1821.] Rendlesham Church.-Pulpit Cloth at Funerals.

King of the East Angles; but it was sold and melted down.

There are four manors in this parish, viz. Naunton Hall, Caketon's, Bavent's, and Colvylle's. They are now all vested in Lord Rendlesham, who is the principal proprietor in the parish.

A farm in this parish, known by the name of the Hough-Hill, said to have been formerly a residence of Edward the Confessor, was part of the estate of the Earl of Bristol, and sold by him to Mr. Thellusson. It came into Lord Bristol's family by the marriage of John Lord Hervey (grandfather of the present Earl, who was called up to the House of Peers during the life-time of his father, by the title of Baron Hervey of Ickworth), with Mary, daughter of Brigadier General Nicholas Le Pell; to which lady Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, dedicated his Anecdotes of Painting, and who, he says, "has conversed familiarly with the most agreeable persons, dead and living, of the most polished ages, and most polished nations ;"-and of whom Lord Chesterfield, in his Letters to his Son, thus speaks:

"The other person whom I recommend to you is Lady Hervey. She has been bred all her life at courts, of which she has acquired all the easy good breeding and politeness, without the frivolousness. She has all the reading that a woman should have, and more than a woman

need to have, for she understands Latin

perfectly well, though she wisely conceals it. Desire her to correct and reprove every the least error and inaccuracy in your manners, air, address, &c. No woman in Europe can do it so well, none will do it more readily."

And in another Letter:

"Apropos, the word pleasing always puts one in mind of Lady Hervey, who not only pleases herself, but is the cause of pleasing in others-for she can make any thing of any body."

From the testimony of these two distinguished characters who knew the world, and the manners of the world, as well as any men then living, Lady Hervey appears to have been a woman of a richly-cultivated understanding, and an elegantly accomplished mind

"Fitted or to shine in Courts, Or walk the plain with unaffected grace."' On opening, a few years since, a

107

rise of ground in the church-yard, on the North side of the Church, a great number of human bones were discovered lying confusedly within three feet of the surface; they had evidently been interred without the rites of Christian sepulture, and it is supposed that bodies of persons were there deposited, who had died of some contagious disease which rapidly carried off a large part of the population.

At the last census the population of the parish comprised 216 souls.

The accompanying neatly-executed Drawing of Rendlesham Church (see Plate 1.) is by Mr. Isaac Johnson, of Woodbridge, who has made a drawing of every church in the county of Suffolk, with a beauty and exactness which renders them well worthy of notice.

I

Mr. URBAN,

H.

Jan. 31.

FIND erroneous opinions prevalent in so many parts of the country upon the right to the Funeral Cloth suspended in churches, that I am persuaded you will prevent much litigation by publishing the particulars of the Margate case, which I took pains to collect during a recent sojourn in the Isle of Thanet. You will observe that former accounts have been very defective.

On the death of the Princess Charlotte, the Churchwardens of Margate directed a mercer to put up mourning in the church. When it had been there three months, the Vicar caused it to be removed; and having given to the Clerk and Sexton the portions which they had been accustomed to receive, appropriated the remainder to his own use. Six months afterwards, a demand was made on the Vicar for the value of the cloth. Whether he returned any auswer, I know not: if he did, it was not satisChurchwardens factory; for the brought an action, and recovered, under the following direction of the "The freehold Judge: church is in the incumbent, and any of the mourning placed in it without his his consent is asked, he may make his knowledge, would be his of right. If own terms, because he may refuse altogether. But in this case it ap pears he did know that the mourning was to be placed in the church, and relying upon general custom, made

108

Compendium of County History-Shropshire.

no claim. Therefore as he stated no terms, he must give up the cloth."

Part of the above written statement has appeared in your pages; but no part of the following is known beyond the boundaries of Margate.

Before the action was tried, the late Queen died. The Churchwardens were requested by the Parishioners to put the Church in mourning, but refused. The Vicar caused it to be done at his own expence.

The preceding narrative indicates an unpleasant misunderstanding between the Vicar and Churchwardens; and those persons who are acquainted only with the newspaper report of

[Feb.

the trial, have been surprised when I mentioned the conclusion of the business, so honourable to all the parties.

When the trial had taken place, the Church wardens, by desire of the Parishioners, presented to the Vicar the full amount of all his law charges, with an assurance that the question had been tried without any feeling of disrespect towards him.

On the death of the late King, the same Churchwardens put the Church in mourning, aud left the cloth at the sole disposal of the Vicar. Yours, &c.

COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY.

SHROPSHIRE.

"Fare thee well, great heart!

Ill-weav'd ambition, how much art thou shrunk !
When that this body did contain a spirit,

A kingdom for it was too small a bound;

But now, two paces of the vilest earth

Is room enough:- This earth, that bears thee dead,
Bears not alive so stout a gentleman.

If thou wer't sensible of courtesy,

I should not make so great a shew of zeal:

Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!

Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,

But not remember'd in thy epitaph !"

VOYAGEUR.

Prince Henry's Soliloquy over the body of Hotspur in the field of Shrewsbury.

Shakspeare's Henry IV. part 1.

SITUATION AND EXTENT.

Boundaries, North, Chester, and detached part of Flint: East, Stafford : South, Worcester, Hereford, and Radnor: West, Montgomery and Denbigh.

Greatest length, 49; greatest breadth, 36; circumference, 218; square, 1403 miles.

Province, Canterbury. Dioceses, Hereford, Lichfield and Coventry, St. Asaph, and a detached part (containing the parishes of Claverley, Hales Owen, and Worfield) in Worcester. Circuit, Oxford.

ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS.

British Inhabitants, Cornavii and Ordovices.

Roman Province, Flavia Cæsariensis. Stations, Bravinium, Rushbury: Mediolanum, Chesterton, or Whitchurch: Rutupium, Rowton, or near Wem: Sariconium, Bury-hill: Uriconium, Wroxeter: Usacona, Red-hill Oconyate, or Sheriff Hales.

Saxon Heptarchy, Mercia.

Antiquities. British Encampments of Brocard's Castle; Burrow-hill; Bury ditches on Tongley-bill; Caer Caradock, near Church Stretton (on which, according to some writers, was fought the last battle between Caractacus and Ostorius Scapula, but other authors, with more probability, assign the scene of combat to Coxwall Knoll in Herefordshire); on Clee Hills; near Clun; the Gaer; Hên Dinas, near Oswestry; and on the Wreken. Roman Encampments of Bury walls, near Hawkstone; the walls near Chesterton;

and

1821.]

Compendium of County History-Shropshire.

109

and the remains of Uriconium at Wroxeter. Saxon Earth Works, Offa's dyke, and Watts dyke. Danish Camp, near Cleobury Mortimer. Abbeys of Buildwas (founded in 135 by Roger, Bp. of Chester); Hales Owen (erected by Peter de Rupibus, Bp. of Winchester, in the reign of John); Haughmond (built in 1100 by William Fitzalan, Lord of Oswestry, who, with many of his descendants, was buried there); Lilleshull (where the body of St. Alkmund was originally deposited, but afterwards removed to Derby. The West door-way is a very beautiful receding Saxon arch); Much Wemlock (founded by Milburga, daughter of Merewald, King of Mercia, who was its first Abbess, and was buried there 666); Shrewsbury (a mitred abbey, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, founded in 1083 by Roger de Montgomery, the first Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, who became one of its monks, and was buried in the Church, where his monument still remains. The West window is particularly beautiful); and White Abbey, near Albur bury (the first house in this Kingdom of Monks of the order of Grandmont). Priories of Bromfield; Chirbury; and White Ladies. Churches of Burford; Cleobury Mortimer; Ellesmere; Hales Owen; Hodnet a circular tower); Kinlet; Lilleshull; LUDLOW (220 feet long, 75 broad, length of transept 123); Morville; Newport; Shiffnall; St. Mary's, Shrewsbury (chancel window of curious painted glass; spire 216 feet high); St. Alkmund's steeple (184 feet high); and Tonge. Chapel of Edstaston. Fonts of Quatford and St. Mary Shrewsbury. Stone pulpit, Shrewsbury abbey garden. Castles of Acton Burnell; Alberbury; Bridgnorth (founded in 912 by Ethelfleda, the heroic daughter of Alfred; its tower stands 17 feet out of the perpendicular); Cause; Clun; Hopton; LUDLOW (seat of the Lords Presidents of the Marches); Middle; Moreton-Corbet; Oswestry; Red-castle; Shrewsbury (founded by Roger de Montgomery, its Earl, in 1069); Sibdon; Stoke; Wattlesborough; and Whittington (scene of Dovaston's Poem of "Fitz Guarine"). Mansions of Boscobell, Shrewsbury Council-house (in which Charles I. kept his court); White-hall, Bellstone-house, and Jones'-mansion. Statue of Richard, Duke of York, father of Edward IV. taken from the gate on the old Welsh bridge, and now on the Market-house, Shrewsbury. Caves at Burcot, near Worfield; Kynaston's at Ness Cliff; and Ogo at Llanymynech.

Shrewsbury, called by the Britons Pengwerne, was the capital of the principality of Powis. Its Abbey contains the body of the chaste St. Winifrid, which was removed to it, in the reign of Stephen, from Gwitherin in Denbighshire, where it was first entombed. The Seal of the Corporation, engraved in 1425, exhibits a curious representation of the town.

At Woda-house, near Cleobury Mortimer, was one of the earliest establishments of Augustine Friars, or Friars Eremites, in this Kingdom.

PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE.

Rivers. Bell-brook; Bore-brook; Bow; Camlet; Ceriog: Clive; Clun; Coal brook; Corve; Dee; Elf-brook; Ketley; Ledwich; Mar-brook; Meole-brook; Morda brook; Morles; Oney, or Ovy; Perry; Quenny Rea; Roden; SEVERN; Shel-brook; Strad-brook; Stratford; Teme; Terne; Vyrowey; Warfe; and Warren.

Inland Navigation. Canals of Donington wood; Dudley extension; ELLESMERE; Ketley; Kington; Leominster; Montgomeryshire; Shrewsbury' (tunnel near Atcham 970 yards long); Shropshire; and Marquess of Staf ford's.-SEVERN river.

Lakes, Acton Burnell-pool; Ad-mere; Ancott-pool; Aston-pool; Beaumere; Berrington-lake; Black-mere, near Ellesmere; Black-mere, near Whitchurch; Chetwynd pool; Cole-mere; Crose-mere; Elles-mere (116 acres); Fenny-mere, Isle-pool; Kettle-mere; Llwynllys-pool; Martonpool, near Middle; Marton-pool, near Worthin; Newton-mere; Oss-mere ; Showsden-pool; Shrawardine-water (40 acres); White-mere; and Whitestick-pool.

Eminences and Views. Acton Burnell hills; APLEY PARK TERRACE (probably the finest in Europe); Armon-hill; Baiston-hill; Borough-hill; Brierley-hill; CAER CARADOCK; Cause-castle; the Clee hills (viz. Titten

sur

110

Compendium of County History-Shropshire.

[Feb. sor Clee 1800 feet, and Brown Clee); Cainham; Clive-bill; Cothercotthill; Ellesmere Bowling-green; Frodsley hills; Grin-hill; Hawkstone grounds (THE COLUMN, on the top of which is a statue of Sir Rowland Hill, the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London; the Tower; Paoli point; and Red-castle); Haughmond-hill (on which the Scotch Earl Douglas, on his flight from the battle of Shrewsbury, was taken prisoner, his horse having fallen in galloping down the hill); Hope Bowdler; Horse-hay; The Lawley; seat at the Leasowes, inscribed Divina Gloria Ruris;" Leaton-shelf; Lincoln's-hill, in Coal-brook-dale; Long-mont; Lyth-hill; Middle-bill; Ness-cliff; Orton-bank; Pontesford-hill; Pym-hill; Selattyn mountain; Shrewsbury-castle watch tower, and Lord Hill's Column; Sharp-stones; STIPER-STONES (on which, May 27, 1813, a cloud burst, and swept away houses, mills, bridges, trees, cattle, and almost every intervening obstacle between it and the Severn, which rose considerably, and many lives were lost); Vinels, near Ludlow; Wenlock-edge; WREKIN 1090 feet above the Severn. Natural Curiosities. Ocongate, aluminous; Coal-brook-dale and Pitchford, bituminous; Admarton, Boothby, Hanley, Kingley-wick, Prolley-moor, and Sutton, saline and chalybeate springs. Scenery of Coal-brook-dale, in which are found many extraneous fossils. Morse Common, near Bridgnorth, 5 miles long by 24 broad. The Shelton Oak (which it is said Owen Glyndwr ascended to reconnoitre before the battle of Shrewsbury) height of main trunk 41 feet 10 inches, circumference 44 feet 3 inches. Numerous peat mosses. This county is famed for the longevity of its inhabitants; some of the more remarkable instances are noticed in the Biography and Miscellaneous Remarks.

Public Edifices. Shrewsbury, ENGLISH BRIDGE, founded 1769, 400 feet long, 7 arches (central arch, span 60 feet, height 40), cost 16,000l.: Welsh Bridge, completed 1795, 266 feet long, 5 arches, cost about 14,000%.; both Bridges were built by voluntary subscription: Infirmary founded 1745, opened 1747: House of Industry finished, for a Foundling Hospital, in 1765, cost 12,000l.: St. Chad's Church, a circle, diameter 100 feet: Townhall completed 1785, cost 11,000l.: Gaol finished 1793, architect, Haycock (who built the Town-ball), cost 30,000l. Doric Column commemorative of Lord Hill's victories, 116 feet inches high, on which is a statue of his Lordship, 17 feet, finished June 18, 1816, the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, cost 59731. 13s. 2d. Military Depôt, architect Wyatt, erected 1806; Theatre; School founded by Edward VI.; Market-house erected in 1595. Millington's Hospital. Allats, Bowdlers, Subscription, Bell's and Lancasterian Charity Schools.-Buildwas Iron Bridge, one arch, span 130 feet, rise 24 feet, cast by Coal-brook-dale Company from plan of Thomas Telford, erected 1796. Cleobury Mortimer School, founded by Sir Edward Childe. Coal-brook-dale Iron Bridge, one arch, span 100 feet 6 inches, height 40 feet, weight of iron 3784 tons, cast by the Company from plan of Abraham Darby, erected 1779. Dorrington School founded by Thomas Allcock, 1627. Drayton School founded by Sir Rowland Hill, 1553; Hales Owen School. Ludlow Cross; Market-house; Guildhall; School founded by Edward VI. 1552; Hosier's Alms-houses. Oswestry Town-house; School founded by Davy Holbeach; Alms-houses erected by William Adams, 1656. Wellington Church; and Charity School. Wem School, founded by Sir Thomas Adams, 1650. Whitchurch Church, erected 1722; School.

Seats. Walcot Park, Dinham House, and Stone House, Earl of Powis, Lord Lieutenant of the County.

Acton Burnell, Sir E. J. Smyth, bart.
Reynold, Sir Andrew Corbet, bart.
- Round, Sir F. R. E. Acton, bart.
Adderley Hall, Sir Corbet Corbet, bart.
Aldenham, Sir F. R. E. Acton, bart.
All Stretton, Rev. Richard Wilding.
Apley, near Bridgnorth, T. Whitmore, esq.
-near Wellington, W. Charlton, esq.

Ash, Misses Benyon.
Ashford Court, C. H. Walker, esq.
Hall, T. B. Ricketts, esq.
Aston, near Oswestry, W. Lloyd, esq.

near Shiffoall, J. Moultrie, esq.
ATTINGHAM HOUSE, Lord Berwick.
Badger, late J. H. Browne, esq.
Bank House, Mrs. Reynolds.

Bel

1821.]

Compendium of County History-Shropshire.

Belmont, J. V. Lovett, esq.
Belsardine, H. Harnage, esq.
Benthall Hall, F. B. Harries, esq.
Benington, Hon. and Rev. R. Hill,
Berwick House, Mrs. Powys.
Berwick, Great, R. Betton, esq.
Betton Hall, W. C. Norcup, esq.
Betton Strange, R. Scott, esq.
Bicton, Mrs. Jenkins.

Birch Hall, Mrs. Mainwaring.
Bitterley Court, Rev. J. Walcot.
Boreatton, Rowland Hunt, esq.
Bourton, B. Lawley, esq.
Bradley, Mrs. Congreve.
Broom Hall, H. P. T. Aubrey, esq.
Buntingsdale Hall, W. Tayleur, esq.
Burcott, R. Emery, esq.

Burford, Hon. and Rev. G. Rushout.
Burwarton Hall, Viscount Boyne.
Cainham Court, Rev. W. Calcot.
Caughley Place, R. B. W. Browne, esq.
Caynton House, W. Briscoe, esq.
Charlton Hill, E. Jenkins, esq.
Cheswardrice, Henry Jarvis, esq.
Chetwynd Park, T. Borough, esq.
Chickenhall, F. Taylor, esq.
Childs Ercal, Sir Corbet Corbet, bart.
Chilton Grove, late W. Jones, esq.
Chorley, T. Crump, esq.

Cleobury, North, T. Mytton, esq.
Cloverly Hall, R. Dodd, esq.
Clungerford, Rev. John Rooke, jun.
Coalbrook-dale, F. Darby, esq.

Condover Hall, E. W. Smith Owen, esq.

Coton Hall, H. L. Lee, esq.
Cound Hall, J. C. Pelham, esq.

Crank Hill, F. Walford, esq.

Crickton, T. Harries, esq.
Darnford Hall, Benyon, esq.
Davenport, W. Y. Davenport, esq.
Decker Hill, Thomas Bishton, esq.
Diddlebury, or Delbury, Bp. of Worcester.
Dint Hill, J. Bather, esq.

Downton Hall, Sir C. W. R. Boughton,
bart.

Dudmaston Hall, W. W. Whitmore, esq.
Eaton, J. Williams, esq.
Edstaston Hall, Mrs. Payne.
Edymond, Rev. J. D. Pigott.
Endness, T. Barnfield, esq.

Eyton House, Thomas Eyton, esq.
Farmcott, Richard Tyrwhitt, esq.
Fern Hall, Hurt Sitwell, esq.
Ferney Hall, John Elliot, esq.

Frodesley Park, Sir J. T. C. Edwards, bt.
Gatacre Park, Colonel Gatacre.
Glanyravon, Lawton Parry, esq.
Grange, near Ellesmere, Gen. Despard.
Great Ness, J. Edward, esq.

Hall, The, near Shrewsbury, R. Wingfield,

esq.

Halston, T. Mytton, esq.

HAWKSTONE, Sir John Hill, bart.
Hayes, J. Selway, esq.

Heath House, Thomas Beale, esq.
Henley Hall, J. Knight, esq.
Hoarley Grange, Colonel Swinton.
Hodnet, Reginald Heber, esq.
Hope Bowdler, late W. C. Hart, esq.
Hopton Court, T. B. Botfield, esq.
Isle of Up Rossal, F. Sandford, esq.
Kilsall, J. Bishton, esq.

111

Kinlet Hall, William Childe, esq.
Knotton Hall, E. Kynaston, esq.
LEASOWES, THE, Attwood, esq.
Lexton Lodge, J. A. Lloyd, esq.
Leighton, Thomas Kynnersley, esq.
Linley Hall, B. More, esq.
Llanworda, H. W. Wynne, esq.
Llwynygroes, J. Evans, M.D.
Lodge, The, T. R. Salway, esq.
Longford Hall, Ralph Luke, esq.
Longner, Robert Burton, esq.
Longnor, Rev. Archdeacon Corbet.
Loton Hall, Sir Baldwin Leighton, bart.
Ludford Park, N. L. Charlton, esq.
Lutwyche, Ralph Benson, esq.
Lydley Hayes, Rev. John Witts.
Lythwood Hall, T. Parr, esq.
Malinsler, W. B. Atfield, esq.
Marton, R. Atcherley, esq.
Mawley, Sir Edward Blount, bart.
Millington, W. Pugh, esq.
Millichope, Thomas Pemberton, esq.
Mont Hall, Philip Benington, esq.
Moore Park, R. Salwey, esq.
Moor, The,

--

- Walcot, esq.

Moreton Corbet, Sir Andrew Corbet.
Moreton Say, Mrs. Heber.

Morvill Hall, Henry Acton, esq.
Mount Sion, H. P. T. Aubrey, esq.
Neach Hill, T. Bishton, esq.

Nursery, The, J. F. M. Dovaston, esq.
Oakley House, Rev. Herbert Oakeley.
Oakley Park, Hon. H. R. Clive.
Oatley Park, A. Matthew, esq.
Oldbury, Rev. - Lyster.
Onslow, John Wingfield, esq.
Orleton, William Chidde, esq.
Park Hall, C. Kinchant, esq.
Pentressant, L. Shenton, esq.
Peplow Hall, Sir Arthur Pigott.
Petton, William Sparling, esq.
Pitchford Park, Hon. Cecil Jenkinson.
Plas Yollen, C. Morral, esq.
Porkington, W. Ormsby Gore, esq.
Pradoe, Hon. Thomas Kenyon.
Prescott, Joseph Micclestone, esq.
Preston Mountford, J. Parry, esq.
Prior's Lee, B. Rowley, esq.
R. Mountford, esq.
Ross Hall, F. Knyvet Leighton, esq.
Roveries House, Rev. E. Walcot.
Rowton Castle, Mrs. Lyster.

Hardwick, near Ellesmere, Sir J. K. Pow- Ruyton Hall, Misses Kynaston.

Rye Bank, Rev. Richard Hill.
Ryton Grove, E. Pemberton, esq.
St. James, J. Stanier, esq.
Sandford Hall, T. Sandford, esq.

Sansaw