Severn, seven miles S.S.E. of Bridgnorth, situated on an eminence
commanding fine views of the surrounding country, and noted for its
extensive orchards and the excellency of its cider, which is made to a
considerable extent in this locality. There are several quarries of
superior stone in the parish. At the census of 1841 there were 88 houses
and 360 inhabitants; population in 1801, 274, and in 1831, 404. Highley
contains 1,527A. 1R. 7P. of land, of which 780 acres are arable, 570
acres meadow and pasture, and 40 acres are woodlands, the rateable value
of which is £1,128. 3s. 4d; gross estimated rental, £1,929. 18s. 6d. The
tithes are commuted for £225. 1s. 6d. William Jordin, Esq., is lord of
the manor and principal landowner, besides whom Mr. John Crane, Rev.
Samuel Du Pre, Mr. Easthope, Mr. Thomas Fenn, Mr. J. H. Windle, Mr.
Daniel Jordin, Mr. Levi Jordin, Mr. Thomas Jordin, and Mr. George Peplow,
are proprietors.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is built of free stone, with square
tower, in which is four bells. It consists of nave, chancel, and has a
gallery on which is placed a small organ. The Rev. Samuel Burrows is the
patron, and the Rev. Samuel Du Pre, incumbent. The living is a vicarage
valued in the king’s book at £5. 19s. 2d. Some portion of the land is
tithe free, the rest has been commuted and apportioned as follows:—To the
vicar the sum of £115. 10s.; to Mr. Jordin, £89. 11s.; to the Rev. P.
Haslewood, £19, and to Thomas Lowe, £1. The vicar has 89A. 3R. 2P. of
glebe land.
CHARITIES.—_Richard Lowe_ gave the sum of £10 by will in 1579; _George
Harris_, in 1607, gave £1. 6s. 8d.; and _Giles Rawlins_, by will, in
1677, gave £5, to be employed for the use and benefit of the poor of the
parish of Highley. With this money land was purchased containing two
acres, on which two cottages have been built, and the rents have been
given to the poor of the parish in bread every Sunday. _Thomas Getton_,
_Esq._, in 1808, gave £5. 10s., the interest thereof to be distributed in
bread to the poor of the parish on Christmas day.
DIRECTORY.—Decimus Burrows, farmer, Church Hill; William Burrows, farmer,
Rea Farm; John Davies, shopkeeper; Rev. Samuel Du Pre, The Vicarage;
William Easthope, farmer, Haylewells; William Evans, builder; Thomas
Fenn, farmer, Dustley; George Gough, shopkeeper; William Thomas Homer,
schoolmaster; Martha Hughes, beer and cider retailer; Daniel Jordin,
miller and farmer; Levi Jordin, farmer; Thomas Jordin, farmer, Netherton
House; William Jordin, Esq., New House; William Jordin, farmer, Highley
House; William Kirk, shopkeeper and quarry owner; John Kirkham, vict.,
The Ship; William Lloyd, shoemaker; John Oakley, farm bailiff; William
Pritchard, blacksmith; Richard Tomlinson, farmer, The Heath; William
Walford, shoemaker; Benjamin Williams, tailor.
HOPE BAGGOT,
a small parish five miles east by south of Ludlow, containing 650 acres
of land, in 1841 had 21 houses and 75 inhabitants; population in 1801,
94; 1831, 62. The tithes of this parish have been commuted for £75. In
the 22nd of Richard II., William de Hulle held half a knight’s fee here
under the Earl of March, which was formerly possessed by Robert Baggard,
from whom this place took its name. The principal landowners are
Benjamin Giles, Esq., Mrs. Lucy Botfield, Mrs. J. Hooley, and Mr. Richard
Bray. THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. John, is a small stone edifice,
capable of accommodating 63 persons. The interior consists of nave and
chancel, in the latter of which is a tablet to the memory of Benjamin
Giles, Esq., dated 1795, and another to the memory of Benjamin Giles,
Esq., dated 1813. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at
£3. 6s. 8d., now returned at £90; in the patronage of the Duke of
Cleveland, and incumbency of the Rev. David Jones. DIRECTORY.—Richard
Bray, farmer; Edward Downes, shoemaker; Benjamin Giles, Esq., Hope Court;
Mrs. Jemima Hooley; Rev. David Jones, the Rectory; and James Geo. Lewis,
Esq., Hope Villa.
HOPTON WAFERS
is a parish and pleasantly situated village on the Cleobury Mortimer and
Ludlow turnpike road, 9 miles from the latter place. It contains 1,610A.
3R. 26P. of land, of which 22A. 3R. 18P. are roads; 236A. 3R. 26P.
common; and 60A. are in woods and plantations. In 1851 there were 94
inhabited houses, 20 uninhabited, and 444 inhabitants; population in
1801, 392; 1841, 481. There were formerly three paper mills in this
parish. Hopton Wafers is remarkable as giving a singular instance of
longevity in William Hyde, who resided in this place, and lived to the
advanced age of 106 years, and at the time of his decease in 1798, had
sons upwards of eighty years old. The principal landowner is Mrs. Lucy
Botfield, who is also lady of the manor; the trustees of Ludlow
charities, trustees of Palmer’s charities, and the rector are also
proprietors. Rent charge, £186. 12s. There are 83A. 1R. 21P. of glebe
land. THE CHURCH is a fine gothic structure, built of free stone, having
a square tower with pinnacles at the angles. In consists of north and
south aisles and chancel, and has a gallery, in which is a small organ.
On the altar is represented in statuary a Bible opening to the Ten
Commandments, and on each side of the window are marble scrolls with the
Creed and Lord’s Prayer engraved thereon. The church is dedicated to St.
Mary, and the patronage is vested in Mrs. Lucy Botfield, incumbent, Rev.
Thomas Woodward. THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS have a chapel, built in the
year 1837.
DIRECTORY.—Joseph Allen, blacksmith; Mrs. Lucy Botfield, Hopton Court;
John Bishop, farmer, Bank House; John Caldwell, tailor; Thomas Caldwell,
tailor; John Dolphin, farmer and beer retailer; William Edwards,
schoolmaster; William Farr, blacksmith; Richard Hatton, wheelwright;
William Highfield, farmer; Eliza Hyde, schoolmistress; Thomas Hyde,
shoemaker; William Hyde, shoemaker; William Jones, farmer, Little Shote;
Thomas Page, farmer, Roch Head; William Radnor, farmer, Sproseley; Thomas
Ree, farmer, White House; William Steed, stone mason; William Thatcher,
farmer, Great Shote; John Whitehead, vict., the Crown and farmer; Rev.
Thomas Woodward, M.A., the Rectory.
KINLET
is a parish in the Cleobury division of the Stottesden hundred, embracing
the townships of Kinlet and Earnwood, and contains 6,692 acres of land,
of which 1,079 are in woods, plantations and water; and 30 acres in
public roads. Population in 1801, 602; 1831, 532; 1841, 480; at the
latter period there were 98 houses. Rateable value, £5,760. 19s. 8d.
The soil is various; in some parts a strong loam, and in other places a
light soil prevails. The meadow land produces a rich herbage. William
Lacon Childe, Esq., is lord of the manor, and the principal landowner.
John White, Esq., Rev. Edward George Childe, Esq., George Crump, Esq.,
and Mr. William Rudd are also proprietors. The village of Kinlet is
delightfully situated in a luxuriant district, five miles north from
Cleobury Mortimer, and eight miles south from Bridgnorth. The township
is intersected by the Bridgnorth, Cleobury Mortimer, and Bewdley turnpike
roads, and a portion of the land stretches to the Severn side. This
locality is richly timbered, and the high grounds commands some fine
views of the surrounding country. At the census of 1841 there were 45
houses, mostly scattered, and a population of 227 souls, within the
bounds of this township.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Peter, is a venerable cruciform structure,
situated near the mansion in Kinlet Park: it has a lofty square tower
containing six bells. The interior has a very chaste and elegant
appearance, and the Saxon or early Norman arches of the nave bespeak its
antiquity. The structure was repaired and beautified in the year 1814,
when the east window was restored, at the sole expense of Mr. Childe; it
is richly adorned with armorial bearings and figures in stained glass.
The altar is of oak exquisitely carved. On the south side of the church
is an altar tomb, with the figures of a knight and two ladies in a
recumbent position; the male figure is in steel armour, and remembers Sir
William Childe, Knight; his feet rest on a lion couchant. On the north
side is a tomb with two full length figures, in memory of Sir William
Childe and his lady, dated 1678. There is also a beautiful marble tomb,
with a rich canopy, having the figures of a knight and his lady, in a
kneeling position, with those of a boy and a girl between them; it has
the date of 1584. There is also the figure of a knight in a recumbent
posture, in memory of George Blount, formerly lord of Kinlet, who died in
1581. Several elegant marble tablets, some of which are very chastely
designed, have been erected to the memory of various members of the
Childe family, of Kinlet Hall. The living is a vicarage valued in the
king’s book at £8. 2s. 4d., now returned at £360 in the patronage of
William Lacon Childe, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Edward George
Childe, M.A.; officiating minister, Rev. Edward Prest, M.A. The tithes
have been commuted, and £322 apportioned to the vicar, and £3. 7s. 6d. to
the impropriator, the lord of the manor. There are 45A. 0R. 16P. of
glebe land. A neat school and residence for the teachers was built in
the year 1844, by William Lacon Childe, Esq., by whose munificence and
that of the incumbent it is entirely supported.
KINLET PARK, the seat and property of William Lacon Childe, Esq., J.P.,
is a stately mansion of considerable extent, built in 1789, near the site
of a former mansion, which was taken down. It stands on a gentle
eminence in a delightful park, commanding views of great diversity and
beauty. The pleasure grounds are tastefully laid out, and kept in the
most admirable order, and the park is well timbered and beautifully
picturesque. A magnificent avenue stretches across the grounds. The
park contains 456 acres of land, besides which there are 1,076 acres
covered with woods, plantations, and water. W. L. Childe, Esq., at the
present time has upwards of 4,000 acres of land in his own hands. A
feast is held at Kilnet on the first Sunday after Midsummer day. Cider
is made to a considerable extent in this neighbourhood.
Childe Wm. Lacon, Esq., J. P., Kinlet Park
Barker Henry, farmer, Winnell
Beach Henry, farmer, Rotton row
Boucher James, Esq., steward & land agent
Chappell John, butler
Childe Rev. Edward George, The Hall
Childe William Lacon, Esq., junr.
Deverell Mr. William, farm steward
Elcock John, farmer, Winwoods
George George, farmer, Fastings
Hall John, farmer, Severn lodge
Jones William, Tip house
Jones William, farmer, Tip house
Lawley James, farmer, Norton’s end
Lawley John, farmer, Birch
Lawley Joseph, farmer, Button bridge farm
Lawley Thomas, blacksmith
Okey Edward, farmer
Pearson John, forrester and gardener
Pitt Hannah, school mistress
Pountney Charles, farmer, Catsley hall
Pountney Richard, farmer, Tilley grove
Prest Rev. Edward, The Vicarage
Reynolds Thomas, farmer, Braidley
Rhodes Richards, farmer and vict., Eagle and Serpent Inn
Rolf John, coachman
Rudd William, farmer, Hall of Hammons
Ward John, wheelwright
Whitehead John, park and gamekeeper
MIDDLETON SCRIVEN
is a parish and small rural village, in the Chelmarsh division of the
Stottesden Hundred, five miles S.W. from Bridgnorth. The parish contains
786A. 0R. 16P. of land, the soil mostly a strong marl, producing wheat,
barley, and turnips. The village is watered by two small streams, and in
1801 contained 80 inhabitants; 1831, 99; 1841, 108: at the latter period
there were twenty houses. The principal landowners are the Rev. Thomas
Rowley, D.D., and the Rev. F. S. Bolton; the former is lord of the manor.
There are also several smaller freeholders. Gross estimated rental of
the parish, £903. 16s.; rateable value, £827. 9s. THE CHURCH, dedicated
to St. John the Baptist, was almost entirely rebuilt in 1845 by the
present worthy rector. It consists of nave and chancel, and is neatly
fitted up with oak sittings; several of the windows are beautified with
stained glass, which gives the interior a very chastened and pleasing
appearance. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £4. 6s.
8d., now returned at £150 in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev.
Thomas Rowley, D.D. The rectory is a good residence a little south from
the church.
DIRECTORY.—The Rev. Thomas Rowley, D.D., The Rectory; Joseph Brown,
farmer, The Vicarage House; Richard Giles, joiner; Thomas Hall, junr.,
farmer, The Cave; Richard Lane, wheelwright; James Lock, draining
contractor; John Tongue, farmer and shopkeeper; Silas Webley, farmer;
William Wellings, blacksmith.
MORVILLE
is a parish in the Chelmarsh division of the hundred of Stottesden, three
miles N.W. of Bridgnorth, and five miles S.E. of Much Wenlock. At the
Doomsday survey it was written Membrefelde, and was granted by William
the Conqueror to Roger de Montgomery. The parish contains 2,778 acres of
land, the rateable value of which is £4299. 5s. 2d. The principal
landowners are Sir John E. D. Acton, Bart., and Lord Sudeley; Mrs.
Thursby, Lord Forester, and Thomas C. Whitmore, Esq., M.P., are also
proprietors. At the census of 1841 Morville contained eighty houses and
412 inhabitants; population in 1801, 415; in 1831, 517. The parish is
intersected by the Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock turnpike road, and watered
by the Mar brook.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Gregory, was rebuilt in the year 1118, on an
old Saxon foundation, and formed a part of the possessions of Salop
abbey. The interior contains nave, chancel, and side aisles, the latter
is separated from the body by three arches on each side. The structure
is neatly pewed, and will accommodate 294 persons. In the family seat of
the Acton’s is a tablet to the memory of Sir Edward Acton, Bart., who
departed this life September 28th, 1716, aged 64 years. The living is a
perpetual curacy in the patronage of Lord Sudeley, and incumbency of the
Rev. George Leigh Wasey, M.A. The chapelry of Aston Eyre is annexed to
this church. The tithes have been commuted, and £645 apportioned to Lord
Sudeley, and £21 to Sir John E. D. Acton.
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS have a neat chapel near Aldenham Hall, which was
built about the year 1836 by Lady Granville, and will accommodate near
200 persons. The interior has a chaste and elegant appearance. The east
window is of stained glass, having a beautiful representation of our
Saviour. In the chapel is a marble tablet to the memory of Sir Richard
Ferdinand Acton, Bart., who died at Paris, January 31st, 1837, aged 35
years. The Rev. Francis Ruiz is the priest.
ALDENHAM HALL, a handsome stone mansion, the seat and property of Sir
John E. D. Acton, Bart., situated four miles north-east from Bridgnorth,
was built in the year 1691. It is approached by a fine avenue of lofty
elms, and surrounded by a park of 170 acres. The owner of the mansion
and estate is now a minor
CHARITIES.—_Thomas Burte_, by will, dated 30th January, 1631, gave the
sum of £100 to Walter Acton, Esq., of Morville, to the intent that he
should add thereto the like sum of £100, and should lay out the whole
£200 in the purchase of land for the use of the poor people of the parish
of Morville. The money was expended in the year 1635 in the purchase of
fifteen acres of land in the parish of Claverley, to which was added 2A.
1R. 19P. of land in 1812 on the Enclosure of the common of Morfe. The
whole of the land is now let at a yearly rent of £20, one half of which
is paid to the perpetual curate of Morville, and the other half is
distributed among the poor
On the benefaction table it is stated that _John Mousall_ gave 10s. per
annum to the poor of Morville, to be expended in the purchase of Bibles,
which sum is charged upon an estate at the Reilth, in the parish of
Mainstine.
It is further stated on the benefaction table that _Arthur Weaver_ gave
to the poor at Morville on every Sunday sixpenny loaves, which is charged
upon an estate in this parish, which formerly belonged to that family.
_John Guest_, by will, dated 1,773, directed his son and executor, John
Guest, junr., to distribute the interest of £10 to such of the poor of
the parish of Morville as he should think the greatest objects of
charity. The interest of this sum, with another sum of £5 said to have
been left by Richard Geary, and £20 left by the aforesaid John Guest, in
1797, has been regularly distributed in bread to the poor of the parish.
ASTON EYRE, a chapelry in the parish of Morville, four miles N.E. of
Bridgnorth, contains 1,200 acres of land, the rateable value of which is
£1,111. At the census of 1841 it had 23 houses and 130 inhabitants;
population in 1801, 106, and in 1831, 120. The landowners in this
chapelry are Sir John E. D. Acton, Bart., Lord Sudeley, and St. John C.
Charlton, Esq. The chapel was built in the year 1147, and endowed by
Robert Fitz Aber, with sixty acres of land, the title deeds of which are
still extant. Over the door on entering the chapel is a tympanum of
antique workmanship, representative of our Saviour entering Jerusalem on
an ass. The chapel is built of stone, and contains nave and chancel,
which is separated from the body by a pointed arch. There is
accommodation for 76 persons. The living is subordinate to that of
Morville.
Acton Sir John E. D., Bart., Aldenham Hall
Backhouse Henry O., farmer & auctioneer
Braithwaite John, farmer, Haughton
Brown Mary & Sons, blacksmith
Brown Sarah, farmer, The Croft
Bryant Michl., miller & gardener, Aldenham
Clarke John, farmer, The Croft
Cureton Thomas, farmer, Bridgwalton
Downes John, farmer, and wine & spirit mer
Dutertre Rev. Peter, (Catholic), The Priory
Elcock Wm., miller & farmer, Ley mill
Fortel Rev. Thomas, (Catholic), The Priory
Green John, miller and farmer, Harpswood
Henbury Charles, farmer, The Hurst
Meredith James, farmer, Underton
Oliver William, farmer, Bridgwalton
Panter Charles, farm bailiff, Croft
Reece Edwin, farmer, Harpsford
Reynolds Joseph, farmer, Underton
Richards Rev. Fred., B.A., curate, Morville Hall
Rudd The Misses, farmers, The Croft
Ruiz Rev. Frances, O.M.C., (Catholic), The Priory
Russell Thomas, farm bailiff
Taylor Thomas, farmer & vict., Acton’s Arms
Trudeau Rev. Alex., (Catholic), The Priory
Wadlow Charles, farmer, The Hurst
Wasey Rev. George Leigh, M.A., incumbent, The Knowle Sands
Wall Francis, shoemaker and shopkeeper
Williams Charles, steward to Sir J. E. D. Acton, Bart., Morville Hall
Willis Joseph, farmer, Morville Hall
ASTON EYRE DIRECTORY.
Beddoes Mr. George, Aston Cottage
Corser William, farmer
Embrey William, farmer
Gittings Richard, farmer
Taylor Thomas, farm bailiff
Wall Hercules, farmer
NEEN SAVAGE
is a parish in the Cleobury division of the hundred of Stottesden, one
mile north-west from Cleobury, situated in a sequestered valley watered
by the River Rea. It contains 3,690 acres of land, and had at the census
of 1841, 99 houses and 490 inhabitants; population in 1801, 469; 1831,
450. The landowners in the parish are the Rev. Charles Richard Somers
Cocks, M.A.; William Lacon Childe, Esq.; C. B. Ogle, Esq.; Robert
Hinckesman, Esq.; and a few smaller proprietors. There are two paper
mills in this parish, in the occupancy of Mr. Thomas Lambert Hall. The
tithe of this parish is commuted for £420. THE CHURCH is an ancient
gothic edifice of stone, consisting of nave and chancel, and will
accommodate 300 persons. It was appropriated to the Abbey of Wigmore, by
Hugh de Mortimer, immediately after the finishing of that abbey. It is
rated in the king’s books at £6. In 1630, the advowson of Neen Savage,
now worth £445, was sold for only £80. On the 19th of January, 1825, the
wooden spire of the church was struck with lightning and burnt to the
tower; the roof was much injured, and the bells were melted and fell to
the bottom of the tower, and but for the exertions of the surrounding
inhabitants, the whole edifice would soon have been in ruins. There are
seven acres of glebe land in the parish. The Lord Chancellor is patron
of the living; and the Rev. Charles R. Somers Cocks, M.A., is the vicar.
CHARITIES.—_Richard Edwards_, by will, gave the sum of £400, in trust,
that the same should be laid out in land, and the rents and profits
thereof paid to some good schoolmaster to teach twenty poor boys of the
parish of Neen Savage. In 1732 the sum of £285 was applied in the
purchase of 17 acres of land in Stottesden parish, which is now let at a
rent of £35. The remainder of the money was placed out at interest until
some opportunity may offer of making an advantageous purchase in land.
_Richard Hinckesman_, _Esq._, by will, dated 1780, charged certain lands
in this parish with the payment of 6s. 8d. annually, for a sermon; and
13s. 4d. to be given to 10 poor widows annually.
_John Longmore_, by will, dated November 7th, 1835, gave the sum of £500,
to be invested in government securities; the interest, dividends, and
produce thereof to be expended in bread, and distributed to the most
deserving poor of the parish every Sunday morning after Divine service.
The aforesaid £500 was invested on the eighth day of March, 1839, in the
purchase of £538. 7s. 2d. in the three per cent. consols, in the name of
the vicar and churchwardens.
Bluck Samuel, farmer, Stepple Hall
Cleeton William, farm bailiff, Stone House
Cocks, Rev. Charles Richard Somers, vicar, the Vicrge.
Corbett Michael, farmer, Nethercott
Dallow John, castrator
Dorrall James, farmer, Wyer
Edmonds John, farmer, Wall Town
Hall Thomas Lambert, jun., paper manufacturer
Meredith Joseph, farmer, Rea Side
Minton Josh, farmer, Upper Beavney
Moore Thomas, blacksmith
Nisbett, Rev. Mr.
Preece John, farmer
Reynolds Thomas, farmer, Upper Beavney
Stephens Francis, farmer, Bank Top
Ward William, schoolmaster
Ward Elizh., schoolmistress
Weston Thomas, farmer
Wheeler George, farmer
Wheeler Joseph, miller
Whooton Thomas, farmer, the Lodge
Worrall John, farmer, Nash
Worrall Thomas, farmer, Elcott
NEENTON
is a parish and township in the Chelmarsh division of the Stottesden
hundred, situated on the western bank of the River Rea, near the foot of
the Brown Clee Hill, and six and a half miles south-west from Bridgnorth.
The parish contains 1,000 acres of land, and is intersected by the Ludlow
and Bridgnorth turnpike road. The land has mostly a strong soil,
tolerably productive. In 1801 there were 120 inhabitants; 1831, 130; and
in 1841, 29 houses and a population of 144 souls. The principal
landowners are Henry Lyster, Esq.; John Minton, Esq.; Rev. J. F. Benwell,
and Mr. T. Edwards; besides whom there are several smaller freeholders.
THE CHURCH is an inconsiderable structure of brick, consisting of nave
and chancel, with a turret in which are two bells. The living is a
vicarage, rated in the king’s book at £5. 3s. 6½d., now returned at £196:
patron and incumbent, Rev. John Frederick Benwell. The Vicarage is a
neat brick residence, situated a short distance from the church.
DIRECTORY.—James Amiss, wheelwright; Rev. John Frederick Benwell, The
Vicarage; William Childs, farmer, The Park; Richard Cleeton, wheelwright
and beerhouse keeper; Richard Dodd, farmer, The Hay; George Edwards,
butcher; George Edwards, farmer; Edward Hall, farmer, The Hall; John
Hodnett, tailor and vict., New Inn; William Massey, farmer, The Bank;
John Medlicott, farmer.
OLDBURY