which in the infancy of our history bore the more aristocratic title of Romboldesham, Rumaldesham, and Romboldi, the three names being used indiscriminately in various reigns. The modern term is simply an equivalent for Tanners’ Street. We only take a look down Barker Street, and then turn to the right into
CLAREMONT STREET,
once known by the euphonious title of Doglane. Here we see on the left the oldest Baptist Chapel in Shrewsbury, built in 1780. A Baptist church, however, was formed in Shrewsbury as early as 1620. The chapel was enlarged in 1810, and modernised and renovated in 1867. From Claremont Street we reach
MARDOL,
or, as it was anciently written, Marlesford, Mardefole, and in the time of Henry VIII. Mardvole, from the name of the ford through the Severn, Mar, and Leas (or pastures), which is by interpretation, the ford at the marly pastures. There is no object of historical interest in this thoroughfare, but in the lane about half way down, called
HILL’S LANE,
on the left is a memorial of antiquity in the shape of an old structure known as Rowley’s Mansion, which is said to be the first brick building erected in Shrewsbury. It was built in 1618 by William Rowley, a draper, who was admitted a burgess of the town in 1594 and created an alderman in 1633. His granddaughter married John Hill, Esq., who lived in the mansion in splendid hospitality, and in honour of whom the name of the street was changed from Knockin Street to Hill’s Lane. It is now used as a general storehouse, and the moderns with their barbarous notions of utility have removed the curious portal, the devices in stucco from the great chamber, the oak wainscotting, and the mullions from the windows. Adjoining it is a chapel belonging to the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists.
Returning to Mardol we continue our observations by turning to the left. At the bottom of Mardol on the right is the comparatively new Smithfield Road, opened in 1850, as an ingress from the western portion of the county to the cattle market. It leads to the station, and to the suburbs of Coton Hill and Castle Foregate.
The Quay on the right was built by Mr. Rowland Jenks in 1607, and Mr. Jenks was ordered by the Corporation “to permit all manner of barges, of all persons, to load at the said Quay, taking for every barge load of wood or coal twelvepence, for a ton of other goods—off a burgess twopence, and off a foreigner fourpence.” A few yards beyond, but on the other side of the street, just as we enter Bridge Street, are St. Chad’s Parochial Schools, built and opened in 1865 at a cost of £3,230.
Of course, the principal object here is the