To ALL PARIS OF THE KINGDOM, Crowley, Hicklin & Co. daily—Robert Williams, agent
SHREWSBURY,
WITH THE VILLAGE OF PONTESBURY AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
Shrewsbury is a market town and ancient borough, both corporate and parliamentary, having separate jurisdiction, locally in the liberties to which it gives name; 153 miles N.W. from London, 40 S. from Chester, the like distance W. from Lichfield, 44 W.N.W. from Birmingham, 48 N.N.W. from Worcester, 53 N. from Hereford, 58 S. from Liverpool, 70 S. by W. from Manchester, 109 N. from Bristol. 76 N.E. from Aberystwith, and 108 S.E. from Holyhead. The town is pleasantly seated on two eminences, rising gently from the Severn, which river, by its windings, forms a peninsula. Although no doubt can be entertained of the great antiquity of Shrewsbury, it being frequently mentioned by our earliest historians, there is no authentic record of its origin. Conjecture, however, has assigned that event to the fifth century, when the Britons were forced by the Saxons to abandon all the country to the eastward of the river Severn; and this proposition is well supported from its name, which is, apparently, of Saxon derivation. In that language it is called Scrobbesbyrig, or Scrobbesbyri; and in the ancient British tongue Pengwern; all signifying ‘the head of the alder groves.’ Shrewsbury being esteemed the most important town and fortress on the marches of Wales, continued during several centuries to be one of the principal places of rendezvous for the English armies,—and hence it was often visited by royalty. Through the eventful period which marked the contentions of the houses of York and Lancaster, as well as when the parliamentary war broke out, this town and neighbourhood were the scenes of sieges and conflicts. In Cromwell’s life-time, and also immediately after his death, two attempts were made to gain possession of Shrewsbury, in favour of Charles II, but both of them were frustrated. The last circumstance which history records, worthy of notice, occurred in August, 1687, when James II held his court here: on this occasion the sentiments of loyal attachment, for which Shrewsbury has ever been conspicuous, burst forth enthusiastically. Shrewsbury, from its lofty and peninsular situation, presents, at every approach, a pleasing variety of views; and the noble sweep of the river, at every turn, enhances the charms of the prospect. The exterior circle of the town is lined with an unbroken range of well built houses, most of which command beautiful views over the adjacent country. On its western side, a public walk, designated the ‘Quarry,’ occupies about twenty acres of ground, and is adorned with avenues of trees. At one extremity of this delightful promenade are the remains of a rural amphitheatre, where the Augustine friars of the adjoining convent were probably wont to exhibit those ancient and sacred dramas called ‘mysteries,’ or ‘Whitsun plays,’ which were acted here in the reign of Elizabeth. The neighbourhood of Shrewsbury is highly respectable, and the country beautifully picturesque, studded with numerous gentlemen’s seats and for fertility is not surpassed by any district in England.
There are several public buildings in Shrewsbury elegant and ornamental. Amongst the most ancient, as well as interesting, is the castle, founded by Roger de Montgomery. It stands on a narrow neck of land, and has been so greatly altered by modern hands, that it is difficult to form any probable idea of its primitive state. The portions of it now remaining consist of the keep, the mount, the walls of the inner court, and the great arch of the interior gateway. The castle is at present the property of the Duke of Cleveland. The town-hall was finished in 1786; but, owing to a defect in the foundation, was taken down, and a new one subsequently erected: in it are held all meetings of the corporation and grand juries—likewise the courts of justice for the town and county. The town and county gaol and bridewell, which now form one building, stands near the castle; its situation is at once beautiful and salubrious. The market-house is one of the largest and most magnificent buildings of its kind in England; adjoining which, and in other parts of the town, are conduits, which supply the inhabitants with excellent spring water. A cheese and butter market has been erected in Circus-place, near the Welch bridge; and a new cattle market, on a grand scale, is formed in the neighbourhood of Raven-road. The old theatre was part of the palace formerly belonging to one of the princes of Powis; it was taken down in 1833, and a very handsome one erected in its place, the basement of which forms a row of good shops: a new circus has also been added to the buildings for amusement.
There are two bridges over the Severn, one called the Welch bridge and the other the English bridge, the former was built in 1790, and the latter in 1774. The noble column in honour of General Lord Hill was completed on the 18th of June, 1816, the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. The height of the pedestal is 13 feet 6 inches; the shaft and capital, 91 feet 6 inches; the pedestal for the figure, 11 feet 6 inches; the colossal statue of his lordship, 17 feet; the extreme height, 133 feet 6 inches: the total expense, including the cottage, amounted to £5,973. 13s. 2d. The new public building in the Corn-market is an elegant structure; it comprises the post office, stamp office, a billiard room, and an exceedingly handsome news room. Public baths, replete with every convenience for hot and cold bathing, have been erected at Cotton-hill: near which are the water-works, which supply the town with water from the river. Races are held the second week in May, and are well attended. The course, situated within a few minutes’ walk from the centre of the town, may, in most points, compete with any of the secondary courses in the kingdom; and the grand stand is a commodious and handsome building. Three newspapers are issued from the press here, weekly—their titles, days of publishing, &c. will be found under their proper head.
The manufactures of Shrewsbury are neither prominent nor extensive. At one period, its trade with the Welch, in flannel, was considerable; but, from causes variously assigned, it has nearly fallen to decay, and is not likely to be recovered. There are three iron and brass foundries, at one of which the Menai bridge, and other similar works were constructed. The malting business is carried on here extensively; and there are five breweries, two tanneries, and the same number of roperies. The ancient art of staining glass has been brought to perfection in this town; and it has long been famous for that delicate article of pastry—Shrewsbury cake: the brawn, also, made here, is in high repute; but the chief support of the place is the custom of the country people, who resort to it, for many miles round, for the purchase of their various domestic necessaries. Shrewsbury possesses valuable facilities for commerce and travelling: the communication by rail with London and Liverpool is effected by means of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham and the Shrewsbury and Chester railways; there is also direct intercourse opened with Staffordshire and the Potteries, by the Shrewsbury and Stafford branch of the Shropshire Union railway. There is also a line of railway from Shrewsbury to Hereford, and other lines are in the course of formation, which, with those already opened, will render Shrewsbury in a few years, important as the focus of numerous lines of communication in nearly every direction. The river, also affords a convenient transit, for goods of every description to Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol, and other towns; and the Shrewsbury canal is the grand medium for supplying the town with coal of an excellent quality. The principal Inns of Shrewsbury (of which there are eleven) are establishments of the most respectable grade, and furnish the best accommodation, whether for families or commercial gentlemen; while others are efficient posting-houses—and all are conducted under the best arrangements.
Shrewsbury was a borough by prescription previous to being incorporated by Charles I—this charter remained in force until superseded by the Municipal Act passed in 1835, which vested the government in a mayor, ten aldermen, and thirty councillors, assisted by a recorder and other officers: the same enactment divided the borough into five wards, and provided it with a commission of the peace. General quarter sessions are regularly held, of which the recorder is chairman; and the mayor, with some of the aldermen (who are magistrates), hold a court every Tuesday. Shrewsbury is included in the twenty-seventh circuit of County Court towns, under the acts for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50—the court is held in the Shire hall, once a month. This borough has exercised the elective franchise since the 23rd year of Edward I, and has regularly sent two members. The mayor is the returning officer; and the representatives returned at the general election in 1852, were Edward Holmes Baldock, Esq. 31, Grosvenor place, London, and George Tomfine, Esq. Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, and Orwell Park, Ipswich, Suffolk. From this borough the return is made of members to represent North Salop.
There are no fewer than nine places of worship under the establishment; they are comprised in the five following parishes, viz. Saint Chad’s and Saint Alkmund’s, vicarages, in the gift of the Crown; Saint Mary’s, a royal peculiar; Saint Julian’s, a perpetual curacy, in the presentation of Lord Tankerville, and Holy Cross and Saint Giles’, a vicarage, in the patronage of Lord Berwick. The church of Saint Chad is a very handsome modern edifice, although on rather a novel pan—the body forming a circle one hundred feet in diameter. Saint Mary’s is one of the most interesting ecclesiastical buildings in the county; it is cruciform in plan, and exhibits specimens of almost every style of ancient architecture. Saint Alkmund’s is a modern gothic erection, with the exception of the tower and spire, which are of elegant proportions. Saint Julian’s, rebuilt in 1750, a substantial brick structure, with a lofty pinnacled tower. Holy Cross is the church of the abbey, a must venerable building. The ancient church of Saint Giles has recently been restored, by the munificence of the Rev. Richard Scott. Saint Michael’s, a chapel of ease to Saint Mary’s parish, is of Grecian design, erected in 1830. Saint George’s, a chapel of ease to Saint Chad’s, erected in 1832, is cruciform, in the lancet or early English style. Trinity chapel likewise belongs to Saint George’s parish. The pleasing and appropriate decorations of the sacred edifices in Shrewsbury excite the attention of every stranger. In the abbey garden is a curious stone pulpit, or oratory. There are places of worship for various religious denominations, of which a list is appended to the directory of the town, as well as of the various institutions, charitable or otherwise. One of the principal ornaments of Shrewsbury is the Royal Free School of Edward VI, erected in 1633, and in which upwards of three hundred pupils, from all parts of the kingdom, are prepared for the university; the present head master is the Rev. B. H. Kennedy, D.D.: the annual income of this establishment is about £3,000.; and belonging to it are numerous exhibitions to the universities. The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry is visitor, and there are thirteen trustees—the mayor of Shrewsbury, who presides at the several meetings being one. There are other endowed schools of minor importance; a British day school, and another wherein children are instructed on Dr. Bell’s system and annually clothed. The charitable institutions are many—they comprise a small hospital, formerly dedicated to Saint Giles; another, called Millington’s hospital; several almshouses, an infirmary, a house of industry. charity schools, and many private societies for the relief of the sick and poor. The infirmary is one of the oldest provincial hospitals in the kingdom; it was first opened for the admission of patients in 1747. The original building was taken down and a handsome new one erected by subscription, in 1830, at an expense of nearly £20,000. The building which is of freestone, is of a plain Grecian character; its entire length is one hundred and seventy feet, breadth sixty feet, and its height eighty feet: the principal entrance is by means of a Doric portico in the centre. It is adapted for one hundred and fifty beds. The number of in-patients admitted annually is about 1020; and of out-patients 3700. There is an extensive and very valuable medical library belonging to the infirmary.
The principal market is on Saturday, but there is another on Wednesday; and every second Wednesday in the month a fair (or large market) is held, which is numerously attended, when the produce of the rich and fertile country around is disposed of. For the purposes of the monthly market, there is a spacious and convenient hall in Howard-street. The borough, town and liberties of Shrewsbury, contained, by the census of 1841, 21,525 inhabitants, and in 1851, the population of the borough and liberties was 23,104; of which last number 19,681 belonged to the borough.
Pontesbury, a parish in the hundred of Ford, is divided into the four quarters of Cruckton, Edge, Longdon and Pontesbury. In the last named quarter is the parish church of Saint George, once collegiate and rebuilt a few years ago: it is situated about 7 miles S.S.W. from Shrewsbury. In this parish are lead mines, worked to considerable profit. The parish contained, in 1841, 3,311 inhabitants, and in 1851, 3,363.