Family History

John Preen was the fourth son of Richard and Sarah Preen.  He was born in the autumn of 1851 and baptised in Leebotwood on Christmas Day. In the census records for 1861, 1871 and 1881 he was living at Old Field with the majority of the family. He remained unmarried and had no children. In 1891, after his parents' deaths, he appeared in the census as head of the family at Old Field.  Fred Medlicott, his great-nephew, says that he farmed there until his death. He was buried at Leebotwood in September 1929.

This map records field names within Leebotwood Parish, including the "Old Field". It is based on historical records and maps drawn up in 1839. Field names are an invaluable source of information for historians, geographers and archaeologists alike. They can be used to suggest who owned the land and how it may have been used in the past. This map was compiled by Mr George Foxall. Starting in 1961 he worked for over a quarter of a century to produce some 500 maps covering the county of Shropshire.