Preston John, farmer

Walton Ann, vict., Saracen’s head

ALDERTON,

a township and village in the chapelry of Hadnal, three miles N.N.W. from the latter place, contains 239a. 3r. 37p. of land, the owners of which are Mrs. Minor, Miss Corbett, and Mr. William Teece. Population in 1841, twenty-five. Rateable value, £410. 6s. 8d. Rent charge, £54. 5s. The resident farmers are John Clay, Cornelius Maddocks, and Richard Williams. The following are resident in the village of Alderton, but situated within the boundaries of the parish of Broughton, viz.: Joseph Mullinex, blacksmith; William Sutton, wheelwright; and Richard Williams, blacksmith.

HARDWICK,

is a small township about a mile north from Hadnal, which comprises 372a. 2r. 1p. of land, the rateable value of which is £551. 6s. 2d. Inhabitants in 1841, thirteen. Rent charge, £23. Hardwick Hall, a handsome mansion delightfully situated in a well wooded park, was the country seat of that distinguished warrior, the late General Lord Hill, who greatly improved the hall and pleasure grounds, and erected a handsome lodge of Grinshill free stone, at the entrance from the Shrewsbury turnpike road. A more detailed account of this illustrious commander, who spent his last years amidst the rural beauties of Hardwick, has been given at a preceding page. The property is now vested in Viscount Hill, and the Misses Hill reside at Hardwick Hall. Robert Blantern, Hardwick Grange, is the only resident farmer in this township.

HASTON

township, situated one mile W.W. by N. from Hadnal, contains about 400 acres of good land, the owners of which are Viscount Hill, Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., and Messrs. Richard and William Boodle Pickstock. Rateable value of the township, £574. 18s. 6d. Population in 1841, 78, Rent charge, £62. There are two respectable farm residences in this place, one of which has recently been built by the Messrs. Pickstock. The resident farmers are Mr. George Blantern and Messrs. Richard and William Boodle Pickstock.

SHOTTON,

a small township pleasantly situated on elevated ground, two miles N.W. from Hadnal, contains 230a. 2r. 13p. of land, the rateable value of which is £417. 4s. 6d. Colonel Watkins owns the whole township. The number of inhabitants at the census in 1841 were twenty-two, at which period the land was divided into two farms. Within the last few years the two farms have been united, and the whole township is now farmed by Mr. John Groome. The tithes are commuted for £54. 5s.