Bewdley, Wribbenhall and Neighbours Pigots Directory 1842
Bewdley is a market town, borough, both corporate and parliamentary, and chapelry, in the parish of Ribbesford, in the lower division of the hundred of Doddingtree, 129 miles N.W. from London, 14 N.W. from Worcester, 20 E. from Ludlow, and 21 S.W. from Birmingham; delightfully seated on the western bank of the Severn, over which a light and elegant stone bridge was erected in 1797. From the pleasantness of its situation and the beauty of the surrounding scenery, this place anciently obtained the appellation of BEAU LIEU, of which its present name is a corruption – Leland speaks of it in the following flattering terms. “The towne itself, of Bewdley, is sett on the side of a hille, so comely, that a man cannot wishe to see a towne better. It riseth from Severne banke by east, upon the hille by west, so that a man standing on the hille trans pontem by east, may discern almost every house in the towne, and att the rising of the sunne from east, the whole towne glittereth, being all of new building, as it were of gould.” The more ancient part of the town was built at a greater distance form the river, and the street called ‘Load street’ is supposed to have been the place where the inhabitants loaded their boats; there were formerly four gates, two of which were standing in 1811, but they have since been entirely demolished. In the 13th of Henry IV a petition was presented to parliament, from the men of ‘Bristowe’ and Gloucester, praying that they might navigate the river Severn, without being subject to the imposition of taxes by the men of Beaudley. At this period Bewdley appears to have enjoyed many privileges, among which was that of a sanctuary, for persons who had shed blood. Edward IV in the twelfth year of his reign, gave the inhabitants a charter of incorporation; and another was granted by James I, which was confirmed by Queen Ann, and remained in force until the passing of the municipal act, in 1835, which vested the government in bailiffs, four aldermen and twelve councillors, with the usual assistant officers, under the style of ‘the bailiffs, burgesses and inhabitants of the borough of Bewdley.’ The corporation hold courts of session, and a court of record for all pleas, and for the recovery of debts under £100. Sir Thomas Edward Winnington, Bart. M.P. of Stamford Court, in this county, is lord of the manor, and holds a court leet annually, at which certain officers are appointed. The same gentleman is representative of the borough in parliament. The boundary act defines the limits of the borough to comprise the parish of Ribbesford, and the several hamlets of Wribbenhall, Hoarstone, Blackstone, Netherton, and Lower Mitton with Lickhill. The manufacture of woollen caps, known by the name of Dutch caps, was introduced here in the time of Elizabeth, and continued some time to flourish, but has many years since disappeared: the principal trades now existing is malting, the tanning and currying of leather, and the manufacture of combs; there are besides a brass foundry, and some rope walks.
The places of worship are the chapel, dedicated to St. Ann, a neat stone edifice, with a tower, and chapels for Baptists, Unitarians, Wesleyan Methodists, and the society of friends. The living of Bewdley is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the rector of Ribbesford: the present curate is the Rev. John Cawood. The principal charities consist of a free grammar school, founded in 1591; a blue coat school for thirty boys and thirty girls; several alms-houses, and two schools, conducted upon the national plan. The market is held on Saturday; and the fairs on the 23rd of April, 24th July, and 11th December, for cattle, pedlary, &c. The parish of Ribbesford contained, in 1821, 3,798 inhabitants, and in 1831, 4,003; of which the last number 3,908 were returned for the (old) borough of Bewdley.
Wribbenhall is a hamlet, in the parish of Kidderminster, situate on the left bank of the river Severn, immediately opposite Bewdley, and connected with that town by the bridge before mentioned. The chapel was erected in the year 1701, at the expense of the inhabitants, on a plot of waste land belonging to Lord Foley. The inhabitants support, by voluntary subscription, two schools at Bewdley, for children whose parents reside in the hamlet. Population returned with Kidderminster parish.
POST OFFICE, Load-street, Bewdley, Christiana Baldwin, Post Mistress. – Letters from London &c. arrive every morning at six, and are despatched every evening at a quarter past seven. – Letters from Worcester, Stourport, Ludlow, Tenbury, south Wales, &c. arrive (by mail cart) every evening at half-past six, and are despatched every morning at a quarter before seven.
Table of Contents
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Baker Mrs. Ann, 2 Crane Villa terr.
Baker Slade, esq. Lower park
Baker Thomas, esq. Blackstone
Baugh Miss – , Load St
Caldwell Miss – , Load St
Cartwright the Misses, Wribbenhall
Cartwright Thomas, esq. Hill House
Cartwright Wm. esq. Wribbenhall
Cawood Rev. John, High St
Corker Mrs. Ann, Wribbenhall
Crane John C. esq. Wribbenhall
Crane Mrs. – , Grey’s Green cottage
Crane Rev. Joseph, Load St
Fletcher Rev. Joseph, Dowles
Fryer James, esq. Load St
Hallen Rev. William, Wribbenhall
Haslewoods the Misses, Load St
Ingram Rev. Edward Winnington, Ribbesford house
Mountnorris the Right Honourable the Earl of, Arley hall
Nichols Mrs. – , Wribbenhall
Prattinton William, esq. High St
Reynolds Mrs. – , Cottage
Reynolds Miss Jane and Mary, 3 Crane Villa terrace
Roberts W. A. esq. High St
Skey Arthur, esq. Spring grove
Soley Mrs. – , Sanbourn house
Sturge Hny. esq. Northwood cottage
Sturge Mrs. Rebecca, Load St
Whateley Mrs. Wribbenhall
Winnington Lady – , Winterdyne house
Woodhouse Col. Philip, Severn house
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.
Not otherwise described are Day Schools.
Barber Elizabeth, Load St
Cartwright Margaretta, Wribbenhall
Crowe Thomas, Wribbenhall
Hall Maria, Park lane
Lancaster Elizabeth (day & boarding) High St
Masefield George (boarding) Park house
NATIONAL SCHOOL, Wribbenhall – William Blaney, master; Mrs. Pitt, mistress
NATIONAL SCHOOL, Lax lane – William H. Lockyer, master; Sophia Lockyer, mistress
Pitt Elizabeth, Load St
ATTORNEYS.
Baker Slade, High St
Bury & Gardner, Load St
Marcy William Nichols (& town clerk) High St
Nicholas & Pardoe, Wribbenhall
AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS.
Burlton James, High St
Jones William, High St
Roberts Francis Robert, Load St
BAKERS & FLOUR DEALERS.
Griffin Robert, Load St
Jefferies Benjamin (and oatmeal) Load St
Jefferies Francis (and confectioner) Load St
Powell William, High St
Winwood Benjamin, Welsh gate
BANKERS.
Nicholls and Baker, Severn side – (draw on Barnetts’, Hoare & Co. London)
Savings’ Bank, Load St – (open every Monday from 1 till 2 o’clock) – Samuel Danks, actuary
BASKET MAKERS.
Barnit William, Wribbenhall
Briadney Sarah, Welshgate
Pitt George, Load St
BLACKSMITHS.
Allcock Thomas, Wribbenhall
Fowler Thomas, Wribbenhall
Jones Thomas, High St
Matthews Mary, Dog lane
Newman Richard, Welshgate
Tench Samuel, Hawthorn bush
BOOKSELLERS & STATIONRS.
Bryan Edward (and sub-distributer of stamps) Load St
Danks Samuel (and printer & sub-distributer of stamps) Load St
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS.
Barnett Joshua, Wribbenhall
Beach Hannah, Load St
Brown Thomas, Welshgate
Cook Francis, Dog lane
Hall William, Dog lane
Jeffries John, Wribbenhall
Lambert John, High St
Lister John, High St
Lister Thomas, Welshgate
Seed Josiah, Severn side
Street George, Load St
Young Joseph, Load St
BRICKLAYRS & PLASTERERS.
Miles Richard, Tanner’s hill
Worrall John, Lower park
BRUSH MAKERS.
Lea John William, Severn side
Westwood John, Load St
BUTCHERS.
Cole John, High St
Coles James, Lax lane
Crocket Samuel, Hawthorn bush
Draper Thomas, Welshgate
Edwards William, Load St
Forsbrooke John, Load St
Gill William, Load St
Mantle Richard, High St
Pountney William, Welshgate
CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS.
Bevan James, Load St
Griffin William, High St
Mumford Joseph, Severn side
CARPENTERS & JOINERS.
Barber Joseph, Load St
Biddell Thomas, Dog lane
Clark Allen, Wribbenhall
Coombes William, High St
Crow Edward, High St
Farmer George, High St
Fowler George, Dog lane
Lamb Samuel, High St
Watkins John, Load St
CHYMISTS & DRUGGISTS.
Morris Thomas, (and dealer in British wines) Load St
Reeve John (druggist) Load St
Wright William, Load St
COAL MERCHANTS.
Beaman William, Welshgate and Wribbenhall
Beddoe John Severn side
Clarke Mary, Load St
Crump John, Severn side
Worrall Samuel, Severn side
COMB MAKERS.
Cook James, Load St
Guise Joseph, Wribbenhall
Hopkins Samuel & Son, Severn side
Humpherson James, High St
Lankester Thomas, Load St
COOPERS.
Coldrick James, Welshgate
Crump George, Lower park
Fox John, High St
CORN MERCHANTS.
Cattell Charles, Town’s mill
Crane Benjamin, Wribbenhall
Griffith George, Load St
Oakes Ann, Severn side
Parton John, Load St
Sturge Chas. & Henry, Wribbenhall
CURRIERS.
Barrow John, Load St
Bucklee William & Son, Park lane
DRESS MAKERS.
Barber Mary, Load St
Barnet Nancy, Wribbenhall
Farmer Mrs. High St
Fry Ann, Load St
Lucas Mary, Load St
FIRE, &C. OFFICE AGENTS.
Alliance, Thos. Pettipher, Load St
Birmingham (fire) George Griffith, Load St
Norwich Union, William Wright
Phoenix, John C. Crane, Load St
Protector, Thomas Morris, Load St
Sun, Edward Bryan, Load St
GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
(See also Shopkeepers, &c.)
Farrington T. & A. Load St
Griffin Robert, Load St
Knowles Henry, Load St
Lucas Edward, Load St
Owens Benjamin, corner of High St
Owens Thomas, Load St
Pettipher Thomas, Load St
Reeve John, Load St
GUNPOWDER FLASK MANUFACTURER.
Humpherson James (and gunners’, forresters’ priming, drinking, drenching, & shoe horns) High St
HAIR DRESSERS.
Clark Samuel, Load St
Grove Benjamin, High St
Tovey John, Load St
Willey Thomas, Load St
HOP MERCHANTS.
Baker & Farmer, Severn side
Parton Joseph (& seed) Wribbenhall
INNS.
George Hotel (commercial & posting) James Davis Morris, Load St
Wheat Sheaf (and excise office) Thomas Allcott, Load St
IRONMONGERS.
Crane John C. Load St
Gill John K. Load St
Townsend Edward, Load St
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPRS.
Baker John, Load St
Cartwright & Beddoes, Load St
Lawley Thomas & George, Load St
Minton Henry, Load St
MALTSTERS.
Burlton James, high St
Crane Benjamin, Wribbenhall
Godsall William, High St
Griffin George, Waterside
Gunn William, High St
Minton William, Wribbenhall
Owens Benjamin, Load St
Parton Joseph, Wribbenhall
Roberts Francis Robert, Load St
Scott William, Load St
Tyler Thomas, Welshgate
Watkins James, High St
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS AND GLAZIERS.
Barnes James, High St
Jackson William, Load St
Measures Thomas, High St
Page John, Welshgate
Southerton William, High St
ROPE MAKERS.
Beach Thomas, Load St
Edwards John, Welshgate
Lowe Mary, Wribbenhall
Smith John, Coal quay
SEEDSMEN.
Farmer & Baker, Severn side
Parton Joseph (and hop merchant) Wribbenhall
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALRS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES.
Beddow John, Coal quay
Blackford John, Wyre hill
Cox Thomas, Load St
Green Joseph, Wribbenhall
Jefferies Benjamin, Welshgate
Lane Isaac, Load St
Lloyd Charles, Coal quay
Lucas Edward, Load St
Millward George, Wribbenhall
Oakes Ann, Severn side
Parton William, Load St
Payne John, Welshgate
Pountney William, Wyre hill
Powell Ann, High St
Powell Richard, High St
Smith Charles, Wribbenhall
Stokes George, High St
Webster Henry, High St
Willis John, Welshgate
Winwood Benjamin, Welshgate
STRAW HAT MAKERS.
Goodman Elizabeth, Wribbenhall
Lowe Emma, Load St
Salter Emma, Wribbenhall
Southan Emma, Load St
SURGEONS.
Cole James, Load St
Williams John, High St
TAILORS.
Cooke Samuel, Wribbenhall
Hinton William, Load St
Houseman Edward, High St
Mason John, Wribbenhall
Minton George, Load St
Penney Thomas, High St
Smith Benjamin, High St
Trow George, Wribbenhall
TALLOW CHANDLERS.
Crane Thomas Howard, Load St
Owens Benjamin, corner of High St
Owens Thomas, jun. Load St
TANNERS.
Allport Richd. (& fellmonger) High St
Baker George, Severn side
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.
Anchor, Thomas Tyler, Welshgate
Angel, Joseph Barber, Load St
Barley Mow, Samuel Lamb, High St
Bell, James Watkins, High St
Black Boy, Edward & Ann Ree, Wribbenhall
Black Boy, William Pountney, Wyre hill
Cock & Magpie, Jane Crump, Coal quay
Duke William, Ellen Jefferies, Severn side
Fox, Sarah Griffin, Load St
Hole-in-the-wall, James Cooke, Welshgate
Hop Pole, Samuel Thompson, Load St
Horn & Trumpet, John Gwyer, Load St
King of Prussia, William Poller, Load St
Labour in Vain, Charles Lloyd, Coal quay
Pack Horse, John Hall Pardoe, Welshgate
Peacock, James Hooper, Lower park
Pump Makers’ Arms, William Instone, Wribbenhall
Red Lion, Letitia Lane, Wribbenhall
Saracen’s Head, Edw. Richards, Severn sde
Star & Garter, Chas. Pountney, Welshgate
Swan, John Watkins, Load St
Waggon & Horses, Ann Brown, Welshgate
RETAILERS OF BEER.
Beach Thomas, Load St
Beaman William, Welshgate
Beddoe John, Coal quay
Blackford Joseph, Wyre hill
Brown Thomas, Wribbenhall
Cooke James, Severn side
Cooke Thomas, Lax lane
Cooke William, Severn side
Crocket Samuel, Hawthorn bush
Forsbrook Joseph, Load St
Goodman Frederick, Wribbenhall
Gwyer John, dog lane
Hunt James, Welshgate
Hurst Joseph, Welshgate
Hutton Thomas, High St
Inston William, Wribbenhall
Jefferies Elizabeth, Severn side
Millward George, Wribbenhall
Oakes Ann, Severn side
Payne John, Welshgate
Perks Mary, High St
Pountney John, High St
Pountney Thomas, Wyre hill
Smith John Coal quay
Smith Joseph, Severn side
Smith William, High St
Sutherton John, High St
Taylor John, Welshgate
Tudor Elizabeth, Severn side
Worrall Samuel, Severn side
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.
Allen Charles, High St
Young Joseph, Load St
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Brown Thomas, Wribbenhall
Fowler George, Dog lane
Salter James, Wribbenhall
MISCELLANEOUS.
Bancks & Stokes, brass founders, Load St
Beach Thomas, sacking manufctr. Load St
Bevan James, turner, Load St
Brookes Jno. Wine & spirit merchant, Load St
Campbell George, tea dealer, High St
Court Richard, land surveyor, Lower park
Farmer Joseph, saddler, Load St
Fieldhouse Saml. bellows makr. Wribbenhall
Gill John, brazier, Load St
Hammond John, confectioner, Load St
Inston William, pump maker, Wribbenhall
Marcy William, registrar of births and deaths, High St
Minton George, clothes dealer, Load St
Parton William, stone mason, Load St
Porter Thomas, dutch cap mkr. Welshgate
Pountney Richard, dealer in game, Load St
COACHES & OMNIBUSES.
To BIRMINGHAM, the Royal Mail (from Ludlow) calls at the George, every evening at a quarter past seven – the Red Rover (from Ludlow) calls at the Wheat Sheaf, every forenoon at eleven – and the British Queen Omnibus, calls at the George, every morning at a quarter past seven; all go through Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Dudley, West Bromwich, &c.
To BIRMINGHAM, the Emperor Omnibus, from the Wheat Sheaf, every morning at seven; goes through Kidderminster, Hagley, Hales Owen, &c. – and the Favourite Omnibus, from the Waggon and Horses, every Monday & Tuesday morning at nine; goes the same route.
To LUDLOW, the Royal Mail (from Birmingham) calls at the George, every morning at half-past six; goes through Cleobury Mortimer – and Red Rover, from the Wheat Sheaf, every afternoon at 5; goes thro’ Tenbury & Leominster.
To WORCESTER, the Sovereign, from the George Inn, every morning (Sunday excepted) at half-past eight; goes thro’ Stourport and Ombersley.
CARRIERS.
To BIRMINGHAM, John Bennett, from the Waggon and Horses, daily, and John Farmer, from the George, every Tuesday and Friday.
To KIDDERMINSTER, Crowley and Co. and John Allen, from Severn side, daily, & John Farmer, from the George, every Tuesday and Thursday.
To KNIGHTON, Samuel Jones, from Severn side, and Samuel Dodd, from the Black Boy, every Monday night.
To LUDLOW, Benjamin Turner, from Severn side, every Monday and Thursday, and Samuel Dodd, from the Black Boy, every Monday night.
CONVEYANCE BY WATER.
To BRISTOL, the intermediate places, and all parts of the North, William and Benjamin Devey, from their Warehouse, three times a week.
To SHREWSBURY, Thomas Harwood, Thomas Bratton, John Rees, John Jones, and Thomas Wilcox, from Cotterell’s warehouse, Severn side, daily.
To WORCESTER, Jane Crump, from Coal quay, every Monday and Friday, and John Crump, from Coal quay, by the Bewdley Boat, every Mon. & Friday.
Source: Pigot & Co.’s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire 1841/1842