History of Shelvock Manor

A HISTORY OF SHELVOCK MANOR, Shropshire, England

The first recorded spelling of Shelvock was Shelfhoc (1175), and later Sselvak & Schelfac (c1270). The name is most likely derived from the Saxon "ac" meaning oak, prefixed by its location on a shelf or hill.

In the 1890's, then a farm house in the Parish of Ruyton-XI-Towns, Shelvock was part of the Tedsmore Hall property. It was once a place of local importance, and was for more than two centuries the seat of the THORNES, a leading family in Shropshire. The date 1606 was still on one of the stables in 1894, situated, with park-like grounds round it, and a picturesque pool below. In 1894 the Township of Shelvock included the house and only one cottage. The area was 259 acres 3 roods 4 perches (1.1 km²).

In the Domesday period (1086) Shelvock was one of the three Berewicks (a hamlet attached to a manor) of the Manor of Wykey, owned in Edward the Confessor's time by Edwin, Earl of Mercia, and in William the Conqueror's time by one Odo, who owned also Hordley and Ruyton, (but held them all under Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury). The Earl's son Robert rebelled and forfeited his property in 1102, and Wykey, as with many other of his manors, was given to Alan Fitz Flaald, hereditary Sheriff of Shropshire, whose son William Fitz Alan gave Ruyton and Wykey to John Le STRANGE c1155, to hold under him. Le STRANGE c1175 gave Shelvock and all its appurtenances to one William Fitz Walter and his heirs to hold of himself and his heirs free of all services except that of giving to Le STRANGE annually some goat skin leggings and gilt spurs (the significance of these items in not known).

Sometime between the Domesday Book and 1175 Shilvock became the head of the Manor which was originally the Domesday Manor of Wykey.

c1270 Philip, Lord of Shelvock, was lord also of Shotatton. Shotatton, Shelvock, and Eardiston were most likely the three Berewicks of the Domesday Manor of Wykey. Philip must have derived his title to the property from William Fitz Walter to account for the Lord of Shelvock having the right to hold a Court and to amerce (punish by a fine) the township of Shotatton.

Philip Lord of Sselvak confirms the gift and sale made by Roger de Caldecote the son of William de Wynelicote to Alan son of Roger de Ssetatton of a messuage and half virgate of land which Roger son of Aldithe formerly held in Ssetatton, and a messuage and nook of land which Richard le Knicht held there, and the half messuage which Ithell held, and the nook of land which Roger son of Juliana formerly held in the same, for 13 marks paid by Alan to Philip. He also grants to Alan and his heirs free pasture within and without the sown fields of Ssetatton, except in his wood during mast time; and releases them from being summoned or attached to his Court for any offence "but if they offend concerning me or my heirs they shall make amends by the consideration of four lawful men to be chosen on each part;" "and if the township of Ssetatton shall be amerced by me or my heirs or assigns, neither the aforesaid Alan nor his heirs or assigns shall make any contribution for it unless for their own offence and that in the manner prescribed." And for 1 d (£0.004) in silver per annum Alan and his heirs are released from all suits of court reliefs heriots and aids of all kinds. Witnesses Sir John de Lee, Thomas his son, Hugh the son of Philip, Stephen de Felton, Roger Impias and others.

This deed is undated, but Philip de Schelfac, Sir John de Lee, and Hugh son of Philip, occur as witnesses to another deed executed between 1269 and 1276, so this deed is assumed to be about the same date.

About 1301 the Le STRANGE family sold Ruyton, with all its homages and fees, to their suzerain Edmund Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel, which would include all their rights over Wykey and Shelvock; however about 1325 John, Lord of Shelvock gives to the Abbot of Haghmond a quit claim as to certain lands at Balderton. Apparently, Shelvock had not passed with Ruyton into the immediate possession of the Earl of Arundel, but was still held by an under-tenant, presumably a descendant of the William Fitz Walter to whom it had been granted in 1175. John also witnessed a deed in 1323 at Atton (Shotatton), by which Richard de Caldecott conveyed to Roger his son a messuage (a dwelling house together with its outbuildings, curtilage (the enclosed area of land adjacent), and the adjacent land appropriated to its use)and 6 acres (24,000 m²) of land in that township.

The under-lords of Shelvock were still in possession in 1326, when their suzerain, the Earl of Arundel, forfeited his estates and was beheaded, and in 1331, when his son had them restored to him, and also in 1397, when his grandson again forfeited them. In the first existing Roll from Ruyton Court (1333) the representatives of Shelvock present the death of a tenant there, named William Fitz William, intestate, and his good valued at 2 shillings and 4 d (£0.12). In 28 Edward III (c1354), William le YONGE was Steward of the Manor of Ruyton, and on 20th November that year, Richard, Earl of Arundel, granted to him and Alice his wife settlement of lands "in the vills of Shelvak, Atton & Erdeston".

In 1357, Geoffrey, son of John LOYT of Kynardeston, took relief of half the vill of Shelvock, and paid 2 shillings and 8 d (£0.13). In the same year the townsmen of Shelvock asserted an immemorial right of pasturing their cattle on the Wigmarsh Common. In 6 Richard II (c1373) they presented Roger le POTT for rescuing a distress from Madoc ap Eynio. The next year (c1374) one Ath of Shelvock was fined 4 old pence (£0.02). for not coming to hear the verdict between him and John HODENET in an action of trespass.

John le YONGE succeeded his father William, and was living at the time of the execution of the Earl of Arundel in 1397, when he was returned as holding "Shelfake & Wyke by service of a quarter of a Knights fee of the Honour of the Earl of Arundel". The manors appear to be separated shortly afterwards. A Thomas le YOUNGE, who was Steward of Ruyton Manor in 1426, may have been the son of John and owner of Shelvock. John's daughter and eventual heiress, Cecilia, married Robert THORNES, son of Roger de la THORNES who resided on his estate at Thornes, in the parish of Shenstone, Staffordshire. [Note by Kenyon: Herald's Visitation and a THORNES pedigree in the Morris Manuscripts (in the possession of E. C. PEELE, Esq. in 1894) concur in making Robert THORNES the elder, the husband of John YONGE's daughter, however the probabilities of age would make Robert THORNES the younger the more likely husband, and unlikely to be her son.]

In 1356 Robert atte THORNES was one of four merchants summoned from Shrewsbury to confer with the King in a Council of Merchants at Westminster. In 1344 he had been admitted on the Foreigners Roll of the Guild Merchants of Shrewsbury. In 1381 the Earl of Arundel interfered to appease some dissensions among the burgesses of Shrewsbury which had become very acute, and induced them to commit the government of the town to a committee of 12 persons, one of whom was Robert of THORNES, son of Robert atte THORNES. This Robert was four times Bailiff of Shrewsbury, 1388 to 1409. His son Thomas was also Bailiff in 1432, 1436, and 1440, and in 1444 became one of the first Aldermen of the Borough. Either this Robert or his son Thomas succeeded John or Thomas YONGE as owner of Shelvock, in right of the marriage with Cecilia YONGE. Thomas had two sons, the eldest, Robert, succeeded to Shelvock and the other property in Ruyton, while the younger, Roger, succeeded to Thornes. Robert's son, Robert, succeeded his father and married Ellen, widow of Roger SERESBY, but in 1473, he released all his interests (including Shelvock) to his first cousin, Thomas THORNES, son of Roger. Thomas THORNES, grandson of the Alderman, is described as of Shelvock in 1476 when he married Mary, daughter of Sir Roger CORBET of Morton Corbet.

Roger THORNES, son of Thomas, was called the "Wise Thornes of Shrewsbury, for that both town and country repaired to him for advice". Though owner of Shelvock, he retained his family connection with Shrewsbury, and seems to have lived principally in the town, where he had a house in Raven Street, just opposite School Lane. He was six times Bailiff. He married Anne, the daughter of Sir Roger KYNASTON. They had 7 children:

1. John THORNES 2 Nicholas THORNES 3. Robert THORNES 4. Thomas THORNES = Jane ONSLOW - no issue 5. Margaret THORNES = Richard LLOYD 6. Cicely THORNES = Thomas BERRINGTON 7. Elizabeth THORNES = John LLOYD (of Abertanat)

Roger died in 1531, and was buried in St. Mary's Church. Shrewsbury. After him was a rapid succession to the property of Shelvock.

John THORNES, his son, married Elizabeth ASTLEY of Patishull. Jeffrey THORNES, son of John, married first Jane KYNASTON of Shardon, by whom he had a daughter Jane, baptised at Middle, 13 Feb., 1545, and other children; and secondly, Anne FOWLER of Staffordshire. (Note: it is possible some with the SHELVOCK family name and other later unconnected THORNES (see below) are descended from Jeffrey & Jane).

His Will was proved at Lichfield in 1552, and he was succeeded by his son by his second wife Nicholas THORNES, who married Margaret, daughter of Walter WROTESLEY of Staffordshire. He was succeeded in 1592 by his son Richard THORNES, who in 1599 bought a third part of the Manor of Ruyton from George YOUNGE, Esq., possibly the heir of Thomas YOUNGE, Archbishop of York, who had bought the manor in 1567 from the Earl of Arundel and others. Richard THORNES was Sheriff of Shropshire in 1610, but for the first half of the year only, being succeeded during the latter half of the year as sheriff by Richard MYTTON of Halston, whose sister Elizabeth MYTTON he had married. The initials R.T./E.T. 1606 were to be found on a stable with enormously thick walls still standing at Shelvock.

Francis THORNES, son of the Sheriff, married Beatrice, eldest daughter of Sir Andrew CORBET of Morton Corbet, on the 12th Dec. 1625, at Moreton Corbet, he being then 19 and she 15 years of age. By a deed of 16 Dec. 1638, he settled "the Lordship or Manor of Shelvock and all houses and lands in the township of Shelvock, the Heath Mill in the Township of Knockin, and two meadows at Maesbrook," on himself in tail, subject to a jointure for his wife. When the English Civil War broke he actively sided with the King. On the 8th August, 1642, he subscribed in Shrewsbury a strong declaration of loyalty, and he afterwards signed "The Ingagement and Resolution of the principall gentlemen of the County of Salop, for raising and maintaining Forces, at their own charge, for the defence of his Majestie King Charles I., their country, and more particularly the fortunes, persons, and estates of the subscribers undernamed." The forces to be raised were "one entire regiment of dragoneers," and were to be ready, with the money, on the 20th December, 1643, and to be under the command of Sir Vincent CORBET, his brother-in-law.

Francis THORNES was one of many county gentlemen captured when Shrewsbury was taken on Feb. 22nd, 1644/5, by the Parliamentary forces under the command of his first cousin, Thomas MYTTON of Halston, and he had to pay £720 for his estate. In 1653 he executed a settlement upon the marriage of his son, comprising "The Manor of Shelvock, the Manor House in Shelvock in which Francis THORNES dwells, the water corn mill called Heath Mill in Knockin, Melverley Farm, 2 closes in Wykie in or near a place called Bagamore, all in the possession of Francis THORNES, land covered with water in Great Ness called Ingerley Pool, a farm in Webscott, 4 messuages in Edgerley, a messuage called the Gorsty Leasowes in Ruyton in the occupation of Richard TAYLOR, 2 messuages in Ness, and 13 in Shotatton, in the tenures of William HANMER, John WOODS, Thomas DOVASTON, John WOFIE, Richard MORTON, John PEEVOR, Cornelius PEEVOR, Edward PERKINS, Edward FOSTER, John CROXON, Daniel GRIFFITHS, and Edward DYOS; a messuage in Earston, otherwise Yarston, in possession of Richard JONES, and two messuages in Hopton."

After the Restoration Francis THORNES was one of the Commissioners appointed under an Act of 1661 for administering oaths of allegiance and supremacy to all office holders in Shrewsbury, and for removing from office all disaffected persons.

Thomas THORNES, son of Francis, was the last THORNES owner of Shelvock. He was baptised at Moreton Corbet, 26 Sept., 1630, and in 1653 married Elinor, his first wife, daughter of Jonathan LANGLEY of the Abbey, Shrewsbury, who was sheriff of the county in 1689. He later married Catherine LITTLETON, daughter of Sir William COURTEEN, Kt., of London, and widow of Sir Edward LITTLETON of Pillaton, Co. Stafford, Bart., a zealous royalist, and then Anne, who married after his death George BOLD. Thomas THORNES sold Webscott, in Middle, to his brother-in-law Thomas PRICE. He died without issue, surviving his father by less than two months. While the THORNES ownership of the manor ceased in the middle of the C17th, the family remain connected to the lands well into the C18th.

The detailed pedigree of the THORNES family down to Francis THORNES is published in the Heralds' Visitation of Shropshire by the Harleian Society, compiled out of the deeds at Tedsmore. In the Deed of 7 Aug. 1707, two messuages in Shotatton are described as formerly held by Roger THORNES, and now by Timothy SIDES and Francis PLYMLEY; and the deed of 20 Dec., 1748, mentions a chief rent of 1d. issuing out of lands within the Manor of Shelvock, belonging to Edward THORNES. In 1779 this land had passed from him to Thomas REYNOLDS. There is more detail on the other THORNES in the period in Kenyon's article in Vol. II. Edward THORNES of Ruyton married Elizabeth BILL of Felton, at Felton on 23rd June, 1711.

On the death of Thomas THORNES his widow retained possession of Shelvock, and married George BOLD, but their right to the property was evidently disputed by the family, for in 1699 a deed of family settlement was executed, dated 30 Oct., between George BOLD of Shelvock, gent., and Anne, his wife, of the one part, and Dame Elizabeth CORBETT of Shrewsbury, widow, Beatrice THORNES of Shrewsbury, spinster, Frances IRONSIDES of Shrewsbury, widow, and John PRICE of Shrewsbury, gent., son and heir of Margaret PRICE, deceased, daughters and co-heirs of Francis THORNES, late of Shelvock, Esq., deceased, and sisters of Thomas THORNES of Shelvock, Esq., of the other part. By this deed it was agreed that all differences and lawsuits about the land and estate of the late Francis & Thomas THORNES are to cease. The BOLDs were to hold for their lives and to keep in repair the capital messuage of Shelvock, the Heath Mill, and the demesne lands belonging to Shelvock, and the following lands in Shotatton, viz., the Turf Pool, the new Hill, the old Hill, the Calves Croft by Elsbridge Gate (called Hellbridge in 1707 deed), the Marly Furlong, Meridens Crofts, the great Hodge Park, the little Hodge Park, the Poole Marsh, the Coatfields, the broad pool or the oz pasture, Hanly Heath (Hantley, alias Antley Heath in 1707 deed), and the Heath Mill, all of which are parcel of the demesne lands of Shelvock. After the deaths of the BOLDs, the whole of the above were to belong in fee simple, free from encumbrances, to Francis THORNES' four daughters and their representatives. The BOLDs were to have Broome's tenement in Great Ness in fee simple, and £500. Various conveyances made by Francis & Thomas THORNES in 1673, 1676, and 1678 were to stand good and not to be disputed.

The following lands in Shotatton, viz., the Craniums, the great Foxholes, the little Foxholes, the Gentlewomen's close, a little parcel of land in possession of Anne GRIFFITHS, and the Butts in Shotatton field in the possession of John GRIFFITHS and John WHEELOCK, were delivered into the possession of George BOLD, he paying £10 to Beatrix THORNES for the said Butts or Furlongs, which were her proper inheritance; and she was also to sell to him the cottage in Shotatton called Bellamie's tenement.

The BOLDs were to do no waste in certain tenements at Melverley of the value of £50 per annum, which would come to the representatives of Francis THORNES daughters after the death of Anne BOLD.

Anne BOLD, therefore, and her second husband, George BOLD, had possession of Shelvock from 1678; and they were still alive in 1707, but had to let it to some under-tenants (Deed of 7 Aug. 1707, Francis IRONSIDES and others to Corbet KYNASTON, gs/o Elizabeth THORNES & Sir Vincent CORBET, and s/o Beatrice CORBET & John KYNASTON).

Lady CORBET settled her fourth part of Shelvock estate on her grandson Corbet KYNASTON, and in 1702 her sisters Beatrice THORNES and Francis IRONSIDES transferred their shares (subject to their life interests) to her, and in 1707 the remaining fourth was bought from John PRICE by Corbet KYNASTON's trustees for £400. Another deed of family arrangement was executed on 7 Aug. 1707, conveying the Manor and Manor House of Shelvock and its demesnes to Corbet KYNASTON, and other pieces of land in "Earsdiston alias Earston", Bagamore, Hopton, Ruiton, and Melverley, to the BOLDs and others in fee. In addition to the demesne lands enumerated in the settlement of 1699, the following were agreed to be part of the demesne lands, and conveyed to Corbet KYNASTON in fee, viz., "The Hall Meadow, the Spring, Rogers's Leasow, Rogers's Meadow, the Marshes alias Wigmarshes, Eearson's or Eason's Meadow, Stockin Meadow, Edmonds Moor, two White Leasows, the great Park Fields, the three crofts adjoining to the great Park Fields, the Spring Meadow, the Hopyard, the little Park field, the Stanneley, the Rock Hill, the Connery and Connery Meadow, and all other lands being now in the occupation of George BOLD, his under-tenants or assigns, and in the townships of Shelvock and Shotatton".

Corbet KYNASTON became sole owner of Shelvock on the death of the BOLDs some time between 1707 and 1738, when he executed a deed barring his estate tail in a part of the property. He was not of age in 1707. In 1713 he was a candidate to represent Shrewsbury in Parliament but was defeated, but the next year, on the accession of George I, he was elected. In 1721 he was again returned but, unseated in 1723. He died unmarried the 17th June, 1740. He left all his real estates, including Sundorne (inherited from his father) and Shelvock, to Andrew CORBET of Lee and Albright HUSSEY, whose grandmother was sister to Edward KYNASTON of Hordley, Corbet's grandfather; but Andrew CORBET died 15 April 1741 without issue, and was succeeded by his brother John CORBET.

Corbet KYNASTON left debts amounting to between £70,000 & £80,000; suits were instituted by his creditors, and an Act of Parliament had to be obtained for selling his estates. An arrangement was entered into, by deed dated 20 Dec. 1748. Anna Maria LEIGHTON was to have the manor, house, and lands of Shelvock, and the furniture there, and the Heath Mill, the Heath Farm, and all the freehold tenements of the late Corbet KYNASTON in Shelvock, Shotatton, Knockin, Melverley, Baggimore, and Ruyton.

Charlton LEIGHTON (1756 Bart,.) and Anna Maria his wife became the new owners of Shelvock in 1748. In 1757 he let it for his own life to Richard MADOCKS, yeoman, and as MADOCKS is described in the deed as of Shelvock, he was apparently already tenant of it before this time. In 1766 Sir Charlton gave up the property of Shelvock Manor, messuage, and farm, with the Gate House, Mill, and Dovehouse thereto belonging, and the Heath Farm and land at Melverley, to his son Charlton LEIGHTON. In 1774, the manor and estate of Shelvock was sold to William Mostyn OWEN of Woodhouse, Esq. who represented Montgomeryshire in three parliaments. He died in 1795 and was succeeded by his son William Mostyn OWEN, who about 1832 conveyed Shelvock to Thomas BULKELEY-OWEN, Esq., of Tedsmore in exchange for lands at Haughton. OWEN (c1858) pulled down the old house and erected the farm house (present in 1894), which is not exactly on the site of the old house, but a little to the east of it. Some of the cellars of the old house still remain into the C21st. The stable with date 1606 has been already mentioned. When the house was pulled down a quantity of oak panelling was removed to Tedsmore, including an old English mantelpiece which was placed in the entrance hall there.

Bulkeley Hatchett BULKELEY-OWEN, who died on the 10th August, 1868, leaving a widow, but no children, was succeeded by his brother the Rev. T. M. BULKELEY-OWEN, (the owner in 1894 when Kenyon wrote his pieces). Mr. Thomas LLOYD was the occupier of Shelvock farm which includes the house and almost the whole township in 1894, and Mr. Thomas BOWDLER of the cottage, which is the only other house in the Township of Shelvock. It is situated on the brook which separates the Townships of Shelvock and Eardiston, and is probably the Gate House mentioned in the Deed of 1766 (no longer in existence).

In the late C20th the farm was owned by the family of Mr. D. R. CORBETT. There has no doubt been various ownership and occupiers (tenant farmers) throughout the C19th & C20th. In 2000, as part of a Millennium Year project a member of the ROGERS family recalled that "I once lived at Shelvock and my mum was born there. My grandfather W. E. LLOYD once farmed at Shelvock and I spent a lot of my childhood on the farm". It is likely his grandfather was related to the Thomas LLOYD mentioned above.

Another, John KENDALL related "My Great Grand Mother was Sarah Catherine MORRIS who was born in 1858 (along with her sister Fanny Eleanor 1856) at Shelvock . Their parents were John MORRIS and Eleanor (nee ROGERS). His father was a farmer of 295 acres [1.2 km²] in Shelvock in 1841 and 1851 but by 1861 John junior had gone to Churchstoke (his father presumably had died)."

On the 1901 UK Census Shelvock is not included in the place index. However, Page 0 of RG13 Piece 2542 Folio 66 of the census is described as "All the remaining part of the Parish of Ruyton. Comprising the several townships of Shotatton, Shelvock, ....." Shelvock can be found on page 13:

Occupiers in 1901 Census:

At Shelvock:

• Thomas LLOYD Head 71 Farmer, Employer, of Knockin, Salop
• Mary Ellen Wife 63 of West Felton
  • William W Son 29 Farmer's Son (Worker); [all children of West Felton]
• George O Son 23 Farmer's Son (Worker)
• Minnie C ROGERS Servant 25 Cook Domestic
• Eva M ROGERS Servant 14 Servant Domestic
• Richard BRAYNE Servant 16 Carter on Farm (Worker); of Ruyton

[ROGERS may be related to the previous farmer occupier described above]

At Shelvock Cottage:

• Ann Elizabeth BOWDLER Head (Widow) aged 70, of Shrawardine
• Thomas BOWDLER Son aged 31, Contractor for Hauling Roadstone, of West Felton

Selected Bibliography

Based on edited Extracts from Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society: Vol. VI of 2nd Series pp. 327-340 (1894) and a subsequent article in Vol. II of 3rd Series pp. 107-116. (c1896); "Shelvock" & "Township of Shelvock" by Robert Lloyd KENYON

Location of Records:

• Parish Registers survive from 1719 at Shropshire Records & Research Centre, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury (Tel + 44 1743 255350).
• Bishops Transcripts are at Lichfield Joint Record Office, Staffordshire.