The parish church of Saint John, (which has recently undergone a thorough repair), is said to have been erected prior to the Conquest, contains a beautiful monument to the memory of Major Halliday, and a plain one to Shenstone the poet; the benefice is a vicarage, in the patronage of Lord Lyttleton, and incumbency of the Rev. Richard Brindley Hone. There are places of worship for Independents, and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. The free grammar school here, was founded under a commission for charitable uses. At a short distance from the town are the ‘Leassowes,’ the seat of the celebrated Shenstone, who received the rudiments of his education in the Hales Owen grammar school, it is now occupied by William Matthews, Esq. The market, which at the present day is of little or no importance, is chartered to be held on Monday (now held on Saturday); and a fair on Easter Monday. The entire parish of Hales Owen contained in 1841, 17,376 and in 1851, 23,330 (this is inclusive of Oldbury township which of itself contained at the last named period 10,155.) CRADLEY is a chapelry, in that part of the parish of Hales Owen which is in the lower division of the hundred of Haltshire, county of Worcester; two miles N.N.W. from Hales Owen, and three from Dudley and Stourbridge; situated on the river Stour, which, running on the northern and western sides of the chapelry, separates it from the county of Stafford. Beautifully situated in a woody district, and pleasing walks, and on the banks of a large pool or artificial lake, is Cradley Spa, where warm and cold baths have been erected; the water is impregnated with sulphate of soda, magnesia, &c., and is much used by invalids during the summer. At one period, an attempt was made to manufacture salt here, but with very partial success. Tin making of nails and chains now constitute the staple of the chapelry. The places of worship are the chapel under the establishment, and three others for dissenters: the living is a perpetual curacy, of which the Rev. Charles Walker Simons, is the incumbent. A national school, established here, is supported by subscription. The soil of this district is fertile, and brick clay of an excellent quality is obtained. The population of the chapelry, in 1851, was 3,383. NETHEREND is a small village in Cradley chapelry, adjacent to Hales Owen; and is chiefly to be noticed as having in its vicinity the extensive iron works of Messrs. Evers & Sons, for the manufacture of tar, rolled, and slit iron, for horse nails &c. which furnish employment to many hands, and others are engaged in the malting trade, it also contains extensive coal and brick works. In the village is a chapel for Unitarians, and a free school. Population returned with Cradley chapelry. POST OFFICE, High street, HALES OWEN, William Parkes, _Post Master_.—Letters from all parts arrive (from BIRMINGHAM), every morning at half-past six, and are despatched at seven in the evening.