Astley Abbotts

Last updated

Astley Abbotts
Astley Abbotts Church.jpg
St Calixtus's Church
Shropshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Astley Abbotts
Location within Shropshire
Population396  [1]
OS grid reference SO 71152 96327
Civil parish
  • Astley Abbotts
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BRIDGNORTH
Postcode district WV16
Dialling code 01746
Police West Mercia
Fire Shropshire
Ambulance West Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Shropshire
52°33′50″N2°25′52″W / 52.564°N 2.431°W / 52.564; -2.431

Astley Abbotts is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England, located immediately north of Bridgnorth, and straddling the B4373 Bridgnorth to Broseley road. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 396. [1]

Contents

The Church inside the village is known as St Calixtus' church, named after Saint Calixtus. [2] The church is a stone building and has both Norman and Anglo Saxon roots. The church was originally constructed in 1138 and was later consecrated on 14 October 1138, by the Bishop of Hereford. [2] Since then, the majority of the church has been rebuilt. [2] However, the Church of England in Bridgnorth comment that there are still parts of the older church that still exist today. [2] Inside the Church can be found the faded remains of a 'maiden's garland', a heart-shaped wooden frame decorated with gloves, cloth and ribbons. Such garlands were once the fashion to commemorate maidens who died before marriage. [2] The one at Astley Abbotts has a ribbon-like piece of paper saying, in still legible handwriting, that it commemorates Hannah Phillips, [2] who unfortunately drowned while crossing the River Severn a day or two before her wedding. [3]

Astley Abbotts was famous for its lavender fields in the centre of the village near the church, now abandoned, although some lavender still can be found. Nearby the village is located a mansion called Stanley Hall [2] with both Stanley Hall and its grounds having links to early 17th century, [4] Stanley Hall has a magnificent red brick building with a gabled end and incorporating traces of a possibly earlier sandstone building. The grounds, which open occasionally under the National Gardens Scheme, are extensive and well-tended.

Institutional history of the parish

Changes within the boundary of Linley affecting Astley Abbotts

An early recognition of a change within the boundary of Astley Abbotts can be seen in the history of the parish of Linley. In 1639 it is believed that sometime Linley's parish boundary may have included some fields that were later in located Astley Abbotts. [5] Along with this, owners of a nearby bridge named Preen's Eddy Bridge, built new 1 km section of straight road that ran through Astley Abbotts. Another lane also went through Astley Abbotts until it reached the Severn located in Astley Abbotts. [5] Due to the river being the main outlet for trade, Astley Abbotts played a big part in Linley's industrial trade. As a result of this a railway was built from Linley to the wharf located in Astley Abbotts. [5]

Changes within the boundary of Colemore Farm

A change within the boundary of Astley Abbotts can be found within Colemore Farm. Colemore Farmhouse is believed to be constructed around the early-mid 15th century as a medieval Manor House. [6] Records show that in 1871, the farm consisted of 41 acres located in Astley Abbotts. In 1871, a purchase of land was made, increasing the size of the farm to 57 acres. This was known as The Frog Mill land and lay in Astley Abbotts. [6] In 1887, the land increased again, resulting in the farm totaling to 61 acres. Another increase was seen in 1909, where more land was added, increasing the acreage on Astley Abbotts to 65. Colemore Farm grew to have a total of 136 acres, 68 acres in the nearby parish of Linley and 68 acres in Astley Abbotts. [6] However, 1980 saw a cease in trading on Colemore Farm and as a result buildings fell into disrepair but in the 1990s it was restored and has become holiday accommodation. [6]

Historical writings

Information from A Gazetteer of Shropshire from 1824, [7] comments

"ASTLEY ABBOTS, a parish in the Chelmarsh division of the hundred of Stottesdon, a curacy, in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Stottesdon, and archdeaconry of Salop (Shropshire)."

This information shows that in 1824, Astley Abbotts was a parish within a division named Chelmarsh and was part of the Hundred of Stottesdon. It also comments that Stottesdon was a curacy that was under the authority of the Bishop of Hereford, making Astley Abbotts part of this authority which was controlled by the Bishop of Hereford. It also suggests that, Astley Abbotts was controlled by Stottesdon, which was within the archdeaconry of Salop (Shropshire). [7]

Population

Population change. Created using data from the Vision of Britain Website and the Office for National Statistics website 1801-2001 population change of Astley Abbotts.jpg
Population change. Created using data from the Vision of Britain Website and the Office for National Statistics website

From using census data from 1801 to 1961 found on the Vision of Britain Website [8] and the 2001 census data found on the Office for National Statistics website, [1] it can be seen that Astley Abbotts has had a decreasing population. This can be seen from the decrease of 148 individuals from 1801 to 1811. [8] Astley Abbotts did also have an increase in population, between 1811 and 1831 when the population increased by 74 individuals. [8] However, after 1831 the population continued to gradually decrease, until 1901, by 152 individuals. [8] From 1901 to 1961 the population continued to decrease by 127 individuals creating a population of 387 individuals in 1961. [8] However, from 1961 to 2001 there was a small increase of 9 individuals, creating a total population of 396 people. [1]

1881 Occupational Structure

1881 occupational orders of Astley Abbotts. Created using information from the Vision of Britain website 1881 Occupational Orders.png
1881 occupational orders of Astley Abbotts. Created using information from the Vision of Britain website

From using the data found on the Vision of Britain website, [9] the 24 'Orders' found on the published reports from 1881, suggest that of the 623 population, [8] Astley Abbotts was dominated by two main occupations. With 78 were males and only 2 females working within Agriculture, this was the main occupation in Astley Abbotts and was dominated by the male population. [9] The second most popular occupation was Domestic services or offices, with 54 females and 18 males; this occupation was dominated by the female population. [9]

People from Astley Abbotts

Sir Francis Billingsley (1595–1646) – Colonel in command of the royalist defences for the town of Bridgnorth during the English Civil War. Killed in St Leonard's churchyard on 31 March 1646 defending the town during the assault by Parliamentarian forces.

Sir Thomas Billingsley (1600-c.1670/80) – Noted horseman who was in the households of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset, Elizabeth of Bohemia, and the Earl and Countess of Thanet.

Sir Rupert Billingsley (1644–1713) – Godson of Prince Rupert, soldier and governor of Berwick upon Tweed at the time of the Glorious Revolution.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the UK

Ludlow was a constituency in Shropshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stottesdon</span> Human settlement in England

Stottesdon is a village and civil parish in south east Shropshire, England. The parish of Stottesdon covers a large rural area and extends over the village of Chorley. The village is situated near the market towns of Cleobury Mortimer and Bridgnorth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billingsley, Shropshire</span> Human settlement in England

Billingsley is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Bridgnorth and lies in the diocese of Hereford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diocese of Hereford</span> Diocese of the Church of England

The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England, and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales. The cathedral is Hereford Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Hereford. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and is part of the Province of Canterbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albrighton, Pimhill</span> Village in Shropshire, England

Albrighton is a small village in the civil parish of Pimhill, in Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A528 Shrewsbury-Ellesmere road and is roughly 4.0 miles (6.4 km) north of Shrewsbury. After a history of being its own parish, it currently lies in the parish of Pimhill. According to the 2001 United Kingdom census, the parish population of Pimhill was 2008, with the number of these habiting in Albrighton being 273.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rushbury</span> Village in Shropshire, England

Rushbury is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, roughly five miles from Church Stretton and eight miles from Much Wenlock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chetton</span> Village and civil parish in Shropshire, England

Chetton is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. According to the 2011 census the parish had a population of 349. It is about 20 miles (32 km) to the West of Wolverhampton in West Midlands and South of Telford. The parish church has a fine set of church bells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldstone, Shropshire</span> A hamlet in Shropshire, England

Goldstone is a small hamlet in eastern Shropshire, England, in the civil parish of Cheswardine. It lies in an isolated rural area north of Hinstock and Ellerton, around 5 miles (8 km) south of the nearest town, Market Drayton.

The Archdeacon of Salop is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield.

Colonel Francis Billingsley (1595–1646) was a Royalist officer in the English Civil War. Placed in charge of the defences of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, he was killed in the churchyard of St Leonard's when the town was stormed by Parliamentarian troops on 31 March 1646.

Rupert Billingsley was an English soldier who secured the garrison and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed for William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution in 1688.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norbury, Shropshire</span> Human settlement in England

Norbury is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies to the west of the Long Mynd and the nearest town is Bishop's Castle. The parish is made up of three townships Asterton, Whitcott and Hardwick. There is a parish church dedicated to All Saints and a Country House B&B called The Coach House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Chelmarsh</span> Church in Shropshire, England

St Peter's Church is in the village of Chelmarsh, Shropshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Bridgnorth, the archdeaconry of Ludlow, and the diocese of Hereford. Its benefice is united with those of seven other churches to form the benefice of Highley with Billingsley, Glazeley and Deuxhill, and Chelmarsh. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morville Priory</span> Former Benedictine monastery in Shropshire, England

Morville Priory was a small Benedictine monastery in Shropshire, England, a cell of Shrewsbury Abbey.

Astley Abbotts is a civil parish in Shropshire, England. It contains 22 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, three are listed at Grade II*, the middle grade of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the small village of Astley Abbotts and is otherwise rural. Apart from a church, all the listed buildings are houses and associated structures, farm houses and farm buildings, most of them in the countryside around the village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middleton Scriven</span> Village in Shropshire, England

Middleton Scriven is a village and civil parish 20 miles (32 km) south east of Shrewsbury, in the Shropshire district, in the county of Shropshire, England. In 2011, the parish had a population of 143. In 2011, Nomis recorded a population of 146. The parish borders Stottesdon, Sidbury, Deuxhill and Chetton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidbury, Shropshire</span> Human settlement in England

Sidbury is a village and civil parish 21 miles (34 km) south-east of Shrewsbury, in the Shropshire district, in the ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. In 2001 the parish had a population of 32. Sidbury shared a parish council with Stottesdon. The parish touches Stottesdon, Deuxhill, Middleton Scriven and Billingsley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morville, Shropshire</span> Human settlement in England

Morville is a village and civil parish about 3 miles west of Bridgnorth, in the Shropshire district, in the county of Shropshire, England. In 2011, the parish had a population of 392. The parish touches Acton Round, Astley Abbotts, Aston Eyre, Barrow, Bridgnorth, Chetton, Tasley and Upton Cressett.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Parish Headcounts". 2001 Census: Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "About St Calixtus, Astley Abbotts". Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "A Tragic Tale". Haunted Shropshire. Shropshire Tourism. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Stanley Hall, Astley Abbots, Shropshire, England". Parks & Gardens UK. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Currie (Editor), C R J; A P Baggs; G C Baugh; D C Cox; Jessie McFall; P A Stamper (1998). "Linley1". A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10: Munslow Hundred (Part), the Liberty and Borough of Wenlock. 10: 348–354. Retrieved 20 April 2012.{{cite journal}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. 1 2 3 4 Shropshire Holiday Accommodation, Colemore Farm. "The History of Colemore Farm" . Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. 1 2 Gregory, T. "ASTLEY ABBOTS: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1824". A Gazetteer of Shropshire. UK & Ireland Genealogy. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Astley Abbotts CP/Ch". A Vision of Britain. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Woollard, Matthew. "1881 Occupational Orders". 1881 Census of England and Wales. A Vision of Britain. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.