north side chapel, the latter built by the Cresswell family; it contains
a tablet to the memory of Richard Cresswell, Esq., dated 1705. The
church is built of stone, with a small turret in which is one bell. On
the south wall is a tablet to the memory of Jacob Smith, Esq., dated
1795, and also one to the memory of George Smith, Esq., who died in 1802.
The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £4. 13s. 4d., now
returned at £227.; patron, the Earl of Shrewsbury; incumbent, Rev. R.
Maddox. There are 34 acres of glebe land. SIDBURY HALL is a good stone
residence, in the occupancy of Mr. James Pugh, farmer.
DIRECTORY.—Barnard Acres, farmer, Oxwood; John Corfield, farmer, Lower
House; Rev. William Lewis Jones, curate; Joseph Massie, farmer, The
Batch; William Powell, farmer, The Rectory; Samuel Pritchard, farmer, New
Barn; James Pugh, farmer, Sidbury Hall; Jane, Catharine, and Harriet
Snow, farmers, The Upper House.
STOTTESDEN
is an extensive parish in the Cleobury division of the hundred to which
it gives name, situated five miles north of Cleobury Mortimer, containing
the townships of Bardley and Harcourt, Chorley, Duddlewick, Hinton,
Kingswood and Button, Oak, Newton, Ingwardine and Lowe, Oreton, Overton,
Prescott, Walton and Bagginswood, Picton, Stottesden, Walkerslowe,
Wricton and Northwood, which together comprehend an area of 12,074A. 2R.
27P. of land, the rateable value of which is £8,796. 16s. 8d. At the
census of 1841 there were 259 houses and 1,217 persons in the Shropshire
portion of the parish, part of it extending into the Wolphy hundred of
the county of Hereford. The tithes have been commuted for £987. 17s. 1d.
The Duke of Cleveland is lord of the manor, and a considerable landowner.
The farms in the parish are generally large, excepting on the
south-western side, adjoining the Clee Hill, where are collieries and
ironstone mines, which give employment to a number of the labouring
population, but the principal part are engaged in agricultural pursuits.
There is a considerable portion of clayey soil in the parish, other parts
are of a more light and sandy nature, and in some places a fertile loam
prevails. STOTTESDEN is a pleasant village, 13 miles north-east by east
of Ludlow, five miles north of Cleobury Mortimer, and eight miles
south-west by south of Bridgnorth. The township contains 987A. 2R. 19P.
of land, the rateable value of which is £1,216. 4s. 7d.; and at the
census of 1841 there were 53 houses and 215 inhabitants. The principal
landowners in the township are Mrs. Oldbury; Rev. Charles J. Maddison;
Rev. Mr. Wakefield; Mr. Edward Bytheway; Mrs. Jones; Mrs. Waterhouse; Mr.
Frier; Mr. Pope; Mr. Edward Cleeton; Mr. Turner, and Mrs. Howard. The
vicarial tithes are commuted for £42. 3s. There are 27A. 3R. 4P. of
glebe land. The manor of Stottesden was the possession of Edwin, Earl of
Mercia, (at the time of Edward the Confessor), who rebelled against that
monarch, in consequence of which it was given to Roger de Montgomery, in
whose family it remained till a failure of male heirs. On the 28th of
Henry III., John de Plessitis had a grant of a market here on a Tuesday,
and a fair on the eve, the day, and the day after the assumption of the
Blessed Virgin. There is a feast held the first Sunday after Michaelmas
day.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient edifice, built of rubble
stone, having been covered with three roofs, supported on each side of
the interior by five semicircular arches of equal size, rising from four
slender pillars, and from a pillar on each side. From these latter
spring two small arches, slightly pointed, and adjoining to the rector’s
chancel; the one is connected with and opening into the Stottesden
chancel, which is still kept apart by its ancient oak screen. The other
semicircular arch served as an opening to admit the staircase leading up
to the ancient rood loft, which no doubt stood under an arch between the
church and the communion chancel. The rood loft was swept away at the
reformation, and the arch probably about the period of the civil wars.
At the west end of the north and south aisles are still to be seen the
Norman pilasters, decorated with mouldings, and carried up with the walls
in the interior; probably the oldest part of the fabric. The elegant
part of the exterior of this mouldering pile has been most sacrilegiously
destroyed; its parapets and battlements, with its lead roof, have
entirely disappeared. The north wall has been lowered, and the windows
cut through, having removed the upper or traceried part to within five
feet six inches of the surface of the cemetery. The fine mullioned
windows in the rectory and Wrickton chancels, as well as on the south
side of the church, afford a beautiful display of architectural taste.
The eastern window of the former had twelve figures of its ancient lords
and their connections, with their armorial bearings, including that of
the sovereign of the day, and the royal arms displayed on shields,
exhibited upon their breasts: five only of these now remain, in a very
mutilated state. The upper or traceried compartments are still
ornamented with stained glass. In the south wall is still to be seen the
piscina or sink for the reception of any impurity falling into the
elements. In the same wall appear the canopied seats of the priest,
deacon, and sub-deacon, in their beautifully ornamented niches; and near
to these is an ancient oilet or loophole window, with exquisitely fine
mouldings, all of which savour much of the reign of Edward I. The
circular stone font at the west end is of large dimensions, well adapted
for the ancient practice of immersion; it is most elaborately carved,
having a beautiful cordage twisted with much taste around the verge of
the upper extremity: it is greatly ornamented, having eight compartments,
the one exhibiting the Agnus Dei, the others those of Griffins,
Cockatrices, and Centaurs, and is altogether a beautiful and rare
specimen of an inimitable chisel of its day, probably as early as the
reign of Henry III. The pulpit exhibits much ancient carving,
beautifully executed, and put up with a sounding board in 1675. The
desk, also much ornamented with carving, was set up in 1583. The
entrance of the porch to the south is under a semicircular arch of great
antiquity, probably introduced from a former porch. This, the principal
approach into the interior of the edifice, is under an ancient arch of
the pointed style; that on the north side is of a very early period, as
well as that into the chancel. This latter is singular and rare,
exhibiting an unusual display of fine chiselling. The entrance out of
this chancel into the vestry is under a stone arch of the florid style,
executed by a tasteful und scientific artist. The tower is lofty, and
standing on a commanding eminence is a beautiful land mark in the
country: the lower part to the second string course is built like the
church with rubble material, but from that course upwards, including its
battlements, is of good Ashler stone. It was rebuilt in 1583, and
contains a peal of five musical bells, and clock and sun dial. Over the
doorway leading from the tower to the church is an ancient and curious
tympanum. The church was repaired in the year 1840, by which means 268
additional sittings were obtained, of which 215 are declared free and
unappropriated for ever, in consequence of grants from the Incorporated
and Hereford Diocesan Societies. The living is a vicarage, to which the
curacy of Farlow is annexed, valued in the king’s books at £5. 10s. 10d.,
now returned at £676; in the patronage of the Duke of Cleveland, and
incumbency of the Rev. Charles John Maddison. THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS
have a small chapel here built of stone in the year 1849. THE NATIONAL
SCHOOL, supported by donations and subscriptions, will accommodate 80
children; about 53 is the average number that attend.
BARDLEY is a township in Stottesden parish, two and a half miles
south-east by east of the parish church. It contains, with the township
of Harcourt, 1,800A. 0R. 20P. of land, of which 760 acres are arable,
774A. 3R. 34P. pasture, and 170A. 1R. are woodlands. William Lacon
Childe, Esq. is lord of the manor, and the principal landowner. Thomas
Crump, Esq., Mr. Hyde, Miss Smith, John and Robert Lateward, Esqrs., Mr.
Kyer, Messrs. Jones, Thomas Gregory, Richard Porter, and others are also
proprietors. This township contained at the census of 1841, 38 houses
and 178 persons. The tithes are commuted for £232. 9s. 0d., of which
£92. 15s. 6d. to the vicar of Stottesden; £48. 16s. 6d. to William Lacon
Childe, Esq.; £40 to Mr. John Humphries; £14. 16s. 6d. to John and Robert
L. Lateward, Gents.; to Mr. Jones, £11. 6s.; to the Duke of Cleveland,
£10. 3s. 6d.; to Mr. Hyde, £8. 16s. 6d., of which £5 yearly is paid to
the rector of Dowles; to Mr. Compson, £5. 8s., and 16s. 6d. to Thomas
Crump, Esq.
CHORLEY is a township pleasantly situated one and a half mile north-east
by north of Stottesden, containing with Northwood 1,210A. 2R. 17P. of
land, the rateable value of which is £1,402. 7s. 5d. In 1841 there were
in this township 21 houses and 114 inhabitants. The tithes were commuted
in 1847 for £63. 14s. 7d., and the sum of £50. 8s. 7d. was apportioned to
the vicar of Stottesden, £12 to Mr. Hincksman, and £1. 6s. to the Duke of
Cleveland, Thomas Crump, Esq., is lord of the manor, and principal
landowner. Lord Sudeley, Mr. John Hinckesman, W. L. Childe, Esq., Mr.
John Gittins, and several others are also proprietors.
DUDDLEWICK is a small township one mile north west by west of Stottesden,
which in 1841 had 4 houses and 36 inhabitants, and contains, with the
township of Hinton, 932A. 0R. 6P. of land. The tithes are commuted for
£127. 10s. The Duke of Cleveland is the principal landowner. Thomas
Crump, Esq., is also a proprietor.
HARCOURT is a township 1½ mile south east by east of the parish church,
containing, with Bardley, 1,800A. 0R. 20P. of land, the rateable value of
which is £2,004. 0s. 2d. The tithes are commuted for £232. 19s., of
which £83 7s. 8d. is apportioned to the vicar of Stottesden, and £140.
3s. 6d. to the impropriators. There are six houses and 34 inhabitants in
this township. W. L. Childe, Esq., is lord of the manor and sole
landowner.
HINTON, a small township one mile north west of the church, contains,
with Stottesden and Duddlewick, 1,916A. 2R. 3P. of land, of which 1,070A.
2R. 25P. are arable: 823A. 0R. 19P. meadow and pasture: and 22A. 3R. 33P.
are roads and waste. The tithes are commuted for £169. 13s., of which
£84 is apportioned to the vicar of Stottesden; £64 to the respective
landowners; £12. 13s. to the Duke of Cleveland, and £9 to William
Whitesides, Esq. The Duke of Cleveland is sole proprietor of this
township.
INGWARDINE is a small township three miles north west by west of
Stottesden, containing 4 houses and 20 souls. The tithes are commuted
and apportioned to the vicar of the parish for £110. This township, with
that of Lowe, contains 652A. 0R. 34P. of land, the freeholders of which
are the Rev. G. D. Pardoe and Mr. Johnson.
KINGSWOOD is a rural village with twenty-three houses and ninety-seven
inhabitants, situated six miles south west by south of Stottesden, from
which place it is separated by the parishes of Kinlet and Neen Savage
intervening. It contains, with the hamlet of Button Oak, 1,392A. 1R.
31P. of land, a great portion of which is woodland, of which 524A. 2R.
2P. are woods belonging to Lord Ward, and 588A. 2R. 29P. belonging to Sir
Edward Blount, bart., who are the principal landowners. Mrs. Elizabeth
Doolittle, Mr. Frier, Mr. Joseph Mole, Mr. Thomas Trow, the Misses Lewis,
and Mr. Boycott are also proprietors. The tithes have been commuted for
£22. 14s, 10.
LOWE township, situated 2½ miles north west by west of Stottesden,
contained at the census of 1841 one house and 10 persons, and with the
township of Ingwardine, has 652A. 0R. 34P. of land, of which Mrs. Goulder
is sole proprietor.
NEWTON is a township 2 miles north of the parish church, which in 1841
had three houses and 23 souls, and contains, with the townships of
Wrickton, Overton, and Walkers Lowe, 2,186A. 1R. 17P. of land, of which
125A. 3R. 26P. are arable: 904A. 3R. 17P. pasture, and 21A. 2R. 14P. are
roads and waste. The tithes of these townships have been commuted for
£180. 10s., of which the vicar of Stottesden receives £95, and the
remainder is paid to several impropriators. George Peach Aston, Esq., is
the sole proprietor of Newton.
NORTHWOOD is a small township 1½ mile north west of Stottesden, which
had, at the census of 1841, three houses and 16 persons. It contains,
with the township of Chorley, 1,210A. 2R. 17P. of land, the principal
proprietors of which are Thomas Crump, Esq., Mr. John Hincksman, and Lord
Sudeley. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £18. 4s. 6d., and the
rectorial for £12.
ORETON is a township two miles south of the parish church, containing 68
houses and 275 inhabitants. It contains 580A. 1R. 37P. of land, of which
upwards of 300 acres are in common and waste. In this township are
extensive lime works and stone quarries. The tithes are commuted for
£100. 5s. 8d., of which £38. 10s. are apportioned to the vicar of
Stottesden, and £61. 15s. 8d. to the Duke of Cleveland. George Compson,
Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. Rev. G. D. Pardoe,
Mr. John Page, Mr. Edward Wyer, Mr. Wm. Page, Mrs. Page, Mr. Preston, and
Mr. Wm. Wheeler are also small proprietors.
OVERTON is a township and small village 2¾ miles north of the parish
church, containing 3 houses and 22 souls. It has, with the townships of
Wrickton, Newton, and Walkers Lowe, 2,186A. 1R. 17P. of land. The tithes
are commuted for £24. 10s. 11d. Hamilton Tennant, Esq., is sole
proprietor of this township.
PICKTHORN is a township, one mile north-west of the parish church,
containing 560A. 0R. 37P. of land, and had at the census of 1841 four
houses and 16 inhabitants. The tithes are commuted for £61, of which £19
is apportioned to the Vicar of Stottesden, and £42 to William Henry
Cresswell, Esq.
PRESCOT township, situated two miles south of Stottesden, contains, with
the townships of Walton and Bagginswood, 804A. 2R. 34P. of land. The
tithes are commuted for £47, of which £44. 19s. is apportioned to the
vicar, and £2. 1s. to Mrs. Botfield. Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Botfield are
the principal landowners.
WALTON is a township, one mile and a half south-east of the church,
containing 804A. 2R. 34P. of land, with the townships of Prescot and
Bagginswood, and had at the census of 1841 one house and 12 inhabitants.
The tithes are commuted for £47. The Duke of Cleveland is the principal
freeholder; W. L. Childe, Esq., is also a proprietor.
WRICKTON is a scattered township, two miles and a half north-west by west
from the parish church, having at the census of 1841, 21 houses and 123
inhabitants. It contains, with the townships of Walkerslowe, Overton,
and Newton, 2,186A. 1R. 17P. of land. The tithes are commuted for £95.
1s. 4d., namely, from Wrickton township, £33 18s.; Walkerslowe, £26.
14s.; Overton, £24. 10s. 11d.; and Newton, £9. 18s. 5d. The principal
freeholders are Mrs. Haynes; Mr. Thomas Lowe; Panton Gardner, Esq.; and
Mr. John Maddocks.
CHARITIES.—There was formerly a sum of £30. 6s. 8d. in this parish,
called the poors’ stock, the origin of which is unknown, and which, with
some additions raised by subscription, made the sum of £45, which was
lent to the trustees of the turnpike road from Bewdley to Prescott, and
secured by a mortgage on the tolls in the year 1763, at an interest of
four per cent., in respect of which two pounds five shillings are
annually paid and distributed to the poor of Stottesden on St. Thomas’s
day. _Thomas Morris_, by will, in 1723, bequeathed to the poor of the
parish of Stottesden the sum of 20s. yearly, issuing out of his estate at
Bardley, in this parish. _George Rushbury_ and _Richard Rushbury_, in
1703, granted to trustees a piece of land in Stottesden, containing one
acre or thereabouts, in trust, for the erection thereon of an almshouse
to lodge some of the poor impotent persons of the said parish. An
almshouse was accordingly erected, the expense of which, amounting to
£35, was defrayed from the poor rates and contributions from the
parishioners. The house consists of five distinct dwellings, with a
garden to each, which are inhabited by the poor belonging to the parish.
_James Rushbury_, by will, dated 1717, gave the sum of £100, to be laid
out by his executor in the purchase of land, the yearly rents and profits
thereof to be distributed in the following manner, viz.: £3 yearly
towards maintaining an orthodox parson at Wombridge, who should read
divine service and preach yearly on the day of the testator’s death; 20s.
yearly to the poor of the parish of Wombridge; and 20s. yearly to the
poor of the parish of Stottesden. _The Rev. Samuel Meredith_, by will,
dated 1756, devised all his messuages, lands, tenements, and
hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever, to his godson Charles
Hinckesman, his heirs and assigns, he and they paying thereout (among
other things) the sum of £120 to the minister, churchwardens, and
overseers of the poor of the parish of Stottesden, upon trust, that they
should place the same out at interest, and apply it in educating and
teaching poor children of the said parish to read. This legacy has never
been received, the present proprietor of the estate alleging that it is
void under the statute of mortmain.
STOTTESDEN DIRECTORY.
Alltree John, farmer, New House
Bytheway Edw., shoemaker, shopkeeper, carrier, and parish clerk
Bytheway John, butcher and farmer
Brookes Joseph, farmer, Woodhouse
Cleeton Edward, farmer
Cleeton Emma, farmer, Hardwick
Elcock John, farmer
Gittins John, farmer, maltster, and wheelwright
Hancox John, joiner
Hyde Mrs., The Hall
Hyde Thomas, farmer, The Hall
Jones Dorothy, blacksmith and victualler, The Cock
Jones John, blacksmith
Jones Mrs.
Lane William, wheelwright
Maddison Rev. Chas. John, The Vicarage
Millichap Richard, farmer
Nott Henry, cooper
Page Thomas, farmer
Price John, beerhouse and shopkeeper
BARDLEY DIRECTORY.
Beach James, shoemaker
Deverell William, farmer, Knowle Bays
Edwards Richard, farmer
Gittins William, wheelwright
Gregory Thomas, shoemaker
Lateward John, farmer, The Hall Orchard
Lateward Mr. Robt., Lambert
Millington Thomas, farmer, Headcroft
Nuth William, schoolmaster
Pugh John, farmer, Ribbly
Smith Thomas, farmer, The Lower Farm
BUTTON OAK DIRECTORY.
Bevan Edward, beer retailer
Giles John, farmer and vict., Button Oak Inn
CHORLEY DIRECTORY.
_Those marked * reside at High Green_.
Birkin Benjamin, farmer
Birkin Sarah, farmer
* Cooke Thos., beer retailer
* Corfield William, engineer and blacksmith
Crump Thomas, Esq., The Hall
* Downes Henry, shoemaker
Jordin Joseph, farm bailiff
Page John, farmer
Powell William, farmer
* Richards Thos., shopkeeper
Wall Richard, wheelwright
DUDDLEWICK DIRECTORY.
Dorrell William, farmer, The Hall
Hyde Thomas, farmer
Meredith John, miller and farmer
Pugh John, farmer
HARCOURT DIRECTORY.
Benbow Edward, farmer
Deverell William, farm bailiff
HINTON DIRECTORY.
Hyde John, farmer
INGLEWARDINE DIRECTORY.
Amies Edward, farmer
Pardoe Rev. G. D., The Hall
KINGSWOOD DIRECTORY.
Band Richard, miller and farmer
Doolittle James, farmer
Doolittle Samuel, maltster
Doolittle William, farmer
Mole Joseph, farmer
Parkes Thomas, farmer
LOWE DIRECTORY.
Bishop William, farmer
NEWTON DIRECTORY.
Fletcher John, farmer
NORTHWOOD DIRECTORY.
Brown William, farmer
Medlicott William, farmer
ORETON DIRECTORY.
Boddy George, blacksmith
Chatham George, saddler
Clayton Samuel, lime and quarry master
Davies John, farmer, Lower House
Haycocks James, beerhouse and shopkeeper
Jones John, farmer, Middle House
Martin Mary, wheelwright
Martin John, wheelwright
Page Mrs., Stocking House
Page Wm., farmer, Upper House
Page Wm., farmer, Stocking Farm
Preston Thos., lime master and farmer
Trow Edward, beer retailer and shopkeeper
OVERTON DIRECTORY.
Baker William, farmer
Fletcher Thomas, farmer
FICKTHORN DIRECTORY.
Fletcher Thomas, farmer
PRESCOTT DIRECTORY.
Gittins Elizabeth, farmer
Preeton Thomas, miller and farmer
WALKERSLOWE DIRECTORY.
Colebach George, farmer
Wyer Richard, farmer, Manor House
WALTON DIRECTORY.
Farmer George, farmer, The Hall
Oakley Richard, farmer
Page John, farmer, The Heath
WRICKTON DIRECTORY.
Cox John, farmer, The Hall
Haynes Mrs., The New House
Maddocks John, miller and farmer
Passey George, farmer
Wellings Humphrey, blacksmith
TASLEY
is a parish and scattered village in the Chelmarsh division of the
Stottesden hundred, two miles N.W. from Bridgnorth, which contains 1,120
acres of land, and at the census of 1841 had 18 houses and 83
inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,243. 13s. Gross estimated rental,
£1,328. 7s. The land has an undulating surface, and in some parts a
strong soil, which produces tolerable crops of grain; the meadow land is
generally of an inferior quality, and cold. The Earl of Shrewsbury is
the most considerable landowner, the other principal proprietors are
Edward Farrer Acton, Esq.; the Earl of Liverpool; the Executors of the
late William Clayton; Mr. Newell; Thomas C. Newport, Esq.; and Edward
Edmonds, Esq. Edward Farrer Acton is lord of the manor. In the 18th of
Edward II. Reginald de la Leigh gave lands in Tasseley towards the
endowment of a chantry in Bruges. The Bridgnorth race course is situated
in this parish. THE LEASOWS, the property and residence of Captain
Edward Edmonds, is a handsome modern erection of brick, pleasantly
situated, and surrounded by rural scenery. THE CHURCH is a small
structure rebuilt in 1840, consisting of nave and chancel, with a turret
in which are two bells. There is a gallery, the front of which is
ornamented with antique oak carvings, and there is a beautiful screen
which separates the chancel from the nave. The font is very ancient, and
there is a small organ upon the gallery. The living is a rectory in the
patronage of Edward Farrer Acton, Esq.; incumbent, Rev. John
Postlethwaite. The tithes have been commuted for £212, and there are 8A.
2R. 37P. of glebe land. When the church was rebuilt 115 additional
sittings were added to the original number, and in consequence of a grant
from the Incorporated Society for building and enlarging churches, 62 of
that number were declared free and unappropriated for ever. A handsome
tablet remembers Rowland Hill, Esq., who died in 1766. There is also a
neat tablet in the chancel in memory of the Rev. William Moore, M.A.,
late rector, who died in the year 1848.
DIRECTORY.—Samuel Arthur, farmer and vict., Boar’s Head; William Clayton,
farmer, Henley; Mr. William Cleaton, Tasley Cottage; John Corbet, farmer;
Robert Corbet, farmer, Race-course; Edward Edmonds, Esq., The Leasows;
Joseph Giles, farmer, Church Farm; Enoch Gwynn, basket maker; Thomas
Lees, farmer, Hundred House; Henry Yapp, butcher.
UPTON CRESSETT