The Parochial and National School is a neat brick structure in the Elizabethan style of architecture, situated on a bold eminence a short distance west from the church. It was built in the year 1835, and is supported by annual subscriptions, and small weekly payments received from the children. There are one hundred and sixty boys and one hundred and thirty girls now educated in the school. William Scott is the teacher.
The Market Drayton Poor-law Union comprehends twelve parishes, embracing 61,637 acres of land, and an area of 91 square miles, with a population returned at the census of 1841 of 13,925 souls. The Union House, situated in Shropshire-street, was formerly used as the parish workhouse; it was enlarged by the poor-law guardians in the year 1839; the average number of inmates is usually about one hundred. A new Union House will shortly be built upon Little Drayton Common, which will accommodate about 350 inmates. The district comprised within the union is the same as that of the county court, the several places of which are stated here below:—Chairman of the Guardians: Thomas Twemlow, Esq. Vice Chairman: Walter Minor, Esq. Clerks: Messrs. Wilkinsons. Chaplain: Rev. Robert Upton. Surgeons: William W. Saxton, Market Drayton district; John Hopkins, Moreton Say district; John Walmsley, Hodnet district; Edward Bayley, Cheswardine district; and Michael Ryan, Ashley district. Master: William Crutchley. Matron: Mary Crutchley. Schoolmistress: Martha Crutchley.
The County Court Offices, situated in Cheshire-street, is a neat structure of brick with stone finishings, and was built in the year 1850, at the expense of Joseph Loxdale Warren, Esq. The lower part of the building is used as offices for the despatch of business connected with the county court, and above is a large room capable of holding upwards of 400 people, which is used for magisterial purposes. The court embraces within its jurisdiction the following townships and places, viz.:—Adderley, Almington, Ashley, Aston, Bearston, Betchley, Betton, Blore, Bolas Parva, Cheswardine, Childs Ercall, Chipnall, Dorrington, Drayton Magna, Drayton Parva, Eaton, Ellerton, Goldstone, Gravenhanger, Hales, Hinstock, Hodnet, Hopton and Espley, Howle, Hungary Hatton, Kenstone and Hopley, Knighton, Langford, Longslow, Losford, Marchamley, Moreton Say, Muckleston, Norton-in-Hales, Ollerton, Peplow, Pickstock, Sambrook, Shavington, Sowdley, Spoonley, Stoke-upon-Tern, Stych and Woodlands, Sutton, Tittenley, Wistanswick, Woodseaves, Woolerton, and Woore. Judge: Uvedale Corbett, Esq. Clerk: Joseph Loxdale Warren, Esq., The Lodge. Bailiff: Mr. William Darbyshire Green, Cheshire-st.
Petty Sessions are held on the last Saturday in every month, in the spacious room above the county court offices, when prisoners are committed to Shrewsbury or Stafford, as the case may occur, in which county the offence is committed, the magistrates having jurisdiction in both counties.
The Police Office is situated in Cheshire-street nearly opposite the county court office. It was built in 1850, and has two cells, where prisoners are confined before committal by the magistrates. In which case they are sent to Shrewsbury if the offence has been committed in this county, and to Stafford if committed in Staffordshire. Attached to the cells is a residence for the constable; William Hemming is the police officer.
The Market Drayton Society for the Acquirement of Useful Knowledge was established in September, 1850. The objects of the institution are to extend to all classes aid for cultivating, and occasion for exercising their mental powers; to afford to its members the powerful advantages and incitement of association for prosecuting their several studies in the various branches of useful knowledge, and to secure to them opportunity for engaging in such pursuits as shall tend to their moral as well as intellectual advancement. For these objects the society has taken convenient premises situate in the beast market; classes for mutual improvement have been formed, a library and news room have been established, and it is intended to have lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, and the fine arts, as occasion may occur; the news room is furnished with the principal London and provincial journals and the most popular periodicals of the day; and the library, although only recently established, contains many valuable and standard works. Persons are admitted to all the privileges of the institution on the payment of 8s. per annum. An annual subscription of 21s. per annum constitutes an honorary member, and any person giving the sum of £10. 10s., or books, or apparatus to that amount, or a course of not less than ten lectures, is considered an honorary member for life. The honorary members have the exclusive use of the reading room from nine o’clock in the morning till six o’clock in the evening. The institution has the patronage and active support of the principal gentry and clergy of the town and neighbourhood. Patrons: Henry Bayley Clive, Esq., M.P.; John Whitehall Dod, Esq., M.P. President: Thomas Twemlow, Esq. Treasurer: W. M. Wilkinson, Esq. Secretary: Mr. William Crutchley.
A News Room has been established by the gentry and tradesmen in the town, at Mrs. Barnett’s, High-street. It is supported by subscriptions of 21s. per annum.
The Gas Works are situated in the outskirts of the southern side of the town, near the river Tern; they were established by a company of shareholders, who reside in Staffordshire, and the town is expected to be lighted with gas during the autumn of the present year (1851).
Provident Societies.—There are in this town several societies or clubs, the members of which pay small contributions to their respective funds, from which they are relieved in case of sickness, infirmity, or superannuation, and from which the friends of deceased members receive a sufficient sum for their decent interment. Among these are the Market Drayton Tradesmen Club, and the fraternities or sacred Orders of Oddfellows, M.U.; Ancient Forresters, and Female Societies, &c.
The Grove is a handsome brick mansion, a quarter of a mile east from the church, the residence and property of John E. Wilson, Esq.—Spring Fields, a good house a little west from the church, situated on elevated ground, commands fine prospects of the country, and is the residence and property of Thomas Whitfield, Esq.