Whitley stands aloof in the countryside between Hanwood and Annscroft, a handsome small country house, to the north of which remain traces of a moat. Much of the present building – a tall red brick three-by-two-bay block of three storeys and attics – is apparently of the late seventeenth century, with an armorial shield of the Owen arms, initials ‘WO’ and the date 1667 above the house’s original entrance. This was set slightly off-centre, with a moulded dripstone and quoins flanking the doorway. The 1667 date – divided with two numerals on each flanking newel post – and initials ‘WOM’ is again repeated on the handsome oak staircase, which rises up through the house to the attics. This, a ramped staircase, with moulded handrail, has rectangular-shaped balusters that are set between heavy square newels, carved with hearts and disc motifs. The staircase has stylistic similarities with that which, until the early twentieth century, was at Braggington (q.v.), a house owned by cousins of Whitley’s owners. Braggington’s tall hipped-roofed southern elevation also had a likeness to the form of Whitley.

The house was owned from the sixteenth century until the early eighteenth century by the Owen family. The Whitley Owens were cousins of the family at Condover (q.v.) and therefore also related to the owners of Woodhouse (q.v.), Tedsmore (q.v.) and Braggington. Each branch had a common ancestor in Owen ap Griffith ap Madoc of Llunllo near Machynlleth. The Woodhouse, Braggington and Tedsmore lines descended from the children of his first marriage to Isabel, daughter and heir of David Lloyd Middleton, whilst the Condover and Whitley branches descended from Owen’s second marriage to Gwenhwyvar, eldest daughter and co-heir of Thomas Ireland of Oswestry. By this second marriage, the couple had a son, Richard Owen (d. 1576), who was a Shrewsbury draper and burgess from 1520. He had married Mary (d. 1568), daughter of Thomas Ottley.

Richard and Mary Owen had two sons. Thomas was the elder and became the celebrated Judge responsible for Condover Hall. Their younger son, Richard Owen (d. 1594), followed his father’s footsteps as a draper from 1572–3, and was the builder of Owen’s Mansion on the High Street in Shrewsbury. Married to Sarah, daughter of Thomas Ireland, it was probably he who acquired the Whitley estate.