CLEOBURY MORTIMER
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Is a parish in the hundred of Stoddesdon—the market town, a small one, is 137 miles N.W. from London, 33 S.S.E. from Shrewsbury, and 11 E. from Ludlow, situated on the road from the metropolis to the latter town, close to the southern border of the county, abutting upon Worcestershire, and on an eminence rising gradually from the western hank of the river Rea, which is crossed by a neat stone bridge. The country around here is very productive, and its fertility is promoted by the river, and by numerous fine springs that rise in this neighbourhood. The name of the place is said to be derived from its situation, in a district abounding with clay, and from the Saxon word byrig, a town; the adjunct, by which it is distinguished from North Cleobury, is obtained from its ancient possessor, Ralph de Mortimer, who held it at the time of the general survey. The town consists principally of one long street, in which are some good houses, and the mutilated remains of an old cross. The government of the town is vested in a constable, who is annually appointed at the court-leet of the lord of the manor, William Lacon Childe, Esq. This town is included in the twenty-seventh circuit of County Court towns, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50. Formerly this was a place of good trade, having extensive iron works; these have disappeared, and, with the exception of the extensive paper works belonging to Mr. Thomas Lambert Hall, jun., and which affords employment to a considerable number of hands, the town is not distinguished by any manufactures. The malting business is carried on by a few individuals; and on the Clee hills, about three miles west, are collieries, producing good coal, but the works have little or no influence upon the trade of the town.
The parish church of St. Mary is an ancient structure, with a plain square tower, surmounted by an octagonal spire of wood, and formerly belonged to one of the mitred abbeys. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the lord of the manor; the Rev. Edward George Childe is the present incumbent. There is a chapel each for Methodists and Roman Catholics—the latter is attached to Mawley Hall, about a mile to the west, the seat of Sir Edward Blount, Bart. The locality of this hall is very beautiful, and the prospects extensive and pleasing. The endowed school was founded pursuant to the will of Sir William Lacon Childe, Knight, dated 1714; and in 1740 the ground was purchased on which the buildings are erected: it is a well endowed establishment, and educates upwards of two hundred pupils, of whom forty boys and girls are annually clothed; and a fee is given for apprenticing boys on their leaving the school. The present income (including land) amounts to about £500. per annum: the management is vested in ten trustees: the head master is appointed by W. L. Childe, Esq., as representative of the founder, and visitor of the schools. The market is held on Wednesday, and the fairs April 21st, May 2nd, Trinity Monday, and October 27th. The parish contained, in 1841, 1,730 inhabitants, and in 1851, 1,738.
POST OFFICE, William Jefferies, Post Master.—Letters from various places East and South arrive (from Bewdley) every morning at eight, and are despatched thereto at a quarter before five in the evening.
GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Blount Sir Edward, Bart. Mawley Hall
Botfield Mrs. Lucy, Hopton Court
Childe Rev. Edward George, Cleobury Mortimer
Childe William Lacon, Esq. Kinlet Hall
Cocks Rev. Charles Richard Somers, Neen Savage
Cooksey Mr. — Cleobury Mortimer
Crump Thomas, Esq. Chorley
Crump Thomas, jun. Esq. Cleobury Mortimer
Davis Rev. William, Bayton
Halliburton Rev. Chas. Corley Rectory
Hayton Rev. John, Cleobury Mortimer
Kemp Rev. Henry, Cleobury Mortimer
Maddison Rev. Charles, St. Hesdon Vicarage
Reynolds Mrs. Elizabeth, Cleobury Mortimer
Richardson Lieutenant Jno. Cleobury Mortimer
Ricketts Rev. Martin H. Cleobury Mortimer
Southam Phillip Saml. Esq. Cleobury Mortimer
Smith Captain—Holly Waste, Cleobury Mortimer
Wicksted Charles, Esq. Shakenhurst
Williams Rev. Jno. Farlow Parsonage
Woodward Rev. Frank, Hopton
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.
Allday Ann (boarding & day)
Endowed School—Rev. Henry Kemp, head master
Infants’ School—Mrs. Tongue, Newall Emma, mistress
ATTORNEYS.
Pope Benjamin
Trow Adam, Prattinton
AUCTIONEERS.
Backhouse Henry O.
Hill William
BAKERS & FLOUR DEALERS.
Keysell Edward
Price James
Yapp Thomas
BLACKSMITHS.
Corfield William, Neen Savage
Harris Thomas
Potter Edward
Webb Sarah
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.
Bodendam James
Breakwell Thos.
Hide Thomas
Whatmore Jno.
Wheeler Ann
Wheeler James
BUTCHERS.
Bright Edward
Lloyd Thomas
Williams Thos.
Worrall Chas.
CHEMISTS.
Bryant Robert Waller
Hodgkinson William
FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS.
Birmingham (fire), James Mytton
Crown (life), Edmund Banks, Whitcombe
Salop (fire), William Dalls
GROCERS AND DEALERS IN SUNDRIES.
Allen Rebecca
Beddoe Ann
Dallow James
Downes John
Jefferies Wm.
Keysell Edward
Parry Isaac Thos.
Wheeler James
Williams Elizbth.
Yapp Thomas
INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.
Bell, Hannah Vaughne
Crown, Joseph Mineall
Fountain, Thomas Breakwell
Fox, James Jones
King’s Arms, William Adams
Plough, James Ward
Red Lion, Thomas Worrall
Swan, Benjamin Dorrall
Talbot, Wm. Dorrell (inland revenue office)
LAND AGENTS.
Boucher James
Bourne James
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPRS.
Downes William
Mytton James
MALTSTERS.
Beddoe Charles (& dealer in hops)
Dorrell William
Keysell Edward
Wheeler William
MILLERS.
Dorrell Benjamin
Hall Thomas Lambert, jun. Neen Savage
Yapp Thomas
MILLINERS & DRESS MAKERS.
Cooper Mary Ann
Morris Caroline
Nichols Misses
Tonge Julia
PAPER MAKER.
Hall Thomas Lambert, jun. Cleobury Paper Mill
SADDLERS.
Littler William
Palmer Samuel
STONE MASONS.
Habberley William
Jones John
Potter Samuel
SURGEONS.
Jones William Weaver
Pope Thomas
Whitcombe Edmund Banks
SURVEYORS—LAND.
Dallow William (and road)
Hill William
TAILORS.
Cook Charles
Farmer Thomas
Mytton James
Pennington Geo.
Potter George
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Merrick John
Williams Thomas
MISCELLANEOUS.
Cook William, high bailiff, clerk to the Union, assistant clerk to the Magistrates, and superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages
Dallow James, skinner
Dearn Andrew, nail maker
Downes Thomas, beer retailer
Evans John, tin-plate worker and ironmonger
Farmer Wm. parish clerk and collector of taxes
Griffiths John, hair dresser
Hare Mary, joiner
Howell James, sawyer
Hume Benj. & Jas. painters and glaziers
Jeffries William post master
Knott Richard, cooper
Morris Elizabeth, beer retailer
Napper William, painter and glazier
Share Thomas, sawyer
Smith John, joiners
Stockell Thos. watch and clock maker
Tonge George, cattle dealer
Wainwright William, relieving officer
Watmore John, town crier
Whetstone William, beer retailer
Whitcombe Edmund Banks, registrar of births, deaths and marriages
Whitworth Thos. Milne, inland revenue officer
POOR LAW UNION.
Workhouse, Cleobury Mortimer,
Master—Thomas Harding
Matron—Sarah Harding
Schoolmistress—Sarah Jones
Clerk to the Board of Guardians—Wm. Cook
Medical Officer—C. B. C. Beale
Relieving Officer—William Wainwright
COUNTY COURT.
Judge—Uvedale Corbett, Esq.
High Bailiff—William Cooke
Clerk—Adam Brattington Trow
Bailiff—William Farmer
RAILWAY.
The nearest Station is at Ludlow, 11 miles to the west of Cleobury Mortimer, on the Shrewsbury and Hereford line.
CARRIERS.
To LUDLOW, Margaret West & James Wheeler, every Monday
To KIDDERMINSTER, James Jones and James Wheeler, every Tuesday