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CLAVERLEY: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1824.

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"CLAVERLEY, a parish in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry, a curacy, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, in the peculiar jurisdiction of Bridgnorth. 254 houses 1305 inhabitants. 4½ miles east of Bridgnorth, Claverley gave birth to Sir Robert Brooke, who was educated at Oxford, from whence he removed to the middle Temple. In 1553, he became chief justice of the common pleas, in which office he conducted himself with inflexible integrity, and died in 1558. His works are, "An Abridgment of the year books," in folio; "Certain cases adjudged;" and "Reading on the statutes of limitations," 8vo."

" ASTON, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 6 miles west of Bridgnorth."

" BEOBRIDGE, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstrey."

" BESBRIDGE, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the franchise of Wenlock."

" BROUGHTON, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 10 miles east of Bridgnorth."

" CHICKNELL, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstrey."

" DALLICOT, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 4 miles north-east by east of Bridgnorth."

" FARMCOTT, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 4 miles south- east by east of Bridgnorth."

" GATACRE, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 6 miles south- east of Bridgnorth."

" HEATHTON, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 6 miles east of Bridgnorth."

" HOPTON (or HOPESTONE), a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 4 miles east of Bridgnorth.

" LUDSTONE, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 5 miles north- east by east of Bridgnorth. See appendix."

" PARK'S LANE, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry."

" SUTTON, a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 4 miles east of Bridgnorth.

The manor and township of Sutton lies in the manor and parish of Claverley. In the reign of Edward III, it was held by Hamlet de Sutton, of William le Zouch of Harringworth, by military service, but in the 42nd year of the same reign, it was possessed by Alice, the wife of Thomas de Gatacre, which Alice was probably the daughter and heiress of Hamlet de Sutton, in whose descendants it is supposed to have remained for several centuries. It became at length the property of the Whitmores of Ludstone. In the year 1743 Thomas Whitmore sold it to Sir Robert Lawley, Bart. who in 1764 disposed of it to Joseph Wilkes of Overscal co Leicester, Gent. He devised it to his son Robert, and afterwards by a family arrangement with his brothers, Joseph and Thomas, it passed in 1785 to the late Edward Farmer Taylor, Esq. of Checknel, whose only son now enjoys it."

" WOODFIELD, a park in the parish of CLAVERLEY. On leaving the village of Claverley, we enter, at the distance of a quarter of a mile the beautiful pleasure grounds of Woodfield, the seat of Richard Cotton, Esq. Proceeding by a winding walk which leads by the side of a hollow way, we arrive at a cave about forty feet in circumference, and hewn out of the solid rock. The roof of the cave is supported by three pillars. On entering it, we find ourselves surrounded by shells, fossils, and petrefactions, arranged on ledges in the sides of the cave. Some of these, when brought near to the eye, exhibit the most accurate delineation of plants, and different species of sea weed,- some excite our admiration by the singularity of their form,- and others are remarkable for the sparkling of the minerals, with which they are impregnated. On the outside of the cave there are several piles of various coloured stones, rising in the form of pyramids. At the distance of a few paces, stands the house, which, though small, is very convenient, and elegantly furnished, commanding a prospect of the adjacent country, which is finely diversified. In the distance appear the woods of Enville, the seat of the Earl of Stamford. Nearer, stands the church of Claverley.- This has been lately beautified at the expense of Mr. Cotton, whose superior taste is so well displayed in his own immediate neighbourhood, that it needs no commendation. At the foot of the hill on which the house stands, there is a wandering stream, and a foot way across the valley, from the village of Claverley to Ludstone. In this walk, Woodfield appears to the most advantage as a view,- but its principal beauties are not to be seen at a distance.

Having left the cave, and passed the eastern front of the house, we proceed through a great variety of shrubs, and numberless beds of the choicest flowers, which at once charm the eye, and refresh us with their fragrance. The next object which presents itself to the spectator, is a circular construction called the Museum, formed by the boughs of trees cut into convenient lengths, with the greatest nicety. This, like the cave is plenteously enriched with curious productions of the sea and land, and skeletons and exuviae of different animals, collected by the most extended researches, and arranged in the most accurate order. At the further end, opposite the entrance, are these two appropriate verses, from the 104th Psalm.

Quam mirabilia sunt opera tua, Domine ! Omnia in sapientia fecisti; impleta est terra possessione tua. Hoc mare magnum et spaciosum manibus; illic reptilia, quorum non est numerus.

We are next conducted by a winding walk to the north gate of entrance, near which are some ash trees of enormous size. On turning to the left, we come to the greenhouse, which is well stored with plants of different species. Having passed the house, we arrive at a bridge over the hollow way, which at this place is thirty feet deep, and the spectator below appears completely secluded from the world, the trees growing on each side to a great height, and the branches communicating at the summit. The bridge is formed of the trunk of a tree, with branches curiously interwoven on each side, and is called by many of the country people - the Devil's bridge. On the other side, there is a delightful walk, shaded with shrubs of every varied hue.

To enumerate all the minuter beauties of Woodfield would far exceed our limits. It may therefore suffice to observe that it becomes daily more attractive to persons of taste, whether residing, or merely visiting in the neighbourhood,- who never fail, particularly if their peculiar taste leads them to admire the structure and beauty of flowers,- to pass the highest encomiums upon it.

It has been said that the hollow way was made in the time of the Romans - but this appears improbable, since they could derive no advantage from so laborious an undertaking, nor could it in the least degree impede the progress of their armies - and it is too much to suppose, that they would make it with the intention of transmitting their fame to distant ages.

" WOUNDWALL (or WONDALL), a township in the parish of Claverley, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3½ miles east of Bridgnorth.

Woundwall is in the manor of Claverley. In this township lie the estate of High Gravenor, lately sold by a female descendant of the Gravenors to the present proprietor,- and Chicknell, the seat of Farmer Tayler, Esq., where that gentleman lately erected a spacious mansion in the Grecian style, previously to his marriage with the Hon. Miss Cavendish, one of the daughters of Lord Waterpark. The ancestors of Mr. Tayler, and the Potters, who preceded them, have resided here upwards of 430 years. Upon this estate a vineyard is said to have existed in the reign of Edward the first.

[Transcribed information from A Gazetteer of Shropshire - T Gregory - 1824](unless otherwise stated)

[Description(s) transcribed by Mel Lockie ©2015]