a pleasant but scattered village and township, two miles and a half S.E. from Whitchurch, containing 714a. 3r. 11p. of land, had in 1841, 27 houses and 115 inhabitants. The chief landowners are the Trustees of the late Earl of Bridgewater, Mr. Richard Bellington, Mrs. Gretton, Samuel Yate Benyon, Esq., Mrs. Beckett, Mr. John Cookson, Viscount Combermere, W. L. Brookes, Esq., Mr. John Moore, and Mr. Edward Nickson; besides whom there are several other freeholders. This township has a bold undulating surface, and the soil is strong and clayey.
Directory.—James Goulbourn Etches, Esq., Oak Villa; William Bather, farmer; Martha Beckett, farmer; Prudent Blundell, beerhouse and shopkeeper; Mrs. Mary Boulton; Richard Boulton, farmer; John Leeveley, farmer; John Lewis, farmer; John Moore, farmer; George Robinson, farmer, Old Wood; Thomas Stringer, farmer; Thomas Unett, farmer; Daniel Warrington, farmer, Fir Tree House; James Weston, farmer; Joseph Wright, farmer.
WOODHOUSES (OLD),
a small village and township, three miles N.E. from Whitchurch, contains 391a. 2r. 37p. of land, and at the census of 1841 had 13 houses and a population of 62 souls. The soil in some places is a strong loam, in other places it is sandy. Viscount Combermere is owner of the whole township. There is a fine sheet of water near here, which covers a considerable surface, called Comber-mere.
The principal residents are John Ellis, farmer; William Evans, boot and shoemaker; Richard Hassall, carpenter and joiner; James Reddrop, farmer, The Grove.
WIRSWALL, OR WIRSHALL,
is a township and village in Whitchurch parish, situated in the county of Cheshire, two miles north from Whitchurch. In 1841 there were 17 houses and 91 inhabitants. The principal landowners are John Goodall, Esq., George Harper, Esq., Rev. C. W. Ethelstone, Charles Robert Cotton, Esq., and the Representatives of the late John Parsons, Esq. The tithes are commuted for £70. The Earl of Shrewsbury had land here from the time of Henry VI. to the reign of Philip and Mary; and the manorial rights are divided between this family and Viscount Combermere. Belvidere is a handsome house, the property and residence of John Goodall, Esq. The situation is delightful, and the prospect most extensive and diversified.
Directory.—Joseph Cliffe, blacksmith; Samuel Davies, cattle dealer; James Goodall, farmer, The Grange; John Goodall, Esq., Belvidere; Robert Goodall, farmer, Dairy-house; Mr. William Hale; Mrs. Mary Harrison, Wood Cottage; John Nunnerley, farmer; Miss Reddrop; John Smith, farmer; John Wood, farmer; Wm. Woodward, farmer.
THE SOUTH BRADFORD HUNDRED.
The South Bradford Hundred is bounded on the north by North Bradford Hundred, on the east by the county of Stafford, on the south by the Brimstree and Condover Hundreds and the Wenlock Franchise, and on the west by Albrighton Division and the Shrewsbury Liberty. The hundred is divided into the Newport and Wellington Divisions. The Newport Division, in 1841, contained 2,111 inhabited houses, 61 uninhabited, and five building. At the same period there were 10,929 inhabitants; of whom 5,446 were males and 5,483 females. The Wellington Division at the same period contained 5,959 inhabited houses, 211 uninhabited, and 43 building; and 30,938 inhabitants; of whom 15,856 were males and 15,082 females. The hundred of Bradford at the Domesday survey was divided into the hundreds of Odenet and Recordin, and are now distinguished by North and South Bradford. These names in early times had a certain meaning, and were given either by reason of the importance or situation of a place, or in respect of some remarkable circumstance—as the name before us, Bradan Forde (that is, Broad Ford), is said to have its name from a ville named Bradford, situate on the river Tern, near Ercall, and long since destroyed.