Great Bolas
Great Bolas | |
---|---|
Great Bolas bridge over the River Meese, near the hamlet of Meeson | |
Location within Shropshire | |
Population | 320 (2001) |
OS grid reference | SJ648214 |
Civil parish | |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | TELFORD |
Postcode district | TF6 |
Dialling code | 01952 |
Police | West Mercia |
Fire | Shropshire |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Great Bolas (
Etymology
The placename is attested in medieval documents since c.1200 as Boulewas, Bouldwas, Boulwas and similar forms.[3] It is believed to derive from a compound whose second element was the Old English word wæsse (Middle English was), possibly meaning 'a riverside place that is prone to quick flooding'; this element is thought to appear also in the names Alrewas, Broadwas, Buildwas, Hopwas, Rotherwas and Sugwas.[4] The first element has been identified as either a form of Old English *bogel 'little bend',[3] or of Old English bold 'house'.[5]
Boundary and administrative changes
The
Village amenities
In 1284, Great Bolas was owned by one of the foresters who looked after the Royal Forest of Wrekin, a twice yearly court and gallows were set up making the village important in the surrounding area.[5] In 1881 the village had a rectory, a school, grave yard, a corn mill named Bolas Mill, post office, a pump and two wells along with St John’s Church.[7] By 1901, Manor Farm was built as well as an extra pump.[8] By 1926 a Parish room was added and Bolas House was extended. Bolas Mill is now disused but the building remains standing.[9] In 1971, Manor Farm changed its name to Bolas Manor and the River Meese’s course was also straightened.[10][11]
St. John the Baptist's Church
The village church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist,
Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter
Great Bolas is known for its association with
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1801 | 207 | — |
1811 | 229 | +10.6% |
1821 | 274 | +19.7% |
1831 | 255 | −6.9% |
1841 | 288 | +12.9% |
1851 | 279 | −3.1% |
1861 | 275 | −1.4% |
1871 | 316 | +14.9% |
1881 | 304 | −3.8% |
1891 | 269 | −11.5% |
1901 | 255 | −5.2% |
1911 | 283 | +11.0% |
1921 | 264 | −6.7% |
1931 | 273 | +3.4% |
1951 | 265 | −2.9% |
1961 | 246 | −7.2% |
1971 | 213 | −13.4% |
2001 | 320 | +50.2% |
Occupational structure
In 1811 out of the 36 families residing in Great Bolas, 34 were "chiefly employed in agriculture", and the remaining two were "chiefly employed in trade, manufacture or handicraft".[14] The 1881 census shows that still the majority of males were employed in the Agriculture sector, while the majority of females worked in either an unknown occupation, or in the sector of domestic services and office employment.[15]
In the 2001 census, only 9% of Great Bolas was employed within the Agriculture, Hunting and Forestry sector. Manufacturing was the sector with the highest proportion of employees, with 20% of the Great Bolas population working within it. Both the construction sector along with the wholesale and retail trade sector have 13% of the population working within each which, so these three industries account for a high proportion of Great Bolas' employment structure.[16] The 1881 census records that there was a very low number of people who were professionals,[15] whereas in the 2001 census just under half the population were in professional, managerial, supervisory, administrative or clerical employment.[17]
Population
The population of Great Bolas has remained relatively stable. The 1801 census recorded the population as 207,[18] This gradually rose (with the exception of a few years where the population dropped) until it peaked at 316 in 1871.[19][20] From here, the population gradually dropped[21] through to 1971 where the census recorded the population as 213.[22][23] From 1971 to 2001, the population had grown to 320.[24]
References
- ^ "Visitor UK". Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ a b Great Bolas, GENUKI
- ^ a b Gelling, Margaret; Foxall, H. D. G. (1990). The place names of Shropshire. Vol. 1. English Place-Name Society. p. 51.
- ^ Lincolnshire History and Archaeology: 74. 2000.
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f "Shropshire Parish Registers". Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ "Vision of Britain: Unit History and Boundary Changes2". Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ 1881 Ordnance Survey Map, Country Series 1:2500, 1st Edition, OS Grid: SJ62
- ^ 1902 Ordnance Survey Map, Country Series 1:2500, 1st Revision, OS Grid: SJ62
- ^ 1926 Ordnance Survey Map, Country Series 1:2500, 2nd Revision, OS Grid: SJ62
- ^ 1971 Ordnance Survey Map, Country Series 1:2500, OS Grid: SJ62
- ^ "Historical Ordnance Survey Maps". Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Raven, M. A Guide to Shropshire, 2005, p.82
- ISBN 978-1-909644-11-3.
- ^ "Online Historical Population Reports – 1811". Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Occupational Data for 1881". Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "2001 Neighbourhood Statistics: Industry of Employment". Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "2001 Neighbourhood Statistics: Approximated Social Grade". Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ 1851 Census of Great Britain Population Table 2, Table (1) 'Population Abstract'
- ^ 1871 Census of England and Wales, Population Tables, Vol. 1, Table 10 Inhabited Houses, Families or Separate Hoccupiers, and Population of Civil Parishes and Townships
- ^ "Histpop: 1871 Census Data". Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Vision of Britain: Historical Populations". Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Mimas Census Data – 1971 Population". Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ 1971 Census of England and Wales, Population Data
- ^ "2001 Neighbourhood Statistics: Population". Retrieved 27 April 2012.