Shropshire Routes to Roots

The squatter could legally settle if he could build a dwelling overnight and have smoke coming out of the chimney in the morning. Moreover, they could enclose the land surrounding their dwelling. The amount they could enclose was determined by how far they could throw an axe or shovel from the four corners of the house.

The Old Smithy in Hughley has a central position in the village. The blacksmith was an important figure in the community, he not only shod horses but sharpened tools, made plough shares, axes, scythes and other tools. Today the Smithy is derelict and covered in ivy, the local blacksmith now travels around working from a mobile forge. The brick building was constructed in the late 18th century, inside are the remains of the two brick furnaces and a set of bellows.

This is the old school at Church Preen. It was built one mile from the village of Hughley and had a house for the teacher with a large hall or school room attached. The school was designed by Norman Shaw, who was the architect and designer of Scotland Yard and who was working at the time on the design for Church Preen Manor. The school was built for elegance rather than with any educational ideal. The windows, although letting in plenty of light, did not allow the children to see out, and the high ceiling meant that the room was always cold.

Kenley also had a school. In 1893 a grant was received and the school was built. However it's use was of short duration and by 1921 it had closed. The history of education in Kenley however goes back further. In 1576 Thomas Aves kept a school, and a teacher living on Kenley common was giving instruction to children from Church Preen in 1788.

There has been a manor house at Church Preen since early medieval times. Indeed the priory which originally stood at right angles to the church was unaltered and served as a manor house until the 18th century. In 1870 an elegant new manor house was built to the design of Norman Shaw. Sadly this was demolished in the 1920's and a new Manor house built upon it's remains.

A mill existed in Hughley by the 16th century and almost certainly earlier. This illustration by the Rev E.P.Owen shows the mill with it's water wheel. In 1789 it was powered by two rotating stones remains of which can still be seen around the old mill which is now hidden behind new farm buildings.

The mill finally stopped working in the 1920's and the machinery demolished in 1952. The image on the right shows the old brick built mill behind the entrance to the caravan park. The circle in the brick is just visible, this is where the old wheel once turned. The mill race and leat are no longer in existence they have silted up and been covered by concrete.