Wem, a considerable town, pleasantly situated near the source of the Roden. It is a very ancient town, and is supposed by some to be the Rutunium, named in the Itinerary. It consists of one large open street, with some smaller ones, and the church is a handsome structure, with a fine chancel and a lofty tower. At the north-west corner of the church yard is Haley Castle, an oval, much levelled and converted into a garden. Here is a free-school, founded by Sir Thomas Adams, lord-mayor of London, in the year 1645, who gave the house in which he was born here for that purpose.

Wem was the title bestowed by king James the Second on his worthless and wicked lord chancellor, Judge Jeffreies In the year 1676the greatest part of the town was burnt down; but, according to the late population act, it consisted of 582 houses, and 3608 inhabitants.

Mr. John Ireland, author of the "Illustrations of Hogarth,’’ and several other works, was born at French farm near Wem, in a house that had been the birth-place and residence of. Wycherly the poet. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Holland, and great grand-daughter of the Rev. Philip Henry. Mr. Ireland discovered a strong predilection for letters and painting at an early age; but his friends thought he had also a turn for mechanics. While very young he married an amiable and estimable young woman, of a mind and temper congenial with his own, and engaged in an extensive business with every prospect of success. In this he was not successful, though his knowledge of his art was indisputable- For pictures and prints he had an enthusiastic fondness, and especially the works of Mortimer and Hogarth; he had a well selected collection ; and a well chosen library of books. He lived in terms of intimacy with many eminent men in the arts, at the bar, and the church, Mr. Ireland was the first protector of Henderson; and in his house that popular actor resided many years; as a friend and a brother, before he was permitted to try his strength on the stage. With Gainsborough he was also on the most friendly terms, Mr. Ireland’s Life and Letters of Henderson were published in the year 1786. The next publication with his name prefixed was "Hogarth Illustrated,’’ in two volumes. The book abounds with anecdote, which the author’s long connexion with men conversant with such subjects enabled him to supply. These are generally told in an easy and agreeable style, and always have a general relation to the subject. For several years Mr. Ireland was afflicted with a complication of disorders, which rendered society irksome; and his latter days were clouded with pecuniary difficulties. He died at the close of the year, in the vicinity of Birmingham.

Wycherly one of the best comic poets in Charles the Second’s time, was born at a farm house, called French farm, one mile from Wem. When he was about fifteen years of age, he was sent over to France for the improvement of his education. Here he continued some time, during which he was often admitted to the conversation of the most accomplished ladies of that court. A little before the restoration of Charles the Second, he returned to England, and became a gentleman commoner of Queen’s College, in Oxford; and was entered in the public library in July, 1660. After some time, he quitted the University, and entered himself a student in the middle Temple; but, being much addicted to pleasure, he forsook the study of the law before he was called to the bar, and engaged himself in pursuits more agreeable to his own genius and the gallant spirit of the times.

Upon writing his first play, entitled, "Love in a Wood, or St. James’s Park," acted at the Theatre Royal, in 1672, he became acquainted with several of the most celebrated wits, both of the court and town ; and likewise with the Duchess of Cleveland, The circumstance that gave rise to his acquaintance with this lady was as follows:

One day as Mr. Wycherly was riding in his chariot through St. James’s Park, he was met by the duchess, whose chariot jostling against his, she looked out, and said very audibly, "You, Wycherly,

you are a son of a w !" and then burst into a fit

of laughter. Mr. Wycherly was at first very much surprised at this, but, on recovering himself, he recollected that it was spoke in allusion to the latter end of a song in his "Love in a wood."

During Mr. Wycherly’s surprise, the chariots driving different ways, they were soon at a considerable distance from each other; when Mr. Wycherly, recollecting himself, ordered his coachman to drive back and overtake the lady. As soon as he came near enough, he addressed her as follows: "Madam, you was pleased to bestow a title upon me, which generally belongs to the fortunate; will your ladyship be at the play to night ?’’ "What if I should be there?" replied she. "Why then," answered he, "I will be there to wait on your ladyship, though I disappoint a fine woman who has made me an assignation." "So !" said she, "you will-disappoint a woman who has favoured you, for one who has not?" "Yes, replied he, "if she who has not favoured me is the finer woman of the two: but he who will he constant to your ladyship, till he can find a finer Woman, is sure to die your captive."

In consequence of this compliment the duchess was that night in the first row of the king’s boxes in Drury-Lane Theatre, and Mr. Wycherly was in the pit under her, where he entertained her during the whole play; and this was the beginning of a correspondence between those two persons, which made a great noise in the town.

In 1678, Mr. Wycherly wrote a comedy, called "The Gentleman Dancing Master," which was acted at the Duke’s Theatre, and received with universal applause. In 1678 he wrote his "Plain Dealer;" and in 1683 the comedy of "The Country Wife." These plays raised him high in the esteem of the world, and recommended him to the favour of the nobility, among whom his greatest friend was the Duke of Buckingham. King Charles, likewise shewed him more respect, perhaps, than was ever known to take place from a sovereign to a private gentleman. Mr. Wycherly happened to be very ill at his lodgings for some time, during which the king did him the honour of a visit, when, finding his body weak, and his spirits depressed, he commanded him to take a journey to the south of France, and to remain there during the winter season; at the same time the king assured him, that when he was able to undertake the journey, he would order 500l. to be paid him to defray the expenses. Mr. Wycherly accordingly went to Fiance, and returned to England the latter end of the following spring, with his health perfectly restored. The king received him with the utmost marks of esteem, and soon after told him that he had a son whom he would deliver to his care for education, and that for this service he should have 1500l. a year allotted to him: the king also added, that when the time came his office should cease, he would take care to make such provision for him, as would place him above the malice or contempt of the world.

These were golden prospects for Mr. Wycherly ; but they were soon, by a singular accident, rendered abortive. Soon after his Majesty’s promise, Mr. Wycherly went to Tunbridge, to take either the benefit of the waters, or the diversions of the place; when, walking one clay upon the Wells-walk, with his friend Mr. Fairbread of Gray’s Inn, just as he came to the door of a bookseller’s shop, the Countess of Drogheda, a young widow, rich, noble, and beautiful, came to the bookseller, and enquired for the "Plain Dealer." Madam," said Mr. Fairbread, "since you are for the Plain Dealer, there he is for you pushing Mr. Wycherly towards her, "Yes," says Mr. Wycherly, "this lady can bear plain-dealing; for she appears to be so accomplished, that what would be a compliment to others, when said to her, would be plain-dealing."—"No, truly, Sir," said the lady, "I am not without my faults, I love plain-dealing; and never am more fond of it than when it tells me of a fault."—"Then, Madam, said Mr. Fairbread, "you and the Plain Dealer seemed designed by Heaven for each other." In short, Mr. Wycherly accompanied her on the walks, waited on her home, visited her daily at her lodgings, and in a little time obtained her consent to marry him. This he did by the advice of his father, without acquainting the king, who, when informed of it, was highly offended ; and Mr. Wycherly, from a consciousness of having acted imprudently, seldom going to court, his absence was construed into ingratitude.

This was the cause of Mr. Wycherly’s disgrace with the king, whose favour and affection he had before possessed in so distinguished a degree. The countess settled all her estates upon him; but his claims to them being disputed after her death, the expense of the law and other incumbrances so far reduced him, that he was not able to satisfy the impatience of his creditors, who threw him at last into prison; so that he, who a few years before was flourishing in all the gaiety of life, flushed with prospects of court preferment, and happy in the most extensive reputation for wit and parts, was condemned to suffer all the rigours of want. In this severe extremity he fell upon an expedient, which no doubt was dictated by his distress, of applying to his bookseller, who had got considerably by his Plain Dealer, in order to borrow 20l. but he applied in vain; the bookseller refused to lend him a shilling: and he remained in that distress for seven years, when he obtained his release at the instigation of King James, who, seeing his Plain Dealer performed, was so charmed with it that he gave immediate orders for the payment of the author’s debts, adding to that bounty a pension of 200l. per annual while he continued in England.

On the death of his father he became possessed of a considerable estate, but it was clogged with so many limitations that he never enjoyed any great advantage from it. In his advanced years he married a young lady of fortune; but only survived his nuptials eleven days. He died in the month of September, 1715, and was interred in the vault of Covent Garden Church.

He was a man of great sprightliness and vivacity of genius. He is said to have been handsome, formed for gallantry, and was certainly, in a particular manner, respected by the ladies, a felicity which even his wit might not have procured without exterior advantages.

Sir Thomas Adams, was also born at Wem, in 1586. He received his education at Cambridge, but was afterwards brought up to the business of a draper in London. He was strictly prudent in his conduct, and happily successful in his undertakings. He received all the honours the city of London could bestow, and in 1646 discharged, with the greatest integrity, the office of chief magistrate. He was afterwards, for his loyalty and unbrassed honesty, sent to the Tower, divested of all his public employments, and banished the kingdom. During his exile he remitted to Charles II. 10,000l. and in the 73rd year of his age was sent commissioner, by the City of London, to Breda in Holland, with General Monk, to congratulate and attend the king home; and on the 13th of June, 1660 (a few days after his Majesty’s return,) he was made a baronet of England He died on the 4th of February, in the 82nd year of age.

Among many other noble works, he established a professor of Arabic in Cambridge; and was at the sole expense of translating the gospel into the Persian tongue, in order, as he said, to throw a stone at the forehead of Mahomet.

WEM is a market and union town and parish on the river Boden and the road from Shrewsbury to Whitchurch and Chester, head of a petty sessional division and county court district, with a station on the Shrewsbury and Crewe branch of the London and North-Western railway, 174 miles from London, 10 north from, Shrewsbury, 18 east from Oswestry and 9 south from Whitchurch, in the Northern division of the county, Wem division of North Bradford hundred, rural deanery of Wem, archdeaconry of Salop and diocese of Lichfield. The town is paved and lighted with gas by a company from works in High street, rebuilt in 1880 at a cost of £2,500: water works, the property of Wem Rural District Council, were completed in 1884, at a cost, inclusive of the purchase of land, of £5,450; the pumping station is near Preston Brockhurst, about 3 ½ miles from Wem. The church of SS. Peter and Paul, erected in the last century, is a building of stone in the Early English style, consisting of apsidal chancel with aisles, nave, aisles and an embattled western tower of Norman date, with pinnacles and containing a clock and 6 bells: at a considerable elevation in the walls are two ancient statues; the one looking east undoubtedly represents St. Chad: the church was restored, enlarged and decorated in 1886, at a cost of £5,000, when a new chancel, the gift of the rector, was erected, opening into north and south aisles: the old stained east window was reinserted at a much higher level and a memorial reredos of Caen stone, statuary marble and alabaster erected. The register dates from the year 1582. The living is a rectory, average income from tithe rent-charge £1,599, net yearly value £851, including 38 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of Lord Barnard, and held since 1895 by the Rev. the Hon. Gilbert Holies Farrer Vane M. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge. The Congregational chapel, in Chapel street, is a building of brick and stone, erected in the year 1775, enlarged in 1834, at a total cost of about £2,000, and restored in 1888 at a further cost of £850: it will seat 500 persons. The Baptist chapel, in Market street, erected in 1870 at an outlay of £1,100, is a structure of brick, with stone dressings, and will seat 260 persons. There is also a Primitive Methodist chapel in Chapel street. The church cemetery, in Aston street, about an acre in extent, with mortuary chapel, formed in 1852, was closed in January 1892, and a new cemetery opened on the Whitchurch road; this is about 4 ½ acres in extent and has mortuary chapel; both are under the control of the rector and churchwardens; there is also a cemetery belonging to the Congregationalists of about a quarter of an acre, laid out in 1844, and controlled by the minister and deacons; it contains a chapel, which is also used for week night services. The Town Hall, in High street, rebuilt in 1848, is a plain edifice of brick, and contains an assembly room holding 300 persons. The Rechabite Hall, at the back of Noble street, is the property of Miss Ralph, and will seat 160 persons. There is also an assembly room at the White Horse hotel, holding about 400 persons. The Wem Conservative Club, in Noble street, consists of reading and recreation rooms and a fine billiard room, and refreshment bar, and the grounds include a bowling green; there is also a library of about 660 volumes, and the club is supplied with the daily papers &c. The Wem Working Men’s Club (Non-Political), in Chapel street, has reading and recreation rooms, a billiard table and a library of about 500 volumes, and is also supplied with the daily papers &c. The Fire Brigade, consisting of a captain, 2 sergeants and 12 firemen, has a station in High street. Here are steam and water mills and a tan yard. The market day is Thursday. Fairs are held every alternate Monday; in addition to which Messrs William Hall, Wateridge and Owen hold a sale on the same day, in their Smithfield, at the Castle hotel. The E company of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion (the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry) has its head quarters in the Town Hall. The general charities amount to £31 8s. yearly, arising from land and money in funds. Hawkstone Park, Acton Reynald and Grinshill Hill are objects of interest in the neighbourhood. Wem Hall, the residence of Sir Joseph Layton Elmes Spearman bart. J. P. is a plain brick-built structure, standing in its own grounds on the high Road to Whitchurch and Chester. Lord Barnard is lord of the manor The area of the township is 1,203 acres; rateable value, £11,704; the area of the entire parish is, 13,845 acres of land and 53 of water; rateable value, £30,091; the population of the civil parish in 1891, including 67 officers and inmates of the workhouse, 3,796 and of the ecclesiastical 2,724.

Edstaston, 2 miles north, was formed in 1850 into a parish.

Petty Sessions are held at the clerk’s office every alternate Thursday at 11. 30 a.m. The following places are included in the division: —Wem, Stanton, Shawbury, Moreton-Corbet, Lee Brockhurst, Loppington, Weston & Whixhill, & Marchamley, Broughton, Clive, Grin shill & Wrixall Wem Union.

Board day, alternate Thursdays at the Board room, Workhouse, at 10.30 a.m. The union comprises the following parishes: —Broughton, Clive, Grinshill, Lee Brockhurst, Loppington, Moreton Corbet, Prees, Shawbury, Stanton-upon-Hine Heath, Wem, Weston & Whixhill-under-Redcastle & Whixall; The area of the union is 52,451 acres; rateable value in 1895, £88,178; the population in 1891 was 10,119.

Places of Worship, with times of services.

Church of SS. Peter & Paul, High street, Rev. The Hon. Gilbert Holies Farrer Vane M. A. rector; Rev. Georga Henniker-Gotley B. A. curate in charge; Rev. Arthur Burrows, assistant curate; 11 a.m. & 3 & 6. 30 p.m.; week days, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. in summer & 4 p.m. in winter.

Baptist, Market street, Rev. George Sear; 11 a.m. & 6. 30 p.m.; Wed. 7. 15 p.m.

Congregational, Chapel street, Rev. James Brignall Walton B. A., LL. B.; 11 a.m. & 6. 30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Chapel street, Rev. John Taylor; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Pool head, 2.30 & 6.30 p.m.

Schools

Grammar, Noble street, founded & endowed in 1650 by Sir Thomas Adams kt. & rebuilt in 1776; there are two exhibitions of £60 yearly each, founded by Mr. Careswell & tenable at Christ Church, Oxford, for 10 years; the school has an annual income of £269; the present (1895) number of boys is 45 British (mixed), Leek street, built in 1840, for 300 children; average attendance, 150.

National (mixed), Noble street, built in 1838, for 400 children; average attend. 200.