Four Parishes History of Catsley Township

Today Catsley consists of a farm and a couple of cottages in Kinlet. However, it has had a much longer history. Near to the farm there are cropmarks of a ring ditch (perhaps a bronze age burial mound) and rectilinear enclosure (probably an iron age or Roman farm). We do not know what happened to it over the next 1000 years but by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, it was a distinct manor. It became part of the holdings of the Mortimer family and was held by a number of undertenants. It lay between the large manors of Kinlet and Earnwood and was eventually it was absorbed in Kinlet. However, as late as 1565, it retained a measure of independence, when the “township” of Catsley paid 5/- to the Manor Court of Earnwood for right of pasture in Earnwood common.

Shropshire Archives has a number of medieval deeds from Catsley. The earliest is shown below and is a sale of the manor in 1340. Its previous owner was probably John “the muneter of Winton”. Winton is probably Winchester and a muneter was a money maker; there was a mint at Winchester where John must have worked. How he came to own land in Catsley is a mystery. Richard Nowell, one of the purchasers, was a clergyman who rose to prominence in the service of the Mortimer family. He ended his days as prior of Southwick Abbey, by Brighton. The document shows that eight families held land at Catsley. Two of these were “customary” tenants; they were bound to the manor and in theory had to work in the fields of the lord of the manor in return for land of their own.

The field immediately to the south of the present farm has traces of a number of earthworks. These seem to include platforms for houses, old tracks and also ridge and furrows; evidence of medieval ploughing. A map of c1730 shows that there was a cluster of buildings at edge of this field, one of which was marked as an “old house”. There was also a cottage on the site of one of the present cottages, against the western boundary of the field. This was probably associated with barns, some on the other side of the road. Whilst Catsley itself was occupied by Stephen Cresswell at this date, the cottage and barns belonged to Humphrey Wheeler of Meaton. This appears to be the last vestige of the township of Catsley.

Translation of Shropshire Archive Deed

Shropshire Archives 3320/18a/1

Know all and future (men) that I, Richard son of John the muneter of Wynton, grant and concede to Lord Richard Nowel and John de Adforton cleric, and their heirs and assigns for the sum of 66 shillings and four pence of silver and one pound of cumin which they have paid me beforehand for all my domain in Cackesley next to Kinlet. Rendering from -

The lands & tenements of Roger of Foxcot; fifteen shillings and four pence
Lands and tenements of Agnes wife of Stephen Haynes (no sum)
Lands and tenements of Roger Lovekyns (no sum)
Lands and tenements of Edith de Wunewode (no sum)
Heirs of Roger de Wundwode; nine shillings and eightpence
Lands of tenements of Roger Durnel; one pound of cumin
The above free tenants paying half yearly at Christmas and the feast of John the Baptist

Lands and tenements of Hugh Anynce; thirteen shillings and four pence.
Lands and tenements of Roger Anynce; fourteen shillings and eight pence.

These are customary tenants and they come with their bodies and everything else. To have and to hold the said domain rendering services of homage, ward, marriage, heriot, escheat, pleas, perquisites, suit of court and all other commodities.

Witnesses by Edmund of Cornwall knight, Reginald de la Mare, Henry Mortimer, John de Hethley, William de la Stepple. John of Arden, Nicholas Hunte and others.

Dated at Cackesley Thursday in the feast of St Chad the bishop in the fourteenth year of Edward III (ie 1340).

(This is a draft translation. We are grateful to Di Bryan and Dr Sylvia Watts for assistance with translation of the above deed).