ST. MARY’S ALMSHOUSES,
the safe asylum of feeble age and decent poverty. This foundation arose from the benevolence of the Worshipful Company of Drapers of this town, at a very early period; and was remodelled during the wardenship, of that company, of Degory Watur, a worthy burgess and draper of Shrewsbury, in the days of Henry IV., who, is believed (though whether on sufficient grounds is uncertain,) to have charitably devoted a portion of his substance to the erection and endowment of an almshouse, for thirteen poor persons of both sexes. This beneficent man is said to have “dwellyd in the almeshowse hall amongst the poor,” and a truly affecting sight must it have been to behold the pious old man, white with “the silver livery of advised age,” deprived of sight, and bowed with the weight of ninety-six years, daily accompanying the participators of his bounty to St. Mary’s church, where he “wold kneele amongst them in a fayre longe pewe made for them and hym selfe,” and offer up the grateful incense of thanksgiving to that Eternal Being, with whom there is no respect of persons. The good Degory
“Even in the downfall of his mellowed years,
When Nature brought him to the door of death,”
forgot not the objects of his charity, but in his will, dated on the day of his decease, 28th July, 1477, devised certain lands to the Wardens of the Drapers’ Company to “sufficientlie susteyne poore people in St. Mary Allmeshowse.” Other charitable individuals made subsequent additions to the endowment.
The almshouses originally stood within the churchyard, and were confined, unwholesome, and highly incommodious to the thoroughfare. In 1825 they were entirely removed, and the present comfortable habitations erected on the opposite side of the street, by the Drapers’ Company, at an expense of nearly £3000. The houses are sixteen in number, and the inmates, who must be parishioners of St. Mary’s, are appointed by the Drapers’ Company, and supported by them, at an annual expense of upwards of £100.
In an ancient timber house in the south-west corner of the church-yard, is
THE DRAPERS’ HALL.
This curious and spacious apartment retains many features of the good old fashioned days. Elevated on a dais, “richlie dyghte withe blazon’d tyle,” stands the massive oaken table at which the Company hold their meetings, and below at right angles, is another table, which in former times was wont to groan beneath the solid cheer, with which the worthy drapers feasted their tenants and dependents. A rudely carved muniment chest occupies the lower end, and portraits of the excellent Degory Watur and his spouse, and of King Edward IV. “The Royal Founder of their Companie,” decorate the dark and gloomy wainscot.
The Drapers were incorporated by Charters of Edward IV. and James I. and their Company is recognized by several subsequent Acts of Parliament. Seven years’ apprenticeship to a member of the company is the necessary qualification for admission, though foreigners may be admitted on payment of a fine, at the discretion of the company. Their income, which chiefly arises from lands originally purchased by the voluntary contributions of the members, is considerable, and is expended in the support of the inmates of St. Mary’s Almshouse, in liberal subscriptions to the charitable institutions of the town, and in relief to the widows and families of deceased members.
The traffic in Welsh woollen-cloths, the staple trade of the place during three centuries, is now very inconsiderable, the market formerly held here every Thursday having been long since removed to Welshpool and Newtown in Montgomeryshire.
The next object which demands our attention is
THE SALOP INFIRMARY. [86]
“Here all have kindness, most relief—for some
Is cure complete,—it is the Suffers’ Home.”
This excellent institution was established in 1747, for the humane purpose of affording skilful medical assistance to the suffering poor, and is most munificently supported by the voluntary subscriptions and benefactions of the county. According to the last report the total number of persons who have received the benefit of this useful charity since its commencement, are,—In-patients 65204; whereof 32298 have been cured, and 25156 relieved; Out-patients 138039, of whom 98376 have been cured, and 24700 relieved. The yearly number of patients is 1277 in-patients, and 4835 out-patients. Several of the physicians and surgeons of the town most humanely afford their valuable advice and skill gratuitously; and in order that medical aid may always be ready in cases of emergency, a surgeon, retained at a salary, is constantly resident in the house. The pecuniary and ordinary concerns of the institution are superintended by a board of directors, consisting of eight trustees, the deputy treasurer, and secretary. The domestic economy is regulated by a matron. Two of the subscribers, weekly attend as house-visitors. The Chaplain the Rev. J. Lewis reads prayers daily and visits the sick in the wards. A treasurer is also annually appointed, who, on the anniversary day in the Hunt week, is accompanied to church by the subscribers and patrons of the charity, where, after a sermon, a collection is made in aid of the funds; the plates on this occasion, being held by two ladies and two gentlemen of rank or opulence.
The house surgeon is allowed to take three pupils at a premium of 20 Guineas to himself, and 200 Guineas to the Infirmary, which entitles the pupil to board and residence for five years. Attendance at this hospital is recognized by the Royal College of Surgeons, and the Apothecaries’ Company, London.
There is a Library of about 3000 volumes, to which the best new medical works are yearly added by purchase.
The present building was erected in 1830, on the site of the Old Infirmary, after a design by Mr. Haycock, of this town, at an expense of £18,735 18s. 10d. of which £12,994 1s. 3d. was raised by subscription, and the remainder disbursed from the funded property of the charity.
It is constructed of freestone, in the Grecian style, is 170 feet in length by 80 feet in height, and has a handsome portico in the centre, supported by Doric pillars. The disposition of the interior is adequate to the accommodation of from 150 to 160 in-patients, and comprises four stories. The various offices, in number twenty-two, are arranged in the basement; the ground floor is appropriated to the board-room, dispensary, rooms for the admission of patients, the house-surgeon and matron’s apartments, and two wards for surgical cases; the first floor has seven wards for male patients, with day-room, scullery, and baths; the upper story contains a spacious operation room, with wards for female patients on each side; and in the attics are four other wards, with nurses’ rooms, &c. A staircase, at either end, communicates with spacious galleries extending the length of each story. A proper ventilation is kept up through the whole structure, and an uniform temperature preserved by a patent hot-water apparatus, which likewise affords a constant supply of warm water. The walls of the board-room are decorated with the portraits of Sir Rowland Hill, Bart., General Lord Hill, and Lord Clive, the armorial bearings of the successive treasurers, and the tables of benefactions.
The spacious terrace on the eastern side, commands an extensive view of unequalled richness and beauty. The eye, after dwelling on the nearer objects of the rugged declivities of the Castle Mount,—the Railway Viaduct over the Severn,—the majestic ruins of the Abbey,—the stately grandeur of the White Hall,—the elegant Column,—and the venerable church of St. Giles—wanders uninterruptedly over an extensive tract of fertile and finely wooded country, bounded by the long ridge of Haughmond Hill, the Wrekin, the Acton Burnell, Frodesley, and Stretton Hills.
Opposite St. Mary’s turnstile, at the corner of Church Street, stands
JONES’S MANSION,
the front of which is now obscured by modern erections, though portions of its lofty gables are still visible from the street. This house was built by Thomas Jones, Esq., called the Rich Jones, (the uncle of Sir Thomas Jones, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas,) who, after serving the office of Bailiff six times, was appointed by Charles I., in 1638, the first Mayor of Shrewsbury. In 1624 he also served the office of Sheriff of the county. Subsequently the mansion became the residence of the Chief Justice Jones. In 1642, during Charles I. stay in Shrewsbury, the Duke of York was lodged here, and Prince Rupert also made it his residence after the battle of Worcester.
In the adjacent street, Dogpole, is