1 Meire Thomas L., farmer
2 Norris John, farmer, Mosterley
1 Price John, farmer
1 Price Richard, farmer
1 Richards John, farmer
2 Woodcock Richard, farmer
CRESSAGE
is a chapelry in the parish of Cound, four miles N.W. from Much Wenlock, and eight miles S.E. from Shrewsbury. The village is delightfully situated near the Severn, in a fertile district, beautifully diversified with picturesque scenery. The township contains 1,900 acres of land, the gross estimated rental of which is £2,393. 12s. 3d. Rateable value, £1,995. 19s. 4d. At the census in 1841 here were 63 houses and 297 inhabitants. The principal landowners are the Duke of Cleveland, Sir George Harnage, Bart., and William Morris, Esq. Cressage is supposed to have derived its name from a venerable oak of gigantic proportions which stands near the village. Some time ago a fire was kindled in the hollow of the tree, by which it was greatly injured and nearly destroyed; it is supported by iron cramps, and there is now flourishing in the midst of the tree a young oak, raised from an acorn of the old tree. It was formerly called Christ’s Ache, Ache being the Saxon word for oak, and eventually became corrupted to Cressage. The shade of spreading trees we often find were chosen by the early missionaries as preaching places for the propagation of the Christian faith. Hence we have Bishop’s Oak, Postle’s Oak, and at Cressage, Christ’s Oak. The Chapel of Ease is a small unadorned structure, subordinate to the church of Cound. It was built in 1841 at a cost of £1,400, and contains 260 sittings. The funds were raised by voluntary subscriptions and grants from the government and diocesan church building societies. The original structure was situated in a meadow a short distance from the village, and from its dampness and dilapidated condition was totally unfit for divine worship. The Rev. George Burd is the curate.
This village is celebrated as the birth place of Thomas Lodge, who settled in London as a grocer, accumulated great wealth, and rose to the civic honour of Lord Mayor of London in the year 1562. Balswardyne Hall is a handsome mansion, the seat and property of Sir George Harnage, Bart.; the estate comprises 750 acres, and is partly in this chapelry, and also extends into the liberties of Wenlock, Leighton, and Harley. It was purchased by the ancestor of the present proprietor in the year 1541. By indenture bearing date January 13th, 1672, it was agreed on the part of the churchwardens and overseers of the parish of Cound, that 20s. yearly should be paid to the churchwardens and overseers of Cressage, as their proportion of the yearly produce of a legacy therein stated to have been left for the benefit of the poor, by the will of Dame Ann Eldred in the year 1671. Nothing appears to be known of this charity either in the parish of Cound, or in the chapelry of Cressage.
Harnage Sir George, Bart., Balswardyne