Historical And Descriptive Guide Through Shrewsbury

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE GUIDE THROUGH SHREWSBURY.

Coat of Arms, Floreat Salopia By S. F. WILLIAMS. NEW AND REVISED EDITION 1881. SHREWSBURY: DRAYTON BROS., PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS....

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PREFATORY NOTE.

This “Historical Guide” has no pretensions to the value of either a full history or a complete handbook of Shrewsbury. It consists simply of a sketch of the historical associations of Shrewsbury, and of a directory just sufficiently complete to conduct residents or visitors to the principal objects or places of interest in the town. In the Guide, the object has been to preserve the historical element....

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HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.

“Proud Salopians!” Well, have we not some good reasons for being proud? Is it not natural that as Shrewsbury has been the scene of important events and incidents, we should feel a little inordinate self-esteem? Hamlet will have it that the poor should not trumpet their own praises; but we are rich, and therefore we can indulge in some degree of conceit. Have we not something to be vain about? Have we not found homes and hiding-places for kings? Have we not had a mint here and made money—wh

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THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY.

The reign of Henry IV. is distinguished by the “Battle of Shrewsbury,” one of the most terrible battles recorded in the History of England. Henry was surrounded on all sides by difficulties and dangers. His nobles were animated by mutual hostilities. His subjects in Wales seized the opportunity which the discontent among the aristocracy of England gave them, and broke out in insurrection. Inspired and guided by Owen Glendower, the indomitable Welsh fought a long and tedious battle, in which

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THE CASTLE.

On the site of the castle a Saxon fortress originally stood. In 1070 Roger de Montgomery built the castle by enlarging the fortress and demolishing fifty-one houses occupied by the burgesses. The destruction of this property was not accompanied by any diminution in the public taxes, and the burgesses complained of their grievance, but without effect. The Earl’s two sons, who succeeded him in possession of the castle, refused to redress their wrongs. In the reign of Henry I. it became the pro

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THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL,

which arrests the eye on Castle Gates, was founded by Edward VI., on the 18th of February, 1552, who named it the “Free Grammar School”—a title about the meaning of which there has been a good deal of philological disputation. On the south window is a Latin inscription, which runs as follows:—“At the supplication of Hugh Edwards and Richard Whittaker, King Edward the Sixth laid the foundation of a Shrewsbury School.” The supplication was induced by the fact that there was no public institution

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ST. NICHOLAS’ CHURCH.

Near St. Nicholas’s Church stands...

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THE COUNCIL HOUSE,

approached by a fine timber gateway. In Speed’s Map it is called “ Lord’s Place ,” and it appears to have been erected in 1502. It was the place of residence for the Kings and Lord Presidents of the Welsh Marches when they came to Shrewsbury. King James II. kept his court in it on August 25th, 1687. It has been the scene of many a “costly banquet.” Charles I., Sir Henry Sidney, the Earl of Arundel and other noblemen have been “nobly entertained here at the expense of the town.” From the Co

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CASTLE STREET.

On the right is the Raven Hotel , where Farquhar wrote his comedy of The Recruiting Officer , the scene and characters of which are of local origin, and the preface to which acknowledges the loyalty and hospitality of the good people of Shrewsbury. At the termination of Castle Street, commences in a straight line...

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PRIDE HILL.

Pride Hill was anciently named, for a reason undiscovered and unknown, Corvisor’s Row, then in Speed’s map Shoemaker’s Row, and then finally, for ever, no doubt, Pride Hill, from the fact of it having been the residence of a family of the name of Pride. Directly opposite the spectator’s eye stands the New Market ; but instead of going down to inspect the handsome building we turn to the left, pass the New General Post Office , and reach...

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ST. MARY’S STREET.

Here, of course, the chief object is...

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ST. MARY’S CHURCH.

It is supposed to have been founded by King Edgar about 980. There were attached to it a Dean and seven Prebendaries, and the stipend of the priest amounted to £6 6s. 8d. In the reign of Edward the Confessor it had a Dean and nine Prebendaries, and was provided with a large estate for their maintenance. In the time of Henry VIII. the revenue was £32 4s. 2d., and the Dean received as his share £22 6s. 8d. In the early part of the reign of Edward VI. the revenue had increased to £42, the whole

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DRAPERS’ ALMSHOUSES,

better known as St. Mary’s Almshouses. They were founded in the reign of Edward IV., about 1461, by Degory Water, a draper of Shrewsbury, who was admitted a burgess in 1404 and lived in the “hall house” or centre house among the poor. He died in 1477. He made no respect of persons in St. Mary’s Church, but set an example almost in anticipation of the modern “open-pew” system by accompanying the poor people to church and kneeling among them in a “long pew in the quire.” The original almshouse

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SALOP INFIRMARY,

an institution which is acknowledged to be one of the best conducted of its kind in the kingdom. It was formed in 1745, when a commodious house was purchased, fitted out, and opened for the reception of patients on the 25th of April, 1747. The present building, on the site of the former structure, was commenced in July, 1827, when Lord Hill laid the foundation-stone. It was completed and opened in September, 1830. The appurtenances and appointments of the institution are admirable. It is su

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CHURCH STREET.

The half-timbered house, conspicuous by its gables, on the right hand side, formed a portion of Jones’s Mansion . It was erected by Thomas Jones, Esq., the first Mayor of Shrewsbury, son of Sir Thomas Jones, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. It was the residence of the Duke of York in 1642, and of Prince Rupert “when he joined his uncle after the brilliant action of Worcester.” The Church a few yards further on is...

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ST. ALKMUND’S CHURCH,

which had its foundation early in the 10th century. St. Alkmund was the son of Alured, King of Northumberland. He was slain in the year 800 and buried at Lilleshall. The church dedicated to him is supposed to have been founded by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great. Her nephew, King Edgar, a descendant of Alured, increased the original endowment. Like St. Mary’s it was collegiate, and in the time of Edward the Confessor had eleven manors, which, however, were transferred by King Stephe

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DOGPOLE,

or, as it used to be written, Doggepole, Dokepoll. “What an outlandish name!” cries the visitor. It is a strange name, but it expresses a natural fact. Two interpretations have been given to it—one that attributes it to the circumstance of a collection of water having existed in the neighbourhood centuries ago—another that discovers its derivation in Ducken , to bend or stoop, or Duick , to duck one’s head, to stoop, and poll , or summit. Dogpole is the head of a bank of steep descent—the Wy

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HIGH STREET,

which formerly bore the name of Baker’s Row, probably because it had the honour of containing most of the baker’s shops. On the right is...

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S. JULIAN’S CHURCH.

It is uncertain when and by whom the church was built. It is only certain that it was erected during the Saxon period. It is distinguished in several reigns as a royal free chapel, and is styled “The Church of St. Juliana, the Virgin.” In 1223 Henry III. attached to it the chapel of Ford; but Henry IV. annexed its revenues, with those of St. Michael’s “in the Castle”—a foundation now destroyed—to the new college of Battlefield, “reserving only a small allowance for the minister.” The first s

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HALL OF THE CLOTHWORKERS OR SHEARMEN,

a company which was incorporated in the reign of Edward IV. The feast day was on June 6th, and the apprentices up to the year 1588 used to set up a green tree “decked with garlands gay” before the hall, around which there was great rejoicing, coquetting, vowing, dancing and other festive proceedings. But in 1588 the custom ceased. The “green tree,” or Maypole was not enough. A bon-fire was added, and a disturbance ensued among the crowd. The Rev. Mr. Tomkies, a minister of St. Mary’s, appea

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OLD ST. CHAD’S CHURCH.

The foundation is attributed to one of the Mercian kings who built it upon the site of a palace belonging to the Princes of Powis which was burned down by the Saxons. It was a collegiate church, and had a dean and ten prebendaries. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1393 through the negligence of one John Plomer, a workman, who carelessly left his fire while he was engaged in repairing the leads. Plomer, seeing the result of his thoughtlessness, endeavoured to make his escape, but in runni

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MARKET SQUARE.

Conspicuous is the statute of Lord Clive , from a model by Baron Marochetti. As a work of art it has received high commendation; as a public monument it would be attractive if it were not bare—it would be an ornament if it were not destitute of all those auxiliaries which give to such objects a handsome finish. The magnificent stone building on the left is the County Hall , built at a cost of £12,000, and opened at the March assizes, 1837. This handsome edifice was unfortunately nearly comple

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THE NEW MARKET,

a handsome and commodious building, designed by Mr. Robert Griffiths, of Stafford, and constructed by Mr. Barlow, of Stoke-upon-Trent. The foundation stone was laid in 1867 by Mr. John Thomas Nightingale, then mayor of the borough. The total cost reached a sum not far short of £50,000. The market supplies a great and long-felt want, and, architecturally, adds to the attractions of the town. The Market brings us into...

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SHOPLATCH

—another peculiar name. In the time of Edward II. the appellation was written Sheteplach, then Sotteplace and Soetteplace, probably pronounced in accordance with the usage of the period, Shottplace. The name was derived from that of the Salopian family of Soto who had their residence here, and whose house—a portion of which still remains in a passage on the left—formed the principal property in the street. One chronicler indulges the fancy that the origin of the first syllable, Shop, Sotte, m

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ST. JOHN’S HILL.

It was formerly called Chorlton Hall, from the fact of it having been for several centuries the residence and property of the family of Chorlton, who were Lords of Powis. The exact time of its erection is unknown, but in the year 1326 it was held by John de Charlton, who, by the permission of Edward II., fortified it with an embattled stone wall. It fell into a ruinous state, and remained neglected until it was purchased about 1830 by Mr. Henry Bennett, who raised it, and then erected upon the

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BELLSTONE,

in which is situated the National Provincial Bank. Why is the street called Bellstone? Some think that the denomination anciently was Ben Stone, that Ben was an abbreviation of Benedictine, and that the bank, which is an ancient building, was occupied by some members of the Benedictine order. Others say that the house used to be named The Bent Stone, from the bent appearance of the large stone which then, and now, lies near it. Others, again, conjecture that the stone at one time resembled a

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CLAREMONT HILL,

anciently Claro Monte. On the top of it there was in the days of old, a gate, as an entrance to the town, which was often called Gatepoll, from poll , an obsolete word for summit, Claremont Hill being the highest part of the town walls. The long narrow street in a direct line from Bellstone is...

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BARKER STREET,

which in the infancy of our history bore the more aristocratic title of Romboldesham, Rumaldesham, and Romboldi, the three names being used indiscriminately in various reigns. The modern term is simply an equivalent for Tanners’ Street. We only take a look down Barker Street, and then turn to the right into...

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CLAREMONT STREET,

once known by the euphonious title of Doglane. Here we see on the left the oldest Baptist Chapel in Shrewsbury, built in 1780. A Baptist church, however, was formed in Shrewsbury as early as 1620. The chapel was enlarged in 1810, and modernised and renovated in 1867. From Claremont Street we reach...

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MARDOL,

or, as it was anciently written, Marlesford, Mardefole, and in the time of Henry VIII. Mardvole, from the name of the ford through the Severn, Mar , and Leas (or pastures), which is by interpretation, the ford at the marly pastures. There is no object of historical interest in this thoroughfare, but in the lane about half way down, called...

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HILL’S LANE,

on the left is a memorial of antiquity in the shape of an old structure known as Rowley’s Mansion , which is said to be the first brick building erected in Shrewsbury. It was built in 1618 by William Rowley, a draper, who was admitted a burgess of the town in 1594 and created an alderman in 1633. His granddaughter married John Hill, Esq., who lived in the mansion in splendid hospitality, and in honour of whom the name of the street was changed from Knockin Street to Hill’s Lane. It is now use

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WELSH BRIDGE.

In the reign of Henry II. it was called St. George’s Bridge. Why? Because St. George’s Chapel, with the Hospital of St. John to which the chapel was annexed—both were taken down early in the time of Elizabeth—was situated near it, in that portion now distinguished by the exquisite appellation of The Stew. The name was altered to indicate its geographical position as the road which leads to North Wales. It is conjectured that St. George’s Bridge was built by Edward IV. It consisted of seven

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FRANKWELL,

from Frankville , the villa, residence, or town of the Franks who, according to Domesday book, inhabited forty-five burgesses’ houses in this portion of the town. We glance to the right, and see a neat chapel belonging to the Welsh Presbyterians, usually called Frankwell Chapel . Our way, however, lies to the left, and we proceed until we reach on the right...

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ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH,

dedicated to the tutelar saint of England from the fact of its proximity to the Chapel of St. George. It was built in 1832 by public subscription. It is cruciform in plan, and has a small tower at the west end. The style, with the exception of the tower, is the lancet, or early-pointed. It will accommodate about 760 persons, and 460 of the sittings are free and unappropriated. From St. George’s Church we step back again into the main street, and instead of going on to the Mount where Cadoga

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MILLINGTON’S HOSPITAL,

a beautiful structure in a beautiful situation. It consists of a pedimented front, surmounted by an open cupola, and a portico, flanked by wings, forming dwellings for the poor. The Chapel, which is also used as a schoolroom, is in the centre. It contains a portrait of the founder, Mr. James Millington, draper, of Shrewsbury, who built and endowed it in 1734. After the death of Mr. Millington, who bequeathed his entire fortune to it, the landed estate was disputed in Chancery, and went to th

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THE QUARRY,

One of the most pleasant walks in the kingdom. It consists of a tract of meadow ground, twenty-three acres in extent. Its situation, its surroundings, its scenery are extremely beautiful, and constitute it a most attractive and delightful promenade. The bank which skirts the Severn is adorned with a graceful avenue of lime trees, extending 450 yards in length, and forming in the intertwining of their lofty branches a natural arcade. The Quarry, which should be a thing of beauty and a joy for

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KINGSLAND,

an extensive piece of ground, the property of the Corporation. It is supposed to have originally belonged to the Crown—hence its name—and to have been granted by the Crown to the Corporation. In 1529 it was let for pasture at £3 per year—a price which must make modern tenants wish that history might repeat itself. In 1586 it was ordered to be, and was, enclosed. It is a healthy and almost arcadian spot, “beautiful for situation.” There is no locality in the town so well adapted for villa re

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NEW ST. CHAD’S,

built at a cost of £19,352, and consecrated on August 19th, 1792. It is considered the principal church of the town, is used on all public occasions, such as the assizes and the anniversary of the Infirmary, and is the place where the archdeacon holds his visitations, but being one of the most modern of the parish churches, it has the least historical interest. The general effect of the interior is imposing, the stained windows and monuments giving it a gorgeous appearance. From here we take o

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ALLATT’S SCHOOL,

founded and endowed by Mr. John Allatt, gentleman. It was built in 1800, and cost £2,000. There are two houses for the master and mistress. Forty boys and forty girls are educated and clothed here, and then sent out to situations, and coats and gowns are annually distributed among a number of poor men and women. Opposite is the New Eye and Ear Hospital , a most ornate structure, and the entrance of the New Bridge to Kingsland. Still on the left, at the turning for Swan Hill—so called from the

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BEECHES LANE,

sometimes called the Back Lane. This singular appellation is a corruption of Bispetan, Bushpestanes, which may also be a corruption of Bishop’s Town, or Bishop’s Stone, Beeches Lane, having, it is conjectured, been either the residence or the property of the bishop of the diocese, who is said in Domesday book to have possessed sixteen dwelling-houses in Shrewsbury. The gradual change appears, from old deeds, to have been in this order—Bispetan, Bipstan, Biston’s Lane, Beeches Lane. On the lef

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BOWDLER’S SCHOOL,

an oblong building, with a glazed cupola in the centre. It was founded in 1724, under the will of Mr. Thomas Bowdler, an alderman and draper of Shrewsbury, who left £1,000 to erect and endow the institution for the education of the poor children of the parish of St. Julian. The late Professor Lee was a schoolmaster of this foundation. Pursuing our walk in a straight route we arrive at the...

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ENGLISH BRIDGE,

a structure of great beauty. The first bridge which spanned the river here was probably erected by the founder of the Abbey, Roger de Montgomery. At any rate the abbots and the Corporation were continually disputing about the liability to the repairs of the bridge, and the contention was temporarily closed by the abbots consenting to repair the Abbey Foregate end, and the Corporation agreeing to repair the town end. Henry VIII. by a stroke of policy—by remitting some taxes—got the Corporation

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ABBEY CHURCH,

perhaps the most interesting ecclesiastical edifice in the county. On the site there stood in the eleventh century a timber church, built by Siward, a Saxon nobleman, and dedicated to St. Peter. In the last quarter of that century Odilirius, “a lover of justice,” who had possession of the humble structure, counselled Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, to build a monastery. The Earl consented, and in 1083 the monastery or abbey was built, and consecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul. St. P

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LORD HILL’S COLUMN,

built with Grinshill stone, and said to be the largest Grecian-Doric column in the world. The first stone was laid on the 27th December, 1814, and the last on June 18th, 1816. The total height of the column is 133 feet 6 inches. The colossal statute on the summit was executed from a model by Panzetta. The inscriptions on the pedestal relate the skill and courage displayed by Lieutenant-General Rowland Lord Hill in Spain, Portugal, the South of France, and on the memorable plains of Waterloo.

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ST. GILES’S CHURCH,

built early in the reign of Henry I. for the use of a Hospital of Lepers which stood north-west of the existing edifice, and which was founded by King Henry II. It became parochial about the middle of the fifteenth century when it was united with the parish of Holy Cross within the monastery. It is said that in the reign of Stephen, when the monks obtained the bones of that popular martyr, St. Wenefreda, those relics were deposited on the altar of this church until a shrine worthy of their rec

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WHITEHALL,

a fine Elizabethan building erected in 1582, by Richard Prince, Esq., a celebrated lawyer. Churchyard speaks of it “so trim and finely that it graceth all the soil it is in.” At a little distance is the Race Course on which Charles I. drew up his army in 1642. Hastening back towards the town we may turn to the left at the end of the English Bridge for the suburbs of Coleham, Belle Vue, and Meole, where we may see Trinity Church, a plain modern structure, raised in 1837: Belle Vue Cemetery, ope

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DRAYTON BROS., Shrewsbury

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONDENSED LIST OF MISCELLANEOUS STATIONERY, &amp;c., KEPT IN STOCK. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Account Books Blotting Papers Book Marks Book Papers Bristol Boards Brown Papers Camel Hair Brushes Cards, all sizes and kinds Cardboards Clips or Fasteners Colour Boxes Coloured Papers Copy Books Copying Letter Books Ciphering Books Copying Presses Drapers’ Papers Elastic Bands Envelopes, all kinds Exercise Books Foolscap Papers Fu

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L. WILDING, Printer, Bookseller and Stationer, 33, CASTLE STREET, SHREWSBURY.

******************************** A LARGE AND VARIED ASSORTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWS OF SHREWSBURY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD, BY BEDFORD, FRITH and MANSELL. ALSO A Cheap Series of Views AT 3d. EACH. 24 BEAUTIFULLY LITHOGRAPHED VIEWS , FOR ONE SHILLING. A Splendid Selection of View Goods of all kinds. DEPÔT FOR THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY....

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A HANDY GUIDE TO MAIDSTONE & NEIGHBOURHOOD

CONTAINING DESCRIPTIONS OF THE Museum, Churches, Chapels, AND PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS, TOGETHER WITH NOTICES OF ALL Features of General Interest Shield PRICE SIXPENCE. Maidstone : FREDERICK BUNYARD, LIBRARY, 29, WEEK STREET; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS....

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