Alberbury

is an extensive parish, comprising the townships of Alberbury, Benthal with Shrawardine, Amaston, Bulthey, Eyton, Ford (part of), Rowton, Stanford, Trefnant, Wattlesborough (part of), Winnington, Woolaston, which are situated in Shropshire; and Bausley, Coydway, Crew Green, Criggion, upper and lower, Middleton and Uppington, which are in Montgomeryshire. The entire parish contains 10,780a. 2r. 2p. of land, the rateable value of which is £7,731. This parish is beautifully diversified with picturesque scenery, and watered by the river Severn. At the census of 1841 there were 472 houses, and 1,861 inhabitants. Population in 1801, 1,204: and in 1831, 1,799, Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., Henry Lyster, Esq., and others are joint lords of the manor. Alberbury is a township and pleasant rural village eight miles west of Shrewsbury. In this quarter or district are the townships of Alberbury, Amaston, Benthal with Shrawardine, Eyton, Rowton, and part of the township of Ford, which have an area of 3,104a. 2r. 27p. of land; of which 1,277a. 1r. 20p. are arable, 1,532a. 0r. 16p. are meadow and pasture, 116a. 3r. 13p. are woods, and 67 acres are roads and water. The township, at the census of 1841, had 130 houses and 638 inhabitants. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is the principal landowner. John Lloyd, Esq., and All Souls College are also freeholders. A fair is held on the 8th of August.

The Abbey, of which but little now remains, is situated near the village, and called the White Abbey. It was founded by Fulk, the son of Warine, in the reign of Henry II., and was subject to the Black Monks of Grandmorst, in Limosin. At the suppression of the alien priories it was bestowed on Queen Joan, widow of Henry IV., and after passing through several hands it was granted to the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford. There were formerly a chapel within the site of this abbey, dedicated to St. Stephen, in which were interred the remains of Fulk Warine, its founder.

The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a venerable structure, with a square tower, in which is a peal of five bells. The interior consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles. The south compartment belongs to the estate of Loton. On the walls are various monuments and tablets to various deceased members of the Leighton family: to Dame Dorothy Leighton, who died in 1638; and to General Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., who died in 1828. The chancel is separated from the body of the church by one arch, and was rebuilt in the year 1845. On removing a tomb-stone in the south wall, the skeleton of a man was found quite perfect, but the coffin and grave clothes all gone. It was placed in a coffin, and interred in the same place. Several of the windows are ornamented with stained glass, and the altar is very beautiful. The patronage of the church is vested in the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford: incumbent, Rev. Richard Webster Huntley, B.A. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £5. 10s. The tithes are commuted for £2,624, and apportioned to the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford, to the dean and chapter of Hereford, and the vicar of Alberbury. The Parochial School was founded and endowed with £3. 6s. 8d. per annum, by the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford: it is principally supported by the neighbouring gentlemen. Loton Park is a handsome brick mansion, the seat and property of Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., surrounded by a park well stocked with deer, and richly diversified with sylvan beauty.

Charities.—On the table of benefactions in the church are the names of twelve several donors, who left £169 for the use of the poor of this parish. This sum is supposed to have been applied in building a school or workhouse, and the yearly sum of £8. 5s. is paid as the interest thereof, which is distributed to the poor on Christmas day. Richard Lyster bequeathed the sum of £100, the interest thereof to be given to the poor. John Asterley in his lifetime gave £10 for the use of the poor of the township of Wattlesborough. John Morgan also left £10, the interest to be given in bread to the poor of this parish.

Amaston is a small township three miles south; Benthal is a township two miles north-east; and Little Shrawardine is a small township two miles and a half north-east, of Alberbury. Bulthey is a scattered township one and a half mile north-west by north of Woolaston, which contains 711a. 3r. 19p. of land; of which 371a. 3r. 19p. are arable, and 340 acres are pasture. Robert Gardner, Esq., is the sole landowner.

Bausley, or Balasley, is a scattered township and district, ten miles north-east of Welshpool, which comprises Upper and Lower Criggion, Crew Green, and Coydway, and has an area of 4,309 acres of land. Rateable value, £1,954. 17s. 7d. The principal landowners are the Rev. F. K. Leighton, who is lord of the manor; John Asterly, Esq.; Mr. Eddowes; Mr. Edward Bufton; Dr. Crawford; Sir Edward Desbrowe, Knt.; Rev. Edward Humphrey; Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart.; Isaac Swaine; Mr. John Ruscoe; and Mr. Williams. The township contains 1,684 acres of land, and at the census of 1841 there were 78 houses and 352 inhabitants. On the enclosure of Bausley Common, in 1832, the Vicar of Alberbury had allotted to him eleven acres of land, in lieu of small tithes. There are 31 acres of glebe land.

Criggion is a township and chapelry, one mile east of Llandrinio, which at the census of 1851 had 35 houses and 189 inhabitants. It contains 2401a. 2r. 17p. of land, the rateable value of which is £874. 12s. 2d. The tithes are commuted for £220, of which £176 are appropriated to the Fellows of All Souls College, and £44 to the vicar. On the summit of Breidden hill, 1,004 feet above the Severn, is “Rodney’s Pillar,” erected in memory of that brave naval commander. Near the Breidden is the range of hills called Moel-y-Golfa, on which are the traces of an encampment. In this district is a fine bed of coal. The Chapel is a neat structure, built of brick, with a square tower. The Rev. Leicester Darnwell, M.A., is the perpetual incumbent.

Eyton is a small township, one mile east of Alberbury. The Hon. and Rev. R. W. Hill is the proprietor of the land.

Middleton is a township, two miles south-west of Woolaston, which contains 269½ acres of pasture, 426 acres of arable, 43 acres of woods, five acres of roads, and 230 acres of common land, the rateable value of which is £620. 10s. Panton Corbett, Esq., is lord of the manor, and the principal freeholder. Mrs. Williams and Captain Close are also landowners.

Rowton and Amaston is a pleasant township and small rural village, seven miles and a half west of Shrewsbury. At the census of 1811 here were 225 inhabitants, and in 1821 227 inhabitants. Henry Lyster, Esq., is lord of the manor, and principal landowner. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is also a small landowner. Camden says this is the Rutunium described by Antonious. Rowton was anciently in the possession of the Corbets, and afterwards of the Le Estranges, from whom it passed to William Lyster, who was styled Lord of Rowton. In the year 1482 Rowton Castle was razed to the ground by Prince Llewellyn, at the time the Le Estranges possessed this manor.

Stanford is a township, one mile and a half west of Alberbury. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is lord of the manor and the principal landowner. Mr. Asterley and Mr. Edmund Phillips are also proprietors. Trefnant is a township and small village, two miles and a half south-west by south of Woolaston, which contains 518 acres of land. Rateable value £171. The principal landowners are Miss Oldnall, Mr. Thomas Vincent Potter, Mr. William Meredith, and the Rev. Mr. Cureton. Uppington is a scattered township, three miles and a half south-west by west of Woolaston, containing 968 acres of land, of which 308 acres are in common and woodlands. In 1841 here were 123, and in 1851 167 inhabitants. The principal landowner is Miss Oldnall. Wattlesborough is a township, partly situated in this parish and partly in the parishes of Cardiston and Westbury. Roger Corbet de Watlesburg, in the 56th Henry III. had the grant of a market on Tuesday and a fair on the eve, the day, and the day after the feast of St. James the Apostle, to be held at this manor. There was formerly a castle here, little of which now remains. Winnington is a township, one mile and a half south-west by south of Woolaston, which contains 1,605a. 3r. 10p. of land, the rateable value of which is £1,146. 3s. 10d. Winnington is celebrated as the birth place of Old Parr, who was born at the Glyn, in this township, in the year 1483. When eighty years old he married his first wife, and in the space of thirty-two years had two children, both of whom died young. Being aged 120 years, he became enamoured of Catherine Mitton, whom he married, and had children by her. At the age of 130, a prosecution was entered against him in the Spiritual Court for bastardy, and Parr did penance in Alberbury Church. He lived in ten reigns, and died at Westminster on the 15th of November, aged 152 years. The cottage in which he lived stands in a sequestered spot, near the Shrewsbury and Welshpool road. Mrs. Oldnell and others are landowners.

Woolaston is a township and chapelry, pleasantly situated eight miles north-east by east of Welshpool, which comprehends the townships of Woolaston, Bulthey, Trefnant, Winnington, Middleton, and Uppington, which have an area of 5,274a. 1r. 17p. of land, the rateable value of which is £4,432. 6s. 6d. This chapelry at the census of 1841 had 126 houses and 609 persons. Woolaston township contains 496 acres of land. The principal landowners are Sir Richard Jenkins, Mrs. H. S. Taber, and Mr. Smith. Smythe Owen, Esq., is lord of the manor. The Chapel was built in 1783 of rubble stone, and endowed with a grant from Queen Anne’s Bounty, which amounts to £46. 16s. 7d. per annum. There are 20 acres of glebe land. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Alberbury, and incumbency of the Rev. J. H. A. Harries, M.A. Elizabeth Collins left £10, the interest thereof to be given to the poor of this chapelry. Owen George bequeathed £50, 40s. of the interest thereof to pay for six sermons, and 20s. to be given in bread to the poor.

Post Office.—At Wm. Rogers, Letters arrive at 8 A.M. and are despatched at 5 P.M.

Alberbury Directory.

Barrett John, farmer & vict., Cross Gates

Bennett John, farmer & vict., Windmill Inn, posting House, Rowton

Bromley Rd., farmer, Eyton

Brown Thomas, farmer and vict., The Dragon

Bruce Donald, butler, Loton Hall

Cooper William, farmer and lime master, Loton

Crane Geo., farmer, Benthall

Davenport Benj., farmer

Davies Mr., farmer, Whattlesborough

Derwas Thos., farmer, Hays

Evans Edward, farmer, Braggington

Evans Griffiths, tailor

Fox William, blacksmith

Gell Daniel, park keeper, Loton

Gittins James, farmer, The Wood

Gittins Jn., farmer, Amaston

Gittins R., frmer, Lower Wood

Huntley Rev. Rd. Webster, vicar, Bloxwell

Jenner Rev. Mr., M.A., curate, Vicarage

Jones Mary, housekeeper, Loton Hall

Kempster Richard, farmer, Little Woolaston

Lee Mrs. Francis, farmer, Rowton

Leighton Sir Baldwin, Bart., J.P., and chairman of Montgomery quarter sessions, Loton Park

Lyster Henry, Esq., Rowton Castle

Mansell Stephen, farmer, Little Shrawardine

Onions William, basket mkr

Parry Thomas, farmer, Whattlesborough

Plunley John, farmer, Hilly House

Plunley Samuel, farmer

Pearce John, police constable

Powlter Richard, grocer & blacksmith, Rowton

Price John, traveller

Rogers Elizth., shopkeeper

Rogers William, postmaster

Teece John, farmer, Red Abbey

Tullock David, farmer

Wilde John, farmer, White Abbey

Wilde Wm., farmer, Hays

Bausley Directory.

Derwas John, farmer

Derwas Richard, farmer

Evans John, basket maker

Evans Thomas, farmer, Pecknall

France John, farmer, Brimpoeth

Jones John, carpenter and builder

Pritchard Mrs., Brook Cot.

Speake Thomas, farmer, The Hill

Swaine Isaac, farmer, Hill

Wilde John, butcher and farmer

Wilde Richard, farmer, Plas-y-Court

Bulthey Directory.

Burley Thomas, farmer

Swaine John, farmer, The Bank

Williams Richard, farmer, The Hall

Coydway Directory.

Brown Thomas, grocer and beer retailer

Harris Sarah, farmer

Jones Thomas, vict., Hand and Diamond

Jones Thomas, maltster and farmer

Richard George, shoemaker

Richards Thomas, saddler

Swaine Samuel, farmer

Wynne Thos., wheelwright

Crew Green Directory.

Briscoe John, farmer

Davies David, farmer

Downes Richard, farmer

Everall John, farmer

Mansell Mrs.

Payne Charles, farmer and maltster

Pritchard John, farmer

Pugh William, farmer

Ruscoe Abrahm., shopkeeper and beerhouse

Ruscoe Abraham, junior, farmer

Swaine Robert, blacksmith

Turner Joshua, blacksmith

Vaughan Samuel, shoemakr

Vaughan Thomas, saddler & harness maker

Watkin Evan, cooper

Williams John, grocer and provision dealer, & beerhouse, Glen, Newtown

Williams John, cooper and shopkeeper

Criggion Directory.

Brentnall Mrs., The Hall

Brentnall Samuel, farmer

Darwell Rev. Leicester, M.A., Parsonage

Davies Richard, farmer

Ford John, farmer

Gregory Richard, farmer and butcher

Jones John, farmer, Brinford

Morris John, farmer

Morris Mrs., Upper Farm

Owens John, farmer, Coppice

Ridge Francis, farmer

Vaughan William, farmer

Williams Richard, farmer

Middletown Directory.

Harris Rev. John Henry Acton, M.A.

Hughes Mr. Thomas

Jones Isaac, farmer & beerhouse, Bell Isle

Morris Edward, farmer

Parry Thomas, farmer

Parry William, farmer

Poole Robert, machineman

Pritchard Miss, Doves Cot.

Pritchard Srh., vict., New Inn

Thomas Benjamin, gent.

Thomas Stephen, bricklayer and beer retailer

Stanford Directory.

Harris James, farmer

Middle John, farmer

Turner Edward, blacksmith

Trefnant Directory

Brown John, farmer

Edwards John, farmer

Uppington Directory.

Dickin Arthur, farmer

Henley Thomas, farmer

Meredith William, miller and farmer

Rogers Thomas, farmer

Winnington Directory.

Brown Thomas, farmer

Davies William, vict., Rose and Crown, farmer and blacksmith

Jasper James, carrier

Jones Evan, farmr., Hargreave

Rogers Ths. Hall, Mill Farm

Rogers William, farmer

Woolaston Great Directory.

Pigford Chas., wheelwright

Clemson Thomas, farmer

Cooper Joseph, wheelwright

Eddowes Thomas, farmer

Jones Elizabeth, farmer

Jones Henry, timber merchant, registrar of births and deaths for the Alberbury district

Marsh Walter, tailor

Turner Edward, blacksmith