Exploring Edstaston and Loppington in Search of Moretons, Walmsleys—and a Warm Bowl of Soup
Last week, while researching our Darlington line, we made an exciting discovery—two new direct family surnames: Moreton and Walmsley. Our search led us to St Mary’s Church, Edstaston, where several ancestors had been baptised, married, or buried.
We thought we’d visited every local churchyard in the area, but somehow this one had escaped our attention. So on Saturday, we set off to explore. The sun was shining when we left—but by the time we arrived at the church, snow was falling and the wind had picked up!
The churchyard was peaceful, with many old gravestones lying flat along the edges. Despite the weather, we were thrilled to find a Walmsley, and then another! But the worsening conditions and wet stone made photography difficult, so we decided to return on a drier day.
Before leaving, we tried the church door—and, like many rural Shropshire churches, it was open. Inside, we found the typical charm of local village churches: a timber-beamed ceiling, stone font, and a well-worn organ. We also discovered that St Mary’s Church was built in the Norman period, sometime between 1050 and 1175, and is said to feature some of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Shropshire.
A Surprise Family Connection at the Dickin Arms
Soaked and shivering, we decided it was time for a late lunch. A quick search led us to the Dickin Arms in Loppington—and that name rang a bell.
Dickin is another name from our family tree. My 5th great-grandmother Mary Dickin married Thomas Hinton in 1772 and is buried nearby at St John the Baptist Churchyard, Ightfield. Where better for lunch than a pub that may once have belonged to our ancestors?
The Dickin Arms was as warm and welcoming as we hoped. We tucked into bowls of homemade roast butternut and garlic soup with crusty bread—just what we needed. On the wall, a framed poster listed the inn’s owners, occupiers, and landlords from 1694 to the present day. It became an inn around 1780 and was named for the Dickin family, who were the largest estate owners in the parish of Loppington since the 17th century. As descendants, perhaps we should’ve asked for a discount!
Bull Rings and Memorials
Loppington also holds a curious claim to fame: it has the only remaining bull ring in North Shropshire. Set into the road, the iron ring was once used for bull baiting, a cruel sport where people paid to watch dogs fight a bull tied to the ring. It’s believed the practice continued here until the 19th century.
After lunch, we crossed the road to visit St Michael and All Angels Church, which was also open. The original stone church was built in the 12th century, with the tower and south aisle added in the 15th. The first gravestones we spotted were—remarkably—Dickins. Then we found an Abraham Darlington as well.
Inside, a stained glass window was dedicated to Katherine Dickin, and on the wall was a memorial plaque for Reverend George Dickin, who died in 1818. It’s always surreal to stand in front of names you’ve seen on paper for years and realize they were real people, in real places—just like this.
Until Next Time...
The weather was still grim, so we cut our visit short but plan to return to both churches when the skies are friendlier. We have more to discover—and we’ll no doubt stop again at the Dickin Arms for another warm and delicious meal.
Linda EYE on the PAST
