The resident farmers are David Clayton, John Smith, and William Woodcock.
WILDERLEY
township lies about a mile from Church Pulverbatch, and ten miles S.W. from Shrewsbury. It contains 671 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £659. 1s. 4d. In 1841 here were 11 houses and 71 inhabitants.
The principal residents are the following farmers, viz., James Ambler, Richard Dovaston, Joshua Roderick, and Thomas Jarratt.
WRENTNALL,
a township with 927 acres of land, is situated about a mile N.W. from Church Pulverbatch; the scenery around is beautifully picturesque, and the situation one of quiet retirement. In 1841 here were 38 houses and 195 inhabitants. Rateable value, £1,195. 8s. The Baptists have a small place of worship in the village. James Freme, Esq., is the principal landowner in this township, and resides at an elegant mansion most delightfully situated on elevated ground, commanding views of great diversity and beauty.
The principal residents are James Freme, Esq.; John Breese, farmer; and Benjamin Burgwin, farmer.
FRODESLEY
is a parish and village, eight miles south-east from Shrewsbury, containing 2,188 acres of land, and in 1841 had 39 houses and 214 inhabitants: population in 1801, 158; in 1831, 186. Rateable value, £2,322. 7s. 6d. This parish is bounded on the south by one of the Frodesley hills, which form a connecting link between the Caradoc, Lawley, and the Wrekin. Though it possesses little to recommend it to the notice of the antiquarian, it is a parish of ancient date, being mentioned in the Doomsday Survey as held by one Siward, a freeman; the manor is subsequently inserted among the fees of Philip Burnel. The principal landowners are Sir E. J. Smythe, Bart., and Panton Corbet, Esq. The Roman Watling street runs for about two miles through this parish, in a line with the present turnpike road from Atcham to Church Stretton. The Hall is an ancient structure in the Elizabethan style, of rough stone, with dressed quoins and mullions. It was formerly the residence of Colonel Scriven, a staunch adherent to King Charles I. The Lodge is of a later date, partaking somewhat of the same style as the hall, and was formerly surrounded by a well-wooded and picturesque park. About the year 1780 it was inhabited by Godolphin Edwardes, Esq., then the possessor of the greater part of Frodesley. The Church dedicated to St. Mark, a plain structure, was rebuilt in 1809. The interior is neat, and the chancel was recently entirely refitted and decorated with much taste by the present incumbent. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £4. 14s., now returned at £392, in the patronage of the Rev. T. L. Gleadowe, M.A., the present rector. The rectory is a commodious house delightfully situated and surrounded with shrubberies and pleasure grounds tastefully laid out. Major Herbert Edwardes, C.B., was born at the rectory, whose father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were severally rectors of Frodesley. A few years ago a coal mine was worked for a short period, but the bed of coal being very thin and of an inferior quality it was closed.
Charities.—There is in the parish of Frodesley a slip of land containing about one acre, formerly a part of the waste which is supposed to have been given for the use of the poor by Godolphen Edwardes, Esq., who was lord of the manor. Thomas Scriven left £5 for the benefit of the poor. This sum was expended in the reparations of the church some time ago, and the churchwardens pay 5s. yearly as the interest. The Rev. Francis Edwardes, rector of Frodesley, who died in the year 1767, left £20 for the benefit of the poor. These gifts are distributed by the rector among the most necessitous parishioners.