Miscellaneous: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1750.

"ABTON, (Salop) near Wenlock, is a manor which bel. heretofore to the Lovels, and Burnels, and came afterwards to the Norfolk family."

" ALDENHAM, (Salop) or AWDENHAM, near Bridgnorth, a noble seat of the Actons, whose family kept their station and estate for many Rs. one of whom was sheriff in the R. of Edv. I. and another was created a Bt. in the R. of Ch. I."

" ARCOLE, (Salop) 3 m. S.W. of Hinstock, a hamlet of Pullid, formerly the Lp. of Mortimer, ancestor of the Es. of March."

" ASTON-PIGOT, (Salop) near Chirbury, formerly the manor of Edward, Ld. Burnel; from whom it passed to John, Ld. Lovel; and from him it went, by marriage, to Sir Brian Stapleton, and Sir Edward Norris."

" AVELEY-UPPER, (Salop) a fine, old seat of the Littletons, Barts. with pleasant walks, on the E. side of the Severn, almost over against Higley on the W. side."

" BRADFORD, (Salop) tho' now an inconsiderable village, gave name to 2 Hs. viz,. N. and S. Bradford, in the former of which it stands, and gives title of Viscount and Earl to the family of Newport."

" CAER-CARODOCK, (Salop) a hill near the conflux of the Clun and Teme, where are still some vestiges of the fortification created by the famous British K. Caractacus, and gallantly defended by him against Ostorius and the Roman legions, but at last he took it; for which the senate of Rome decreed him a triumph. This is call'd in some of our maps Cradock-Hill."

" CAUS-CASTLE, (Salop) on the b. of Montgomeryshire, 4 m. E. of Powis-Castle, was anciently the Lp. of the Corbets, one of whom, in the R. of K. John, obtained a Mt. here. It afterwards passed, by marriage, to the Staffords; who held it down to Cha. I. when Sir William Howard inherited it, by marrying Henry Ld. Stafford's only daughter and heir, and was created Visc. Stafford. It came lastly to the Thynnes family, by the marriage of Sir John Thynne, an ancestor of Ld. Visc. Weymouth, to a daughter of Sir Rowland Hayward."

" CHERLTON-CASTLE, (Salop) under Wreken-Kill, bel. anciently to the Cherltons, Lds. of Powis, and was afterwards settled on Mrs. Jane Orwell, and her children."

" CLAY-HILL, (Salop) or BROWN-CLEE-HILL, on the N. bank of the r. Temd, bet. Clee-St.-Marga-ret and North-Clebury, produces the fceft pit-coal, has some veins of iron,and certain remains of an ancient camp."

" CORSHAM-CASTLE, (Salop) bet. Alcaston and St. Margaret's-Clee, is called Corvesham, because it stands on the r. Corve. This manor was given by Hen. II. to Walter, Ld. Clifford; and went afterwards, by marriage, to Sir John Giffard of Brimsfield."

" DALALY-CASTLE, (Salop) on the N. E. side of Wrekin-Hill, near the Watling-Street, was, in the R. of Rich. II. annexed, by act of Pt. to the principality of Chester."

" DELALEY-CASTLE, (Salop) near Wrekin-Hill, bel. anciently to the Earl of Arundel, on whose attainder it was forfeited to K. Rich. II. who. annexed it to the principality of Chester."

" DRAYTON, (Salop) 118 cm. 149 mm. from London, has a Mt. on W. and Fairs on the W. before Palm-Sunday, and Oct. 13. The Corbets family had a seat here, some of whom were sheriffs of this Co. from the 33d of Hen. III. in most of the succeeding Rs. to the 11th of Cha. I."

" DUDMASTON, (Salop) on the E. side of the Severn, and a little to the S. of Bridgenorth, was the ancient seat of the Wolriches, Bts. and is a noble structure, on a rising ground, that gives it a delightful prospect. Here was formerly a chantry."

" WENLOCK-GREAT, (Salop) 114 cm. 143 mm. from London, 10 from Shrewsbury to the S. E. in the road to Worcester, is an ancient corp. governed, pursuant to a charter of Cha. I. by a bailiff, recorder, and 2 other justices of the peace, and 12 bailiffs peers, or capital burgesses. The bailiff, who is justice of the quorum, is chose at the common- hall on Michaelmas-day, by 13 electors, who chuse another justice, the preceding bailiff being one for the year ensuing. In the Saxons time it had a nunnery, which was endowed with this manor, and it was afterwards turned into a convent for monks. It had in the R. of Richard II. a copper-mine. 'Tis now noted for lime-stone, and clay for tobacco-pipes, which are its chief mf. The Mt. is on M. Fairs Trinity-M. June 24, each 2 days, and Oct. 6, for 3 days. The manor bel. formerly to Sir John Winell, who, for his great services to Hen. VI. was created Baron of Wenlock, and Kt. of the Garter, but dying without issue, his estate fell to his cousin and heir, Lawley, from whom the Lawleys of this Co. are descended. The members of Pt. for this Bor. are chosen by the burgesses, who are about 100, and the bailiff returns them. 'Tis remarkable, that K. Edward IV. empowered this Bor. by charter to send one member to Pt. which is the first precedent of any such privilege inserted in the charter of any Bor."

" HOLGOT-CASTLE, (Salop) or HOULDGATE-CASTLE, anciently bel. to the Mauduits, who obtained a Mt. here, long since disused. In the R. of Edw. I. it was the Ld. Burnel's. In the R. of Hen. VII. it was Francis Visc. Lovel's, who forfeiting it, it was granted to Jasper D. of Bedford."

" HOWGATE-CASTLE, (Salop) N. W. of Brown-Clee-Hill, bel. formerly to the Mauduits; then to Burnel, Bp. of Bath; and afterwards to the Lovels."

" ISLE, (Salop) 2 m. from Shrewsbury, is a peninsula formed by the Severn, where those floats, called coracles, are much used; wherein only one man can fit, who rows very swiftly with one hand, while with the other he manages his fishing- tackle. They are of a form almost oval, and made of split fally twigs interwoven, and that part under the water is covered with a horse's hide. 'Tis about 5 foot long and 3 broad, round at the bottom, and so light, that they carry them on their backs to and from the water."

" KNOCKING-CASTLE, (Salop) on the S. E. side of Oswestry, was the manor and seat of the Lestranges, from the R. of Hen. II. to Edw. IV. when it went, by marriage, to Geo. Stanley, son to Thomas E. of Derby."

" LANTERDEN, (Salop) near the conflux of the rs. Temd and Colun, not far from Munslow; where are 2 burrows, in which were found, not long ago, burnt bones and ashes; and in the neighbourhood is a perfect Roman camp, called Brandon, and a British camp, called Coxall."

" NESS-CLIFF, (Salop) on the N. W. side of Shrewsbury, has a noted cave, and bel. formerly to the Le Stranges."

" PICKFORD, (Salop) on the S.E. side of Shrewsbury, near Condover, bel. anciently to the Pichfords, then to the Lds. Burnell. It was afterwards, for at least two centuries, the estate of the Oatleys. It is noted for a spring of pitchy water (from whence some derive its name) on the top of which there always flows a sort of liquid bitumen. Over most of the coal-pits here-abouts there lies a stratum of blackish rock; of which, by boiling and grinding, they make pitch and tar, and also distil an oil from it."

" REDCASTLE, (Salop) not far from Wem, is the decayed seat of the Audleys, on a rocky hill, anciently called Radcliff."

" ROSSAL-UP and DOWN, (Salop) N. W. of Shrewsbury, where the Severn fetches such a com. that it almost returns into itself, and incloses a tract of several miles round, which is therefore called the Isle."

" ROWTON-CASTLE, (Salop) on the S. W. side of Shrewsbury, not far from the Severn, belonged formerly to the Corbets, and afterwards to the L'Stranges of Knockin; out of ill will to whom, Leolin Pr. of Wales razed it to the ground. It is now the seat of Rich. Lyster, Esq; to whose ancestors it came from the L'Stranges of Knockin."

" STANDFORD, (Salop) in the p. of Edgmond, in a fine sporting country, 2 m. from Newport, in the road from London to Chester."

" WREKIN-HILL, (Salop) to the E. of Shrewsbury, is by some called Gilbert's-Hill. It stands bet. Watling- Street and the Severn, and within 1 m. of Wroxeter, the famous Roman station. It ascends gradually for a great length, till it becomes the highest ground in the Co. and is well adorned with trees. The toast in these parts, To all friends round the Wrekin, is as common as that to these round St. Paul's is at London, &c."

[Transcribed information from England's Gazetteer - Stephen Whatley - 1750](unless otherwise stated)

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