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.

Charities.—Thomas Blakeway, in 1767, bequeathed £300 upon trust to apply one-third part of the yearly proceeds thereof in relieving the necessities of poor housekeepers, and the residue for the instruction of children belonging to poor parishioners. He also bequeathed £20 to be laid out in the repairs of the school. As the produce of this bequest there is now £322 stock, three and half per cents., the dividends of which amount to £11. 5s. 4d., two thirds of which are applied in the education of youth, and one-third is distributed among the poor. The Rev. Richard Andrews, in 1726, left £10 to the use of the poor. Mrs. Ann Peploe, in 1728, gave £16 to buy a garment for the poor. Ann Barker gave £20, and Thomas Jewkes £20 for the benefit of the poor. These several sums, amounting in the whole to £71, were laid out in building a parish work-house, which was subsequently sold, and the charity money was laid out in 1813, in the purchase of £80. 0s. 7d. stock in the navy five per cents., and there is now in respect of the charity money £84. 0s. 7d. standing in the names of certain trustees in the new four per cents. Out of the dividends 5s. is given away in bread, 16s. laid out in the purchase of two garments for poor persons, and the residue is distributed in small sums on St. Stephen’s-day.

Upton Magna, Downton, Hunkington, Haughton, & Preston Boats Directories.

Pigott Miss Arabella, The Cottage, Upton Magna

Allen Thomas, station master

Allen William, farmer, Hunkington

Barber Richard, farmer, The Sales, Upton Magna

Bladon John, wheelwright, Upton Magna

Brisbourne Thomas, farmer, Haughton

Bowen Wm., farmer, Somer Wood, Upton Magna

Brown Edmund, farmer, Upton Magna

Burroughs Daniel, tailor, Upton Magna

Clarke Mrs. Mary, Upton Magna

Davies James, farmer, Downton

Davies Robert, farmer, Preston Boats, Ferry

Davies John, shoemaker, Upton Magna

Elkes John, shoemaker, Haughton

Elsmere Colley, farmer, Upton Magna

Gregory Mary Ann, farmer, Preston Boats

Humphries Mary, schoolmistress, Upton Magna

Humphries Nathaniel, schoolmaster, Upton Magna

Humphries Richard, farmer, Rae House, Upton Magna

Humphry John, farmer and vict., Corbet Arms, Upton Magna

Jervis Robert, farmer, Upton Magna

Jones Hannah, farmer, Preston Boats

Jones John, farmer, Preston Boats

Jones Richard, farmer, Downton

Keay Henry, parish clerk, Upton Magna

Keay Walter, basket maker, Upton Magna

Leeke John, farmer, Haughton

Lockley Henry, blacksmith, Upton Magna

Matthews William, farmer, Preston Boats

Pickin Helen, shopkeeper, Upton Magna

Ralphs Henry, wheelwright, Upton Magna

Rogers Joseph, tailor, Upton Magna

Tart Thos. Sharratt, farmer, Upton Magna