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Community Orchard

Bartlett Gardens is a £23,000 project to turn an overgrown paddock into a Community Orchard. Paths have been laid throughout the site and ornate cast iron gates erected at the entrance.

Madeley Community Orchard Group, which includes Madeley Parish Council, Madeley United Charities, local schools and residents have recently planted a further 60 fruit trees. Future planting by volunteers will see some rare varieties reintroduced like the Shropshire prune damson, Katy apple and Concord pear trees.

School children from the Sir Alexander Flemming Primary School are to put down a mosaic as a central feature. Public benches and educational placards could also be placed within the site.

Historical Background

The Rev John Bartlett MA - after whom the orchard is named - was vicar of Buildwas 1822-61 but lived at Upper House for a time in the 1820s before moving to a house he had built in Ironbridge.

He owned 122 acres in Madeley parish by 1849 and was a huge local benefactor. He founded the parochial infant school in Madeley in 1829.

A man whose constant desire to alleviate the temporal wants of others was only exceeded by his concern for their spiritual welfare.

He was married to the daughter of William Reynolds of the Ironmasters family.

It seems reasonable to suppose that his widow, Susannah, set up the charity over the next two years - the charity was founded 1863 with a donation of land and some income.