VILLAGE OF CONDOVER.
The church is a spacious building, displaying examples of early Norman architecture. It contains several handsome monuments in memory of the ancient family of Owen, among which one from the chisel of Roubiliac is considered a remarkably fine production. The adjoining mansion, a most interesting specimen of the Elizabethan style of building, was erected by Sir Thomas Owen, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, who died in 1598. Within the hall is the finest collection of paintings in the county. This village was the birth-place of Richard Tarlton, the earliest English comedian of celebrity, who for his surprisingly pleasant extemporaneous wit, as an actor and jester, was the wonder of his time. Fuller states, that “when Queen Elizabeth was serious and out of good humour, he could undumpish her at his pleasure.” After a free and eccentric life, it is said he died penitent in 1588.
PITCHFORD,
six miles south-east of the town, takes its name from a kind of mineral pitch, which exudes out of a red sand stone, from which an oil is extracted called British oil. A similar substance is also found at this place, floating on a spring of water. Pitchford Hall is a beautiful specimen of the half-timbered mansion erected during the sixteenth century, and is the property of the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, a descendant maternally of the Ottley family, one of whom purchased the estate in 1473.
The church, erected in the reign of Henry I. is a specimen of the lesser Anglo-Norman edifices erected in villages. Its foundation throws some light on the formation of our parochial establishments and the nature of tithes.
It appears that previously to its erection the inhabitants of the lordship went to some of the surrounding churches to hear divine service and receive the sacraments, and gave their tithes where they chose. Many of them contributed their tithes to the dean and chapter of St. Chad, in Salop, on condition that they found a chaplain and clerk, who should perform service three times a week, and daily visit the sick and baptize infants; but these duties being much neglected, one Ralph lord of Pitchford, moved by “charity and zeal,” built a church at his own expence, and formed a certain district as the boundary of the parish.
At the distance of somewhat more than a mile is
ACTON BURNELL.
The remains of the ancient castle, founded by Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and Wells, consist of a large building, with a square tower at each angle. To this place the parliament of Shrewsbury adjourned in 1283, where were passed (and received the royal assent) certain legislative regulations, and amongst these the act touching merchant debtors, called “Statutum de Mercatoribus,” designated likewise the Statute of Acton Burnell. The church is cruciform, and in the pointed style of the fourteenth century, having a wooden tower in the centre. Near this village is the seat of Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, Bart. and the grounds of the park are beautiful and extensive.