WEM, WITH THE VILLAGES OF PREES, EDSTASTON, LOPPINGTON AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
Reading edition
Wem is a parish, partly in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, and extending into the hundred of Pimhill—the market town is 164 miles N.W. from London, 10 N. from Shrewsbury, and the like distance S. from Whitchurch; pleasantly situated on the road leading to the two last named towns, and near to the source of the Roden. Wem was the first town in the county which declared for the parliament in 1643: in that year a party of the king’s troops attempted to capture it by storm, but were repulsed by the small garrison, assisted, it is affirmed, by the zealous exertions of the women; and at a subsequent period, under the government of Major General Mytton, the garrison plundered the houses and possessions of the neighbouring royalists—and the booty conveyed by them into the town was the means of its flourishing more than at any antecedent period. Many of the houses are ancient structures, the more modern ones having been erected after the destructive fire in 1677, which consumed the church, market house, and whole ranges of buildings, destroying property to the amount of £23,000. The unprincipled Judge Jeffreys became possessed of this place about the year 1685, and was created Baron Wem, being the first who enjoyed that dignity by patent, but at the death of his son the title became extinct. This place is not distinguished by manufactories or any peculiar branch of trade—there are two tan-yards, several maltings and two or three corn mills in the vicinity, that belonging to Thomas Jebb, junr. is a large and powerful one driven by steam: the business here generally, however, is dependent on supplying the inhabitants, and those of the immediate neighbourhood (which is very respectable), with articles of ordinary consumption. The streets are well lighted with gas, and there are many good shops and several respectable private residences in New street. An act of parliament has been obtained for a branch from the London and North Western Railway from Shrewsbury to Crewe, which will pass through this town. The principal officers are two bailiffs, appointed annually at a court leet, held soon after Michaelmas—one by the manorial lord’s steward, and the other by the borough jury. Wem is included in the twenty seventh circuit of County Court towns, under the acts passed for the recovery of debts to any amount not exceeding £50.—the court is held monthly.
The parish church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a handsome edifice, with a lofty tower and fine chancel: nearly three hundred additional sittings were obtained by building two new galleries in 1840, which are free from a grant from the Society for building churches; the living is a rectory, in the gift of Lord Darlington: the present rector is the Rev. J. W. D. Merist. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, Methodists, and Irvingites. The free school, here, was founded and liberally endowed, in 1653, by Sir Thomas Adams, a native of this town; it has two exhibitions to the universities, founded by Mr. Careswell. The British school, in Dark-lane, was established in 1839, partly by a government grant and partly by subscriptions; it is for children of both sexes. The national school is situated in Noble-street, and was erected at an expense of nearly £1,000. Situate a mile S.W. from Wem, is a mineral spring. The market is held on Thursday; and the fairs on the first Thursday in March, May 6th, Holy Thursday, first Thursday in June, June 29th, first Thursday in August, the last Thursday in September, and November 21st. The parish of Wem, which comprises ten townships and two chapelries, contained in 1841, 4,119 inhabitants, and in 1851, 3,747.
Prees is a parish, in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford—the village is between four and five miles N.N.E. from Wem. There are several maltings here, and a traffic in lime, coal and slate, is carried on by means of the Quinabrook canal, which passes through the parish—taken altogether, however, the trade of the place is but inconsiderable. The parish church of Saint Mary, is an ancient cruciform structure, with a tower of much later date; in the church are some specimens of tesselated pavement, and several monuments to the ancestors of General Lord Hill, who was born herein 1772: the living is a vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the prebendary of Prees, in Lichfield Cathedral; the present incumbent is the Rev. Archdeacon Allen. Prees had formerly a market, which has long been discontinued; but two fairs are still maintained—on the second Mondays in April and October. The parish of Prees contained, in 1831, 3,335 inhabitants, in 1841, 3,270, and in 1851, 3,196; of which last number, 630 belonged to the village.
Edstaston is a chapelry, in the parish of Wem, about 2 miles N. from that town, seated on the road to Whitchurch. A branch of the Ellesmere canal passes through the village, and terminates at Quinabrook. It contains a chapel of ease, a very ancient structure, and about 400 inhabitants.
Loppington is a parish and village pleasantly situated about 3 miles S.W. from Wem. The church of Saint Michael is a plain ancient structure. The population of the parish in 1851, was 599.
POST OFFICE. Chapel-street, Wem, Jane Deakin, Post Mistress.—Letters from all parts arrive (from Shrewsbury) every morning at six, and are despatched at a quarter to seven in the evening.—Letters from Whitchurch arrive every evening at a quarter to seven, and are despatched thereto at a quarter past six in the morning.—Money Orders granted and paid from nine in the morning till five in the evening.
POST OFFICE, Prees, Richard Langford, Post Master.—Letters from all parts arrive every morning at eight, and are despatched at twenty-five minutes past five in the evening.
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Allen the Rev. & Venerable Archdeacon, Vicarage, Prees
Barber Mrs. Martha, Noble st
Barber Henry John, Esq. Mill st
Beetinson Charles A. Esq. Noble st
Blackley Rev. William, Hawkestone
Boote Mr. Daniel, Edstaston Hall
Boughey Mr. Joseph, Prees
Boulton Thomas, Esq. the Grove
Boulton Rev. William, M.A. High st
Bowen Miss —, Coton Hall
Bowen George, Esq. (magistrate), Coton Hall
Briscoe Mr. Elizabeth, Noble st
Broomhall Mr. Edward, Cripple st
Colley Mr. John, Lacon
Cotgrave Miss Jane, Chapel st
Deakin Mr. Henry, Soulton Hall
Dicken Mrs. Jane, Loppington House
Dicken John, Esq. Platt, Prees
Dicken William Frances, Esq. Prees
Dickin Mrs. Jane, High st
Dickin Mr. Richard Parker, High st
Dixon Rev. William, Noble st
Dobell Mrs. —, Low hill
Evans Rev. John, Whixall
Ferrett Mr. Henry, Noble st
Franklin Mr. Robert, High st
Grant Rev. Wm. Islington crescent
Gratrix Rev. Charles B. Loppington
Greenwood Mr. Abrhm. Chapel st
Huff Rev. James, Chapel st
Hill Miss —, Hardwick Grange
Hill Miss Emma, Hardwick Grange
Hill Rev. John, Citadel
Hill Sir Robert Chambre, K.C.B. Prees Hall
Hill Lord Viscount, Hawkestone
James Rev. David, Islington crescent
Johnson Mr. William, Fields, Prees
Jones Mrs. Martha, Chapel lane
Kilvert Mr. Richard, Palm’s hill
Kynaston Mrs. Frances, Noble st
Lane Mrs. Hannah, Noble st
Lee Mrs. Ann, Chapel st
Lee Henry, Esq. Chapel st
Lucas William, Esq. Noble st
Maddocks Mrs. Mary, Woodlands
Matthews Mrs. Charlotte, Cripple street
Menlove Mrs. —, Tilley
Merist Rev. J. W. D. Rectory
Minor John, B. Esq. Ashley House
Minshull Rev. Samuel, Prees
Morris Mrs. Catharine, New st
Munford Mr. Charles, Prees
Nickson Mrs. Mary, Chapel st
Oldham Capt. Charles, Tilley Lodge
Onslow Mrs. Elizabeth, Cripple st
Osburne Rev. William, Ellesmere st
Owen Wm. Esq. Shrubbery, New st
Pattison Rev. Joseph, New st
Prince Lieut. Charles, High st
Sandford Thomas Hugh, Esq. Sandford Hall
Shingler Mr. Peter, Burlton Grange
Shirley John, Esq. Prees
Smith Rev. George, Noble st
Snape Mr. Walter, Creamore grove, New street
Steward Rev. John, Edstaston House
Vaughan Robert C. Esq. Burlton
Walford John Henshaw, Esq. M.P. Roden House, Mill st
Walmsley Mr. George, High st
Wilkinson Mr. George, Prees wood
Wilkinson Mr. Thomas, Sandy lane, Prees
Williams Lady —, the Hall
Wood Thomas, Esq. Woodlands
Wrightson Captain William Ward, Prees
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS.
Not otherwise described are Day Schools
British School, Dark lane—Thos. Hickson Taylor, master; Mary Taylor, mistress
Cooke Catherine & Hannah, Noble st
Clorley James, Loppington
Foncier Maria, Noble st
Free School, Lower Heath, Prees—Robert Gothin, master; Hanh. Thomason, mistress
Grammar School, Noble st—Rev. William Boulton, master
Infants’ School, Chapel st—Mary Green, mistress
Meredith Harriet, New st
Minshull Rev. Samuel (boarding), Prees
National School, Prees—Samuel Rooks, master; Ann Jenkin, mrs
National School, Noble street—William Hart, master
National School, Loppington—Mary Ebrey, mistress
Pattison Ann & Mary (boarding & day), New st
Powell Margaret, Prees
Roberts Alfred, Quinabrook
Sandland Elizabeth, Tilley
Strutt Lydia (boarding & day), Noble st
ATTORNEYS.
Barker Henry John & Charles Frederick, High st
Browne Thomas Dickin, New st
Burd Jonathan, High st
Lucas William (commissioner in all courts and clerk to the magistrates), Noble st
Owen William (& commissioner to administer oaths, commissioner for affidavits, and commissioner in all the courts and superintendent registrar), Shrubbery, New st
AUCTIONEERS.
Burd John, High st
Franklin Josiah, High st
BAKERS & CONFECTIONERS.
Ashley Elizabeth, Noble st
Stockwell John, High st
Vaughan Thomas, High st
Weaver George, High st
Weaver Thomas, High st
BANK.
National Provincial Bank of england, High st—(draws on the London Joint Stock Bank)—Thomas Steeple, manager
BLACKSMITHS.
Humphreys John, Prees green
Humphreys William, Noble st
Moore Thomas, Prees
Rogers Robert, Ellesmere st
Smith John, Tilley
Smith Samuel, Tilley
Watkin Thomas, Dark lane
Williams William, Loppington
BOOKSELLERS & STATIONRS.
Cooke Mary, Noble st
Franklin Josiah (& printer), High st
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.
Bannister John, Noble st
Davies Richard, Loppington
Duckers Henry, High st
Hall Richard, Quinabrook
Hewitt Henry, High st
Hewitt Richard, Noble st
Huxley John, High st
Jenkins George, High st
Jenks John, High st
Massey John David, Cripple st
Murray Thomas, Prees
Owen William, Tilley
Reeves John, Prees
Tomlins Charles (dealer), High st
Watkin Richard, Chapel st
Weaver John, High st
Wilkinson Thomas, High st
Woollam Thomas, Prees
BRICK & TILE MAKER.
Roberts James, Whixall house, New street, Wem
BRICKLAYERS.
Hughes Daniel, New st
Hughes William, Noble st
Powell William, Prees
Richards William, Noble st
Tommy Jonathan, High st
BUILDERS.
(See also Joiners & Cabinet Makrs)
Francis Thomas, Noble st
Everall Thomas, Ellesmere st
Prince Frederick, Mill st
Walton Thomas, Noble st
BUTCHERS.
Davies Benjamin, High st
Deakin Henry, High st
Ebray Robert, Prees
Kynaston Richard, High st
Parks John, High st
Weaver Charles, High st
CHEMISTS & DRUGGISTS.
Bickerton Eliza Horlick, High st
Hares Samuel & Robert (druggists), Prees
Lee Thomas, High st
Micklewright George, High st
COAL MERCHANTS.
Roberts James (and brick and tile maker, at Whixall), Edstaston
Ruscoe George & Abraham (& lime & slate merchants), Quinabrook
COOPERS.
Drury William, Prees
Crewe Joseph, High st
CURRIERS AND LEATHER SELLERS.
(See also Tanners.)
Everall John, High st
Gough Robert, Noble st
Gough Samuel, High st
FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS.
Birmingham (fire), William Lucas, Noble street
Crown (life), Henry John & Charles Frederick Barker, High st
Family Endowment Society, William Owen, Shrubbery, New st
Manchester (fire), William Owen, Shrubbery, New st
Palliadum, Thomas Steeple, High st
Pelican (life), William Owen, Shrubbery, New street
Salop (fire), George Franklin, High street
Shrewsbury (fire), Henry John & Charles Frederick Barker, High st
GLASS & CHINA DEALERS.
Franklin Josiah, High st
Green Charlotte, High st
GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
(See also Shopkeepers, and also Tea Dealers.)
Burton Henry, High st
Hares Samuel & Robert, Prees
Heatley William, High st
Holding Richard, Prees
Ikin William, Prees
Jenkins John, High st
Kynaston Henry, High st
Lee Thomas, High st
Owen Joseph, High st
Poole George Wright, High st
Richards John, High st
Vaughan Thomas, High st
Weaver Thomas, High st
Wilkinson & Puleston, High st
HAIR DRESSERS AND PERFUMERS.
Green Samuel, High st
Jenkins Richard, High st
INNS & HOTELS.
(See also Taverns & Public Houses)
Castle, Robert Higley, High st
Lion, Thomas Ray, Prees
White Horse, Thos. Griffiths, High st
IRONMONGERS.
Barber John, High st
Burton Henry, High st
Hares Samuel & Robert, Prees
Kynaston Henry, High st
JOINERS & CABINET MKRS.
Beddow John, Wembrook lane
Cliff John, Edstaston
Everall Thomas, High st
Foulks Richard, Prees
Francis Thomas, Noble st
Heaton Richard, Loppington
Prince Frederick, Mill st
Walton Thomas, Mill st
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS.
Hares Samuel & Robert, Prees
Heatley William, High st
Holding Richard, Prees
Ikin William, Prees
Poole George Wright, High st
Wilkinson & Puleston, High st
MALTSTERS.
Abbott William, Noble st
Cooke Joseph, Noble st
Drury William, Prees
Higley Robert, High st
Ikin William, Prees
Ray Thomas, Prees
Walmsley John, Creamore
MILLERS.
Batho John, Cotton Steam and Windmill
Batho Stephen, Prees
Boughey John, Wem mill, Mill st
Jebb Thomas, junr. Creamore Steam Mills, near Wem
Kynaston Harriet, Loppington
MILLINERS & DRESS MAKERS.
Davies Eleanor, New st
Green Sarah, New st
Morris Ann, New st
Parsonage Mary, Islington row
Phillips Eliza, High st
Wilkinson Elizabeth, New st
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS AND GLAZIERS.
Boulton Adam, Cripple st
Lea Thomas, High st
Parsonage Frederick, New st
Shenton William, High st
Snape George, High st
SADDLERS.
Colley Thomas, Prees
Stockall John, High st
Tomlins Charles, High st
SEED DEALERS.
Bickerton Eliza, High st
Newens Jane, Noble st
Richards John, High st
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES.
Aston Thomas, Loppington
Cliff John, Edstaston
Green Charlotte, High st
Hales Thomas, High st
Holding Thomas, Quinabrook
Maddox Samuel, Prees green
Saddler Ann, Edstaston
Sherratt William, New st
Simon Stephen, High st
Smith John, Tilley
Watkin Elizabeth, High st
SURGEONS.
Arthur Thomas Norway, Prees
Darlington Abraham Edward, Prees
Gwynn Edward, Noble st
Gwynn Samuel B. New st
Walmsley Thomas, Cripple st
Wilson Joseph Green, New st
TAILORS.
Beckett Thomas, Noble st
Bennett Arthur, Prees
Butter Richard, High st
Cartwright William, Noble st
Challoner Richard, Prees
Cooke Thomas, Loppington
Davies Charles, Prees
Drury John, Noble st
Edwards John, Noble st
Jenkins Samuel, Prees
Maddox Thomas, Prees
Parsonage John, New st
Powell Joseph, New st
Price Joseph, High st
TANNERS.
Everall John (and skinner and fellmonger), High st
Gough Robert, Noble street
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.
Bee Hive, John David Massey, Cripple street
Black Lion, David Wilson, High st
Blacksmiths’ Arms, William Williams, Loppington
Buck’s Heart, Rebecca Snape, Mill st
Bull & Dog, Wm. Newbrook, Cotton
Bull’s Head, James Russell, High st
Canal, Thomas Cliff, Quinabrook
Corbet Arms, John Lewis, High st
Crown, Thomas Wilkinson, High st
Dicken Arms, Rebecca Kynaston, Loppington
Harp, Mary Rogers, Quinabrook
Hawkestone, Thomas Booth, Hawkestone
Hawkestone Arms, Wm. Sherratt, Islington row
Marquess of Wellington, Henry Kynaston, Edstaston
Pack Horse, Charles Brown, High st
Plough, William Edwards, High st
Shropshire Arms, Hy. Snape, High st
Talbot, Samuel Davies, High st
Vaults, Hannah Ireland, High st
Vaults, Wm. Edwards, High st
Well House, Mary Dickin, Prees
White Lion (and inland revenue office), Ann Sands, High st
RETAILERS OF BEER.
Adams Henry, Loppington
Cartwright John, Noble st
Churton Joseph, Prees
Edwards Nathaniel, Mill st
Jenks John, High st
King Charles, High st
Phillips Samuel, High st
Rogers Robert, Ellesmere st
TIMBER MERCHANTS.
Everall Thomas, Ellesmere st
Prince Frederick, Mill st
Walton Thomas, Noble st
TOY DEALERS.
Burd Benjamin, High st
Jenkins John, High st
Jenkins Richard, High st
VETERINARY SURGEONS.
Burd Benjamin, High st
Vaughan Samuel, Prees
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.
Butler Henry, High st
Churton Joseph, Prees
Pritchard John, High st
WHARFINGERS.
Darlington Abraham, Edstaston
Ruscoe George, Quinabrook
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Eaton George, High st
Heaton Richard, Loppington
Hope Richard, Quinabrook
Kynaston William, Tilley
Morgan William, Prees green
Phillips Samuel, Tilley
Sands John, Quinabrook
Spencer James, Prees
Watkin John, High st
Worrall Thomas, Prees
Wycherley Richard, Castle lane
WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS.
Griffiths Thomas, High st
Ireland Hannah, High st
WOOL MERCHANTS.
Everall John & Thomas, High st
MISCELLANEOUS.
Askew Edward, drill sergeant, Noble st
Cooke Joseph, brewer, Noble st
Davies Saml. weighing machine keeper, High st
Edge Samuel, brazier, High st
Green John, rope maker, New st
Higley Robert, porter dealer, New st
Kay Richard, basket maker, Prees
Mason Edwd. furniture broker, Crown st
Muller Charles, musician, Prees
Owen Joseph, stay manufacturer, High st
Parbott Humphrey, cattle dealer, New st
Pollett William, skinner, Noble st
Russell Lucy, Berlin wool repository, Noble st
Salt Wm. Bates, fishmonger and fruiterer, High st
Taylor Saml. inland revenue officer, Prees
Youd Samuel, dyer, High st
Public Buildings, Offices, &c.
PLACES OF WORSHIP AND THEIR MINISTERS.
St. Peter’s Church, High st—Rev. J. W. D. Merist, rector; Rev. William Grant, curate
St. Mary’s Church, Prees, Rev. Archdeacon Allen, vicar
St. Michael’s Church, Loppington—Rev. Charles B. Greatrex, curate
Chapel of Ease, Edstaston—Rev. John Steward, incumbent
Baptist Chapel, Cripple street—Rev. William Osborne
Independent Chapel, Prees—Rev. Samuel Minshall
Independent Chapel, Chapel street—Rev. Joseph Pattison
Independent Chapel, Noble street—Rev. George Smith
Independent Chapels, Hadnall and Clive—Rev. David James
Methodist (Wesleyan) Chapel, Loppington
Methodist (Primitive) Chapels, Chapel street, Quinabrook, and Prees
Irvingite Chapel, Noble st
POOR LAW UNION Workhouse, Love-lane.
Chairman—Sir Robert Chambre Hill
Vice-Chairman—George Bowen, Esq.
Governor—Andrew Rowley
Matron—Elizabeth Rowley
Schoolmaster—John Jeffreys
Schoolmistress—Lucy Wheeler
Chaplain—Rev. William Boulton
Surgeon—Edward Gwynn
Clerk to the Board of Guardians—Mr. William Owen
Relieving Officer—William Wheeler
REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
Superintendent—Mr. William Owen, Shrubbery, New st
Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Thomas Vaughan, High st
County Court Office, High street—Henry J. Barker, clerk
Gas Works, High st—James Roberts, proprietor
Inland Revenue Office, at the White Lion, High st—Michl. Davidson, officer
Land and Assessed Property and Income Tax Office, High street—Mr. John Everall, assessor and collector
Market Hall, High st
New Cemetery, High st
Police Office, High st
Stamp Office, High st—Geo. Wright Poole, distributer
RAILWAY.
The nearest Station is at Baschurch, on the Shrewsbury and Chester Line, 7½ miles N.W. by N. from Shrewsbury, and about 8 S.W. by W. from Wem.
An Omnibus, from the While Lion Inn, High st, to the Station, every morning at eight.
CARRIERS.
To SHREWSBURY, Joseph Owen and Thomas Harris, from their respective houses, High st, and John Handley and William Eccleston, from Prees, Wednesday and Saturday.
To WHITCHURCH, Joseph Owen, from his house, High st, Monday and Friday.
CONVEYANCE BY WATER.
To CHESTER, SHREWSBURY, and forward to all parts, the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company, from Edstaston wharf, daily.