is a market town and parish in the Upper division of the Munslow hundred, thirteen miles S.S.W. from Shrewsbury, fourteen miles N.N.W. from Ludlow, and 153 miles from London. The parish comprises the townships of Church Stretton, All Stretton, Little Stretton, and Minton, and contains 5,717 acres of titheable land, and 5,000 of common, making a total of 10,717 acres in the parish, the gross estimated rental of which is £7,592. Rateable value £6,133. At the census of 1801 there were 924 inhabitants; 1831, 1,302; 1841, 1,604. At the latter period there were 346 houses, of which 183 houses and 860 persons were in the township of Church Stretton. This place is supposed to have derived the name of Stretton (formerly Street Town), from its contiguity to the Watling Street, the Roman road that led from Uriconium (now Wroxeter), the principal city of the Cornavii, to Kinchester, near Hereford. This ancient road runs nearly parallel with the turnpike road from Shrewsbury to Hereford. The town is small, and chiefly consists of one street, in the widest part of which is the market hall. It is a polling place for the southern division of the county, and is situated in a picturesque vale, from which rise gradually wooded eminences of great beauty, backed by lofty ranges of hills. On the eastern side are the Lawley and the far-famed Caer Caradoc, one of the military entrenchments of Caractacus in his long and arduous struggle with the Romans; on the western side is the lofty range of the Longmynds, extending eight or nine miles, and on the summit of one called Boddbury was a Roman station or camp of observation. A pole has been erected on the highest point of the Longmynds, from which spot there is a most delightful and commanding view of a wide extent of country. The prospect includes on the west the Stipperstones, the mountainous district of Wales, including the Sugarloaf near Abergavenny, the Table mountain, Cader Idris, and the intervening range from that mountain to Snowdon; on the east and north-east are seen the Edgwood, the Clee, and Malvern hills, and the majestic Wrekin; to the south-west are the hills of Radnorshire, and on the north-west the Denbighshire hills, besides which there is a fine view of the fertile plains of Shropshire, with many other objects of deep interest. The secluded and romantic situation of Church Stretton, the grand and majestic character of the surrounding scenery—its proximity to scenes of great historical interest—the mildness and salubrity of the air, which is at the same time peculiarly bracing,—its general exemption from contagious and epidemic disease, and the excellence of the water, all conduce to render it peculiarly attractive to parties in pursuit of health and pleasure. During the summer months it is a very favourite resort of visitors from the neighbouring towns, the great variety of the scenery rendering it almost impossible to weary the most fastidious taste. When it has become more easy of access by railway it will no doubt become a favourite retreat for persons from all parts of the kingdom. The Shrewsbury and Hereford railway now in course of construction will pass within three hundred yards of the town.
Camden, who wrote in the time of Elizabeth observes, “Near Stretton, in a valley are yet to be seen the rubbish of an old castle called Brocard’s Castle and the same set amiddest greene meadowes that before time were fish ponds.” In the 17th of King John, Hugh de Mortimer received command from the Barons to deliver up the castle of Stretton Dale to Hugh de Neville, but standing firm to the king he was rewarded the next year by receiving a grant of the castle of Holdgate from John. The Caer Caradoc probably acquired that name from having been one of the military stations of Caractacus, and it was once considered the place where he fought his last battle until a strict comparison of its situation, with the description given by Tacitus, caused the opinion to be abandoned. Formerly a society of gentlemen used to meet annually on this hill to celebrate the fame of the British chief in compositions of prose and verse. A very spirited poetical effusion was on occasion delivered almost extempore by the Rev. Sneyd Davies. Almost every dingle and narrow valley of this locality has its peculiar brook or rivulet, which in several instances form beautiful cascades over their rocky channel; they all produce excellent trout. At the foot of the Caradoc, near All Stretton, is a farm house called Botvylle which a family of that name at an early period held under the Knights Templars of Jerusalem. One of this family was a lawyer, and was called John of the Inns, which was corrupted into John Thynne, and from him there is a tradition that the family of the Marquis of Bath is descended, who possessed the manor till the year 1808, when it was sold to Thomas Coleman, Esq. In the 10th of Edward III. the king bestowed Stretton on Richard, Earl of Arundel, and the year following he obtained the grant of a market on Thursday, and a fair on the eve, the day, and the day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The market is still held on Thursday, and is well attended with provisions. Fairs are held on the Monday before Shrewsbury first March fair; 14th May, 3rd of July, for wool, 25th of September, and the last Thursday in November. The Market Hall is a neat and spacious building in the Elizabethan style, consisting of a good room where public meetings are held, and an area underneath for the market. It was erected in the year 1839, at a cost of about £1000, and was conveyed to the following trustees, some of whom were the principal subscribers to the funds for its erection, namely: the Earl of Powis, Lord Darlington, Lord Clive, Hon. R. H. Clive, Rev. N. R. Pemberton, E. W. Smythe Owen, Esq., G. R. Benson, Esq., Panton Corbett, Esq., Thomas S. Acton, Esq., E. B. Coleman, Esq., William Pinches, Esq., Mr. John Broome, and Mr. John Robinson. The old market hall, an antique structure much admired for its primitive appearance, was chiefly composed of timber and plaister, and was built in the year 1617; it was fast falling to decay when it was taken down; the inhabitants purchased the site and the tolls for £200, which was raised by subscriptions, so that the market is now toll free. In a deep valley about a quarter of a mile from the town is a flourishing flannel manufactory, the machinery being turned by a mountain stream; the inhabitants are however chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits; large flocks of sheep are pastured on the neighbouring hills. The principal landowners are Moses George Benson, Esq., Charles Orlando Childe Pemberton, Esq., and Mrs. Coleman; the latter is lady of the manor.
The Church, an ancient cruciform structure with a central tower, chiefly in the early English style of architecture, is dedicated to St. Lawrence, having an image of that saint in the eastern angle of the tower. The tower exhibits some elaborate workmanship, and contains a very melodious peal of bells and an excellent clock. On the north and south sides of the edifice are doorways of Norman character. The tower is supported by four clustered pillars and pointed arches, which divide the nave, chancel, and transepts. The chancel is beautifully ornamented with richly carved oak in antique devices, collected at a considerable cost by the late rector, the Rev. Robert N. Pemberton, who bestowed great care and expense in the embellishment of the sacred edifice. In the centre compartment of the altar is an elegant and well carved representation of Christ after the crucifixion. The windows, principally in the decorated style, with rich and flowing tracery, are beautified with stained glass. The eastern one is peculiarly chaste and elegant, and being immediately over the altar gives the interior a very chastened and effective appearance. The centre division contains a fine figure of our Saviour, and on one side is a representation of St. Peter, and on the other of St. John. This window was the gift of the late rector, the Rev. R. N. Pemberton. The living is a rectory, rated in the king’s book at £15. 10s., in the patronage of C. O. C. Pemberton, Esq.; incumbent, Rev. Hugh Owen Wilson. The tithes are commuted for £505, and there is a glebe land attached to the rectory, of the annual value of £60. The parish is in the diocese of Hereford, and the triennial visitation is held here by the bishop. The visitation in the intermediate years is held by the archdeacon. Roger Mainwaring, D.D., vicar of St. Giles in the Fields, and chaplain to King Charles I., was born in this town. His two sermons, entitled “Religion and Allegiance,” were censured in parliament, and he was afterwards imprisoned and suspended for three years. In 1633 the king presented him to the rich rectory of Stanford Rivers, in Essex, made him dean of Worcester, and in 1635 he was consecrated bishop of St. David’s, which see he held till the bishopric was abolished. He was cruelly dealt with by the prevailing powers in the time of anarchy and confusion, and died in 1653, leaving behind him the character of a person of great learning and true piety.
There is a Branch Savings Bank at Church Stretton, which commenced in the year 1821, the business of which is conducted at the school house every Friday. About 300 depositors have their names in the books, and a sum of about £9,000 standing to their credit. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the Manchester Unity have a lodge here, with their funds in a prosperous condition. There is also a clothing club for the benefit of poor families, and one for the supply of coals during the winter season. A police station has been erected at the expense of the county, near to the union house, in connexion with which are cells for the temporary confinement of offenders, and a residence for the superintendent constable.
The Church Stretton Union Workhouse is situated nearly a quarter of a mile from the town, on the Shrewsbury and Ludlow turnpike road, and in the immediate vicinity of the Longmynd hills. The situation is remarkably dry and salubrious, and the building is admirably contrived for the convenience and comfort of the inmates. The building is in the form of a cross, which, with the outer wall, forms four quadrangles, and these are used as airing yards. It was built in 1838, of the rough stone got from the neighbouring quarries, with quoins and cornices of hewn free stone. The cost of the structure was £2,000, and the sum of £200 was paid for the site and land attached, which covers an area of about two acres. The money necessary for the erection was borrowed, and it was agreed to pay back the principal by instalments of £100 per annum: there remains unpaid at the present time £600. The parishes comprised within the union are, Acton Scott, Church Stretton, Cardington, Easthope, Eaton, Hope Bowdler, Leebotwood, Longnor, Rushbury, Shipton, Sibdon, Carwood, Smethcott, Wistanston, and Woolstaston. The house is capable of accommodating 110 inmates, and the guardians meet at the board room every fortnight for the transaction of the business connected with the union. The expenditure for the half year ending Lady day, 1850, was £1,266. 16s., and the average weekly cost per head of the in-door paupers was 2s. 1½d., of which 3d. was for clothing. The number of in-door paupers at the same period was 55. John Belton, Clerk to the Guardians. Thomas Heighway, Relieving Officer. Medical Officers: Richard Wilding, for the house and first district; Thomas R. C. Downes, second district; Robert Jones, third district; Charles Mott, fourth district. Rev. P. Nunn, Chaplain. Henry Evans, Governor. Mary Ditcher, Matron. Sarah Atkinson, Schoolmistress.
Charities.—There is a school and schoolhouse in the town of Church Stretton, built in 1779 on the site of an old school, supposed to have been erected on the waste land by subscription, and another room has since been added thereto. By an act of parliament, passed 28th George III., for enclosing the commons and waste lands in the manor of Church Stretton, it was enacted that all encroachments which had heretofore been made on the said commons and waste lands, for the use of the school and schoolmaster at Church Stretton, should be confirmed by the commissioners to the rector of the parish for the time being, together with nine other persons therein named, and their successors to be appointed as therein directed, on trust to receive the rents and apply the same to the use of the schoolmaster as an augmentation of his salary, and to permit such master to occupy the buildings for the uses for which they were intended. In pursuance of this act the commissioners allotted a parcel of land containing 27a. 0r. 29p., (including a road containing about one acre), which was let, when the charity commissioners published their report, for the yearly sum of £27.
The following legacies have at different periods been left for the benefit of the school, viz:—Sir Rowland Hayward, Knt. £1. 13s. 4d. yearly, payable out of certain lands in the parish. In respect of the charity of Thomas Bridgman, 40s. yearly is paid to the schoolmaster for teaching four poor children. From Lloyd’s Charity the trustees receive the sum of £2. 5s., and £3. 3s. yearly for the support of a Sunday school. The trustees also receive £4. 10s. yearly from Mainwaring’s Charity, and £2. 1s. annually from the churchwardens. The whole annual income derived from these sources amounts to £42. 12s. 4d. The schoolmaster is appointed by the trustees, and receives a salary of £40 a year, and resides in a house free of expense, and for these emoluments he also teaches a Sunday school. The school is conducted on the national system: about 60 boys and 60 girls attend.
Thomas Hawkes, by will dated 19th August, 1703, left £30 to the use of the poor of the parish of Church Stretton, to be laid out in land; the yearly produce thereof to be distributed in bread as follows; viz: eight penny loaves every Sunday, and sixteen penny loaves every first Sunday in the year, Easter Sunday, and Whit-Sunday, to such poor persons as should frequent the church. The aforesaid sum of £30 was laid out in 1708 in the purchase of a copyhold tenement situated in Church Stretton, called Walter’s House, formerly used as a poor-house, in respect of which 30s. is paid yearly as Hawke’s Legacy out of the poor’s rates, and applied with the produce of other charities hereafter noticed.
By Indenture, bearing date 3rd May, 1684, John Garratt and Henry Richards conveyed a meadow, containing by estimation two acres, in the township of Little Stretton to Thomas Hawkes and others, and their heirs on trust, that they should succour and relieve (with the yearly rents and profits) such poor of the said parish as they thought most needy. The meadow called Little Stretton Pools, containing 1a. 1r. 2p. of land, is let at a yearly rent of £5, which is distributed amongst the poor with the other charities.
On the table of benefactions, it is stated that Randolph Jones, in 1710, left £10, the interest to be distributed in bread. This money is supposed to have been laid out in building the poor-house, and the interest thereof, 10s., is paid yearly from the poor’s rates, and forms part of the funds distributed in bread at Easter and Christmas.