Is a parish in the hundred of Stoddesdon—the market town, a small one, is 137 miles N.W. from London, 33 S.S.E. from Shrewsbury, and 11 E. from Ludlow, situated on the road from the metropolis to the latter town, close to the southern border of the county, abutting upon Worcestershire, and on an eminence rising gradually from the western hank of the river Rea, which is crossed by a neat stone bridge. The country around here is very productive, and its fertility is promoted by the river, and by numerous fine springs that rise in this neighbourhood. The name of the place is said to be derived from its situation, in a district abounding with clay, and from the Saxon word byrig, a town; the adjunct, by which it is distinguished from North Cleobury, is obtained from its ancient possessor, Ralph de Mortimer, who held it at the time of the general survey. The town consists principally of one long street, in which are some good houses, and the mutilated remains of an old cross. The government of the town is vested in a constable, who is annually appointed at the court-leet of the lord of the manor, William Lacon Childe, Esq. This town is included in the twenty-seventh circuit of County Court towns, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50. Formerly this was a place of good trade, having extensive iron works; these have disappeared, and, with the exception of the extensive paper works belonging to Mr. Thomas Lambert Hall, jun., and which affords employment to a considerable number of hands, the town is not distinguished by any manufactures. The malting business is carried on by a few individuals; and on the Clee hills, about three miles west, are collieries, producing good coal, but the works have little or no influence upon the trade of the town.

The parish church of St. Mary is an ancient structure, with a plain square tower, surmounted by an octagonal spire of wood, and formerly belonged to one of the mitred abbeys. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the lord of the manor; the Rev. Edward George Childe is the present incumbent. There is a chapel each for Methodists and Roman Catholics—the latter is attached to Mawley Hall, about a mile to the west, the seat of Sir Edward Blount, Bart. The locality of this hall is very beautiful, and the prospects extensive and pleasing. The endowed school was founded pursuant to the will of Sir William Lacon Childe, Knight, dated 1714; and in 1740 the ground was purchased on which the buildings are erected: it is a well endowed establishment, and educates upwards of two hundred pupils, of whom forty boys and girls are annually clothed; and a fee is given for apprenticing boys on their leaving the school. The present income (including land) amounts to about £500. per annum: the management is vested in ten trustees: the head master is appointed by W. L. Childe, Esq., as representative of the founder, and visitor of the schools. The market is held on Wednesday, and the fairs April 21st, May 2nd, Trinity Monday, and October 27th. The parish contained, in 1841, 1,730 inhabitants, and in 1851, 1,738.

POST OFFICE, William Jefferies, Post Master.—Letters from various places East and South arrive (from Bewdley) every morning at eight, and are despatched thereto at a quarter before five in the evening.

GENTRY AND CLERGY.

Blount Sir Edward, Bart. Mawley Hall

Botfield Mrs. Lucy, Hopton Court

Childe Rev. Edward George, Cleobury Mortimer

Childe William Lacon, Esq. Kinlet Hall

Cocks Rev. Charles Richard Somers, Neen Savage

Cooksey Mr. — Cleobury Mortimer

Crump Thomas, Esq. Chorley

Crump Thomas, jun. Esq. Cleobury Mortimer

Davis Rev. William, Bayton

Halliburton Rev. Chas. Corley Rectory

Hayton Rev. John, Cleobury Mortimer

Kemp Rev. Henry, Cleobury Mortimer

Maddison Rev. Charles, St. Hesdon Vicarage

Reynolds Mrs. Elizabeth, Cleobury Mortimer

Richardson Lieutenant Jno. Cleobury Mortimer

Ricketts Rev. Martin H. Cleobury Mortimer

Southam Phillip Saml. Esq. Cleobury Mortimer

Smith Captain—Holly Waste, Cleobury Mortimer

Wicksted Charles, Esq. Shakenhurst

Williams Rev. Jno. Farlow Parsonage

Woodward Rev. Frank, Hopton

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.

Allday Ann (boarding & day)

Endowed School—Rev. Henry Kemp, head master

Infants’ School—Mrs. Tongue, Newall Emma, mistress

ATTORNEYS.

Pope Benjamin

Trow Adam, Prattinton

AUCTIONEERS.

Backhouse Henry O.

Hill William

BAKERS & FLOUR DEALERS.

Keysell Edward

Price James

Yapp Thomas

BLACKSMITHS.

Corfield William, Neen Savage

Harris Thomas

Potter Edward

Webb Sarah

BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.

Bodendam James

Breakwell Thos.

Hide Thomas

Whatmore Jno.

Wheeler Ann

Wheeler James

BUTCHERS.

Bright Edward

Lloyd Thomas

Williams Thos.

Worrall Chas.

CHEMISTS.

Bryant Robert Waller

Hodgkinson William

FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS.

Birmingham (fire), James Mytton

Crown (life), Edmund Banks, Whitcombe

Salop (fire), William Dalls

GROCERS AND DEALERS IN SUNDRIES.

Allen Rebecca

Beddoe Ann

Dallow James

Downes John

Jefferies Wm.

Keysell Edward

Parry Isaac Thos.

Wheeler James

Williams Elizbth.

Yapp Thomas

INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.

Bell, Hannah Vaughne

Crown, Joseph Mineall

Fountain, Thomas Breakwell

Fox, James Jones

King’s Arms, William Adams

Plough, James Ward

Red Lion, Thomas Worrall

Swan, Benjamin Dorrall

Talbot, Wm. Dorrell (inland revenue office)

LAND AGENTS.

Boucher James

Bourne James

LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPRS.

Downes William

Mytton James

MALTSTERS.

Beddoe Charles (& dealer in hops)

Dorrell William

Keysell Edward

Wheeler William

MILLERS.

Dorrell Benjamin

Hall Thomas Lambert, jun. Neen Savage

Yapp Thomas

MILLINERS & DRESS MAKERS.

Cooper Mary Ann

Morris Caroline

Nichols Misses

Tonge Julia

PAPER MAKER.

Hall Thomas Lambert, jun. Cleobury Paper Mill

SADDLERS.

Littler William

Palmer Samuel

STONE MASONS.

Habberley William

Jones John

Potter Samuel

SURGEONS.

Jones William Weaver

Pope Thomas

Whitcombe Edmund Banks

SURVEYORS—LAND.

Dallow William (and road)

Hill William

TAILORS.

Cook Charles

Farmer Thomas

Mytton James

Pennington Geo.

Potter George

WHEELWRIGHTS.

Merrick John

Williams Thomas

MISCELLANEOUS.

Cook William, high bailiff, clerk to the Union, assistant clerk to the Magistrates, and superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages

Dallow James, skinner

Dearn Andrew, nail maker

Downes Thomas, beer retailer

Evans John, tin-plate worker and ironmonger

Farmer Wm. parish clerk and collector of taxes

Griffiths John, hair dresser

Hare Mary, joiner

Howell James, sawyer

Hume Benj. & Jas. painters and glaziers

Jeffries William post master

Knott Richard, cooper

Morris Elizabeth, beer retailer

Napper William, painter and glazier

Share Thomas, sawyer

Smith John, joiners

Stockell Thos. watch and clock maker

Tonge George, cattle dealer

Wainwright William, relieving officer

Watmore John, town crier

Whetstone William, beer retailer

Whitcombe Edmund Banks, registrar of births, deaths and marriages

Whitworth Thos. Milne, inland revenue officer

POOR LAW UNION.

Workhouse, Cleobury Mortimer,

Master—Thomas Harding

Matron—Sarah Harding

Schoolmistress—Sarah Jones

Clerk to the Board of Guardians—Wm. Cook

Medical Officer—C. B. C. Beale

Relieving Officer—William Wainwright

COUNTY COURT.

Judge—Uvedale Corbett, Esq.

High Bailiff—William Cooke

Clerk—Adam Brattington Trow

Bailiff—William Farmer

RAILWAY.

The nearest Station is at Ludlow, 11 miles to the west of Cleobury Mortimer, on the Shrewsbury and Hereford line.

CARRIERS.

To LUDLOW, Margaret West & James Wheeler, every Monday

To KIDDERMINSTER, James Jones and James Wheeler, every Tuesday