Worfield

is an extensive parish in a delightful and salubrious part of the county, watered by the meandering stream of the Worf. The land exhibits inequalities of surface, and bold swells, which in some instances rise to a considerable height, from whence most beautiful and varied prospects over a luxuriant country are seen. The soil is variable, the arable lands produce good wheat, turnips, and barley, and the meadows and grazing lands are highly fertile. The farms in most instances are large, and the houses in general are good residences, with conveniently arranged out premises. Several ancient dwellings have been taken down, and handsome villa residences erected in their place. The cottages are for the most part well built, and in most instances have small allotments of garden ground. The parish comprises 10,314 acres of land, and at the census in 1801 had 1,354 inhabitants; 1831, 1,676, and in 1841 there were 357 houses and 1,643 souls. Rateable value, £16,145. 19s. 9d. Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq., M.P., of Apley Park, and William S. Davenport, Esq., are the principal landowners; the two former, with Mrs. Bache, are joint lords of the manor. The parish contains the following hamlets or townships for highway purposes, viz., Ackleton, Allscott, Barnsley, Bentley, Bromley, Bradney, Burcote, Chesterton, Cranmere, Catstree, Ewdness, Fenngate, Hilton, Hoccom, Hallon, Hartleberry, Kingslow, Little Gane, Oldington, Newton, Roughton, Ringleford, Rowley, Stanmore, Stableford, Swancote, Worfield, Wheel Green, Winscote, and Wyken, which places are divided into four districts or collections, called north-east quarter, south-east quarter, north-west quarter, and south-west quarter.

The small and sequestered village of Worfield is pleasantly situated at the foot of an immense rock of red sand stone, except on the northern verge where the houses stand on the side of a precipitous acclivity, and is three and a half miles N.E. from Bridgnorth, eight miles S. from Shiffnal, and eleven miles S.W. by S. from Wolverhampton. From the summit of the rock, which is crowned with timber, a most delightful panoramic view of the surrounding country is seen, the romantic situation of the village, and the circuitous windings of the Worf adding much to the picturesque beauty of the scenery. The river Worf is noted for its fine trout. The land between this place and Claverley stretching as far as Bridgnorth was the celebrated Morffe Forest, where the inhabitants of Worfield had common pasture; the king, however, appointed stewards and rangers to take care of the woods and deer. In the reign of Henry VIII. the Earl of Shrewsbury was steward or ranger for life with a fee of 4d. per day. The forest has long been enclosed, and is now covered with luxuriance and fertility. On the south east side of the Morffe in early times was an important military station, which may still be traced; the ground is elevated, and the moat still visible, circumscribing a large area. The Church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient structure of red sand stone, which has been enlarged and beautified from time to time. The tower is ornamented with pinnacles, and surmounted with a lofty spire; it is beautified with a clock, and contains a peal of six musical bells. The interior has a chaste and beautiful appearance, the side aisles are separated from the nave by pointed arches rising from octagonal pillars, the pews are of oak, and upon the gallery at the west end is a fine toned organ. The pulpit and reading desk are elaborately carved. Several of the windows are richly adorned with stained glass, and the altar is of dark oak, exquisitely carved. The chancel is spacious, and contains memorials to deceased members of some of the principal families in this locality. A side chapel, separated by a richly carved oak screen, contains an altar tomb, with two figures in a recumbent posture, in memory of Sir George Bromley and his lady, dated 1688. Under a canopy of beautiful workmanship are two figures in a recumbent position, which remembers Sir Edward Bromley, Knight, chancellor of England, and his wife, dated 1626. There are also many elegant mural monuments of beautiful design and admirable workmanship, in memory of the Davenports, Broughtons, Vickers, Marindins, Fletchers, Masons, Johnsons, and others. In the church-yard are several family vaults cut in the solid rock. Archdeacon Vickers was entombed in one of these vaults with much solemnity in May, 1851. The southern entrance to the church is by an ancient porch, and through a door of remarkable and curious workmanship. Over the centre of this door are located a swarm of bees, which tradition states have been there for ages. The living is a vicarage valued in the king’s book at £16. 15s., in the patronage of William S. Davenport, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Cornelius Francis Broadbent, M.A. The Rev. Henry Cunliffe, M.A., is the officiating minister. The vicarial tithes have been commuted for £288. 10s. Mr. Davenport, the impropriator of the rectoral tithes, receives £1,745. The vicarage is an ancient erection a short distance from the church. “The annals of the church of Worcester assert that King Edward I. gave the church of Worfield to their prior and convent for the sustenance of three monks, and for maintaining two wax candles to be kept continually burning at the feast of St. Wulstan, and for eight days after, and to be daily lighted at the saying of high mass both at matins and vespers. This was done in accomplishment of a vow made to St. Wulstan.” There is an endowed Grammar School, which will be found noticed with the charities, and a National School for boys and girls—a spacious structure of modern erection, with residences for the teachers; about sixty boys and fifty girls attend. It is partly supported by endowment and partly by subscriptions. Davenport House is a handsome and spacious mansion of brick, with stone finishings, the seat of William Sharington Davenport, Esq., J.P. The situation is delightful, and the extensive park grounds are richly studded with fine timber, the drives and pleasure grounds are kept in the most beautiful order, and several of the eminences in the park are ornamented with sculptured figures.

Charities.—King James I., by his letters patent, dated 1st of May, in the 10th of his reign, in consideration of £5. 4s. paid by Thomas Beech and Thomas Bradburne, granted to William Lloyd and Thomas Parker, and their heirs, certain premises in Worfield, Bridgnorth, and Quatford, in trust, that the yearly proceeds thereof should be employed by the parishioners towards the maintenance of a school for the instruction of youth in reading and writing English, and in the accidence and principles of grammar and the Latin tongue. This is usually called Lloyd and Parker’s charity, after the names of the original grantees of the crown, but they appear to have been in fact only the channel through which these premises were conveyed to the real purchasers, who were Beech and Bradburne. Besides the rent an annual sum of £9 was received from Mr. Smythe when the charity commissioners published their report, as interest at 4½ per cent. on a joint bond from his father and himself for £200, dated December 13th, 1796, being an accumulation of funds which he held in his hands as receiver of the rents of this charity. The total income was £46. 1s., which was applied in a distribution of money to the poor, in the reparation of the trust premises and schoolhouse, and in paying a small salary to a schoolmaster. Thomas Smith left a rent charge of 16s. a year, for the instruction of two poor boys to read English. William Lewis, who died about fifty years ago, left £60, the interest to be applied for educating three boys in Worfield school.

Thomas Woolley, in 1609, gave £100 for purchasing lands for the use of the poor of Worfield, which was laid out in lands at Brierley. Other premises in Brierley were afterwards purchased by the parish for the sum of £202. 4s., made up of six different benefactions. Soon after the last purchase, these properties were combined into one estate. The premises consist of 17a. 2r. 5p., and produce a yearly rental of £40. In the course of certain proceedings in chancery respecting this charity in the year 1808, it appears to have been stated in a valuation on oath before the master, that the mines lying under these lands were worth £300 per acre. Of the income, £1. 16s. is paid to the vicar, for preaching sermons according to the intentions of the donors; £6 to the treasurer of Lloyd and Parker’s charity; and the rest is distributed to the poor, according to a list made out by the trustees.

Thomas Beech, in 1645, surrendered to the use of his nephew, William Beech, certain lands in Hilton and Halton, in trust. After the death of Dorothy, wife of the said Thomas Beech, to pay 12s. 4d. at the feast of St. Michael, for engrossing the court rolls, and placing them in the church chest at Worfield; and after the expiration of ninety-nine years, beginning at the death of the said Dorothy, to pay yearly at the feast of the Ascension, to the vicar of Worfield 3s., and to the poor of Worfield 10s. The charity commissioners state the land to be vested in Mr. Smythe and Mr. Hardwick, but there was no evidence to show that these annuities have ever been paid; and it would appear that forty-two years’ arrears were then due to the vicar and the poor, as the payment ought to have commenced in the year 1777.

William Perry charged a loft and half yard of land and a cottage in Wykem with the payment of 6s. 8d. yearly, on four specified days, to buy bread for twenty poor people of the parish of Worfield. The premises afterwards became possessed by Thomas Smith and John Bache, the former agreeing to pay 2s. 3d. of the said rent-charge, and the other 4s. 5d.

Dr. William Congreve, of Broadney, by his will dated 20th October, 1775, reciting that £10 had been left in his hands by his father and grandfather, the interest to be paid every Good Friday to persons who had lived servants at Bradney, and that Robert Littleford, his late servant, had left in his hands £10, the interest to be given yearly, the Sunday after Midsummer-day, to eight servants who had lived at the least one year at Bradney. Dr. Congreve charged his lands with the payment of 10s. and 8s., as the interest of these two sums, which is distributed according to the donor’s intentions.

Robert Crudgington, in 1714, surrendered to the lord of the manor of Worfield half a yard of land and three parts of a nook of land, in Newton, on condition that the persons in possession should pay out of the rents 20s. per annum, to be distributed among poor widows or other necessitous persons inhabiting in the parish of Worfield.

Mr. Bache, of Chesterton, left £5, the interest to be paid on New-year’s day to ten poor widows nominated by the heirs of the family. Mr. Thomas Bache gave £10, and directed the interest to be applied in the same manner. The interest of these two sums is now distributed by the representatives of Mr. Bache. There is no document respecting these benefactions, but they are considered as charged generally on the family estate.

Thomas Devey, in 1725, surrendered a croft to the use of his heirs, subject to the payment of 10s. yearly, which he directed to be distributed among poor widows of this parish. This seems to be the gift mentioned on the benefaction table, as a legacy of Mrs. Elizabeth Devey.

Thomas Smith, in 1726, charged two pieces of land called Uphill and Downhill, and the Fen lands with the payment of 30s. per annum, 16s. thereof to be paid to the schoolmaster of Worfield, and 14s. to be divided among seven poor persons, to be nominated by the possessors of the land.

Mrs. Mary Dolman left by will £40, the interest of £20 thereof to be given among the poor of Worfield, and the proceeds from the other £20 to be applied in buying bibles; one of her executors secured the payment of 40s. per annum on his estate at Ackleton.

Mrs. Arabella Davenport, in 1763, bequeathed £200 to the vicar and churchwardens, in trust, to be laid out in lands, and the rents to be distributed among poor widows and maidens of this parish. No purchase of lands has been made with this money, but it is placed in the hands of Mr. Smythe, and secured on bond dated 9th September, 1809, with lawful interest at four and a half per cent.

Mrs. Sarah Mason, in 1809, gave to the churchwardens of Worfield for the time being, an annuity of £5, to be divided among poor widows residing in this parish. The payment is charged upon the freehold and copyhold estates of the donor, to be paid on the 24th of June and 25th December, by equal portions.

It is stated on the table of benefactions that George Bromley, Esq., gave £120 to charitable uses, £30 of which had been laid out in a purchase of land at Brexley, and £90 remained in the hands of the trustees, which was laid out in 1730 in building a workhouse for the use of the parish.

The following benefactions appear on the tablet in the church, of which nothing further is now known. £50 given by William Rowley for a distribution of bread, £5, the gift of John Beech, and a legacy of £20 bequeathed by John Bradburne.

Ackleton is a small well-built village, and township in the parish of Worfield, two and a quarter miles north-east from the parish church. The acres and population of the several townships in Worfield are included in the general returns of the parish. The principal freeholders are the executors of the late Mr. Eykyn, Mr. Green, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Patrick, Mr. Thomas Priest, and Mr. John Richards. Ackleton House is a good residence occupied by Mrs. Eykyn. Allscott is pleasantly situated about a mile and a quarter north-west from Worfield; the land is the property of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq. Barnsley township is situated two miles south-east from Worfield, and the freeholders are Mr. John Hoccom, Mr. William Hoccom, and Miss Hoccom. Bentley lies about two miles to the south-west of Worfield, and is the property of George Pritchard, Esq. Bentley House is a good brick residence beautified with tasteful pleasure grounds, and occupied by Mr. William Sing. The farm premises which are commodious are situate a short distance from the house. Bromley township is chiefly the property of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq.; the village is situated about a mile to the south-west of Worfield. Bradney, or Bradley, a pleasantly situated township, half a mile east from Worfield, is intersected by the Wolverhampton turnpike road. Bradney House, the residence of Captain Brazier, is a beautiful modern erection with pleasure grounds tastefully laid out. Warner House, an ancient residence, is now occupied as a farm dwelling. Capt. James Brazier is the land owner. Burncote, or Burcot, is a small rural village and township situated on a gentle eminence; the principal freeholders are Mr. John Bell Hardwick, Mr. Richard Hardwick, Mr. Parkes, and Mrs. Bache; the township is bounded by the river Worf and the Shiffnal and Wolverhampton turnpike road. In 1809, a large semi-circular cave was discovered at Burcot, in which were found human bones, sculls, and the bones of several animals. The ancient name of Bourncote, which in the Saxon language means the cote or dwelling near to the river, of which this cave is within a few paces serves to show the probability of this having been the cote or dwelling, which may have given rise to the word Burcot, the present name of the township. It is presumed the bones found in this cave may have been those of persons who made this cave the place of their occasional residence, and that it was destroyed by a sudden convulsion of the rock, and downfall of the soil above it. Chesterton village is delightfully situated on a gentle eminence, commanding fine views over a country teeming with luxuriance. The residence of John Bache, Esq., is a handsome mansion, with pleasure grounds most beautifully laid out. The residence of Mrs. Marindin is also spacious and elegant. The landowners are John Bache, Esq., Mrs. Marindin, Mr. Thomas Wilson, and Mr. Samuel Marindin. Near to the village, which is about two miles N.E. from Worfield, are the remains of a Roman encampment, which is said to have covered an area of more than twenty acres. A small structure in this township prior to the reformation was used as a chapel, but since that period has been occupied as an humble dwelling; it was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Cranmere, or Cranmere Heath, is situated about a mile and a half to the N.W. of Worfield. The land is the property of William S. Davenport, Esq., and Valentine Vickers, Esq. Catstree, another small township, anciently formed part of the demesnes of the Saxon lords of the manor of Worfield. The family of Catstree resided here till the year 1819. Thomas C. Whitmore, Esq., and W. S. Davenport, Esq., are the landowners. Ewdness, a pleasantly situated township on the Bridgnorth and Shiffnal turnpike road, two miles north from Worfield, contains 441 acres of land, which is the property of Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq. Rateable value, £490. 4s. 10d. The tithes have been commuted, and £74 apportioned to the impropriator, and £22 to the vicar of Worfield. Ewdness House is a commodious Elizabethan structure, with bay windows; the interior contains some fine specimens of antique oak carving. The house is occupied by Mr. Richard M. Barker. Fenn Gate, a hamlet two miles from Worfield, has only one farm. The land is the property of T. C. Whitmore, Esq. Hilton is a pleasantly situated village and township on the turnpike road from Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton, four and a half miles N.E. from the former place. A small stream here called Hilton Brook is crossed by a stone bridge erected in 1814, with funds raised by subscriptions, and from the Bridgnorth turnpike trust. The principal landowners are Mr. Samuel Ridley, Mr. Kettle, Mr. Thomas Smythe, Mrs. Hammond, and Mrs. Smythe, besides whom are several other proprietors. Hilton House, the residence of George Smith Dorset, Esq., is a handsome residence with grounds tastefully laid out, besides which there are several other good houses in the village. Hoccom, or Hockham, is a small hamlet about two miles N.E. from Bridgnorth; the landowners are Mr. John Meredith and Mr. William Sing. Hallon is a hamlet adjoining Worfield, situated on a bold eminence. Hallon House, a beautiful modern erection of considerable extent, is the residence of James Farmer, gentleman. The freeholders are William S. Davenport, Esq., and Valentine Vickers, Esq. Hartleberry is situated N.W. from Worfield, about a mile and a quarter from the church. Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq., is the landowner. Kingslow is a small hamlet delightfully situated, three miles N.E. from Worfield. The freeholders are Lord Lewisham and Mrs. Devey. Kingslow House is a good residence occupied by John Farmer, gentleman. Stanlow House is occupied as a farm residence by Mr. Thomas Wilson. The hamlet of Little Gane lies about three miles from Worfield; the freeholders and residents are Samuel and Edward Ridley, gentlemen. Oldington township is situated two miles N.W. from Worfield, and is the property of Thomas C. Whitmore, Esq. Newton, situated near to Oldington, is also the property of the same gentleman. Roughton is a well built and respectable village on the Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton turnpike road, two and a half miles from the former place; there are several genteel residences embosomed in foliage, and beautified with tasteful pleasure grounds. The landowners are John and George Pritchard, Esq., Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Stokes. Riddleford, or Rhuddleford, is of British derivation, and signifies the Red Ford. It is a small township about two miles E. of Bridgnorth, which formerly belonged to the family of the Walkers, a branch of the Walkers, of Burncote and Roughton, who disposed of it to the Colley family, and they to the late William Hardwicke, Esq., of Burncote, who married Miss Mary Purton, by whom he had two children, John Role Hardwicke, Esq., deceased, and William Hardwicke, Esq., of Bridgnorth, an eminent antiquary and genealogist, whose widow is the present proprietor. Rowley is another small hamlet nearly a mile from Worfield, where William S. Davenport and Mrs. Martha Johnson are the landowners. Stanmore is a village and township on the Stourbridge road, two miles E. from Bridgnorth. John and George Pritchard, Esqrs., W. S. Davenport, Esq., and T. C. Whitmore, Esq., are the landowners. Stanmore Grove, the residence of R. Pigott, Esq., is a good house, pleasantly situated. Stableford, or Stapleford, is a small hamlet two miles N. from Worfield, not far from which runs the Cosford Brook. The freeholders are Mr. Jasper, and the executors of the late Richard Taylor. Swancote is situated about a mile and a half to the N.E. of Bridgnorth. George Pritchard, Esq., is the proprietor of the land. Swancote House, a commodious residence pleasantly situated on a gentle eminence, and ornamented with pleasure grounds neatly laid out, is occupied by William Sing, Esq. Wheel Green is a hamlet on the Bridgnorth and Northampton turnpike road, three and a half miles N.E. from the former place, and near to the river Worf. Winscote is situated two miles from Worfield, and the land is the property of T. C. Charlton, Esq. Wyken, derived from Wycke, (Saxon, “Place and Residence,” and Hen, British, “Old, or the Old Place”), is a small township and manor within the parish and manor of Worfield, situated about three miles N.E. of Bridgnorth. This manor was granted, together with the church of Worfield, and chapel of Chesterton, in the same parish, by King Edward II., in the 11th year of his reign, to the dean of Lichfield, in exchange for the manor of Greenford, in Middlesex. In the 2nd Edward VI., Richard William, then dean of Lichfield, with the chapter conveyed this manor with the advowson of the vicarage of the parish church of Worfield, and most of the great tithes of that parish, to Sir John Talbot, Knight, of Albrighton, which manor and tithes are now vested in William Sharrington Davenport, Esq., of Davenport House, in Worfield parish. The chief landowner in this township is Joseph Parkes, Esq., (in right of his wife Anna, the only child of the late John Bache, Esq.,) who resides at Wyken House, situated on the Streetford Brook, which has its confluence with the Worf below; Mr. Nicholas and Mr. J. Mollineux are also proprietors in this township.

Worfield.

Bennett William, shopkeeper

Brown John, mill manager

Broadbent Rev. Cornelius Francis, M.A., The Rectory

Broughall Geo., corn miller

Clutton George, butcher

Clutton Mary, beer retailer

Crookshanks Alex., gardener

Crow Emily and Caroline, dressmakers

Cunliffe Rev. Henry, M.A., curate

Davenport Elizabeth, gentlewoman

Davenport Wm. Sharrington, Esq., and county magistrate, Davenport House

Hall John, vict., Grey Hound Inn

Humphreys Hugh, National School master

James Samuel, principal of Endowed Grammar School

Mead William, butler

Piper Mary, dressmaker

Piper Thomas, wheelwright

Powell Mr. Edwd., The Low

Price Richard, tailor

Pritchards Theophilus, game keeper

Rogers Thomas, shoemaker, and parish clerk

Sherry William, tailor

Ackleton.

Eykyn Mrs., The Hall

Gibbons James, farmer

Holden Francis, blacksmith

Painter Thomas, shopkeeper

Poole Francis, beer-retailer and farmer

Priest Thomas, farmer

Richards John, maltster and farmer

Richards Sarah, farmer

Wilson Richard, maltster and farmer

Allscot.

Reynolds Wm., shoemaker

Wray Richard, farmer

Barnsley.

Haccom Miss, farmer

Haccom John, farmer

Haccom William, farmer

Bentley.

Sing William, farmer

Bromley.

Iddins Thomas, farmer

Jones John, wheelwright

Smith Thomas, gentleman

Worrall Richard, farmer

Bradney.

Brasier Captain James

Gibbons James, farmer

Burcote.

Cartwright John, farmer

Hardwicke John Bell, maltster and farmer

Hardwicke Richard, farmer and corn miller, The Villa

Rowley Richard, machineman (lets)

Sharpe Mrs.

Turner Thomas, manager, Mill

Chesterton.

Bache John, Esquire

Holding Francis, blacksmith

Hunt John, farmer & miller

Johnson John, farmer

Marindin Ellen, gentlewoman

Smith Edward, farmer

Cranmere.

Braidley Thomas, shoemaker

Humphreys John, farmer

Catstree.

Nicholls Sarah, farmer

Price John, farmer

Ewdness.

Barker Richard M., farmer

Fenn Gate.

Whitehouse Cornelius, farmer

Hilton.

Darley Thomas, farmer

Davies Edward Harrison, builder and maltster

Dorset George Smith, Esq., Hilton House

Gibbons James, Blue Barn farm

Lane James, beer retailer

Poole Mr. William

Pope William, wheelwright

Ridley Samuel, gentleman

Roles Benjamin, shopkeeper

Tolly John, blacksmith

White John, wheelwright and machine maker

Wilcox Richard, gentleman

Hoccom.

Meredith George, farmer

Meredith John, farmer

Sing William, farmer

Hallon.

Barney Theophilus, blacksmith

Farmer James, gentleman, Hallon House

Tarrant Isaac, builder and joiner

Turner John, blacksmith

Hartleberry.

Dudley Samuel, wheelwright

Littleford Thomas, senior, farmer

Wood Eleanor, shopkeeper and farmer

Wood Thomas, brick & tile maker, and farmer

King Slow.

Farmer John, gentleman, Kingslow farm

Wilson Thomas, Esquire, Stanlow

Little Gane.

Ridley Samuel and Edward, farmers

Oldington.

Worrall Arthur, farmer

Worrall Thomas, farmer

Newton.

Sing William, jun., farmer

Roughton.

Meredith John, farmer

Pratt Edward Richard, farmer, miller, & corn factor, Brook Cottage; Corn Mills at Smestow and Union Steam Mills, Tipton

Smith John, gentleman

Smith William, gentleman, The Hall

Smithyman Mrs Jane

Smithyman William, farmer

Stokes Martha Corser, gentlewoman

Ringleford.

Ridley Samuel and Edward, corn factors, millers, maltsters, farmers, seedsmen, and guano and tillage dealers

Wellings Benjamin, blacksmith

Rowley.

Johnson Martha, farmer

Stanmore.

Beeston Richard, farmer, carrier, and van proprietor

Pigot Richard, Esq., The Grove

Ridley Samuel and Edward, Grove farm

Tedstall Thos., beer-retailer

Warder James, farmer

Stableford.

Hill Henry, farmer

Humphrey George, wheelwright

Jasper John, Esq., The Hall

Smith Thomas, farmer

Swancote.

Sing William, Esq., Swancote House

Wheel Green.

Hammond Jane, farmer and victualler, The Wheel, and Post Office

Winscote.

Sing William, jun., farmer

Wyken.

Adams Thomas, plumber, glazier, and painter

Bache Ann, gentlewoman

Lloyd James, shoemaker

Lloyd James, blacksmith

Mantle John, shopkeeper, market gardener, nurseryman and seedsman

Mollineux James, gentleman

Mollineux James, butcher and farmer

Mollineux Michael, farmer

Painter John, blacksmith

Parkes Joseph, Esq., The Hall

Piper Moses, shopkeeper

Powell William, bricklayer