To COALPORT, IRONBRIDGE, SHREWSBURY, &c. from the River side, twice a week—Richard Doughty, wharfinger.
BROSELEY AND MADELEY,
WITH COALBROOKDALE, COALPORT, IRONBRIDGE, BENTHALL, DAWLEY, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
Broseley is a parish in the franchise of Wenlock—the market town is 146 miles N.W. from London, 13 S.E. from Shrewsbury, 4 E. from Wenlock, and 7 from Wellington, at present the nearest railway station. It is situated on the Severn, which river separates it from Madeley, Ironbridge, and Coalbrookdale. In ancient records it is written Burwardesley, probably deriving that appellation from a family named Burward, to which it formerly belonged. Its extent and importance are owing to the numerous mines of coal and ironstone abounding in the neighbourhood. It consists principally of one long street, with smaller ones branching off irregularly, leading to the different collieries and other works. The produce of the former is chiefly appropriated to the supply of iron foundries, and in the manufacture of fire-bricks, tiles and tobacco-pipes—the last mentioned being an article for which Broseley has long been noted. The town is within the jurisdiction of the borough of Wenlock. Courts leet for the manor are held in the town-hall, a handsome brick building, in April and October, at the latter of which four constables are appointed; and a court of requests, for the recovery of debts under 40s. was generally held on alternate Wednesdays, until the new county court acts came into operation, by which debts can be recovered to the amount of £50.: this court is held at Madeley, and Broseley is included within its jurisdiction. The parish church of All Saints, erected on the site of Saint Leonard’s, and first opened for divine service in 1845, is a beautiful chaste structure. The living is a rectory, in the patronage of Lord Forester; the present incumbent is the Hon. and Rev. O. W. W. Forester. The other places of worship are St. Mary’s chapel of ease, at Jackfield, and chapels for Baptists, Independents, and Methodists. The market is held on Wednesday, and a fair on the last Tuesday in April. The parish of Broseley contained, in 1841, 4,829 inhabitants, and in 1851, 4,739.
Madeley, or Madeley Market, is a parish, in the same franchise as Broseley—the town extending to Coalbrookdale, which is accounted a part of it, and connected therewith in its trade and history. The iron works in this parish are considerable, and employ a great number of hands. The Coalbrookdale Company, so celebrated for the beautiful specimens of wrought iron, which were sent by them to the Great Exhibition of 1851, have their works here. The famous iron bridge, which at this place bestrides the Severn, and gives name to a part of the parish, was constructed here in 1779. All the principal parts were erected in three months, without any accident to the works or workmen, or the least obstruction to the navigation of the river. The span of the arch is one hundred feet six inches, and the height, from the base line to the centre, forty feet, the total weight of iron being three hundred and seventy-eight tons. This fine work has every claim to attention as an effort of great mechanical genius. Madeley had at one time a well attended market, which was removed by the lord of the manor (Joseph Reynolds, Esq.) to Ironbridge, a place of rising importance in this parish, situated on the banks of the Severn. The magistrates assemble in petty sessions at Ironbridge every sixth week on a Tuesday, and Madeley is included in the twenty-seventh circuit of county Court towns under the new acts for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50. A railway (which will be of great importance to this district) is projected—it will run from Shrewsbury to Kidderminster, and will be called the Severn Valley fine. The places of worship are the parish church of Saint Michael; the new church of Saint Luke at Ironbridge, and one at Coalbrookdale, dedicated to the Holy Trinity; and chapels for the Society of Friends, Roman Catholics, and Wesleyan Methodists. The living of Madeley is a discharged vicarage, in the gift of Sir Edward Kynaston, Bart. The House of Industry, erected here in 1797, at a cost of £1,000., is a convenient building.
At Coalport, two miles from Ironbridge, are the china manufactories, which are well worth the inspection of the visitant; as indeed is the whole of this curious and romantic neighbourhood; where may be seen winding glens, vast hills, and hanging woods: while the bosom of the noble Severn, which so essentially contributes to the prosperity of this district, in bearing away the articles produced here, adds also to the general beauty of the country through which it glides. There is also a chair manufactory belonging to Messrs. Edge & Son, who were awarded a prize medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The market is held on Friday at Ironbridge, and a fair at Madeley May 29th. The parish of Madeley contained, in 1841, 7,368 inhabitants, and in 1851, 8,522.
Benthall is a parish—the village being situated within the liberties of Wenlock, nearly four miles from the town of that name. There are pottery works in this neighbourhood, which give employment to many of the inhabitants; and the river Severn, which flows through the parish, provides the means of distributing the articles manufactured to various parts. The parish church of St. Bartholomew is the only place of worship. The living of Benthall is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the vicar of Much Wenlock; the Rev. William H. Wayne is the present incumbent. Population of the parish, according to the returns made in 1841, 587, and by those for 1851, 530.
Dawley Magna is a populous parish, comprising the townships of Dawley Parva or Little Dawley, and Malins Lee, and the market town of Dawley or Dawley Green—the last named situated about two miles N. from Madeley, and four miles W. by S. from Shiffnall, a station on the Shrewsbury and Chester and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham railways. There are extensive coal, iron, lime, and tile works in the parish, with numerous tram-roads or railways in connection with them. The parish church of St. Leonard (or the Holy Trinity) is situated in Dawley Parva, and there are chapels of ease at Little Dawley and Malins Lee. The living of Dawley Magna is a perpetual curacy, in the gift, conjointly, of two private families. The market is held on Saturday, and a fair on the 4th of June. The parish contained, in 1841, 8,641 inhabitants, and in 1851, 9,201.
POST OFFICE. Broseley, Fanny Baker, Post Mistress.—Letters from London and all parts arrive (from Wellington) every morning at six, and are despatched thereto at seven in the evening.
POST OFFICE, Madeley, Thomas Munday, Post Master.—Letters from London and all parts arrive every morning at half-past six, and are despatched at a quarter-past six in the evening.
POST OFFICE, Ironbridge, Joseph Slater, Post Master.—Letters from London and all parts arrive every morning at half-past five, and are despatched at five minutes before eight in the evening.