Transcript:Shropshire Archaeological Society. Transactions/1889/History of Shrewsbury Hundred or Liberties

Transactions of the Shropshire Archæological and Natural History Society.

Established 1877.

2nd SERIES, VOL. I., 1889.

[page 93]

History of Shrewsbury Hundred or Liberties.

By the late Rev. JOHN BRICKDALE BLAKEWAY, M.A.

Amongst the voluminous manuscript collections for Shropshire, written or collected by the late Rev. J. B. Blakeway, the historian of Shrewsbury, and now preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, is a folio volume in Mr. Blakeway's handwriting, which contains a history of Shrewsbury Hundred or Liberties, hitherto unpublished.

It relates to the following places,—Abrighton, Abright Husey, Abright Lee, Astley, Acton Reynold, Battlefield, Berwick, Betton Strange, Bicton, Broughton, Clive, Crowmeole and Gossehill, Edgebold, Grinsill, Hadnall, Hanwood, Harlescote, Hencot, Leaton, Longnor, Meole Brace, Onslow, Preston Monford, Pulley, Pimley, Preston Gobalds, Up Rossall or The Isle, Rossall formerly Down Rossall, Sutton, Sansau, Shelton, Wolascot, Wellbach, Woodcote and Horton.

This manuscript history was apparently written about the year 1809. The Editorial Committee having decided that it shall be printed, it will be given by instalments in the Transactions. An effort will be made to bring the manorial history down to the present time, and the additional matter will be inserted in square brackets, to distinguish it from Mr. Blakeway's own writing. The reference to this Manuscript in the Bodleian Library is MS. Top. Salop, C. 6.

The list of incumbents at the end of each parish is taken from another of Mr. Blakeway's Salop MSS., entitled Shropshire Parochial Clergy, in two volumes ; [page 94] the reference being MS. Top. Salop, C. 9. This is added to make the parochial history more complete ; and is, where possible, brought down to the present time, the additional matter being given also in brackets.

In the original MS., at the end of many of the parishes is inserted a printed paper of nine questions, addressed by Mr. Blakeway doubtless to the incumbent or some other principal resident in each parish, with the answers written underneath. These questions are printed in full under the account of Abrighton ; but it is not deemed necessary to repeat them under other parishes, though the answers to the questions, duly numbered, are inserted.

Mr. Eyton's Antiquities of Shropshire having been published long since Mr. Blakeway's history was written, and much fresh matter acquired, and possibly some errors having been cleared up, where any important variation occurs it will be found in a foot-note, with the reference to Eyton's most accurate work duly noted.

Most of the places now in the Liberties of Shrewsbury were in the Hundred of Baschurch at the Domesday survey. In the thirteenth century Baschurch Hundred was represented by the Hundred of Pimhill ; whilst now, in the nineteenth century, it is represented mainly by the Hundred of Pimhill, but partly by the Liberties of Shrewsbury. The Hundred Court was anciently held at Baschurch ; but when Henry I. became Lord of the Hundred it was afterwards held at Pimhill, which gave name to the Hundred. Cf. Eyton, x., 40–42.

W. G. DIMOCK FLETCHER, M.A., F.S.A.

List of Places.

• Abrighton, or Adbrighton [page 95]
• Abright Hussey [page 104]
• Abrightlee, anciently Edbricteleg [page 113]
• Astley [page 118]
• Acton Reynold [page 311]
• Battlefield [page 321]
• Berwick [page 351]
• Betton Strange [page 380]
• Bicton [page 397]
• Broughton, anciently Burghton [volume 2, page 319]
• Clive [page 333]
• Crowmeole and Goosehill [volume 3, page 329]
• Edgebold [page 340]
• Grinsill [page 343]
• Hadnall [volume 4, page 339]
• Hanwood [volume 5, page 363]
• Harlescote [page 384]
• Hencot [page 390]
• Leaton [volume 6, page 373]
• Longner [page 381]