The union comprehends an area of upwards of 50,000
acres, or 88 square miles, and a population of 8,632 souls. _Chairman to
the Guardians_, Sir Edward Blount, Bart.: _Clerk_, William Cooke, Esq.:
_Surgeon_, Henry Vevers: _Relieving Officer_, Mr. William Wainwright:
_Master_, Isaac Alfred Read: _Matron_, Sarah Read: _Schoolmistress_,
Sarah Jones.
THE MARKET HALL, situated near the church, is a modern erection of stone,
in which the weekly market is held on Wednesday. Fairs are held on April
21st, May 2nd, first Monday after Whitsuntide, and October 27th, which
are well attended. There is also a feast held the first Sunday after the
15th of August.
THE PETTY SESSIONS are held on the third Tuesday in each month, at the
Towns Offices, in the lower town. There is a LOCK-UP in Church street,
which was built of freestone in 1836; it is a small structure, containing
two cells: Richard Roberts, police constable. THE EXCISE OFFICE is held
at the Talbot Inn, where there is also a reading room, supported by
annual subscription. There is a Circulating Library in Market street, of
which Joseph Wainwright is the proprietor.
CLEOBURY MORTIMER township and liberty contains 947A. 1R. 27P. of land,
of which 315 acres are woodlands, 31A. 3R. 35P. are public roads, and 2A.
2R. are water. The soil is fertile and productive, and is watered by
numerous fine springs, as well as the River Rea, which intersects the
township, and is crossed by a bridge a short distance east of the
village. At the census of 1851 the liberty contained 211 houses and
1,122 persons. The rent charge payable to the vicar is £131. William
Lacon Childe, Esq., is lord of the manor, and holds a court leet and
baron, at the Talbot Inn annually, in November; Mr. James Boucher is the
steward.
DODDINGTON liberty, situated two miles west of the parish church, at the
census of 1851 had 87 houses and a population of 383 souls. It contains
2,878A. 6R. 19P. of land, of which 35A. 0R. 16P. are public road, and
619A. 2R. 3P. are moor, common, and waste, being part of the Clee Hill.
The tithes are commuted, and £172 apportioned to the vicar of Cleobury
Mortimer and £34. 10s. to the Earl of Craven. William Lacon Childe Esq.,
is lord of the manor.
THE DISTRICT CHURCH, situated on the side of Clee Hill, was founded and
endowed by the late Thomas Botfield, Esq., and his widow, Mrs. Lucy
Botfield, of Hopton Court, who has invested the sum of £1,000 for the
endowment, erected a parsonage house near the church, and given five
acres of land. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and
built of stone, with a square tower, the site and building of which cost
about £4,000. The living is a perpetual curacy in the patronage of Mrs.
Botfield, and incumbency of the Rev. Henry Brown, M.A. There are several
coal works on the Clee Hill in this township, carried on by Beriah
Botfield, Esq. The townships in this liberty are Catherton, Ditton,
Dudnell, Hill Houses, and Woodhouses, an extra parochial liberty,
situated two miles from Cleobury.
THE EAST FOREIGN LIBERTY, situated three miles from Cleobury Mortimer,
contains 1,878A. 1R. 39P. of land, of which 17 acres are public roads,
and 132 acres woods and plantations. The vicarial tithes are commuted
for the sum of £121. W. L. Childe, Esq., is lord of the manor. The
liberty contains the townships of Mawley and Weston.
MAWLEY MANOR HOUSE, situated one mile S.E. of Cleobury Mortimer, is the
seat and residence of Sir Edward Blount, Bart. The mansion is a
commodious and handsome brick structure, with stone facings and mullions,
and surrounded by a richly wooded park.
WEST FOREIGN LIBERTY, situated two miles from Cleobury, contains 1,312A.
1R. 24P. of land, of which 291 acres are woods and coppices, 20 acres
public roads. The rent charge amounts to £122. 2s. 6d., of which the sum
of £121. 10s. is apportioned to the lord of the manor. William Lacon
Childe, Esq. This liberty, with that of East Foreign, contains 48 houses
and a population of 242 souls.
CHARITIES.—_Sir William Lacon Childe_, the founder of the free school
previously noticed, also gave by will the sum of £100, the interest
thereof to be distributed to the poor in bread every Sunday.
_Richard Walker_, gave by will, dated 1666, the sum of 1s. every Lord’s
day and 2s. every Christmas day, to be distributed in bread to the poor
of the parish of Cleobury Mortimer. This gift is paid out of certain
lands in the parish.
It is stated on a tablet in the church that _Benjamin Bateman_, clerk,
left £20, and _Mrs. Joyce Cumber_ left £5, for teaching poor children to
read. From a copy of part of the will of Mr. Bateman in the parish book
it appears that the £20 given by him was to be disposed of by the vicar
of Cleobury Mortimer and one Mr. Read in such a manner as they should
think fit.
_Henry Fox_, by deeds of lease and release, dated 1743, reciting that his
sister, Mary Fox, had by her will given £50, which she intended should be
laid out in land, and the rents applied to teaching poor girls to read,
conveyed to the vicar a field containing one acre, in trust, that he
should raise yearly the sum of 54s., and pay the same to a poor woman of
the parish to teach ten poor girls to read. Also _German Fox_, in 1775,
bequeathed £50, the interest thereof to be applied towards teaching poor
boys to read.
Near to Cleobury Mortimer is a large school room and school house
annexed, usually called the Old School Premises, but now uninhabited and
in complete decay. From an indenture dated 1727 it appears that these
buildings were erected upon a piece of land belonging to John Meysey,
Esq., by means of contributions raised among the neighbouring gentry, for
the purpose of a school for the benefit of the children of the parish of
Cleobury Mortimer.
THE POST OFFICE.—_Mr. William Jeffries_, _postmaster_, _Church street_.
Letters arrive from Bewdley at 7-45 A.M., and are despatched at 4-30 P.M.
Adams George, carrier, High street
Ashwood Thomas, gardener, Market place
Baker Slade, Esq., Sandbourne
Birchall James, second master of Free School, Market street
Blount Sir Edward, Bart., Mawley Hall
Boucher James, Esq., Church street
Bourne James, Esq., Mawley town
Bourne James, Esq., The villas
Botfield Lucy, gentlewoman, Hopton court
Brown Rev. William Henry, M.A., Doddington Parsonage
Childe Rev. Ed. Geo., M.A., The Vicarage
Childe Wm. Lacon, Esq., Kinlet Park
Childe William Lacon, Esq., junr., Kinlet
Cocks Rev. Charles Richard Somers, M.A., Neen Savage Rectory
Cocksey Mr. Charles, Market street
Colerick William, inland revenue officer, High street
Cooke Mr. William, junr., High street
Crump Thomas, Esq., Chorley
Crump Thomas, Esq., jun., The Hall
Dorrell Benjamin, miller and farmer
Farmer Wm., parish clerk & perpetl. overseer
Hall Thomas Lambert, paper manufacturer
Hardwicke Rev. Thos., D.D., Milson Rectory
Harris Sarah, school teacher
Hayton Rev. John, Market street
Hulme Rev. Benjamin, Mawley
Jefferies William, postmaster, Church street
Jones James, carrier, Market street
Jones Sarah, school teacher
Jones William Weaver, gentleman, Market st
Kemp Rev. Henry, B.A., Grammar School
Lowe Arthur Charles, Esq., Court of Hill
Marcy Wm. Nicholls, solicitor, and agent to Shropshire Fire Office,
Bewdley
Mytton Henry George, Esq.
Nichols Wm., county court clerk, Market st
Pardoe George, Esq., Nash court
Pope Benjamin David, Market place
Pope Thomas, gentleman, Market street
Read Isaac Alfred, M.A., Union house
Reynolds Mrs. Elizabeth, Church street
Roberts Richard, county police officer, Lower town
Southam Samuel Phillip, Esq., Market st
Tongue Mary, school teacher, Free School
Vevers Henry, gentleman, Lower town
Wainwright William, relieving officer
West Margaret, carrier, High street
Whatmore John, town crier, Church street
Whitcombe Edmund Bancks, gentleman, High street
Wickstead Charles, Esq., Skakenhurst
Woodward Mrs., Lower town
Woodward Rev. Thomas, M.A., Hopton Rectory
Academies.
Free School, Rev. Henry Kemp, principal; Birchall James, second master;
Sarah Harris, mistress
Infant, Mary Tongue
Attorneys.
Backhouse Richard Onions, Lower town
Marcy William Nicholls, Lower town
Pope Benj. David, Market place
Southam Samuel Phillips, master extraordinary in chancery, coroner for
the southern district of Shropshire, and clerk to the county court
Auctioneers and Valuers.
Backhouse Richard Onions, Lower town
Hill William, Lower town
Jones Lloyd, Lower town
Baker and Flour Dealer.
Price James, Market street
Blacksmiths.
Harris Thomas, Church st
Hay John, (& ironmonger), Market street
Potter Edward, Lower town
Webb Thomas, High street
Boot and Shoemakers.
Bodenham John, Market st
Breakwell Thos., The Hurst
Whatmore John, (& leather cutter), Church street
Wheeler James, Church st
Butchers.
Bright Edward, High street
Lloyd Thomas, (& farmer), Market place
Williams Thos., (& grazier) Market place
Coopers.
Knott John, High street
Simmonds Wm., Market pl
Chemist and Druggist.
Wainwright Joseph, Market place
Grocers and Tea Dealers.
Downes John, High street
Downes Thomas, (& provision dealer), Lower town
Eaton Robert, High street
Jefferies Wm., (& chandler), Church street
Wainwright Joseph, Market place
Williams Elizth., Church st
Yapp Thomas, Market pl
Hair Dresser.
Griffiths John, Lower town
Hotels, Inns, and Taverns.
Bell, Jas. Lane, Lower town
Crown, James Wm. Smith, High street
Fountain, Elizth. Williams, Church street
Fox Inn, Thomas Farmer, High street
King’s Arms, commercial inn and spirit vaults, Benjamin Taylor, Church st
Lion, Thomas Worrall, Church street
Plough, Jas. Wood, High st
Swan, Benjamin Dorrell, Church street
Talbot Hotel, and commercial inn & posting house, Wm. Dorrell, Market pl
Beer and Cider Retailers.
Eaton Robert, High street
Wadeley James, Lower town
Whetstone Wm., High st
Butter and Cheese Dealer.
Yapp Thomas, (& dealer in corn), Market place
Joiners and Builders.
Hare Thomas, High street
Hardy Edwin, (upholsterer and & bell hanger), Church street
Smith John, High street
Land Agents.
Boucher James, Church st
Bourn James, junr., Mawley town
Linen and Woollen Drapers and Silk Mercers.
Downes Wm., Market place
Mytton James, Market pl
Maltsters.
Beddoe Charles, (and hop merchant), Church street
Wheeler Wm., (and corn miller), Lower town
Milliners and Dressmakers.
Dallow Jane, (fancy repository and hosiery), Market place
Wright Elizth., Church st
Paper Manufacturer.
Hall Thomas Lambert, Neen Savage
Painters, Plumbers, & Glaziers.
Hume Benjamin and Sons, (& paperhanger), Market place
Hume Benj., Lower town
Hume James, Union road
Napper William, High st
Saddlers and Harness Makers.
Littler Wm., Market place
Palmer Samuel, Market pl
Shopkeepers and Dealers in Groceries and Sundries.
Allen Rebecca, High street
Beddoe Ann, High street
Farmer Thomas, High st
Keysall Edward, Market pl
Whetstone William, High st
Skinner and Woolstapler.
Dallow James, High street
Stone Masons.
Haberley Wm., Lower town
Hare Thomas, High street
Potter James, Lower town
Surgeons.
Jones Wm. Weaver, Markt. st
Pope Thomas, Market pl
Vevers Henry, Lower town
Whitcombe Edmund Bancks, High street
Surveyors.
Dallow Wm. Aloysius, (land and road), Mortimer pl
Hill William, (land), Lower town
Tailors.
Mytton James, Market st
Pennington George, Lower town
Potter George, Lower town
Tinman and Brazier and Ironmonger.
Evans John, Market street
Watch and Clock Maker.
Stockall Thomas, Market st
Wheelwrights.
Merrick John, Lower town
Williams Thos., Market st
Carriers.
To BIRMINGHAM—From the King’s Arms (Cleobury Mortmr.), passing through
Bewdley, Kidderminster, and Hales Owen, to the Swan with Two Necks,
Birmingham, every Monday, Benjamin Taylor, proprietor
To BEWDLEY—James Jones, Mondays and Saturdays
To KIDDERMINSTER—Geo. Adams, Saturdays
To LUDLOW—Margt. West, Mondays
CLEOBURY NORTH
is a small village in the Chelmarsh division of the Stottesden hundred,
on the turnpike road from Bridgnorth to Ludlow, eight miles south-west
from the former, and eleven miles north-east from the latter. The parish
contains 1,560 acres of land, of which 461 acres are in waste and
commons. At the census of 1801 there were 136 inhabitants; 1831, 187;
and in 1841, 33 houses and a population of 176 souls. Rateable value,
£1,001. 14s. 6d. The principal landowners are the Rev. J. Knight, H. G.
Mytton, Esq., the Earl of Powis, and Mr. John Hinksman; and the
Corporation of Ludlow are also proprietors. THE CHURCH is dedicated to
St. Peter, and consists of nave, chancel, and south aisle, with a short
tower in which are two bells. The windows exhibit the style of
architecture which prevailed during the reign of Henry VII.: in other
parts are traces of the Norman character. The living is a rectory,
valued in the king’s book at £5. 12s. 3d., in the patronage of the Mytton
family; incumbent, Rev. John R. Webb. The tithes are commuted for £149.
9s.; and there are 75 acres of glebe land, of the annual value of £60.
The rectory is a good residence, almost surrounded with water, and has a
very picturesque appearance, not far from which are the towering heights
of the Brown Clee Hill. The church has recently been restored and
beautified, at the expense of the landowners and the principal residents.
A fine toned organ has been added, at a cost of £120, which was raised by
the interest and exertions of the present incumbent. CLEOBURY HALL, the
residence of Henry George Mytton, Esq., and the Misses Mytton, is a
handsome mansion of free stone, erected by the grandfather of the present
proprietor; it is beautified with pleasure grounds and shrubberies, and
surrounded with fine scenery.
DIRECTORY.—Henry George Mytton, Esq., Cleobury Hall; The Misses Mary Ann,
Harriette, Ann, and Frances Mytton, Cleobury Hall; Launcelot Dixon,
joiner; Thomas Green, farmer and corn miller; John Minton, yeoman; John
Miles farmer; William Powell, farmer; Jeremiah Sambrook, farmer; Rev.
John R. Webb, the Rectory.
CORELEY
is a parish and small village four and a half miles N.N.E. from Tenbury,
containing 2,173A. 3R. 9P. of land, of which 877A. 2R. 6P. are common
lands. The rateable value of the parish is £2,266. 10s.: gross estimated
rental, £2,624. 3s. 6d. At the census of 1841 there were 112 houses, and
525 souls; population in 1801, 458; and in 1831, 553. The principal
landowners are the Earl of Craven, John Pritchard, Esq., W. S. Davenport,
Esq., Mrs. Lucy Botfield, and Miss Compson; besides whom there are
several smaller proprietors. There are coal works in this parish,
carried on by Beriah Botfield, Esq. THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Peter,
is built of brick, and has a square tower, surmounted by a spire of wood.
The interior is neatly pewed with oak. The pulpit is carved, and has the
date of 1648. On the south wall is a tablet to the memory of William
Coling, of Coreley, dated 1657. The living is a rectory, valued in the
king’s books at £5. 5s. 8d.; patron and incumbent, Rev. Walter
Haliburton, M.A. The tithe is commuted for £168. There are 65 acres of
glebe land in the parish.
DIRECTORY.—William Adams, farmer, Hince; William Bishop, blacksmith;
Samuel Brown, wheelwright; Benjamin Bytheway, shoemaker and shopkeeper;
George Corfield, farmer, Brick House; James Davies, Esq., banker, Church
stile; William Davies, farmer; Rev. Walter Haliburton, M.A., rector, the
Rectory; William Honeybourn, vict., the Poplar; Jeremiah Jeffries,
farmer; John Kay, farmer; Edwin Wall, vict., the Colliers Arms; John
Webb, shoemaker; Richard Wyer, farmer, New Barn.
DEUXHILL
a small parish in the Chelmarsh division of the Stottesden hundred,
contains 683 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £471. The
principal landowners are the Rev. Mr. Haden, Mrs. Deenton, and the Rev.
Richard Herbert; besides whom there are a few smaller proprietors. At
the census in 1801 there were 30 inhabitants; and in 1841, eight houses
and a population of 45 souls. The village is pleasantly situated on the
Bridgnorth end Cleobury Mortimer turnpike road, four and a half miles
S.S.W. from the former town. THE CHURCH is a small structure, consisting
of nave and chancel, with a small turret, in which is one bell. Over the
porch is the date 1668. A neat tablet remembers John Lewis, who died in
1804, and his wife Frances, who died in 1809. The living is a rectory,
annexed to that of Chetton: incumbent, Rev. Richard Herbert.
The principal residents are Charles Birkin, farmer; Mary Ann Birkin,
farmer; Mary Jenkins, schoolmistress; Thomas Stonyer, corn miller,
Horsford.
DOWLES,
a small parish in the Cleobury division of the hundred of Stottesden,
situated one mile north of Bewdley, contains 1080 acres of land, the
rateable value of which is £1130. 10s., and gross estimated rental £1300.
In 1841 there were nine houses and eighty persons; population in 1801,
fifty-seven; 1831, sixty-two. The Misses Taylors are ladies of the manor
and the principal landowners, Mr. James Taylor, Rev. Joseph Fletcher, and
others are also proprietors. The word Dowles comes from the British Dôl,
which signifies a bottom surrounded with hills, or perhaps from the Saxon
Doelar, to divide, as it is on the extreme border of the county, a small
brook dividing it from Worcestershire. It is situated on the bank of the
river Severn and surrounded with beautiful scenery. The Bewdley Gas
Works are in this parish, and the manufacture of bricks and tiles is
carried on extensively here.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Andrew, stands in a sequestered situation
near the Severn. It is built of brick and has a small turret; the
interior consists of nave and chancel and the fittings are neat and
appropriate. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £4, in
the patronage of the Misses Taylor, and incumbency of the Rev. J.
Fletcher, B.A. The tithes are commuted for £120. There are two acres of
glebe land.
CHARITIES.—An old parish book records benefactions to the poor between
the year 1636 and 1710 to the amount of £13. 10s., which in the year 1786
was applied towards the rebuilding of the church, the rent of one of the
pews thereof being given to the poor in consideration of this sum, which
was regularly distributed till the year 1800, when a new minister of the
parish opposed the further letting of any pews and ordered them to be
thrown open to the public.
DIRECTORY.—Samuel Hill Crocket, farmer; William Downing, farmer; Rev.
Joseph Fletcher, B.A., The Parsonage; Benjamin Jeffries, parish clerk and
overseer and inspector of the Bewdley police; James Lawley, farmer;
William Meredith, farmer; and Thomas Perry, farmer.
GLAZELEY
is a parish and village situated on the Bridgnorth and Ludlow turnpike
road, three and a half miles S.S.W. from the former town. This parish is
in the Chelmarsh division of the Stottesden hundred, and contains 636
acres of land. At the census in 1801 there were 31 inhabitants; 1831,
47, and in 1841 eight houses and 38 souls. Thomas Whitmore Wylde Browne,
Esq., is lord of the manor and owner of the land. Adjoining the
church-yard is a mound or tumulus. THE CHURCH is a small unpretending
structure of brick, consisting of nave and chancel, and will accommodate
about eighty persons. In the chancel is a tablet in memory of Edmund
Wylde, Esq., who died in 1695. On the floor is brass, in a good state of
preservation, with two full length figures and six children,
commemorative of Thomas and Elizabeth Wylde and their children; it is
dated 1599. The living is a rectory annexed to that of Chetton, enjoyed
by the Rev. Richard Herbert. The parsonage house is a neat brick
residence on the south side of the church-yard. THE WOODLANDS, a
handsome stone mansion, the seat and property of T. W. Wylde Browne,
Esq., is surrounded by a finely timbered park, and commands extensive
views of the surrounding country.
The principal residents are Thomas Whitmore Wylde Browne, Esq., J.P.,
Woodlands; and Edward Brown, farmer.
HIGHLEY