Page [337], sixth line from top, for in the year 1804 read 1404.
Page [346], tenth line from top, for Breveton read Brereton.
Page [365], twenty-ninth line from top, for Buxton read Burton.
Page [372], fourth line from top, for exort read extort.
Page [445], fifth line from bottom, for Nowell read Noel.
Page [491], twenty-fourth line from top, for Kingleford read Ringleford.
Page [500], sixteenth line from top, for Burner read Burnel.
HISTORY OF SHREWSBURY.
SHREWSBURY is a market town, and borough corporate and parliamentary, situate 153 miles N.W. of London, 40 miles S. from Chester, 40 miles W. from Lichfield, 44 miles W.N.W. from Birmingham, 53 miles N. from Hereford, 58 miles S. from Liverpool, 109 miles N. from Bristol, and 108 miles S.E. from Holyhead. The town stands nearly in the centre of the county of which it is the capital, and occupies two hills of gentle ascent, which gradually rise from the bed of the river Severn, whose stream gracefully bends its course around three sides of the town; thus forming a peninsula, having a narrow isthmus, not more than three hundred yards across, to the north east. Shrewsbury covers nearly the whole peninsula, excepting a narrow margin of meadow and garden grounds, which runs between the walls and the river. It has gradually extended beyond the boundaries of the river, forming the populous suburbs of Abbey Foregate and Coleham on the east, Frankwell on the west, and Castle Foregate, beyond the neck of the isthmus, stretching towards the north. The bold situation of the town, rising amidst a vast plain, backed with mountains—the frowning castle—the elegant towers and tapering spires of the churches—the noble bridges, and picturesque buildings, produce, altogether, a scene of singular beauty and grandeur. The delightful prospects from every side of the town, over a rich and finely wooded country, adorned by the meanderings of the Severn, are surpassed by none, and equalled but by few other towns of our island.
The streets, in common with those of almost all our old towns, are irregularly disposed, some of them steep and narrow, and indifferently paved. In this respect, however, considerable improvements have been made in some of the principal thoroughfares. Many of the houses have the characteristics of high antiquity impressed upon them; and the domestic architecture of former days, with projecting gables, is often intermixed with that of modern erection, and of elegant appearance. The close wooden-built alley, called a “shutt” in the provincial dialect of the place, is everywhere seen connecting the principal streets with each other. Although the gravelly banks on which the town stands afford a fall in every direction, by which it might easily be kept from filth and damp, yet the peculiarly pleasant situation was for a long period but little regarded. Many important alterations have, however, been made under the provisions of an Act of Parliament obtained in 1821, for removing obstructions, watching, lighting, and the general improvement of the town; the powers of which are vested in trustees, who must be persons occupying property rated at £50 per annum, or worth £2,000. The streets are now lighted with gas, and the town is supplied with an abundance of excellent water. Its elevated situation, the natural dryness of the soil, and its pure water, contribute, doubtless, to the salubrity for which it is so remarkable. Speed quaintly observes:—“Wholsom is the aire, delectable and goode, yeelding the springe, and the autumne, seed time and harveste, in a temperate condition, and affoordeth health to the inhabitants in all seasons of the yeere.” The ancient Britons gave the place the name of Pengwern, the Saxons, Scrobbes-byrig; both of which imply a fenced eminence planted with shrubs. The poet and antiquary, Leland, thus beautifully accounts for its name:—