Knockin,

a parish and pleasant rural village, contains several genteel residences, and is situated six miles S.S.E. from Oswestry, and twelve miles N.W. by W. from Shrewsbury. It has 1389a. 3r. 16p. of land, and had in 1801 210 inhabitants, in 1831 311, and in 1841 54 houses and 271 souls. The soil is a mixture of sand and loam. The returns of 1841 include Heath Farm an extra parochial liberty, having two houses and seven persons. Rateable value, £1,982. 1s. The principal land owners are the Earl of Bradford; Joseph Lloyd, Esq.; Mrs. Sarah Jones; Richard Hilton, Esq.; John Hilton, Esq.; Mrs. Ann Williams; Mr. Thomas Higginson; Mr. William Thomas; Edware Downes, Esq.; Edward Parry, Esq.; and lady Tyrhwitt. There are also several smaller freeholders. The Earl of Bradford is lord of the manor, and holds a court at the Bradford Arms.

The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, a small handsome structure in the early English style of architecture, was re-built in 1847 of red sand stone. The interior has a very chaste and elegant appearance, and the fabric exhibits some fine specimens of decorated workmanship. The living is a rectory in the patronage of the Earl of Bradford, enjoyed by the Rev. Robert Ridsdale, a non-resident. The Rev. F. B. Foulkes is the officiating minister. The tithes are commuted for £325.

The National School and residence for the teacher is a neat building, erected by the Earl of Bradford. It is supported by subscriptions and a small charge from each scholar. The income is about £60 per annum.

Knockin Hall, situate on the east side of the village, a spacious mansion of brick, is the seat of the Hon. Captain Charles Orlando Bridgeman. It stands on a gentle eminence commanding delightful views into Wales. The interior is finely adorned with antique carved furniture, and the walls are ornamented with valuable and beautifully executed paintings. The park is small, but pleasingly diversified with graceful undulations, and enriched with fine timber. A beautiful avenue leads to the hall. The Knockin Heath Farm, situated about two miles S.E. from the church, contains 350a., and is the residence of John Cooke, Esq. The Hall Farm, an extensive range of premises a short distance from the village, is the residence of Richard Hilton, Esq.

Knockin is said to have given name to the ancient family of L’Estrange, who built Knockin Castle, and fixed their seat here. Guy L’Estrange had three sons, Guy, Hamon, and John, all of whom held lands in Shropshire by gift of Henry II. The younger, Guy, was sheriff of this county from the 2nd to the 11th of Henry II.; other branches of the family were subsequently appointed knights of the shire. Ralph, son of the above Guy, gave the chapel of Knockin to the canons of Haughmond. John L’Estrange, in the 33rd of Henry III., procured a market for the town on Tuesday, and a fair on the eve, day, and day after the anniversary of the decollation of St. John Baptist. Madoc, who was at the head of an insurrection against the king’s officers of North Wales, marched against Lord L’Estrange and defeated him at Knockin. The male line of the family failing in John L’Estrange in the 17th of Edward IV., who leaving an only daughter Joan, she married George Stanley, who was created Earl of Derby by Henry VIII. The title of Knockin is still kept up, though the family is extinct; the eldest son of the Derby family being styled Lord Strange. The castle was demolished during the civil wars in the time of King John. At present there is scarcely a vestige remaining. Some of the stones were used to build the churchyard walls, and a bridge over the brook, and a large quantity of them were carried away to mend the roads. The fairs and market have long been obsolete.

Bridgeman The Hon. Capt. Charles Orlando, R.N., Knockin Hall

Adams Mr., painter, plumber, and glazier

Barrett Thomas, farmer and vict., Bradford Arms

Barneby Alban M., schoolmaster

Burroughs John, vict., Cross Keys

Cooke John, farmer, Heath house

Davies Edward, farmer

Davies Edward, farmer, Heath Farm

Evans John, butler

Evans Mrs., shopkeeper and baker

Foulkes Rev. F. B., The Wain

Griffiths Alice, farmer

Griffiths Edward, farmer and land agent

Griffiths Edward, builder and contractor

Gwynne George, cooper

Haustin William, tailor

Hilton John, Esq., farmer, Knockin House

Hilton Richard, farmer, Hall Farm

Jones John, joiner and carpenter

Jones John, surveyor and collector

Lloyd Joseph, builder and contractor

Lloyd William, farmer

Maddox John, veterinary surgeon

Maddox William, blacksmith

Maddox William, assistant overseer and collector

Morris John, tailor

Morris Samuel, grazier and butcher

Price William, butcher

Price S. M., shopkeeper

Ratcliffe James, shopkeeper

Ratcliffe Richard, saddler and harness maker

Roberts Thomas, boot and shoemaker

Thomas William, farmer

Llanyblodwell is a parish on the western verge of Shropshire, adjoining the county of Denbigh, comprising the townships of Abertannat, Blodwell, Bryn, and Lynclys, which together, at the census of 1841, contained a population of 961 souls and 200 houses. The parish is bounded on the east by Offa’s-dyke, noticed at the preceding page.