WOLVERLEY - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"WOLVERLEY, a parish partly in the upper division of Halfshire hundred, but chiefly in the lower division, and forming a detached portion of the lower division of Oswaldslow hundred, county Worcester, 2 miles N.W. of Kidderminster. The village is situated on the eastern bank of the navigable river Stour, and near the Stourbridge canal. The parish includes the village of Cookley, where are extensive works for the manufacture of iron, tin plates, screws, and iron wire; and the hamlets of Blakeshall, Kingsford, and Horsley, with other small places. The surface is diversified, and the soil is light, resting upon red sandstone.

On Blakeshall common is a pillar in memory of Richard Baxter. The living is a vicarage* [the asterisk denotes that there is a parsonage and glebe belonging to the living] in the diocese of Worcester, value £300, in the patronage of the dean and chapter. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. There is also a church at Cookley, dedicated to St. Peter. The Wesleyans have a chapel and schools at Cookley. The free grammar school, founded by William Seabright in 1620, was rebuilt in 1829, and is endowed with property in and near London; there are also infant schools at Wolverley and Cookley. The charities, including the school endowment, produce about £700 per annum. Baskerville, the eminent printer, was born here in 1706."
"BLAKESALL, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, hundred of Oswaldslow, in the county of Worcester, 3 miles to the N. of Kidderminster."
"CAUNSALL, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, in the county of Worcester. It is situated near the river Severn, at a short distance from Kidderminster."
"COOKLEY, a hamlet and chapelry in the parish of Wolverley, in the county of Worcester, 2 miles N. of Kidder minster. The living is a perpetual curacy* [the asterisk denotes that there is a parsonage and glebe belonging to the living] in the diocese of Worcester, value £60, in the patronage of W. Hancock, Esq."
"HAUSTLEY, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, county Worcester, 2 miles from Kidderminster."
"HORSELEY, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, county Worcester, 3 miles N.W. of Kidderminster."
"KINGSFORD, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, lower division of the hundred of Halfshire, county Worcester, 3 miles N.W. of Kidderminster."
"LOW, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, county Worcester, 3 miles N. of Kidderminster. It is situated near the river Stour and the Stourbridge canal."
"SION HILL, a hamlet in the parish of Wolverley, county Worcester, 1 mile N. of Kidderminster. It is the seat of Lady Russell."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]