Alberbury, Shropshire Family History Guide
Alberbury, locally pronounced “Obberbury”, is a parish situate nine miles west from Shrewsbury, in the diocese of Hereford, archdeaconry of Ludlow, and rural deanery of Pontesbury. It lies mainly in the Shropshire hundred of Ford, but partly in the Deythur and Caurse hundreds of Montgomeryshire. It comprises Loton Park and the townships of Alberbury, Eyton, Little Shrawardine, Rowton, and Amaston in Salop, and Bauseley, Coedway, and Crewe Green in Montgomeryshire. Criggion and Great Wollaston, both formerly parts of Alberbury, have been cut off from it and made into separate parishes. The parish of Alberbury contains an area of 9,599 acres. The population in 1871 was 1661; in 1801 it was 794.
Source: Shropshire Parish registers Diocese of Hereford Vol. VI (1902). Privately printed for the Shropshire Parish Register Society.
Alternative names: Abberbury
Parish church: St Michael and All Angels
Parish registers begin: 1564
Nonconformists include: Methodist
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Cardeston
- Shrawardine
- Worthen
- Ford
- Westbury
- Great Wollaston
- Melverley
- Middletown
- Criggion
- Bausley
- Rhos-goch
- Uppington
Parish History
Alberbury
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
ALBERBURY, or Abberbury, a township and a subdistrict in the district of Atcham, Salop: and a parish, partly in the same district and county, and partly in the district and county of Montgomery. The township lies on Watling-street, near the Severn, 4 miles SW of Baschurch r. station, and 9 W by N of Shrewsbury; and has a post office under Shrewsbury. Acres, with Wollaston chapelry, 6,471. Pop., exclusive of Wollaston, 632. Houses, 110. The township is called Alberbury Lower Quarter; and the chapelry is called Alberbury Upper Quarter. Loton Hall, the seat of Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is adjacent. A priory for black monks was founded at Alberbury by Fitzwarren, in the time of Henry I., and was given by Henry VI. to All Souls’ College, Oxford. The subdistrict of Alberbury comprises two parishes and part of a third. Acres, 12,034. Pop., 2,235. Houses, 446. The parish of Alberbury comprises the two Alberbury Quarters in Salop, and the townships of Banseley, Middletown, and Uppington, and the chapelry of Criggion in Montgomery. Acres, 9,599. Real property, £8,429. Pop., 1,918. Houses, 360. The property is subdivided. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Hereford. Value, £187. Patron, All Souls’ College, Oxford. The church is ancient. The vicarages of Wollaston and Criggion are separate benefices. Charities, £17. Glyn, a hamlet in this parish, was the birthplace of old Parr.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850
Abberbury or Alberbury, 8¼ miles W. Shrewsbury. P. 1861.
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850.
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1851
Alberbury or Abberbury, a parish comprising the townships of Cruggion, Middleton, and Uppington, in the hund, of Cawrse, and the township of Bausley in the hund, of Deythur, county of Montgomery; and the townships of Alderbury, Benthal with Shrswardine, Eyton, Rowton with Amaston, and Wollaston, in the hund. of Ford, county of Salop. The parish is in the union of Atcham, and 8¼ miles west by north of Shrewsbury, on the road to Llanfyllin. Living, a discharged vicarage in the archd. of Salop and dio. of Hereford; rated at £5 10s., and in the parliamentary returns at £136; gross income £187- It is in the patronage of All Souls’ college, Oxford. Bequests to the amount of about £14 yearly have been left to the poor of this parish. Pop. of the parish, in 1801, 1,204; in 1831, 1,799. Houses 472. That portion of the parish, which is in the county of Salop, comprehends 6,040 acres. A. P. £12,562. Poor rates, in 1837, £319. Tanner says: “Warine, the sheriff of Sbropshire, and a great warrior against the Welsh, founded near this place the New Abbey for Black monks of the order of Grandmorst in Limosin, temp. Hen. I. It was suppressed among the alien priories, and bestowed by King Henry VI., ann. reg. 19. at the request of Henry Chichele, archbishop of Canterbury, on All Souls’ college in Oxford.” Some vestiges of this building may still be traced. Glyn, a hamlet in this parish, was the birth-place of old Parr. His cottage is still standing, and has undergone little alteration since the time he lived in it.
Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1851.
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
ALBERBURY, or Abberbury (St. Michael), a parish, in the union of Atcham, partly in the hundreds of Cawrse and Deythur, county of Montgomery, North Wales, but chiefly in the hundred of Ford, S. division of Salop, 8¼ miles (W.) from Shrewsbury; containing, in the English portion, which includes the township of Alberbury and the chapelry of Wollaston, 1065 inhabitants, of whom 638 are in the township of Alberbury. This parish, the Welsh name of which is Llanvihangel-yn-Ghentyn, is partly bounded by the river Severn, and is intersected by the Roman Watling-street. There are some remains of a castle, built in the reign of Henry II., by Fulk Fitz-Warine, who founded an abbey for Black monks of the order of Grandmont, vestiges of which may also still be traced about a mile from the castle: on the suppression of alien priories, Henry VI. gave the abbey site to the college of All Souls, Oxford, to which it still belongs. The parish comprises 1000 acres: coal is abundant, but none is at present worked. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £5. 10.; net income, £187; patrons and impropriators, the Warden and Fellows of All Souls’ College. The tithes of a part of the parish have been commuted for £498 payable to the college, and £47 payable to the vicar. The glebe consists of 20 acres. There are also incumbencies at Wollaston and Criggion, the former in the gift of the Vicar of Alberbury, and the latter in that of V. Vickers, Esq.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
England and Wales Delineated Thomas Dugdale 1835
Abberbury or Alberbury, a parish and township, partly in the hundred of Cawrse and Deythur, in the county of Montgomery, and partly in that of Ford, in the county of Salop. Warine, sheriff of this county in the reign of Henry I., founded an abbey for black monks, a cell to Guardmont, in Limosin, which, at the suppression of alien priories was bestowed by Henry VI., upon the college founded by Archbishop Chiechley. Benthall, Eyton, Rowton, Amaston, and Wollaston, are all townships of this parish. At Glyn, in this parish, is the celebrated Old Parr’s cottage, which has undergone but little alteration since his time; it is timber-framed, rare, and picturesque, within view of Rodney’s Pillar on Bredden Hill, in Montgomeryshire. In Wollaston Chapel is a brass plate, with his portrait thus inscribed: “The old, old, very old man, Thomas Parr, was born at the Glyn, in the township of Wennington, within the chapelry of Great Wollaston, and parish of Alberbury, in the county of Salop, in 1483. He lived in the reigns of ten kings and queens of England, viz. King Edward IV., King Edward V., King Richard III., King Henry VII., King Henry VIII., King Edward VI., Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James I., and Charles I.; he died in London, (sixteen years after his presentation to King Charles,) on the 13th of November, 1635, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, on the 15th of the same month, aged one hundred and fifty-two years and nine months. At the age of one hundred and five, he did penance in the church of Alberbury, for criminal connexion with Catherine Milton, by whom he had offspring.”
Source: England and Wales Delineated by Thomas Dugdale assisted by William Burnett; published by Tallis & Co., Green Arbour Court, Old Bailey, 1835.
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Alberbury. A parish partly in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford, partly in Montgomeryshire. A vicarage discharged, in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Pontesbury, and archdeaconry of Salop. The Shropshire part contains 189 houses, 1113 inhabitants. 8 miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Loton Hall Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Loton Hall. In the hundred of Ford, near Alberbury. 9 miles west of Shrewsbury. The seat of Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Amaston
Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850
Amaston See Rowton
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Amaston. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 49 houses, 227 inhabitants.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Bauseley
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Bausley; or Baulsley, Lower and Upper. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 11 ½ miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Benthall
Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850
Benthall and Shrawardine, 2¾ m. E.S.E. and included in Abberbury
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Benthall. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 6 houses, 48 inhabitants. 6 miles west of Shrewsbury
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Braggington
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Braggington. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 11 miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Bulthy
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Bulthy; or Bwlthau. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 12 miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Criggion
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Creggeon or Crigion. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 12 miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Eyton
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
Eyton, a township in Alberbury parish, Salop; near the river Severn, 7 ½ miles WNW of Shrewsbury. Pop., 65.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Lewis Topographical Dictionary of England 1845
EYTON, a township, in the parish of Abberbury, union of Atcham, hundred of Ford, S. division of Salop, 7 miles (W.) from Shrewsbury.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Eyton. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 15 houses, 65 inhabitants. 7 miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Ford
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Ford. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Hall Mill
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Hall Mill. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in to Ford division of the hundred of Ford.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Rowton
Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Rowton. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford. 7 miles west of Shrewsbury. Rowton and Amaston contain 47 houses, 227 inhabitants.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Wollaston
Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824
Great Wollaston; or Woolaston. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford, a chapel to Alberbury, in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Pontesbury, and archdeaconry of Salop. 11 miles west of Shrewsbury.
Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824
Alberbury Parish Registers
Alberbury Parish Registers Part I 1564 to 1733 is included in Shropshire Parish Registers Diocese of Hereford Vol. 6 (1902) and Alberbury Parish Registers Part II 1733 to 1812 is included in Shropshire Parish Registers Diocese of Hereford Vol. 7 (1902).
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Alberbury Shropshire Parish Documents 1902
Documents in the custody of the Parish Council. – Kept at the Clerk’s house – no receptacle, viz:-
Parish Council Minute Book.
Cheque Book.
Treasurer’s Book, i.e., Pass Book.
Receipt and Payment Book.
Contribution Order Book.
Documents in the custody of the Vicar. – The following are kept in a chest at the Vicarage, viz:-
General Register, 1564 – 1634.
General Register. 1634 – 1661.
General Register, 1661 – 1706.
General Register, 1707 – 1735.
General Register, 1735 – 1754, then of Baptisms and Burials only to 1756.
Register containing Marriages, 1740-1752 & Burials, 1740-1779
Register containing Marriages, 1752-1754 & Baptisms, 1756-1775.
Register of Baptisms, 1776-1812.
Register of Banns and Marriages, 1754-1767
Register of Banns and Marriages, 1767-1812.
Register of Banns, 1824-1850.
Vestry Minute Book, 1886-1894.
Churchwardens’ Account Book, 1656 – 1675.
Churchwardens’ Account Book, 1679 – 1702
Churchwardens’ Account Book, 1757 – 1784.
Churchwardens’ Account Book, 1773 – 1810.
Churchwardens’ Account Book, 1809 – 1844.
Assessment of Parish for Church purposes. – Upper Quarter, dated 1841.
Assessment of Parrish for Church purposes. – Lower Quarter, dated 1841.
Book of Accounts of the distribution of various moneys amongst the poor of the Parish, 1767-1847.
Various Maps – Ordnance Survey.
Award as to the boundary of the Parish of Ford, dated 29th December, 1846.
Bausley Enclosure Award, dated 2nd June, 1835
Tithe Maps and Awards, viz:-
Bausley dated 7th August, 1841
Bulthy dated 1st January, 1841
Cardeston dated 6th March, 1849
Criggion dated 7th March, 1843
Lower Quarter of Alberbury dated 29th September, 1843
Middleton dated 28th June, 1850
Trefnant dated 31st January, 1844
Uppington dated 15th March, 1845
Winnington dated 3rd April, 1844
Wollaston dated 21st December, 1848
Tracing of Map of Parish of Alberbury.
Office Copy of Order of Exchange of Lands in the township of Bausley and Tithe Rent Charge issuing out of lands in the township of Eyton, made between The Rev. G. F. Slade, Clerk, and All Souls College, Oxford.
Conveyance, dated 12th September, 1845, of a School site at Alberbury, made between The Rev. R. W. Huntly, Vicar of Alberbury, and The Wardens and Fellows of All Souls, Oxford.
Faculty for re-seating and re-flooring the Nave of Alberbury Church, dated 13th July, 1871
Miscellaneous papers, Apprenticeship Indentures. &c., & c.
The following are kept in a safe at the Vicarage viz:-
Register of Baptisms, 1813 – 1857
Register of Baptisms, 1857 – in use.
Register of Marriages, 1813 – 1857
Register of Marriages, 1837 – in use.
Register of Burials, 1813 – 1851
Register of Burials, 1851 – in use.
Churchwardens Account and Vestry Minute Book, 1843 – in use.
Source: Shropshire Parish Documents published 1902. A report of the Inspection of Parish Documents made to Salop County Council under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1894. Note: The location of the documents listed in this transcription are as cited in the book published in 1902 and should be used as a guide only. It should not be assumed that the documents are still kept at the stated location. Interested parties should perhaps contact Shropshire records office to ascertain the documents current whereabouts.
Shropshire Historical Directories
Directory Transcriptions
Bagshaw History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire 1851
ALBERBURY is an extensive parish, comprising the townships of Alberbury, Benthal with Shrawardine, Amaston, Bulthey, Eyton, Ford (part of), Rowton, Stanford, Trefnant, Wattlesborough (part of), Winnington, Woolaston, which are situated in Shropshire; and Bausley, Coydway, Crew Green, Criggion, upper and lower, Middleton and Uppington, which are in Montgomeryshire. The entire parish contains 10,780a. 2r. 2p. of land, the rateable value of which is £7,731. This parish is beautifully diversified with picturesque scenery, and watered by the river Severn. At the census of 1841 there were 472 houses, and 1,861 inhabitants. Population in 1801, 1,204: and in 1831, 1,799, Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., Henry Lyster, Esq., and others are joint lords of the manor. Alberbury is a township and pleasant rural village eight miles west of Shrewsbury. In this quarter or district are the townships of Alberbury, Amaston, Benthal with Shrawardine, Eyton, Rowton, and part of the township of Ford, which have an area of 3,104a. 2r. 27p. of land; of which 1,277a. 1r. 20p. are arable, 1,532a. 0r. 16p. are meadow and pasture, 116a. 3r. 13p. are woods, and 67 acres are roads and water. The township, at the census of 1841, had 130 houses and 638 inhabitants. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is the principal landowner. John Lloyd, Esq., and All Souls College are also freeholders. A fair is held on the 8th of August.
The Abbey, of which but little now remains, is situated near the village, and called the White Abbey. It was founded by Fulk, the son of Warine, in the reign of Henry II., and was subject to the Black Monks of Grandmorst, in Limosin. At the suppression of the alien priories it was bestowed on Queen Joan, widow of Henry IV., and after passing through several hands it was granted to the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford. There were formerly a chapel within the site of this abbey, dedicated to St. Stephen, in which were interred the remains of Fulk Warine, its founder.
The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a venerable structure, with a square tower, in which is a peal of five bells. The interior consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles. The south compartment belongs to the estate of Loton. On the walls are various monuments and tablets to various deceased members of the Leighton family: to Dame Dorothy Leighton, who died in 1638; and to General Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., who died in 1828. The chancel is separated from the body of the church by one arch, and was rebuilt in the year 1845. On removing a tomb-stone in the south wall, the skeleton of a man was found quite perfect, but the coffin and grave clothes all gone. It was placed in a coffin, and interred in the same place. Several of the windows are ornamented with stained glass, and the altar is very beautiful. The patronage of the church is vested in the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford: incumbent, Rev. Richard Webster Huntley, B.A. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £5. 10s. The tithes are commuted for £2,624, and apportioned to the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford, to the dean and chapter of Hereford, and the vicar of Alberbury. The Parochial School was founded and endowed with £3. 6s. 8d. per annum, by the fellows of All Souls College, Oxford: it is principally supported by the neighbouring gentlemen. Loton Park is a handsome brick mansion, the seat and property of Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., surrounded by a park well stocked with deer, and richly diversified with sylvan beauty.
Charities.—On the table of benefactions in the church are the names of twelve several donors, who left £169 for the use of the poor of this parish. This sum is supposed to have been applied in building a school or workhouse, and the yearly sum of £8. 5s. is paid as the interest thereof, which is distributed to the poor on Christmas day. Richard Lyster bequeathed the sum of £100, the interest thereof to be given to the poor. John Asterley in his lifetime gave £10 for the use of the poor of the township of Wattlesborough. John Morgan also left £10, the interest to be given in bread to the poor of this parish.
Amaston is a small township three miles south; Benthal is a township two miles north-east; and Little Shrawardine is a small township two miles and a half north-east, of Alberbury. Bulthey is a scattered township one and a half mile north-west by north of Woolaston, which contains 711a. 3r. 19p. of land; of which 371a. 3r. 19p. are arable, and 340 acres are pasture. Robert Gardner, Esq., is the sole landowner.
Bausley, or Balasley, is a scattered township and district, ten miles north-east of Welshpool, which comprises Upper and Lower Criggion, Crew Green, and Coydway, and has an area of 4,309 acres of land. Rateable value, £1,954. 17s. 7d. The principal landowners are the Rev. F. K. Leighton, who is lord of the manor; John Asterly, Esq.; Mr. Eddowes; Mr. Edward Bufton; Dr. Crawford; Sir Edward Desbrowe, Knt.; Rev. Edward Humphrey; Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart.; Isaac Swaine; Mr. John Ruscoe; and Mr. Williams. The township contains 1,684 acres of land, and at the census of 1841 there were 78 houses and 352 inhabitants. On the enclosure of Bausley Common, in 1832, the Vicar of Alberbury had allotted to him eleven acres of land, in lieu of small tithes. There are 31 acres of glebe land.
Criggion is a township and chapelry, one mile east of Llandrinio, which at the census of 1851 had 35 houses and 189 inhabitants. It contains 2401a. 2r. 17p. of land, the rateable value of which is £874. 12s. 2d. The tithes are commuted for £220, of which £176 are appropriated to the Fellows of All Souls College, and £44 to the vicar. On the summit of Breidden hill, 1,004 feet above the Severn, is “Rodney’s Pillar,” erected in memory of that brave naval commander. Near the Breidden is the range of hills called Moel-y-Golfa, on which are the traces of an encampment. In this district is a fine bed of coal. The Chapel is a neat structure, built of brick, with a square tower. The Rev. Leicester Darnwell, M.A., is the perpetual incumbent.
Eyton is a small township, one mile east of Alberbury. The Hon. and Rev. R. W. Hill is the proprietor of the land.
Middleton is a township, two miles south-west of Woolaston, which contains 269½ acres of pasture, 426 acres of arable, 43 acres of woods, five acres of roads, and 230 acres of common land, the rateable value of which is £620. 10s. Panton Corbett, Esq., is lord of the manor, and the principal freeholder. Mrs. Williams and Captain Close are also landowners.
Rowton and Amaston is a pleasant township and small rural village, seven miles and a half west of Shrewsbury. At the census of 1811 here were 225 inhabitants, and in 1821 227 inhabitants. Henry Lyster, Esq., is lord of the manor, and principal landowner. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is also a small landowner. Camden says this is the Rutunium described by Antonious. Rowton was anciently in the possession of the Corbets, and afterwards of the Le Estranges, from whom it passed to William Lyster, who was styled Lord of Rowton. In the year 1482 Rowton Castle was razed to the ground by Prince Llewellyn, at the time the Le Estranges possessed this manor.
Stanford is a township, one mile and a half west of Alberbury. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is lord of the manor and the principal landowner. Mr. Asterley and Mr. Edmund Phillips are also proprietors. Trefnant is a township and small village, two miles and a half south-west by south of Woolaston, which contains 518 acres of land. Rateable value £171. The principal landowners are Miss Oldnall, Mr. Thomas Vincent Potter, Mr. William Meredith, and the Rev. Mr. Cureton. Uppington is a scattered township, three miles and a half south-west by west of Woolaston, containing 968 acres of land, of which 308 acres are in common and woodlands. In 1841 here were 123, and in 1851 167 inhabitants. The principal landowner is Miss Oldnall. Wattlesborough is a township, partly situated in this parish and partly in the parishes of Cardiston and Westbury. Roger Corbet de Watlesburg, in the 56th Henry III. had the grant of a market on Tuesday and a fair on the eve, the day, and the day after the feast of St. James the Apostle, to be held at this manor. There was formerly a castle here, little of which now remains. Winnington is a township, one mile and a half south-west by south of Woolaston, which contains 1,605a. 3r. 10p. of land, the rateable value of which is £1,146. 3s. 10d. Winnington is celebrated as the birth place of Old Parr, who was born at the Glyn, in this township, in the year 1483. When eighty years old he married his first wife, and in the space of thirty-two years had two children, both of whom died young. Being aged 120 years, he became enamoured of Catherine Mitton, whom he married, and had children by her. At the age of 130, a prosecution was entered against him in the Spiritual Court for bastardy, and Parr did penance in Alberbury Church. He lived in ten reigns, and died at Westminster on the 15th of November, aged 152 years. The cottage in which he lived stands in a sequestered spot, near the Shrewsbury and Welshpool road. Mrs. Oldnell and others are landowners.
Woolaston is a township and chapelry, pleasantly situated eight miles north-east by east of Welshpool, which comprehends the townships of Woolaston, Bulthey, Trefnant, Winnington, Middleton, and Uppington, which have an area of 5,274a. 1r. 17p. of land, the rateable value of which is £4,432. 6s. 6d. This chapelry at the census of 1841 had 126 houses and 609 persons. Woolaston township contains 496 acres of land. The principal landowners are Sir Richard Jenkins, Mrs. H. S. Taber, and Mr. Smith. Smythe Owen, Esq., is lord of the manor. The Chapel was built in 1783 of rubble stone, and endowed with a grant from Queen Anne’s Bounty, which amounts to £46. 16s. 7d. per annum. There are 20 acres of glebe land. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Alberbury, and incumbency of the Rev. J. H. A. Harries, M.A. Elizabeth Collins left £10, the interest thereof to be given to the poor of this chapelry. Owen George bequeathed £50, 40s. of the interest thereof to pay for six sermons, and 20s. to be given in bread to the poor.
Post Office.—At Wm. Rogers, Letters arrive at 8 A.M. and are despatched at 5 P.M.
ALBERBURY DIRECTORY.
Barrett John, farmer & vict., Cross Gates
Bennett John, farmer & vict., Windmill Inn, posting House, Rowton
Bromley Rd., farmer, Eyton
Brown Thomas, farmer and vict., The Dragon
Bruce Donald, butler, Loton Hall
Cooper William, farmer and lime master, Loton
Crane Geo., farmer, Benthall
Davenport Benj., farmer
Davies Mr., farmer, Whattlesborough
Derwas Thos., farmer, Hays
Evans Edward, farmer, Braggington
Evans Griffiths, tailor
Fox William, blacksmith
Gell Daniel, park keeper, Loton
Gittins James, farmer, The Wood
Gittins Jn., farmer, Amaston
Gittins R., frmer, Lower Wood
Huntley Rev. Rd. Webster, vicar, Bloxwell
Jenner Rev. Mr., M.A., curate, Vicarage
Jones Mary, housekeeper, Loton Hall
Kempster Richard, farmer, Little Woolaston
Lee Mrs. Francis, farmer, Rowton
Leighton Sir Baldwin, Bart., J.P., and chairman of Montgomery quarter sessions, Loton Park
Lyster Henry, Esq., Rowton Castle
Mansell Stephen, farmer, Little Shrawardine
Onions William, basket mkr
Parry Thomas, farmer, Whattlesborough
Plunley John, farmer, Hilly House
Plunley Samuel, farmer
Pearce John, police constable
Powlter Richard, grocer & blacksmith, Rowton
Price John, traveller
Rogers Elizth., shopkeeper
Rogers William, postmaster
Teece John, farmer, Red Abbey
Tullock David, farmer
Wilde John, farmer, White Abbey
Wilde Wm., farmer, Hays
BAUSLEY DIRECTORY.
Derwas John, farmer
Derwas Richard, farmer
Evans John, basket maker
Evans Thomas, farmer, Pecknall
France John, farmer, Brimpoeth
Jones John, carpenter and builder
Pritchard Mrs., Brook Cot.
Speake Thomas, farmer, The Hill
Swaine Isaac, farmer, Hill
Wilde John, butcher and farmer
Wilde Richard, farmer, Plas-y-Court
BULTHEY DIRECTORY.
Burley Thomas, farmer
Swaine John, farmer, The Bank
Williams Richard, farmer, The Hall
COYDWAY DIRECTORY.
Brown Thomas, grocer and beer retailer
Harris Sarah, farmer
Jones Thomas, vict., Hand and Diamond
Jones Thomas, maltster and farmer
Richard George, shoemaker
Richards Thomas, saddler
Swaine Samuel, farmer
Wynne Thos., wheelwright
CREW GREEN DIRECTORY.
Briscoe John, farmer
Davies David, farmer
Downes Richard, farmer
Everall John, farmer
Mansell Mrs.
Payne Charles, farmer and maltster
Pritchard John, farmer
Pugh William, farmer
Ruscoe Abrahm., shopkeeper and beerhouse
Ruscoe Abraham, junior, farmer
Swaine Robert, blacksmith
Turner Joshua, blacksmith
Vaughan Samuel, shoemakr
Vaughan Thomas, saddler & harness maker
Watkin Evan, cooper
Williams John, grocer and provision dealer, & beerhouse, Glen, Newtown
Williams John, cooper and shopkeeper
CRIGGION DIRECTORY.
Brentnall Mrs., The Hall
Brentnall Samuel, farmer
Darwell Rev. Leicester, M.A., Parsonage
Davies Richard, farmer
Ford John, farmer
Gregory Richard, farmer and butcher
Jones John, farmer, Brinford
Morris John, farmer
Morris Mrs., Upper Farm
Owens John, farmer, Coppice
Ridge Francis, farmer
Vaughan William, farmer
Williams Richard, farmer
MIDDLETOWN DIRECTORY.
Harris Rev. John Henry Acton, M.A.
Hughes Mr. Thomas
Jones Isaac, farmer & beerhouse, Bell Isle
Morris Edward, farmer
Parry Thomas, farmer
Parry William, farmer
Poole Robert, machineman
Pritchard Miss, Doves Cot.
Pritchard Srh., vict., New Inn
Thomas Benjamin, gent.
Thomas Stephen, bricklayer and beer retailer
STANFORD DIRECTORY.
Harris James, farmer
Middle John, farmer
Turner Edward, blacksmith
TREFNANT DIRECTORY
Brown John, farmer
Edwards John, farmer
UPPINGTON DIRECTORY.
Dickin Arthur, farmer
Henley Thomas, farmer
Meredith William, miller and farmer
Rogers Thomas, farmer
WINNINGTON DIRECTORY.
Brown Thomas, farmer
Davies William, vict., Rose and Crown, farmer and blacksmith
Jasper James, carrier
Jones Evan, farmr., Hargreave
Rogers Ths. Hall, Mill Farm
Rogers William, farmer
WOOLASTON GREAT DIRECTORY.
Pigford Chas., wheelwright
Clemson Thomas, farmer
Cooper Joseph, wheelwright
Eddowes Thomas, farmer
Jones Elizabeth, farmer
Jones Henry, timber merchant, registrar of births and deaths for the Alberbury district
Marsh Walter, tailor
Turner Edward, blacksmith
Source: History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire by Samuel Bagshaw 1851
Alberbury Kellys Shropshire Directory 1863
Alberbury is a parish and small village, 0 miles west from Shrewsbury station, 18 from Welchpool, partly in Ford hundred, Salop, and partly in Deythur and Cawse hundreds, Montgomeryshire, Atcham union, Shrewsbury county court district, South Salop, rural deanery of Pontesbury, Salop archdeaconry, and Hereford bishopric. It is divided into Upper and Lower Quarters. The Upper Quarter consists of the townships of Great Wollaston, Bulthey, Winnington, and Trefnant. The Lower Quarter consists of the townships of Alberbury, Eyton, Shrawardine, Rowton, Amaston, and Bausley. The townships of Uppington, Middletown, and Criggion, each maintain their own poor. There are chapels of ease at Great Wollaston and at Criggion. The parish church of St. Micliael, an old stone building, has nave, chancel, and aisle (the latter belonging to Loton estate), a tower with clock and 5 bells; in the aisle are wall tablets and brasses to the Leighton family, and a stained glass window; in the nave are wall tablets and a window in memory of the Lyster family; in the chancel are seven memorial windows of stained glass, placed there in 1853, by John Lloyd, Esq. The earliest date of register is 1564. The living is a vicarage, composition for vicarial tithes, £156 15s. 10d. yearly, with residence and 35 acres of glebe land, in the gift of All Souls’ College, Oxford; the Rev. George F. Slade, M.A., All Souls’ College, Oxford, is the incumbent. There is a National school for boys and girls, endowed with £3 8s. per annum by the Fellows of All Souls’ College. Loton Park is the seat of Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., M.P., and Rowton Castle the seat of Henry Lyster, Esq. Adjoining the church are the ruins of an ancient castle; and a farm, about half a mile distant, is the White Abbey. On Bausley Hill is a Roman encampment, and barrows are scattered about the parish. The population in 186I was 1,918; the acreage is 9,599. This district was closely settled by the Romnns.
Alberbury township, in Ford hundred and division, contains 3,143a. 3r. 13p. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., M.P., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The population in 1861 was 632.
Red Abbey, White Abbey, The Hayes, Lower Wood, Stanford, Paddock, and Braggington Hail are places here.
Bulthey township, distant 3 miles west-south-west, contains 179a. 3r. 13p. The Bank and Play-y-Court are places here.
Rowton and Amaston are joint townships, in Ford hundred and division, distant respectively 1½ and 2½ miles south-east, and contain 1,522a. 0r. 23p. Henry Lyster, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. Here is Rowton Castle.
Trefnant township, distant 4½ miles south-west, contains 527a. 3r. 20p. There is a mill called Dingle Mill.
Winnington, a township, 3 miles south-west, contains 1,604a. 3r. 19p. Mrs. Oldnall is principal landowner. The Glyn, in this township, is the birthplace of “Old Parr.” The Lodge, Hall Mill, and the Wood Leasowes are places here.
Wollaston, a township and chapelry in Ford division and hundred, distant 2 miles south-west, contains 496a. 0r. 18p.; the population in 1861 was 367. The chapel, rebuilt in 1788, is a barn-like stone building, with wooden turret and 1 bell. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the vicar of Alberbury, and held by the Rev. John H. Harris, M.A. Near the chapel is a barrow. Wollaston forms part of the upper quarter of Alberbury.
Shrawardine is a township, in Ford hundred and division, Shropshire.
Eyton is a township, in Ford hundred and division.
Ford is a township, partly in this parish, which gives name to the hundred and division.
Bausley, a township in Deythur hundred, Montgomeryshire, distant about 4 miles, contains 1,684a. 2r. 2p.; the population in 1861 was 404.
Criggion, Upper and Lower, a township, in Cawse hundred, Montgomeryshire, distant about 6 miles, contains 2,401a. 1r. 4p., with a population in 1861 of 187. — Vickers, Esq., is the chief landowner.
Middletown, a township in Montgomeryshire, distant about 5 miles, contains 736a. 3r. 11p.
Uppington, a township in Montgomeryshire, distant about 7 miles, contains 1,002a. 0r. 14p.
Parish Clerk, Henry Poulter.
Alberbury.
Leighton Sir Baldwin, bart. M.P. Loton pk
Severne Rev. William, Whiston Priory
Slade Rev. George F. M.A. Vicarage
Bretchell Colliery Co. (limited)
Bromley Thomas, farmer, Shrewden
Crane George, farmer, Benthall
Davenport Benjamin, farmer, Amaston
Davis Edward, manager to Bretchell Colliery Co
Derwas Thomas, farmer, Hayes
Evans Griffith, tailor
Evans Thomas, farmer, Bragginton
Fox William, blacksmith
Gittins Robert, farmer, Lower wood
Gittins John, farmer, Benthall cross
Jones David, farmer, Eyton
Jones John, farmer, Eyton
Jones John, farmer, The Hole farm
Kempster Richard, farmer, Lower house
Large James, Dragon, &. farmer
Marsh Walter, tailor, Stanford
Middle James, farmer
Morris Samuel, butcher, Paddock
Morris William, farmer, White abbey
Plimley Samuel, farmer
Plumley Henry, farmer. Hilly house
Randles John, farmer, Red abbey
Rogers Elizabeth (Miss), shopkeeper
Smith John K. farmer
Watkin Evan, farmer, Braggington
Wilde William, farmer, Hayes
Bulthey.
Morgan John, farmer, Play-y-court
Speake John, farmer, Bulthey hill
Swaine John, farmer, Bank
Williams Richard, farmer, Bulthey hall
Rowton.
Lyster Henry, esq. Rowton castle
Bennett John, Windmill, & farmer
Dorricott Richard, farmer, Stretton heath
Jones John, farmer
Jukes Richard, farmer
Poulter Richard, blacksmith & shopkeeper
Poulter William, basket maker
Smout Richard, farmer
Trefnant.
Brown John, farmer
Edwards John, farmer
Griffiths John, farmer
Kearne George, farmer
Rowlands John, miller, Dingle mill
Winnington.
Brown John, farmer
Brown Thomas, farmer
Edwards Thomas, farmer
Edwards Wm. farmer, Winnington grn
Davies Wm. Rose & Crown, & blacksmith
Jones John, farmer, Glyn common
Jones Thomas, farmer, Hargrave
Maddocks Robert, farmer, The Lodge
Preece Thomas, farmer
Pugh Richard, farmer, Glyn
Rogers Thomas, farmer, Hall mill
Rogers William, farmer. Hall mill
Turner John, farmer, Wood Leasowes
Wollaston.
Clemson Thomas, farmer, Parton wood
Clemson Thomas, farmer
Eddowes Thomas, farmer, The Lane
Jones Richard, farmer
Marsh Walter, tailor
Pickford Charles, wheelwright
Smout Francis, farmer
Turner Edward, blacksmith
Post Office. — Miss Elizabeth Rogers, receiver. Letters arrive from Shrewsbury at 8 a.m.; dispatched at 5.20 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Shrewsbury
National School, Samuel Edwards, master; Mrs. Edwards, mistress.
Source: Post Office Directory of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and the City of Bristol, Printed and Published by Kelly and Co., Old Boswell Court, St. Clement’s, Strand, London. 1863.
Alberbury Cassey Directory of Shropshire 1871
Alberbury is an extensive parish and village, 9 miles west from Shrewsbury station, and 12 from Welchpool, partly in Ford hundred, Salop, and partly in Deythur and Cawse hundreds, Montgomeryshire, Southern division of the county of Salop, Atcham union, rural deanery of Pontesbury, and diocese of Hereford. It is divided into Upper and Lower Quarters. The Upper quarter consists of the townships of Great Wollaston, Bulthey, Winnington, and Trefnant, in Salop, and Uppington and Middletown, in Montgomeryshire. The Lower Quarter consists of the townships of Alberbury, Eyton, Little Shrawardine, Rowton, Amaston, in Salop, and Bauseley and Criggion, with the hamlets of Coedway and Crewe Green, in Montgomeryshire; and each maintain their own poor.
The parish church of St. Michael is an old stone building. The living is a vicarage, composition for vicarial tithes, £156 15s. 10d. yearly, with residence, and 22 acres of glebe land, in the gift of All Souls’ College, Oxford. There is a school for boys and girls, endowed with £3 8s. per annum by the Fellows of All Souls’ College. Adjoining the church are the ruins of an ancient castle. On Bausley Hill is a Roman encampment, and barrows are scattered about the parish. Loton park is the seat of Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., who is lord of the manor and principal landowner; and Rowton Castle, the seat of Lady Charlotte Lyster. The charities amount to £11. Alberbury Priory was founded by Fulk Fitzwarin, between the year 1220 and 1230. Pope Nicholas’s Taxation represents the priory of Alberbury’s annual income to be, in temporalities, £2 7s.; in moveables, £1 9s. Upon the breaking out of the great war with France, Edward III. seized the alien priory of Alberbury, which continued an escheat of the Crown until the time of Henry VI. This King, at the request of Chicheley, Archbishop of Canterbury, on the 11th of May, 1441, granted this suppressed priory, with all its tithes, advowsons of churches and chapels, &c., in free and perpetual alms to All Soul’s College, Oxford. The soil is light loam; subsoil, sand and clay. The population in 1861 was 1,918; the area is 9,599 acres; gross estimated rental, £9,300; rateable value, £8,600.
Alberbury township, in Ford hundred and division, contains 3,143a. 3r. Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The population in 1861 was 632.
Braggington Hall, an old mansion, erected in 1674, is now used as a farmhouse.
Rowton and Amaston are joint townships, in Ford hundred and division, distant respectively 1 ½ and 2 ½ miles south-east, and contain 1,522 acres. Lady Charlotte Lyster possesses the manorial rights, and is the principal landowner.
Little Shrawardine is a township, in Ford hundred and division, Shropshire.
Eyton is a township, in Ford hundred and division.
Ford is a township, partly in this parish, which gives name to the hundred and division.
Bauseley is a township in Deythur hundred, Montgomeryshire. Contains 1,685 acres. The population in 1861 was 404.
Wollaston, Bulthey, Trefnant, and Winnington townships, with Middletown and Uppington, in Montgomeryshire, form the ecclesiastical parish of Great Wollaston, and will be found under that heading.
Letters arrive from Shrewsbury at 8 a.m.; dispatched at 5-20 p.m.
Criggion, in Cawse hundred, Montgomeryshire, 4 miles distant from Alberbury, is now an ecclesiastical parish. The church is a brick building with square tower. The living is a vicarage, annual value £147, in the gift of Valentine Vickers, Esq. Valentine Vickers, Esq., is the chief landowner. The soil is loam; subsoil, clay. The area is 2, 401 acres, and the population in 1861 was 187.
Letters arrive through Shrewsbury.
Alberbury.
Leighton Sir Baldwin, bart. J.P. Loton park
Leighton Baldwin, esq. J.P. Loton park
Leighton Stanley, esq. Loton park
Mitchell Rev. Josiah M.A. Vicarage
Severne Rev. William, Whiston priory
Bromley Thomas, farmer, Shrawardine
Campbell Robert, farm bailiff
Crane John, farmer, Benthall
Davenport Benjamin, farmer, Amaston
Davenport William, farmer, Benthall crss.
Derwas Thomas, farmer, Hayes
Evans Griffith, tailor
Evans Thomas, farmer, Bragginton hall
Groves Samuel, farmer
Haywood Philip, farmer & maltster, Red abbey
Jones David, farmer, Lower house, Eyton
Jones Evan, farmer, Upper house, Eyton
Jones John, head gamekeeper, Old Weir
Jones John, farmer, The Hole farm
Jones William E. farmer, The Hole farm
Kempster Richard, farmer, Lowerhouse
Large James, Dragon inn, and farmer
Llewellyn John, farmer, Lower wood
Marsh Walter, tailor, Stanford
Morris David, farmer, Bragginton
Morris Thomas, farmer, Paddock
Morris William, farmer, White abbey
Plumley Henry, farmer, Hilly house
Rogers Elizabeth (Miss), shopkeeper
Smith Edwin, farmer
Smith John K. farmer
Wilde Richard, farmer, Hayes
Rowton.
Lyster Lady Charlotte, Rowton castle
Bolton William, gamekeeper
Brown Ann, Windmill inn and farmer
Clements Robert, steward
Clemson John, farmer, Park farm
Cooper Thomas, estate carpenter and builder, Rowton castle
Dorricott Richard, farmer, Stretton heath
Jones John, farmer
Jukes Richard, farmer
Munday William, head gardener, Rowton castle
Poulter William, blacksmith
Poulter William, basket maker
Smout Richard, farmer
Vass Henry, coachman, Rowton castle
Source: Edward Cassey & Co’s, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire 1871
Administration
- County: Shropshire
- Civil Registration District: Atcham
- Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory)
- Diocese: Hereford
- Rural Deanery: Pontesbury
- Poor Law Union: Atcham
- Hundred: Ford
- Province: Canterbury