ENGLISH BRIDGE,
a structure of great beauty. The first bridge which spanned the river here was probably erected by the founder of the Abbey, Roger de Montgomery. At any rate the abbots and the Corporation were continually disputing about the liability to the repairs of the bridge, and the contention was temporarily closed by the abbots consenting to repair the Abbey Foregate end, and the Corporation agreeing to repair the town end. Henry VIII. by a stroke of policy—by remitting some taxes—got the Corporation to relieve the abbots of all responsibility and to take the entire repairs into their own hands. About the middle of the last century, the bridge being considerably damaged, it was determined to take it down, and in 1765 a subscription was commenced to widen and strengthen it. In 1767, on the 9th of June, the first stone of the extension was laid by Edward Smythe, Esq., son of Sir Edward Smythe, of Acton Burnell. It was discovered, however, that beneath the causeway there was another causeway and channel, the lower part of the Wyle Cop which had been raised at some previous period. The plan of widening was therefore abandoned, and a new bridge was decided upon. In the next year, 1768, the old bridge was taken down, subscriptions flowed in abundantly, and on Thursday, 29th June, 1769, the first stone of the new bridge was laid in “a solemn manner,” amidst the presence of the munificent contributors, by Sir John Astley, Bart, who gave £1,000 towards the cost. The ceremony was supplemented by a dinner at the Raven Hotel. The total expense was nearly £16,000, the whole of which was raised, not by heavy taxation, not by burdensome rates, but by voluntary donations. Among the donors were Lord Clive, Thomas Hill, Esq., the principal gentry of the county, and numbers of public-spirited townsmen. The bridge consists of seven arches, is 410 feet in length, and 35 feet in breadth.
The Gothic edifice on the right is the Abbey Foregate New Church, belonging to the Independents, opened on the 31st of May, 1864. Adjoining it is the National School, for the instruction and clothing of poor children. It was commenced in 1708. Having proceeded a few yards we come to the
ABBEY CHURCH,
perhaps the most interesting ecclesiastical edifice in the county. On the site there stood in the eleventh century a timber church, built by Siward, a Saxon nobleman, and dedicated to St. Peter. In the last quarter of that century Odilirius, “a lover of justice,” who had possession of the humble structure, counselled Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, to build a monastery. The Earl consented, and in 1083 the monastery or abbey was built, and consecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul. St. Paul, however, was served rather scurvily, for the Earl gave the whole of the suburb—then denominated Before Yette—to “the blessed Peter.” The abbey was splendidly endowed by the Earl and by Siward, and in consideration of the endowments the monks were “to diligently pray for their souls, and for the souls of their ancestors and heirs.” These endowments were added to from time to time by several other benefactors, with the same object. Thus Warine, the sheriff of the county gave several hides of land for the salvation of his soul; and after his death, lest he should be in jeopardy, his widow gave her house for his effectual security. Warine’s brother, Reginald, gave a village; Herbert de Ferches a farm; Gerrard de Tourney a village; Randulph de Gernon, Earl of Chester, two houses; and Hugh Pantulf his mills at Sutton “for the salvation of his soul, the soul of his wife, and each of their souls.” These benefactions vastly increased the riches of the abbey, and in consequence of its revenue the abbots were mitred and elevated to the privilege of a seat in the Upper House of Parliament. The value of the monastery was, according to Dugdale, £132 4s. 10d., to Speed £615 4s. 3d. In the twenty-sixth year of Henry VII. the annual income was £572 15s. 5d., a revenue equal to about £4,750 of modern currency. At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries the abbey was suppressed, and the estates and buildings passed into lay hands. Some were sold for the value of the materials, and others were converted into dwellings. Odericus Vitalis, one of the earliest and best of English historians, was educated at this monastery, whither he was sent by his father, priest at Atcham, where he was born in 1074.
In 1728 an incident capable of a modern application occurred here. The clergyman of the parish presented a petition to the bishop praying for the removal out of the church of a picture representing the Saviour upon the cross. The petitioners presented a counter petition; but their memorial failed, and the bishop ordered the picture to be removed. This dispute between the vicar and his flock caused a great sensation, and gave occasion to a number of lampoons. The parishioners attacked the vicar in this style:
The Parson’s the man
Let him say what he can
Will for gain leave his God in the lurch;
Could Iscariot do more
Had it been in his power
Than to turn his Lord out of the church.
The clerical party replied with a good argument:—
The Lord I adore
Is mighty in power,
The one only living and true;
But that Lord of yours
Which was turned out of doors,
Had just as much knowledge as you.But since you bemoan
This God of your own,
Cheer up my disconsolate brother:
Though it seems very odd,
Yet if this be your God
Mr. Burley [51] can make you another.
At the suppression of monasteries in the time of Henry VIII, the entire eastern portion, which constituted two-thirds of the structure, was destroyed. There are remains, however, sufficient to indicate its massiveness and majesty. The most prominent of these is the broad western tower which presents a stately, dignified appearance. There are also the nave and the side aisles; and these with the tower form the present church, which, though with evidences of mutilation, has a venerable aspect, and is characterised by “a noble simplicity combined with a massive solidity.” The three windows are all at present of the Perpendicular style; but there are prints of older date which show the two smaller to have been of a different character. The portal is a deeply recessed semicircular arch, terminating in a pointed doorway. The bellchamber has two windows on each side; between those of the western front, in a canopied niche, is the statue of an armed knight, having a conical basinet encircled by a crown. This figure is with good reason supposed to represent Edward III. in whose reign the tower was probably begun. The south doorway is plain Norman in character, resting on slender shafts, and adjoining is the ruined wall of the transept. The choir having been destroyed the eastern end now terminates in a wall run up between the remains of the two western piers, which supported the central tower. Of course, in the interior the altar stands here, above which are placed Norman windows, containing six figures in stained glass of kings and apostles. They are deep and brilliant in colour, and the drawing is good. Below is a reredos, forming a series of five Norman arches.