To BRIDGNORTH, John Jones and William Clayton, from their houses, every Saturday.
To SHREWSBURY, Jeremiah Aston, from the Bull’s Head, Wednesday and Saturday, and Richard Nicklin, from his house, Mon. Thurs. and Saturday
WHITCHURCH,
WITH DODINGTON, TILSTOCK AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
Whitchurch is a parish, chiefly in the hundred of Bradford (North), and extending into that of Nantwich, in the county of Chester—the town is 161 miles N.W. by N. from London, situated on the main road between Shrewsbury and Chester, 20 miles from each of the latter places: it is seated on elevated ground, in a rich and picturesque country; and contains some neat streets and respectable dwellings. An intended railway from Crewe to Shrewsbury will include Whitchurch in its route. The town was anciently called Album Monasterium and Blancminster, which have the same meaning (Whitechurch) and appear to imply the seat of a monastery, of which there are no remains; but a hospital was standing here in the reign of Henry III. and was endowed by the lord of the manor with the whole town of Wilnecot, for the relief of the poor at its gate. Of the foundation and history of the ancient castle—fragments of which were visible in 1760, nothing is known. At the commencement of the civil war between Charles and his parliament, the inhabitants of Whitchurch declared in favour of the monarch, and promptly raised a regiment in support of his cause. An iron and brass foundry, a good brewery, and several roperies, are on a respectable scale, but malting may be considered the principal, if not the staple branch. The Ellesmere canal comes close to the centre of the town, and in its vicinity are several brooks—one of which, called Red Brook, is the boundary between England and Wales, and another separates this county from Cheshire. A high steward who superintends the affairs of the town, is appointed by the lord of the manor (Earl of Brownlow), and presides at courts baron and leet, held in October, in the town hall, which is the depository for the rolls and archives of the lordship. Whitchurch is included in the twenty-seventh circuit of County Court towns under the acts for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50. and it is a polling station at the election of members to represent North Salop.
That which principally engages the notice of a traveller, in this town, is its fine church of Saint Mary (or as some assert Saint Alkmund)—a noble structure of the Tuscan order, erected in 1722 on the spot where an old Gothic one formerly stood. The whole edifice is built of fine freestone; and at the west end is a stately square tower, in which are eight good bells. The entire building is very regular, consisting of a large nave, with side aisles, and contains several ancient monuments; among these is one to the memory of the great John Talbot, the first Earl of Shrewsbury, who was called the English Achilles, and so renowned in France, that no man in that kingdom dared to encounter him single-handed. Another effigy represents Christopher Talbot, fourth son of John Talbot, second Earl of Shrewsbury, who was rector of Whitchurch and archdeacon of Chester. The living—one of the richest in the county, is in the presentation of the lord of the manor. The present rector is the Rev. William Henry Egerton, M.A. The other places of worship are for Baptists, Independents, and Methodists. The free grammar school here was founded in the reign of Edward VI. by Sir John Talbot, rector of this parish, aided by contributions of the inhabitants. It has been lately rebuilt, in the Elizabethan style, and is now a handsome structure. A large national school for boys, and another for girls; a British school; an almshouse for its decayed housekeepers, and the union workhouse, situated at Derr Moss, are the other principal charities. The country round here is fertile, and in an excellent state of agriculture. The views, especially towards the Welch and Derby hills, are very fine; and the nearer prospect is enriched with two lakes, called Blake-mere and Horse-mere. The market is held on Friday; and the fairs on the second Friday in April, Whit-Monday, and the first Friday after the 2nd of August, October 28th, and December 1st, for sheep, cattle, &c. The parish of Whitchurch (not including the township of Wirsall, county of Chester), contained in 1841, 6,285 inhabitants, and in 1851, 5,977.
The township of Dodington adjoins Whitchurch, and its population is returned therewith. It has a chapel of ease to Whitchurch and a very handsome one for Independents.
Tilstock, a chapelry to Whitchurch, is between two and three miles from that town. It contains a neat chapel of ease, erected in 1834, one for Wesleyan Methodists, and a national school. Population returned with the parish.
POST OFFICE, Bull Ring, Whitchurch, John Wycherley, Post Master.
Arrival of the Mails—From London, Liverpool, Manchester, Nantwich, Crewe, &c. every morning at a quarter past four.—From Chester and Malpas at seven in the evening.—From Shrewsbury, Wem, &c. at a quarter past eight in the morning.
Despatches—To London and all parts every evening at eight.—To Shrewsbury every afternoon at four.—To Chester every morning at six.