who was instrumental in the Industrial Revolution. He was born in the local manor (which he later inherited) in 1576. His grandfather, Robert Broke, was a former Speaker of the House of Commons. Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, one of the first female Methodist preachers, and John William Fletcher, her husband and fellow Methodist who was Vicar of Madeley, had a joint ministry in the parish in the 18th century. John's iron tombstone is in the parish churchyard. Major Charles Allix Lavington Yate VC, is another former resident of the town, who earned the Victoria Cross in the First World War. He was kinsman of Colonel Sir Charles Yate, 1st Baronet, (1849–1940) British soldier and administrator in India, who retired to Madeley Hall and is buried in the parish churchyard. Mary Whitehouse taught art at Madeley Modern School (now the Haberdashers' Abraham Darby) from 1960 to 1964, taking responsibility for sex education. Shocked at the moral beliefs of her pupils, she became concerned about what she and many others perceived as declining moral standards in the British media, especially in the BBC. Other notable people John Bromley (died 1717), Anglican-turned-Roman Catholic clergyman and translator, died at Madeley. Abraham Darby I (1677-1717), pioneering ironmaster, was tenant at Madeley Court where he died. Richard Reynolds (1735-1816), ironmaster, owned Madeley Court and lived there from 1781 until settling in Bristol 1804. Abraham Darby III (1750-1789), ironmaster, latter's brother-in-law and former's grandson, owned Madeley Court 1774–81. James Glazebrook (1744–1803) English cleric, controversialist, and writer, born there. Samuel Thorp (c.1765-1838) clockmaker, born there. Joseph Anstice (1808-1836), classical scholar, essayist, hymn writer, born at Madeley Wood Hall. Sir Wyke Bayliss (1835–1906) British painter, author and poet, born there. John Fletcher Moulton, Baron Moulton (1844-1921), judge, Liberal politician and writer, born there. Matthew Webb (1848-1883), pioneer Channel swimmer, lived in High Street in childhood before family moved to Coalbrookdale Wesley Spragg (1848–1930) New Zealand butter manufacturer, exporter and temperance campaigner, born there. William Dyas MBE (1872–1940), first-class cricketer, local businessman and councillor representing Madeley on both Wenlock Borough and Shropshire County Councils, born and died there. Richard Guy (1877-1938), professional footballer for Manchester City and other teams Edward Gwilliam (1877-1954) professional footballer for Wolves, born there. Harold William Timperley (1890–1964) English author of local history and topographical studies. Cecil Harris (1905-1949) professional footballer, goalkeeper for Hibernian and Darlington, born there. Edith Mary Pargeter, (best known as Ellis Peters) OBE,