Hughley

is a parish and village delightfully situated in a lovely vale four and a half miles S.W. from Much Wenlock; the Wenlock Edge bounds the parish on the eastern side, and on the west is a small mountain stream. The parish contains 1,111a. 3r. 38p. of land, the soil of which for the most part is of an inferior description, but produces tolerable crops of oats, and wheat is also grown. Rateable value £817. The land in this parish is the property of the Earl of Bradford, except about three roods and a small cottage. A bridge has recently been built over the stream here, which is a great advantage and convenience to the inhabitants, as the waters occasionally rush with great impetuosity from the hilly district, and render the fording of the stream dangerous. The bridge was built by subscriptions, under the superintendence and aid of the late rector. In former times the extensive woods with which Hughley was surrounded were long the retreat of robbers; a commission was issued in the reign of Richard II. to inquire into the best means of securing the banditti, and protecting travellers from their lawless depredations.

The Church, a small but interesting specimen of the gothic style of architecture, is dedicated to St. John the Baptist; it is very ancient, and consists of nave and chancel, the latter divided from the nave by a beautifully rood loft elaborately carved; on the roof also is some beautifully carved work. A recess in the wall containing a number of human bones is conjectured to have been a shrine; the bones are probably the remains of some reputed saint, and were formerly secured by a door, but this has long been destroyed. There is a piscina on a pedestal, whereon in former times would very probably stand the patron saint of the church. The living is a rectory valued in the King’s book at £4. 11s. 3d., now returned at £160, in the patronage of the Earl of Bradford, and enjoyed by the Rev. John Wakefield, M.A. The parish of Hughley, at the census of 1801, contained 83 inhabitants; 1831, 115; and in 1841 there were twenty houses and 127 souls. Job Littleford, in 1772, gave to the parish of Hughley 6s. yearly to maintain a poor child at school; 4s. to be distributed among the poor by the rector; and 2s. 6d. to the parish clerk yearly. The premises charged with this payment are situate at Holt Praed, and are the property of Mrs. Thursby.

Directory.—Richard Bullock, blacksmith; Edward Corfield, miller; Elizabeth Owen, farmer; Thomas Madeley, farmer; Rev. John Wakefield, M.A., rector; Andrew Walker, farmer, Upper Hill farm; Richard Walleter, farmer, Lower Hill farm.