Evans Robert, farmer
Higginson Thomas, farmer
SIBBERSCOTT DIRECTORY.
France Richard, farmer
France Samuel, farmer
PRESTON MONTFORD, AND DINTHILL
is a township in the parish of St. Alkmund, returned in 1841 as containing 17 houses and 76 inhabitants. Preston Montford is situated four miles N.W. from Shrewsbury, and consists of a few scattered houses leading to Montford Bridge. Dinthill is completely severed from Montford, and lies about three and a half miles S.W. from Shrewsbury, near the Shrewsbury and Welshpool road. It is considered as a distinct township by the parochial officers. Mr. Thomas Hawkins, farmer, Dinthill Hall, is the only resident. The chief inhabitants of Preston Montford are John Bowen, police officer; William Jones, farmer and vict., Swan; John Randles, blacksmith and machine maker; John Thomas, grocer and general dealer; George Whitehorn, vict., Nag’s Head; George Whitehorn, Jun., fish net and shoemaker; Miss Wingfield, The Cottage; Mrs. Wingfield, The Hall.
WESTBURY
is a parish and considerable village situated on the Shrewsbury and Montgomery turnpike road, nine miles S.W. by S. of the former place, and twelve miles N.E. of the latter. It comprises the townships of Marsh district, Newton, Stretton, Vennington, Wallop, Westbury, Westley, Whitton, Wigmore, Winsley, and Yockleton, which have an area of 18,347 acres of land. Rateable value, £10,810. The woodlands are 197 acres, and roads 67½ acres. Edward William Pembroke Smithe Owen, Esq., is lord of the manor and the principal landowner. Colonel John Wingfield and John Michael Severne, Esq., are also considerable proprietors. The rent charge is £1,459. 16s. 5d. Population in 1801, 1,991; 1831, 2,228; and in 1841 there were 314 houses and 2,412 persons. Westbury, anciently written Wesberie, was held in the reign of the Confessor by Ernui, and was free. Roger, the son of Corbet, held of Earl Roger most of that tract of land lying in the hundred of Ford, with parts of Chirbury and Condover hundreds, which in the whole consisted of 39 manors or hamlets, and for his seat he built the Castle of Cause. It is thought that Roger Corbet or his son espoused the cause of his patron, Robert de Belesme, against Henry the I., and upon incurring the king’s displeasure, forfeited his inheritance, which was given to Pain Fitz John. In 2nd Henry III. the king commanded the Earl of Chester to restore to Thomas Corbet the Castle of Cause and all his lands. In 30th Henry III. the said Thomas Corbet had a grant of free warren in Cause and two years after, the grant of a fair to be kept on the eve, the day, and the day after, the translation of Thomas the martyr. The site of the castle is lofty and commanding; it stood on an isolated ridge, rising abruptly from a deep ravine on one side, and sloping towards a vast valley bounded by the Stiperstones on the other. The castle is in a state of complete dilapidation. There is a colliery in this township, and bricks and tiles are also made near the village.
The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, has a square tower, in which are five bells. The interior is neatly pewed, and consists of nave, side aisles, and chancel. There are many neat tablets in the church. The living is a rectory divided into the two portions of Westbury in Dextra and Westbury in Sinistra. The former portion is rated in the king’s book at £13. 9s. 4½d., now returned at £643, and the latter at £11. 12s. 8½d., is now returned at £556.