CHURCH STRETTON, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF ALL STRETTON, LITTLE STRETTON, MINTON AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
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Church Stretton is a parish in the hundred of Munslow, comprising the township of its name, and also, those of All Stretton, Little Stretton, and Minton: the market town of Church Stretton is 153 miles N.W. from London, and 13 S. from Shrewsbury; romantically seated in a valley formed by the Caradoc, Ragleth, and Longmynd hills. It is a station on the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway. From the summit of the latter, which is nearly 1,700, feet above the level of the sea, most extensive, interesting, and diversified views are commanded. Many flocks of sheep are kept on the hills, producing large quantities of good wool. This place, which is distinguished by its adjunct (Church), from its townships, as the locality of the parish church, derives its name from Street-Town, from its situation, within a quarter of a mile of the Watling-street, which ancient way passes in a direction parallel with the road from Shrewsbury to Ludlow. The town consists of but one street, in the widest part of which stands the market hall and public room, erected in 1839, by subscription, on the site of an old timber structure. The most prominent branch carried on is malting. A court leet is held twice in each year under the steward of the manor, and the county magistrates sit in petty sessions on the third Thursday, monthly, at the Crown, the principal inn here. Church Stretton is a polling station at the election of members to represent South Salop.
The parish church of Saint Lawrence is an ancient and venerable cruciform structure, principally in the early style of English architecture, with a square embattled tower, rising from the centre, crowned with pinnacles. The chancel is ornamented with richly carved oak in antique devices; and in the central compartment of the altar, is the representation of a dead Christ in the lap of the Virgin, finely carved. The windows, principally in the decorated style, with rich tracery, are embellished with stained glass, and in the south transept the ancient carved oak roof is carefully preserved. A large stone coffin, having a lid, and an alabaster slab with an inscription, not legible, were discovered some years since beneath this transept. The triennial visitation is held in this church, by the bishop of this diocess, in August, and in the intermediate years by the archdeacon, in May. Many of the valuable embellishments of the church have been bestowed by the rector at a considerable expense. The living is a rectory in the gift of C. O. Child Pemberton; the present incumbent is the Rev. Hugh Owen Wilson. The free school, here, was endowed by several benefactions: the present establishment combines the objects of a National, with the advantage of a Sunday School, and is open to all children of the parish; the inhabitants have also the advantage of a public library and news room. The other charities are almshouses for four poor people, and some bequests, from which the poor of the parish derive benefit at certain periods. The air of this district is considered exceedingly salubrious; the soil is a fine gravel, and several clear mountain streams descend impetuously into the valleys. The secluded and romantic situation of the place, and its proximity to scenes of deep interest, together with its healthfulness, render it a place of resort for parties from the neighbouring towns. The market is held on Thursday; and the fairs on the Tuesday before Shrewsbury March fair; May 14th, July 3rd (for wool), September 25th, and the last Thursday in November. The parish (including the townships before mentioned), contained in 1841, 1,604 inhabitants and in 1851, 1,676.
POST OFFICE, Church Stretton, Margaret Broome, Post Mistress.—Letters from London and all parts arrive (from Shrewsbury), every morning at six, and are despatched thereto at eight in the evening.
GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Acton Mrs. Fanny Stackhouse, Acton Scott
Baldwin Mrs. —, Church Stretton
Beddoes Wm. Minton, Esq. Minton
Bray Miss Sarah, Church Stretton
Bridgman, Mrs. Clarissa, Church Stretton
Corfield the Misses Ann & Martha, Church Stretton
Darcey William, Esq. Ticklerton
Gibbon Mrs. Ann, Church Stretton
Haverkam Mrs. Mary, All Stretton
Hopwood Mr. Robt. Church Stretton
Nunn Rev. Preston (and surrogate), Church Stretton
Phillips Mrs. Maria, Church Stretton
Robinson Mrs. Eliz. Church Stretton
Tomlinson Miss Ann, Church Streton
Wainwright Mr. Richd. All Stretton
Wilson Rev. Hugh Owen, Church Stretton
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS.
Andrews Eliza, Church Stretton
Free School, Church Stretton—Thomas Cureton, master; Henrietta G. Cureton, mistress
Hammond Ann, Little Stretton
Smith the Misses, All Stretton
Wilding Mary (day and boarding), Church Stretton
BLACKSMITHS.
Hotchkiss Mary, Acton Scott
Lewis Robert, All Stretton
Lewis John, Church Stretton
Taylor William, Little Stretton
Wood Henry & Co. Church Stretton
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.
Davies William, Church Stretton
Dodd Thomas, Church Stretton
Gwynn James, Little Stretton
Hammond Vincent, Little Stretton
Lloyd John, Church Stretton
Miles Thomas, Little Stretton
Reynolds Samuel, All Stretton
Robinson John, Church Stretton
Williams Samuel, All Stretton
BUTCHERS.
Eaton —, Church Stretton
Faulkner John, Church Stretton
Langford John, Lower wood
Preen Samuel, Little Stretton
FIRE &c OFFICE AGENTS.
Crown, Chas. Mott, Church Stretton
Manchester (fire), James Robinson Home, Church Stretton
Salop, John Belton, Church Stretton
Shropshire and North Wales, James Heighway, Church Stretton
GROCERS AND DEALERS IN SUNDRIES.
Beaumond Thomas, All Stretton
Davies John, Little Stretton
Donnelly Michael, All Stretton
Downes Edward, Little Stretton
Heighway James, Church Stretton
Home Richard & Son (and tallow chandler), Church Stretton
Hughes John, Church Stretton
Lucas Mary, Church Stretton
M‘Cartney Robert (tea), Church Stretton
Meredith Lewis & Co. (& drapers), Church Stretton
Morris John, Church Stretton
Rawlins Mary, All Stretton
Robinson James H. (and draper), Church Stretton
HAIR DRESSERS.
Bellingham James, Church Stretton
Bellingham Hubert, Church Stretton
INNS AND PUBLIC HOUSES.
In Church Stretton when not otherwise stated.
Buck’s Head, David Evans
Crown (commercial & posting & inland revenue office), Geo. Beetlestone
Crown, Margt. Turner, Little Stretton
Grapes, John Pritchard
King’s Arms, Thomas Owen
Lion, Sarah Mills
New Inn, Thomas Millichop, Little Stretton
New Inn, Richd. Edwards, All Strettn
Plough, George Phipps
Raven, John Martin
Station Inn, William Teague, Marsh brook
San, Edward Downes, Little Stretton
Yew Tree, Wm. Hide, All Stretton
IRONMONGERS.
Cope Matthew, Church Stretton
Wood Henry & Co. Church Stretton
JOINERS & WHEELWRIGHTS.
Beaumond Thomas, All Stretton
Faulkner John, Church Stretton
Hammond Richard, Little Stretton
Hammond Thomas, Little Stretton
Owen Thomas, Church Stretton
Robinson Edward, Church Stretton
Williams Richard, Church Stretton
MALTSTERS.
Evans David, Church Stretton
Heighway Thomas, Lower wood
Lewis John, Church Stretton
M‘Cartney Robert, Church Stretton
Robinson James H. Little Stretton
MILLERS.
Edwards Francis, Little Stretton
Pinches John, All Stretton
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS AND GLAZIERS.
Bailey George, Church Stretton
Lewis John, Church Stretton
Lewis William, Church Stretton
SADDLERS.
Andrews Thomas, Church Stretton
Glover Edward, Church Stretton
STONE MASONS.
Gough Thomas, Church Stretton
Humphries Wm. Church Stretton
Lister Edward, Lower wood
SURGEONS.
Mott Charles, Church Stretton
Wilding Richard, Church Stretton
TAILORS.
Bromley John, Lower wood
Fewtrill James, Church Stretton
Lucas John, Church Stretton
Marston Richard, Church Stretton
Marston William, Church Stretton
Pearson Geo. B. Church Stretton
Preen Thomas, Little Stretton
Roberts William, Church Stretton
Taylor Richard, Lower wood
Taylor Thomas, Little Stretton
WHEELWRIGHTS.
See Joiners and Wheelwrights.
WOOLLEN MANUFACTURER.
Williams James, Church Stretton
MISCELLANEOUS.
The names without address are in Church Stretton.
Bakewell Samuel Glover, proprietor of the lunatic asylum
Beddoes John, skinner
Belton John, clerk to the Union
County Constabulary Office—Charles Lewis, superintendent
Everall Mary, beer retainer
Hammond Richard, pump maker and well sinker, Little Stretton
Hayes Mary, milliner
Heighway Edwd. auctioneer, All Stretton
Heighway Jas. actuary to savings’ bank
Hince Charles, cattle dealer, All Stretton
Home James Robinson, registrar of births and deaths
Lewis Charles, superintendent of county constabulary
Lewis John, beer retailer
Moore John, watch and clock maker
Morris John, leather cutter
Profit Ann, confectioner
Public Library, Church Stretton—Richard Robinson, librarian
Robinson George, cattle dealer
Simpson William, tanner, Little Stretton
Stamp Office—Henry Wishlade, sub-distributer
Union Workhouse—Henry Evans, master; Louisa Howell, matron
Wishlade Henry, chemist and druggist
Wood Mary, baker
CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY.
On the Shrewsbury and Hereford Line.
Station at the east end of the town—Hugh Morgan, station master
VANS.
To BISHOPS CASTLE, BRIDGNORTH and CLUN, John Jones, from his house, every market day.
To SHREWSBURY, — Dobson, every Friday.