A sepulchral urn, containing bones, was found underneath this tower, A.D. 1847.
From the tower a most beautiful panoramic view of the fertile plains of Shropshire is seen towards the south-east, and in the opposite direction the bold and picturesque scenery of the counties of Denbigh and Montgomery open to view. Porkington, the seat of William Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P., lies about a mile N.W. from Oswestry. This plane takes its name from Brogyntyn, an old castle of the Welsh princes, which stood in the neighbouring grounds, and was surrounded by a deep fosse, which may still be traced. Porkington is a Grecian edifice, with an elegant portico. The park is extensive, and has a fine undulating surface, richly adorned with timber, and the prospects are extensive, varied, and beautiful. Pentre-pant Hall is a handsome residence, in a sequestered situation about two miles south from Selattyn; the hall is elegantly furnished, and the grounds beautifully wooded. It is the property of Thomas George Warrington Carew, Esq., and residence of the Rev. Gerald Carew. The Derwen is a neat house, S.E. from Selattyn, the residence and property of John Povey, Esq. The Rectory is a pleasantly situated house, a little south from the church.
Charities.—John Hanmer, D.D., bishop of St. Asaph, by will, 1628, gave the inheritance and fee-simple of his tenement in Selattyn to the use of the poor of the parish.
Charles Morris, in 1721, bequeathed £500 in trust, and directed the amount to be laid out in the purchase of lands, and out of the yearly proceeds thereof 20s. to be paid yearly for a sermon on Candlemas-day, and the residue to be employed for the maintenance of the poor charity children and other poor persons of this parish. The legacy was laid out in the purchase of land soon after the death of the testator, but there are no title deeds now to be found in the parish relating thereto, and that it is so intermixed with the property devised by Bishop Hanmer that it would now be difficult to distinguish them. The whole estate consists of 53a. 3r., including 18 acres of allotment, and about one rood of ground, obtained by exchange with Mr. John Edwards. The estate produces £60. 5s. per annum, to which is added 4s. yearly, the moiety of rent due to this parish from certain land left by J. R. Powell. There is a school and school-house on the premises, devised by Bishop Hanmer, the former of which was built in 1812. The Rev. G. N. K. Lloyd, the rector, contributed £100 towards this building, on condition that he, and the successors to his property in this parish, should have the privilege of sending to the school six poor children resident in, though not belonging to, the parish, to be taught free. The school at Hengoed was built upon land given by G. H. Carew, Esq., principally at the expense of the rector, who gave £200, expressly upon the condition that the children of all poor residents in the parish should be admitted to both the schools.
Colonel Owen charged certain lands, which now form part of the Porkington estate, with the payment of £6 yearly to the poor of this parish. A yearly sum of £10 is now paid by Mrs. Gore to the rector, who distributes the amount in sums varying from 5s. to 10s.
Mrs. Margaret Ormsby, by her will, dated 25th February, 1805, requested those who should succeed her in the Porkington estate, to distribute £20 annually among poor persons in the neighbourhood. In compliance with this request, the daughter of the testatrix gives £20 yearly among the most deserving poor.
Carew Rev. Gerald, Pentre-pant Hall
Cullis William, schoolmaster
Drury Richard, farmer, Mardon
Edwards Mr. John, Tower hill