THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, a small handsome structure in the
early English style of architecture, was re-built in 1847 of red sand
stone. The interior has a very chaste and elegant appearance, and the
fabric exhibits some fine specimens of decorated workmanship. The living
is a rectory in the patronage of the Earl of Bradford, enjoyed by the
Rev. Robert Ridsdale, a non-resident. The Rev. F. B. Foulkes is the
officiating minister. The tithes are commuted for £325.
THE NATIONAL SCHOOL and residence for the teacher is a neat building,
erected by the Earl of Bradford. It is supported by subscriptions and a
small charge from each scholar. The income is about £60 per annum.
KNOCKIN HALL, situate on the east side of the village, a spacious mansion
of brick, is the seat of the Hon. Captain Charles Orlando Bridgeman. It
stands on a gentle eminence commanding delightful views into Wales. The
interior is finely adorned with antique carved furniture, and the walls
are ornamented with valuable and beautifully executed paintings. The
park is small, but pleasingly diversified with graceful undulations, and
enriched with fine timber. A beautiful avenue leads to the hall. THE
KNOCKIN HEATH FARM, situated about two miles S.E. from the church,
contains 350A., and is the residence of John Cooke, Esq. THE HALL FARM,
an extensive range of premises a short distance from the village, is the
residence of Richard Hilton, Esq.
Knockin is said to have given name to the ancient family of L’Estrange,
who built KNOCKIN CASTLE, and fixed their seat here. Guy L’Estrange had
three sons, Guy, Hamon, and John, all of whom held lands in Shropshire by
gift of Henry II. The younger, Guy, was sheriff of this county from the
2nd to the 11th of Henry II.; other branches of the family were
subsequently appointed knights of the shire. Ralph, son of the above
Guy, gave the chapel of Knockin to the canons of Haughmond. John
L’Estrange, in the 33rd of Henry III., procured a market for the town on
Tuesday, and a fair on the eve, day, and day after the anniversary of the
decollation of St. John Baptist. Madoc, who was at the head of an
insurrection against the king’s officers of North Wales, marched against
Lord L’Estrange and defeated him at Knockin. The male line of the family
failing in John L’Estrange in the 17th of Edward IV., who leaving an only
daughter Joan, she married George Stanley, who was created Earl of Derby
by Henry VIII. The title of Knockin is still kept up, though the family
is extinct; the eldest son of the Derby family being styled Lord Strange.
The castle was demolished during the civil wars in the time of King John.
At present there is scarcely a vestige remaining. Some of the stones
were used to build the churchyard walls, and a bridge over the brook, and
a large quantity of them were carried away to mend the roads. The fairs
and market have long been obsolete.
Bridgeman The Hon. Capt. Charles Orlando, R.N., Knockin Hall
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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