Directory.—Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, bart., the Hall; John William Benbow, farmer; Edward Everall, shopkeeper; Eli Charles Moore, bailiff to Sir E. J. Smythe; Thomas Morris, farmer; Peter Perry, farmer and maltster, Acton Pigott; Thomas Reynolds, butcher; William Southall, vict., Nag’s head; Rev. Edward Arthur Wainwright, rector.
RUCKLEY AND LANGLEY
is a small village and chapelry in the parish of Acton Burnell, about one mile east from that place, and five and a half miles west from Much Wenlock. At the census in 1801 there were eighty-two inhabitants; in 1841, fifteen houses and a population of eighty-three souls. The chapelry contains 952 acres of land, which is the property of Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, bart., who is also lord of the manor. The chapel is an inconsiderable structure where divine service is performed only twice during the year. The living is a curacy subordinate to the rectory of Acton Burnell. Langley Hall, an ancient mansion of considerable extent, is now occupied as a farm house, and although much dilapidated it has an imposing aspect, and shows many traces of its former grandeur. King Charles during his troubles was for a short period concealed here; a fine old oak table, elaborately carved, is said to have been in the hall since the time of King Charles, and was used by that monarch as a dining table.
The Farmers are George Carter, Langley; Ellen Evans, Causway wood; Richard Farr, Mere Oak; John Grainger, Langley Hall; James Hartwright, Ruckley; Richard Stedman, Park gate; and Edward Sumner, Ruckley.
Betton and Alkmere is a small township in the parish of St. Chad, in the Condover hundred. The parish of St. Chad is partly returned in the Albrighton division and partly in the Ford division of the Ford Hundred, but is chiefly situated within the limits of the borough of Shrewsbury. The village of Little Betton, or Betton Strange, is pleasantly situated two and a half miles south from Shrewsbury, and was returned at the census of 1841 as having ten houses and forty-eight inhabitants. The land owners are Lord Berwick, and George Jonathan Scott, Esq., the latter gentleman resides at a good house embosomed in foliage usually called Betton Strange.
The principal residents are Joseph Cross, farmer; Thomas Elsmere, farmer; and John Scott, Esq., Betton Strange.
BERRINGTON
is a small rural village pleasantly situated four and a half miles S.E. by S. from Shrewsbury. The parish contains the several townships of Berrington, Brompton, Betton, Cantlop, and Eaton Mascot, which together in 1801 had a population of 603 souls; 1831, 684, and in 1841 there were 97 houses and 651 inhabitants. There was no separate return of the respective townships at the census of 1841. The township of Berrington contains 880 acres of land, with a fertile soil highly productive. Lord Berwick and Sir Edward Smythe, Bart., are the principal landowners, the latter is lord of the manor. The church is an ancient structure, dedicated to All Saints; the living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £10. 12s. 1d., now returned at £400 in the patronage of Lord Berwick, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. T. H. N. Hill. There is a national school in the village, where 45 children are educated. Betton is a small township with 564 acres, which is the property of Lord Berwick. Rateable value, £759. Brompton township has 864 acres, which is also the property of Lord Berwick. Within the bounds of this township at Cross Houses is situated the Atcham Union House, a spacious brick pile, calculated to accommodate 350 inmates. It consists of a centre and wings; the receiving wards and infirmary are now in course of erection at the back part of the premises, the estimated cost of which is £1,510; the old infirmary was taken down in consequence of its being too small for the accommodation of the patients. The average number of inmates in the union house is usually about 200. The average annual expenditure on the poor of the district for three years preceding the formation of the union was £9,768. Total expenditure of the union for the year ending March, 1850, £4,101. 5s., being 4s. 4¾d. per head on the population comprised within the union. Total number of admissions during the year, 586. Total number relieved during the year, exclusive of vagrants, 703. The union comprehends the following 43 parishes, viz.:—Acton Burnel, Alberbury, Albrighton, Astley, Atcham, Battlefield, Bauseley, Berrington, Cardiston, Church Preen, Church Pulverbatch, Condover, Cound, Cressage, Criggion, Eaton Constantine, Fitz, Ford, Frodesley, Habberley, Hanwood, Harley, Highley, Kenley, Leighton, Melverley, Minsterley, Montford, Pitchford, Pontesbury, Preston Gubbals, Ruckley, Shineton, Shrawardine, Stapleton, Sutton, Uffington, Uppington, Upton Magna, Westbury, Withington, Woolaston, and Wroxeter. The guardians meet three times during the month. Chairman: Sir B. Leighton. Vice-Chairman: Rev. H. Burton. Clerk: Mr. Thos. Everest. House Surgeon: Mr. F. Whitfell. Relieving Officers: Mr. George Jackson and James Hampton. Governor: Mr. Robert Rowlandson. Matron: Mrs. Rowlandson. The New Connexion Methodists have a small chapel in Brompton, which was built in 1836. Cantlop, a small township lying to the S.W. of Berrington, contains 681 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £839. The Earl of Liverpool and E. W. S. Owen, Esq., are the principal landowners. Eaton Mascot township contains 495 acres of land, which is the property of Mrs. Williams. The rateable value of this township is £690.
Charities.—John Churm, in 1629, gave £13, which was laid out in the purchase of a rent charge of 20s. per annum, issuing out of a piece of land called Leeberries. It is the practice to receive the payment once in three or four years, and distribute it with other money to the poor, in sums varying from 2s. to 5s. In 1723, Richard Wellings gave £20 for the good of the poor of Berrington. This money is now in the Savings’ Bank at Shrewsbury. Margaret Thompson bequeathed £6 to buy Bibles for poor children. This money is also in the Savings’ Bank. The interest on this and the preceding legacy amounts to 21s. yearly, and in respect of Thompson’s charity a Bible or prayer book is purchased for the use of the Sunday school, or given to some poor person of the parish, and the remainder is distributed among the poor.
Berrington, Betton, Brompton, Cantlop, and Eaton Mascot Directories.