Oreton Deeds

These deeds relate mostly to Oreton and trace the descent of a number of estates that came into the hands of the Southam family in the middle of the 19th Century. These deeds are now in the Shropshire Archives, as part of the Shrewsbury Library Deeds Collection. Brief abstracts of these deeds are included in the catalogue; for the most part, these have been reproduced here. In some cases a fuller summary of the deed is included where it has been examined.

These transcripts have been supplemented with a small number of deeds relating to Farlow and there are scattered references to other places such as Hopton Wafers or Neen Savage. A small number of deeds relating to Oreton from the Staffordshire Record Office (StRO) have also been included.

The records are laid out in a standard format. This begins with the date (eg 1616 20th Sept), followed by the deed catalogue number (eg 506). Unless otherwise specified, all records are from Shropshire Archives; to order them add the prefix 6000 (eg order 6000/506). There then follows a brief abstract of the deed. The deeds are grouped as far as possible into estates.

Deeds

Smeeth’s and Hammond’s (Lowe’s)
1616 20th Sept, 506, lease of messuage in Oreton to Wm Smythe, Eliz his wife and Jn their son for 3 lives from Thos Conyngsbye at 13/4 for life of Wm and 20/1 thereafter.
1667 28th March, 507, Sale of lands in Oreton by Wm Hammond and Eliz his wife to Jn Weale of Upton Cresset for £80; the Hall (7a), Tong Meadow (1a), Wett acre (1a), 11 Ridges (2a), Reaside (4a) and Worlds Yate (2.5a), part of messuage and 2 yardlands
1668 14th May, 508, Sale of lands in Oreton from Ric Greenouse, Bagginswood, Vere his wife, Eliz Greenouse his mother, Wm Hammond and Eliz and Wm Beache of Arscott, Morville to Martin Weale of Morville for £145, except the Stockin and 0.25 a of lime ground.
1691 1st May, 509/10, Lease & release, Martin Weale to Jas Lewis Alveley and Martin Smallman, Chetton; for the use of Weale during the lives of Wm & Eliz Hammond; and of Joyce Weale of Oreton, widow of John, to the use of Martin Rushbury, eldest son of Ed & Mary Rushbury, Harcourt.
1695 Nov 9th, 511, From Martin Weale, Aston Eyre & Mary his wife, Joyce Weale (with consent of Smallman and Lewis) in consideration of £200 paid by Edward Rushbury, to George Rushbury and Humphrey Greenhouse, of mess’ in Oreton occupied by Wm Hammond etc, 1.5ac of limestone ground with lime kilns and all other lands lately bought by Weale.
1710 22nd March, 695/868, Sale from Thos and Mary Crane of Lower Arley, yeoman, to John Lowe of Fenngrove, Alveley, gent of lands in Oreton for £220; Smeeth’s tenement occupied by Joyce Weale, Small brook meadow, (2a), Nuttalls (3a), Crooked acres (3a), Slade Meadow (3a), Binwood (3a), Hillcock acres (6a), Whetstone (1a), Calves Close (2a), Ox Pasture or Bottom Mead Close (7a), one dwelling house where Wm Palmer lived lying near the limekiln at Oreton, two small pieces lying below Oreton lime kilns (1.5a), a parcel of limestone on Oreton bank lying below Oreton lime kilns (2a) with all lime kilns theron; 33 a in total. Also the tenement where Eliz Hammond lived, Hammond’s tenement, High Acres (10a), 2 parcels in Rea Field (3a), Meadow back of the barn (3a), Cow or Hall Pasture (12a) and a piece belonging to the same on the other side of Oreton’s Brook, the Rea Furlong, (3a), and the Rea Meadow (3a), 33 acres in total,
1711, 538/ StRO D660/19/10. Lease for 1 yr from Thos Crane to Jn Lowe of Smeeths, Hammonds and limekilns for £8pa
1711 21st August, 517/ StRO D660/19/10. From Thos Crane, Astley & Mary his wife to Jn Lowe of Fenn Green Alveley, Smeeth’s occupied by Joyce Weale including the cottage where Wm Palmer now dwells lying near the limekilns at Oreton, 2 small pieces of land lying below, one for limekilns about 1.5ac and 1 piece of limestone ground on Oreton Bank, 2ac with all the limekilns theron and Hammonds, occupied by Eliz Hammond, widow.
1735 5th Jan, 478, Sale from Jn Lowe Senr, Alveley to John Lowe Junr, Alveley of mess’ lately purchased of Wm Hammond called the Wellhouse +1.5ac of lst and kiln (in 868 Jn Lowe Jnr is of Wolverley, gent; land is Hammond’s tenement and a parcel of limestone late of Wm Hammond with lime kilns erected theron (1.5a)).
1735 6th Jan, 578, Conveyance from John Lowe the elder to John Lowe the younger, his eldest son and heir by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heiress of Edward Rushberry of Harcourt, gent and Mary his wife, daughter and heiress of John Weale, brother of William Weale of Aston Eyre, deceased, of the Well House, Oreton.
1735 8th Jan, 547, Mortgage of Hammonds (alias the Wellhouse) and limekilns by Jn and Dorothy Lowe; in 1737 the mortgage was assigned to Francis Cooper (in 868 mortgage is for £150 from Lowe Jnr to John Smith of Hartelbury).
1740 8th Jan, 633, Release from Jn Lowe the younger and Dorothy his wife to Jn Lowe the elder of Hammonds now the Wellhouse for £330
1740 9th Jan, 581, Mortgage, Jn Lowe, Alveley to Wm Wilkes, Worcs, of Smiths and Hammonds, lands and limekilns for 500 year s for £334-8-0
1745 2nd April, 637. Lease of possession from John Lowe, Fenn Green, Alveley, gent to Thomas Dallow of Chelmarsh, gent and John Oldbury of Eardington, gent, of mess’ and lands in Oreton and Hammonds. (Release missing).
1745 3rd April, 638 Settlement on the marriage of Humphrey Lowe of Bridgnorth, grocer, son of John Lowe of Fenn Green, gent and Mary Oldbury, only daughter of Sarah Oldbury of Eardington, widow. John Lowe settles lands and messuages in Oreton
1748 25th/26th July, 662/3, Lease and release. Conveyance from Ric Day and Wm Miller of Bristol, assignees under the bankruptcy of Hum Lowe to Jn Smallman of Bridgnorth, grocer, in consideration of £145, of Smiths and Hammonds.
1749 9th Jan, 616, Assignment of 500 year mortgage from Dan Yates of Hampton Lovett, gent, executor of William Wilkes, deceased and Humphrey Lowe to Bonham Smallman of Bridgnorth, grocer, of lands at Oreton, for £334-8-0.
1749 9th Jan, 640, Bond from Humphrey Lowe to Bonham Smallman of Bridgnorth, grocer, in £668 to secure payment of £334-8-0 bearing even date.
1749 5th May, 639, Lease of possession from John Smallman, grocer of Bridgnorth to Humphrey Lowe, of lands and mess’ at Oreton.
1749 6th May, 615, Release from John Smallman to Humphrey Lowe, of lands at Oreton for £135
1740s, 868, Humphrey Lowe, son of John, bankrupt. Estate goes to John Smallman.
30-5-1760, 554, Jn Smallman of B’north & Jn Langley, B’north, trustees of will of Humphrey Lowe to Thos Brettell, Stourbridge of ten’ formerly of Joyce Weir, called Smiths and Hammonds
1759, April 26th, 553, Humphrey Lowe of B’north, Grocer to Sam Hallen of Coalbrookdale, ironmaster and Robert Palmer of Coalbrookdale, timber merchant. Grant of his share of the River Rea adjoining his lands at Oreton, opposite the lands of Richard and Arthur Smallman
1760 29th May, 583, Lease for a year from John Smallman and John Langley, trustees of the will of Humphrey Lowe, deceased and Richard Lowe of Worcester, yeoman, son and heir of John Lowe the younger and nephew and heir at law of Humphrey Lowe, to Thos Brettle of Smiths, Hammonds, etc.
1760 30th May, 555, Mortgage for 1000 years from Ric Lowe of Worcester, joiner, Joseph Lowe of Stourbridge, baker and John Bache of Alveley, miller and Thos Brettles of Storubridge, gent to John Smith of Worcester, gent, of Smiths, Hammonds, etc for £800.
1762 24th March, 664. Lease for a year from John Lowe of Stourbridge, baker to Richard Lowe of Worcester, joyner, of Smiths and Hammonds, occupied by Humphrey Lowe at his death and devised to John Smallman by his will.
1762 25th March 556. Release from Joseph Lowe to Richard Lowe of his ¼ share and half another ¼ share in Smiths, Hammonds and all other lands devised under the will of Humphrey Lowe to John Smallman and John Langley for £105.
1767 20th Oct, 558/584, Lease of Smiths and Hammonds, etc from Thos Brettell to Jn Bache, Alveley
1768 9th/10th August, 558/9 Conveyance by lease and release from Thomas Brettle to Richard Lowe of ¾ parts of the lands in Oreton conveyed to him by indentures of 29th/30th May 1760 (no 554). Note 4th March, 1772 that Brettle, at the request of Richard Lowe, joined in another conveyance of the premises to William Yate.
1772 3rd/4th March, 665/6. Lease and release. Conveyance from Thos Brettell, Joseph Lowe, John Bache of Alveley, miller and Ric Lowe to Wm Yate, grocer, Kidderminster of Smiths and Hammonds, occupied by Sam Garbett at £50pa, to hold for Ric Lowe on trust.
1772 24th/25th March, 669/70. Mortgage Wm Yate and Richard Lowe to Humphrey Clare of Quatt, of Smiths and Hammonds.
1773, 672/3 Indentures of lease and release. Conveyance from Ric Lowe and Elizabeth his wife to Thos Bird of the equity of redemption in Smiths and Hammonds, mortgaged to Hum Clare (No 669/70), to hold to the same Thos Bird and his heirs, upon trust to sell the said premises and from the proceeds pay £1100 and interest to Hum Clare and £90 and £120 to himself, Thos Bird, secured by a bond of even date and the residue, if any, to Ric Lowe.
1775 27th Dec, 868 Will of Rev Thos Pardoe of Lewes, clerk; gives estates at Oreton (now in occupation of John Garbett) to Isobel Clerk, widow, his sister.
1779 2nd/3rd Feb, 521/648, Conveyance (lease and release) of Smiths and Hammonds, and lands at Oreton bank with limekilns, occupied by Sam Hallen and Jn Garbett from Hum Clare, Quatt, Wm Yate Kidder, Thos Bird Worcs, Eliz Lowe and Ric Lowe to Isobel Clerk B’north, subject to leases of 1759 to Hallen for 99 years and 1775 to Garbett for 7 years at £60pa.
1779 3rd Feb, 562, Assignment by Wm Clare at the request of Humphrey Clare and others, to Thos Pardoe of Faintree, esq., for a term of 500 years of Smiths, Hammonds, etc, created by an indenture of mortgage made 9th Jan 1740 from John Lowe to Wm Wilkes. In trust, to attend the inheritance.
1779 3rd Feb, 674. Assignment by Wm Clare, Hum Clare, Thos Bird, Eliz Lowe (widow of Ric) and Ric Lowe (son of Eliz), at the request of Isobel Clarke of Bridgnorth, to Thos Pardoe of Faintree, esq., for a term of 1000 years of Smiths, Hammonds, etc. In trust, to attend the freehold and inheritance of the premises, in order to protect the same from the mesne incumbence, which premises were conveyed to Isobel by lease and release of 2nd/3rd February, 1779.
1779, 714, Sale from Eliz Lowe and Thos Bird of Oreton Estate and limestone to Thos Pardoe, Chetton, gent.
1780, 868, Isobel Clerk in her will gives her Oreton estate to John Pardoe of Cleobury, gent.
1782 25th March, 484, Transfer of mortgage by Jn Smith of Wolverley to Wm Cease of Alveley, created in 1760 on Smiths and Hammonds by Rowland Lowe, Joseph Lowe and John Bache for £800 to John Smith. Lands; Smeeth’s tenement, Small brook (2a), Nutles (3a), Crooked acres (3a), Slade Meadow (3a), Binwood (3a), Hillcock acres (6a), Whetstone (1a), Calves Close (2a), Ox Pasture or Bottom Mead Close (7a), Oreton Bank (2a) and the limekilns, Hammonds Tenement, High Acres (10a), 2 parcels in Rea Field (3a), Meadow back of the barn (2a), Cow Pasture or the Hole (12a) and meadow by Oreton’s Brook, the Rea Furlong, (3a), and the Rea Meadow (3a).
1783, 715, Lease of Lowe/Pardoe estate (?) to Ric Wheeler of Steeple for 21 years at £140
1785, 868, John Pardoe, in his will, leaves his Oreton estate called Lowe’s in trust to his friends John Fox, gent and John Herbert of Cleobury, for Ann his wife.
1795, 871, Lowe’s estate; 1) James Sheriff of B’ham and Mary his wife, d of John Pardoe and 2) Thos Pardoe, formerly of B’ham now of Oreton.
1797 4th Nov, 939, General release by Thos Pardoe, late of B’ham but now of Oreton, John, son and heir of John Pardoe of Cleobury, gent, deceased and demise under the will of the Rev Thos Pardoe of Lewes, Sussex, deceased, of Lowes estate in Oreton to John Fox of Cleobury; recovery of rents during the minority of the sd Thos Pardoe.

Pardoe’s lands
1660 30th June, 874, 1) William Greenouse of Bagginswood and 2) Nicholas Bray the younger of Oreton, yeoman. Sale for £276-13-4 paid by Nicholas Bray the elder, father of Nicholas Bray the younger, of the farm in Oreton occupied by Nicholas Bray senr and Thomas Martin and the following lands; Heath, High Fields, Hill Meadow, Hill Yard, Over Hill Leasow, High Acres, New Tinings, The Crookes, Brand Oak, Cramell Meadow and 2 pieces of arable in the Rea Field, bounded on the north by lands of Ric Walker, on the south by lands of Wm Hammond and on both sides by land of Ric Walker.
1695 March 25th, StRO D660/19/10. John Soley, Lickhill, Worcerstershire to Nicholas Bray, Conveyance for £13 of Shortnall Leys, lying towards Farlow between the upper and lower horseways from Oreton to Farlow and having the lands of Nicholas Bray and the horseways on all sides, which land was purchased by John Soley from Humphrey Hammond.
1715 April, 874, Nicholas Bray in his will conveys land to James his son and Ann his wife; all those two messuages and lands etc in Oreton. To his grandson Thos he gave Hillyard with house, barn, orchard, etc
1722, 874. Bray had Thos Davies, John Wilkes and Martha Brown as tenants. High acres, Brand Oak, New Tyning, Shortnall Leyes, Crookes Acres and Crummells Meadow sold to Geo Millichap. Upper Hill Leasow sold to John Catshee of Oreton.
1732, 10th Nov. StRO D660/19/10. 1) George Millicap, Oreton, gent, Thos Watts of the Lowe, Stottesdon, Thos Hammonds of Detton, Neen Savage and Chas Holland of Cleobury and 2) Wm Brown of Himley, gent. Conveyance of High Acres and Brand Oak (10ac), New Tining (10ac), Crooked Acre (4 ac), Crummells Meadow (10ac), in the occupation of Thos Davies and purchased by Nicholas Bray from Wm Greenouse of Bagginswood and John Soley of Worcs, subject to a mortgage between Millichap and John Watts in 1714.
1756, 874, lands pass to Pardoe via Edward Beard.

Oreton Meadow, 875
1755 4th/5th April 1) Humphrey Sanford of Isle, Upper Rossall, Shrops, eldest son of Humphrey and Rebecca (formerly Rebecca Walker) and 2) Thos Crump of Oldbury, gent and John Oldbury of Eardington, gent. Crunp and Oldbury purchased Day House Farm, Stottesdon.
?, Francis Walker of Ferney Hall, eldest son of the late Francis Walker of Ferney Hall and 2) Thos Crump and John Oldbury; conveyance of farm
1757 1) Rev Thos Drake, Amersham, Bucks and Francis Walker, 2) Thos Crump and John Oldbury
1759 1) Thos Crump and John Oldbury and 2) Thos Oldbury, Bridgnorth, surgeon
1791 1) Geo Crump, gent, Shrewsbury son of Thos Crump and 2) Ann Pardoe; sale of Oreton Meadow, 1 a, part of Day House Farm (via Thos Crump and John Oldbury)

Abstract of title of Thos Pardoe of West Bromwich to lands at Oreton, (Davies Land)

1660 20th Nov, 873, Wm Coningsby, Humphrey his son and others to Sam Millichap, yeoman, conveyance of house and lands occupied by Richard Walker, for 22/- pa
1660 20th Nov, 872, Between 1) Fitz William Coningsby of Hampton Court, Hereford, Humphrey his son, Sampson Wise of St James, Clerkenwell and Phillipa his wife and 2) Catherine Sherwood of Oreton, spinster. Sale for £201-10-0 of messuage and tenement in Oreton and Prescott in possession of Thos Sherwood and the Close, Broad Meadow, Kinsall Meadow, Kinsall Leasow, Totsich, Over Field, Old Field, Leasow by the Barn, 9 ridges, 4 ridges and 3 parcels of land in Rea Field and all those lands in Prescott called Old Leasow or Stottesdon Yard, the New Leasow and Further Leasow, all houses etc.
1676 2nd June, 691. Indenture of feoffment made between 1) Humfrey Hammond and 2) John Seward, son of Thos. Seward conveys Totsith 12ac, 3ac called the Rea Field and a little piece of meadow (0.5ac) adjoining thereto and a meadow called Hill Meadow (1.5ac) to hold by Seward. (Note added by solicitor in 1736; this land came to Thos Seward, eldest son of John , by will).
1703 4th/5th Feb, 872, 1) Thos Sherwood of Oreton, yeoman and Mary his wife and 2) Mary Millichap, for 4 score pounds, sale of Broad and Kinsall Meadows.
1708 27th August, 691. In consideration of £600, articles of agreement between Thos Sherwood of Oreton and John Pardoe of Faintree for the purchase of the farms, tenements and premises of the said Sherwood in Oreton and Prescott.
1708 26/27th Nov, 691/872, Between 1) Thos and Mary Sherwood of Oreton, yeoman 2) John and Priscilla Smith of Warwick and Mary Millichap theretofore of Chetton but then of Burwarton, spinster and 3) John Pardoe the younger of Chetton. For £218-6-8 to Smith, £116-13-4 to Millichip and £194-15-0 to Sherwood, for their interests in the properties because of mortgages, sale of lands demised in 1660 (872) and 1676 (691), for 10/- pa rent.
1711 24th/25th Feb, 872, Sale from Sherwood to John Smith of Warwick, gent for £170 of messuage with outbuildings etc, and rest of estate excepting land given to Mary Millichap and land purchased by John Sherwood, father of Thomas, from Humphrey Hammond. Estate was messuage, barn, etc, 20 ac of land, 10 ac meadow, 20ac pasturie, 10 ac wood, 40ac furze and heath and common pasture.
1711 19th/20th July, 873, 1) Geo Millichap, 2) Ed and Mary Wall, 3) Timothy Smith and Thos Wall; marriage between George Millichap and Mary Wall. Millichap grants to Smith and Wall all messes formerly in possession of Ric Walker, then John Millichap, late father of George then George and all lands belonging and two enclosures called the Heath (5a), Little Meadow and also full liberty for Geo Millichap, Tim Smith and Thos Wall to dig and burn for sale and their own use and to take away and carry lime and limestone and erect and make use of one or more kilns in a leasow in Oreton called the Hill Leasow, along the side of such part of the said close wherein Sir Wm Child knt had some cut for the space of 24 yards from such part of the close in breadth and the space of 50 yds up the hill along the side thereof in length… as for and concerning all those lower meadows next Prescott pound containing 7ac, the upper hills containing 8ac, the limekilns and the Withy Poles containing 10ac and as for the Little Bylet, 3ac, for the use of Geo Millichamp
1725 9th Feb, 872, Death of Pardoe of Criddon. He left 3 daughters; Isobel, Ann and Dorothy. His tenant was Thos Davies.
1728 21st May, 873, Lease between 1) Geo Millichap and Sam Beech and 2) Hannah Watts, spinster. For £90 to Millichap and £205 to Beech, they convey to Watts the Lower Meadow Ground abutting on Prescot Pound adjoining Oreton Brook on the south side, lands of Mr Spragg on the north, lane leading from Oreton to Stottesdon on the west and to Prescott ground on the east; 2 other closes called Withy Poles on either side of Oreton Brook adjoining Oreton Lane on the south, land of Sarah Pardoe, widow on the north, James Bray on the west and the lane from Stottesdon to Oreton on the east; 2 closes called Upper Bylet, 1a, adjoining Oreton Lane on the south, Oreton Brook on the north, the lane from Stottesdon to Oreton on the north and the lands of Wm Nash to the east; also 0.25 ac where two lime kilns were lately built in the hill close along the south part of the close where Sir Lacon Wm Childe lately had cut some 24 x 50 yds.
1728 May 21st, 873, Millichap mortgages to Watts his house, Lanthouse Meadow, and Napkin Bridge Meadow (10a), Birewoods (10ac), Stonegates (6a), Crayne Pots (12ac) and other lands of his except the Lower Meadow, Withy Poles, Upper Billett, Upper Hills (8a) and Lime Hills
1740, 873, Sale of Millichap’s lands, occupied by Thomas Davies, to Pardoe
1740; 868 George Millichap sold land in Oreton to Pardoe that had previously been held by John Dovey.
1745 17th/18th March, 868, 1) Thos Pardoe of Lewes, Surrey, 2) Ann Langford of Lewes, Surrey and 3) Wm Wright. Pardoe was marrying Langford. The Pardoe estate in Oreton and Prescott included; the Close, Broad Meadow, Kinsall Meadow, Kinsall Leasow, Potsich, Over Field, Old Field, Leasow by the Barn, 9 ridges, 4 ridges and 3 parcels of land in Rea Field , Old Leasow or Stottesdon’s yard, the New Leasow and Further Leasow, messuage in the possession of Thos Davies, formerly of Thos Steward.
1745, 872, Sale to Wm Wright of Oxford.

1670 2nd January, StRO D660/18/18. Feoffment of an estate in Oreton between 1) Margery Hammond of Oreton, spinster, Eliz Gilly of Oreton, widow, Beatrice Hammond of Oreton, spinster and Mary Hammond of Oreton, spinster 2) Henry Browne of Woodseves, Upper Arley, yeoman and 3) Edward Hill of Wolverley, yeoman and Thomas Nicholls of Farlow, yeoman.

Brown’s Estate (StRO)
1706 10th May. StRO D660/19/10 1) Wm Nicholls of Farlow, yeoman and Eliz Nicholls his daughter and 2) Wm Brown. Sale of Tongue Meadow to Brown, 5ac, bounded by land called Nuttals in the occupation of Thomas Sherwood on the north, the land of Joyce Weale, widow, on the east, Wm Selfe on the west and the lands of Wm Brown on the south.
1706 Marriage settlement of Wm Brown of Woodseves, Clothier. StRO D660/19/10
Includes an estate an Oreton in the occupation of Thomas Sherwood and a meadow called Tongue Meadow lately exchanged with William and Eliz Nicholls. Also deed of gift from Brown to his sisters Susanna, Mary and Ann.
1748. Will of Wm Brown, Hagley, Clothier. Estate includes Oreton estate, lands lately purchased of Geo Millichap in Oreton and a meadow in Farlow exchanged with Wm and Eliz Nicholls. Brown died without issue in 1754.
1755. Will of Margery Brown, wife of Wm. Bequeaths £400, to be raised on the free estates in Oreton and Farlow of which £5 was to go to her tenant Wm Haycox.
1757. Conveyance, Ric Horton and Bate to Collins for £250. Margery Brown in her will gave a moiety of Oreton Farm to Mary Bate; tenant Wm Haycox at rent of £44pa.
1768, Jan. Wm Brown Horton, in consideration of the love he has for his father Wm Horton and Mary Bate his cousin, daughter of Thos Bate, grants to them a moiety of Oreton Farm, in the occupation of Wm Haycox.
1775 Jan 10th. 1) Mary Bate, Ric Norton and Wm Brown Norton and 2) Thos Bate of Wolverley. Lease of Oreton Farm and limeworks, in the occupation of Ann Haycox, widow, for 21 years at £63pa. Woods and minerals apart from lime reserved.
1777 July 21st. 1) Joseph Rogers, husbandman, Oreton and John Middlehope, Warwicks and 2) Thos Bate. Agreement for Rogers to quit estate. He was allowed the use of the barn to thresh his corn, the stable next to the beasthouse, the middle chamber and the kitchen in the house for himself and his family and the ground called Lakewell, rent free, until Christmas.
1778 Ladyday. 1) Thos Bate 2) Wm Page, Stottesdon, yeoman. Lease of Oreton farm for 2 years at £57-15-0, except the upper part of the land called Lime Kiln Leasow which adjoins and lies open to the common and is divided from the lower part by the road to the coal pits. Also excepting all mines and quarries of limestone or other minerals except the limestone under the lower part of Lime Kiln Leasow which Page could from time to time burn in the kilns on the lower part of the land and which Page had a right to collect, convert and sell to his own use.
1780 Ladyday. 1) Thos Bate 2) Wm Page. Lease of a moiety of Oreton Farm for 4 years for £31pa.

1663 7th April, 3320/30F, Wm Greenouse of Bagginswood, gent, William Hammond and Elizabeth his wife, and William Childe. In consideration of £20? to Greenouse and £10-5-0 to Hammond, they demised to Childe part of the hill ground… already built and 2 other limekiln places now also let out and appointed to be forewith erected and built… of ground abutted and bounded on the north side by the hedge adjoining unto the other limekilns of Margery…., of abutted and bounded between the new ploughed ground of the said William Hammond and the said appoynted…, and on the north side thereof abutted and bounded by the brow or edge of the said hill near were unto the hill or hill…. Said lands and limekilns of the said Margery Hammond aforesaid and so along the edge or brow of the said …. Growing and from there on the east side thereof abutting and bounding the last mentioned place on the … near the said ploughed grounds at the foot of the said appointed place form the said new kilns for a …. Number together with the earth ground, soil thereof and all mines, quarries, and stones there or thereunto… for the well using, making… and enjoying from time to time the said lime kilns, etc, warranty. In Oreton.

1674, 25th March, 10798, between 1) Wm Edgley of Oreton, yeoman and 2) Humfrey Short of Oldbury, yeoman, reciting lease of 20 Chas II [1668] by Humfrey and Mary his wife to Edgley of lands in Oreton for 99 years. Lease of the said premises to Short for the residue of the term.
1701, 4th Dec, 10804, Marriage settlement of John Short and Petronella Mills; lands and limekilns in Oreton. Between 1) Jn Short of Westwood, Oldbury, yeoman and Thos his brother, 2) Jn Miles of Ruthall, Ditton Priors, yeoman and 3) Humphrey Greenouse of Sutton Maddock and Edward Hopkiss of Ditton, gent. Settlement of a moiety of lands in Oreton occupied by John Harris as tenant to Short, viz, the Stocking Leasow (4ac), the limestone ground on the Hill Leasow (0.75 ac), 2 parcels known as the two Clerkwells, Kennel Meadow adjoining Crunnell Meadow, one pasture known as the High Fields and the two lime kilns that lie at the end of Hill Leasow next Orton with liberty to get limestone 30 yds in breadth and 50 yards in length more than the limestone ground in the Hill Leasow aforesaid. Lands past to Greenous and Hopkiss subject to numerous uses (the marriage settlement).


Preston Estate
1806 22nd Sept, 910/890 Thos Pardoe of Cleobury, mercer had mortgaged his estate to John Fox of Cleobury, gent. Now, with permission of Fox, Pardoe granted a 999 year lease to Jn Preston of the Lloyds, Stottesdon, yeoman, and Wm Preston of Goseland, Neen Savage, yeoman, of 2.25 ac of limerock and works at Oreton Bank for £682-10-0. Ground rent £2-1-0 with full liberty to get and sell lime. Rent 1d pa.
1806 23rd September, Mortgage by John and William Preston to Sam Barker of Bewdley for £400. John also sold The Lloyds and lands called Craymore in Stottesdon and Neen Savage purchased by him from John Marshall. Preston had not fully paid Marshall for the estate.
1808 10th Feb, 911/891, 999 year lease from Thos Compson of Hopton to Jn Preston of the Hill, Oreton yeaoman and Wm Preston of Goseland, Neen Savage, of limerock adjoining the above lot for £50, bounded on the lower end by the gate leading onto the common, the upper end by or near a gate leading to pasture belonging to Thos Pardoe, on one side by land and lime rock purchased of Jn and Thos Preston of John Pardoe and on the other side by by ground called the bottoms, by a tenement belonging to Sam Haycox and by land late belonging to John Beard but then purchased by John Garbett.
1812, 28th Feb, 857, Will of Wm Preston of Goseland, Neen Savage, limeman, brother of Thos, his executor. By 1851 Thos was a former miller and limeburner of Catherton. Their father, Thos Preston of Goseland died intestate in 1803. Thos junr inherited 0.25 ac of meesuage and garden at Stottesdon.
1823 20th September, 912, Mortgage of lots in 910/11 for £400 assigned by Slade Baker, executor of Sam Baker, deceased, to John Fox of Cleobury. John Preston was now of the Hill, Oreton.
1824 20th September, 913, John Preston of the Hill, Oreton, sells his share of limerock to Thos, his nephew, of Catherton, yeoman, for £350
1837 20th June, 914, Will of John Preston, leaving his land at Oreton to Ric Rushbury in trust to sell and to divide the proceeds amongst Sarah, Mary, Alice, Jane and Ann Dure and of a demise of a residue of a term of 999 years, dated 1841 by Ric Rushbury and the 5 legatees to Thos Botfield
1839 27th Feb, 890, Thos Preston had purchased meadow ground of William Haughton and built a corn mill on it. Preston needed £160, raised by an additional mortgage on the limerock from John Fox.
1841, 23rd June, 889, affadavit of John Wall and Thos Preston of land at Oreton
1851 30th September, 856. Mortgage by Thos Preston of Catherton, farmer and limeburner to Ann Aingell, Herefordshire, of messuage and garden (0.25ac) in Stottesdon, devised to Thomas by the will of Wm Preston late of Goseland, Neen Savage, limeburner, 28th Feb 1812, for £70.
1851 30th September, 858. Statutory declaration of Thos Preston that his land at Stottesdon formerly belonged to his father Thos Preston of Groseland who died intestate in 1803 leaving Wm his eldest son as heir at law.
1853, 895/6 Conveyance, Thos Preston to Sam Southam of land and limerock at Oreton mortgaged to Jn Fox deceased in 1824.
1857 22nd March, 920, sale
i) Valuable lime rock, 2a 3r 21p in 2 parcels in occ of Thos Preston with cottage newly erected, subject to leases of 1806 and 1808. 40,000 cubic yards of limestone, a great part of which consists of the celebrated Clee Hill marble.
ii) Bylet Meadow, Alder Rough, and Prescott Mill, 3a 0r, 23p, leased for 999 yrs on 23rd Feb 1837 at a ground rent of £15pa.
iii) Public house at Oreton, 21p, in occ of Wm Banks, subject to mortgage of £70.
iv) Land enclosed from Oreton Common, 1r 27p, contiguous to iii, occupied by Banks and bounded by land of Wm Page and road from Neen Savage to Farlow (34 in enclosure award)
v) No 51 in enclosure award 29p
vi) No 52 in enclosure award, 36p.
1857, 6th May. StRO D695/8/5/6. 1) Thos Yapp 2) Thos Preston 3) Jn and Wm Pearson, coalmasters, Stourbridge. Assignment of the remainder of the term of the 999 year leases to the Pearsons.
1870 29th Sept. Estate mortgaged, together with mines in Rowley for £2500 and £1100.
1878 21st Jan. Death of John Pearson; J&W Pearson continued by Wm.
1880 Further mortgage of Oreton and Rowley estates by Wm Pearson.

1857, 6th May, 841. Conveyance of land enclosed on Oreton Common by Thomas Yapp of Milson, farmer and Thos Preston of Prescott Mill, miller and limer to S. P. Southam.
1857, 6th May, 859. Conveyance of messuage now used as a cider house in Stottesdon and 0.25 ac of garden from Ann Aingell, Thomas Yapp and Thomas Preston to Southam.

1862 26th June 920, Sale of Tithe Map 151, Clay pits, Field, house and garden, 24p, and TM 152, meadow, 1-1-14, both occupied by Wm Hughes at rent of £5pa and Enclosure award 31, 8-2-14.

Haycox Lands
1721 4th Dec, 823, Mortgage between John Roberts alias Owen of Hopton Wafers, collier and John Cocks of Hopton Wafers, collier (1) and Sam Haycocks of Hints and Coreley, yeoman (2) of mess in Hopton for 500 years, for securing £22-10-0.
1727 9th/10th May, 824/5, Lease and release. Conveyance in fee by Sam Smith of Aston Botterell, yeoman, to Sam Haycock of Aston Botterell, yeoman, in consideration of £50-12-6, of a mess in Hopton occupied by Ann Smith, widow.
1731 29th Sept, 822, Grant by Roberts and Cocks to Haycock of mess in Hopton for 400 years, to secure £40.
1735 1st Nov, 827. Bargin and sale between Roberts and Cocks, colliers to Haycocks, of two mess in Hopton for £61.
1737 29th Sept, 828. Demise for 500 years from Haycox of Charlecotte to Ric Knight of Downton of 2 messuages in Hopton for a mortgage of £70.
1747 1st Feb, 831. Probate of will of Sam Haycock of Hopton Wafers. Proved at Hereford 1st March 1747 by Mary (widow), Sam, Wm, Thos and Geo (sons) and Eleanor, Mary Hayott and Margery Preece (daughters).
1754 2nd May, 832. Articles of agreement between 1) Sam Haycox of Heathills, Cleobury Mortimer, cricker, 2) Wm Haycox of Oreton, husbandman, 3) Thos Haycox of Farlow, husbandman, 4) Geo Haycox of Charlcott, husbandman, 5) Eleanor Haycox of Hopton Wafers, spinster. Recites will of Sam, demising his estate to his wife for life and then equally to the above parties. They now agree to divide the estate as follows;
Sam and Geo; the mess at Hopton formerly called the Shop and now Cleeton Gate, cottage at Oreton, land at Oreton and 10 lime kilns.
Wm and Thos; a tenement called Andrew’s Wood in Hopton, a leasehold messuage and lands at Hill House in Farlow subject to a yearly rent of 21/- to Wm Lacon Childe and a cottage called Stocka Lane Gate in Hopton.
Eleanor; two mess called Cox’s and Smith’s tenements in Hopton.
1754 24th August, 833. Assignment by Thos and Ed Knight (executors of Ric Knight) and Eleanor Haycox to Eliz Baldwyn of Farlow, widow, of two mess in Hopton mortgaged to Ric Knight. Memo attached; Ric Francis and Eleanor Francis, late Haycox, had borrowed £30 from Eliz Baldwyn.
1773, 844. Eleanor’s estate passed to Thos Onslow.

1778 10th March, 855, Release by Wm Gittens of Cleobury, ground collier and Wm his son by Mary his late wife, daughter of Geo Haycox of Heath Hills, Cleobury, to Wm Green of Bradley, Kinlet, of land on Oreton bank with 4 kilns and noke of land bounding the said premises, for £62.

(Cleeton Estate.)
1834 11th March, 861, Indenture between 1) Edward Cleeton of Oreton, farmer and 2) Sam Cleeton of the same, younger son of Ed, granting to Sam a freehold messuage with garden and close occupied by James Catstree and all his household goods and farming stock, subject to the use of Ed
1836 4th November, 860, Mortgage of the above, 861, to John Woodward for £80. Further mortgage in 1838 between the same parties for £30.

1843 15th Feb, 840/885, Mortgage by Geo Haycox, Hopton Bank to Wm Corser, Aston Eyre, for £100 of cottage and garden at Oreton, occupied by Sarah Beard + 1a2r7p of limerock and kilns, occupied by Sam Cleeton. Bounded on the north by land of Thos Preston, the east by the road leading to Oreton across the Hill, the west by land of the late Thomas Botfield and the south by the said road.
1843, 885, Abstract of title of Wm Corser to messuage, limerock and kilns at Oreton as mortgagee of Geo Haycox
1845 22nd April, 862, Mortgage of messuage occupied by Sarah Beard and 1a2r7p of limerock and kiln occupied by Sam Cleeton, limeburner and 2 messuages, to Wm Woodward for £350.
1845, 966, Conveyance by Geo Haycox and Wm Corser (mortgagee by indenture of 5th Feb 1843 for £100) of 1a2r7p of land to Sam Cleeton, limeburner for £165.
1854 21st Sept, 888, Declaration of Sam Cleeton in support of his title to lots 16 and 17
1856 1st Nov, 854, Conveyance by Wm Wilton Woodward, Worcs to Samuel Philips Southam, Cleobury, for £80, of messuage, garden, limerock and kilns occupied by Sam Cleeton
1856 1st Nov, 864, Conveyance by Wm Wilton Woodward, Worcs, mortgagee to Samuel Philips Southam, Cleobury, for £190, of 2 messuages with gardens and piece of arable land in Oreton occupied by Sam Cleeton and two newly enclosed pieces from Oreton Common.

1811 18th Nov, 15341, Meeting of proprietors to enclose Oreton Common. John Fox solicitor, Mr Jellicoe Commissioner, Mr Southam deputy commissioner. Signed Thos Pardoe, Wm Page (mark), John Preston (mark), Wm Preston, Joseph Parton, John Hyde.

Farlow
1687 26th Oct, 534, From Sir Lacon Wm Childe and Danvers Hodges to Matthew Baldwin of Overwood, Neen Savage, of barns and lands in Farlow, including a lime kiln at a waste called the Ryddings.
1793 29th Sept, 493/497, From John Glover, Manchester, Merchant to Ed Richards of Farlow, miner of a messuage and 1.5 acres for the lives of the said William (sic), John his son (aged 3) and Thomas his brother (aged 20) for 14/-. William sold this land to Sam Southam on April 20th 1805 for 21 guineas.
1794 25th March, 498, From John Glover of Gt Lever, Lancs., merchant to Joseph Gough of Farlow, of 3 ac of inclosed common on Farlow for 3 lives, at rent of £1-16-0. Lease assigned to Sam Southam on 17th July 1801 for £28.
1800 25th March, 499, From Sam Southam to Richard Jones, Farlow, miller, of messuage and 28 acres (in 5 pieces) and other messuages in Farlow for 21 years at £35pa
1801 5th March, 501, From John Glover, Gt Leven, Lancs., merchant to Sam Southam of Farlow, gent, of messuage and 2 ac of enclosed common occupied by Southam and a small piece of common land or sling (0.25ac) and a messuage lately errected by Southam called Hillhouse Green and a messuage and 3 pieces of land and 1 acre of waste and 1.75ac of common lately enclosed by Southam, for 60 years at £3-3-0pa.
1804 3rd May, 500, Will of Ed Richards, miner, late of Farlow but now of Dudley, leaving his estate to William his son.
1809, 898. Catalogue of Farlow sale.
Down Farm, 87ac, £70pa, yearly tenant John Palmer, includes quarry field.
Corn Mill, 92ac, £116pa, Ric Jones tenant for 21 years from June 1802
No 5, 22ac, formerly occupied by Thos Butcher but now Arthur Higgs on a 21 year lease of which 7 remained at Lady last (1808). Includes 1 ac of limerock at Oreton.
No 8, Hill Head, farm and public house, 71ac, £88-14-11pa, formerly occupied by John Jones now Sam Jones, a yearly tenant. Includes many acres of best lime rock; (99, Lime Kiln Leasow, pasture and arable, 9-0-10; 105, Lime Kiln Leasow, lime works, pasture and arable, 8-0-5).
Sam Jones also held the Rabbit House, 47-2-38 at £25pa from June 1790 for his own life (aged 56) and Richard Jones, son of Ann Jones (aged 29). He also had 25ac of enclosure held from 1797 given in exchange for the rabbit warren and sand pits. This was held for his life and Richard’s. It was now 4 pieces of arable.
John Jones, 49, was brother of Sam. His son was Samuel, aged 16.
No 27, 60ac, £7-18-0, held by John Preston from 1793 for the lives of his nephews William (26), James (24) and Thomas (24). Half of the land was new enclosures.
Many enclosures date from 1797. 144 ac of unenclosed land in hand.
1827 27th Nov and 1844 25th Jan, 502, bills of sale of Mr Southam’s Farlow property. Southam died 29th August 1825 and his will was proved in Hereford on 18th Jan 1826..
1828 29th Sept, 505, Sale from Thos Crump of Chorley and Thos Southam of Meole Brace, Miller, trustees of the will of Sam Southam, to John Bray of Hartlebury, sawyer, in consideration of £45, of piece of arable land, 2ac, near Hill Houses, Farlow, adjoining a road from Oreton Lime Kilns.