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.

LANGLEY, a chapelry in the parish of ACTON-BURNELL, hundred of CONDOVER, county of SALOP, 6 miles (W.) from Much Wenlock. The population is returned with the township of Ruckley.

RUCKLEY, a township in the parish of ACTON-BURNELL, hundred of CONDOVER, county of SALOP, 7 miles (W.) from Much-Wenlock, containing, with the chapelry of Langley, 75 inhabitants.