POLICE OFFICE, Cross st—Wm. Bowen constable PROPERTY & ASSESSED TAXES OFFICE, Peter Pritchard, collector STAMP OFFICE, Cross st—Edward Baugh sub-distributer CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY. ON THE CHESTER & SHREWSBURY LINE. The nearest Station is at WHITTINGTON between 5 and 6 miles south-west from Ellesmere There is an _Omnibus_ every morning and evening, from the Bridgewater Arms, High street, to the Station CARRIERS. To WHITTINGTON & OSWESTRY, Thomas Pearce, from his house Swine Market st. every Wednesday To WHITCHURCH, John Barber, from the Bulls’ Head, Cross st. every Tuesday CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY. To CHESTER, LIVERPOOL and MANCHESTER, the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company, from the Canal wharf, daily To NEWTOWN, WELSHPOOL and other parts of NORTH WALES, see Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company, from the Canal wharf, daily HALES OWEN (Worcestershire), WITH THE VILLAGES OF CRADLEY, NETHEREND, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS. HALES OWEN, (formerly in the county of Salop), in a market town and parish—the latter insulated, separated from Shropshire, and entirely surrounded by Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and extending into the hundred of Haltshire, in the latter county, to which it was in 1844, annexed by act of parliament; 117 miles N.W. from London, 11 S. by E. from Wolverhampton, 5 S. by E. from Dudley, and 7 S.W. from Birmingham, and 5 from Stourbridge—the last named is the nearest railway station, it being on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton line. This place is said to have formerly been a borough, though it does not appear to have ever returned members to the legislature. The town, which is seated in a fertile valley, consists principally of one street, in which are some respectable houses, and of several smaller streets, containing humbler dwellings, irregularly built. The river Stour, which rises in some hills not far distant, passes the town, as does the Netherton canal; about half a mile from it. Lord Lyttleton is lord of the manor, and holds an annual court leet, when a high and low bailiff, a constable, and head-borough are appointed. A court for the recovery of debts under £5., the jurisdiction of which included Hales Owen, is held at the court-house, Oldbury, once a fortnight, but this is now become inoperative, by the acts of the new County Court under which debts are recoverable to any amount, not exceeding £50. This place has been noted for the manufacture of nails, chains, and pearl and horn buttons. There are also, extensive iron works, (including the British Iron Company), and manufactories for gun-barrels, wrought iron hinges, anvils and vices, hammers and files, spades, shovels, &c. The coal trade is of importance; bricks and tiles are made to a considerable extent; and there are several maltings and corn mills, in the town and neighbourhood.