The Old Hall, an ancient structure mantled with ivy, situated on the Watling street road, is the property of Lord Forester, the lord of the manor. One of the rooms is wainscotted with oak, which remains in good preservation. The hall is now converted into a boarding-school establishment, conducted by Joseph Edward Cranage. A road which runs past the Old Hall leads to a few scattered cottages and some extensive lime-works, called Steeraway, which is about a mile and a half south from the town.
It was in Wellington and the vicinity that Charles I. mustered his forces, and, after issuing orders for the maintenance of strict discipline, made a solemn protestation that he would defend the established religion, govern by law, and preserve the liberty of his subjects, and that if he conquered he would uphold the privileges of parliament. It is to be lamented that he should have found it necessary to make a protestation of his adherence to the duties of an English monarch; had he earlier practised them, he would have avoided the contentions between himself and his parliament. The celebrated Dr. Withering, author of the “Botanical Arrangements of British Plants,” was born at Wellington, in the year 1741. His father was a physician, and the family had resided during many generations on a small patrimony in this county. Dr. Withering in his early years seems to have received a good classical education; and in the autumn of 1762 he was matriculated at the University of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself by pursuing his studies with the greatest diligence and attention. Whilst he was unwearied in the pursuit of academic learning, as well as in all those branches of knowledge which belong more immediately to the medical profession for which he was intended, he did not neglect the cultivation of the lighter and more elegant accomplishments. In the year 1766, Dr. Withering finished his academical studies with great credit to himself, and obtained the degree of Doctor of Physic. He first settled at Stafford, and here he attended the accomplished lady who became the partner of his future life; and it is not improbable that this attachment produced that botanical turn which has since rendered his name so conspicuous in this department of science. She drew beautifully; and he appears to have gathered wild plants as subjects for her pencil. This soon became a favourite pursuit; and possessing at this time a good deal of leisure, he collected specimens for that herbarium which he afterwards rendered so complete. Dr. Withering removed to Birmingham in the year 1775, and notwithstanding the time he continued to devote to chemistry and botany, he soon realised £1,000 per annum by his professional labours. During the following summer he presented the public with the first edition of his English Botany, a work which claims the attention of every botanical student; and is, perhaps, exceeded by none for the facility it offers to the inquirer, and for the copiousness and correctness of its selection. His philosophical attention extended to chemistry, mineralogy, and every branch of natural philosophy connected with his profession occupied him in succession. In the year 1791, in the month of July, he and his family suffered much alarm and some injury in the riot at Birmingham. He died in 1799. Before his death, he directed no ostentatious display to be made at his funeral, and ordered his body to be carried to church by six honest peasants. Dr. Withering, besides his Botanical Arrangement of British Plants, gave to the world several medical works.
The Wrekin, situated about two miles S. from Wellington, is said to be the highest hill in Europe for the circumference of its base. This proud monarch of the plain rises to the altitude of 1,320 feet, and being in the heart of Shropshire forms a conspicuous feature in the landscape from all parts of the surrounding country. The distance is about a mile from the London road to the summit of the hill; about half way up the ascent is a neat cottage, where numerous parties, after luxuriating in the enjoyment of prospects of unparalleled magnificence, assemble for social repast. This huge mountain is covered with thriving plantations, but the trees as they gradually ascend towards the summit appear of more stunted growth. From the cottage a broad pathway covered with rich verdure leads to the summit, from which seventeen counties can be seen; in every direction the most extensive, varied, and magnificent prospects open to view. The Wrekin is regarded by the residents in Shropshire as the centre towards which the best wishes and affections of the heart converge in that well known convivial sentiment, unchanged by time and never out of place, “All Friends Round the Wrekin.” The Rev. Richard Corfield thus beautifully describes the scenery around the lofty mount:—
“The summit gained, the weary toil’s repaid,
By prospects varied—mountain, wood, and glade;
O’er Salop’s plains with beauteous verdure drest,
The Cambrian mountains stretch along the west.
Turn to the north and Hawkstone’s hill you see,
With Cheshire prospects reaching to the Dee;
When to the east you lend th’ admiring gaze,
The barren Peak your startled thoughts amaze;
More eastward still you ken in distant view
Edge Hill, where Charles his faithful followers drew.
This fairy circle let us onward trace
O’er Brecon’s beacons, Radnor’s forest chase,
And as the outline may be further known,
So past its limits may our love be shown—
Love to our country and to all held dear
By ties of kindred, friendship’s off’ring bear—
Love to our country, and to all friends round
The Wrekin’s circle may our love resound—
Such wishes these all Shropshire hearts inspire,
In social converse round the winter’s fire.”
Watling Street is a populous hamlet forming the eastern suburb to the town of Wellington, from which it is distant about half a mile. It is called Watling street from being situated on the great Prœtorian highway of the Romans, which enters this county at Boningale, and terminates in the county of Cardigan. It is now the Shrewsbury and Birmingham highway, and before the establishment of railways was a road of immense traffic. There are several respectable houses and a good inn and posting house. The names of the principal residents will be found incorporated in the Wellington directory. At the census of 1841 there were 66 houses and 299 inhabitants. Acres, 1,096a. 0r. 31p. of land. Rateable value, 2,194. 4s. The rectoral tithes are commuted for £125. 3s., and the vicarial for £29. 5s.
Charities.—Almshouses.—There are on the north side of the church-yard six small tenements erected at the expense of the parish about the year 1790, in lieu of some almshouses in the old church-yard which were then pulled down. The old almshouses appear to have had no endowment, and were occupied by parish paupers, and the present are occupied in the same manner, the inmates being selected by the vicar and church-wardens. Three of the inmates have 1s. 6d. per week, and the other three receive 2s. weekly. There are also four or five small tenements called almshouses opposite the pound, supposed to have been built about a century ago by a person of the name of Ick, or some person related to that family. There is no endowment to them, and the persons residing in them when the charity commissioners published their report claimed them as their own.
Richard Stevington, by will, bearing date 23rd March, 1658, devised a rent charge of £10 per annum to certain trustees for the use of the poor of the parish of Wellington, to be paid out of certain land called the Bury Yards. These lands are situate near the town of Wellington, and consist of two fields, one of which was sold by Lord Forester about thirty years ago. The other is still held by his lordship, and his agent pays the sum of £10 annually, which is laid out in cloth coats for poor men, and warm gowns for poor women.
Paviour’s Charity.—The yearly sum of £4 is paid by the agent of the Marquis of Cleveland, the owner of lands in Garmson, in the parish of Leighton; and in the churchwardens book there is entered a copy of a receipt, given 29th March, 1772, to John Newport, Esq., for the like sum as one year’s annuity, due at Lady-day then last, to the honest poor of the parish of Wellington. This is paid yearly to the churchwardens, and distributed on Easter Monday in sixpences among the aged poor of the parish. We have not been able to obtain any account of the origin of this charity.
Phillip’s Charity.—The only account of the origin of this charity we have met with is a statement in the charity book of the parish of Great Ness, from which it appears that William Phillips gave 20s. yearly to this parish, payable out of the same estate as was charged with the payment of 5s. yearly to the poor of Great Ness. The payment is charged upon a copyhold estate in the parish of Wem, belonging to Mr. Nunnerley and others. The amount is distributed in small sums on Good Friday.
Post Office—At Mr. Benjamin Smith’s, New street. Letters arrive from London and the south at 2.30 A.M. and 3 P.M., and from Shrewsbury and the north at 6.25 A.M. and 10.25 P.M.; and are despatched at 6.25 A.M. and 10.25 P.M. to all parts of the kingdom.