11 JUNE 1927, Page 15

ANCIENT FAMILIES

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—Can _any of your readers well versed in history and topography tell me which English counties can claim the largest number of ancient families ?

A cursory study of the subject seems to suggest that Shrop- shire is far ahead of any other county in this respect. Despite the post-war changes in ownership of many estates, there are a considerable number of families in the Shire who still hold lands which have been theirs for centuries.

To mention the families of Eyton, Plowden, Sandford, Leighton, Forester, Gatacre, and Corbit, is to name only a few of those who are still in possession of their ancient acres.— 1. am, Sir, &c.,

Weston, flawkstone, Shrewsbury. G. S. HEWINS.