Editorial note

EDITORIAL NOTE

Volume XI is the fifth volume of the Victoria History of Shropshire to be published, and the fourth since the revival of the project outlined in the Editorial Note to Volume VIII (1968). The partnership there described between the Salop (since 1980 Shropshire) County Council and the University of London has continued, local responsibility for the Shropshire History having been borne since 1977 by the County Council's Leisure Activities Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. V. M. E. Holt. As explained in the Editorial Note to Volume III (1979), the Committee devolved supervision of the History's work on the Victoria County History Advisory Board, chaired by Mr. Holt until 1981 and since then by Sir Jasper More. The University expresses its gratitude to the County Council for its continued support, and indeed for an increase in support since 1983 to maintain an additional editorial post. In that connexion the University has also to thank first the Walker Trust, which in 1979 increased the generous support it has given the History since 1961, and secondly two new patrons, the Telford Development Corporation and the Bridgnorth District Council. In 1979 the Corporation, interested in the History's work on Telford and learning of the County Council's wish to increase the editorial staff, offered a contribution for the duration of work on the present volume, thereby enabling an additional Assistant County Editor to be appointed. In 1981 the Bridgnorth District Council, aware that work on parishes in the district was to succeed work on the Telford area, promised a contribution to the new post: that contribution and the County Council's increase in support began, with work on Volume X, in 1983. The University is most grateful to the Development Corporation and the District Council for the assistance they have rendered, in co-operation with the County Council, to promote the History's progress.

The local staff mentioned in the Editorial Note to Volume III have continued in their posts, Mr. G. C. Baugh as County Editor, Dr. D. C. Cox as Assistant County Editor. Dr. A. J. L. Winchester was appointed an Assistant County Editor in 1979 and left in 1981. In succession to him Dr. P. A. Stamper has been Assistant County Editor since 1981. Mrs. J. McFall began to work voluntarily for the History in 1980 and continues to prepare contributions for future volumes.

Many people have helped during the preparation of this volume. In the first instance thanks are offered to Mr. E. Thomas, C.B.E., general manager of the Telford Development Corporation 1969-80; his regard for the History and its progress have been fruitful in many ways and are very gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are also rendered to Miss U. B. M. Rayska, the Corporation's Archivist 1975-83, to her successor Miss S. J. Bramley, and to Mr. D. G. Fenter, successively the Corporation's Director of Architecture and Assistant Technical Director 1972-81. Among the record offices and libraries whose resources have been drawn upon particular mention must be made of the Shropshire Record Office under Mrs. L. B. Halford, County Archivist; the Hereford and Worcester Record Office at Hereford; the Lichfield Joint Record Office; the John Rylands University Library of Manchester; the Staffordshire Record Office; Shropshire Libraries, especially the Local Studies Library, Shrewsbury, under Mr. A. M. Carr, and the Central Information and Reference Services; the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Library under Mr. J. Powell; and the Shropshire Star Library. Lord Barnard very kindly made his deeds at Raby Castle available; his courtesy and the help of Mrs. E. Steele, the curator at Raby, are very greatly appreciated. The late G. G. Colton and Mrs. P. A. Downes, successive town clerks of Much Wenlock, Mr. H. M. Colvin, C.B.E., Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, Mr. M. B. S. Exham, Lichfield Diocesan Registrar, the late P. Gwynne James, Hereford Diocesan Registrar, Mr. J. B. Lawson, Shrewsbury School Librarian, Mr. B. E. Poole of Johnson, Poole & Bloomer, the County Education Officer, the County Planning Officer, the Chief Executive and the Director of Planning and Environmental Services of the Wrekin District Council, some incumbents, and many head teachers are thanked for facilitating the use of material in their custody; the Craven estate papers at St. John's College were moved to the Bodleian Library after this volume was written. Much general help and information have also been given by the Revd. Prebendary C. Hill and Dr. B. S. Trinder. A very special debt of gratitude is owed to Mr. H. D. G. Foxall. Over many years he has prepared field-name maps from tithe apportionments and tithe and estate maps for the use of the History; his work, now almost complete, will endure as an indispensable aid to the historian, topographer, and onomastic of Shropshire. Thanks are also offered to many private householders who have courteously allowed the interior examination of their houses and to others who helped with particular articles and are named in appropriate footnotes.

The General Introduction to the History (1970) outlines the structure and aims of the series as a whole.