Hopesay

is an extensive parish and rural village situated six miles S.E. by E. of Bishop’s Castle, which contains 3,857a. 1r. 18p. of land. Rateable value, £4,430 8s. 8d. The Earl of Powis is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are William M. Beddoes, Esq., Captain Henry Beddoes, James Baxter, Esq., Mr. Samuel Griffiths, and Mr. Francis Davies. In 1841 there were in this parish 160 houses and 660 inhabitants. The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, comprises nave, chancel, and a massive square tower. The living is a rectory in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Philip P. Adams.

Aston is a township and considerable village on the Ludlow and Bishop’s Castle turnpike road, seven miles S.E. of the latter place. In 1841 here were 70 houses and 292 persons. The principal landowners are Richard Marston, Esq., Mrs. Margaret Nicholls, Mr. John Cadwallader, and John Whitefoot, Esq. There is a small Baptist chapel in this village. Barlow township is returned as having one house and eight inhabitants. Broom and Rowton is partly in Hopesay parish and partly in Clungunford; in the former in 1841 there were 25 houses and 96 inhabitants, and in the latter parish two houses and fifteen persons. The principal landowners are George Bright, Esq., Miss A. M. Tunstall, and Ralph Benson, Esq. Carwood township is returned as having seven houses and 29 inhabitants at the census of 1841. Little Brompton is a township four miles east of Clun, which contains eleven houses and 44 persons. The Earl of Powis is sole landowner. Thomas Parks, by will, dated 1726, left £50, in trust, to be placed out at interest and given to a schoolmaster to teach six poor children of this parish. Dennis Harris left a rent charge of 10s. per annum to be given to the poor. Elizabeth Newnham, by will, dated 1750, bequeathed £30, the interest to be given to the poor of Hopsay. Jane Pugh, by will, dated 1808, bequeathed an annuity of £10, for the benefit of the poor of this parish.

Directory.—Hopesay: The Rev. Philips B. Adams, rector; William Bedell, stone mason; John Childe, shopkeeper; John Cruckson, farmer; Francis Davies, farmer; William Evans, farmer, Barlow; Samuel Griffiths, farmer; Joseph Price, vict., New Inn; The Rev. Folliett Sandford, P.C., of Edgton. Aston: John Beddoes, vict., Kangaroo; John Cadwallader, tailor; Thomas Childe, farmer; Charles Childe, farmer; James Dislee, blacksmith; Martha Griffiths, shopkeeper; Edward Jacks, farmer; Edward Lewis, corn miller; George Proctor, farmer; William Pugh, postmaster; Sarah Weyman, farmer, The Hall; John Whitefoot, Esq. Broom: George Bright, farmer; William Jacks, farmer. Little Brompton: Richard Smith, wheelwright; John Weyman, farmer.