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.
ETYMOLOGY.
The Britons gave the place the appellation of Pengwern, the Saxons Scrobbes-byrig; both are synonymous, importing a fenced eminence covered with shrubs. The ancient Welsh called it, and do so to this day, Ammwythig, signifying “The Delight.” The Normans Sciropesberie, and subsequently Salopesberie and Schrosbury, from whence is formed its present name Shrewsbury and Salop. The antiquary Leland thus beautifully accounts for its name:
Edita Pengwerni late fastigia splendent,
Urbs sita lunato veluti mediamnis in orbe,
Colle tumet modico; duplici quoque ponte superbit:
Accipiens patria sibi lingua nomen ab alnis.
which may be thus translated—
Built on a hill, fair Salop greets the eye,
While Severn like an eel curves gliding by:
Two bridges cross the bark-conveying stream,
And British alders gave the town a name.