Highley

is a parish and pleasant rural village near the western bank of the Severn, seven miles S.S.E. of Bridgnorth, situated on an eminence commanding fine views of the surrounding country, and noted for its extensive orchards and the excellency of its cider, which is made to a considerable extent in this locality. There are several quarries of superior stone in the parish. At the census of 1841 there were 88 houses and 360 inhabitants; population in 1801, 274, and in 1831, 404. Highley contains 1,527a. 1r. 7p. of land, of which 780 acres are arable, 570 acres meadow and pasture, and 40 acres are woodlands, the rateable value of which is £1,128. 3s. 4d; gross estimated rental, £1,929. 18s. 6d. The tithes are commuted for £225. 1s. 6d. William Jordin, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner, besides whom Mr. John Crane, Rev. Samuel Du Pre, Mr. Easthope, Mr. Thomas Fenn, Mr. J. H. Windle, Mr. Daniel Jordin, Mr. Levi Jordin, Mr. Thomas Jordin, and Mr. George Peplow, are proprietors.

The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is built of free stone, with square tower, in which is four bells. It consists of nave, chancel, and has a gallery on which is placed a small organ. The Rev. Samuel Burrows is the patron, and the Rev. Samuel Du Pre, incumbent. The living is a vicarage valued in the king’s book at £5. 19s. 2d. Some portion of the land is tithe free, the rest has been commuted and apportioned as follows:—To the vicar the sum of £115. 10s.; to Mr. Jordin, £89. 11s.; to the Rev. P. Haslewood, £19, and to Thomas Lowe, £1. The vicar has 89a. 3r. 2p. of glebe land.

Charities.—Richard Lowe gave the sum of £10 by will in 1579; George Harris, in 1607, gave £1. 6s. 8d.; and Giles Rawlins, by will, in 1677, gave £5, to be employed for the use and benefit of the poor of the parish of Highley. With this money land was purchased containing two acres, on which two cottages have been built, and the rents have been given to the poor of the parish in bread every Sunday. Thomas Getton, Esq., in 1808, gave £5. 10s., the interest thereof to be distributed in bread to the poor of the parish on Christmas day.

Directory.—Decimus Burrows, farmer, Church Hill; William Burrows, farmer, Rea Farm; John Davies, shopkeeper; Rev. Samuel Du Pre, The Vicarage; William Easthope, farmer, Haylewells; William Evans, builder; Thomas Fenn, farmer, Dustley; George Gough, shopkeeper; William Thomas Homer, schoolmaster; Martha Hughes, beer and cider retailer; Daniel Jordin, miller and farmer; Levi Jordin, farmer; Thomas Jordin, farmer, Netherton House; William Jordin, Esq., New House; William Jordin, farmer, Highley House; William Kirk, shopkeeper and quarry owner; John Kirkham, vict., The Ship; William Lloyd, shoemaker; John Oakley, farm bailiff; William Pritchard, blacksmith; Richard Tomlinson, farmer, The Heath; William Walford, shoemaker; Benjamin Williams, tailor.