STANTON UPON HINE HEATH: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1824.

"STANTON UPON HINE HEATH (or STANTON), a parish in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford North, a vicarage remaining in charge, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, the deanery of Salop, and archdeaconry of Salop. 118 houses, 700 inhabitants. 5 miles south-east of Wem.

JOHN BOYDELL, ESQ., was born at Stanton. The history of this worthy Alderman affords an extraordinary instance of what a life of spirited exertion is able to accomplish. It appears almost impossible that an individual who began the world in so humble circumstances, could have effected so much for the improvement of the arts, and of the national taste. He was originally intended for a Land Surveyor.

When more than twenty, he was put an apprentice to a Mr. Tomms, an Engraver, at a time when there were no eminent engravers in England. He saw the necessity of forcing the art of Engraving, by stimulating men of genius by suitable rewards. He himself mentions, that the first means that enabled him to encourage other Engravers, were the profits be derived from the sale of a book of 152 prints, engraved by himself; and he very modestly allowed, that he himself had not at that time arrived at any eminence in the art of engraving, and that those prints are now principally valuable from the comparison of them with the improved state of the art within the last sixty or seventy years. With the profits of this book, he was however enabled to pay very liberally, the best English Engravers then in the country, and presented the publick with English engravings, of the works of the best Masters. The encouragement he experienced from the publick was equal to the spirit and patriotism of the undertaking, and soon laid the foundation of an ample fortune.

He was elected Alderman of Cheap Ward in 1782; Sheriff in 1785; Lord Mayor in 1790; and in the same year Master of the Stationers' company.

The Alderman had the satisfaction to see in his life time the effects of his labours. Though he never himself made great progress as an engraver, yet he was the greatest encourager of the art that this country ever saw. The English engravings which were before considered much inferior to those of foreign nations, began, from that time, to be highly prized; and the exportation of them became a valuable article of commerce. Having done so much for the art of Engraving, he resolved to direct his efforts to encourage the art of Painting in this country. To this effect, he undertook the superb edition of Shakspeare, the originals of which were for several years exhibited in the Shakspeare Gallery. The expense of these paintings was enormous, and more, perhaps, than any individual had ever before embarked for such an object.

The effect which this undertaking produced on the fortune of the worthy and patriotick Alderman, will be best explained by the letter which he addressed to his friend Sir John Anderson; by whom it was publickly read in the House of Commons, when applying for leave to dispose of the Paintings, &c., by lottery.

" Dear Sir,

" The kindness with which you have undertaken to represent my case, calls upon me to lay open to you, with the utmost candour, the circumstances attending it, which I will now endeavour to do, as briefly as possible.

" It is above sixty years since I began to study the art of Engraving, in the course of which time, besides employing that long period of life in my profession, with an industry and assiduity that it would be improper in me to describe, I have laid out with my brethren, in promoting the commerce of the Fine Arts in this country, above £350,000. When I first began business, the whole commerce of prints in this country consisted in foreign prints, principally from France, to supply the cabinets of the curious in this kingdom. Impressed with the idea that the genius of our own country, if properly encouraged, was equal to that of foreigners, I set about establishing a School for Engraving in England, with what success, the publick are well acquainted. It is perhaps at present sufficient to say, that the whole course of that commerce is changed, very few prints being now imported into this country, while the foreign market is principally supplied with prints from England.

"In effecting this plan, I have not only spent a long life, but have employed 40 years of the labour of my nephew, Josiah Boydell, who has been bred to the business, and whose assistance during that period has been greatly instrumental in promoting a School of Engraving in this country. By the blessing of Providence these exertions have been very successful; not only in that respect, but in a commercial point of view; for the large sums I regularly received from the Continent previously to the French Revolution, for impressions to them from the numerous plates engraved in England, encouraged me to attempt also an English School of Historical Painting.

"I had observed with indignation, that the want of such a school had been long made a topick of opprobrium against this country, among foreign writers on national taste. No subject therefore could be more appropriate for such a national attempt, than England's inspired poet, and great painter of Nature, Shakspeare; and I flatter myself, the most prejudiced foreigner must allow that the Shakspeare Gallery will convince the world that Englishmen want nothing but the fostering hand of encouragement, to bring forth their genius in this line of art. I might go further; and defy any of the Italian, Flemish, or French schools to shew, in so short a space of time, such an exertion as the Shakspeare Gallery; and if they could have made such an exertion, the pictures would have been marked with all that monstrous sameness which distinguishes those different schools. Whereas in the Shakspeare Gallery, every artist, partaking of the freedom of his country, and endowed with that originality of thinking so peculiar to its natives, has chosen his own road to what he conceives to be excellence, unshackled by the slavish imitation and uniformity that pervade all the foreign schools. This Gallery, I once flattered myself with being able to have left to that generous publick, which has for so long a period encouraged my undertakings; but unfortunately for those connected with the Fine Arts, a Vandalick revolution has arisen, which in convulsing all Europe, has entirely extinguished, except in this happy Island, all those who have had the taste or the power to promote those arts; while the Tyrant who at present governs France, tells that believing and besotted nation, that in the midst of all his robbery and rapine he is a great patron and promoter of the Fine Arts; just as if those arts that humanize and polish mankind could be promoted by such means and by such a man.

"You will excuse my dear Sir, I am sure, some warmth in an old man on this subject, when I inform you that this unhappy revolution has cut up by the roots that revenue from the Continent, which enabled me to undertake such considerable works in this country. At the same time, as I am laying my case fairly before you, it should not be disguised, that my natural enthusiasm for the Fine Arts (perhaps buoyed up by success,) made me improvident. For had I laid by but ten pounds out of every hundred pounds my plates produced, I should not have had occasion to trouble my friends, or appeal to the publick; but on the contrary, I flew with impatience to employ some new Artist with the whole gains of my former undertakings. I see too late my error; for I have thereby decreased my ready money, and increased my stock of copper plates to such a size, that all the print sellers in Europe could not purchase it, especially at these times, so unfavourable to the arts.

"Having thus candidly owned my error, I have but one word to say in extenuation. My receipts from abroad had been large, and continued so regular, that I at all times found them fully adequate to support my undertakings at home,- I could not calculate upon the present crisis which has totally annihilated them,- I certainly calculated on some defalcation of these receipts by a French and Spanish War, or both; but with France or Spain I carried on but little commerce. Flanders, Holland, and Germany, which no doubt supplied the rest of Europe, were the great marts: but, alas! they are now no more. The convulsion that has disjointed, and ruined the whole continent, I did not foresee,- I know no man that did. On that head, therefore, though it has nearly ruined me and mine, I can take but little blame to myself.

"In this state of things I throw myself with confidence upon that publick which has always been but too partial to my poor endeavours, for the disposal of that which in happier days, I flattered myself to have presented to them. I know of no means by which that can be effected just now, but by a lottery; and if the legislature will have the goodness to grant a permission for that purpose, they will at least have the assurance of the even tenor of a long life, that it will be fairly and honourably conducted. The objects of it are my Pictures, Galleries, Drawings, &c. &c., which unconnected with any copperplates and trade, are much more than sufficient to pay, if properly disposed of, all I owe in the world. I hope you, my dear Sir, and every honest man, at any age, will feel for my anxiety to discharge my debts, but at my advanced age, of 85, I feel it becomes doubly desirable.

" I am, Dear Sir, with great regard, Your obedient mid obliged servant, JOHN BOYDELL."

"The good old man had the satisfaction of living to see the Act passed through both houses of parliament, and of being cheered in its progress, by the eulogium of several members. After the passing of the Act, it became one of the principal employments of the Alderman's life, to arrange with his own hands, the several prizes. He did not, however, live to see the event of his scheme, being called from his labours, Dec. 12, 1804. He had attended his duty as Alderman at the Old Bailey Sessions on the eighth, when it is supposed he caught cold. On the 10th he found himself much indisposed; on the 11th he was pronounced by his physician, to be in danger; and the next morning expired without a groan. It was rather singular, that he should have lived just long enough to see the Shakspeare lottery disposed of; for on the day he paid the debt of nature, not a ticket remained unsold. Of his unbounded liberality, let the Council-chamber of the City of London, the Court-room of the Stationers' Company, and the Dining-room at the Sessions-house, loudly speak. To every benevolent institution, he was a generous benefactor, and an attentive guardian. Witness, particularly, "The Royal Humane 'Society," and the "Literary Fund for the relief of distressed Authors," of both, which he was for several years, a most worthy Vice President, and a frequent attendant at their meetings. Of his private charities, were they to be brought before the publick, the list would be abundant.

"His remains were interred in great funeral state, in the afternoon of the 19th of December, 1804, in the church of St. Olave, Jewry, where an excellent funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Robert Hamilton, L.L.D., vicar of the church, and rector of St. Martin, Ironmonger-lane.

The lottery was drawn on the 28th of January, 1805, and the principal prize, (the Shakspeare Gallery,) fell to the lot of Mr. Tassie, the ingenious Modeller, in Leicester Square.

" BOOLEY (or BOWLEY), a township in the parish of Stanton upon Hine-heath, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford North. 25 houses, 134 inhabitants. 3 miles south-east of Wem.

" HARCOURT (or HARCOT), a township in the parish of Stanton upon Hine heath, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford North. 4½ miles south-east of Wem. 5 houses, 34 inhabitants.

" HIGH HATTON, a township in the parish of Stanton upon Hine-heath, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford North. 6 miles south-east of Wem."

" MORTON and BOWLEY, a township in the parish of Stanton upon Hine-heath, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford North. 3½ miles south-east of Wem. Moston contains 11 houses, 66 inhabitants,"

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

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