Parishmouse Free Resources For Family Historians

Priors Ditton, or Ditton Priors, is a township and extensive parish, in the Southern division of the county, partly in the franchise of Wenlock and the hundred of Munslow, Bridgnorth union, and diocese of Hereford, eight miles from Bridgnorth and 13 from Ludlow railway station. The church of St. John the Baptist is an old stone building, partly in the Norman and Saxon styles, repaired in 1861, and contains several ancient monuments. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £147, with a residence and 244 acres of glebe land, in the gift of Philip Henry Howard, Esq. There is a Wesleyan chapel. The charities are of £6 yearly value. Here are lime works. Fairs are held on the 10th of May and the 25th of October yearly, for cattle, sheep, and pigs. Philip Henry Howard, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The soil is various; the subsoil is clay. The area is 5,442 acres, and the population in 1861 was 613; gross estimated rental, £3,852; rateable value, £3,640.

Middleton Priors, with Netchwood Common, is a township in the parish of, and one mile north-east from, Priors Ditton, and in the franchise of Wenlock; there is a Catholic school, built by the present lord of the manor, who pays for the gratuitous education of the children. The school is capable of accommodating about sixty children. Middleton Hall is the seat of Philip Henry Howard, Esq., who is lord of the manor. There is a Catholic chapel attached; the Rev. Francis O’Neil, of Bridgnorth, is priest.

Ruthnall, with Ashfield, is a township, in the hundred of Munslow and parish of Priors Ditton, half a mile west from the latter place.

Post Office. – Richard Smallman, receiver. Letters arrive from Bridgnorth, via Burwarton at 8 45 a.m.; and dispatched at 8 a.m.

PRIORS DITTON.

Davis Edward, esq.
Wilkinson Rev. Jas. Butler, Vicarage
Bell Joseph, farmer
Bowen James, lime burner
Cartwright Mary, shopkeeper
Cleeton Richard, Howard’s Arms inn
Davis Edward, surgeon
Dorrell James, farmer, Derrington
Garbett William, farmer, Little Leasows
Goode Thomas, farmer, Powkesmoor
Hicks William, blacksmith
Hodnett John, tailor
Hopkiss Richard, farmer
Howells Thos., farmer, Great Hudwick
Lewis Mr., farmer
Moore Richard, farm steward
Reynolds Francis, farmer
Scott Erancis [sic], farmer, Sidnall
Smallman John, wheelwright
Smallman Richard, blacksmith
Southern Henry, carpenter
Thomas John, cattle dealer and farmer, Hill side

MIDDLETON PRIORS.

Howard Philip Henry, Esq., Middleton hall
Anson Edwin, farmer
Bell George, farmer, New buildings
Bell Joseph, jun., farmer and bailiff to P. H. Howard, esq.
Bowen Christopher, carpenter, Upper Netchwood common
Bowen William, mason and farmer, Upper Netchwood common
Childs Rd., beer retailer and shopkeeper
Easthope Thomas, farmer, Middleton Baggot
Hicks Thos., beer retailer, Netchwood
Power Michael, farmer
Rea John White, miller
Thomas Edward, farmer
Trow Joseph, farmer

RUTHHALL.

Dixon Lancelot, farmer
Lawley William, farmer
Onslow Thomas, farmer
Wainwright William, farmer, Ashfield

Source: Edward Cassey & Co’s, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire 1871
Notes: Ruthall is spelt two different ways in the directory – Ruthnall and Ruthhall. The name Erancis is as spelt in the directory as indicated.