Shadymoor Roots

(ref: Victoria County History of Shropshire Vol VIII pages 161 –167; Shropshire fieldnames by H. D. George Foxall)

In 1284 Robert of Stapleton was granted a licence to impark “Alsemore” likely to be the park occupying most of Shadymoor “Stapleton Great Park.” Hence The Parks, fields numbers 182 – 185. East of Lower Shadymoor and between the Big and the Little Shadymoor Coppices (seen from the balcony to the East and West. Field number 309, called the Rainbow, equal to a shape name, one boundary of this field is curved, you see this field as you come down the half mile farm drive.

The nucleus of the Park was an enclosure called Alsemore which means ancient, even in 1284. Alsemore could be the corrupt spelling of Alrics More – Alric in 1066. Alsemore could be equal to Old Shed Moor. Shadymoor – so named in 17th century was Stanleymoor in early 14th century and Shadwell Moor in 1547. Steplewood is an abbreviated form of Stapleton Wood. This was part of large area stretching northwards towards Bayston which was called Shed More in mediaeval period. This describes the area involved in the diversion of the Cound by Glacial avalanches, from its former course through the Bayston Hill gap and along the route of Moneybrook.

• During the middle ages the greater part of Stapleton Parish over 350 feet contour was woodland or waste.
• Shadymoor description of: Partly woodland and partly ill drained moorland occupied a wide belt of land running from Wilderley boundary in South West, to Dorrington in East, thus forming a barrier between “townships” of Stapleton and Netley.
• Steplewood was a bailiwick of the Long Forest until 1250. A bailiwick is a living for a bailiff. And the Long Forest started at Much Wenlock and finished at Lyth Hill. The word “Forest” means not just woodland.
• Woodland acreage recorded in Stapleton Parish:

514 acres in 1443
65 acres in 1651 (the three main woods were Corfields Big Shadymoor and Little Shadymoor)
50 acres in 1830 70 acres in 1877

The Little Park, within Stepplewood in mid 14th century associated to Moat Farm, western boundary was the Parish boundary with Pulverbatch.

The Wilderley road used to be main route from Longmynd to Shrewsbury as a drovers road (driving livestock). The wetter areas sank and so the present day high verges and hedges were shaped.

The cottages near Upper Moat Farm were associated to late 18th century. Coal workings 1764 to 82 and brick works before 1877. You will find the remnants of the workings in what we now call the dinosaur fields! So named by the Shilton children who lived here in the late 20th century.

Records establish a settlement at Upper Shadymoor. The original farmhouse was demolished in 1910 to make way for a “New farmhouse,” the plans of which demonstrate a true working farm, with the ground floor offering a kitchen, back kitchen, dairy, pantry, scullery (with washing caldrons) and a sitting room. The original farmhouse was built of stone this was recycled to build the walls of the garden to the “new farmhouse,” according to Rupert Bebb, whose family farmed here at that time.

1960’s a new road was installed by the Netley Estate, of which Upper Shadymoor Farm was part. This was to allow the lorries collecting milk churns a smoother passage, rather than collecting via Lower and Middle Shadymoor Farms. Beware some maps still suggest this is the route in, this route is bridleway access only.

The Bebb’s moved across Shropshire to Bridgnorth and the Shilton family took on the farm just after World War II, farming here until 2001 when sadly the contiguous cull of foot and mouth brought their planned retirement forward.

2004 marked the return of a small nucleus herd of fallow deer that have been reintroduced to the woodland glades. You are welcome to “deer watch.” History has come full circle.