Bishop’s Castle

is a parish, borough, and market town, twenty miles south-west of Shrewsbury and seventeen miles north-west from Ludlow. It contains the townships of Bishop’s Castle, Broughton, Colebatch, Lea and Oakley, and Woodbatch, which comprehend an area of 5,630 acres, the rateable value of which is £9,220. 10s. The town is pleasantly situated on a declivity, near the course of the Clun, and the houses are irregularly built. In the 20th Edward I. the Bishop of Hereford claimed for his tenants of Bishop’s Castle an exemption from attending the county or hundred court, and the privilege of keeping a market every Friday, and a fair on the eve and feast of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist, and the day following. A market is still held every Friday, and fairs on the Friday before February 13th, March 26th and 27th, the first Friday after May day, on the second Monday in June, on July 5th, September 9th, and November the 13th. Bishop’s Castle, prior to the passing of the Reform Bill, returned two members to parliament. The government of the town is vested in fifteen burgesses, inclusive of a bailiff, justice, and recorder, whose jurisdiction is co-extensive with the borough. The property at their disposal produces an annual income of £38. John Beddoes, Esq., is the present bailiff; Richard Wollaston, Esq., justice; and Richard Beddoes, Esq., recorder. On the site of the Castle Inn formerly stood a castle, belonging to and a residence of the Bishop of Hereford, from whence arises the name of Bishop’s Castle. The township of Bishop’s Castle contains 1,717 acres of land. At the census of 1841 here were 373 houses and 1510 inhabitants. The principal landowners are the Earl of Powis and R. H. Kinchant, Esq. The bailiff of the town for the time being is lord of the manor. In 1801 the parish had a population of 1313; 1831, 2,007; 1841, 1,781. The Church, dedicated to St. John, is a cruciform structure, with a fine old Norman tower of massive proportions. On the south side is an entrance of beautiful Norman workmanship. On a board in the church is the following inscription:—“This church being burned in ye civil wars, Walter Waring, Esq., of Owlbury, gave ye timber yt rebuilt it, and ye rest of ye charge was defrayed by contributions of ye parishioners.” The living is a vicarage, in the patronage of the Earl of Powis, and incumbency of the Rev. William M. Rowland. There are two small chapels in the town, one belonging to the Independents, and the other to the Primitive Methodists. The National School is built of stone, in the Elizabethan style, and was erected to commemorate the majority of Viscount Clive, on November 5th, 1839.

The County Court, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50, is held at the Town Hall. The jurisdiction of the court embraces the following parishes, viz:—Bishop’s Castle, Clun, Clunbury, Clungunford, Church Stoke, Hopton Castle, Hyssington, Hopesay, Lydbury North, Lydham, Mainstone, More, Norbury, Ratlinghope, Sneade, Shelve, and Wentnor. Judge, Uvedale Corbet, Esq., Aston Hall, near Shiffnal: Clerk, Frederick Pardoe, Esq.: Bailiff, Mr. Edward Griffiths.

The Union House is a brick structure faced with stone, which was built in 1844, and is capable of accommodating 240 inmates. The union embraces the parishes of Bishop’s Castle, Clun, Clunbury, Clungunford, Edgton, Hopesay, Hopton Castle, Hyssington, Lydbury North, Lydham, Mainstone, Myndtown, More, Norbury, Ratlinghope, Shelve, Sneade, and Wentnor. The Medical Officers are Henry Brook, Robert Jones, Robert D. Shield, and Richard G. Wollaston: Master and Matron, Mr. and Mrs. Hamar.

Charities.—Mary Morris, by will, dated 1785, left £1000 to be placed out at interest, and applied in the support of a charity school; and she also bequeathed £200 for the purpose of erecting a schoolhouse, to be called Mr. Wright’s Charity School, in remembrance of her first husband, John Wright, Esq. The testatrix further directed, that if her estate should exceed £1000, the further sum of £200 should be invested, and the interest applied to the benefit of the school. The property belonging to this charity consists of £1,598. 13s. 1d. three per cent. consols, which produce an annual dividend of £47. 19s. 2d. There is a house in Bishop’s Castle, called the Stone House, the rent of which was formerly applied in teaching poor children to read. The rent now amounts to £6. 6s., and is distributed by the churchwardens to the poor. George Baxter, by will, in 1658, left 20s. a year for ever to the poor of this parish. John Tanner, by will, dated 1677, bequeathed an annuity of £6 a year for ever, in trust, to dispose of the same as follows; viz.:—52s. yearly to be distributed in bread to twelve poor people of Bishop’s Castle; 4s. 4d. to be given to the clerk in bread annually; 20s. to be paid to the vicar of Bishop’s Castle for preaching a sermon on the second day of June, yearly; and the remaining 43s. 8d. to be given to the poor persons of the town that attend divine service on the aforesaid day. Walter Wollaston, in 1818, gave 40s. yearly for the benefit of the poor of this parish. George Bostock left £5, the interest to be given to the poor. Thomas Jones bequeathed £20 to the poor of Bishop’s Castle. The poor also participate in Mousell’s Charity, the particulars of which have been already given. Ann Gwilliam also left £100, the interest to be given to poor housekeepers resident in the out liberties of the town.

Broughton is a township one mile north-west of Bishop’s Castle, which contains 850 acres of land. Rateable value, £848. 10s. At the census of 1841 there were nine houses and seventy inhabitants. The principal landowners are the Earl of Powis; Rev. Arthur Oakeley; John Coates, Esq.; William Summonds, Esq.; and Isaac Maddox, Esq.

Colebatch is a township one mile and a half south-west by south of Bishop’s Castle, containing 1,119 acres, the rateable value of which is £1,171. 10s. The principal landowners are Beriah Botfield, Esq.; Earl of Powis; Miss E. Sayce; Samuel Home, Esq.; and Joseph F. Spencer, Esq. At the census of 1841 there were 22 houses and 104 persons.

Lea and Oakeley is a township two miles north-east of Bishop’s Castle, containing 1,060a. 10p. of land. Rateable value, £1,171. 10s. In 1841 there were six houses and 48 persons. The land is the property of the Rev. Arthur Oakeley. There are some small remains of a castle here.

Woodbatch is a township containing 886a. 0r. 24p. of land, the rateable value of which is £838. 10s. In 1841 there were seven houses and 49 inhabitants. The principal landowners are Beriah Botfield, Esq.; T. Hunt, Esq.; and Robert Chester, Esq.

Bishop’s Castle Directory.

Anstey Jno. vict., Three Tuns

Bailey Thomas, shopkeeper

Beddoes Mr. Jno. Green Fields

Beddoes Rd. maltster & farmer

Bird John, blacksmith

Bird Martha, dress maker

Bond Henry C., watch maker

Bowen John, registrar of birth and deaths

Bowen Ths. painter, plumber and glazier

Bowyer Richard, butcher

Bluck Ths. vict. White Horse

Bright Edward, chair maker

Bright John, carpenter, and carrier to Shrewsbury

Bright Samuel, manager of North & South Wales Bank

Brook Henry, surgeon

Butler Mary Ann, tea dealer

Cooke George, shoemaker

Davies, Legge & Co, drapers and grocers

Davies Edward, chemist and druggist, & agent for Shropshire & North Wales Fire Office

Davies John, shoemaker

Davies Jno. vict. The Plough

Davies Thomas, hair dresser

Davies Agnes, dressmaker

Dubber William, printer, stationer and bookseller

Edwards George, butcher

Edwards Thomas, butcher

Farmer George N., solicitor

Green Charles, skinner

Green John, butcher

Green Richd., beerseller and chair maker

Greenhouse Howard, carrier to Shrewsbury & Ludlow, and vict., Boar’s Head

Griffiths Mr., postmaster, stationer and printer

Griffiths James, saddler and harness maker

Griffiths Thomas, solicitor

Griffiths Wm. H. watchmaker

Hammonds Charles, farmer

Hebet Mary, shopkeeper

Holl George, ironmonger

Home Edward, shopkeeper

Home Fanny, dressmaker

Home George, tea dealer

Home Hannah, dressmaker

Home Levi, vict., Red Lion

Howells Rebecca, shopkpr.

James Elizabeth, staymaker

Jenkins George, painter, plumber and glazier

Johnston John, grocer

Jones and Norton, wine and spirit merchants. (Henry H. Jones & Wm. Norton)

Jones Samuel, glass & china dealer

Knill Thomas, grocer

Lewis Richard, saddler

Lewis Thomas, blacksmith

Matthews John, watchmaker

Medlicott Jeremiah, surgeon

Meredith Richard, Academy

Minton Andrew, boot and shoe maker

Newbery, James, vict., The Castle, Excise Office and Posting House

Newell Elizbh., Stamp Office

Nicholas Edwd. stone mason

Nicholas Jno. painter & glazr.

Nicholas Richd. stone mason

North & South Wales Banking Company, Samuel Bright, Esq., manager

Nightingale John, carrier to Shrewsbury

Norton Charles, carpenter

Norton John, butcher

Norton John, tailor & woollen draper

Norton John, tanner, currier, maltster, butcher & farmer

Norton Robert, ironmonger

Norton Robert, farmer

Norton William, draper

Onians John, vict., The Harp

Palmer Francis, tailor

Pardoe Frederick, solicitor

Partridge John, blacksmith

Phillip Jno. & Co. ironmngrs.

Phillips George, shoemaker

Playfair Thomas, shopkeeper

Pugh Edward, beerseller

Pugh Thomas, carpenter

Pugh Willm. tailor & draper

Richards Thos., turner, &c.

Rimboult Rev. Samuel F., Independent

Robinson Jas. vict., The Bull

Robinson Wm., blacksmith

Rowland Rev. Wm. M., vicar

Sayce James, beerseller

Sayce John, shoemaker

Sayce John, stone mason

Thomas George, tailor and woollen draper

Tomlins Edward, shoemaker

Vickers John, cooper

Watters John, cooper

Woodhouse James, farmer

Wollaston Richard, surgeon

Williams John, baker

Broughton Directory.

Bailey Thomas, farmer

Beddoes John, farmer

Maddox Isaac, farmer

Colebatch Directory.

Carden William, farmer

Harris William, farmer

Howard Richard, farmer

Mason Hamar, farmer

Owen John, carpenter

Thomas Edward, farmer

Lea and Oakeley Directories.

Davies Wm. farmer, The Lea

Harris Jerh. farmer, The Lea

Oakeley Rev. Arthur, rector of Lydham, Oakeley House

Woodbatch Directory.

Morris Edward, farmer

Thomas Richard, farmer