HIGHLEY
is a parish and pleasant rural village near the western bank of the Severn, seven miles S.S.E. of Bridgnorth, situated on an eminence commanding fine views of the surrounding country, and noted for its extensive orchards and the excellency of its cider, which is made to a considerable extent in this locality. There are several quarries of superior stone in the parish. At the census of 1841 there were 88 houses and 360 inhabitants; population in 1801, 274, and in 1831, 404. Highley contains 1,527a. 1r. 7p. of land, of which 780 acres are arable, 570 acres meadow and pasture, and 40 acres are woodlands, the rateable value of which is £1,128. 3s. 4d; gross estimated rental, £1,929. 18s. 6d. The tithes are commuted for £225. 1s. 6d. William Jordin, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner, besides whom Mr. John Crane, Rev. Samuel Du Pre, Mr. Easthope, Mr. Thomas Fenn, Mr. J. H. Windle, Mr. Daniel Jordin, Mr. Levi Jordin, Mr. Thomas Jordin, and Mr. George Peplow, are proprietors.
The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is built of free stone, with square tower, in which is four bells. It consists of nave, chancel, and has a gallery on which is placed a small organ. The Rev. Samuel Burrows is the patron, and the Rev. Samuel Du Pre, incumbent. The living is a vicarage valued in the king’s book at £5. 19s. 2d. Some portion of the land is tithe free, the rest has been commuted and apportioned as follows:—To the vicar the sum of £115. 10s.; to Mr. Jordin, £89. 11s.; to the Rev. P. Haslewood, £19, and to Thomas Lowe, £1. The vicar has 89a. 3r. 2p. of glebe land.
Charities.—Richard Lowe gave the sum of £10 by will in 1579; George Harris, in 1607, gave £1. 6s. 8d.; and Giles Rawlins, by will, in 1677, gave £5, to be employed for the use and benefit of the poor of the parish of Highley. With this money land was purchased containing two acres, on which two cottages have been built, and the rents have been given to the poor of the parish in bread every Sunday. Thomas Getton, Esq., in 1808, gave £5. 10s., the interest thereof to be distributed in bread to the poor of the parish on Christmas day.
Directory.—Decimus Burrows, farmer, Church Hill; William Burrows, farmer, Rea Farm; John Davies, shopkeeper; Rev. Samuel Du Pre, The Vicarage; William Easthope, farmer, Haylewells; William Evans, builder; Thomas Fenn, farmer, Dustley; George Gough, shopkeeper; William Thomas Homer, schoolmaster; Martha Hughes, beer and cider retailer; Daniel Jordin, miller and farmer; Levi Jordin, farmer; Thomas Jordin, farmer, Netherton House; William Jordin, Esq., New House; William Jordin, farmer, Highley House; William Kirk, shopkeeper and quarry owner; John Kirkham, vict., The Ship; William Lloyd, shoemaker; John Oakley, farm bailiff; William Pritchard, blacksmith; Richard Tomlinson, farmer, The Heath; William Walford, shoemaker; Benjamin Williams, tailor.
HOPE BAGGOT,
a small parish five miles east by south of Ludlow, containing 650 acres of land, in 1841 had 21 houses and 75 inhabitants; population in 1801, 94; 1831, 62. The tithes of this parish have been commuted for £75. In the 22nd of Richard II., William de Hulle held half a knight’s fee here under the Earl of March, which was formerly possessed by Robert Baggard, from whom this place took its name. The principal landowners are Benjamin Giles, Esq., Mrs. Lucy Botfield, Mrs. J. Hooley, and Mr. Richard Bray. The Church, dedicated to St. John, is a small stone edifice, capable of accommodating 63 persons. The interior consists of nave and chancel, in the latter of which is a tablet to the memory of Benjamin Giles, Esq., dated 1795, and another to the memory of Benjamin Giles, Esq., dated 1813. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £3. 6s. 8d., now returned at £90; in the patronage of the Duke of Cleveland, and incumbency of the Rev. David Jones. Directory.—Richard Bray, farmer; Edward Downes, shoemaker; Benjamin Giles, Esq., Hope Court; Mrs. Jemima Hooley; Rev. David Jones, the Rectory; and James Geo. Lewis, Esq., Hope Villa.
HOPTON WAFERS
is a parish and pleasantly situated village on the Cleobury Mortimer and Ludlow turnpike road, 9 miles from the latter place. It contains 1,610a. 3r. 26p. of land, of which 22a. 3r. 18p. are roads; 236a. 3r. 26p. common; and 60a. are in woods and plantations. In 1851 there were 94 inhabited houses, 20 uninhabited, and 444 inhabitants; population in 1801, 392; 1841, 481. There were formerly three paper mills in this parish. Hopton Wafers is remarkable as giving a singular instance of longevity in William Hyde, who resided in this place, and lived to the advanced age of 106 years, and at the time of his decease in 1798, had sons upwards of eighty years old. The principal landowner is Mrs. Lucy Botfield, who is also lady of the manor; the trustees of Ludlow charities, trustees of Palmer’s charities, and the rector are also proprietors. Rent charge, £186. 12s. There are 83a. 1r. 21p. of glebe land. The Church is a fine gothic structure, built of free stone, having a square tower with pinnacles at the angles. In consists of north and south aisles and chancel, and has a gallery, in which is a small organ. On the altar is represented in statuary a Bible opening to the Ten Commandments, and on each side of the window are marble scrolls with the Creed and Lord’s Prayer engraved thereon. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and the patronage is vested in Mrs. Lucy Botfield, incumbent, Rev. Thomas Woodward. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel, built in the year 1837.
Directory.—Joseph Allen, blacksmith; Mrs. Lucy Botfield, Hopton Court; John Bishop, farmer, Bank House; John Caldwell, tailor; Thomas Caldwell, tailor; John Dolphin, farmer and beer retailer; William Edwards, schoolmaster; William Farr, blacksmith; Richard Hatton, wheelwright; William Highfield, farmer; Eliza Hyde, schoolmistress; Thomas Hyde, shoemaker; William Hyde, shoemaker; William Jones, farmer, Little Shote; Thomas Page, farmer, Roch Head; William Radnor, farmer, Sproseley; Thomas Ree, farmer, White House; William Steed, stone mason; William Thatcher, farmer, Great Shote; John Whitehead, vict., the Crown and farmer; Rev. Thomas Woodward, M.A., the Rectory.