ROUGHTON HISTORY GROUP MEETING 14.11.11

Roman Ron's map of the possible Roman and pre Roman roads was extremely helpful as was his clear description of Roman activity in the area. Ron talked of the Roman's need to conquer and Wales very quickly once they had invaded in AD43. About 40,000 troops came from Germany and they very quickly swept west to . Worfield would have been at the centre of a lot of Roman activity. With Wroxeter to the west and Greensforge to the east, troops would have been criss crossing Worfield parish. As time went on and the invaders integrated with the native Celts the Roman influence would have affected the everyday life of Worfield people. In Ackleton, where there have been Roman finds, there may also have been Roman graves with later burials being Christian. There is a lack of hard evidence for Roman roads around Worfield apart from an excavated section at Winchester near Claverley. Partly this is due to the large scale changes in the field and road pattern particularly since the enclosures in the nineteenth century (Horovitz.) The road to the south of The Walls seems to head for Uxacona (Redhill) but may have turned north west towards Wrottesley. (Houghton) Horovitz speaks of 'a lost road running north west from the Roman sites at Greensforge and curving eastwards to the south of Swancote Farm'. This has been traced by Dr A.W.J. Houghton, speaks of the Roman road coming from Greensforge across Highgate Common 'The way enters Shrops just east of Whitecross. Still on the same alignment the old farm called Winchester is passed beyond which the Roman road is a completely deserted straight way for the next quarter mile. The alignnment alters course then slightly in the direction of Roughton. Passing Sandford and Chyknell the road is in use as far as The Cross where it descends as a wide track and for the next 200 yards is lost in a field. It then reappears as a farm track and turning to the north then west, avoiding a steep hill, it is lost in the village of Roughton. A short length of road in the village may mark the course which then continues on as a straight right of way passing south of Swancote Farm.'

Houghton is the man who did the excavations at Winchester. Incidentally he suggest Winchester is probably Old English not of Roman origin.

Houghton suggested that it turn sharply to cross the Severn at or near . Horovitz doubts whether the road actually crossed there.

'Certainly no evidence of any Roman occupation in or close to Bridgnorth has been recorded.' With cliffs on both sides of the river Horovitz can see no reason why the Romans would cross the river at this point. There would have been no benefit. He therefore looks for an alternative. 'Since Swancote lies further north than Bridgnorth, we may need to look to the north of the town for any lost Roman river crossing. Alternatively we might ask why the road ran north-west, then turned suddenly west at Swancote. That turn may not have formed part of the original road, which could instead have turned northwards to Wroxeter. From the west, the road at Morville may have turned south-east and taken the line of the present road to Eardington, with a Severn crossing further south. Horovitz looks at the further lack of evidence for a crossing north of Bridgnorth by stating that one would expect if there was such a crossing, there would have been branch roads off the north westerly route following the route of the Rabbit Run (roughly). Would there have been a bridge? Yes, concludes the author. The Romans built bridges over all the major rivers of which the Severn is one. The construction would have been stone piers on a concrete base (and I thought concrete was a modern invention!) with a wooden superstructure. A Roman camp either side of the bridge would be expected, too. Personally I would like to see Houghton's route and I think it is worth asking the County Archaeologists if there is any more recent research because this work goes back to the 1950s. I will do this. The reference for Houghton is Trans. Shrops. Arch. Soc 1957-1960 v61 p 185-190. I can't visualise the Swancote route from Horovitz's description. I am at the Archives on Fri so will have a look. Ron mentioned other Roman activity in the area. Greensforge was massive and there were other camps in the area. Upton Cressett, an important Roman settlement.

I promised that I would put Ron's map onto a single A4 sheet. I have done that and now can't find it. Here is Ron's until I do! (attached)

Brook House John is going to print off his findings.

Roughton House and its History William Bell moved to Roughton in 1642, as Randall puts it, 'having bought estates here.' Bell's only daughter (Anna) married William Stokes and on his death the estate was inherited by William Stokes' five sisters. They in turn relinquished their rights to the estate in favour of their first cousin, William Smith Stokes who married William Stokes' widow.

The Stokes family seems to have had a good pedigree. William Smith Stokes' father was Francis Smith and his mother was Katherine (nee Calcott, sometimes spelt Caulcott) and through the generations they are connected to the Berkeleys. Thomas Berkeley (from Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire) was at Ewdness at the time of the Civil War. This latter bit I am sure is of no interest to anyone but myself but to have two connections to the Berkeleys in the Parish is worth a mention.

In 1781 there is this record. Articles of agreement 1. William Stokes of Roughton in the parish of Worfield gentleman 2. John Keelinge of Summerhill in the parish of Kingswinford co. Staffs esq. and Nancy Freeman of same spinster A marriage is intended between Stokes and Nancy Freeman. Agreement that Stokes shall at his own cost convey a messuage at Roughton (Stokes) and tenements (William Bright and - Nicholls), a meadow called Nicholls meadow, kiln acre, Long meadow, 3½ doles in Town meadow, Cow Pasture, Farther Cow Pasture, Terns croft, Alder tree piece, the farther Backnell, Esthers Flatt, Foxhill, Birch Furlong, Dipdale, Genterhill, and little field now in one piece called the Flatt, Big Nettle gate, Cebriel, the Urn, Wainhouse yard, all at Roughton (Stokes, Bright, Nicholls and - Bell); another messuage with barns stable orchard etc in the parish of Totnell co. Staffs at a place called the Dippens with lands (named) in app 145 acres 1r 18p, to use of Stokes for life after to use of Nancy for life, then to use of his heirs by her, or persons appointed by his will, or his right heirs.

Wouldn't it be interesting if the Stokes lived at Brook House before building Roughton House? I thought at first that was the case but well, you know the houses better than I. And did Smith Stokes own Brook House, let's see what we think. The transcriber has written Nancy Freeman but I think this should read Nancy, freeman since she was a Bell prior to marriage. Again, according to Randall, the present brick mansion was built on a new site. This ties in with a roof tile dating from 1798. So one might expect that the house that the Stokes were living in at this time would be coming up for rent or sale. There is a document but it is not dated unfortunately.

[no title] 1190/3/41-42 7/8 June 1788 Contents: Lease and Release 1. William Smith Stokes late of Roughton now of High Barns (Alveley) and Nancy his wife, widow and devisee of William Stokes of Roughton. 2. Isaac Dixon & Mary, his wife surviving heiresses of William Stokes Samuel Bowdler & Hannah his wife surviving heiresses of William Stokes Thomas Bate & Sarah, his wife surviving heiresses of William Stokes John Walker & Ann, his wife surviving heiresses of William Stokes Elizabeth Elcock surviving heiresses of William Stokes 3. Sarah Bradbourne of Chesterton, pa Worfield of 2 freehold mess. etc. in Barnsley, pa. Worfield and closes in 4 parts called the Ruddings in Hoccum and Bentley, pa. Worfield.

8th July 1788 ...James Marshall admitted on surrender of William Smith Stokes and Nancey his wife and (?amounts) to one messuage or toft and the half of one yard land customary with the appurtenances formerly William Brookes's in Roughton and one messuage and toft and two yard lands customary (except the sixteenth part of a nook with appurtenances in Roughton and all that parcel of land in Hoccum and Roughton and one of them called Hell Dole containing the eighth part of a nook and customary.

[no title or date] 1190/3/173 These documents are held at Shropshire Archives

Contents: Admittance to 1 mess. and ½ yard land formerly William Brookes's where William Smith Stokes & Nancy dwelt plus the Upper Garden, The Brooke Meadow, Hoccom Meadow, Hayes Meadow; plus 1 mess., 1 toft, 2 yard lands called Brookes's Farm & Hell Dole (comprising Breeches Meadow, Oak Meadow, Alder Moor, Nettle Barrow, Barn Field, Middle Field, Crow Field, Brook Field, Birch Furlong, Alveley Hill); all in Roughton & Hoccom.

The Stokes continue at Roughton after the death of William Smith Stokes in 1812 who at this time is living at Beckbury, so who is living at Roughton? I assume one of his sons.

[no title] 1067/25 6 December 1813 In 1801 (1190/3/57) Contents: Stamp Office, discharge for legacy duty on account of the personal estate of William Smith Stokes of Beckbury gentleman, died 22 February 1812 Executors John Smith Stokes and Edward Sheriff. William Smith Stokes, Lt RN, son of testator for his distributive share in the residuary effects sold by executors as directed in the will value £900, duty £9 Sum paid to him and acknowledged by him 1 December as the following shows 1067/22 4 August 1812 Mr John Stokes and Mr Edward Sheriff, executors of the late William Smith Stokes esq. decd., account for legal expenses with James Marshall 1811-1812 The account begins with Marshall going to Albrighton to meet Lord Shrewsbury's steward to prevail on him to continue Stokes as tenant of the land at Roughton Receipted by James Marshall

Michael Smith Stokes born in 1795 and presumably he lives in the house. He dies in 1845.

Phew, that's more than enough about the Stokes for now except to reprint the extract from the Parish Mags of 1891 and 1895 which John wrote out.

Landscape Enclosures

Enclosures are the biggest cause of change in the landscape. Before enclosures most of the land would have been waste or common. In the thirteenth and fourteenth century land was enclosed without permission in many cases. In the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the government decided enclosure was a good thing. Outtracks went from farmsteads to grazing land prior to enclosures. Many of these tracks date from Neolithic times. Enclosures changed this pattern since many of these old tracks were now blocked off. New road patterns also resulted with straight roads often being the result of enclosures rather than Roman occupation. The road which runs alongside the Hobbins is a good example. It will be fascinating to see the way in which Worfield land has been enclosed over the centuries. Colin is continuing to look at this vast subject.

Roughton Wills I was going to look at Roughton wills.

Hope to see you all at John and Diana's on the 9th Jan at 7.30pm