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Chirbury. A parish in the upper division of the hundred of Chirbury, a vicarage remaining in charge, in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Pontesbury, and archdeaconry of Salop. 259 houses, 1,442 inhabitants. 19 miles south-west of Shrewsbury.

Chirbury is a pleasant village, lying in a fertile valley, on the confines of Montgomeryshire. It formerly possessed a Castle, supposed to have been erected by Ethelfleda, Queen of Mercia; and as it gives its name to the hundred in which it is situated, it may be presumed that the place was at one time of greater consequence than it is at present. The ruins of a priory of Augustine Canons is its chief architectural antiquity. The cave of that edifice forms the present parish church, and has on each side six pointed arches, on plain round pillars. At the west end is a strong and handsome square tower, with eight pinnacles, and an open worked battlement. Within a few years there was a fine deep-toned priory bell, which was used for ringing the curfew. The new peal of six bells was formed from the metal of this, (which had been cracked) and three smaller bells. The tithes of this parish were given, by Queen Elizabeth, to the Grammar School of Shrewsbury, founded by her brother Edward the sixth. Chirbury gave title to the celebrated Edward Lord Herbert, who was born at Eyton. See Eyton.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824