Chapter XLIII: Part 43

WENLOCK MONASTERY, Bishop Tanner says, that a nunnery was erected at Wenlock about the year 680, by Milburga, daughter to King Merwald, and niece to Walphere king of Mercia, of which she became abbess; she was renowned for sanctity, and it is recorded by William of Malmesbury, who wrote early in the 12th century, that for some “time after the arrival of the Normans, through ignorance of the place of her burial she was neglected; lately however, while a new church was erecting, a boy running violently along the pavement, brake into the hollow of a vault and discovered the body of the virgin, when a balsamic odour pervading the whole church she was taken up, and performed so many miracles, that the people flocked thither in great multitudes; large spreading plains could hardly contain the troops of pilgrims, a common faith impelling all, nor did the saint deceive their expectations, for no one departed without either a perfect cure or a considerable abatement of his malady, and some were even cured of the king’s evil where medical advice had been unavailing.” Traditions of miracles worked by Milburga are still preserved in the neighbourhood, and her shrine is said at length to have been burnt in the market place. The blind devotion which led crowds of people of all ranks with their hands filled with rich oblations to offer at this shrine produced a large income to the monastery, and for some time kept in the shade the wondrous doings of canonized saints of the rival establishments in this neighbourhood. The canonization of saints was for centuries a source of great wealth to the Roman Catholic Church, and much of their success no doubt depended on a wily priesthood trumpeting forth their miraculous powers among the ignorant multitude. To show the craftiness of the priesthood in this respect we may observe that St. Dunstan after his death in 988 was canonized, and his relics were held in such esteem that they shortly after produced an immense revenue to the cathedral of Canterbury. About the time of Henry VII. however, the monks of Glastonbury anxious to bring a portion of grist to their own mill, began to boast of having the relics of St. Dunstan in their possession, which soon turned the tide of affairs and caused the rich offerings and oblations to flow to Glastonbury. This sorely troubled the archbishop of Canterbury, who had the tomb of Dunstan opened, when the body was found in a lead coffin in his pontifical habit; the archbishop therefore immediately issued his mandate charging the monks of Glastonbury to desist from all further boasting of their possession of St. Dunstan’s relics. Notwithstanding the objectionable mode the priesthood had of obtaining riches, it is but justice to observe that their revenues and gains were all expended either in alms or hospitality, or in building and adorning their magnificent churches and abbeys; and although learning was then at a low ebb, it being generally styled the dark or illiterate age, yet what learning there was then was mostly to be found in the cloister of the monks, where some attained to great reputation for their proficiency in knowledge.

The house founded by Milburga was destroyed by the Danes, but was restored by Leofric Earl of Chester, at the request of his wife, the lady Godiva. Before the Norman conquest it had again fallen into decay, and in the 14th of William the Conqueror was rebuilt and endowed by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel, Chichester, and Shrewsbury, a person of vast possessions in these parts, who placed therein a prior and convent of monks of the Cluniac order, and made it a cell to the house of De Charitate, in France; this house suffered the same fate with other alien priories till it was naturalized in the 16th year of Richard II. It was dedicated to St. Milburga, and according to Dugdale, in the 26th of Henry VIII. had revenues to the yearly value of £431. 1s. 2d.

In the Monastican is the patent of King Edward III. reciting and confirming the charter of Isabel de Say, lady of Clun, whereby she granted to these monks the church of St. George, at Clun, with seven chapels depending on it, namely, the chapel of St. Thomas, in Clun, of St. Mary’s, at Waterdune, of St. Swithin, at Clumbierie, St. Mary, at Cluntune, St. Mary, at Appitune, with those of Eggedune, and Subbledune. There is likewise an inquisition taken the 29th of Edward I. determining the right of presentation to the cell of Ferne to be in the monks of Wenlock. In “Stevens’ Supplement,” seven deeds are translated into English from the Latin originals in the hands of Francis Canning, Esq., of Foxcote, in the county of Warwick, viz., the deed of Geoffrey de Say, for the manor of Dointon; a confirmation of that deed by Henry II.; another deed by the same king, granting that these monks might always enjoy the said manor, unless he and his heirs gave them eleven pounds per annum in churches and other things in lieu of it; the charter of Henry III. to them for the same manor; the deeds of William Mitleton and Adam Fitzwilliam about a yard of land in Mitleton; a composition between Simon, Dean of Brug, and the prior and convent of Wenlock, about the chapel at Duddington. The prior of Wenlock, John Cressage, on surrendering the monastery to King Henry VIII. had a pension of £80 per annum assigned him, together with the manor house of Madeley; twelve monks had also pensions assigned to them amounting in the aggregate to £100 per annum. Besides the churches already mentioned, the following advowsons belonged to the monastery at the time it was surrendered, viz., Wenlock Magna, Wenlock Parva, Clun, Burton, Shipton, and Eaton. It had also at an earlier period Sutton, near Shrewsbury, Stoke St. Milborough, and Church Preen. During the wars between Henry III. and his barons he was often called into the Marches of Wales, and several documents were signed at Wenlock by the king, which would lead to the supposition that he was frequently lodged and entertained by the Prior. The monastery is situated near the east end of the churchyard, and the entrance from the town was through a massive gateway; very considerable remains of this magnificent and spacious fabric are still to be seen, and fragments are scattered to a great distance from the site. The great centre tower has long since disappeared, but the four massive piers the bases of which are still in existence, show that it must have been built on a scale of no ordinary splendour, and the size must have been equal to many of our cathedrals. The Chapter House is probably a part of the building erected by Roger de Montgomery, and is a singularly beautiful example of interesting Norman arches, supported on columns of which the capitals are all of different designs. It was entered from the cloisters by three richly ornamented circular porches. Of the Priory church only the south transept and a part of the south aisle of the nave remain, they present an elegant example of the early English style of architecture, but no record has been discovered of the date of their erection. The fragments of the south side of the nave consist of pointed arches which have never been open, but within them there are inserted lower arches of a similar form rising from octagonal pillars. Over the higher arches are the remains of a beautiful gallery which ran along the whole of the second story of the church, and consisted of a series of pointed arches, divided by slender clustered pillars; above these are single lancet windows forming a clerestory; between every arch runs a slender clustered pilaster, and where they break off at the top are remains of the ramifications of a groined ceiling. The room adjoining the dormitory was probably occupied by those monks whose task it was to perform the midnight office of the choir. From the bases of the columns which are all that remain of the choir it appears to have been in the same style of architecture as the Chapter house. The Lady Chapel was east of the choir and may still be traced by its foundations. The length of this stately structure from east to west was 401 feet, the nave being 156 feet, space under the middle tower 39 feet, choir 156 feet, Lady Chapel 48 by 40, and the breadth of the nave and aisles 66 feet.

Adjoining the south side of the nave was the great cloister, which was encompassed by the refectory, dormitory and chapter house. Two arched doors which open in the cloisters still remain, but not a fragment of the cloister itself. The chapter house is an oblong square, 66 feet by 31 feet. It communicates by a small door with the house of the Prior, the exterior of which, and some of the apartments, retain their original character. The whole of the eastern side of the building has a singular cloister or ambulatory, consisting of upper and lower story, each of which is formed by a continued line of arches, that have originally been glazed. Opening into the upper gallery are two apartments, one of which is supposed to have been the dining hall, which was lighted by a line of windows somewhat resembling those of the ambulatory, but having in the angles curious little pedestals, of the height of a table. In some parts of these apartments are traces of fresco painting. A narrow stone staircase in one corner communicates with the kitchen underneath. In another part is the private chapel, now divided into several rooms, in one of which is the stone altar, and a beautifully carved dish was dug up some years ago. The architecture of the Prior’s house would lead to the conclusion that it had not been built long at the time of the dissolution of the priory. Fragments of this opulent monastery are scattered to a great distance, and the precinct included full thirty acres. About a century ago a considerable part of the ruins was taken down by an agent of the manor to rebuild some houses which he had on lease, but Sir W. Wynne put a stop to any further demolition.

The site of this monastery and manor was granted soon after the dissolution to Augustine de Augustine, and was sold in 1545 to Thomas Lawley, Esq., who made it his residence, and it continued in the Lawley family till it was sold by Robert Bertie (who was the son of Ursula, the great granddaughter of the said Thomas Lawley,) to the family of Gage. Viscount Gage sold it about the year 1632 to Sir John Wynne, of Wynnstay, in whose family it continues in the person of Sir W. W. Wynne, whose father was happily called (by George IV., when Regent) “the real prince of Wales.”

The most memorable prior was one Joybert, a Norman, who held the monasteries of Coventry, Daventry, Wenlock and Bermondsey, all at the same time. The annals of Worcester state that a confederacy was entered into in the year 1253, between that house and this, for the mutual support of both; and the same annals take notice of one William, a monk of Wenlock, who put himself at the head of a gang of robbers, but was afterwards taken and executed. John Cressage, who surrendered this monastery January 26th, 1539, had a pension assigned him of £80 per annum.

CHARITIES.—The _Rev. Francis Southern_ by his will, proved on the 19th December, 1778, left to the minister and churchwardens of Great Wenlock, and their successors, the sum of £300, to be disposed of as follows. The interest of £200 to be paid to a school-master for teaching ten poor boys to read and write, to be continued till they can read the Bible and write a plain legible hand, and repeat the catechism with Lewis’s expositions readily and distinctly, and understand the first five rules of arithmetic. The interest of £65 to be laid out in bread, to be given every Lord’s day to six poor widows, or old men, who should attend divine service. The interest of £25 to buy Bibles, Testaments and Expositions, to be distributed on New Year’s day among the poor schoolboys. And lastly, the interest of the remaining £10 he gave to the minister for preaching an annual sermon on New Year’s day. This legacy of £300 was invested in the purchase of £640. 2s. 3d. three per cent consols, the dividends of which amount to £19. 4s. per annum, and are disbursed in the following manner. £14. 5s. 10d. paid to a schoolmaster; £1. 5s. expended in books; 12s. 6d. to the minister for a sermon; and £3. 0s. 8d. is distributed in bread. There have been always ten free boys in the school, and generally twelve. A charge is made to each of 2s. 6d. a year for fire money, which is the only expense incurred by them.

The following benefactions to the poor of this parish are noticed on a table in the church, the donors of which directed the interest of the several sums affixed to their names to be distributed in bread:—_Ralph Pendlebury_ and _Dorothy_ his wife, £20; _William Churchman_, £5; _Thomas Lokier_, £4; _Henry Sprott_, £5; _Edmund King_, £5; _Joan Patten_, £8; _William Parsons_, £111; _Richard Cleveley_, £10; _John Clark_, £5; _Richard Littlehales_, £10; _Edmund Hancocks_, £10; _Joseph Read_, £10; _Mrs. Jane Litllehales_, £5; and _Thomas Patten_, £10. Of these specific benefactions, the total amount of which is £213, no further trace remains in any parish book or document; but there is a sum of £240. 19s. 4d. stock, in the three per cent. consols, now standing in the name of trustees, supposed to have resulted from a part of these benefactions. The money with which a part of this stock was purchased was £150, which had formerly been placed on the security of the Wenlock turnpike trust. With the dividends of this stock, amounting to £7. 4s. per annum, 420 fourpenny loaves are annually distributed to the poor.

_John Murrall_, dyer, by will, dated in 1796, bequeathed to such poor people as frequent divine service in the parish church of Much Wenlock, the yearly sum of £7. 4s. to be distributed in bread; twelve twopenny loaves on every Sunday in the year, and ten twelvepenny loaves on each of the following days, namely, St. Thomas’s day, Old Christmas day, Good Friday, and Easter day. Mr. Murrall died in 1769, and his will having been contested, his executors were not able to establish any fund for securing the payment of this charity till 1781, when a sum of £250 stock in the three per cent. consols was purchased for that purpose. The dividends, amounting to £7. 10s. a year, are now received by Dr. Rowley and Geo. Pritchard, Esq., and a distribution of bread takes place on St. Thomas’s day and Good Friday.

_John Skett_, by will, dated 13th March, 1727, left 10s. per annum to be given to the poor of this parish in bread, chargeable on a certain house in Shineton street, the property of Mr. France.

_John Littlehales_, by will, 1760, devised to Richard Woof a messuage in Shineton street, in Much Wenlock, in trust, that he and his heirs should pay yearly out of the profits thereof, to the minister and churchwardens, the sum of 30s., on the 25th of December, to be given in wheaten bread, as follows:—Twelve twopenny loaves to be placed near a tombstone erected by him, before the service begins, on the first Sunday of every month, and to be given when the communion is ended by his heirs, the vicar and churchwardens, to twelve ancient people of the parish, regard being had to those who frequent the church service; and so to continue the first Sunday of each calendar month, Christmas day, Good Friday, and Easter day, yearly.

_Mrs. Mary Smyth_, by will, dated 23rd November, 1773, gave the interest of ten guineas to be distributed yearly in sixpenny loaves on the feast of St. Thomas, amongst poor widows and housekeepers of the parish of Wenlock.

ALMSHOUSES.—_Mrs. Ann Sprott_ bequeathed £10, the interest to be applied in the repairs of the almshouses. In the parliamentary reports of 1786 it is stated that a person of the name of _Price_ left, for clothing the poor in the almshouse, land then vested in Harry Yate, and producing £4 a-year. With respect of the first mentioned sum of £10, it is conjectured that it formed part of a sum of £150 poor’s stock, previously noticed, as an entry found in the churchwardens’ book, in 1773, states that 10s. was then received, to be laid out in the repairs of the almshouse, being part of the money due to the poor of the parish from the turnpike security; but nothing has been paid for this purpose from the produce of the poors’ stock for many years. With respect to Price’s benefaction, it appears that clothing was formerly provided for the poor in the almshouse by Harry Yate, formerly a draper at Ludlow, in respect of a small estate in Herefordshire, but this was discontinued upwards of seventy years ago by the above mentioned Harry Yate, on the ground that the gift was void under the statute of George II., c. 36.

At the time the Charity Commissioners published their report, William Moseley, Esq., the representative of the Sprott family, appointed the almspeople, and stated that when he succeeded to the estate he found the almshouses consisting of four tenements, in miserable condition, and was requested to repair them; and that he rebuilt three brick tenements, with tiled roofs, adjoining another tenement in a different part of the town, with the approbation of the inhabitants. This he did chiefly from charitable considerations; but he was unable to give any information respecting the almshouses from any documents in his possession. He always understood that they were for the benefit of decayed widows of the parish of Wenlock, to be nominated by or with the approbation of the representative of the Sprott family. After referring to the legacy as stated to have been left by Mrs. Ann Sprott, he stated he should decline paying anything in future for the repairs of the almshouses, unless the interest of that money was brought in aid; but that if the churchwardens were willing to advance any money for this purpose he should always be ready to join them.

_Mrs. Ann Minshull_ left £20, the interest to be applied in teaching poor children to read. Nothing has been paid in respect of this legacy for upwards of fifty years. A legacy of £10, left by the _Rev. George Carver_, and £5 left by the _Rev. Mr. Baker_, noticed on a tablet in the church, have long been lost.

POST OFFICE.—_At Mr. Thomas Lawley’s_, _Wilmore street_. Letters arrive at 7-30 A.M. and are despatched at 5 P.M.

_Those Marked_ 1 _reside in Barrow street_; 2 _The Bank_; 3 _Bull Ring_; 4 _High street_; 5 _Shienton street_; 6 _Spittal street_; _and_ 7 _Wilmore street_

1 Adney Miss Elizabeth

5 Adney George, tanner

5 Ainsworth Thomas, farmer

4 Amphlett Joseph, currier

6 Aston Jeremiah, victualler, Bull’s Head

2 Aston Jonathan, beerseller

1 Barnett Joseph, butcher

1 Beavan Thos., vict., Black Lion

7 Belcher Charles, grocer

6 Binnell Henry H., tailor and woollen draper

Blakeway Roger C., Esq., solicitor

Boughton Chas., Esq., The Abbey

6 Bowyer Mrs. Fanny

6 Boycott Rd., confectioner

7 Brookes Wm. P., surgeon

Canlin William, maltster, Burton road

7 Castle Wm., provis. dealer

1 Clayton William, boot & shoemaker

1 Christopher James, joiner

4 Coley James, brazier and tin plate worker

1 Cooper & Purton, bankers, (draw on Williams & Co., London), open on Monday and Thursday

2 Cooper Jermh., limeburner

4 Cooper John, vict., The Fox

4 Cooper Lettice, milliner

7 Cooper Thomas & Samuel, graziers

1 Crowther George, boarding school, and registrar for Wenlock district

2 Crowther Edward, farmer

Davies Mrs. Eliz., Burton rd

4 Devey John, shoemaker

3 Divers James, schoolmastr.

4 Edwards Thos., wheelwrt.

2 Felteaus John, vict., Robin Hood

6 Fox William, joiner

4 Franks Richard, builder

1 Griffiths William, agent to Salop fire office and legal and commercial fire and life offices

1 Hartland Rt., vict., Raven

6 Haynes Thos., blacksmith

3 Heighway Mary, librarian

4 Hopton Henry, grocer

Hollis Mary, schoolmistress

1 Horton Ann, vict., The Plough

6 Horton Robert, chemist & druggist

Hinton Edward, land agent to Sir W. W. Wynne

1 Hughes Edwd., shoemaker

5 James James, farrier

5 James John, farrier

4 James Wm. A., surgeon

Jeffreys William, farmer and miller, The Downes

1 Jeffreys Elizabeth, draper

1 Jenks Sarah, vict., Royal Oak

1 Johnson Thomas, tailor

1 Johnson John, tailor

6 Jones Ann, milliner

1 Jones John, skinner

1 Jones Jno., vict., Britannia

6 Jones Sarah, butcher

6 Jones William, skinner

4 Keysell Edwin, maltster, seedsman, and corn dealer

7 Lawley Thomas, stationer and printer

6 Mansell Thos., ironmongr.

4 Martin Mary, vict., The Harp

3 Mason Edwd., vict., Punch Bowl

4 Mason Wm., shoemaker

4 Massey Thomas, boot and shoemaker

6 Miles Thomas, maltster

Minton Rev. Samuel, St. Mary’s lane

4 Minshall Josiah, saddler

7 Moreton George, vict., The Pheasant

6 Moreton George, vict., Talbot

6 Moreton Francis, hat manufacturer

5 Newell William, farmer & maltster

1 Nicholson Martha, tea dealer

5 Palmer Thomas, nailmkr.

1 Parton Benjamin, vict., The Swan

1 Patten Mr. Richard

1 Pearce Chas., wheelwright

1 Phillips Mr. Thomas

1 Phillips Henry & Samuel, curriers

4 Phillips Andrew, solicitor

5 Power Elizabeth, schoolmistress

1 Poyner Wm., confectioner

4 Rhoden Joseph, vict., Wynnstay Arms, hotel and posting house

6 Rowe John, vict., Crown

1 Share Thomas, painter, plumber and glazier

Shepherd George, farmer & limeburner, Westwood Cottage

6 Smith William, grocer & druggist

1 Summers Thomas, draper

1 Thomas Henry, beerseller

5 Silley William, tailor

7 Trevor Edward, provision dealer and baker

6 Trevor Henry, grocer, chandler, & stamp office

5 Vaughan Miss Sarah

4 Wayne Rev. Wm. H., vicar

Wayne William H., Esq., The Grange

6 Webb Feild, saddler

4 Wheeler John, watchmkr.

4 Wheeler George, vict., The Falcon

6 Williams Thomas, grocer

4 Wilkinson Francis, shopkr

4 Woofe William, saddler

4 Yardley Edwin, cooper

6 Yates Mary, vict., The George

6 Yates Thomas, hairdresser

2 Yates Wm., blacksmith

MUCH WENLOCK TOWNSHIPS.

ATTERLEY is a small township in the parish of Much Wenlock, two miles S.E. from the parish church, and at the census of 1841 contained eight houses and 52 inhabitants. This township and that of Walton conjointly contain 903A. 3R. 11P. of land, the principal owner of which is Sir John Acton. WATTON is situate about a mile S.E. from Much Wenlock, and in 1841 had four houses and a population of 23 souls. Gross estimated rental, £1,115. 15s. 4d. Rateable value, £1,016. 18s. The tithes of both townships are commuted for £54. 13s.

The principal residents in Atterley and Walton are Thomas Bayer, farmer, Atterley; Ann Howells, farmer, Walton; John Howells, farmer, Walton; Frank Pardoe, farmer, Atterley.

BURTON, or BORTON, and CALLOUGHTON are two townships in the parish of Much Wenlock, containing together 3,163A. 2R. 39P. of land. Gross estimated rental, £3,501. 7s. 1d. Rateable value, £3,160. 8s. Burton is situated two and a half miles S.W. from Much Wenlock, and at the census in 1841 is returned as having 33 houses and 181 inhabitants; Calloughton at the same period had 23 houses and 149 inhabitants. Lord Wenlock, the principal landowner, occasionally resides at Burton Cottage—an elegant and ornamental structure of only one story in height, the interior of which is very beautifully furnished. The farm houses have most of them been rebuilt by the late proprietor, Sir Francis Lawley, Bart. They are good residences, with commodious and convenient out premises. The church is a small but interesting structure in the gothic style of architecture, consisting of nave, chancel, and side aisle, the latter added at the expense of Lady Lawley; it has a tower containing four bells. The living is a perpetual curacy in the gift of the vicar of Much Wenlock, and enjoyed by the Rev. Samuel Minton. The income of the living is derived from a farm in Radnorshire of the annual value of £50, and a sum of £200 given by Sir Robert Lawley to augment the living. The village of Calloughton is situated about a mile and a half south from Much Wenlock, and is chiefly composed of cottage residences. The farms are scattered and mostly modern erections; there is also a corn mill which can either be worked by steam or water power, in the occupancy of Mr. W. B. Childs. The tithes of Burton and Calloughton are commuted for £74. 18s.

DIRECTORY.—Those marked 1 are at Burton, and 2 are at Calloughton. 2 Benjamin Ainsworth, farmer, Beggarley Brook; 2 Samuel Ainsworth, farmer, Spoonbill; 1 Thomas Blunt, agent to John Onions, Esq.; 1 John Brooks, farmer; 2 William Baldwin Childs, corn miller; Francis Dickinson, farmer; 1 Joel Evason, shopkeeper; 2 Thomas Instone, farmer; 1 Thomas Instone, farmer; 1 Edward Kinsey, gentleman; 1 Thomas Lewis, blacksmith; John Massie, farmer, Bradeley; 2 Thomas Trow, farmer, Spoonhill; 1 John Woof, painter and vict., Talbot.

FARLEY WYKE AND BRADLEY, a township in the parish of Much Wenlock, situated three miles N.E. from the parish church, comprises 960A. 0R. 8P. of land. Gross estimated rental, £1,948. 5s. 3d. Rateable value, £1,787. 8s. The principal landowners are Sir W. W. Wynn, Abraham Darby, Esq., and Lord Forester. At the census in 1841 this township had 34 houses and 166 inhabitants. Farley is situated in a romantic dale, watered by a small brook. In the dingle there is a corn mill in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Harper and Son, which is worked both by steam and water power. The tithes are commuted for £18. 19s. 5d.

The principal residents in this township are Ann Cadwallader, beerhouse keeper; Thomas Chidley, wheelwright and beerhouse keeper; Thomas Harper, corn miller; Caleb Harper, corn miller; Edward Hill, wheelwright; William W. Hull, Esq., Tickwood; John Perry, farmer, Wyke; Joseph Lloyd, farmer and stone dealer.

HARLEY-WIGWIG AND HOMER, a small township in the parish of Much Wenlock, containing 552A. 1R. 20P. of land, at the census of 1841 had 47 scattered houses and a population of 218 souls. Gross estimated rental, £861. 11s. 6d.; rateable value, £765. 6s. The principle landowners are the Duke of Cleveland, Lord Forester, Samuel Meire, Esq., Sir George Harnage, and the Rev. Samuel Minton. The land is chiefly farmed by the owners except at Harley. The residents in this township are chiefly cottagers, and the houses are for the most part scattered. The tithes are commuted for £48. 15s.

PRESTHOPE is a township with a few scattered houses in the parish of Much Wenlock, situated on the Wenlock Edge, upwards of three miles from the parish church; at the census of 1841 there were fourteen houses and 71 inhabitants in the township, which comprises 742A. 2R. 8P. of land, the principal owners of which are Lord Bradford, and M. G. Benson, Esq. Gross estimated rental, £807. 6s. 8d.; rateable value, £727. 6s. WENLOCK EDGE is a precipitous ridge running about eleven miles in a south-westerly direction. King Henry I. after the capture of Bridgnorth commanded his army to pass through Hunel Hege and lay siege to Shrewsbury. “Hunel hedge is the English name for a passage through a wood; in Latin it may be called _malus callis_ or _vicus_; for it was a hollow way of a mile in length, full of great sharp stones, and so narrow as scarcely to admit two horsemen abreast. It was overshadowed on each side by a dark wood wherein were stationed archers in ambuscade who greatly annoyed the army with arrows and other missile weapons; but as the king had more than 60,000 men in his army he detached large parties to cut down the wood and make a wide road which should endure for the use of posterity.” From this period we may probably date the existence of a road over this steep ridge which has since been rendered more commodious. Many of the passes however down this rugged steep retain much of their wild and romantic character. The tithes are commuted for £80. 6s.

The chief residents at Presthope are Richard Child Milner, farmer; Rev. Robert H. G. More, and John Shirley, farmer.

PRIORS DITTON,

or DITTON PRIORS is a parish and village pleasantly situated on the northern verge of the Brown Clee Hill, eight miles south-west from Bridgnorth. The parish contains the townships of Priors Ditton, Ashfield and Ruthall, and Middleton Priors, and has 5,284 acres of land, mostly of an inferior quality, the rateable value of which is £3,451. 4s. 8d. At the census of 1801 the parish had a population of 620 souls; 1831, 620; and in 1841 there were 137 houses and 660 inhabitants. The township of Priors Ditton contains 2,154A. 0R. 34P. of land, and in 1841 had 81 houses and 359 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,597. 1s. 8d. The principal landowners in this township are Philip Henry Howard, Esq., William Millward, Esq., and Mrs. Ann Howells; the former is lord of the manor, and impropriator. THE CHURCH dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is an ancient structure consisting of nave, chancel, and south aisle, with a short tower upon which was erected a spire in the year 1831, at a cost of £231; the roof is of groined timber finely wrought, which gives the interior a very beautiful appearance. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s book at £5. 15s. 8d., now returned at £147, in the patronage of Philip Henry Howard, Esq.; incumbent, Rev. Edward Ridsdale. This church was formerly an appendage to the abbey of Wenlock. In the reign of Henry VIII., Humphrey Pakington, citizen and mercer of London, purchased of the king the farm of the manor of Dutton, alias Dytton, in Shropshire, with the rectory there, late the property of the Priory of Wenlock, The METHODISTS have small chapel built in 1816.

CHARITIES.—_Mrs. Catherine Barker_, by her will dated the 24th of January, 1699, devised to trustees certain freehold estates in Priors Ditton, on trust, (after certain other purposes specified by her) that they should out of the residue assure to the use of the poor of the said parish the yearly sum of £5, to continue for ever, and to be paid to the parson and churchwardens at the feast of Christmas and St. John the Baptist in equal portions. This annuity is paid by Francis Canning, Esq., of Foxcote, in the county of Warwick, who is the proprietor of the premises charged. The amount is distributed in small sums among the poor. _Mrs. Dorothy Holland_, by her will dated November 15th, 1723, bequeathed to the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the parish, the sum of £20 in trust, to be invested in lands, and the rents of such lands she directed to be laid out in bread and distributed by the minister and churchwardens among twelve poor people of the parish, one half on Easter-day and the other half on Christmas-day. We do not find any account of the disposal of the money prior to the 2nd June, 1783, when it appears to have been placed in the hands of Francis Canning, Esq., at five per cent interest, upon the security of his bond. The interest is distributed by the churchwardens in the same manner as Barker’s charity, a course of distribution which is somewhat at variance with the directions of the donor.

ASHFIELD AND RUTHALL is a small township in the parish of Priors Ditton, on the north-west side of the parish, and within the bounds of the Munslow hundred, the rest of the parish being in the Wenlock Franchise. The township contains 697A. 3R. of land, and at the census of 1841 had nine scattered houses and fifty-five inhabitants. Rateable value, £373. 6s. Lady Boyne is the proprietor of the land at Ashfield. The landowners in Ruthall are Thomas Roberts, Esq., Richard Onslow, Esq., and John Adney, Esq.; the former is lord of the manor. The lord of the manor claims a heriot (usually the best beast) on the death of every owner in his lordship.

MIDDLETON PRIORS is a township in the parish of Priors Ditton which comprises 2,450A. 0R. 34P. of land, mostly an inferior soil. The land as chiefly the property of Philip Henry Howard, Esq., who is also lord of the manor. At the census in 1841 there were 47 houses and 109 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,479. 19s. 6d. MIDDLETON HALL is a spacious modern house which stands on a considerable elevation and is a conspicuous object many miles around. It was formerly the residence of the Howard family, when the top story of the hall was converted into a private oratory; it is adorned with some fine paintings, and over the altar is a beautifully executed representation of the crucifixion; adjoining is a room for robing and unrobing the priests, and another room is used as the confessional. A commodious and airy school room has been built by the lord of the manor, who also pays for the gratuitous education of the children; about sixty attend. A dwelling house for the teacher has also been built.

PRIORS DITTON, ASHFIELD AND RUTHALL, AND MIDDLETON PRIORS DIRECTORIES.

Adney John, farmer, Ruthall

Amies John, wheelwright, Priors Ditton

Andrew William, vict., Plough, Priors Ditton

Barnbrooke, Timothy, farmer, Middleton

Bradley Thomas, farmer, Priors Ditton

Chidley Edward, farmer, Priors Ditton

Cubby William, schoolmaster, Middleton

Davis Edward, surgeon, Priors Ditton

Darrell Thomas, farmer, Middleton

Downes John, farmer, Manor house, Ruthall

Easthope Thomas, farmer, Middleton

Evans John, farmer, Priors Ditton

Evans William, wheelwright, Priors Ditton

Goode Thomas, farmer, Priors Ditton

Green Henry, farmer, Priors Ditton

Green Mary, farmer & corn miller, Middleton

Hicks William, blacksmith, Priors Ditton

Jones George, farmer, Priors Ditton

Jones Thomas, farmer, Middleton

Millward William, farmer, Priors Ditton

Power Michael, maltster, miller, and steward to P. H. Howard, Esq., Middleton

Prentice Mrs. Martha, Priors Ditton

Reynolds Francis, farmer, Priors Ditton

Reynolds Richard, farmer, Middleton

Reynolds Richard, farmer, Priors Ditton

Ridsdale Rev. Edward, vicar, Priors Ditton

Smallman Richard, blacksmith, Priors Ditton

Southern Henry, vict., Cannings Arms, Priors Ditton

Thomas Edward, farmer, Middleton

Thomas John, cattle dealer, Priors Ditton

Wainwright Mary, farmer, Ashfield

WILLEY

is a small parish comprising 1353A. 2R. 6P. of land, situated in a pleasant part of the county, four miles east from Much Wenlock, and four and a half miles north-west from Bridgnorth. At the census in 1801 there were 163 inhabitants; 1831, 159; and in 1851, 144; of whom 75 were males, and 69 females. Inhabited houses, 30. Rateable value, £1,888. 8s. 5d. Lord Forester is the principal landowner, and lord of the manor. Henry Cartwright, Esq., is also a proprietor. WILLEY PARK, the magnificent seat of Lord Forester, is a spacious and elegant mansion of freestone, delightfully situated in an extensive and richly wooded park. The principal front, with the offices, extends upwards of three hundred feet, and is approached by a portico of the Corinthian order, greatly admired for superb workmanship and architectural effect. The interior of the mansion is splendidly furnished, and contains many fine paintings, many of which are the exquisite productions of some of the most celebrated masters. The library is extensive, and contains a valuable and choice collection of standard works. The gardens and pleasure grounds are laid out with great taste, and the park is beautifully adorned with sylvan beauty, a fine lake adding much to the interest of the scene. The family of Weld had anciently a seat at Willey. “William Weld was sheriff of London in 1352: his descendant, Sir John Weld, purchased Willey from Sir Thomas Lacon, of Kinlet, between 1612 and 1623. His descendant in the fourth degree, Elizabeth Weld, married Brooke Forester, of Dothill Park, near Wellington; whose son George, dying unmarried, bequeathed Willey and his other great estates, with an injunction to adopt the name of Weld, to his cousin, Cecil Weld Forester, created Lord Forester, of Willey Park, in 1821.” Mr. Moule, author of a work on Heraldry, says, “Lord Forester is lineally descended from John Forester, Esq., of Watling street, who held a singularly curious grant from King Henry VIII. to wear his hat in the royal presence; which identical document is preserved in the family.”

THE CHURCH is a small venerable fabric, consisting of nave and chancel, with a short tower, which contains three bells. There are several memorials to the various members of the ancient family of Weld. The living is a rectory, with the perpetual curacy of Barrow annexed, valued in the king’s book at £5. 6s. 3d., now returned at £329, in the patronage of Lord Forester: incumbent, the Hon. and Rev. George O. Bridgeman. The tithes of Willey have been commuted for £233. 18s.

CHARITIES.—_Robert Evans_, of the Dean, bequeathed 10s. per annum to be expended in bread for the poor. The payment of this gift commenced in 1709, and the legacy is now considered to be secured by a bond in the possession of the parish, given by the late Mr. John Perry, of Willey, whose executors pay the money to the parish officers.

_The Rev. Francis Wheeler_, rector of Willey, bequeathed 10s. yearly, to be paid at Christmas by the ministers of the two churches in Bridgnorth; 5s. each to be given to the poor of Willey in money or bread. This gift is distributed at Christmas, together with the sacrament money and Evan’s gift.

The following benefactions, also given to the poor of Willey, are involved in much obscurity. _Elizabeth Weld_ in 1688 gave £10. _Dorothy Weld_ in 1674 gave £10, the interest to be distributed on St. Thomas’s day. _Mrs. Mary Saltalston_ £20, to be added to the poor’s stock, and the interest of £10 to be distributed to the poor yearly. _Mary Ogden_ gave 40s. to the poor in 1680. _Judith Corbett_ £5 in 1691. _Mary Evans_ £5 in 1729. _Mrs. Catherine Strange_ £20. From the parish books it appears that £10 of Mrs. Saltalston’s benefaction, and £10 of Mrs. Weld’s, were applied in 1712 towards building a new tower to the church. It further appears that at a vestry meeting held 7th October, 1777, it was agreed that £40, part of a stock of £60, left for the benefit of the poor of Willey, and then in the hands of Mr. Thomas Perry, of the Dean, should be laid out in the necessary repairs of the church, and that the parish should pay reasonable interest for the same, to be distributed one half on St. Thomas’s day, and the other half on Good Friday. Another agreement, not entered in the parish books, dated 15th August, 1802, and signed by Morgan Jones, minister, and two respectable farmers of the parish, stating that the interest of the £40 mentioned in the former agreement, which had never been paid, then amounted to £50, and agreeing to consolidate the principal and interest, making together £90, and to pay interest on the whole. From the entries in the parish books above stated, it clearly appears that £60 of these benefactions were applied to the repairs of the church, but what became of the rest we have in vain endeavoured to discover. No interest appears to have been paid by the parish, but there has been for many years an annual distribution of corn made by the farmers to the poor on St. Thomas’s day, to the value of £5 and upwards.

The principal residents in Willey are the Right Hon. Lord Forester, Willey Park; the Hon. and Rev. George O. Bridgeman; Henry Cartwright, Esq., The Dean; George Goodfellow, bailiff to George Pritchard, Esq.; Edmund Raby, farmer; and John Stobbs, farmer.

LUDLOW

is a borough and market town, on the southern border of the county, 143 miles N.W. by W. from London, and twenty-five south from Shrewsbury, situated on an eminence, at the junction of the Corve with the Teme, and surrounded by a country varied with delightful prospects in every direction. This ancient and populous town is upwards of a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, having a number of regular and wide well paved streets, lying in diverging and inclined directions from the highest and most central part of the town; a circumstance which greatly promotes its cleanliness and salubrity. The houses in general are neat, well built, and better arranged than those of most inland towns of the same antiquity. The town is skirted by the rivers Corve and Teme, and abundantly supplied with water by pipes from springs in the vicinity to the public pumps, as well as from the river Corve by machinery and pipes to the different houses. The glove trade formerly employed upwards of one thousand hands here, but owing, it is thought, to the introduction of French gloves, and the establishment of marts for articles of a cheaper fabrication in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, the trade declined some years ago, and has now become almost extinct. Malt is made to a considerable extent, and there is a paper mill, and an establishment for the manufacture of blankets and a coarse kind of woollen cloth chiefly used for horse collars. The town has, however, been kept in a flourishing state by the numerous respectable residents which the extreme beauty of its situation has attracted to it. There is a market here on a Monday for grain, provisions, and poultry, which is usually well attended. Markets are also held on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, for provisions. Fairs for horned cattle, horses, pigs, and general merchandise, are held on the Monday before February 13th, Tuesday before Easter, May 1st (for hiring servants), Wednesday in Whitsun-week, August 21st, September 28th, and the first Mondays in November and December. Population in 1801, 3,897; 1831, 5,253. In 1841 the parish of St. Lawrence contained 1,086 houses and 5,064 inhabitants; of whom 3,041 were males and 3,157 females. Rateable value of the borough, £12,812. 4s. 9d. An act of parliament was obtained in 1794 for lighting and paving the town. The annual races are held in July, and continue for two days.

Ludlow was no doubt a town of note in the time of the Britons from the British name it bears (_Dinan_), though we have no historical record left of it. How it came to be called Dinan, a word of no affinity with Ludlow, we have not found. After the conquest, a noble knight assumed the name of Dinan in honour of the place. It may be observed that _Dinas_ and _Dinan_ are words of frequent occurrence in the account of British antiquities; and upon a careful investigation, it will generally appear that places so denominated have been formerly occupied by some chief or prince of the country. Ludlow seems to have been incorporated from time immemorial. The earliest charter extant is one of confirmation from Richard Duke of York, father of Edward IV. This charter, styling the corporation as “the bailiff’s, burgesses, and commonality, of the town and borough of Ludlow,” and conferring important privileges, has ever since, till the date of the recent municipal act, been deemed, in effect, the governing charter of the borough, though numerous charters were hereafter granted by succeeding sovereigns. The following corporate officers were appointed by charter, viz.:—Two bailiffs, two capital masters and justices, a recorder, twelve aldermen, twenty five common-council, a town clerk, coroner, three serjeants-at-mace, four beadles, and a town crier. No small display of civic pomp and splendour has been here exhibited in the annual election of the corporate officers. The high bailiff was appointed by charter to be elected by the aldermen, and the low bailiff from among the common councilmen; indeed the system of self-election was strictly established, and so were its usual consequences. The bailiffs, and recorder, or steward and capital masters, were all appointed to act as justices of the peace, ex-officio, within the liberties. General sessions of the peace were appointed by Charles I. to be held quarterly, in the same week as the county sessions. Capital convictions, it is said, with executions on the Gallows-hill, anciently took place. Prisoners on higher offences were latterly, however, sent to Shrewsbury gaol for trial at the assizes. The privilege of burgess-ship was inherited by the sons of burgesses; and those who marry their daughters were entitled also to be admitted into this body; for which purpose they were required to petition, according to a prescribed form given in a by-law made in the year 1663. A court of record was instituted by Edward IV. for the trial of debts of 1s. and upwards, and the trial of issues in all personal actions within the municipality. Ludlow first returned members to parliament in the 12th of Edward IV. The boundaries of the borough were little more than co-extensive with those of the old municipal borough; but they have been much extended. Previous to the passing of the Reform Act the borough returned two members, as it still does, and is one of the polling places for the southern division of the county.

Under the Municipal Reform Act, a commission of the peace has been granted anew, and the court of quarter sessions re-appointed. Petty sessions are held weekly, and a court leet annually for swearing in constables. The borough is now governed by four aldermen and twelve councillors, under the usual corporate style. The persons qualified to vote for the town council, after the passing of the act, amounted to 307 in the parish of St. Lawrence, and seven in the township of Ludford, of which latter district the boundary commissioners proposed the exclusion, it being practically beyond the corporate limits. In other respects, the boundaries laid down in their report are extended on the west and east; particularly the latter, which stretches into the parishes of Stanton Lacy, on building ground as far as the parliamentary borough. The following is a list of the members of parliament, borough magistrates, and corporate officers for the year 1851:—

_Members of Parliament_: Colonel Salwey and Henry B. Clive, Esq.

_Magistrates_: Francis Massey, Esq.; Humphrey Smith, Esq.; John Thomas, Esq.; Robert Thomas, Esq.; and Benjamin Urwick, Esq.

_Mayor_: Richard Marston, Esquire. _Aldermen_: Francis Massey; Benjamin Urwick; Samuel Valentine, and Henry Whittall. _Councillors_: Francis Boulton, Joshua Cooper, George Griffiths, Ambrose Grounds, James Hand, Charles Harper, James Jones, Horatio Russell, Edward B. Smith, Richard Valentine, Philip Wayn. _Town Clerk and Coroner_: John Williams, jun. _Treasurer_: Thomas Childe. _Assessors_: George Cocking and Richard Jones. _Auditors_: Thomas Jones and Samuel Oliver. The corporate property chiefly consists of that anciently belonging to Palmer’s Guild, which in 1833 produced a yearly income of £2,120. 8s. 8½d. In 1840 it was reduced to £968. 13s. This great reduction was caused by the corporation having to pay several expensive law suits.

It is well known that the aboriginal inhabitants of this island made a last and determined stand against their invading enemies in that district which had its boundary in what in later times was called the Marches of Wales, in which Ludlow seems to have been anciently included. This tract, however, might be extended from time to time, one way or the other, as either party occasionally gained ground; it is certainly known that Ludlow was early occupied as a military station to withstand the incursions of the Britons, who manfully disputed every inch of ground as they slowly retreated before their powerful enemies. The Romans are said to have been engaged nearly two hundred years in subduing Britain, and of the active operations of the contending parties interesting traces yet remain. Upon the remarkable hill called Caer Caradoc, historical accounts agree in stating it to have been occupied by the brave Caractacus, and many fierce battles to have been fought in its vicinity. An ancient writer describes this place as “exceedingly well fortified, both by nature and art, upon the toppe of an high hill, environed with a tripple ditche of greate depth. There were iij gates, and on three sides steepe headlong places, and compassed on the lifte hande with the river Colun, on the right with Themis.” Different situations have been ascribed to the scene of the last decisive action between Ostorius and Caractacus, but none rest upon such strong grounds of probability as the stations of Brandon Camp and Coxwall Knoll. The first of these is situated a little west of the Roman road leading from Magna to Ariconium or Wroxeter. The second is within sight, and distant from the Roman Camp about three miles, near the village of Brampton Brian. It crowns the summit of a lofty hill, and is of irregular shape, strong by nature, but made stronger by art. A survey of these two camps by the antiquarian must be peculiarly interesting, when he recollects that an Ostorius stood on one camp and a Caractacus on the other; and that their heroic deeds were recorded by the pen of a Tacitus. Each particular related by the historian concerning their respective situations coincides with the natural position of the river Teme and the camps of Brandon and Coxwall hills. From the departure of the Romans to the Norman conquest history supplies no certain information concerning Ludlow; yet it is probable that there existed here a town or fortress previous to the recorded erection of the castle.

LUDLOW CASTLE. It is recorded in old chronicles that “Roger de Montgomery erected the greatest part of the castle, and fortified the town with walls,” from which it may be inferred, that in the times and place alluded to a town and fortress must have been co-incident with each other. This Roger came over with the conqueror, to whom he was related, and led the centre division of his army in the memorable battle which secured the conquest of England, and was afterwards advanced to the Earldoms of Arundel and Shrewsbury. He was the liberal founder of several rich monasteries and churches, particularly the monastery of Wenlock, and the abbey of Shrewsbury. Having completed his favourite structure, “Ludlow Castle,” he enjoyed it until his death in 1094. It was forfeited to the crown by the attainder of his son Robert, who being banished the realm, King Henry I. gave Dinan or Ludlow, with the territory of Corvedale, to a Norman Knight, known by the name of Fulke Fitzwarine, surnamed de Dinan; between whom and Walter de Lacy, Lord of Ewias by right of conquest, there arose several contests, whether out of emulation, or about fixing the boundaries of their royalties, is not known. In one of these skirmishes the said Sir Walter de Lacy, and his trusty knight, Sir Ernauld de Lis, were taken prisoners of war and carried to Dinan, where being in custody, by intriguing with a fair damsel they found a way to make their escape. Gervas Pagnel, governor of the castle, having betrayed his trust in joining the Empress Matilda, King Stephen besieged it, and in conducting the operations of the siege the king gave a signal proof of his courage and humanity. The young Prince Henry, son of King David, who was actively engaged in this enterprise, having approached too near the walls of the castle, was caught from his horse by means of an iron hook fastened to the end of a rope. Stephen, observing the perilous situation of the young prince, boldly advanced and rescued him at the risk of his own life. What right or title the several governors had in the reign of Henry II. is uncertain; though it is most probable that they were only governors, without any fixed interest, till the 16th of King John, when Walter de Lacy had a grant of Ludlow, from whom the title of the place is clearly derived to the house of York, whereby it became vested in the crown. Between the governors of this castle and Hugh de Mortimer terrible dissensions arose. At length it happened that Mortimer was surprised and seized. He was conveyed to Ludlow Castle, and confined in one of the towers, which to this day bears his name.