Borough Magistrates: Henry Slater Richards, Esq., mayor; William Jones, Esq., Henry George Mytton, Esq., Thomas Whitmore Wylde Brown, Esq., Edward Farrer Acton Esq., Joshua Sing, Esq., Farmer Taylor, Esq., Thomas Bangham, Esq., Wm Hallen, Esq., and John Stephens, Esq.
Mayor: Henry Slater Richards, Esq.
Aldermen: John Smalman, Esq., Thomas Nock, Esq., Edward Ridley, Esq., and Benjamin Boucher, Esq.
Councillors: Thomas Deighton, James Brown Grierson, Joseph Southwell, Joseph Minton Glase, Samuel Nicholls, James Henry Martin, Robert Harrison, Joshua Sing, Henry Slater Richards, James Edward Newall, Frederick Homfray, and William Jones. Recorder: Uvedale Corbet, Esq. Coroner: William Dones Batte, Esq. Town Clerk: John Jacob Smith, Esq. Clerk to Borough Magistrates: Edward William Hazlewood, Esq. Town Crier: George Evans.
The ruins of a Castle fortified by Robert de Belesme, the third Norman earl of Shrewsbury, are still standing. The edifice was erected on the site of a former structure, but a portion of the square tower now standing 17 degrees out of its perpendicular is almost the only relic of this baronial fortress left. A chapel within the walls of the castle was made collegiate, and had a dean and six prebendaries. When Robert de Belesme held this castle in rebellion in 1102, against Henry I., Ralph de Pitchford behaved himself so valiantly, that the king gave him the little Brugg near it to hold by the service of finding dry wood for the great chambers of the castle, against the coming of his sovereign. A romantic act of loyalty is related of Hubert de St. Clare, who with King Henry II. was besieging the castle of Bridgnorth, and seeing one of the enemy taking aim at his sovereign, stepped before him and received the arrow in his own breast, and therewith his death-wound. In the civil wars the castle was garrisoned for the King, who marched here from Shrewsbury to meet the parliamentary army; an engagement took place near to St. Leonard’s church wherein the royalists were defeated, the castle totally demolished, and the collegiate church so injured that it had to be taken down and rebuilt. The Gates and Walls of the town were thrown down in the civil wars. The north gate was afterwards rebuilt at the expense of the corporation, over which is a room now used for the Blue Coat School. A handsome and substantial stone Bridge crosses the Severn, and stands near the site of a former bridge erected by the Saxons. A portion of the Lower town is subject to be flooded by the Severn overflowing its banks. The Races have been discontinued for several years, but have been revived during the present year. The race-course is situate about a mile from Bridgnorth, in the parish of Tasley. There are Billiard Tables at the Raven Inn, Whitburne street, and the Star Inn, Underhill street. Mr. Edwards has generously granted the use of Trap-field for a Cricket Ground.
There is a Bowling Green at the Hundred House Inn, situated about a mile from Bridgnorth; Mr. George Jarratt is the proprietor. Baths were established in 1841 upon the premises of the South Shropshire Infirmary. The Society for the Promotion of Religious and Useful Knowledge hold their meetings annually in December. The depository for the Christian Knowledge Society is at Messrs. Wilmot and Brickley’s, Market street. The Mechanics’ Institution, situated in High street, is furnished with a library comprising 366 volumes. A reading room has also been established, which is furnished with periodicals, and some of the leading London and provincial journals; Joseph L. Whatmore, secretary. The Town Library is situated in Castle Terrace, and contains 3,037 volumes; John Pinkstone is the librarian. The Public Library in St. Leonard’s church-yard contains upwards of 4,000 volumes. There are also Circulating Libraries at Mr. Smith’s and Miss Partridge’s. The Stamp Office is at Mr. Southwell’s, West Castle street, and the Excise Office at the Castle Inn.
The Town Hall, situated in the centre of the market place, is an antique structure, built in 1682, and supported by pillars and arches. The large room is appropriated to the town’s business and magisterial purposes. The space under the hall is used for the sale of butter and poultry on the market days. No sessions were held in the town in 1646 by reason of the war. In this conflict the high town was burnt.
The Infirmary, in Listley street, is a handsome structure salubriously situated, and constructed with every attention to the convenience and convalescence of the inmates. This institution was established in 1841, and is chiefly supported by subscriptions, and a few small benefactions left by charitable individuals; the Rev. J. Purton is the treasurer.
The Water Works.—The town is supplied with water raised from the Severn, and forced by machinery through a four inch main into a tank, situated upon Castle Walk, which when full is capable of holding about 6,500 gallons. The funds for the support of the works are levied by a rate upon the inhabitants. These works being inefficient for the supply of the town, it is proposed to construct a capacious reservoir near Palmer’s Hospital, six feet above the present tank, and twenty feet above High street, capable of holding 14,000 gallons, and so to improve the hydraulic machinery, as to give the inhabitants an abundant supply of this pure beverage of nature; Mr. Thomas Corser is the superintendent.
The Gas Works, situated on the western banks of the Severn, were established in 1838, by Mr. Edward, of Wellington. There are two gasometers for the reception of the luminous vapour, and a charge of 8s. 6d. per cubic feet is made to the consumer; John Lloyd Whatmore, manager.