Diritioas, Towns, &e.—Shropehira is divided into 12 hundreds, a liberty, and a franchise :—North Bradford in the north-east of the county ; South Bradford, central and emit ; Brimstrey, east ; Chirbury, west ; Condover, central; Ford, west ; Munalow, south ; Oswestry, north-west; Oven, south ; l'imhill, north; I'urslow, south-west; Stottesden, sonth-east; Shrewsbury liberty, central; Wenlock fran chise, central and east.
It contains the parliamentary boroughs and market-towns of BRIDGE. :wart, Lent.ow, Snaswsaiar, and WENLOCK ; and the market-towns of BISHOP'S CASTLI, BROMLEY, CLEORDRY MORTIIIER, CLDN, DRAYTON I X-11ALP3, or MARKET-DRAYTON, ELLESMERE, BALESDWEN, NEWPORT, DISWESTRY, SIIITFXALL, CHURCH STRATTON, WELLINGTON, WPM, and Winn:imam Each of these towns will bo found described under its title.
The more Important villages we notice here ; the populations are those of 1351 :— Bromfield. population of the township 511, is situated on the left bank of the Teme, near the point where it receives the Onny, 3 miles N.W. from Ludlow. A short distance south from the village are the fine mansion and the grounds of Oakley Park. There are some remains of Bromfield priory, an establishment for monks of the Benedictine order. Doyley, population of the parish 9201, about 14 miles E. by S. from Shrewsbury, possesses a small market held on Saturday, and an annual fair. There are extensive coal, iron, and lime-works in the neighbourhood; the chain manufacture is carried on ; bricks and tiles are made, and numerous tram-roads afford means for transmit ting the produce from the respective works. Besides the parish church there are a chapel of ease; chapels for Wesleyan, Primitive, and New Connexion Methodists; National and British schools ; and a parochial library. The streets are lighted with gas. Jfodnet, population 2057, about 13 miles N.N.E. from Shrewsbury, has an ancient parish church, a Free school, and a National school. Malt ing is carried on, and there are flour-mills. Three annual fairs are held. LillesAcal, population of the parish 3987, about 4 miles S.S.W. from Newport, is chiefly remarkable for its ancient Angustiuian abbey. There are some beautiful remains of the Abbey church ; the west and sonth doorways are of rich Norman character. The remains are in the occupation of a farmer. There are schools supported by the Duke of Sutherland and by the Lilleshall Mining Company ; there is also a savings bank. Pontesbury, population of the parish 3363, about 7 miles S.S.W. from Shrewsbury, has some lead-mines, which employ a considerable number of persons. The parish church, which was formerly collegiate, was rebuilt some years ago. There are chapels for Baptista and Independents; also National schools. Frees, popula
tion of the parish 3196, about 6 miles N.N.E. from Wem, had formerly a market, which has been long discontinued. Two annual fairs are held. The parish church is an ancient cruciform edifice. The Inde pendents have a chapel, and there are Free and Infant schools. Malt ing is carried on. Teaselated pavements and other antiquities have been found here. Tilstock, population of the ecclesiastical diatrict 593, about 3 miles S. from Whitchurch, has a neat chapel of ease, erected in 1834, a chapel for Wesleyan Methodists, and National schools. WhiUington, population of the parish 1927, about 21 miles N.E. from Oswestry, has a parish church, a chapel for Independents, and a Free school. Malting is carried on. The ancient castle is noticed elsewhere. lrombrictge, population of the parish 2166, is about 3 miles E. from Wellington, in an extensive mining district. The Shrewsbury Canal and the Shropshire Canal form a junction near Wombridge. Oakeogates station of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham railway in close to the village. Coal and iron are extensively worked. Besides the parish church there are well-attended National schools. Wrockwardine, population of the parish 3107, is near the left bank of the river Teme, about 2 miles W. by N. from Wellington. The pariah church is a venerable structure, strongly built. At Wrockwardine Wood is a chapel of ease, in connection with which, as well as with the parish church, are National schools. The Shrewsbury Canal, and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham railway, pass near the village. Coal and iron are extensively wrought.
.Shropshire is partly in the diocese of Hereford, partly in that of The whole of the county is in the province of Canterbury. The county is included in the Oxford circuit. The assizes and quarter anxious are bald at Shrewsbury, where is the county jail. County courts are held in Bishop's Castle, Bridgenorth, Cleobury Mortimer, Market-Drayton, Ludlow, Madeley, Newport, Shrewsbury, Wellington, Wem, and Whitchurch. Shropshire returns 12 members to parliament, of whom four are fur the county, namely, two for the northern division and two for tho southern ; and two each fur the boroughs of Shrews bury, Bridgenorth, Ludlow, and Wenlock. By the Poor-Law Coinmis alone» the county is divided into 16 unions, namely—Ateham, Bridge north, Church Strctton, Cleobury Mortimer, Clun, Ellesmere, Madeley, Market-Drayton, Newport, Oswestry, Shiffnall, Shrewsbury, Wellington, Wem, and Whitchurch. These unions comprise 295 parishes and townships, with an area of 927,380 acres, and a popula tion iu 1851 of 249,716.