Part 29

TRINITY CHURCH, situate in the Salop road, a neat fabric built of free stone in the decorative style of English architecture, was erected in 1837; it consists of nave and chancel, and the roof is of groined timber, which gives it a very interesting appearance. There are 670 sittings, of which 400 are declared free and unappropriated for ever, in consequence of a grant from the Incorporated Society, for building and enlarging churches. There are 28 pews in the body of the church, 29 in the gallery, and the free sittings are open benches. The gallery contains a small organ, which was presented to the church, on the condition that the incumbent for the time being be allowed to receive the rent of the six pews in front of the communion table, in lieu of the pews in the gallery,

## partly taken up by the organ, and partly thrown open as free sittings.

The chancel exhibits some fine chiselling and decorative workmanship; the east window is also richly adorned with stained glass. The living is a perpetual curacy returned at £450, in the gift of the vicar of Oswestry, and is enjoyed by the Rev. John Jones.

THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, situate in Arthur-street, is a commodious and well built brick structure, with stone finishings, and a portico of the Doric order, which gives it a chaste appearance. The pews are arranged in a semicircular form, and there is a gallery; it will accommodate about 600 hearers. There is a flourishing society and a Sunday school in connection with the chapel.

THE BAPTIST CHAPEL, situated in Smithfield, was built in 1805, and enlarged in 1818; it is provided with galleries, and will hold 300 persons.

THE METHODIST CHAPEL is a good brick structure, erected in 1811, in the Salop road, and will accommodate 400 worshippers.

THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, built in 1801, and situated in Castle Fields, is a brick building cemented; it is neatly pewed and calculated to hold 600 hearers. There is a small burial ground annexed to the chapel, and a house has been built for the resident minister.

THE WELSH INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, a small fabric, is situated in Castle Fields. Divine service is performed in the Welsh language.

THE WELSH CALVINISTIC CHAPEL (ZION), a good building of brick with a stuccoed front, is situated in Gateacre place, and was erected in 1836. The interior arrangements have a neat appearance. The service of this chapel is also in the Welsh language.

THE WELSH METHODISTS meet for worship in a room near the Welsh walls. The society contemplate building a chapel in a short period.

THE PLYMOUTH BRETHREN assemble for worship in a large room on the premises of Mrs. Macdongall, in Bailey street.

THE INDEPENDENT METHODISTS have a small chapel in Castle Terrace, built in 1848, which will hold about 150 hearers.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOL, situate at Pentrepoeth, is a handsome building, in the Elizabethan style of architecture, with a convenient residence for the teacher. The centre of the building is occupied by the girls, and the wings on each side are for the accommodation of the boys and the infants. The school is pleasantly situated, has a play ground attached, and the whole is enclosed by a wall. The institution is supported by subscription, and a small charge from each scholar.

THE BRITISH SCHOOL, a substantial and commodious building in Arthur Street, was built by subscription and a grant from the School Society. The building is ornamented with stone quoins and cornices; the upper room is occupied by the girls, and the lower room by the boys.

THE YOUNG MEN’S INSTITUTE was established in October, 1850, with the object of extending the moral and intellectual culture of the young men of the town of Oswestry. We are happy to observe that many of the young men in the town have enrolled themselves as members, a library has been established, and the news room is furnished with papers, and some of the most popular periodicals of the day. The ordinary members pay 1s. 6d. per quarter, honorary members pay an annual subscription of 10s. 6d., or a donation of £10 or upwards. The corporation have kindly granted a room in the Council Hall for the accommodation of the members.

THE SAVINGS BANK, in Bailey Square, was established in 1818. The capital stock of the bank on November 20th, 1850, amounted to £50,973. 6s. 1d., at which time there were 1463 separate accounts; of which 23 were charitable societies, having deposits amounting to £851. 8s. 10d., and 31 friendly societies, with deposits amounting to £5,884. 0s. 8d. Of the individual depositors, there were 697 whose respective balances did not exceed £20; 442 were above £20, and not exceeding £50; 180 were above that sum, and not exceeding £100; 62 above £100, and less than £150; 26 did not exceed £200, and two accounts were above that sum. The bank is open on Wednesdays, from twelve to two o’clock. Thomas L. Longueville, Esq., is treasurer, and Mr. John Hughes, secretary.

THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY is an extensive range of building, composed of brick, pleasantly situated about a mile from the town. It was erected by the joint subscription of the town and parish of Oswestry, the several parishes of Whittington, West Felton, St. Martin’s, Chirk, Selattyn, Knockin, Kinnerley, Ruyton, Llansilin, Llanyblodwell, and the township of Llwytidman, in the parish of Llanymynech. The house will accommodate 600 inmates; the average number is about 190. It was built under Gilbert’s Act. The respective parishes appoint the officers, who collect the rates, and pay the out-poor. The board days are every Monday. Richard Nightingale Broughton, Esq., is the chairman, Mr. John Hughes, clerk, Mr. Thomas Morris, governor, Mr. Thomas Davies, relieving officer, and Edward and Ann Jones, schoolteachers.

THE DISPENSARY, in Lower Brook Street, under the superintendence of Mr. Hales, is supported by annual subscriptions and donations. It is worthy of increased support from the charitable and humane; for since its establishment hundreds have partaken of the healing benefits of this Samaritan institution, the object of which is to check, and ameliorate suffering humanity, in whatever form it is found.

THE TOWN HALL is situated near the site of the Castle, and forms one side of the square called Bailey-head. It is a plain stone building, comprising a large room (where the sessions and public affairs of the town are transacted) and offices for the clerks, &c. The front is enclosed by an iron palisade. Near the centre of the building is a figure of King Oswald, carved in stone. At the back of the hall is the police establishment, built in 1830, and residence of Mr. Jacob Smith, clerk of the market and superintendent of police.

THE BOROUGH GAOL, in Castle Fields, is a brick structure, erected in 1826, which contains three cells and two airing yards. It is now used as a lock-up, under the control of the borough and county magistrates.

THE COUNTY COURT OFFICE adjoins the Town Hall, at Bailey-head. The jurisdiction of the court embraces the following parishes and places, viz.:—Knockin, Ruyton of the Eleven Towns, West Felton, Kinnerley Llanymynech, except Carreghova township, Llansilin, part of Soughton township, part of Selattyn, Llanblodwell, Oswestry town and liberties, St. Martin’s, Chirk, Ellesmere, except Penley, Welsh Hampton, and Hordley. Judge: Edward Lewis Richards, Esq. Clerk: William Simons, Esq. Assistant Clerk: Thomas Askew Davies. High Bailiff: Mr. Charles Scarlett Andrews. Bailiff; Mr. Ellis Hughes. Broker: Mr. Edward Evans.

THE POWIS MARKET HALL forms one side of the spacious area of the Bailey Square, and is a plain stone building, with a high clock turret. The front part of the structure was formerly used as the Guild Hall, at the back of which additional erections have been made of brick, chiefly through the instrumentality of P. Cartwright, Esq., and a few other resident gentlemen. It is a spacious structure, partly covered with glass. Here the corn market is held on Wednesdays, and is very numerously attended by the farmers in the surrounding district.

THE FAIRS at Oswestry are held on the first Wednesday in each month, for the sale of butter, cheese, and other commodities, which take place in the Powis Market Hall. The North Shropshire and North Wales yeomen are justly proud of their fine dairies of cheese and butter, and the market is unrivalled in Shropshire for the extent of business that is transacted in these commodities. The day preceding the above is for the sale of cattle, sheep, and pigs, which takes place in the Smithfield Market.

THE MARKET held on Wednesdays for butter, poultry, and butchers’ meat, is very numerously attended. The meat and provisions brought to the market are abundant in quantity and excellent in quality. Considerable quantities of poultry (geese, ducks, as well as the small Welsh mutton) are brought here weekly for sale. The shambles are in Willow Street and Bailey Street; and the butter and poultry market is conveniently arranged and covered in.

THE GAS WORKS, situated near Gallows Tree Gate, on the Salop road, were established in 1842. The premises are conveniently arranged, and from 8s. to 10s. are charged per 1,000 cubic feet for the luminous vapour. Mr. Robert Roberts is the proprietor.

THE THEATRE, a small building in Willow Street, is usually open for a few weeks in the year by a company of comedians.

THE RACES are held at Cen-y-bwch, a beautiful piece of ground situated on an eminence to the west of the town. The races of late years have not commanded that attention and support which they formerly did, and they were altogether discontinued last year. It is expected, however, they will again take place during the present year about the usual time, in the autumn of the year.

THE RAILWAY STATION is situated on the north-east side of the town. There are ten trains arrive and depart during the day to Gabowen, where the branch from Oswestry joins the trunk line of the Shrewsbury and Chester railway. Mr. E. Jones is the station-master. THE ASSEMBLY ROOM and BOWLING GREEN are at the Wynstay Arms. The STAMP OFFICE is in Willow Street. THE EXCISE OFFICE is at the Cross Keys Inn. THE NEWS ROOM is at the Court House, Bailey Square. THE CRICKET GROUND is in Lower Brook Street. _The Oswestry Advertiser_, a small publication which makes its appearance on the first Wednesday in each month, is extensively patronised as an advertising medium, and is worthy of support for the interesting local information which it furnishes. Mr. John A. Roberts is the publisher and proprietor.

CHARITIES.—THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL is pleasantly situated on the west side of the town. It was founded as early as the reign of Henry IV. by David Hobech, who granted, for the maintenance of a schoolmaster, and the reparation of the school-house there, certain lands in Sweeney, Treflach, Maesbury, and Crickheath. By an inquisition, under a commission of charitable uses, taken at Oswestry, and dated 10th April, 1634, it is stated that although the bailiffs of Oswestry had the ordering and disposing of the school and the school lands, they had done the same without any just authority, and that if they had been trusted they had manifestly abused the trust, in making leases at an under value and for secret rewards for themselves. The said commissioners therefore decreed, that the bailiffs of the said town should be for ever discharged and excluded from any trust or intermeddling with the school lands, that the schoolmaster for the time being should let the premises in possession, and not in reversion, for the term of seven years, with the consent of the bishop and chancellor of the diocese. The commissioners further ordered that the schoolmaster should have an usher, to be allowed £10 a year; and the master for the time being to keep the school premises in repair.

The property now held by the master consists of 34A. 3R. 18P. of land at Crickheath, let for £30 per annum; three closes of land in Treflach, containing 23A. 1R. 7P., producing a yearly rental of £36; land in the township of Sweeney, containing altogether 68A. 3R. 10P., let for £134 per annum. There was also a small piece of land in Sweeney, of about half an acre, of which the master had lost possession. It was surrounded by property belonging to Sir W. W. Wynne, and had in fact been sold by him. The master having established his title thereto, a small piece of land adjoining the school premises was given up to him in lieu thereof. Four closes of land in Weston Cotton, containing 19A. 2R. 9P., producing £40 per annum; and an allotment in the same township of 1A. 2R. 9P., let for £3 yearly; land in the township of Maesbury consisting of 16A. 0R. 18P. producing an annual sum of £24; and the yearly sum of £1. 6s. 8d. as a free farm rent, issuing out of a corn mill in Maesbury. The rents of the above premises amount in the whole to £271. 10s. 2d., and are received by the master of the school. In addition to the premises already noticed, there is a school and school-house, and seven acres of land in the town of Oswestry, held under lease from Sir W. W. Wynne, bearing date 22nd September, 1815, for 10,000 years, at the clear yearly rent of £12. The school now existing was built by Dr. Donne, the expenses of which amounted to about £1,400. The school is open to all boys born in the parish of Oswestry, for instruction in English, Latin, and Greek; but it is expected that they should be able to read before they are admitted. No payment is demanded of the scholars, except 7s. 6d. for entrance, and 2s. a-year for fire money. The course of instruction in the school is chiefly classical; but algebra, geometry, history, and writing are also taught. For the latter a separate charge is made. In addition to the scholars on the foundation, the master takes a limited number of boarders. We cannot but observe on the inconveniences that have occurred, and are likely to occur, for want of trustees. It is true that Dr. Donne recovered possession of a great part of the school property, or an equivalent for it, at his own expense; but few persons in his situation would have undertaken the same risk; and the necessity for such proceedings was probably owing to the reluctance felt by former masters to involving themselves in litigation with the tenants. The Rev. Stephen Donne, M.A., is the head master.

_Thomas Owen_, in 1713, left £20 for the use of the charity school. _Daniel Poole_, in 1716, left the interest of £20 for the same use. In 1737, £32 was laid out on the poor house in Church street, which sum was paid out of the above legacies; and it was ordered at a vestry that a yearly sum of 40s. should be paid towards the support of the charity school. Nothing, however, has been paid in respect of these charities for many years. The poor house in Church street has been sold, and the produce applied to the general purposes of the town.

THE ALMSHOUSES.—_Dame Ellen_, widow of Sir Francis Eure, by will bearing date 20th August, 1626, devised six tenements in William street, to the bailiffs and burgesses of Oswestry, and their successors, to be used and employed for the habitation of six poor men and six poor women, to be appointed by the said bailiffs and their successors. _Jane Owen_, in 1732, bequeathed to the twelve poor persons, inmates of the almshouse commonly called Porkington almshouses, the sum of 18s., to be paid to them yearly for ever; and she ordered her executor to charge her real and personal estate with the payment thereof. It does not appear that this gift was ever in any way settled to the use of the almspeople, _Mrs. S. Ormsby_, by her will in 1805, requested her daughter (now the wife of W. Ormsby Gore, Esq.), and those who should succeed her in the Porkington estate, would pay, “as she had done,” the poor people in the almshouse for ever. _Mrs. Gore_ distributes £3 among the inmates on Christmas day, that being the sum her mother had previously given. The almshouses are kept in repair by Mrs. Gore, and she appoints the inmates.

_Margaret Godolphin_, in 1748, gave a messuage and shop, and other premises to the use of the vicar of Oswestry for the time being, provided he should live in the said house; and if the vicar should not reside in the said dwelling, the same should be let yearly, and the rents paid to the churchwardens, to be applied in placing out poor fatherless children apprentices. The premises above were exchanged in the year 1823, for other premises situate in Brook street. Before this exchange took place the house originally devised was not occupied by the vicar, but was let by the overseers, and the rent improperly carried to the general account of the poor’s rate. _Owen Morgan_, in 1604, gave certain property to the Haberdashers’ Company, London, subject to the payment of £20 yearly, for the relief of the poor people of the parish of Oswestry, to be distributed where most need should appear, by the parson, curate, and the churchwardens of the said parish. The yearly sum of £20 is received from the Haberdashers’ Company, through the Oswestry bank. This forms part of a general fund, which is distributed as hereafter mentioned.

_Hugh Yale_, by his will bearing date 2nd January, 1605, gave a messuage and garden adjoining the churchyard of Oswestry, with a croft near the Chapel Fields, and the reversion of a house and garden adjoining the school, in trust, to bestow the rents among the necessitous poor of the town; and he directed that if any preacher, lawfully licensed, should upon that day preach in the Welsh tongue in the parish church of Oswestry, he should receive 6s. 8d. out of the rents. The property belonging to Yale’s charity consists of a field called the Poor’s Croft, let for £8 per annum; two small tenements in Upper Brook street, producing a rental of £5 yearly; two plots of ground near the churchyard, demised to Richard Price for a term of 99 years, from 1st May, 1809, at a yearly rent of £2. 12s. 6d.; a piece of ground near the churchyard, let on lease in 1808 for a term of 99 years, to Thomas Davies, Esq., for 20s. per annum; two small cottages adjoining the churchyard, one let for £2 a year, and the other for £3 a year. A garden, for which a yearly rent of 2s. 6d. from the year 1688 till 1825 was received, when the party holding it disputed the right of the claim; the churchwardens, however, intended to take proceedings for possession of the land. In 1782, 10s. is entered as received of Thomas Griffith, for one year’s rent for a yard and a saw-pit adjoining the Lawn House. The same rent was afterwards paid by the Rev. Mr. Maurice, and, in 1804, by John Bonner, Esq., who succeeded to Mr. Maurice’s property. Nothing, however, has been paid since 1806, and the piece of ground could not be satisfactorily identified when the charity commissioners published their report. The income of this charity is added to the general fund, disposed of as hereafter mentioned. There seems to have been great negligence in the management of this charity, in admitting tenants who were unable to pay the rent; in not keeping up the boundaries of the land; and in not preserving the counterparts of those leases which appear to have been granted.

_John Morris_ gave an annual payment of £1. 10s., issuing out of lands at Crickheath, for the use of the poor of the town of Oswestry. The amount is paid by the agent of W. Eyton, Esq., as the owner of the land upon which the payment is charged.

_Richard Witcherley_ gave a parcel of land in Beatrice street, and directed 1s. per week to be expended in bread out of the rent thereof, and the overplus to be applied in apprentice fees. The premises consist of a croft, containing 1A. 2R., let at a yearly rent of £7.

_Mrs. Dorothy Southey’s Charity_.—A yearly sum of £2. 12s. is paid from a field in the liberties of the town of Oswestry, as the gift of _Mrs. Southey_, for a distribution of bread.

_William Gough_, in 1669, left a rent charge of £5. 6s. 8d., charged on certain lands in Trevlach, and directed £5 per annum to be applied in placing out poor children apprentice, born in the parish of Oswestry, and the remaining 6s. 8d. to be paid to the minister for a sermon on St. Stephen’s day.

A donor unknown gave a small plot of land for the use of the poor of Oswestry. A yearly payment of 5s. is made by _William Ormsby Gore_, _Esq._, out of a piece of land near Llwyn gate, in respect of this charity. There is also a yearly payment of 5s. issuing out of a house and premises in Cross street, the property of D. O. Cooper, which is distributed in bread among the poor.

_Winifred Matthews_, in 1709, left a yearly sum of £2. 10s., payable out of a piece of land in Trefonen, called Maes-y-Benglog, towards putting apprentice one poor child of the town of Oswestry one year, and the next year from Trefonon, Treflach, Sweeney, or Trever clawdd. The property from which this payment is made belongs to Sir W. W. Wynne, and the amount is paid by his agent.

_Mary Lloyd_, in 1727, bequeathed £100, and directed the yearly interest thereof to be laid out in woollen cloth for the poor of the town of Oswestry, and apprenticing a poor boy of the said town alternately. _Mrs. Peacock_, in 1732 gave £5, the interest to be distributed among poor decayed housekeepers. These two sums are laid out upon the security of the tolls of the turnpike road leading from Oswestry to Selattyn, called the Willow Gate Trust; and £5. 5s. is paid as the interest.

_Thomas Turner_, by his will, 1777, bequeathed £20, the interest thereof to be distributed among the poor of the parish of Oswestry.

The produce of the eleven charities last mentioned, amounting to £55. 11s., are brought to one account, kept by the churchwardens appointed for the town of Oswestry, and disposed of for the benefit of the poor of the town, exclusive of the rest of the parish. Six shillings worth of bread is given away in the church every alternate Sunday, and the residue is given away at different times of the year, in bread, clothing, or shoes, according to the discretion of the churchwardens for the time being. As it appeared the churchwardens had frequently selected for distribution such articles as they themselves dealt in, the charity commissioners strongly recommended that some regular mode of distributing these charities should be adopted, and that the directions of the respective donors should be followed as far as they could be ascertained, and circumstances would admit.