Memorials of Shrewsbury / being a concise description of the town and its environs, adapted as a general guide for the information of visitors and residents

by Henry Pidgeon

Transcribed from the 1837 John Eddowes edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

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MEMORIALS
OF
SHREWSBURY:

BEING A

CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN

AND ITS ENVIRONS,

Adapted as

A General Guide

FOR THE

INFORMATION OF VISITORS AND RESIDENTS.

BY

HENRY PIDGEON.

ILLUSTRATED WITH THIRTY-SIX ENGRAVINGS.

“FLOREAT SALOPIA.”

Shrewsbury:
PRINTED BY JOHN EDDOWES, CORN-MARKET.

1837.

TO THE

Rev. William Gorsuch Rowland, M.A.

MINISTER AND OFFICIAL OF
THE ROYAL PECULIAR OF ST. MARY’S, SHREWSBURY,
AND PREBENDARY OF LICHFIELD,

AS A HUMBLE BUT SINCERE TESTIMONY OF RESPECT,
FOR HIS ZEALOUS AND MUNIFICENT EXERTIONS
IN RESTORING AND HEIGHTENING
THE BEAUTIES AND ARCHITECTURE OF SEVERAL OF THE
CHURCHES IN THIS TOWN,
AND FOR HIS
UNWEARIED ATTENTION TO MANY OF OUR
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS,

The Memorials of Shrewsbury

ARE VERY RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

BY
HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT,

HENRY PIDGEON.

PREFACE.

A little Manual adapted to assist the enquiring stranger in his perambulation around Shrewsbury having been long required, an ardent attachment to his native place, and compliance with the wishes of many friends whose opinions demand respect, are circumstances that have induced the present writer to undertake the task, in which he has been materially assisted by the possession of several volumes of Salopian Annals, or memoranda of all the principal events that have occurred in the town for several past years, the collection whereof has afforded him a pleasing recreation in those scraps of time snatched from active professional avocations—periods wherein every one has his favourite pursuit, and in which any individual may, by prudently employing them for his own pleasure, not unfrequently render himself useful to others.

It may be further stated that the present design is purely patriotic; and whilst no expence has been spared in the numerous embellishments, candour and truth (combined with accuracy and conciseness) have been carefully observed throughout a more extensive field of local information and graphical illustration than has heretofore been cultivated in any previous work adapted as a Guide through the Metropolis of Shropshire,—many subjects being now classified and brought under general notice for the first time.

The Author would therefore hope that the Memorials of Shrewsbury will be found to afford a comprehensive and faithful illustration to the stranger of whatever may be important in this ancient and beautifully situated town, as well as useful and deserving the confidence of his fellow-townsmen in particular, to whom he offers them (to use the words of our great lexicographer) “in the spirit of a man that has endeavoured well,” and with the utmost sincerity for the best interests of his native place.

H. P.

High-street, 1836.

ILLUSTRATIONS,

FROM DRAWINGS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THIS WORK.

		PAGE.
1.	Vignette View of Shrewsbury	—
2.	Gateway of Castle	[15]
3.	Remains of Old St. Chad’s Church	[28]
4.	New St. Chad’s Church	[33]
5.	St. Mary’s Church, N.W.	[38]
6.	Monument to Rev. J. B. Blakeway, and North Transept	[49]
7.	St. Julian’s and St. Alkmond’s Churches	[59]
8.	The Abbey Church	[67]
9.	St. Giles’s Church, N.W.	[78]
10.	— Interior View	[81]
11.	St. Michael’s Church, Castle-foregate	[85]
12.	St. George’s Church, Frankwell	[88]
13.	Trinity Church, Coleham	[92]
14.	Royal Free Grammar School	[99]
15.	Town Arms	[105]
16.	The County Hall	[112]
17.	Market House	[117]
18.	Lord Hill’s Column	[122]
19.	Howard-street Butter and Cheese Market	[129]
20.	The Infirmary	[131]
21.	Drapers’ Almshouses	[138]
23.	Shearmen’s Hall	[150]
23.	The Old Tower	[153]
24.	Initial Letter of a Charter from Edw. III. to the Austin’s Friars	[154]
25.	The Welsh Bridge	[156]
26.	Portal of Rowley’s Mansion	[158]
27.	Gateway of Council House	[161]
28.	Drapers’ Hall, Interior View	[164]
29.	Ancient Timber House	[167]
30.	The Grey or Franciscan Friary	[174]
31.	The Waterlane Gateway	[177]
32.	The New Theatre	[182]
33.	The Royal Baths, Coton-hill	[186]
34.	Stone Pulpit	[194]
35.	The White Hall Mansion	[198]
36.	Battlefield Church	[209]

CONTENTS.

Shrewsbury—Situation; foundation;etymology.
ANCIENTHISTORY.
State under the Britons; Stephen besieges the Castle; towntaken by Llewelyn; Royal visits; Supreme Courts of Justice; theGreat Parliament; Battle of Shrewsbury; Owen Glendower; Birth ofRichard and George Plantagenet; Proclamation of Henry VII.;Tradition of the phrase “Proud Salopians;” Pageant inhonour of Sir Henry Sidney; Council House the residence of KingCharles I.; King James II.; Loyally of the Inhabitants; Visit oftheir Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and PrincessVictoria.	[13]
THE CASTLE ANDFEUDAL STATE.
Foundation and early account of the Fortress; InteriorGateway; General Description; Watch Tower; Prospect from theCastle Mount; Gates and Towers; Feudal Picture of the Town.	[18]
PRESENT STATE OFTHE TOWN.
Distant appearance; salubrity; Domestic architecture; Actfor Improving Streets; Gas Company; Population, &c.	[21]
ECCLESIASTICALBUILDINGS.
Prefatory observations; Saxon foundations, lands,possessions, &c.; cursory notice of the Conventual Churches,Ancient Chapels, Chantries, and appropriate decoration of theSacred Buildings. Old St. Chad’sChurch.—Fall and account of the ancient edifice,dawning light of the Reformation, first exercise of theProtestant Religion, Bishop’s chancel, present remains ofthe fabric. New St. Chad’s.—Site,architectural description, chancel window, monuments, bells,lecture, &c. St. Mary’s.—Interestingvariety of the architecture, south portal, noble effect of theinterior, genealogical window of stained glass, stone organscreen, biographical notice of the Rev. J. B. Blakeway,transepts, curious font, chantry chapels, monuments, bells,flight from the spire, &c. St.Alkmond’s.—Demolition of the ancient church,modern edifice, eastern window, elegance of spire, first mayor ofShrewsbury, &c. St. Julian’s.—Presentfabric, stained glass, monument to Archdeacon Owen, &c. freelecture. St. Michael’s Parish within theCastle.—Ancient history and trial respecting,parochial limit, etymology of Derfald. The Abbey Church.—Generaldescription, fine west window, north portal, solemnity of theinterior, armorial bearings and figures in stained glass, organscreen, font, ancient cumbent effigies, altar tombs andmonuments, old painting of the Crucifixion. St. Giles’sChurch.—Antiquity of the structure, primitiveappearance of the interior, stained glass, sepulchral stones,reflections and prospect from the cemetery. St. Michael’sChurch.—Western view, consecration, stained glass,&c. St. George’sChurch.—Consecration, interior decoration, oldhospital, free chapel. Trinity Church.—Foundationand description. Religious Houses.—Chapel ofSt. Mary Magdalene, Spel-cross. Dissenting MeetingHouses.—Roman Catholic Chapel.	[96]
ROYAL FREE GRAMMARSCHOOL.
Endowment, its state and pre-eminence, present to Dr.Butler from his pupils, appointment of Dr. Kennedy, annualprizes, royal visits, school buildings, chapel, library,exhibitions, &c.	[104]
LOCAL GOVERNMENT,CHARTERS, &c.
Municipal Body; Ancient Seal; Sessions; Courts of Recordand Request; Members of Parliament; Trading Companies; MerchantGuild; Pageant of Shrewsbury Show.	[111]
PUBLICBUILDINGS.
County Hall, Courts of Justice, Guild Hall and Exchequer,Market House and Statue of Richard Duke of York, Old WelshBridge, Old East or Stone Bridge, English Bridge, LordHill’s Column and fine panoramic prospect, Town and CountyGaol, Poultry Market, Butter and Cheese Markets.	[130]
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
Introduction; the Salop Infirmary, Eye and Ear Dispensary,St. Giles’s Hospital, St. John’s Hospital,Drapers’ Almshouses, St. Chad’s Almshouses, House ofIndustry, Humane Society; the Prison, Parochial, and TownCharities.	[143]
CHARITYSCHOOLS.
Bowdler’s or the Blue, Millington’s,Allatt’s, Public Subscription, Lancasterian, St.Mary’s and St. Michael’s, St. Chad’sLadies’, Infant, and Sunday Schools.	[147]
WALK WITHIN THEWALLS.
Introduction; Market Square, Mercers’ Hall, theSextry, Shearmen’s Hall, Maypole Festivities, Occupation ofShearmen, Wyle Cop, Residence of the early British Settlers andthe Saxons, Lion Hotel, Beeches Lane, Town Walls, the Crescent,Ancient Tower, St. John’s Hill, the Austin Friars, InitialLetter of a Charter from Edward III. the Welsh Bridge, Quays andWarehouses, Mardol, Rowley’s Mansion, Hill’s Lane,ancient Houses, the Bell Stone, Shutt Place, Shoplatch, theStalls, Ireland’s Mansion, Pride Hill, the High Cross,Castle Street, St. Nicholas’s Chapel, the Council House,Court of the Marches of Wales, Loyalty of Thomas Lyster,Esq. Farquhar’s Recruiting Officer, Character ofSalopians, the Drapers’ Hall, Dogpole, Church Street,Jones’s Mansion, view of an ancient timber House, ButcherRow, Fish Street, Belmont, Judges’ House, ancient Collegeof St. Chad, Vaughan’s Place, Talbot Hotel.	[169]
LITERARY ANDSCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS.
Natural History and Antiquarian Society, SubscriptionLibrary, Choral Society, Horticultural Society, Mechanics’Institution, Newspapers.	[171]
WALK WITHOUT THEWALLS.
Shrewsbury Quarry, Remains of Amphitheatre, Kingsland,Stury’s Close, Grey or Franciscan Friary, Site of AldermanJones’s Mansion, Dominican Friary, ancient Vineyard, theWater Gate, account of the Entrance of the Parliamentary Army,River-side Walk, Derfald, Shrewsbury Park, Murder of PrinceAlfhelm, Canal, Prospect from the Gaol Terrace, Howard-street,Colossal Figure of Hercules, Dana Walk, Breidden Hills, the TownWalls.	[181]
RECREATIVE.
The Drama, Theatre, Circus, Horse Races, Assembly Room,Salop Hunt, Angling, Aquatic Excursions.	[185]
THESUBURBS—COTON HILL.
Water Works, Spring Water, the Royal Baths, Birth-place ofAdmiral Benbow, Coton Hill, Site of St. Catharine’s Chapel,Berwick, Ancient Course of the Severn, View from Cross Hill.	[189]
CASTLEFOREGATE.
Linen Factory, Canal (communicating with London,Liverpool, &c), Coal Wharf.	[180]
SUBURB OFFRANKWELL.
Ancient Domestic Habitations, the Mount Fortification,Site of Cadogan Chapel and Cross, Monk’s Eye, Township ofShelton, Glendower’s Oak.	[192]
THE ABBEYFOREGATE.
Merivale, Monastic Remains, Ancient Stone Pulpit,Monks’ Infirmary, Guest Hall or Hospitium, Site of ChapterHouse, Earliest authorized Assembly of British Parliament, theNew Road, Reflections suggested by its formation, Abbey Precinct,Destructive Fire, the White Hall, Race-ground, Lord Hill’sColumn, Sutton Spa, Analysis of the Water, Anglo-NormanChurch.	[201]
SUBURB OFCOLEHAM.
Situation; Iron Foundry, notice of the Menai Bridge.	[201]
TRADE ANDMANUFACTURES.
Welsh Webs and Flannel, Communication between London andDublin, Railway, Thread and Linen Yarns, Malting Business,Restoration and Perfection of the ancient art of Glass-staining,Shrewsbury Cakes, Brawn, eulogy of the Ale, Markets, Fairs, andNavigation of the Severn.	[207]
THE ENVIRONS.
Variety of landscape scenery; Battlefield Church,Grinshill, Hawkstone, Haughmond Abbey, Haughmond Hill, Village ofUffington, Albrighton, Albright Hussey, Meole, Ancient Encampmentat Bayston, Condover, Pitchford, Acton Burnell, Atcham, Longner,Attingham, Wroxeter (the Roman Uriconium), The Wrekin.	[225]

Admir’d Salopia! that with venial pride
Eyes her bright form in Severn’s ambient wave;
Fam’d for her loyal cares in perils tried;
Her daughters lovely and her striplings brave.

Shenstone.

SITUATION.

“A precious stone set in silver.”

Shakspeare.

The Town of Shrewsbury stands nearly in the centre of the county of which it is the capital; it is situated on two gentle declivities, and is formed by the river Severn into a peninsula, somewhat in the shape of a horse-shoe, having an isthmus not more than three hundred yards across.

A variety of opinions have prevailed as to who made choice of the commanding situation and natural retreat which the town affords, as well as to the period of its foundation.

It has been stated to be of far prior date than the ancient Uriconium (the present Wroxeter), from the circumstances that it was the custom of the Romans to throw up stations, and to make roads parallel or adjacent to British camps. One thing however is certain, that no vestige of that imperial people has been discovered within its precinct.

The truth is conceived to be, that Shrewsbury was occupied or built some time in the fifth century, after the destruction of the Roman Uriconium, as a place where the fugitive Britons might find an asylum from the devastations of their Saxon invaders.