St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s Schools, situated in St. Michael-street, owe their origin in a great measure to the Rev. W. G. Rowland, the incumbent of St. Mary’s, who was a munificent contributor towards their erection. The schools were built in 1832, in the old English style of architecture. They are supported by voluntary subscriptions, and the scholars are provided with books, and gratuitously educated, with the exception of a number of the children from the extensive factory of Messrs. Marshall and Co., whose instruction is paid for by the proprietors of the mill. Richard Jones and Sophia Evans are the teachers. About 120 boys and 100 girls attend. Adjoining the school premises are ten neat cottages, built by the Rev. W. G. Rowland, the income arising from which is expended in bread, and distributed amongst the necessitous poor, in St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s churches.
The Diocesan Schools, Swan hill, in connection with the Lichfield Board of Education, was established in 1842. This is an institution for the general education of youth, ably conducted by Mr. Henry Newsham. Particular attention is paid to the mathematical education of the youth of this establishment. A limited number of boarders are taken.
The British or Lancasterian Schools were first established in Shrewsbury in 1812, when a commodious school was built opposite the county gaol, for conducting education on the plan suggested by Mr. Joseph Lancaster. Subsequently the premises were taken down, and the site is now occupied as a railway station. A building was afterwards taken in Watery-lane, where the school was conducted till the present year (1851), when a neat school-house, measuring forty-eight feet by twenty-eight, was erected at the rear of the county gaol, at an estimated cost of £700. About 150 boys and 100 girls attend the school. Mr. Thomas Harris is the teacher.
St. Alkmund’s Parochial School, situated between St. Mary’s-street and St. Alkmund’s-place, is numerously attended both by boys and girls. The teachers are William Donellan and Martha Badger.
Infant Schools.—St. Chad’s Infant School is situated in Barker-street, not far from the National School. One hundred and twenty attend the school, which is conducted by Segismunda Roberts. The Infant School, Castle Foregate, has an attendance of eighty. Ann Townsend is the teacher. There is also an infant school in Frankwell, which was built by the late Dr. Darwin, and is now chiefly supported by Miss Darwin. These are interesting institutions for giving an early moral bias to the mind, and calculated to effect much good.
Sunday Schools.—The Sunday schools of Shrewsbury have existed nearly from the earliest formation of such institutions. Schools are connected with the established churches, and the different congregations of dissenters, which are very numerously attended.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Salop Infirmary.—This excellent institution, situated near St. Mary’s churchyard, was established in 1747, and has the honour of being one of the earliest of these Samaritan institutions in the kingdom. The building, which preceded the present stately fabric, was a plain brick structure, designed for a private residence; although repeatedly enlarged, it was found too small for the additional number of patients consequent upon an increasing population, and at a meeting held on November 16th, 1826, it was resolved that a new infirmary should be built on the site of the old one. The present building was erected in 1830, from a design by Mr. Haycock, at the cost of £18,735. 18s. 10., of which £12,994. 1s. 3d. was raised by subscriptions, and the remainder disbursed from the funded property of the charity. The structure has a noble appearance, and stands in a commanding position on the verge of an eminence overlooking the Severn; it is 170 feet in length, by 80 feet in height, having a handsome Doric portico in the centre. There is ample accommodation for 150 patients, and the internal arrangements are admirably adapted for the purpose they are designed to fulfil. The principal floor is appropriated to the board room, dispensary, waiting room for patients, with private apartments for the house surgeon and matron; the first floor has seven wards for male patients, with day room, scullery, and baths; the upper room contains a spacious operation room, with wards for females; in the attics above are four other wards with nurses’ room, &c. A staircase at each end communicates with spacious galleries extending the length of each story. The whole is thoroughly ventilated, and an uniform temperature preserved by a patent hot water apparatus. A spacious terrace has been constructed on the eastern side, that such of the patients as are able may possess every benefit resulting from pure air and exercise. From this the eye commands an uninterrupted view of an extensive and finely wooded country, bounded by the long ridge of Haughmond Hill, the Wrekin, and the Stretton Hills. The pecuniary concerns of the institution are superintended by a board of directors; a treasurer is also appointed annually, who, on the anniversary day in the hunt week, is accompanied to church by the subscribers and patrons of this charity, where, after a sermon, a collection is made in aid of the funds. From its establishment to midsummer, 1849, the sum of £219,934. 16s. 7¼d. has been received for its support; 60,077 in-patients admitted, and 117,747 out-patients recommended as fit objects for its benefits. The weekly average number of patients in the house during the year ending midsummer, 1849, was 103; out-patients on the books, 603. The total receipts for the year ending at the same period was £3,237. 7s. 5d., of which £1,669. 11s. was received from yearly subscriptions; £355. 2s. 6d. from benefactions and legacies; £627. 6s. 11d., the interest and dividends of funded stock, and £585. 7s. 6d. from miscellaneous sources, which includes £183 8s. 6d. collected at the anniversary sermon in St. Chad’s church. Of this stock £16,400 is secured in the three per cent consols, £3,449. 10s. new 3¼ per cents; £100 on the Watling-street road, and £150 on the Bridgnorth-road. Subscriptions have been made amounting to £1,227. 6s. 8d., as a “Chaplain’s Endowment Fund.” “The house surgeon is allowed to take three pupils at a premium of twenty guineas to himself, and 200 guineas to the infirmary, which entitles the pupil to board and residence for five years.” Attendance at this hospital is recognized by the Royal College of Surgeons, and the apothecaries’ company, London.—Physicians: Henry Johnson, M.D., Thomas James Drury, M.D., Henry Parker, M.D.—Surgeons: H. E. Burd, J. Dickin, and J. Y. Arrowsmith.—House Surgeon: John Robert Humphreys. Secretary: Henry Bevan.
The Dispensary, like most other institutions of this kind, is supported by annual subscriptions and benefactions. It was established in 1843, and although the funds do not allow the full extent of usefulness which the charity is capable of, yet it is pleasing to observe from the annual reports that it is making steady progress in the estimation of the public. It appears from the report ending September, 1849, that the total number of patients have been 3,391. The receipts for the year ending at the same period were £160. During the year 560 cases received attention, of which 403 were cured, 123 relieved, 30 died, and 4 were dismissed.—Patron: His Grace the Duke of Sutherland.—Surgeon: Mr. G. P. Gill,—Hon. Secretary: Folliott Sandford, Esq.—Dispenser: Mr. G. S. Whitney.
The Eye and Ear Establishment, Castle-street, was established in 1818, under the management of a committee of gentlemen, for the special object of affording relief to the humbler members of society, who may be suffering from any calamity incident to those delicate organs of the human frame, the eye and ear. The number of patients admitted from the opening of this institution has been 6,224.—President: Viscount Hill.—Surgeon: Edwin Foulkes. The institution is open every Wednesday and Saturday mornings.