Ruyton-XI-Towns
Encyclopedia
Ruyton-XI-Towns (ˌraɪtən ɨˈlɛvən taʊnz "ryetən eleven towns"), formally Ruyton of the Eleven Towns or simply Ruyton, is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire
, England
. It has a population of around 1,500 people and lies on the River Perry
. Nearby is the large village of Baschurch
and to the north the smaller village of Wykey
.
The village acquired its unusual name in the twelfth century when a castle
was built, and it became the major manor of eleven local townships
. The Roman numeral for eleven is included in its name. Some of the eleven ancient townships, mostly situated to the north and west of Ruyton, still survive as hamlets today; although some, like Coton, are just a collection of farm buildings. The eleven were Ruyton, Coton, Shotatton, Shelvock
, Eardiston and Wykey, which remain in the parish; and Felton, Haughton, Rednal, Sutton and Tedsmore, now in the parish of West Felton
.
Lying in the Welsh Marches
, the castle was destroyed in 1202, rebuilt by 1313 and destroyed again by Owain Glyndŵr
. In 1308, an attempt was made to refound the town as New Ruyton. It was awarded a charter which briefly gave it the same status as the County of Bristol, but as raiding continued, it declined and lost most of its rights.
Notable buildings in the village include its parish church
, part of which dates from the 1130s, and the garden
s of Brownhill House.
The Preparatory school Packwood Haugh
is near the village.
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It has a population of around 1,500 people and lies on the River Perry
River Perry
There are a number of waterways named Perry, River Perry or Perry River:* River Perry, Shropshire, England* Perry River, Chester Bay, Nunavut, Canada* Perry River , Australia* Perry River , Australia...
. Nearby is the large village of Baschurch
Baschurch
Baschurch is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies in North Shropshire, north of Shrewsbury. Population: 1,475 . The village has strong links to Shrewsbury to the south-east, Oswestry to the north-west, and Wem to the north-east. Baschurch is twinned with the town of Giat...
and to the north the smaller village of Wykey
Wykey
Wykey is a hamlet in Shropshire, England.It is approximately 2 miles north of the larger village of Ruyton-XI-Towns, and is recognised as one of the "XI" towns....
.
The village acquired its unusual name in the twelfth century when a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was built, and it became the major manor of eleven local townships
Township (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
. The Roman numeral for eleven is included in its name. Some of the eleven ancient townships, mostly situated to the north and west of Ruyton, still survive as hamlets today; although some, like Coton, are just a collection of farm buildings. The eleven were Ruyton, Coton, Shotatton, Shelvock
Shelvock
Shelvock is a name of Saxon origins - from the Old English scelf meaning a shelf of level ground, or flat topped hill, and ac meaning oak, taken from the ancient Manor of Shelvock, near Ruyton-XI-Towns, Shropshire, England originally pronounced "shelf'ac", "shelv'ak" or "shelv'oak", but today as...
, Eardiston and Wykey, which remain in the parish; and Felton, Haughton, Rednal, Sutton and Tedsmore, now in the parish of West Felton
West Felton
West Felton is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. At the 2001 census the parish, which also includes the settlements of Rednal, Grimpo and Haughton, had a population of 1,380....
.
Lying in the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
, the castle was destroyed in 1202, rebuilt by 1313 and destroyed again by Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
. In 1308, an attempt was made to refound the town as New Ruyton. It was awarded a charter which briefly gave it the same status as the County of Bristol, but as raiding continued, it declined and lost most of its rights.
Notable buildings in the village include its parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, part of which dates from the 1130s, and the garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s of Brownhill House.
The Preparatory school Packwood Haugh
Packwood Haugh School
Packwood Haugh School is an independent coeducational day and boarding preparatory school near Ruyton-XI-Towns, mid-way between Oswestry and Shewsbury in Shropshire, England...
is near the village.