Directory.—James Bennion, farmer, Spring hill; Randle Bennion, farmer; Thomas Cooke, farmer; John Griffiths, farmer, Heath lane; George Heath, farmer; John Hinton, farmer; William Hokenhull, farmer; John Holland, farmer; Mrs. Jones, farmer; John Keay, beerhouse keeper; James Lee, farmer, Dernford hall; Stephen Oliver, blacksmith; Mrs. Wilson, farmer; Thomas Wilson, farmer, Alkington hall.
ASH MAGNA
is a township, chapelry, and village, pleasantly situated on an eminence two and a half miles south-east from Whitchurch. The village is straggling, and the farm buildings are mostly of brick, with convenient out-premises, and occupied by respectable agriculturists. Several of the farms are of considerable extent. The township contains 626a. 3r. 14p. of land; and in 1841 there were 39 houses and 204 inhabitants. Rateable value £893. 2s. The tithes have been commuted for £86. 9s. The soil is variable; in some places it is light and sandy, and in other places loam and clay prevail. The scenery is beautifully diversified, and the high grounds command prospects of unbounded extent. The principal landowners are Samuel Yate Benyon, Esq.; John Goodall, Esq.; William Lee Brookes, Esq.; Mrs. Groom; and Mr. James Hughes. There are also several small freeholders.
The Church, dedicated to our Saviour, is a brick structure, simple in its design of architecture, and has a tower at the west end, which contains one bell. It was erected in 1836, at an expense of £1,556. 19s. 10d., including the cost of the parsonage house, and consecrated August 31st, 1837. Of the above sum, £856. 19s. 10d. was raised by voluntary subscriptions; the Rev. C. M. Long and family gave £450, and the Diocesan and Church Building Society granted £250. The internal arrangements are neat and appropriate, and there is a gallery at the west end; the roof is pitched, and supported by groined timber. It contains three hundred and sixty sittings, of which two hundred and fifty are declared free and unappropriated for ever, in consequence of the grant from the Incorporated Society for Building and Enlarging Churches. It contains several neat marble monuments, one of which remembers Samuel Yate Benyon, Esq., and his wives, Elizabeth and Constance, and also of twin sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Benyon, daughters of the said Samuel Benyon, all of whom were interred at the Presbyterian chapel in Whitchurch, but have been exhumed and removed from thence, and are now deposited in a vault in this churchyard. There is also a brass plate in memory of Eliza, the wife of Thomas M. Griffiths, Esq., of Ash grove. There is also a family vault to the Langfords, in which are deposited the remains of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Langford, who bequeathed £500 three per cent. consols, in augmentation of the endowment of the living. The communion plate and clock were the gift of Joseph Booth, Esq.; the stone font was the gift of the Rev. John Brookes; the communion cloth and cushions were given by Mrs. Hughes. In the churchyard are altar tombs of beautiful workmanship to John Gregory, gentleman, of the Ash Acres; and to Joseph Brown, Esq., of Drayton. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £100, in the patronage of the Rector of Whitchurch. Incumbent, Rev. William Bryans, who resides at the Parsonage, a pleasantly situated house, a short distance from the church, which commands some fine views of the distant country. The National School, with a residence for the schoolteacher, was erected in 1848. It is a brick structure, and will accommodate 120 scholars; 68 now attend. It is chiefly supported by voluntary subscriptions, but each scholar pays a small sum weekly. The premises are also used for a Sunday school. The turnpike road to Nantwich, Market Drayton, and Whitchurch, intersects the townships.
Directory.—Frederick Bailey, farmer, Ash Hall; Rev. William Bryans, The Parsonage, John Cliffe, blacksmith and beerhouse keeper; William Eardley, farmer, Ash Farm; William Morton, shopkeeper and shoemaker; William Moreton, wheelwright; George Parry, blacksmith and victualler, Lion; John Ravenshaw, farmer, The Grove; Robert Ravenshaw, farmer; Jane Mary Thackaberry, schoolmistress.
ASH PARVA
is a township, with a scattered population, situated three miles S.E. by S. from Whitchurch, which contains 2,377a. 2r. 27p. of land, mostly a fine tract of country, studded with respectable farm-houses, with commodious outbuildings adjoining. The soil is variable; in some places a rich loam is found, in other places a strong soil, which produces good crops of grain, and in other parts it is a mixture of sand and gravel. In 1841 there were 36 houses and 208 inhabitants. Rateable value, £2,079. 12s. The tithes are commuted for the sum of £224. 19s. The principal owners of land in this township are the Devisees of the late Ashton Beckett, Esq., Samuel Yate Benyon, Esq., George Brookes, Esq., Joseph Hares, Esq., Viscount Hill, Wm. Church Norcop, Esq., Mrs. Whitfield, Richard Hughes, Esq., Mrs. Groom, Miss Becks, and Mr. Hewes.
Directory.—Captain Henry Bertles; John Bishop, parish clerk; James Blackshaw, farmer, Ashfield; William Dale, farmer, Twemlows; William Darlington, farmer, Twemlows; Charles Davies, shopkeeper and wheelwright; Mrs. Mary Groom, Ash House; Jas. Hamnett, farmer, Ashwood; Joseph Hares, Esq., Ashacres house; Henry Hewes, farmer, Ashwood; William Hickman, farmer and land-surveyor; John Hough, boot and shoemaker; Rev. William Jones; William Nield, farmer, Ashwood; John Ravenshaw, farmer, Twemlows; Ann Whitfield, farmer, Lee Hall.
BLACK PARK
is a township and small village, in a pleasant situation, two miles and a quarter N.E. from Whitchurch. The township contains 1,334a. 2r. 25p. of land, and in 1831 there were 13 houses and 46 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,379. 16s. The tithes are commuted, and included in the returns given of the town of Whitchurch. There are several good residences here; the farm premises are extensive, and the farms of considerable extent. Large quantities of superior cheese are made in this district, which is quite equal to the best Cheshire cheese. The Trustees of the late Earl of Bridgewater are owners of the whole township.