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WORFIELD: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1824.

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"WORFIELD (or WORVILL), a parish in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. A vicarage, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, the deanery of Lapley and Triezul, and archdeaconry of Stafford. 816 houses, 1,582 inhabitants. 3 miles north-east of Bridgnorth.

It adjoins to the town of Bridgnorth on the west, and is a very extensive parish containing 26 townships, viz., Ackleton which is also a manor, late belonging to Isaac Hawkins Browne, Esq., of Badger, who purchased it from the Kynnerley family about 1770, which had obtained it through marriage with the heiress of Petit in the reign of Henry the eighth. The Petits became possessed of it through marriage with Alice the daughter of William Coleron, who enjoyed it through his marriage with Alice de Baggesore, daughter and heiress of John de Baggesore, descended from Stephen de Baggesore Lord of Baggesore alias Badger, in the reign of Henry the second. Alscote, Barnsley, Bradney; in this latter is the mansion-house of John Marshall, Esq., which he inherits from the ancient family of Billingsley,- Bromley Burcote, and Burcote; in the former of these mostly belonging to John Bell Hardwicke, Esq., some years ago was accidentally discovered by him a large cave, in which were strewed many human and other bones, well preserved in a stratum of white chalk, also two hearths on which were the remains of ashes and charcoal, with some pieces of flint.

The cave is said to have been used in the Druid worship about the period of the first introduction of Christianity, being considered a temporary refuge to the devotees.

Catstree, Chesterton, Edwness also a manor, Halloo, Hoccom, Kingslow, Newton, Oldington, Rindleford, Roughton, Rowley, Sonde, Stableford, Stanlow, Swancote, Winscote, Worfield, and Wyken, also a manor. There were also two other townships called Asterhill, and Ewyke, which have long sunk in the wreck of time. Worfield is also a manor of ancient demesnes, comprising the before mentioned townships, and the three small manors. Thomas Whitmore Esq., of Apley Park is the present lord. The inhabitants enjoy a charter granted 26 May, 16 Edward the first, which exempts them from the payment of tolls in most places throughout England, with other privileges, supposed to have been granted on account of the great assistance they rendered him in subduing the Welsh. This parish contains several memorials of the Danes. The living is a vicarage in the gift of William Yelverton Davenport, Esq., the present incombent the Rev. Edmond Sherrington Davenport, being his nephew and his presumptive heir.

The parish church, a spacious edifice, with a lofty spire, was built about the reign of Edward the second or third.

" ACKLETON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstrey."

" ALSCOT, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 8 miles, south- west of Wenlock."

" BARNSLEY, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 2 miles east of Bridgnorth."

" BRADNEY, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry, 4½ miles north- east of Bridgnorth."

" BROMLEY, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 2 miles north- east of Bridgnorth."

" BURCOT, a township in the parish of Worfield, or Worvil, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 2 miles north-east of Bridgnorth. See appendix."

" CATSTREY (or CATSTREE), a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3 mile, north north-east of Bridgnorth.

" CHESTERTON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 5 miles north-east of Bridgnorth. At Chesterton is one of the most perfect Roman camps in the Island; and the Saxons had a Castle there. See appendix."

" CRANMORE (or CRANMERE), a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3½ miles north-east of Bridgnorth.

" EWDNESS, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3½ miles northeast by north of Bridgnorth."

" HACKLETON (or c), a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 4½ miles north-east of Bridgnorth.

" HALLON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the hundred of Brimstry. Here the Saxon Lords of Worfield, had their castle and a part of their demesne. In this township stands Davenport house, with its beautiful grounds, so much admired by the poet Shenstone, who

Amidst these woods and lawns had rov'd, And oft these rural scenes approv'd.

The residence of Valentine Vickers, Esq. 4 miles northeast of Bridgnorth."

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

" HOCKHAM (or HOCCOM), a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 1 mile north-east by east of Bridgnorth.

" KINGSLOW, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 6 miles northeast of Bridgnorth."

" NEWTON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3½ miles north- east by north of Bridgnorth."

" OLDINGTON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3½ miles north-east by north of Bridgnorth."

" RINDLEFORD, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 2 miles north-east of Bridgnorth.

Rindleford is in the parish and manor of Worfield, in which stood, in very early time, one of the manor Mills, used for grinding the corn of the customary tenants of the manor,- which mill was kept in repair at their expense, and apportioned the last time in the reign of Charles I. The family of Rindleford enjoyed a Walk Mill and lands here till the reign of Henry V."

" ROUGHTON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 2½ miles north- east by east of Bridgnorth.

Roughton is in the manor of Worfield. In this township are the mansion houses of James Marshall, Esq., and Mrs. Stokes. On the green, prior to the reformation, stood the chapel of St. Anne, but not a vestige of it remains. On the south side of the publick road leading through this place from Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton, was seated one of the Lodges of the Foresters of Morfe, but has been for ages swept away, and the office has probably been as long abolished."

" ROWLEY, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry.

Rowley is in the manor of Worfield. The ancient family of Rowley resided in this township till it passed to their descendant, John Shawcross, who sold it in the year 1686. Roger Rowley, one of its proprietors, was the first person who set up his coach in Shrewsbury. It now belongs to W.Y. Davenport, Esq."

" SONDE, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. Sonde is in the manor of Worfield, and mostly belongs to Richard Poole, Gent., a descendant of the Sondeses of this place. The Lowe, a small village, is in this township,"

" STABLEFORD, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 4½ miles north-east by north of Bridgnorth.

Stableford is both in the manor and parish of Worfield, and is said to have been a Roman station, afterwards fortified by the Saxons against the incursions of the Danes, it belongs for the most part to John Jasper, and Richard Tayler, Gents."

" STANLOW, a township in the parish and manor of Worfield, and in the hundred of Brimstry. A family of the same name resided here, subsequently to the reign of Henry the seventh. It now belongs to Sir George Pigot, of Patshull, Bart."

" STANTON, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry."

" SWANCOTE, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 1 mile north- east of Bridgnorth.

Swancote is in the manor of Worfield. The family of Swancote were living here till the reign of Edward the fourth. After having been divided among several proprietors, it became the property of the respectable family of Warter, who resided here till they purchased the lordship of Rudge, and took up their residence there. Their relation, Thomas Boycott, Esq., sold it to the present possessor, Joel Beecher, Gent. In this township is a vale called Woden's Dale, supposed to have been frequented by the early Saxons, in their devotions to their idol of this name."

" WINSCOTE, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 2½ miles north- east by north of Bridgnorth.

Winscote is in the manor of Worfield. The needy descendants of the long lived Thomas Parr, (See Winnington) lived, within a few years, on a heath called Winscote hills, in this township. The heath is now inclosed, and forms a part of the extensive wood grounds of Thomas Whitmore, Esq., of Apley Park, who is the sole proprietor of this township."

" WYKEN, a township in the parish of Worfield, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3 miles north-eaat of Bridgnorth.

Wyken is a manor and township within the parish and manor of Worfield, formed out of the Saxon manor of Wolforesford, described in Domesday. It was granted with the churches of Worfield and Chesterton, by King Edward the second, in the eleventh year of his reign, to the dean of Lichfield, in exchange for the manor of Greenford, in Middlesex. In the second year of Edward the sixth, Richard Williams, then dean, and the chapter, conveyed this manor, with the advowson of the vicarage of the parish church of Worfield, and most of the great tithes of the parish to Sir John Talbot, Knight, of Albrighton, who made the manor-house his residence. John Bache, Gent., is the principal proprietor of lands in this township. He has lately re-erected the family mansion in a most picturesque and beautiful situation."

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

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