An extract from the Shareshill Parish Magazine

9/5/1908 History of Shareshill (Part 3)

Before the incumbency of the Rev.J.Boodle Clare there was no resident clergyman or any vicarage. Different clergy came from Wolverhampton and District to take the services. Mr.Clare’s father was in charge of St. George’s Church, Wolverhampton, and after his death he was succeeded by his son, who took charge of the Wolverhampton church and Shareshill. He first took up his quarters at Saredon and afterwards lived at The Elms. Here he remained until the land on which the vicarage now stands was put up for sale. The ground belonged to Lord Hatherton, the parish bought it, and a builder from Wolverhampton was employed and Mr.Beech completed the work. The clergy who came over to do duty were entertained by various people in the parish, amongst them being Mr.Barnes, churchwarden, who for many years lived at The Villa. The headmaster of Brewood Grammar School also officiated during this “non resident” period. The records of the church give the names of numerous ministers who all sign themselves “officiating Minister”, and it is not until the advent of Mr.Clare that any duly appointed person is met with as the incumbent of the parish. The church in its very early days was united to the Collegiate Church of Penkridge – a Royal Peculiar – and the incumbent then is frequently spoken of as Canon of Pancrig.

The legally appointed incumbents of Shareshill beginning with Mr.Clare are the Rev.Boodle Clare M.A. vicar from 1825 to 1859, the Rev.W.H.Havergal M.A. Hon. Canon of Worcester from 1860 to 1870, the Rev.R.Butcher from 1870 to 1897, and the Rev.E.Russ from M.A. from 1897 to the present time.

The organ of the church is an o-e manual pedal organ with ten stops; viz. Pedal Bourdon 16ft; Pedal 8ft; Open Diapason; Bass Diapason; Treble Diapason; Dulciana; Gamba; Principal; Fifteenth Flute. The small pipes of this organ formed part of the old barrel organ which was at one time in use in the church. Nicholson and Lord were the builders of the instrument in its present form. Before leaving the subject of the church one must not forget to mention the Tables of the Ten Commandments which Mr.Vernon had painted and framed in oak and put up.

The education matters of the parish until Mr.Forster’s act in 1870 came into force were somewhat of a primitive character. The present Parish School buildings were with the head teacher’s house built in 1870. The large room has accommodation for 90 scholars and the infant room for 36. The parish has every reason to be proud of its school. A good elementary education is given and a very careful moral training as well. The school stands very high among the County Schools for moral tone and teaching. The head teachers since 1870 have been Mr.Booker, Mr.Clayton, Mr.Raw and Mr.Benton, who holds the office at the present moment.

The first boys school was kept by “Old Kibble”, he and his wife “Old Nanny Kibble”, lived in a cottage up the old Hilton Lanes. The school was held in a cottage near the Bulls Head. Tradition has it that education was very scanty; one farmer it is said burnt his son’s geography book as he thought such knowledge unnecessary. The girl’s school was held in the house now occupied by Mr.Groves. This was built by Mrs.Vernon Graham.

At a vestry meeting held in the church vestry on the 23rd January 1840 it was resolved that a weekly school for boys be henceforth carried on under the superintendence of a master to be appointed at a salary of £20 per annum; and that the Sunday school for boys and girls be continued as hereto. This same vestry ordered the repairing and whitewashing of the school by one George Tomkinson. At a vestry held 29th February 1840 William Cox was elected headmaster. An additional allowance of £5 annually to the salary of £20, as house rent. In June 1840 a further sum of £2 was added to the salary to find coals. In the same month an entry is found relating to a subscription for the erection of a school house begun in 1835. William Cox was succeeded in October 1840 by John Cooper. In March 1847 the vestry is again exercised about the parish school and solemnly resolves and records that “That each boy received into this school be required to pay 1d per week for instruction in writing and accounts as far as addition and subtraction, and 1d per week for further arithmetical instruction. That each girl be required to pay 1d per week for instruction in reading and common needlework, and similar payments to those required for the boys for instruction in accounts”. Who shall say after this that Shareshill was not to the front in elementary education?

Sixty years ago the post office was kept by Mr. & Mrs. Shaw who then lived at Shareshill Hall Farm. Here Miss Shaw had for some time a school for young ladies. In the Easter of 1891 the parishioners desirous of showing their appreciation of Mr.Shaw’s long and faithful service as parish clerk and sexton extending from 1846 to 1891 presented him with a handsome clock with the following inscription: -

Presented to Mr.G.T.Shaw by the parishioners of Shareshill in remembrance of his 45 years faithful service as parish clerk and sexton. Easter 1891.

The present post office is managed by Mr.&Mrs.Devey. The house was formerly the residence of the Misses Adcock, to one of whom the parish owes a dole distributed on St. Thomas’s day in the church after Morning Prayer to inhabitants of 60 years of age.

The Old Jockey and malthouse was kept by Miss Sarah Braddock. It was well built and very pretty old house. A great deal of malt was sent out and much ale was brewed. The osier bed adjoining this house was at one time a sheet of water belonging to the Jockey Public House on which an old inhabitant states “Old Braddock” used to paddle his own canoe.

 

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