Minsterley

is a parish, nine miles S.W. by W. of Shrewsbury, containing 2,875a. 3r. 7p. of land, the rateable value of which is £3,165. At the census of 1841 there were 168 houses and 914 persons. Population in 1811, 705; and in 1831, 809. Half a century ago Minsterley consisted of only a few farm houses; but since the lead mines have been extensively worked it has greatly increased. The lead ore of this place is found enclosed or covered with a spar, over which is a kind of blue stone or slate, and contains a great quantity of red lead, and a small portion of silver. The Snailbeach mines are situated about a mile from Minsterley, and have been worked for 60 years in a most efficient and profitable manner, without experiencing any stoppage. The shafts are from 300 to 360 yards in depth, and the engine and machinery for crushing the ore are on an extensive scale. There are about 500 miners daily at work, besides others engaged in washing and smelting the ore. Upwards of £2,000 per month is paid in wages. The mines are the property of Messrs. Lovett, Jones, and Company, and under the management of Mr. John Harrison. In the year 1851 a Roman pig of lead was found by some workmen in sinking through a slag heap of smeltings, on which appears the following inscription in raised letters:—

IMP. HADRIANI. AVG.

It is in length twenty inches, and the girth is twenty inches, weighing 173 pounds.

Some years ago, an act of parliament was obtained by several landed proprietors to form a canal to carry the surplus water from Marton Pool to the Severn, which covered upwards of 200 acres of land for several months in the year. Since the cutting of the canal a great part of the land has been reclaimed, and brought into a state of cultivation. The Marquis of Bath is lord of the manor, and principal landowner. The Fair, or “Gentlemen’s Meet,” at Minsterley, is held on July 25th.

The Church is a brick fabric, built about the latter end of the 16th century. It consists of nave, chancel, and has a small wooden tower, in which is one bell. It is neatly pewed with oak, and the reading desk and sounding board are elaborately carved. In the chancel is a tablet, erected by the Snailbeach Company to the memory of their late agent, Mr. John Nealor. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Marquis of Bath, and the rector of the first portion of Westbury, and enjoyed by the Rev. Emilius Nicholson, M.A. The incumbent has a rent charge, derivable from the Cause Castle estate, amounting to £60 per annum. The Methodists have a neat brick chapel here, which was built in 1833. The Free School was erected in 1843, at the joint expense of the Marquis of Bath and several gentlemen belonging to the Snailbeach Company, in compliance with the requisitions expressed in the will of the late John Johnson, Esq., who provided an endowment to establish and perpetuate a day-school for the education of all children resident in the parish. The Snailbeach Mining Company have endowed the school with £40 yearly, and ordered that every miner shall pay to the schoolmaster sixpence every quarter. The school will accommodate one hundred children. The average attendance of the scholars is eighty. Joshua Williams, by will, in 1819, bequeathed an annuity of £20 for the education of poor children in the parish of Minsterley.

Adams Wm., maltster, farmer and vict., Miners’ Arms

Beady George, shoemaker

Beady Tryphena, milliner and dressmaker

Bowen Wm., underground assistant bailiff

Brumbil Thomas, victualler, Angel Inn

Clarke William, wheelwright

Croft Richard, perpl. overseer, Hawkstowbank

Davies David, engineer and mineral draftsman

Davies John, grocer & draper

Dolphin John Lloyd, druggist, draper, grocer, and maltster

Dorrcott Edward, schoolteacher and barber

Dyas Richard, blacksmith

Eddowes Edward, Hockstow Corn Mills and farmer

Eddowes Mrs. Judith, Reabrooks

Evans William, farmer

Everall William, farmer

Griffiths Mrs. Ann, ladies’ boarding school

Harrison John, gentleman, Snailbeach

Hincks Mary, dressmaker

Hincks Thomas, mason

Hughes Thomas, beer retailer

Hughes Vincent, engineer

Hughes Wm., linen weaver, and parish clerk

James Joseph, blacksmith

Jones Edward, shopkeeper

Jones George, tailor

Jones John, schoolmaster

Jones John and Co., Snailbeach Mines

Kempster John, Park Farm

Lee William, saddler and harness maker

Nealor Mr. Edwd., The Hall

Nealor William, Esq.

Nicholson Rev. Emilius, The Rectory

Philpot Jno. & Son, engineers

Powell Thomas, beer retailer

Robinson Thomas, tailor

Speake John, Wood Farm

Thomas Arthur, tailor

Turner John, grocer and draper

Vaughan Edwd., shoemaker

Whitefoot Richd., shoemaker

Whitefoot Thos., shoemaker

Woodhouse Samuel, farmer

Woodhouse Thomas, farmer