CAPTAIN WEBB.
We have in the course of these pages given prominence to the names of men who have in different ways merited distinction, and whose deeds are deserving of record in a local history of this kind; and we cannot omit a passing recognition of the unparalleled feats of this distinguished Salopian, whose early life is so closely associated with this parish. We had prepared copious extracts from our “Life of Captain Webb,” in which is detailed his extraordinary performances, but can only give here a brief summary.
Before he was seven years old he had learnt to swim in the Severn; and in his case the adage that “the boy is father to the man” held good, for when a boy he and his elder brother succeeded in saving from a watery grave another brother, whose strength, in attempting to cross the Severn, failed him, so that he had already sunk beneath the surface when he was rescued. As shewing his pluck and daring it may be mentioned that going along the Severn banks to Buildwas, where boys usually go to bathe, he took off his shoes and walked along the top of the bridge, with his hands in his pockets, his third brother standing by not daring to look up lest he should fall and be killed; but the chief actor stood calm and unmoved when they afterwards met.
His second life-saving feat was performed on the Mersey, when he succeeded in rescuing a comrade who had fallen overboard into the river. The services he rendered to the owners of the Silver Craig in the Suez Canal; but much more his performance on board the Russia in his daring attempt to save a seaman who fell overboard, shewed him to possess qualities of the highest order as a man. He swam the English Channel, Tuesday, August 24th, 1875, at the age of 27. Being weighed and measured it was found that his height was five feet eight inches; his weight when stripped, before starting, 14 st. 8 lbs.; and his girth round the chest 40½ in.
Webb’s subsequent feat in distancing all competitors in his six days swim adds another laurel to his crown as the champion swimmer of the world!
Hotels, Inns, Public Houses, and Beershops, in the Parish—their Signs, &c.
Signboards are scarcely so significant or important now as formerly: yet an interest attaches to them still, and there is some pleasure in pondering over their designs, as significant of olden times and manners—the old ones especially. One easily imagines too the jovial tenants of taverns in former years, the noisy chafferings, the political discussions carried on by those who sought recreation and enjoyment in them.
The Three Horse Shoes is the oldest Sign in Madeley; it swings over the door of one of the oldest houses in Madeley, the walls being of rubble, mud, and plaster: and the Sign itself, no doubt, is one of the oldest in the kingdom. A horse shoe, when found and nailed over the door was supposed to bring good luck—hence the single shoe, which is uppermost. The Horse Shoes is kept by Mr. J. H. Robinson.
The Hammer, in Park Lane, kept by Mrs. Lloyd, is the next in point of age. It was a trade emblem when the house was much more used than at present by ironworkers, particularly by forgemen.
The Royal Oak was the first newly-licensed house for many years in Madeley. The license for it was very adroitly obtained by Mr. Charles Dyas. The Sign is a universal favourite, as emblematic of our old ships and seamen. The house is kept by Mrs. Shingler.
The Heart of Oak, in Court Street, kept by Mr. Joseph Currier, is another popular Sign, indicative of character, and illustrative of old national songs.
The Barley Mow, in Court Street, is kept by Mr. Pitchford.
The Crown, Court Street, now void, is one of the oldest English signs.
All Nations, kept by Mrs. Baguley, is the only Sign of its name we know of.
The Six Bells, kept by Mr. Ward, near the Church, is a Sign significant of the number of bells in the Church tower.
The Royal Exchange, kept by Mr. Goodwin, is a modern house, with an ancient Sign; whilst the Railway Inn, kept by Mr. Taylor, is modern in both respects.
The Coopers’ Arms is now down, but another house has been built, which has not yet been christened.
The Prince of Wales’s Feathers, Lower Madeley, kept by Mr. Daniel Adams, as the name implies, is a royal badge.
The Miners’ Arms, kept by Mr. Kearsley, is so sufficiently significant, as not to need comment. Also The Turners’ Arms, kept by Mr. John Brown; and the Three Furnaces, kept by Mr. Biddulph.
The Tweedale is kept by Mr. G. Ray.
The Cuckoo-oak Inn, by Mr. H. Wilkes, takes its name from the place.
The Britannia, kept by Mr. E. Hopley, Aqueduct, and the Anchor, by Mr. Evans, Court Street, are modern houses with ancient signs.
There are also the Commercial Inn, kept by Mrs. Heighway, and a Beershop in Church Street, kept by Mr. Durnall.
Then there is the Chestnuts, formerly the Red Lion, which fakes it name from the tree in front, and is kept by Mr. James Hancock.
The Park Inn, by Mr. Reynolds, and the New Inn kept by Mr. Jones, Park Lane, with the Pheasant, kept by Mr. Francis, complete the list of houses at Madeley, where, within our recollection, there were formerly but two.
At Coalport we have the Shakespeare, kept by Mr. Beard, and the Jug, we presume of Toby Philpot fame, of whom it is said,
His body, when long in the ground it had lain,
And time into clay had resolved it again,
A potter found out, in his covert so snug,
And with part of old Toby he made this brown jug.
There is also the Brewery Inn, kept by Mr. George Gough.
The Pit’s Head, formerly a noted house for old beer, kept by Barnabas Spruce, has long since disappeared; also the Turk’s Head. Then there is the Robin Hood, by Mr. J. Roe; the Block House, by Mr. Dunbar, come next; and near to these is the Bird in Hand, the motto of which (more truthful than grammatical) is—
A bird in the hand far better ’tis
Than two that in the bushes is.
The Lake Head, by G. Barrat, takes its name from a small reach of the Severn.
In Madeley Wood we get the Unicorn, kept by Mr. Fiddler; The Old House by Astbury, and the Golden Ball (formerly a silk mercer’s sign) by Mr. T. Bailey.
The Horse and Jockey, by Mrs. Davies, and the Fox, by Mr. Curzon, come next, to remind us of old English sports.
The George & Dragon also, by Mr. Granger, reminding us of still more ancient times.
Hodge Bower, by Mr. Wilson, is a sign which lakes its name from the place.
The White Horse, kept by Mrs. Edwards, at Lincoln Hill is a very old Sign.
The Crown, the Queen’s Head (by Mr. Nevitt), the Oak by Ketley, the Severn Brewery and the Tontine (erected by the Bridge Company), and Three Tuns are all well-known Inns,
The Bath Tavern, the Setters’ Inn, the Roebuck, and Belle Vue, are extinct.
The Wheat Sheaf by Aaron Lloyd, the White Hart, by Woolstein; the Talbot, by Toddington; the Swan by Bailey; the Rodney, by Griffiths; the Meadow and the Commercial Inn, Coalbrookdale, complete the list of Houses of Refreshment for the parish.