China, of great excellence and exquisite workmanship, is made at Coalport; earthenware is also manufactured, particularly Wedgewood-ware, at Coalport and Broseley. Carpets are extensively made at Bridgnorth, and there are three establishments for the manufacture of hair seating at Market Drayton. There is an extensive factory at Shrewsbury where linen thread is made, and woollens of a coarse texture are made at Church Stretton. Nails are made in several places. At the Coalbrook-dale Company all kinds of castings and almost every article in which iron is used is there manufactured. Paper is made at two or three places in the county. The chief manufacture of the county is that of iron. The beautiful art of glass staining has been brought to great perfection by Mr. David Evans, of Shrewsbury.
Agricultural Produce.—The whole country is in general well cultivated, yielding good crops of all kinds of grain, turnips, peas, and potatoes. There are many fine orchards scattered throughout the county, particularly in the southern division, and hops are cultivated on a small scale on the southern border. The meadows near the Severn are extremely fertile, being frequently enriched by the overflowing of that river; but the grass land receives less attention from the farmer than the arable. The northern part of the county is remarkable for its dairy produce, the cheese being equal to the most celebrated dairies of the adjoining county of Chester. The sizes of the farms are various, but large farms of from 400 to 800 acres are much more numerous than in the adjoining counties. In many parts of the county five or six small holdings have been taken from the humbler class of farmers and let to one tenant. In one township visited by our agent the land held by fourteen different tenants, within memory of man, is now held by three farmers. Barley and wheat in many parts are grown to a considerable extent. The arable and pasture lands are found in about equal proportions. The cattle are mostly of a fine breed, many of the farmers being noted for the superiority of their stock, but there does not appear any peculiar breed which can be affirmed as exclusively belonging to this county. In the northern division of the county and on the western borders large flocks of sheep are kept, in some parts the old Shropshire breed may frequently be observed; they are distinguished by their black mottled faces and legs, and are in size nearly as large as the south-down. About half a century ago a breed of neat cattle prevailed very much, resembling the Lancashire long-horns. The old Shropshire ox was remarkable for a large dewlap. This county was formerly famous for a breed of pigs which is now almost extinct.
Climate, Soil, and Aspect. The climate of this county is in general very salubrious; but, from the irregularity of its soil and surface, it varies in dryness and geniality. On the east, where the land is warm and flat, the harvest is frequently ripe sooner than in the middle of the county, where the vales are extensive, but the surface light, and the bottom often clayey. But hay and grain are both gathered earlier in the middle of the county than on the western side, where the vales are narrow, and the high lands frequent and extensive, although the ground in general is not so stiff, and lies for the most part on the rock. The easterly winds prevail in spring, and westerly in autumn. Few counties are possessed of a greater variety of soil than this, as will be seen on reference to the respective parishes. Divided into nearly two equal parts by the Severn, its southern portion assumes the mountainous character peculiar to the counties of Montgomery and Denbigh, whilst the north half approaches more nearly to a level, agreeably relieved by bold swells, and romantic valleys finely wooded. The landscape possesses every variety of natural charms, the bold and lofty mountain, the woody and secluded valley, the fertile and widely cultured plain, the majestic river, and the sequestered lake; and is no less rich in those remains of ancient times which awaken a thousand enthusiastic reflections by engaging us in the contemplation of the memorable events of our history.
Agricultural Improvements. Great improvements by draining, enclosure, and superior management have been progressing for the last half century in most parts of the county. This has been accomplished on many estates by the united efforts of the landlords and tenants; the former finding tiles and materials, and the latter performing all the draught work at their own expense. The farms in Shropshire were formerly much smaller than they now are, which was found a great obstacle to improvement. They did not invite men of capital, and to manage a farm successfully, like any other occupation or business, it is necessary that the occupant should possess sufficient capital; for without it, it is useless to expect improvement or profitable cultivation. The want of it is unfortunately too common among farmers. Wanting it in the onset, they have not been able to acquire any, and thus have gone on from year to year with difficulty, perhaps deteriorating the soil, and reducing the little capital they possessed. The farmers’ clubs, established for the discussion of practical husbandry, have had a tendency to develop many hidden facts, and to dispel deep-rooted prejudices by friendly argument and interchange of thought. Farmers seldom meet to exchange ideas but at these associations, which may be considered in the character of Normal schools, where the old and young may impart and receive information on many things connected with their occupation. On the whole Shropshire is before many other counties in agricultural improvements. The judicious application of capital, superintended by men of true practical science, will make it one of the finest agricultural counties in England. The farm houses are mostly composed of brick, and have been greatly improved within the last thirty years, particular attention having been paid to the conveniency of the outbuildings and farm yards, which in many instances are of great extent and admirably contrived.
The following returns of the population of the fifteen Unions into which the county of Shropshire is divided, are copied from the Parliamentary reports of the census taken March 31st, 1851; viz:—Atcham Union, 19,318 inhabitants, 3,767 inhabited houses, and 125 uninhabited; Bridgnorth, 15,590 inhabitants, 3,164 inhabited houses, and 248 uninhabited; Church Stretton, 6,160 inhabitants, 1,192 inhabited houses, and 43 uninhabited; Cleobury Mortimer, 8,632 inhabitants, 1,771 inhabited houses, and 131 uninhabited; Clun, 10,118 inhabitants, 2,054 inhabited houses, and 125 uninhabited; Ellesmere 15,667 inhabitants, 3,148 inhabited houses, and 125 uninhabited; Ludlow, 17,045 inhabitants, 3,420 inhabited houses, and 172 uninhabited; Madeley, 27,626 inhabitants, 5,545 inhabited houses, and 154 uninhabited; Market Drayton, 14,160 inhabitants, 2,774 inhabited houses, and 131 uninhabited; Newport, 15,623 inhabitants, 3,018 inhabited houses, and 69 uninhabited; Oswestry, 22,795 inhabitants, 4,618 inhabited houses, and 228 uninhabited; Shiffnal, 11,482 inhabitants, 2,239 inhabited houses, and 99 uninhabited; Shrewsbury, 23,095 inhabitants, 4,574 inhabited houses, and 252 uninhabited; Wellington, 20,760 inhabitants, 4,089 inhabited houses, and 156 uninhabited; Wem, 16,948 inhabitants, 3,469 inhabited houses, and 146 uninhabited. At the same period there were 112 houses building in the various Unions throughout the county.
Monastic Institutions. The following is a list of the religious houses and monastic institutions which formerly existed in Shropshire, with their annual value as returned at their suppression. The Benedictine monks had a great Abbey at Shrewsbury, returned as of the annual value of £132. 4s. 10d. Haughmond Abbey, £259. 13s. 7¼d. Buildwas Abbey, £110. 19s. 3d. Wombridge Priory, £65. 7s. 4d. Battlefield College, £54. 1s. 10d. Tong College, £22. 8s. 1d. Lilleshall Abbey, £229. 3s. l½d. Bridgnorth Hospital, £4. Ludlow Hospital, £17. 13s. 3d. Wenlock Priory, £401. 0s. 7¼d. St. Chad’s College, Shrewsbury, £14. 14s. 4d. St. Mary’s College, £13. 1s. 8d. According to Speed there was also a Monastery of Black Monks at Bromfield, a Priory at Chirbury, with various cells and chantries, which will be found noticed in the several parishes in which they were respectively situated. It was one of the singular characteristics of the Roman Catholic Church, that it gave scope to partial reformation. What among Protestants would be called a new sect, became in that church merely a new order. From time to time, men arose to recall attention to some doctrine or practice, which had fallen into disuse, and for a revival of which a necessity was felt. The church gave scope to their zeal, and benefited by their efforts till they, in turn, became rich and corrupt, and other reformers were needed. About the year 1120, the rule of St. Augustine was reformed by St. Norbet. He professed that the Virgin Mary had pointed out the site on which he was to found a new church, and that she had prescribed the white habits the monks were to wear.
Abbeys.—In a society of religious persons, whether male or female, where an abbot or abbess presided, it was styled an abbey. The governor had the sole power over the convent, could appoint or discharge any officer at pleasure, and prescribe what rules the monks or nuns should be obliged to observe. The abbots have enjoyed the privilege of conferring the lower orders of priesthood, but in the essential points of jurisdiction they were everywhere subject to the diocesan bishop. The consequence of the abbots grew with the wealth of their monasteries, several received episcopal titles and privileges, all held rank next to that of a bishop, and had a vote in the ecclesiastical councils. Equal privileges and rights appertained to the abbesses, as the superior of the nunneries, except that they were not allowed to vote at synods. When the society of religious persons consisted of men, it was called a monastery. There is reason to believe that there were monasteries in Britain before the end of the 4th century. In the course of the 7th century many monasteries were founded in all parts of England. These monasteries were designed in some places for the seats of the bishops and their clergy; in others, for their secular priests, who preached and administered the sacraments over the neighbouring country, and in most instances, they were seminaries of learning for the education of youth. If a monastery or nunnery was subject to another, it was called a CELL. The great English abbeys had many such cells in distant places.
Priories.—When the chief person in a Monastery bore the name of Prior, it was styled a Priory. These religious houses were of two sorts—either they were such whose prior was independent, or they were such as depended upon some great abbey, from which they received their Prior, and to which they were often obliged to pay a small pension or annual acknowledgment. Whenever the Convent to which they belonged was beyond the seas, then it was styled an alien Priory. These last transmitted their revenues to their foreign superior, for which reason their estates were generally seized to carry on the wars between England and France.
Preceptories.—Whenever the Knights Templars, or Hospitallers, had any considerable manors or farms, they erected a church for the service of God, and built a convenient house of habitation, to which they sent out their fraternity, under the command of a Preceptor. Chantries were chapels erected and endowed for the singing of masses for the souls of the deceased. Chantry rents are still paid to the Crown by the purchaser of their lands. Hospitals were small convents, occupied by a few monks, for the entertainment of all who went any pilgrimage on religious pretence. Guilds were societies of lay brethren, who lived together like monks, but were of no professed order. The Grey Friars were at first called Franciscans, from the name of their founder, St. Francis: they were likewise called Minorites, from their being the lowest and most humble of all orders; and Observants, from their great strictness to the rules of their order. They were styled mendicants, from their professing wilful poverty, subsisting chiefly upon alms, which they used to ask from door to door, by which they were distinguished from monks, who kept at home within their convents, and lived in common upon their substance. Their habit was a long grey coat down to their heels, with a cowl or hood, and a cord about their loins, instead of a girdle. Many privileges were granted them, and many of high degree were ambitious of living, dying, and being interred in the habit of these Franciscans. The Black Friars, so called from their habit, a black cope and cowl over a white coat, were likewise called Dominicans, from their having been founded by St. Dominick; and black preaching friars, because they were the only preachers of all the friars. These monks obtained extensive grants of land, and had many persons of note within their convents. The White Friars took their name from the dress they wore. They came into England in 1325, and first settled at Canterbury.
Ecclesiastical Revenues.—The Ecclesiastical Commissioners were appointed under an act passed in the 6th and 7th of William IV., for the general improvement and equalization of the dioceses, for the dividing of extensive parishes, and augmenting small livings, and the adopting such other measures as may conduce to the efficiency of the Established Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Lord High Chancellor, the President of the Council, the Lord High Treasurer, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with others, form a body politic and corporate, by the name of the “Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England,” for the purpose of the said act. The Commissioners reported, in 1835, that the total amount of the gross annual revenues of the several Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sees of England and Wales was £181,631. The total amount of the net annual revenues of the several cathedral and collegiate churches in England and Wales was £284,241; and the total amount of the net revenues of the same, £208,209. The total amount of the gross annual separate revenues of the several dignitaries and other spiritual persons, members of the cathedrals and other collegiate churches, in England and Wales, was £75,854. The total number of benefices, with and without cure of souls, the incumbents whereof have made enquiries to the returns of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, omitting those which are permanently or occasionally annexed to superior preferments, are 10,540; the gross annual revenue of these benefices is £3,197,225; giving an average income of £303. The total number of benefices, with and without cure of souls, in England and Wales, including those not returned, but exclusive of those annexed to other preferments, (about 24 in number) is 10,718; the total gross income of which, calculated upon the average of those returned, amounts to £3,251,159; and the net income thereof, £3,055,451. The number of curates returned, as employed by resident incumbents, was 1000, whose annual stipends or payments in money amounted to £87,075; affording an average of £86, Those employed by non-residents were 4,124; the amount of their stipends, £337,620; average, £79: and the average of the whole of the curates’ stipends, £81. In concluding their report, the commissioners state that the archbishops and bishops in possession of their preferments, are subject to heavy expenses, and that the charges for first fruits and fees generally exceed the amount of their receipts for the first two or three years, after entering office.