Harley, Shropshire Family History Guide

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Harley is an Ancient Parish in the county of Shropshire.

Parish church: St. Mary

Parish registers begin:

  • Parish registers: 1745
  • Bishop’s Transcripts: 1631

Nonconformists include:

Adjacent Parishes

Harley Parish Registers

Harley Parish Registers 1590-1812 Shropshire Parish Registers Diocese of Lichfield Vol. II. General Editor W. P. W. Phillimore. Privately printed for the Shropshire Parish Register Society 1901. – This book is a free download from Parishmouse

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

HARLEY, a parish in Atcham district, Salop; on an affluent of the river Severn, 2 miles NW of Much-Wenlock r. station. It has a post-office under Wellington, Salop. Acres, 1,955. Real property, £3,779. Pop., 220. Houses, 50. The property is divided among a few. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield. Value, 276. Patron, the Duke of Cleveland. The church is good.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848

HARLEY (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Atcham, hundred of Condover, S. division of Salop, 2¼ miles (N. W. by W.) from Wenlock; containing 219 inhabitants. It comprises 2226 acres; the soil is generally light and gravelly, and the surface is level. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £5. 12. 1., and in the gift of the Duke of Cleveland: the tithes have been commuted for £260, and the glebe comprises 44 acres. The Rev. Benjamin Jenks, well known as the author of several favourite works, especially a volume of family prayers, was rector of the parish for 56 years, and was buried in the church in 1724.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848

Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Harley. A parish parley in the franchise of Wenlock, and partly in the Cound division of the hundred of Condover, a rectory, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, the deanery of Salop, and archdeaconry of Salop. 47 houses, 235 inhabitants. 10 ½ miles south-east of Shrewsbury.

The Rev. Benjamin Jenks, who was born either here or in some other part of Shropshire, in the year 1646, held the rectory of Harley fifty six years. He was a most exemplary and pious divine, and appears from the dedication of his books of devotion to Lord Bradford, to have distantly allied to that family, for he claims kindred with the nobleman whom he addresses. He died in 1724. His works are, 1. Prayers and Offices of Devotion, for families, 12mo., a work once very popular, and even now not uncommon. 2. Meditations on various important subjects, 5 vols. 8vo.

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

Historical Directory Transcriptions

Harley Cassey Shropshire Directory 1871

Harley is a parish and village, 2 miles from Much Wenlock, 10 from Shrewsbury, and 10 from Bridgnorth, in the Southern division of the county, Cound division of Condover hundred, Atcham union, and diocese of Lichfield.  The church of St. Mary is a stone building; the nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1846, at an expense of nearly £1,000, raised by public subscriptions.  The living is a rectory, yearly value £270, with residence and 48 acres of glebe land, in the gift of the Duke of Cleveland.  The charities are £20 yearly value.  The Duke of Cleveland, who is also lord of the manor, and James Milnes Gaskell, Esq., are the principal landowners.  The soil is gravely and clayey.  The population in 1861 was 220; the area is 1,955 acres; gross estimated rental, £2,100; rateable value, £1,963.
Letters arrive from Wellington through Much Wenlock at 7 30 a.m.; dispatched at 5 50 p.m.

Greenham Rev. William, B.A. Rectory
Burley John, farmer
Cartwright Edward, farmer, Rowley
Cartwright Richard, farmer
Corfield Edward, farmer, Blakeway
Gwynn Thomas, wheelwright
[Hengoed see Sellattyn.]
Horton George, farmer
Maddox John, farmer and miller
Roberts Robert, blacksmith

Source: Edward Cassey & Co.’s, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire 1871

Maps

Vision of Britain historical maps

Administration

  • County: Shropshire
  • Civil Registration District: Atcham
  • Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
  • Diocese: Lichfield
  • Rural Deanery: Condover
  • Poor Law Union: Atcham
  • Hundred: Condover
  • Province: Canterbury