WOLVERLEY
Uluardele (viii cent.); Ulwardileia, Wulfferdinleh
(ix cent.); Wlfereslawe, Welwardel (x cent.); Uulfordilea (xi cent.); Wlfwardill, Wulfardeley (xii cent.);
Wluarle, Ulwardell, Wolvardelegh, Wluuard, Wulewarde, Wulwardesleg, Wluardele (xiii cent.); Woluardel, Woluardeley (xv cent.); Woluley (xvi cent.).
This parish, covering an area of 5,543 acres, (fn. 1) of
which 52 acres are covered with water, lies on the
northern boundary of Worcestershire, with Staffordshire to the north and the borough of Kidderminster
to the south. The Stour enters the parish on the
north-east and flows through it in a southerly direction, passing through the hamlets of Caunsall and
Cookley and through the village of Wolverley, where
it is joined by the Horsebrook. Below Wolverley
Court the Honey Brook meets it, and after
traversing the parish it enters Kidderminster near the
Broadwaters. On the eastern side of the parish is a
series of large pools of water, Benson's Bath, the
Stew and Sleepy Mill Island, and there are four or
five large pools at the Broadwaters on the Wannerton
Brook. On either side of the river the land is rich
pasture, liable to floods at certain seasons of the year,
and it is along its course that the lowest ground of
the parish lies, at a height of only 118 ft. above the
ordnance datum near Wolverley Lock. The land
rises from the river banks, especially to the west, where
it reaches heights of over 500 ft. The Staffordshire
and Worcestershire Canal, projected in 1766, follows
the course of the river through the parish and is
spanned at Cookley by an aqueduct in connexion with
the Birmingham waterworks scheme. The welded
steel pipes form a bridge with a span of 112 ft. Great
difficulty was experienced in building the bridge owing
to the gravelly nature of the ground, through which
the water from the surrounding marshes percolated. (fn. 2)
The parish is well wooded, 372 acres being laid out
in woods and plantations. (fn. 3) Some of these woods are
ancient, namely Birch Wood, (fn. 4) Bodenham Wood and
Cookley Wood, which comprises Spring Coppice and
Solcum Coppice. Axborough Wood on the east is a
plantation made since the Inclosure Act in 1775.
The soil is light and the subsoil sandstone and gravel;
2,830 acres are arable land and 1,715 permanent
grass. (fn. 5) Barley and wheat with market garden produce
are the chief crops grown.
The roads from Kidderminster to Wolverhampton
and Stourbridge pass through the eastern side of the
parish and the Kidderminster and Bridgnorth road
touches its western edge.
The River Stour flows through the centre of the
village, which lies in a pleasant hollow surrounded by
numerous trees. On the south there is an outcrop of
sandstone forming a small cliff, and the church and
churchyard are prominently situated upon it, overlooking the village to the north and the valley of the
Stour to the east. The main approach to the village
is from the east, off the road running between Broadwaters and Wribbenhall. This approach, after entering the village, rises sharply to the north, the road
being cut through the sandstone hill. At the top of
this hill on the east side of the road stands the old
tithe barn, a mediaeval timber structure with a tiled
roof. The cottages are of no great antiquity, and are
generally built of red brick with tiled roofs, though
the local red sandstone is also used. The church
is approached from the north by an old path (fn. 6) hewn
out of the sandstone hill. Hollowed out of the hill
on the south side is the pound. The stocks used
within the memory of some of the older inhabitants
were placed opposite the Queen's Head Inn, but have
now disappeared.
Wolverley Court, the property of the trustees of
Mr. A. Cameron Hancocks, stands on the south side
of the road leading from the Kidderminster and
Wolverhampton road about a quarter of a mile east
of the church. Though the south-east corner is late
16th-century work with stone mullioned windows,
the house was almost entirely rebuilt early in the
19th century, the interior of the old building being
all remodelled and most of the windows blocked up.
In the conservatory are the remains of an alabaster
effigy of a member of the Attwood family, popularly
considered to be the Sir John Attwood mentioned
below. It is of the latter part of the 14th century, and
was taken from the church at the rebuilding. Unfortunately, most of the lower part of the figure is
missing. The head of the effigy rests on a crowned
helm, of which the mutilated crest was evidently
that of his house, a swan's head and neck between
two wings. The steel bascinet has an aventail attached, and over the mail shirt is a jupon, but this
is too worn for the charge to be made out. The feet
rest on the back of a small lion. There is at
Wolverley Court a curious piece of old coloured glass
representing the Attwood arms, apparently also
removed from the old church.
A short distance above the court is Heathfield,
the well-situated modern residence and property of
Mr. Edward James Morton, M.A., D.L., J.P., and
on the summit of the incline is Sion Hill House,
the property and residence of Mr. T. A. Carless
Attwood, M.A., F.S.A. It is an 18th-century two-story building, but has been much altered in the 19th
century. The stables are a good piece of 18th-century
brickwork, and the farm is also of that date. The
farm was formerly known as Upton House.
Standing back on the east side of the road, at
the top of the hill on the north side of the
village, adjoining the mansion-house of the rectory,
is Wolverley House, the property and residence of
Major Eric A. Knight, M.P., J.P. It is a large
three-story Georgian house built of red brick with
red sandstone quoins, a modillion cornice and a
porch of the Doric order.
Lea Castle, the property and residence of Mr. George
Montagu Brown-Westhead, B.A., LL.M., is a large
brick castellated mansion, standing in extensive and
well-wooded grounds near Sion Hill House. It was
erected early in the 19th century.
A curious feature of Wolverley are the rock dwellings scattered over the parish, of which the most
picturesque are at Blakeshall and Drakelow. (fn. 7) Cut in
the side of the sandstone hill, some of these primitive
dwellings are dry and warm, others, owing to the
porous nature of the rock, become very damp, especially in winter.
Wolverley includes the hamlets of Woodfield
(Wodehamcake), (fn. 8) Blakeshall, Cookley, Lowe, Caunsall, Kingsford, Horseley, The Sladd, Little Hoboro,
Austcliff (Alsclyne) and a portion of Broadwaters, (fn. 9)
formerly known as Upton, but not Broadwaters
House, which is in the foreign of Kidderminster, and
has long been in the possession of the Homfray
family.
On the north-west of the parish, about a mile from
Kingsford, is Castle Hill, the residence of Mr. James
Albert Lycett, J.P., with the remains of an old castle.
Common lands in the parish are mentioned early,
Fantesruding (fn. 10) and Whitfield (fn. 11) being the names of
some of these in the 13th century. In a survey of 1649
the commons in the manor included about 160 acres
in Cookley Wood, another common adjoining of
50 acres, a great waste of heath or gorse of 400 acres
and Horseley Heath containing 20 acres. (fn. 12)
An Inclosure Act was passed in 1775, but inclosing
was not completed until 1779 owing to dissensions. (fn. 13)
There is now on Blakeshall Common a pillar erected
to the memory of Richard Baxter, who became a
minister of Kidderminster in 1641. John Baskerville
was born at Upton House, known latterly as Sion
Hill Farm, in Wolverley in 1706, but he removed to
Birmingham, where he established a japanning business, and later set up his celebrated printing press.
He died in 1775, and 'agreeable to the singularity
of his opinions he was buried under a windmill in
his garden, on whose top after it fell into disuse he
had erected an urn.' (fn. 14)
Among former place-names in this parish have
been found Horsebrook, Smythescrok, Vroggemore (fn. 15)
(xiv cent.); Lords Meadow, High Holborough (fn. 16)
(xvi cent.). Socombe, Aylesbury, Buryton, Berrington, The Flosses or Flaws, Draclow and Buryhalle have been found on the manorial rolls. (fn. 17)
MANORS
The early history of WOLVERLEY
presents difficulties. There was a confused tradition current at Worcester in
the 11th century that the place had been the subject of a
grant by Æthelbald of Mercia to one of his ealdormen
named Hwita. (fn. 18) Otherwise the earliest references to
Wolverley are dated 866. Two charters issued by
Burhred of Mercia are preserved in a corrupt form:
(1) granting to one 'Wulfferd' two manentes at
'Soegeslea' belonging to Wolverley (fn. 19) ; (2) granting
the same estate under the name of 'Secceslea' to the
monks of Worcester. (fn. 20) Secceslea, the correct form of
this name, has been identified with Seckley Wood
near Wolverley. Although the charters have been
modernized in spelling they contain features which
seem to come from the 9th century. (fn. 21) In each grant
the boundaries of the land are given, (fn. 22) and the two
evidently refer to the same estate. Possibly the
exchange between the king and Wulfferd never took
place, thus leaving the king free to bestow Wolverley
upon the monks.
During the time when the Danes were ravaging
England the monks of Worcester lost many of their
manors, Wolverley being among them, but 5 hides
there were restored to them by Leofric Earl of
Mercia and his countess Godiva in the time when
Wulfstan was prior. (fn. 23) The charter of Leofric is
undated, but he died in 1057. (fn. 24) These 5 hides were
assigned to the refectory of the monastery, (fn. 25) and,
though it is stated that shortly after Leofric's grant
they were seized by the Danes, (fn. 26) they were held by
the monks in demesne at the time of the Domesday
Survey. (fn. 27)
The manor with its members Horseley, Cookley
and Burton was confirmed to the prior and convent
by Simon, Bishop of Worcester, in 1148, (fn. 28) and in
1207 King John granted them in this manor sac and
soc, thol and theam, infangentheof, with judgement
by fire and water, gallows (fn. 29) and iron, freedom from
view of tithing and of murders and fines and all other
liberties and customs which they enjoyed in their
other manors. This manor was also freed for ever
from suits at shire and hundred courts and from all
aids and exactions of sheriff and bailiff. (fn. 30)
From that time until the Dissolution the manor of
Wolverley was the property of the Priors of Worcester. (fn. 31)
In 1542 Henry VIII granted it to the dean and
chapter, (fn. 32) and this was confirmed by James I in 1609. (fn. 33)
The trustees for the sale of church lands sold the
manor in 1650 to William Moore of Alvechurch, (fn. 34)
but the dean and chapter appear to have recovered
it at the accession of Charles II, as it was again in
their hands in 1683. (fn. 35) The manor was confirmed
to the dean and chapter in 1692, (fn. 36) and remained
with them until 1859, when it was transferred to
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, (fn. 37) in whose possession
it still remains.
Nash states that in the 18th century the court
baron and court leet were held at Bury Hall Farm at
the will of the lord. (fn. 38) Until 1768 copyhold estates
in this manor were held by Borough English, but in
that year an Act was passed to make the succession
follow that of the common law. (fn. 39)
From the 13th century occasional notices appear
of the descent of a property in Wolverley (afterwards
described as a manor) held under the prior. (fn. 40) It
seems to have originated in a messuage at Wolverley
which Thomas de Northgrave sold to Malcolm de
Harley for 100 marks in 1274, retaining the rent of
a rose. (fn. 41) Prattinton, on the authority of MSS.
belonging to the dean and chapter, states that in
1298–9 Sir Richard de Harley released his right in
these lands to Malcolm de Wasteneys, to whom
Margaret, lady of Pitchford, also released all claim in
the manor in the same year. (fn. 42) He further says that
in 1331 Malcolm de Wasteneys, lord of Tixhall,
granted all his land in Wolverley to Robert Attwood
(de Boys), Joan his wife and Robert their son. (fn. 43)
John Attwood, king's yeoman, and possibly of the
same family, obtained a grant of free warren in his
manor of Wolverley in 1362, with licence to inclose
and make a park of 600 acres. (fn. 44) John Attwood died
in 1369 and Sir John Attwood in 1391. (fn. 45) The
knight whose alabaster effigy, now at Wolverley
Court, has been described above was a member of
this family. There is a tradition in the village that
one of the Attwoods went on a crusade and remained
away so long that his wife, supposing him to be dead,
was about to marry again. A milkmaid, however,
going into the meadows early one morning, found a
man, emaciated and fettered, asleep in the grass.
The sleeping figure was recognized as the knight by
his dog, but being so changed, his wife was only
convinced of his identity when he produced the half
of a ring which they had broken at parting. The
Crusader related that he had been imprisoned by the
infidels and kept in a dungeon until released by the
Virgin, who transported him in a trance to his own
fields. (fn. 46) Another version of the quaint old legend is
that when it was reported that Sir John Attwood had
been brought back by an angel he piously denied it, and
said it was by a swan. Hence the origin of the swan
crest used by several families of the name Attwood, in
slightly differing forms. Although unable to identify
the alabaster figure as that of a Crusader, Habington
thus concludes the story: 'But that theare was one
Sir John Atwode who beeinge imprisoned by the
Infydelles was miraculously caryed from that far
remote dungeon of his captivity to Trimpley, losed
of his gyves, and restored to lyberty, the same is so
publycke, the chappell buylded in remembrance
theareof so notable, the gyves themselves researved as
a trophy of thys glorious redemption so cleere a testimony as none but willfull obstinate can denye itt.' (fn. 47)
Iron fetters said to have been worn by the knight
are still shown, and there was at one time a rentcharge on 'The Knight's Meadow,' where the knight
was said to have been found. This rent was 'paid to
someone who should keep the irons polished and
show them to all who would like to see them.' (fn. 48)
The original fetters have long been lost.
The family of Attwood occupied a prominent
position in the county during the 15th century, but
there is little to connect them
with this estate, although they
probably continued to hold it.
John and Thomas Attwood
obtained land in the parish in
1452 from Sir Walter Scull
and his wife Margaret, (fn. 49) but
in 1504 John Wood conveyed
the manor of Wolverley to
Sir Thomas Englefield, (fn. 50) and
Francis, the son of the latter,
with his wife Catherine released their right in it to
Anthony Attwood forty-three
years later. (fn. 51) Anthony Attwood had been succeeded by his son Anthony in
1595, (fn. 52) and Samuel Attwood, the son of the latter,
was living there when Habington wrote in the 17th
century. (fn. 53) The Attwoods continued to hold land in
the parish until 1714, when Abel Attwood and his
wife were in possession. (fn. 54) This Abel was the son of
Henry Attwood, and was the last heir male of the
elder branch (fn. 55) of the house of Attwood. (fn. 56) He died
in 1726, at the age of sixty-six, having outlived his
son (or sons) and only grandson Holborough Attwood. (fn. 57)
Attwood of Wolverley. Gules a lion argent with a forked tail.
Wolverley Court, the seat of the Attwoods, has for
some time belonged to the Hancocks family, though
they have not of late years occupied the house, (fn. 58)
which is at present vacant.
Early in the 18th century the Knight family
acquired land at Wolverley in succession to the
Jewkes, who were then the
chief family at Wolverley.
Edward Knight of Wolverley
died in 1780, (fn. 59) and Nash,
writing in 1782, states that
Edward Knight, son and successor of Edward, whose ancestors had acquired a large
fortune by the iron trade and
had built a good house, was
then the principal landowner
in the parish. (fn. 60) In 1809 John
Knight obtained from the
Dean and Chapter of Worcester a lease of their messuage
called The Lee at Wolverley
for twenty-one years, and
seven years later he acquired the lease of an estate
in Caunsall and Broadwaters from John Smith. (fn. 61) Lea
Castle, which was for some time occupied by the
Knights, was built by John Knight, probably at
about this time. (fn. 62) It was sold about 1818 (fn. 63) to
Mr. John Brown, from whose sister Ann Brown,
afterwards Mrs. Westhead, the present family of
Brown-Westhead of Lea Castle is descended. (fn. 64) The
castle is now the seat of Mr. George Montagu
Brown-Westhead.
Knight of Wolverley. Argent three pales gules in a border engrailed azure with a quarter gules having a spur or therein.
The Sebrights (fn. 65) claimed to have held land in
BLAKESHALL from the end of the 13th or early
14th century, when Mabell (here a man's name)
Sebright of Blakeshall married Catherine daughter of
Ralph Cowper of Blakeshall. (fn. 66) It is known that the
Sebrights were living in the parish of Wolverley in
1302, when John Sebright, the son of John Sebright
of Wolverley, became a monk in the priory of
Dodford. (fn. 67) The same family continued to hold in
Blakeshall, Cookley and elsewhere at least as late as
the middle of the 17th century. (fn. 68)
Edward Sebright held Byrds Farm and Newmans
Farm in the lordship of Kingsford in 1569. (fn. 69) John
Sebright of Blakeshall was succeeded by a son
Edward, (fn. 70) who was created a baronet in 1626. (fn. 71)
He had succeeded his uncle William at Besford in
1620, (fn. 72) and was one of the executors of the will of
the latter, who left certain lands for the maintenance
of a free grammar school at Wolverley. (fn. 73) In 1634
Sir Edward received a lease from Charles I of free
warren, fishing, fowling and hunting in Wolverley for
a rent of two brace of partridges and one brace of
cocks to the value of 3s. (fn. 74) In 1651 he had to compound as a Royalist for an estate at Wolverley. (fn. 75)
The Sebrights subsequently from time to time parted
with their Worcestershire estates, and took up their
residence on their Hertfordshire property. Blakeshall was the property of John Smith in 1809, (fn. 76) and
it now belongs to Mr. William Hancocks, in whose
family it has been for some time.
The present COOKLEY WOOD near Kingsford
has been identified with a place called in the 10th
century Culnan Clif. (fn. 77) Land here was granted by
King Edgar to Earl Beorhtnoth in 964, and was
then described as being on the River Stour near
Wolverley. (fn. 78) In 1067 2 hides of land at 'Culla
Clif' were granted by King William to Bishop Wulfstan, who gave them to the monks of Worcester on
condition that they should pray for the soul of the
donor. (fn. 79) The estate (Culclive) was in the hands of
the Prior of Worcester in the 13th century, his
tenants there being Fulk, Edith the widow and
others. (fn. 80) It probably remained part of the manor of
Wolverley and followed its descent, passing into the
hands of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester at the
dissolution of the priory, for in 1650 Cookley Wood,
valued at £20, was a part of the lands of the Dean
and Chapter of Worcester. (fn. 81) This wood was sold at
this time to William More. (fn. 82)
The Cookley Ironworks were founded towards the
end of the 17th century, and from that time Cookley
became a centre of the iron and tinplate industry.
Joseph Piper, a native of this village, invented and
perfected the patent tinning process. The mill at
Cookley was originally a corn-mill, erected in the
time of Elizabeth. It was still a corn-mill in 1649,
when it and a slitting-mill were held by Sir Edward
Sebright. It had been converted into an iron-mill
before 1706. These mills were subsequently leased
and held by the Knights. (fn. 83) Edward Knight owned
these mills about 1750–80, in which latter year he
died, (fn. 84) and the last of this family connected with
these works was Sir Frederic Winn Knight. On
his death in 1897 the Wolverley estates passed to his
nephew Eric Ayshford Knight of Wolverley. (fn. 85) The
industry gradually declined in the 19th century,
owing to lack of railway communication, and in 1886
the entire works were removed to the neighbourhood
of Brierley Hill in the midst of the Staffordshire coalfields, but of late years part of Cookley Mill has been
used by Messrs. Brampton. Cookley has again become
busy, as new works have been erected there.
HORSELEY (Horselega, Horselee, xii cent.;
Horsleg, xiii cent.) was said to be a member of the
liberty of the hundred of Wolverley in 1240 and was
assessed at one-third part of it. (fn. 86) Ralph the Prior of
Worcester (fn. 87) granted to Fulk de Horseley that land
which his father and afterwards he had assarted from
the wood of the prior, to be held for a sextar of honey
besides those two which he owed for Horseley. In
order that there should be no future disagreement as
to the boundaries of Fulk's land they were set forth
in the grant. (fn. 88) Horseley was confirmed to the priory
as a member of Wolverley by Bishop Simon in 1148. (fn. 89)
In 1189 the sheriff rendered 36s. for land which had
belonged to Fulk de Horseley, (fn. 90) and in 1196 Osbert
de Adleya rendered account of 2½ marks for the
custody of the heir of Fulk de Horseley, so that Robert,
who was heir of that land, might have his land in
Horseley. (fn. 91) Afterwards Horseley seems to have
passed to the Ribbesford family. (fn. 92) An assize of novel
disseisin was brought against Henry de Ribbesford in
1223 by Simon de Cove. (fn. 93) In 1239 the monks of
Worcester took Horseley at farm for twenty years. (fn. 94)
The heirs of Ribbesford were tenants under the prior
at Horseley in 1240, (fn. 95) and in 1300 Ralph de Streche
was holding land at Horseley of Henry de Ribbesford. (fn. 96) Ralph Streche died seised of land at
Horseley about 1300, (fn. 97) leaving a son and heir Robert,
and in 1315–16 Robert sold the manor to the Prior
of Worcester. (fn. 98) In 1321 the prior obtained licence
to purchase land at Horseley, held of him and his
convent, from Richard de Hawkeslow. (fn. 99) From this
time Horseley seems to have become incorporated
with the manor of Wolverley.
KINGSFORD (Cenungaford, Cynefares, x cent.;
Kynefordes, xi cent.; Kyngvard, xvi cent.; Kyngefort, xvii cent.). William de Tracy was a freeman
in Wolverley in the 13th century, when he paid
an annual rent and did homage to the prior for
'Walter de Keingford.' (fn. 100) The Tracys appear to
have held land at Wolverley through the next
two centuries. In 1530 William Tracy the younger
died seised of the manor of Kingsford held of the
priory of Worcester, his father William having
settled it on him on his marriage in 1517. (fn. 101)
Henry the son of William Tracy the younger afterwards held Kingsford, but after his death his son
John was obliged to institute Chancery proceedings to
obtain possession of it. He stated that the deeds of
enfeoffment had come into the hands of Katherine
Jones, who claimed to hold a lease of it, and that she
and others had made secret sales of the manor. (fn. 102) He
appears to have obtained possession of it again, for in
1569 he sold it to Thomas Whorwood, (fn. 103) on whose
death in 1616 it was said to be held of the lord of
Hampton Lovett by fealty and socage and a yearly
rent of 4s. (fn. 104) Gerard the son of Thomas Whorwood
sold the manor in 1622 to Roger Fowke, (fn. 105) to whom
he appears to have mortgaged it six years before. (fn. 106)
Roger Fowke sold it in 1633 to Richard Foley of
Stourbridge, (fn. 107) who had amassed a fortune as an ironmaster. Richard Foley sold the manor in 1648 (fn. 108) to
his third son Thomas (fn. 109) for £500. Thomas died in
1677. (fn. 110) His grandson Thomas was made Lord Foley
of Kidderminster in 1712, (fn. 111) and the manor passed
with the title until 1830. (fn. 112) Prattinton states that
Lord Foley sold the manor to Miss Perry of Wolverhampton, who afterwards sold the whole manor,
including the Court Farm, to Mr. Knight. (fn. 113)
DEBDALE (Depedal, xiii cent.), now a farm, was
the property of the monks of Worcester in the 13th
century. Half a virgate there was rented by John
the son of Edith for 9½d. quarterly, and a certain
Leonin also had a rent of the same amount there. (fn. 114)
In an undated deed Richard son of Richard de
Debdale gave to Leonin the son of Philip all his
land there, for which the latter paid 47d. to the
convent quarterly and a pair of gauntlets to Richard
at Easter. (fn. 115)
There was a mill at Wolverley in the possession of
the church of Worcester at the time of the Domesday
Survey, when it was worth 6s. (fn. 116) In the 13th century
the mills were rented out, (fn. 117) one being leased for
13s. 4d. quarterly, a fulling-mill for 11d., and other
mills for 10s. quarterly. (fn. 118) In 1291 the rent of assize
of two mills went to the almoner's fund. (fn. 119) In
1482–3 a new corn-mill was erected on the Horsebrook near Cookley Wood by John Fleming of
Tatenhill, co. Staff. The mill known as Lords Mill,
probably that which existed in 1086, was demised as
two water corn-mills under one roof to John Attwood
for his life and the lives of his mother and his
brother Samuel in 1641. (fn. 120) It was converted into
iron-mills in 1656 by Joshua Newbrugh, and these
passed before 1713 to Talbot Jewkes. A lease of
this forge was granted in 1727 to Edward Knight.
The corn-mill known as Sleepy Mill on Wolverley
Heath was built about 1660 by Samuel Jewkes. In
1669 another iron-mill was erected by Joshua Newbrugh and Philip Foley at the Lowe. The mill is
now disused. There was another corn-mill at Drakelow on the Horsebrook, and Upton Mill at Broadwaters was used as a fulling-mill until converted in
1746 by Thomas Smart into a corn-mill. In 1753
it was made into an iron forge by John Homfray,
and used until about twenty-five years ago, when it
was dismantled. Part of it has been used of late
years by Mr. William Birkett, a saddle flock manufacturer. (fn. 121)
Wolverley Church from the South-east
CHURCHES
The church of ST. JOHN BAPTIST is a red brick building consisting of a chancel, south vestry,
nave with arcades, north and south aisles containing
galleries continued round the west end, and a west
tower.
The present church, which replaces an older one
pulled down in 1769, is built in the Italian style and
was completed in 1772 (fn. 122) ; it forms an excellent
example of local work and design, the tower being
particularly good.
The tester of an older pulpit is preserved; on it is
inscribed 'Be of one mind. Live in Peace and the
God of Peace and Love shall be with you. 1638.'
In the church is a chained copy of Jewell's Apology.
The bells are six in number: the first by R. S.
(Saunders), 1737; the second and fifth by John Rudhall, 1788; the third by the same maker, 1789; the
fourth recast 1896; and the sixth by Richard Sanders,
1737.
The plate consists of a cup made in 1661 inscribed
'William Sebright Armig. Wolverley,' and bearing a
shield with three roses, a standing
paten of similar date, and a modern
cup, paten, flagon and almsdish. There
is a pewter almsdish, and the bowl of
the font is lined with the same material.
The registers previous to 1812 are
as follows: (i) mixed entries 1539 to
1655; (ii) 1653 to 1696; (iii) baptisms and burials 1697 to 1769 and
marriages 1697 to 1754; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812; (v) baptisms and
burials 1770 to 1812; (vi) a private
register containing mixed entries 1678
to 1712.
The church of ST. PETER, Cookley,
is a building of brick in early 14th-century style, consisting of chancel,
nave, aisles, north porch and north-west tower. An organ chamber was
added in 1872.
ADVOWSON
There was a priest
at Wolverley in 1086. (fn. 123)
The church with its
tithes and lands was given by Bishop
Roger (1164–79) to the priory. (fn. 124) The
priory held the patronage until the
Dissolution, (fn. 125) and it was given with
the manor to the Dean and Chapter
of Worcester in 1542. (fn. 126) This gift was
confirmed by James I, (fn. 127) and the patronage has remained in the same hands up
to the present day. (fn. 128)
Geoffrey Bacoun, called de Northwick, the vicar of Wolverley, exchanged
his benefice for that of Overbury in
1293 because the latter church was on
wet land while the former was on dry
soil. (fn. 129) Although he was non-resident
he had held Wolverley by special dispensation of the Bishop of Norwich on condition
that he would be ordained, but he was not ordained
until after he was transferred to Overbury. He had
in 1303 to obtain a dispensation from the pope to
hold the benefice as an absentee. (fn. 130)
In 1351 the church was appropriated to the priory
on payment of 20 marks yearly to the bishop, the
prior being in great need of money for the repair of
the monastery. (fn. 131) The vicarage was ordained in
1354, (fn. 132) when the bishop assigned to the vicar for his
residence the houses and manse which had belonged
to Thomas de Hale. They were to be rebuilt and
altered at the expense of the priory. The prior and
convent were bound to repair the chancel and to
discharge the vicar from all payments of tithes. (fn. 133) In
1535 it was said to be a peculiar, subject to the
jurisdiction of the dean and chapter. (fn. 134) An increase
of £10 to the minister of Wolverley was recommended by the Council in 1656. (fn. 135)
There was a chantry in the parish in 1485, when
James Nash was appointed chaplain to pray for the
good estate of the king. His salary was an annuity
of 9 marks from a quit-rent of £9 5s., payable by the
manor of Kings Nordeley in the parish of Alveley,
co. Salop, to be paid at the hands of the heirs of
John Lee of Coton in that parish or of the Sheriff
of Worcester. (fn. 136)
The ecclesiastical parish of Cookley was formed
from Wolverley in 1849. (fn. 137) The living is a vicarage
in the gift of Mr. William Hancocks of Blakeshall
House.
On Blakeshall Common there is a mission chapel
built by the late Mr. William Hancocks. It is now
used by the vicar for church purposes. Another
mission room at Broadwaters was built in 1908 in
connexion with the church of St. John the Baptist,
Wolverley. The Wesleyan Methodist chapel at
Cookley was built in 1814 and rebuilt in 1874, and
there is a Primitive Methodist chapel at Broadwaters
built in 1858. A Primitive Methodist chapel erected
at Cookley in 1860 has been converted into a private
house.
CHARITIES
Sebright's Endowed Schools,
founded by will 1620, were regulated
by a scheme of 11 July 1877, under
the Endowed Schools Acts. (fn. 138) In consequence of
the leases of a considerable London estate now falling
in the endowments are now large and are rapidly
increasing, and the school will be very rich. This
has made a new scheme necessary, the terms of which
are being settled between the governors, the County
Council and the Board of Education. Out of the
income an annual sum of £3 0s. 8d. is applicable
in the distribution of bread and 6s. 8d. is paid to the
parish clerk for his trouble. An annual sum of £10 is
likewise applicable towards the repairs of the parish
church. (See also under Old Swinford.)
In 1704 Richard Bibb by deed gave a house and
land in Shenstone, the rents and profits to be distributed to the poor. The trust property was sold in
1898 and proceeds invested in £303 7s. 8d. India
3 per cent. stock. The annual dividends, amounting
to £9 2s., are distributed on St. Thomas's Day in
groceries, meat, &c.
In 1823 John Smith by his will bequeathed £600,
out of the income thereof £12 to be paid to the
minister for a sermon every Sunday afternoon and
the remaining income to be applied in clothing or
relieving superannuated husbandmen or widows. The
legacy, less duty, is represented by £577 10s. 10d.
consols, producing £14 8s. 8d. yearly.
In 1835 John Longmore by his will left a legacy,
now represented by £539 1s. 8d. consols, the annual
dividends, amounting to £13 9s. 4d., to be applied
in the distribution of bread to poor regular attendants at the parish church.
In 1883 William Hancocks, by his will proved at
Worcester 15 September, bequeathed £1,000, the
income to be distributed among the needy poor, being
Protestants, of Wolverley and Cookley St. Peter.
The legacy was invested in £998 2s. 8d. consols,
producing £24 19s. yearly, which is applied in
moieties in the distribution of coal, clothing and
other articles in kind among the poor of the respective
parishes.
The same testator bequeathed a further sum of
£1,000, one moiety of the income to be applied
towards the support of the National schools at
Wolverley and the other moiety towards the National
schools at Cookley. This legacy was invested in
£838 14s. 8d. consols, producing £20 19s. 4d.
yearly.
The charity is regulated by a scheme of the High
Court (Chancery Division) 18 December 1900,
whereby the Charity Commissioners are empowered
to vary the proportions in which the income may be
divided between the two parishes.
The several sums of stock above mentioned are
held by the official trustees.