Chapter XXX: Part 30

A survey being made in pursuance of the directions of the act, the Marsh was found to contain 111A. 3R. 31P., of which four acres being allotted to the Earl of Shrewsbury for beast-gates, there remained 107A. 3R. 31P. to be employed for the beneficial objects of the trust. This remainder, the trustees then proceeded to inclose and subdivide; and as an effective mode of providing for the fencing-in and improvement of the different parcels, they granted leases for 99 years, determinable on three lives, binding the lessees by covenants to plant and set the fences, within a limited time, with good hawthorn sets; to make ditches of certain dimensions; and otherwise to improve and properly manage the respective parcels demised to them. The leases originally granted produced a yearly income of £91. 7s.; but a considerable income may reasonably be looked for on the falling of leases, determinable on three lives, the lands being valued at upwards of £3 per acre, which would produce an annual rental of about £350. The income is subject to a charge for land-tax of £6. 2s.; chief rent, £1; and £5. 5s. to the collector of rents. In the application of their annual rents, the trustees were in the first instance called upon to defray the expenses attending the Act of Parliament and the preliminary arrangements in execution of their trust, which amounted to £663. 0s. 8d. These expenses being discharged, the income was next applied, for several years, to the purpose of repairing the streets and public buildings specified in the act; and having appropriated to those uses, from time to time, the sum of £808. 3s. 5½d., the trustees had in hand, on the balancing of their accounts in April, 1785, the sum of £93. 8s. 7½d. In the year 1787 the benefits of the trust were extended to the establishment of a Sunday school, and in 1790 to that of a stocking manufactory. This undertaking being found not to prosper, was superseded in 1796 by the erection of a wind-mill for grinding corn. This measure appears to have been loudly called for by the inhabitants of Newport, as a means of protecting themselves against what were deemed the extortionate demands of the millers of the neighbourhood. The speculation, however, proved exceedingly ruinous, and was finally abandoned in the year 1801; since which time the rents of the premises have been applied, as before, to the repairs of the streets and public buildings, as far as there has remained a surplus, after keeping down the annual interest of the debts which these abortive schemes have entailed upon the trust. It appears that £460 was expended in the attempt to establish the manufacture of stockings, and the corn-mill cost £2,000. The latter, however, was subsequently sold for £900. Previously to the year 1799 debts had been contracted to carry on these schemes, amounting to £2,300. This sum had been reduced to £1,100, when the Charity Commissioners published their report, which had been secured by mortgage of the Marsh, at five per cent. interest; so that there remained an annual charge of £55 in respect of the debts which remained unpaid. In addition to the debts contracted for the purposes above mentioned, £192. 4s. 3d. was borrowed from the treasurer in 1811, for the benefit of the public repairs, for which it was agreed to allow him five per cent. interest until he should reimburse himself from the rents.

THE BRIDGE TRUST.—By an indenture, dated 5th May, 1749, purporting to be made between the Earl of Shrewsbury and Earl Gower, lords of the manor of Newport, and Robert Pigot, Esq., steward of the borough of Newport, and the burgesses of the said borough, of the first part, and Robert Barber, Esq., and others, of the second part, it was witnessed that the said earls, steward, and burgesses, granted to the said Robert Barber, and others, all those parcels of lands lying waste, but formerly covered with water, called the Strine, or Newport Pool, and the Flags, with the appurtenances, in trust, that, with the rent, issues, and profits thereof, the Pool Dam, at the lower end of the town, should be repaired and kept in good order; and if any surplus should remain, the same should be appropriated to keeping in good order the pavement of the streets, or in the reparation of the Market House or Town Hall. A subsequent indenture was made, dated 17th October, 1750, granting the waste lands called the Flags, and also a small parcel of land lying near the entrance to the same, rendering the annual rent of 5s. The premises conveyed in these indentures were found by a survey, made in 1804, to contain 2A. 2R. 21P. of land, which produced an annual rental of £18. The rent, after deducting the 5s. reserved to the burgesses, and certain incidental expenses, appears to have hitherto been confined to the repair of the Bridge and Bridge-street; which not having exhausted the whole, the surplus has been deposited, from time to time, in the Newport Bank.

CHARITIES.—_The Rev. Thomas Perkes_, by will, dated 26th March, 1734, gave (after the death of his wife, Hannah) to the minister and churchwardens of the parish of Newport, and their successors, the sum of £200, to be laid out in lands, and the profits thereof (except the sum of 20s. to be paid to the minister, as a recompense for disposing of the charity) to be expended in purchasing Holy Bibles, Books of Common Prayer, and books intitled The Whole Duty of Man, to be yearly distributed among the poorer sort of inhabitants of Newport; and when such poor people should, in the judgment of the minister, be sufficiently supplied with such books, then the yearly rent should be laid out in clothing old people residing in and being parishioners of the town of Newport. A preference to be given to those that should be of the most religious and orderly life.

_Hannah Perkes_, wife of the above Mr. Perkes, who appears to have died in 1766, bequeathed £600, to be put upon land or other good security, to the intent that the interest should be duly applied towards the setting out three poor boys, of the parish of Newport, apprentices in some place of manufacture, to be elected annually by the minister, church-wardens, head-schoolmaster, together with five men nominated by the parish yearly,—especial regard being had that the boys so chosen should be able to read the English tongue well. She likewise left £100, to be laid out in land, or some other good security, the interest to be distributed amongst the poorest inhabitants of the parish, upon St. Thomas’s day. These several legacies, amounting together to the sum of £900, were laid out in the purchase of £996. 1s. 9d. three per cent. reduced annuities, producing annual dividends amounting to £29. 17s.; two-ninths of which are annually paid to the minister on account of Mr. Perkes’s charity, and on account of Mrs. Perkes’s charity six-ninths are annually applied on apprentice fees, and one-ninth is expended in bread for the poor.

_Mrs. Mary Scott_ bequeathed £100, and desired the minister and two masters of the free-school, whom she constituted trustees, to dispose of the yearly produce in the relief of poor housekeepers of this parish, except that every fourth year they should lay out the income in Bibles, Common Prayer Books, and The Whole Duty of Man, which should be distributed among poor children whose parents should not be able to provide them. This gift, and a further legacy of £20, the gift of _Mrs. Felicia Vyse_, was laid out on the 8th of March, 1786, in the purchase of a plot of land, situated at Chetwynd End, called the Four-day Math, and containing 3A. 0R. 36P., which land was conveyed to the then minister and two masters of the grammar school, on trust, to apply five-sixths of the rents to the charitable uses appointed by Mrs. Scott, and to pay the remaining sixth among the poor of the parish. The land produces an annual rental of £13. 17s. The rent is received by the minister, as one of the trustees; but in the application of it the trusts do not appear to have been duly kept in view, the rent having been paid to the churchwardens for general distribution among the poor, without reserving any portion for the purchase of books, as directed by the will of Mrs. Scott.

DOLE CHARITIES.—By an indenture, dated the 23rd of March, 1675, certain lands, situated at Little Aston, called the Foxhall lands, were conveyed for the sum of £220 to William Harding, one of the churchwardens of the parish, for charitable uses, subject to a yearly rent of 3s. 6d. to Thomas Talbot, the lord of the manor. It does not appear from what source the consideration money of this purchase was derived, but it is probable that it arose from a stock of £161, recorded in an inquisition as having been given by several donors, and the additional sum might be the subsequent accumulations of interest upon it. The premises consist of a cottage and garden, and three closes; containing in the whole about 13 acres of land. They were let under a lease of 14 years at Lady-day, 1814, at the annual rent of £82. It appears Mr. Leek was induced by particular circumstances to offer the above mentioned rent, though far exceeding the fair value of the premises.

_Robert Hawkins_, on the 15th December, 1660, charged a certain house in Newport, with the payment of 13s. 4d. per annum, and directed the same to be distributed to the poor.

_William Adams_; who died in 1690, gave a rent charge of 26s. per annum, payable out of his lands and tenements in Newport, and directed the same to be expended in bread, and given to the aged poor in sixpenny loaves for ever, according to the discretion of the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the town. This charity is understood to be comprised in a weekly supply of twelve penny loaves which has been for many years made for the use of the poor, by the late Richard Marsh, Esq., as owner of certain lands, at Norbroom. There does not, however, appear any mention of such a charge in the title deeds, nor was Mr. Marsh able to give any information as to the origin of the weekly supply, which, having been made before his time, he had felt it proper to continue. There is no charity to which the residue of this weekly supply might with any likelihood be ascribed, except that of _Thomas Sprig_, who is recorded on the benefaction table to have left six penny loaves, to be given to the poor every Lord’s-day, and twelve every Sacrament-day.

_Richard Haynes_, in 1713, left to the poor of this parish six penny loaves to be given every Lord’s-day. This benefaction appears to have been charged upon a parcel of land which became the property of Mrs. Humpherson some time ago, by whom a weekly supply of six penny loaves was duly made. In 1713 Stephen Denston left £100 to the poor; and we also learn from the churchwarden’s book of donations that Richard Fletcher, in 1721, left £30 to the poor, and that Mrs. Moreton by her will bequeathed £20, the interest to be distributed in bread. These several sums, amounting together to £150, were invested on the 2nd April, 1770, on a mortgage of the tolls of the Forton and Lilleshall turnpike, producing at five per cent. interest the annual sum of £7. 10s. It is also stated in the churchwarden’s book that Felicia Vyse, who died in 1747, gave by her will £20, the interest to be given yearly to the poor of the parish. We have already shown that this legacy, in conjunction with Mrs. Mary Scott’s, was applied in the purchase of the Four Math Meadow. The whole rents having been paid over to the churchwardens for the same common purpose, no severance has taken place in the application.

_Abraham Hadderton_, by will, dated 9th September, 1770, gave to the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor, and their successors, £1,000 in trust, to keep the same at interest, and apply the proceeds thereof for the benefit of the poor. This legacy was invested in the purchase of £1,141. 8s. 6d. three per cent. reduced annuities, producing the annual dividends of £34. 5s. 6d.

_William Brown_ gave a rent charge of 10s. yearly, payable out of a certain house in Newport, which became the property of William Crump in 1820. The Dole charities above specified produce an annual sum of £156. 6s. 2d., and are administered by the churchwardens. £15. 7s. 8d. is expended in bread, and distributed at different periods, and the residue, £140. 12s. 5d., is given in money.

_Elizabeth Symonds_ gave a certain croft, the yearly rent thereof to be applied to the benefit of the poor of Newport for ever. The croft thus given contains about an acre and a quarter, which produces a yearly rental of £7. 10s. The amount is distributed in small sums among the poor not receiving parish relief.

_William Hawkins_, by will, 1724, gave to the poor of this parish £5 per annum, charged on certain premises, the property of Mr. Collier. The amount is expended in warm clothing, and given to the poor about Christmas.

_John Hayley_ charged a certain house with the payment of 4s. yearly, to be distributed in bread. It appears that Eleanor Richards, in 1758, paid the sum of £4 into the hands of the then minister and certain other persons, trustees for repairing the bridge, in order to exempt the house from the annual payment of the said 4s. It seems reasonable to presume that the sum thus paid to the trustees of the bridge was applied by them to the purposes of their trust, which would create, we apprehend, a liability on their part to pay the annuity of 4s. We do not, however, find any instance of such a payment.

A rent charge of £5 per annum, left by John Staunton, payable out of a tenement in Newport, has not been paid for many years; the premises having passed to several successive owners without any mention of the rent charge in the title deeds. A yearly sum of 6s. 8d., left by Roger Simonds, has long been lost. The gift of £20 by Francis Wells, in 1680; £20 by Mr. Edwards, and £30 by Mrs. Brayne, in 1713, recorded on the table of benefactions, have also been lost.

POST OFFICE.—_High street_. _Miss Maria Justice Sillitoe_, _postmistress_. Letters to London, Birmingham, Stafford, &c., are dispatched at 6 40 A.M., and 10 40 P.M. Letters to Shrewsbury, Wellington, South Wales, &c., are dispatched at 1 50 A.M., and 2 20 P.M.

_See also the Directories of Chetwynd_, _Chetwynd Aston_, _and Church
Aston_.

Adams Joseph Harrison, gentleman, High st

Adderley Thomas William, hair dresser, High street

Allen Harry, wine & spirit merchant, High street; residence, Chetwynd End

Allkins Lewis, turnery, bendware, and hair sieve manufacturer, Mill Works

Appleby Cowton, solicitor’s clerk, Beaumaris lane

Aston George, grocer, tea dealer, ironmonger, and chemist and druggist, Lower Bar

Atkinson Frances, boarding school, High st

Baddeley Thomas Bernard, solicitor, St. Mary’s street; residence, High street

Baddeley William Edward, surgeon, High st

Ballard John, cattle dealer, Beaumaris lane

Barber Charles, maltster & butcher, High st

Barber The Misses, High street

Barlow George, maltster and vict., Feathers Inn, High street

Barlow Mary Ann, vict., Bull’s Head, St. Mary’s street

Barlow Mary Ann, infant school teacher, Wellington road

Barlow Samuel, contractor and vict., White Horse Inn, High street

Beeston John, boot & shoemaker, Lower Bar

Bennett William, gentleman, High street

Blest Richard, shoemaker, Workhouse lane

Bolas Wm., boot & shoemaker, St. Mary’s st

Booth Richard, vict., White Lion, High st

Boughey Thomas, turnery, bendware, and hair sieve manufacturer, Mill Works

Bowring Thomas, fishmonger and game dealer, St. Mary’s street

Bradbury Charles, soda water manufacturer, cigar & wine & spirit agent, High street

Bradbury Charles, tailor and draper, High st

Bradbury Helen, school teacher, Upper Bar

Bradbury Samuel, ale, porter, and wine and spirit agent, High street

Breese John, tailor, High street

Breese Thomas, tailor, High street

Brittain Miss, milliner, High street

Brittain William, grocer, tea dealer, and agent to Salop Fire Office, High street

Brookes Ambrose, solicitor, Upper Bar

Brown William, plumber, glazier, & painter, High street

Bryan Robt., inland revenue officer, Upper Bar

Chalmers Henry, chemist & druggist, High st

Chettar John, rope maker, Upper Bar

Clift Roger, hosier, Lower Bar

Cobb Samuel, cabinet maker & upholsterer, High street

Collier Mary Ann, milliner, High street

Cooke Joseph, blacksmith, Salthouse lane

Cooper Mrs. Mary Ann, Old Hall

Crowther Richard, third master, Grammar School, High street

Darley Matthew, vict., Old Star, High street

Davies Mr. David, Brown’s Cottage, Beaumaris lane

Davies Mr. David, St. Mary’s street

Davies Samuel, plumber & glazier, High st

Davies Thomas, brazier & tin plate worker, High street

Davieson Thomas, cabinet maker, High st

Dawes James, blacksmith, Stafford street

Dawson John, basket maker and vict., Plough Inn, High street

Dodd George, saddler and harness maker, Lower Bar

Doody John, solicitor’s clerk, High street

Doody Joseph, auctioneer, maltster, and ale and porter agent, High street

Duncalfe George, surgeon, St. Mary’s street

Duncalfe Thomas, chemist and druggist and veterinary surgeon, St. Mary’s street

Eardley Thomas, saddler & harness maker, High street

Eccleshall John, cooper, Upper Bar

Edwards David, linen and woollen draper, High street

Edwards Joseph, beerhouse keeper, High st

Eldershaw Mrs. Jane, Upper Bar

Evanson Ann, bonnet maker, St. Mary’s st

Felton John, seedsman, St. Mary’s street

Fieldhouse Ann, milliner, High street

Fieldhouse Thomas, auctioneer & maltster, High street

Fieldhouse William, grocer, tea dealer, and tallow chandler, High street

Fisher Robert, jun., Esq., solicitor, and auditor of the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire audit district, High street

Fisher and Washbourne, solicitors, High st

Fishwick Mary Ann and Alice, dressmakers, High street

Fishwick William, saddler and harness maker, High street

Fletcher Mrs. Helen, High street

Ford and Co., woolstaplers, Stafford street

Fowler Alexander, bank manager, High st

Fox William, beerhouse keeper, Upper Bar

Gater Charles, tailor, High street

Glover Alfred, beerhouse keeper, St. Mary’s street

Godby Augustus Hardy, surgeon, High st

Goodall John, vict., Fox & Grapes, St. Mary’s street

Gosnell John, butcher and shopkeeper, Lower Bar

Griffiths John, confectioner, & glass, china, and earthenware dealer, High street

Guy Ann, schoolmistress, High street

Hall George, bookkeeper to Shropshire Union Canal Company, Canal Wharf

Harker Francis, shopkeeper, High street

Harrison Jas., vict., New Inn, Stafford road

Harvey Robert, hair dresser, High street

Haycock Thomas, vict., Bridge Tavern, Lower Bar

Heane Henry, Esq., solicitor, clerk to commissioners of property and assessed taxes, clerk to poor law guardians, and superintendent registrar, High street

Higgins Mr. Robert George, High street

Hickin Miss Catherine, St. Mary’s street

Holland John, auctioneer, St. Mary’s street

Hollins John, shopkeeper, High street

Horton Miss Mary Ann, High street

Hughes Robert, Esq., High street

Humphreys Miss Elizabeth, Stafford street

Hutchinson James, currier and leather cutter, High street

Hutchinson Mary Ann, milliner, High street

Huxley John, grocer, tea dealer, and general provision warehouse, Lower Bar

Icke James Joseph, corn & guano merchant, Vauxhall

Icke and Yates, grocer, tea dealers, and chemists and druggists, High street

James John, cooper, St. Mary’s street

James Lewis and Josiah, linen and woollen drapers, High street

Jenkins William, cabinet maker, St. Mary’s st

Jervis William, tailor, High street

Johnstone Moses, tailor, Lower Bar

Jones Edward, grocer, tea dealer, ironmonger, chemists and druggists, Lower Bar

Jones John, inland revenue officer, High st

Jones and Aston, grocers, tea dealers, ironmongers, chemists and druggists, and iron-hurdle makers, Lower Bar

Keeling John, tailor and draper, High street

Keeling Mrs. Sarah, High street

Keeling William, solicitor, High street

Kyffin Mrs. Margaret, High street

Lamonby George, vict., Swan Inn, High st

Leach George, boot & shoemaker, Upper Bar

Leach Samuel, farrier, Upper Bar

Leach Rev. William Berckeley (Independent), Upper Bar, Aston

Leech Ann and Elizabeth, dressmakers, Upper Bar

Leech and Humphreys, wood turners, Upper Bar

Lees John, schoolmaster, High street

Leigh Mary, vict., Pheasant Inn, High street

Liddle William, Esq., solicitor, and clerk to magistrates and county court, High street

Lindop William, surgeon, St. Mary’s street

Littleton William, winnowing machine maker, Beaumaris lane

Lockley James, grocer, tea dealer, cheese factor, maltster, corn miller, and vict., King’s Arms Inn, High street

Lockley George, vict., Old Bell Inn, High st

Lowe Edwin, painter, High street

Lowe Emma, bonnet maker, High street

Lowe Richard, clothes dealer and agent to Birmingham Fire Office, High street

Macefield John, banker’s clerk, High street

Macklin Frederick, hair dresser, High street

Mansell Thomas, timber merchant and wheelwright, Stafford road

Massey William and George, engineers, millwrights, and iron and brass founders, Lower Bar

May Edward, county police officer, Stafford road

Morgan Miss Elizabeth, High street

Morris John, Esq., High street

Morris Samuel, butcher, Stafford street

National Provincial Bank of England, High street; Alexander Fowler, manager

Northwood James, watch and clock maker, High street

Oastler William, chemist and druggist, and agent to clerical and medical assurance office, High street

Owen Ann, beerhouse keeper, Summer House

Owen William, shoemaker, Watery lane

Parsons Joseph, vict., George and Dragon, High street

Pearse John, supervisor of inland revenue, High street

Pember John, boot and shoemaker, High st

Pickin Peter, vict., Pig Fould Inn, High st

Plant Caroline, dressmaker, St. Mary’s street

Plant Stephen, boot and shoemaker, and leather cutter, St. Mary’s street

Plant Thomas, saddler and harness maker and beerhouse keeper, Lower Bar

Pooler Thos., boot & shoemaker, Upper Bar

Pritchard Edward, law stationer and agent to district fire and industrial and general life offices, High street

Rees Benjamin, relieving officer and registrar of births and deaths for Newport district, High street

Rees John, saddler & harness maker, High st

Rees Philip, butcher, High street

Rees Philip, butcher, Upper Bar

Roberts Thomas, bailiff to county court, Upper Bar

Rogers Elizabeth, tanner, Watery lane

Rogers Stephen, baker, St. Mary’s street

Rowley James, blacksmith, Upper Bar

Rutter Jane, vict., Crown Inn and Posting House, High street

Sandford Rev. William, M.A., Incumbent of Newport, the Grammar School, High st

Saxton Rev. Charles Waring, D.D., head master of Grammar School, High street

Scott Robert, gentleman, High street

Serjeant Elizabeth, shopkeeper, High street

Serjeant John, solicitor’s clerk, Lower Bar

Serjeant Peter, cabinet-maker & upholsterer, High street

Serjeant William, currier and leather-cutter, High street

Shaw Abraham Pierpont, bookseller, printer, stationer, bookbinder, patent medicine vendor, and agent to Times Life and Assurance and Guarantee Co., High street

Shaw John, wheelwright, Workhouse lane

Sherry Richard, omnibus proprietor, and victualler, Anchor Inn, St. Mary’s street

Sherry Thomas, maltster, High street

Shropshire Banking Company, High street, Mr. William Silvester, manager

Sillitoe Maria Justice, postmistress, High st

Sillitoe William, gentleman, Lower Bar

Silvester Henry Price and Charles, booksellers, printers, stationers, bookbinders, musical instrument dealers, patent medicine vendors, stamp-office, and patent machine rulers, High street

Silvester Mr. William, bank-manager, High street

Simpson Charles, town crier, High street

Skitt Mrs. Emma, St. Mary’s street

Slaney Henry, cabinet-maker & upholsterer, St. Mary’s street

Slaney William, grocer & tea dealer, High st

Smallwood Brooke Hector, Esq., solicitor, St. Mary’s st.; residence, Chetwynd End

Smallwood George, shopkeeper, Stafford st

Smart Elizabeth, bonnet-maker, St. Mary’s st

Smart George, patten and clog maker, Upper Bar

Smart Richard, tailor, High street

Smith Mrs. Ann, High street

Smith Mr. Edward, High street

Steed Charles Christopher, boot and shoemaker, leather-cutter, and toy-warehouse, High street

Steed George, boot and shoemaker and leather-cutter, High street

Steeple Thomas, accountant, Upper Bar

Steventon Charles and John, butchers, High street

Steventon Martha, shopkeeper, High street

Stokes Charles, shopkeeper, Upper Bar

Stokes John, surveyor of highways, collector of assessed taxes, and manager of the gas works, Marsh lane

Stokes Thomas, maltster and victualler, Shakspere Inn, Upper Bar

Stokes William, maltster, Wellington road

Sturgess George, painter and shopkeeper, High street

Sturgess Sarah, bonnet-maker, High-street

Taylor Mrs. Frances, High street

Thomas Alexander, hosier, High-street

Thompson John, fishmonger, fruiterer, and game dealer, High street

Thurstan Thomas, Esq., St. Mary’s street

Tipping Richard, gun and pistol maker, Upper Bar

Tomlin Sarah, schoolmistress, Workhouse lane

Tomkinson James, cooper, High street

Tomkinson John, baker and shopkeeper, Stafford street

Tomkinson Job, shopkeeper, High street

Treasure John, land agent, surveyor, and builder, Chetwynd Aston

Trovell Rev. Michael, Catholic priest, Salter’s Hall

Underhill William Scott, grocer, tea dealer, ironmonger, brazier, and tin-plate worker, nail, hurdle, and agricultural implement maker, High street

Ventriss Rev. E. F., curate, High street

Waldron Joseph, victualler, Horse & Jockey, High street

Walker Emma and Elizabeth, milliners, High street

Walker William, victualler, Unicorn Inn, High street

Ward Elizabeth, victualler, Wharf Tavern, Canal wharf

Ward George, maltster and victualler, Barley Mow Inn, High street

Ward George Joseph, timber and tile merchant, Canal wharf; residence, Church Aston

Ward John, maltster and victualler, Raven and Bell Inn, High street

Ward Martha and Elizabeth, milliners, High street

Warner John, linen and woollen draper and silk mercer, High street

Warner & Co., woollen drapers, clothiers, and hatters, High street

Washbourne William, Esq., solicitor, High-street; residence, Chetwynd House

Watkin John, linen and woollen draper, clothier and hatter, High street

Watkin John, ironmonger, brazier, and tin-plate worker, High street

Westbrook Samuel, shoemaker, Wellington road

Whiston Joseph, watch and clock maker, High street

Whiston Thomas, watch and clock maker, Upper Bar

Whittingham Joseph, stone mason, Upper Bar

Wilde Martha, grocer and tallow-chandler, St. Mary’s street

Williams John, bricklayer, High street

Williams John, shopkeeper, Upper Bar

Williams William, joiner, Upper Bar

Woods William Barnett, accountant & paper-hanger, St. Mary’s street

Worrall Joseph, tailor and draper, High st

Wright Joseph, hatter, High street

Yale Elizabeth, dressmaker, High street

Yates John, grocer, tea-dealer, and chemist and druggist, High street

Academies.

Atkinson and Cooke, High st

Bradbury Helen, Wellington road

Catholic School, Mrs. Baldwin

Grammar School, High st., Rev. Chas. Waring Saxton, D.D., head master; Rev. Wm. Sandford, M.A., second master; Mr. Rd. Crowther, third master

Guy Ann, High street

Infants’ School, Mary Ann Barlow, Wellington road

National School, (Girls), Sarah Tomlin, Workhouse lane

Royal Free School, John Lees, Wellington road

Agricultural Implement Maker.

Underhill Wm. Scott, High street

Ale, Porter, & Spirit Agents.

Bradbury Charles, High st

Bradbury Samuel, High st

Doody Joseph, ale & porter, High street

Attorneys.

Baddeley Thomas Bernard, St. Mary’s street

Brookes Ambrose, Upper Bar

Fisher & Washbourne, High street

Heane Henry, High street

Keeling William, High street

Liddle William, and clerk to magistrates, High street

Smallwood Brooke Hector, St. Mary’s street

Auctioneers.

Doody Joseph, High street

Fieldhouse Thomas, High st

Holland John, St. Mary’s st

Bakers.

Griffiths John, High street

Huxley John, Lower Bar

Rogers Stephen, St. Mary’s st

Tomkinson John, Stafford st

Banks.

National Provincial Bank of England, High st., (draws on London Joint Stock Bank); Mr. Alex. Fowler, manager

Savings’ Bank, High, street, open every alternate Saturday from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.; Mr. Charles Silvester, secretary

Shropshire Banking Co., High street, (draw on Hanbury & Co., London); Mr. William Silvester, manager

Blacksmiths.

Dawes James, Stafford street

Cooke Joseph, Salt house ln

Rowley James, Upper Bar

Booksellers, Printers, Stationers, Bookbinders, and Patent Medicine Vendors.

Shaw Abraham Pierpoint, High street

Silvester Henry Price and Charles, High street

Boot and Shoemakers.

Beeston John, Lower Bar

Blest Richard, Workhouse ln

Bolas William, St. Mary’s st

Leech George, Upper Bar

Owen William, Watery lane

Pember John, High street

Plant Stephen, St. Mary’s st

Pooler Thomas, Upper Bar

Steed Charles Christopher, and toy warehouse, High street

Steed George, High street

Westbrook Samuel, Wellington road

Braziers & Tin-Plate Workers.

Davies Thomas, High street

Underhill Wm. Scott, High street

Watkin John, High street

Bricklayer.

Williams John, High street

Butchers.

Barber Charles, High street

Gosnell John, Lower Bar

Morris Samuel, Stafford st

Rees Philip, High street

Rees Philip, Upper Bar

Steventon Charles and John, High street

Cabinet Makers and Upholsterers.

Cobb Samuel, High street

Davieson Thomas, High st

Jenkins William, St. Mary’s street

Serjeant Peter, High street

Slaney Henry, St. Mary’s st

Chemists & Druggists.

Chalmers Henry, High st

Duncalfe Thos., St. Mary’s st

Icke and Yates, High street

Jones and Aston, Lower Bar

Oastier William, High street

Clothiers.

Lowe Richard, High street

Warner and Co., and general outfitters, High street

Watkin John, High street

Confectioners.

Griffiths John, High street

Serjeant Elizabeth, High st

Sillitoe Fanny, High street

Coopers.

Eccleshall John, Upper Bar

James John, St. Mary’s st

Tomkinson James, High st

Corn Miller.

Lockley James, High street

Curriers & Leather Cutters.

_Marked * leather cutter_.

Hutchinson James, High st

Serjeant Wm., St. Mary’s st

* Steed George, High street

Engineers, Millwrights, and Brass Founders.

Massey William and George, Lower Bar

Fire & Life Office Agents.

Birmingham, Richard Lowe, High street

District, Edward Pritchard, High street

Industrial and General, Ed. Pritchard, High street

Law, William Washbourne, High street

Medical and Clerical, Wm. Oastler, High street

Norwich Union, Jas. Joseph Icke, High street

Palladium, Alexander Fowler, High street

Phœnix, Alexander Fowler, High street

Salop, Henry Chalmers, High street

Shropshire & North Wales, Thomas Fieldhouse, High street

Times Life and Assurance and Guarantee, Abraham P. Shaw, High street

Glass & China Dealers.

Griffiths John, High street

Underhill William Scott, (glass), High street

Fish and Game Dealers and Fruiterers.

Bowring Thos., St. Mary’s st

Thompson John, High street

Grocers & Tea Dealers.

Brittain William, High st

Fieldhouse William, High st

Huxley John, Lower Bar

Icke and Yates, High street

Jones and Aston, Lower Bar

Lockley James, High street

Slaney William, High street

Underhill Wm. Scott, High street

Wild Martha, St. Mary’s st

Gun & Pistol Maker.

Tipping Richard, Upper Bar

Hair Dressers.

Adderley Thomas William, High street

Harvey Robert, High street

Macklin Frederick, High st

Hatters.

Keeling John, High street

Warner & Co., High street

Watkin John, High street

Worrall Joseph, High street

Wright Joseph, High street

Hosiers and Haberdashers.

Clift Roger, Lower Bar

Lowe Richard Goolden, High street

Thomas Alexander, High st

Hotels, Inns, & Taverns.

Anchor, Richard Sherry, St. Mary’s street

Barley Mow, George Ward, High street

Bridge Tavern, Thomas Haycock, Lower Bar

Bull’s Head, Mary Ann Barlow, St. Mary’s street

Crown Inn (posting house), Jane Rutter, High street

Feathers, George Barlow, High street

Fox & Grapes, John Goodall, St. Mary’s street

George and Dragon, Joseph Parsons, St. Mary’s st

Horse and Jockey, Joseph Waldron, St. Mary’s st

King’s Arms, James Lockley, High street

New Inn, James Harrison, Stafford road

Old Bell, James Lockley, High street

Old Crow, Benjamin Parton, High street

Old Star, Matthew Darley, High street

Pheasant, Mary Leigh, High street

Pig Fold, Peter Pickin, High street

Plough, John Dawson, High street

Raven and Bell, John Ward, High street

Royal Victoria Hotel (posting house), St. Mary’s street

Shakspere, Thomas Stokes, Upper Bar

Swan, George Lamonby, High street

Unicorn, William Walker, High street

Wharf Tavern, Elizabeth Ward, Canal wharf

White Horse, Samuel Barlow, High street

White Lion, Richard Booth, High street

Beerhouses.

Edwards Joseph, High street

Fox William, Upper Bar

Glover Alfred, St. Mary’s st.

Owen Ann, Summer House

Plant Thomas, Lower Bar

Ironmongers.

Jones and Aston, Lower Bar

Underhill William Scott

Joiners and Builders.

Treasure John Chetwynd, Aston

Williams William, Upper Bar

Linen and Woollen Drapers and Silk Mercers.

Edwards David, High street

James Lewis and Isaiah, High street

Warner John, High street

Watkin John, High street

Maltsters.

Barber Charles, High street

Barlow George, High street

Doody George, High street

Fieldhouse Thos., High st.

Lockley James, High street

Parton Benjamin, High st.

Stokes William, Wellington road

Ward George, High street

Ward John, High street

Milliners and Dress Makers.

Brittain Miss, High street

Collier Mary Ann, High st.

Fieldhouse Ann, High street

Fishwick Mary Ann and Alice, High street

Hutchinson Mary Ann, High street

Leach Ann and Elizabeth, Upper Bar

Plant Caroline, Upper Bar

Walker Emma and Eliza, High street

Ward Martha and Elizabeth, High street

Yale Elizabeth, High street

Patten and Clog Maker.

Smart George, Upper Bar

Plumbers, Glaziers, and Painters.

_Marked * Painter and Glazier only_.

Brown William, High street

Davies Samuel, High street

* Lowe Edwin, High street

Sturgess George, High street

Sturgess George, High street

Rope and Twine Maker.

Chettar John, Upper Bar

Saddlers & Harness Makers.

Dodd George, Lower Bar

Eardley Thos., High street

Fishwick William, High st.

Plant Thomas, Lower Bar

Rees John, High street

Shopkeepers, Dealers in Sundries, and Groceries.

Gosnell John, Lower Bar

Harker Francis, High street

Hollins John, High street

Steventon Martha, High st.

Stokes Charles, Upper Bar

Sturgess George, High street

Swallow George, Stafford st.

Tomkinson John, Stafford street

Tomkinson Job, High street

Williams John, Upper Bar

Soda Water Manufacturer.

Bradbury Charles, High st.

Stone Mason.

Whittingham Joseph, Upper Bar

Straw Bonnet Makers.

Evanson Ann, St. Mary’s st.

Lowe Emma, High street

Smart Eliza, St. Mary’s st.

Sturgess Sarah, High street

Surgeons.

Baddeley William Edward, High street

Duncalfe George, St. Mary’s street

Godby Augustus H., High st.

Lindop William, St. Mary’s street

Surveyor and Builder.

Treasure John Chetwynd, Aston

Tailors.

_Those with_ * _affixed are Woollen Drapers_.

* Bradbury Charles, High st.

Breese John, High street

Breese Thomas, St. Mary’s street

Gater Charles, High street

Jervis William, High street

Johnstone Moses, Lower Bar

* Keeling John, High street

Smart Richard, High street

* Watkin John, High street

* Worrall Joseph, High street

Tallow Chandlers.

Brittain William, High street

Fieldhouse William, High st.

Wilde Martha, St. Mary’s st.

Tanner.

Rogers Elizabeth, Watery lane

Timber Merchants.

Ward George Joseph, Canal wharf

Mansell Thomas, Stafford road

Turnery, Bendware, and Hair Sieve Manufacturers, & General Wood Turners.

Atkins Lewis, Mill Works

Baughey Thos., Mill Works

Veterinary Surgeon.

Duncalfe Thomas, St. Mary’s street

Watch & Clock Makers.

Northwood James, High st

Whiston Joseph, High street

Whiston Thomas, Upper Bar

Wheelwrights.

Mansell Thomas, Stafford st

Shaw John, Workhouse Lane

Wine & Spirit Merchants.

Allan Harry, High street

Liddle William, High street

Wood Turners.

Leech and Humphreys, Upper Bar

Wool Staplers.

Ford and Co., Stafford street

General Carriers.

The Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company, George Hall, clerk

PRESTON-UPON-THE-WILD-MOORS

is a parish and small rural village, three miles N.E. of Wellington, comprising 1,153A. 4R. 30P. of land, and in 1801 had 170 inhabitants; 1831, 218; and in 1841 there were 80 houses and a population of 389 souls. Rateable value, £1,422. 1s. 10d. The village is retired, but pleasantly situated, and contains some good farm residences. St. John Chiverton Charlton, Esq., and the Trustees of Preston Hospital are the landowners. THE CHURCH is a small brick structure, consisting of nave and chancel, with a tower, in which are two bells. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £3, now returned £198, in the patronage of the Trustees of Preston Hospital and St. John Chiverton Charlton, Esq., alternately; incumbent, Rev. William Taylor Bird, M.A. The tithes are commuted for £119, and there are 23 acres of glebe land.

PRESTON HOSPITAL.—_Lady Catherine Herbert_, widow of Henry Lord Herbert, by her will, bearing date 11th April, 1716, gave the sum of £6,000, in trust, to be laid out in the purchase of lands, in the county of Salop, and building an almshouse thereon, for the reception of 12 poor women and 12 poor girls; the patronage to be vested in the Earl and Countess of Bradford. _Thomas Lord Torrington_, by will, 1718, devised his real estate in Preston-upon-the-Wild-Moors, subject to certain annuities, in trust, to apply the rents and profits to the same use as Lady Herbert’s gift; and directed the almshouse to be built upon such part of the estate at Preston as his trustees should think proper; and he gave £1,000, then due to him from his nephew, the Earl of Bradford, to the trustees, to be laid out in building a hall in the middle of the hospital. The property belonging the hospital, when the Charity Commissioners published their report in the year 1828, consisted of the sum of £9,621. 4s. 6d., three per cent. consols; certain lands, chiefly situated in the parish of Preston, comprising 1,077A. 0R. 31P. of land, let at a yearly rental of £1,301. 5s. 6d.; and the dividends of £5,539. 12s. three per cent. consols, producing £166. 3s. 4d. per annum. The latter stock is in respect of a legacy of £4,000, bequeathed in 1802 by _Charles Henry Coote_, _Earl of Montrath_, to be applied by the trustees in the augmentation of the poor widows’ stipends.

The hospital is a spacious and elegant brick structure, with stone finishings, and was originally built so as to form three sides of a square, with a large hall in the centre, used both as a chapel and as a school. The old buildings contain apartments for 20 widows, and sufficient accommodation for 20 girls and the matron who superintends the school, together with a kitchen and other offices. There are also apartments for the receiver, who has occasion frequently to attend on business connected with the trust. Under an order of the Court of Chancery, made 27th March, 1827, new buildings have been erected as wings at each end. These comprise eight apartments, for an additional number of widows. Each of the widows has for her own use a small garden. There are also three meadows and a large garden, which are kept in hand, and stocked for the general use of’ the hospital. Since the erection of the wings, the number of widows have been increased from 20 to 27. The widows are selected by the trustees, without any restriction as to the place of birth or residence. Twenty inmates receive £26 per annum, and seven have £18 a-year; in addition they have two tons of coal each, and are provided with beds, bedding, and other necessary articles of furniture. They were formerly supplied with medicine and medical attendance from the funds of the charity; but some years ago this expense was found to be so great that it was thought expedient that every almswoman that should be appointed after that time should deposit a sum of £10 in a savings’ bank, for the purpose of providing herself with such medical assistance as she might require during her residence in the hospital. When a widow dies, £5 is allowed for the expense of her funeral. The twenty widows who have the largest income receive the additional allowance under the bequest of the Earl of Montrath. Upon this establishment there are also 20 girls appointed by the trustees. They are provided with board and lodging, and are clothed and fed without any expense whatever to their parents; and at 16 years of age, when they leave the hospital, they receive £5 to supply them with clothing. The matron who instructs the girls, and has the management of this branch of the establishment, as well as the superintendence of the widows, receives a salary of £30 a-year in addition to her board and lodgings.

Bird Rev. William Taylor, M.A., rector

Brown Henry, farmer

Chilton Thomas, farmer

Colley Ann, shopkeeper and beerhouse

Getley Edward, farmer, The Wich Farm

Hartley John, farmer

Hawkins Richard, farmer, Preston Farm

Hawkins Richard, farmer, Preston Hall

Higgins Mrs. Jane, Preston Cottage

Higgins Thomas, farmer

Hughes Jas., carpenter, joiner, & shopkeeper

Kirkham Mary Ann, farmer

M’Lean Mrs. Ann, governess of Preston Hospital

Pritchard Elizabeth, shopkeeper

Wood George, parish clerk

RODINGTON, OR RODDINGTON,

a parish and scattered village, which derives its name from its situation on the river Roden, is pleasantly situated five miles N.N. by W. from Wellington. The parish also includes the township of Sugdon, which together contain 1,615A. 0R. 8P. of land. In 1801 the parish contained 372 inhabitants; 1831, 423; and in 1841 there were 106 houses and 466 inhabitants. Rateable value, £2,717. 4s. 2d. The landowners are the Duke of Cleveland, John Tayleur, Esq., Mr. S. Pain, and Mr. S. Smith. The township of Roddington, at the census in 1841, contained 88 houses and 365 inhabitants. It is intersected by the river Roden and the Shrewsbury Canal. There are some good farms here, the farm-houses are respectable, and there is a good inn in the village. THE CHURCH, dedicated St. George, is a brick structure, consisting of nave and chancel, and a tower in which are two small bells. There is a small gallery at the west end. A memorial, with the date of 1737, remembers John Tayleur, Esq., formerly a resident in Roddington. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £6. 13s. 4d., in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and enjoyed by the Rev. Henry Thomas Whateley, The tithes have been commuted for £296, and there are thirty acres of glebe land. THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS have a small chapel built in 1834. THE NATIONAL SCHOOL, a neat brick structure, is situated a little south from the church; fifty-six children now attend.

SUGDON is a small township in Roddington parish, situated about a mile from the church, which at the census in 1801 contained 18 houses and 101 inhabitants. The land is all the property of the Duke of Cleveland. LONGWAIST is a hamlet in Sugdon township.

POORS LAND.—In the parliamentary returns of 1786 it is stated that _Walter Davies_, by will, gave to the poor of this parish £50 in the year 1674, and that _William Tayleur_, _Esq._, in 1722, left £30 for the like purposes, and that those legacies were then laid out in land. The premises referred to consist of two enclosures containing 4A. 2R. 25P. of land. There is also an allotment of 3A. 8P. set out thereto on an enclosure about the year 1805. The land was let for £17. 17s. per annum when the charity commissioners published their report. The amount is distributed to the poor in December and Easter, in sums varying from 2s. to 10s.

POST OFFICE.—_At Mr. John Prices’s_, _Bull’s Head_. Letters arrive at 9 A.M., and are despatched at 5 P.M.

RODINGTON DIRECTORY.—Robert Allen, boot and shoemaker; Thomas Belcher, wharfinger; John Hodges, farmer; George Hulse, butcher and farmer; Thomas Jukes, farmer, Rodington Hall; Samuel Pain, farmer; John Price, farmer and vict., Bull’s Head.; Mrs. Elizabeth Ralphs, The Grove; Edward Rogers, parish clerk; George Shinglar, farmer, Somerwood; Hugh Shinglar, farmer; Samuel Smith, farmer, Rodington Villa; Edward and Arabella Wainwright, teachers; Rev. Henry Thomas Whately, The Rectory.

The residents in SUGDON are Wm. Thomas Davies, farmer; James Powis, bricklayer; LONGWAIST HAMLET, John Bourne, brick and tile agent for the Duke of Cleveland; Jane Dunn, schoolmistress; James Dyke, coal agent; William Lockley, blacksmith; James Reeves, shopkeeper; Thomas Tudor, coal agent, The Wharf.

STIRCHLEY

is a small parish and village five miles S. E. from Wellington, and three miles W. from Shiffnal, which in 1801 contained 189 inhabitants; 1831, 271, and in 1841, 301; at the latter period there were 61 houses, which are mostly scattered; there are a number of cottages in the immediate vicinity of the church, which are small, ill ventilated, and most miserable hovels; this, however, is not the character of cottages generally in this locality, or indeed in the county, for on the whole we conceive them to be far superior to cottage residences in most other counties. The parish contains 833A. 0R. 36P. of land, the principal owner of which is R. H. Cheney, Esq.; the Duke of Cleveland, Robert Burton, Esq., and Beriah Botfield, Esq., are also proprietors. A considerable part of land is held in lease by Beriah Botfield, Esq., who has extensive collieries and ironworks in the parish. THE CHURCH is a small fabric dedicated to St. Mary, and consists of nave, chancel, and north transept, with a gallery over it built by the Botfield family, for the use of their own workmen. There are ten pews in the body of the church, and two in the chancel,—the whole has a very primitive appearance. The church was formerly lighted with small pointed windows, but these have all been made up, and a large window void of taste and of unmeaning character has been added to the east end to supply their place. The chancel is divided from the nave by a Saxon arch of exquisite workmanship, which modern renovators have attempted to improve by adding sundry coats of lime wash. A neat marble tablet has been erected in memory of Thomas Botfield, Esq., who died in 1801, and of his wife, Margaret, who died in 1803. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £6. 5s. 10d., now returned at £274, in the patronage of the Phillips family, and enjoyed by the Rev. Hugo Moreton Phillips, M.A., who resides at the rectory, situated near the church, and has 45A. 3R. 38P. of glebe. There is a parochial school which is chiefly supported by B. Botfield, Esq., and the rector. There is a Wesleyan Chapel on the Dawley road, which is just within the bounds of Dawley Magna township. The Shropshire union canal intersects this parish. Gross estimated rental of the parish, £2,500. 15s. 6d.; rateable value, £2,364. 8s. 6d. Stirchley Hall is a good residence a little west from the church.

_Thomas Clowes_, in 1748, gave to the poor of this parish the sum of £20 per annum, to be disposed at the discretion of the churchwarden and overseer. This annuity has long been paid by the tenant of Stirchley Hall estate, formerly the property of Mr. Clowes, and which he charged with the payment of the same.

_Richard Cookes_, in 1799, demised certain premises in Stirchley for the term of 1,000 years, at the yearly rent of 17s., payable to the lessor, his heirs and assigns. This rent has for a great many years been paid to the overseers of this parish for the use of the poor, and it is supposed to have been assigned for their benefit by Richard Cookes, the lessor, but at what time or under what circumstances they first became entitled to it there is no evidence to show. The term is at present invested in Mr. Darral, who has improved the premises by building to the annual value of £13.

Botfield Beriah, Esq., iron master and colliery proprietor

Barnard Richard, vict., Rose and Crown

Blakemore Thomas, farmer

Blocksidge John, schoolmaster and parish clerk

Hayward Sarah, shopkeeper

Onions Thomas, agent to B. Botfield, Esq.

Phillips Rev. Hugo Moreton, The Rectory

Smith George, farmer, The Hall

Smith William, farmer

Tipton Mark, agent to B. Botfield, Esq.; residence, Mossy Green

Trigger Robert, farmer

UPPINGTON

is a parish and township in the Wellington division of the South Bradford hundred, four miles S.W. by S. from Wellington, which contains 747A. 0R. 36P. of land. In 1801 there were 107 inhabitants, 1831, 117, and in 1841 18 houses and 96 inhabitants. Rateable value, £937. 10s. The Duke of Cleveland is lord of the manor and proprietor of the whole parish. The village is delightfully situated in a salubrious country, pleasingly beautified with rural scenery, and commands a fine view of the majestic Wrekin. An avenue of trees extends nearly through the length of the village, which gives it an air of quiet retirement. There are several good houses, with pleasure grounds neatly laid out, and tastefully planted with shrubs. THE CHURCH has a venerable appearance, it is built of brick and rough cast, and dated 1678; it consists of nave and chancel, with a turret containing two bells. The interior underwent a complete reparation in 1844, at a cost of about £120, raised by subscriptions and a grant from the Diocesan and Incorporated Societies,—the whole has now a tasteful and orderly appearance. A brass plate which remembers John Stanier and family is dated 1691. A neat marble tablet dated 1793 has been erected to the memory of Rich aid Boycott, Esq. A tablet very chastely designed, of coloured marble, and dated 1789, records the death of Charles Stainer and several members of that family. An altar tomb to Silvanus Boycott is dated 1686. There is also a beautiful marble scroll, exquisitely executed, in memory of John Middleton Ashdown, Esq., agent to the Duke of Cleveland, which was put up at the expense of the Duke’s Shropshire tenantry. The living is a perpetual curacy in the patronage of the Duke of Cleveland, and enjoyed by the Rev. John Meredith, M.A. In the church-yard are two yew trees of immense girth, one of which is completely hollow, and will admit of twelve persons standing within the trunk at the same time; although nothing remains of the trunk at the bottom but a shell, yet the tree shows vigorous signs of life, and the branches cover a large surface of ground. The tithes have been commuted for £155. 2s., when £115. 2s. was apportioned to the Duke of Cleveland, and £40 to the incumbent of the parish.

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL at Donnington, in the parish of Wroxeter, appears to have been founded for the benefit of the parish of Uppington, as well as that of Wroxeter. An account of the foundation will be found noticed with Wroxeter.

POST OFFICE.—_At Mary Wood’s_. Letters arrive from Wellington by foot post at 8 A.M. and are despatched at 6 P.M.

DIRECTORY.—William Allen, farmer; Samuel Harding Ashdown, Esq., land and estate agent; John Bagley, shopkeeper; John Boore, gentleman; Richard Boore, farmer; Charles Durnell, parish clerk, agricultural implement maker, and blacksmith; Richard Jones, wheelwright; Charles Stanier, Esq.; Mary Wood, post office.

UPTON MAGNA

is a parish and village, pleasantly situated five miles east from Shrewsbury and seven west from Wellington, having the facilities of railway communication to both places, by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham railway, which intersects the parish. At the census of 1801 there were 482 inhabitants; 1831, 512; and in 1841, 99 houses and 494 souls. The parish comprises the townships of Upton Magna, Downton, Haughton, Hunkington, and Preston Boats, which together have an area of 3,260A. 3R. 25P. of land. Rateable value, £4,171. 2s. 6d. The principal landowners are Andrew William Corbet, Esq.; the Duke of Cleveland; and Robert Burton, Esq.; besides whom there are a few small freeholders.

THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is an antique structure, consisting of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a tower, in which are four bells; the body of the church is built of red sand stone, and the tower of a white stone, which it is said was brought from an ancient moated mansion at Hunkington; the seats and pulpit are of oak, over the latter is the date of 1591; there is a gallery at the west end, and an ancient stone font. The church has been greatly beautified within the last ten years by the munificence of Miss Arabella Pigott, who has added a new organ and altar-piece, adorned the windows with stained glass, and made other additions. There is a book chained to a desk near the pulpit entitled, “An answer to a certeine booke lately set forth by Mr. Harding, entitled a confutation of the apology of the Church of England.” An altar tomb in the chancel, with full length figures in chain armour, remembers Waiter Barker, Esq., who died in 1644. There is also a handsome marble memorial to the memory of Mary Elizabeth Pigott, who died in 1837, and of Frances Pigott, who died in 1829, daughters of the Rev. William Pigott, rector of Edgmond and Chetwynd. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £12, now returned at £546, in the patronage of Andrew William Corbett, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Corbet Brown. THE SCHOOL is situated in the church-yard; forty-three children attend, eight of which are educated free; the school has the liberal support and assiduous attention of Miss Pigott. UPTON MAGNA COTTAGE was built about forty years ago, and is the delightful residence of Miss Arabella Pigott; it is tastefully furnished, the walls are decorated with some choice paintings, and there is a good library containing many valuable standard works. The pleasure grounds are very beautifully laid out, and command fine views of the surrounding country, and of the majestic Wrekin.

DOWNTON is a small township in Upton Magna parish, situated about a mile W. from the church. Of the townships in this parish there were no separate returns made of the population and acres at the census of 1841, they are therefore included with Upton Magna. Andrew William Corbet, Esq., is the landowner.

HAUGHTON, another small township, is situated about three miles N. from Upton Magna. The Duke of Cleveland and A. W. Corbet, Esq., are the landowners.

HUNKINGTON is situated about a mile N.E. from the church, and is the property of Andrew William Corbet, Esq. There was formerly a moated mansion here, but of which we possess no historical record; not a vestige of the building now remains, but the moat may still be traced.

PRESTON BOATS is a village and township two miles S.W. from Upton, on the banks of the river Severn, over which there is a ferry for passengers. The land is the property of Robert Burton, Esq.