Ruyton of the Eleven Towns is a parish, containing the six townships of Cotton, Eardiston, Ruyton of the Eleven Towns, Shelvock, Shotatton, and Wikey, all situated in the lower division of the hundred of Oswestry, and altogether comprising an area of 3,991 acres of land. In 1801, the number of inhabitants was 720; in 1831, 933; and in 1841, 1,083, and 216 houses. George Edwards, Esq. is lord of the manor. The soil is a mixture of loam and sand, producing good wheat and barley. There is also some fertile grazing land. The farms are in some instances of considerable extent, and are provided with good houses and commodious outbuildings.
RUYTON OF THE ELEVEN TOWNS
is a place of great antiquity, and though now considered as a village only, it was formerly a borough of honourable account. “Edmund, Earl of Arundel, in the 5th of Edward II., obtained a grant of a market on a Wednesday at his manor of Ruiton, in the Marches of Wales, and a fair to be kept yearly, on the eve of the day of St. John the Baptist, and for three days following.” The charter is confirmed by Richard II. and Henry VI., and grants that the burgesses may have certain customs and laws as freely as the burgesses of Shrewsbury. Fairs are held the second Monday in April, July 5th, and second Monday in November. The market has long been obsolete. Ruyton is pleasantly situated two and a half miles west from the Baschurch railway station, ten miles N.W. from Shrewsbury, and nine miles S.E. from Oswestry. The township contains 1,717a. 3r. 22p. of land, and in 1841 there were 142 houses and 658 souls. Rateable value, £1,865. 4s. 5d. The land rises into bold swelling hills, thickly studded with plantations, and watered by the river Perry. The following are the freeholders in this township:—Samuel Bickerton, Esq.; Robert Broughton, Esq.; Robert S. Comberbach; John Comberbach; George Davies; Edward Davies; Mrs. Edwards; Rev. George Evans; Richard Griffiths; Thomas Griffiths; David Hiles; Thomas Hall; the Hon. Ths. Kenyon; John Kough, Esq.; Henry Kent; Edward Leeke; Miss Middleton; Saml. Minton; Richard Minton; Robert Peel; John Price; William Rodgers; John Thomas; and John Walford, Esq.
The Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has been built at different periods. The chancel is very ancient, and the tower is massive and lofty. The south side of the fabric was built about the year 1696, and the north side was re-built and enlarged in 1845, when 96 additional sittings were obtained, which, in consequence of a grant from the Incorporated Society for building and enlarging churches, the whole are declared free and unappropriated for ever. Previous to the alterations there were 294 sittings, of which 30 were free. The body of the church has a double pitched roof, supported by lofty pointed arches, and the ceiling is of dark oak, which gives the interior of the edifice a very interesting appearance. There are several neat mural monuments to the families of Kinaston, Hunt, Evans, and others. The Kinastons were formerly numerous in the parish. In the churchyard are some fine tombs, beautifully chiselled, remembering some of the principal families who were formerly residents in the parish. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King’s book at £5. 18s., now returned at £313. The patronage is vested in the Lord Chancellor. Rev. George Evans, M.A., is the incumbent, and resides at the vicarage, which is pleasantly situated on an eminence. The tithes were commuted in 1839, when £94 was apportioned to the vicar, and £105 to the impropriators. There are 44a. 1r. 11p. of glebe land. The National School, a good building, with a residence for the teacher, was built in 1819, by subscription, and a grant of £60 from the National Society. It is endowed with £438. 11s. 10d., of which £200 is secured on the Oswestry House of Industry, and £238. 11s. 10d. are invested in government securities, Mrs. Margaret and Mrs. Anne Kinaston gave the site, and left £20 towards the repairs of the school. The Independents have a neat chapel and a residence for the minister, built in 1833. The congregation is under the pastoral care of the Rev. David Harris. The Primitive Methodists have also a chapel here. There is a small Lock-up in the village. The following are the principal houses in the township:—Ruyton Park, the residence of the Hon. Charles Nowell Hill; the Villa, a modern erection of brick, the residence of Robert Broughton, Esq.; west from the church is the residence of R. S. Comberbach, Esq.; the Hall, a pleasantly situated house with projecting gables, is occupied by the Rev. L. Slater, the officiating minister; the residence and boarding school of the Rev. David Harris, lies nearly a mile north-west from the church; the residence of Samuel Harmon, Esq., is also a good house.
Post Office.—At Mary Cooper’s. Letters arrive from Shrewsbury at 9.45 A.M., and are despatched at 4 P.M.
Alexander Elizabeth, farmer
Benbow Joseph, vict., Admiral Benbow Inn
Bickerton Samuel, farmer, Park
Bickley Miss, dress maker
Broughton Robert, surgeon, The Villa