Lydbury North

is an extensive parish and considerable village, two and a half miles south-east from Bishop’s Castle. The parish includes the townships of Acton, Brockton, Lower Down, Eaton and Choulton, Eyton and Plowden, North Lydbury, and Totterton, which together in 1841 had a population of 908 souls; 1801, 829; 1831, 955. The township of North Lydbury contains 2,253a. 0r. 35p. of land, and in 1841 had 84 houses and 337 inhabitants. Rateable value £2,651. 7s. The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a plain substantial structure with a massive tower. The living is a vicarage, with the perpetual curacy of Norbury annexed, in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. John Bright. The vicarial tithes are commuted for £486, and the rectoral for £439. 8s., of which £411. 8s. have been apportioned to W. Plowden, Esq., £11 to the parish clerk, for the time being, and £17 to the rector of Pontesbury. The church contains many elegant monuments to the Plowden and Walcott families. The chief landowners are Earl Powis, and William Plowden, Esq. Walcott Hall is a spacious and elegant mansion, the occasional seat of the Earl of Powis. It contains a fine collection of paintings and Indian curiosities, collected by the first Lord Clive. The pleasure grounds are very beautifully laid out, and the park is richly wooded. At Tangley Hill are prominent vestiges of a British encampment, called the Bury Ditches. The interest of £200, bequeathed by John Shipman, in 1662, is applied in the support of the national school, another £100 has been raised by the liberality of the parishioners and the Earl of Powis for the same object, in addition to which a considerable sum is raised by annual subscriptions. The school, a substantial stone building, has been built about six years. The Poor’s Estate produces a yearly sum of £27. 10s., out of which £7 per annum is paid for educational purposes, and the residue applied in a general distribution among the poor. Richard Sayce, in 1754, left a rent charge of £2. 12s. per annum, to be given in bread.

The following are the out-townships of this parish, namely: Acton, situated two miles south-west from Lydbury, having 816 acres of land, and in 1841, 23 houses and 108 inhabitants. Brocton township lies about a mile from Lydbury, and has 694 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £1,102. 4s. In 1841 there were 30 houses and 137 inhabitants. Lower Down, a small village and township, lies to the south west of Lydbury, and contains 1,207 acres, the rateable value of which is £875; population in 1841, 116; at which period there were 25 houses. Eyton and Plowden township has 872 acres, and in 1841 had 11 houses and 59 inhabitants. Rateable value £747. 13s. Eaton and Choulton in 1841 had 16 houses and 87 inhabitants, and contains 699 acres of land. Totterton township is distant about a mile from Lydbury, and contains 775 acres of land. In 1841 there were 11 houses and 64 inhabitants; William Plowden, Esq., and the Earl of Powis, are the landowners in the above townships.

Lydbury North Directory.

Beddoes Geo. farm., Brunslow

Brereton John, farmer

Brown John, schoolmaster

Colgan Rev. Rd. (Rom. Cathol.)

Gwilt Rd., farmer, The Folly

Hodgkiss John, farmer

Lane Thomas, farmer

Lawrence John, blacksmith

Mason William, farmer

Newell Joseph, agent to the Earl of Powis

Norncott Rd. farmr. & shopkpr

Owens John, farmer

Phillips William, farmer

Southern William H., farmer

Statham John, farmer

Whitefoot Mrs. E. the Vicarage

Williams John, parish clerk

Acton Directory.

Gwilt Richard, farmer

Luther Robert, farmer

Price George, farmer

Robinson Joseph, farmer and blacksmith

Brockton Directory.

Bluck William, beerseller

Blayney Thos., vict., New Inn

Bore Mr., vict., Wheat Sheaf

Davies Jane, farmer

Hamar Thomas, miller

Evans Samuel, farmer

James Mr. Thomas

Marston Richd., wheelwright

Mountford Edward, farmer

Powell James, blacksmith

Powell John, farmer

Tomlins John, farmer

Choulton Directory.

Edwards Ann, farmer

Gwilt Evan, farmer

Gethyn, Thomas, farmer

Wood Thomas, blacksmith

Eaton Directory.

Watkins Joseph, farmer

Eyton and Plowden Directories.

Amies Samuel, farmer

Evans Gabriel, miller & farmr

Gwilt William, farmer

Hacock Thomas, farmer

Watts Thomas, farmer

Williams John, farmer

Lower Down Directory.

Farmer George, farmer

Hamar Thomas, farmer

Titley John, farmer

Whittall John, farmer

Whittall Thomas, farmer.

Totterton Directory.

Bright Rev. John, vicar of Lydbury

Everall Jph. farmer, Friezland

Hodges William, farmer

Shuker William, farmer