Transcribed from the 1880 Wrekin Echo Office edition byDavid Price,
HISTORY OF MADELEY,
INCLUDING
IRONBRIDGE, COALBROOKDALE, AND
COALPORT,
From the earliest times to thepresent,
WITH NOTICESOF
Remarkable Events, Inventions,
AND
PHENOMENA, MANUFACTURES, &c.
—:o:—
ILLUSTRATED
With twelve wood-cut illustrations,and photographs.
—:o:—
The work will be found to contain acopious Index,
and list of old family names.
—:o:—
BY
John Randall, F.G.S., Author of “The Severn Valley,”“Old Sports
and Sportsmen,” “History of Broseley,” &c.,&c.
Published at “The WrekinEcho” Office, Madeley, Salop, 1880.
p.1INTRODUCTION.
The delay which has arisen in thepublication of this work since it was first announced needs someapology. It arose from two causes; one the hope that fullerinformation might be forthcoming on some obscure points, theother that the book is chiefly made up of matter reprinted fromthe Salopian and West Midland Illustrated Magazine. It is therefore, to some extent, fragmentary, and not one forwhich the author can hope to receive the meed of praise bestowedupon his “Severn Valley,” “Old Sports,”&c. Notwithstanding this, the author believes the workwill be found to be a satisfactory compendium of historical factsconnected with the parish; and now that they are known it wouldbe a comparatively easy task to produce a more creditableliterary work. Johnson says we never do anythingconscientiously for the last time without sadness of heart; theonly sadness here arises from the consciousness that theopportunity, however much desired, of reproducing the work in animproved form is scarcely likely to occur in the lifetime of theauthor.
Madeley, 1880.
p.3PREFACE.
The field of history is a wide one,but, in addition to its well-beaten track, there yet remains lessfrequented paths to explore in connection with our smallervillages and towns.
The design of the present work may be stated in a fewwords. It is simply to place before the inhabitants ofMadeley, and those interested in its history, the various phasesthrough which it has passed in its progress from feudal times tothe present. Strangers often come and seek for informationwhich they do not always get: and much that is known by oldpeople of Madeley and its traditions would be lost unless noteddown at once.
It will be seen that our information extends from the noticewe get in Norman times, when tillers of the soil, swineherds,fishermen, a miller or two, and foresters, composed thepopulation, the profits of whose labours were reaped by a priestand the monks of Wenlock Priory.
After the Dissolution it will be seen that the mansion wassold to the Brooke family, particulars of which we have given,both in the earlier an