Sutton William
Carrier
To Wolverhampton, Bessy Wheeler, on Monday, Wednesday, & Saturday
BADGER
is a parish in the Shiffnal division of the Brimstree hundred, six miles N.N.E. from Bridgnorth and five and a half miles S. from Shiffnal, comprising 980 acres of land, of which upwards of 100 acres are covered with woods and thriving plantations. The soil is various, the meadows and pastures produce a rich herbage, and the arable lands are highly productive. Rateable value £768. The parish in 1801 contained 88 inhabitants: 1831, 142: 1841, 137: and in 1851 there were 38 houses and a population of 101 souls, of whom 79 were males and 92 females. The village of Badger is delightfully situated in a district pleasingly diversified with bold undulations and rural scenery; the low lands are watered by the meanderings of the Cosford brook, and the small stream of the Worf. A romantic glen called the Dingle stretches for upwards of a mile in length, and the banks of the stream have been planted with shrubs and evergreens with great taste; in several places the waters are precipitated over the shelving rocks into the dingle below, which gives an additional charm to the picturesque scenery. This locality is the frequent resort of pleasure parties from Birmingham and the surrounding country during the summer months. Robert Henry Cheney, Esq., of Badger Hall, is the principal landowner, and lord of the manor; Mr. John Green is also a landowner.
The Church, dedicated to St. Giles, is a small but neat structure of free stone, having a square tower ornamented with crocketted pinnacles; the tower is beautified with a clock, sun-dial, and contains three bells; the interior of the church has a tasteful and elegant appearance, and the side compartments are neatly pewed with oak sittings. The east window is beautifully decorated with stained glass illustrative of scripture history; the appendages of tracery are of the most exquisite workmanship. The altar exhibits a fine specimen of elaborate carving. The parishioners of Worfield, who reside near Badger, in consideration of being accommodated with sittings in this church, presented a new organ in the year 1844. In the chancel is an elegant memorial in memory of Isaac Hawkins Brown, Esq., of this parish, D.C.L., and F.R.S., who died in 1818. A full length figure of the purest statuary marble, (one of Chantrey’s masterly productions) is represented as seated and perusing a book, on the side of which are several large quarto volumes in marble. Underneath the monument is an inscription in memory of his wife Elizabeth Brown. There is also a tablet beautifully designed, with the figure of a female in bass-relief to Jane Brown, and other members of the family, dated 1783. The Rev. William Smith, late rector of Badger, is remembered on a neat memorial dated 1837. There are others to Joseph Green and his wife, and to Elizabeth Kinnersley, the latter is dated 1619. In the church yard are several ancient tombs which have been erected in memory of deceased members of some of the principal families in the parish. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £4. 13s. 4d., now returned at £280, in the patronage of Robert Henry Cheney, Esq.: incumbent, Rev. Thomas Freeman Boddington, M.A. In the churchyard is a yew tree of immense growth, and near it a lofty mutilated column.
Badger Hall is an elegant and spacious mansion, the seat of Robert Henry Cheney, Esq., J.P. The structure is of brick with stone finishings, and situated on elevated ground, commanding delightful views over a luxuriant country. The vicinity of the mansion is finely timbered, and the extensive enclosures of park-like grounds are pleasingly diversified with sylvan beauty. The pleasure grounds and shrubberies are of considerable extent, and display the taste and superior management of the head gardener, Mr. George Cooke. Robert Henry Cheney, Esq., was appointed high sheriff of the County of Shropshire, for the year 1851. The Rectory is a good residence a little west of the church; it is pleasantly situated, and the gardens and pleasure grounds are neatly laid out. There is a school in the village which is supported by Mr. Cheney, where about fifty children are instructed. The Rev. T. C. Hartshorn gave £10 to the poor in 1752, and the Rev. Thos. Hartshorn gave a like sum which was laid out in the purchase of a rent charge of 20s. per annum, issuing out of a messuage and garden in Badger; the amount is expended in bread for the poor.
Directory.—Robert Henry Cheney, Esq., J.P., Badger Hall; William Bate, gentleman; William Bate and Sons, farmers; Rev. Thomas F. Boddington, M.A., the Rectory; William Braithwaite, corn miller; Henry Brewster, farmer and corn miller, Higford; George Cooke, gardener; John Green, gentleman, The Heath; John Mole, butler; Matthew Taylor, coachman; Richard Worrall, farmer.
BECKBURY
is a parish and village in the Shiffnal Division of the Brimstree Hundred, comprising 1321a. 0r. 10p. of land, and situated six miles and a half N.E. from Bridgnorth, and four miles S. from Shiffnal. In 1801 there were 231 inhabitants; 1831, 307; and in 1841, 61 houses and 312 souls. Rateable value, £1,942. 9s. 8d. The principal landowners are C. H. Slaney, Esq., Walter Stubbs, Esq., Thomas Charlton Whitmore, Esq., Dr. Windham, Dr. Fowler, and Mrs. Frances Horton.