Bitterley, Shropshire

Description
Bitterley, a township and a parish in Salop. The township lies under the Clee Hills, 4 miles NE of Ludlow, which is the post town, and the money order and telegraph office. The parish includes also the townships of Cleeton, Ledwich, Middleton, and Snitton, with part of Henley. Acreage, 6879 ; population of the civil parish, 1011; of the ecclesiastical, with Middleton, 673. The Clee Hills here exhibit grand scenery, command noble views, and contain abundance of coal and ironstone. Bitterley Court and Henley Hall are the chief residences. The living is a rectory, united with the perpetual curacy of Middleton, in the diocese of Hereford; net value, £516. The church contains a carved oak pulpit, a carved oak screen, a Norman font, and several monuments, and was restored in 1880. A stone cross, with graduated pedestal and hexagonal shaft, crowned by tabernacled niches, is in the churchyard. There is a Primitive Methodist chapel. Cleeton is a separate benefice.