ACTON-BURNELL, a parish in the hundred of
CONDOVER, county of SALOP, 7 miles (W. by N.) from
Much-Wenlock, containing, with the chapelries of Acton-
Pigot, and Ruckley with Langley, 305 inhabitants. The
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Salop, and diocese
of Lichfield and Coventry, rated in the king's books
at £6. 10., and in the patronage of Sir Edward Joseph
Smythe, Bart. The church is dedicated to St. Mary.
Here are some remains of an ancient castle, which belonged
to the family of Burnell, from whom the place
received the adjunct to its name. A great council, or
parliament, was held here in the reign of Edward I., in
1283, at which a law, called the statute of Acton-Burnell,
was enacted, to facilitate the recovery of debts by
merchants: the king and his court were accommodated
at the castle, the residence of Robert Burnell, Bishop of
Bath and Wells, and Lord High Chancellor: the lords
met in the hall of the castle, and the commons in a
very large barn belonging to Shrewsbury abbey.