Berrington

is a small rural village pleasantly situated four and a half miles S.E. by S. from Shrewsbury. The parish contains the several townships of Berrington, Brompton, Betton, Cantlop, and Eaton Mascot, which together in 1801 had a population of 603 souls; 1831, 684, and in 1841 there were 97 houses and 651 inhabitants. There was no separate return of the respective townships at the census of 1841. The township of Berrington contains 880 acres of land, with a fertile soil highly productive. Lord Berwick and Sir Edward Smythe, Bart., are the principal landowners, the latter is lord of the manor. The church is an ancient structure, dedicated to All Saints; the living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £10. 12s. 1d., now returned at £400 in the patronage of Lord Berwick, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. T. H. N. Hill. There is a national school in the village, where 45 children are educated. Betton is a small township with 564 acres, which is the property of Lord Berwick. Rateable value, £759. Brompton township has 864 acres, which is also the property of Lord Berwick. Within the bounds of this township at Cross Houses is situated the Atcham Union House, a spacious brick pile, calculated to accommodate 350 inmates. It consists of a centre and wings; the receiving wards and infirmary are now in course of erection at the back part of the premises, the estimated cost of which is £1,510; the old infirmary was taken down in consequence of its being too small for the accommodation of the patients. The average number of inmates in the union house is usually about 200. The average annual expenditure on the poor of the district for three years preceding the formation of the union was £9,768. Total expenditure of the union for the year ending March, 1850, £4,101. 5s., being 4s. 4¾d. per head on the population comprised within the union. Total number of admissions during the year, 586. Total number relieved during the year, exclusive of vagrants, 703. The union comprehends the following 43 parishes, viz.:—Acton Burnel, Alberbury, Albrighton, Astley, Atcham, Battlefield, Bauseley, Berrington, Cardiston, Church Preen, Church Pulverbatch, Condover, Cound, Cressage, Criggion, Eaton Constantine, Fitz, Ford, Frodesley, Habberley, Hanwood, Harley, Highley, Kenley, Leighton, Melverley, Minsterley, Montford, Pitchford, Pontesbury, Preston Gubbals, Ruckley, Shineton, Shrawardine, Stapleton, Sutton, Uffington, Uppington, Upton Magna, Westbury, Withington, Woolaston, and Wroxeter. The guardians meet three times during the month. Chairman: Sir B. Leighton. Vice-Chairman: Rev. H. Burton. Clerk: Mr. Thos. Everest. House Surgeon: Mr. F. Whitfell. Relieving Officers: Mr. George Jackson and James Hampton. Governor: Mr. Robert Rowlandson. Matron: Mrs. Rowlandson. The New Connexion Methodists have a small chapel in Brompton, which was built in 1836. Cantlop, a small township lying to the S.W. of Berrington, contains 681 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £839. The Earl of Liverpool and E. W. S. Owen, Esq., are the principal landowners. Eaton Mascot township contains 495 acres of land, which is the property of Mrs. Williams. The rateable value of this township is £690.

Charities.—John Churm, in 1629, gave £13, which was laid out in the purchase of a rent charge of 20s. per annum, issuing out of a piece of land called Leeberries. It is the practice to receive the payment once in three or four years, and distribute it with other money to the poor, in sums varying from 2s. to 5s. In 1723, Richard Wellings gave £20 for the good of the poor of Berrington. This money is now in the Savings’ Bank at Shrewsbury. Margaret Thompson bequeathed £6 to buy Bibles for poor children. This money is also in the Savings’ Bank. The interest on this and the preceding legacy amounts to 21s. yearly, and in respect of Thompson’s charity a Bible or prayer book is purchased for the use of the Sunday school, or given to some poor person of the parish, and the remainder is distributed among the poor.

Berrington, Betton, Brompton, Cantlop, and Eaton Mascot Directories.

Bromley John, farmer, Betton

Bromley William, wheelwright, Berrington

Cadwallader Mr. Richard, Brompton

Calcott Charles, farmer, Betton

Calcott Mr. Richard, Brompton

Caswell James, shopkeeper, Brompton

Clark William, farmer, Cantlop

Dilcher Edward, farmer, Brompton

Dixon Joseph, farmer, Betton

Elsmere Thomas, farmer, Berrington

Hill Hon. and Rev. T. H. Noel, Berrington

James Rev. William J., curate, Cantlop

Jones Christiana, blacksmith, Berrington

Lateward John, wheelwright, Berrington

Lawrence William, farmer, Cantlop

Lee Richard, farmer, Brompton

Massie Richard, vict., Bell Inn, Berrington

Miere Joseph, farmer, Berrington

Millward Miss, school teacher, Berrington

Newell Edward and Son, tailors and drapers, Berrington

Onions Henry, butcher, Cross Houses

Parker Thomas, farmer, Cotons

Poole Thomas, farmer, Berrington

Rogers James, vict., Golden Cross, Cross Houses

Rowlandson Robert, governor of Atcham union house

Sides Thomas, shoemaker, Cantlop

Vickerstaff Thomas, beerseller, Cantlop

Wigley John, schoolmaster, Berrington

Whitfield Thomas, corn miller, Cantlop

William Charles Arthur, Esq., Eaton Mascot

Williams Mrs. Sarah H. H., Eaton Mascot