The County Hall, situated in the Market-square, is a handsome and commodious building, completed in 1837, at the cost of about £13,000. It is built from a design of Sir Robert Smirke, of beautiful white free stone, the principal front measuring 112 feet in length, and exhibits the Italian style of architecture. In the interior of the structure the different apartments are convenient, lofty, and well adapted to the various purposes for which they are intended. On the ground floor is a commodious vestibule, which communicates with rooms on each side, for the mayor, and counsel at assizes and witnesses. Opposite the entrance door is a noble staircase; on the first landing, the centre one leading to the judge’s room, and those on each side to the respective courts, which are of equal dimensions, forty-two feet by thirty-six feet. The bench is elevated three feet above the floor, on each side is accommodation for the magistrates; immediately before the judge is a large table, with seats provided for the councillors. In each court is a gallery for the public, and the ceiling is panelled and ornamented. From this division the staircase leads to another large room, adapted for a third court, or other public purpose; above it are offices for the clerk of the peace, and for the town clerk.
The ancient Guild or Shire Hall was a low timbered fabric, with a high clock turret, erected in the reign of Henry VIII., and stood across the market square. The lower part was appropriated to retail shops, and the upper story contained the rooms in which the business of the town was transacted, and the assizes held. The municipal records were preserved in a strong square tower near the south east side, erected in 1490. At the summer assizes, in 1783, in consequence of the pressing remonstrance of the judge, enforced by the threat of a fine upon the county, an act of parliament was obtained the following year for this purpose. To render the new building more handsome and commodious, and to remove the inconvenience occasioned by the old one standing across the street of the greatest resort, several houses, together with the ancient tower of the Exchequer, were taken down, and various other improvements made, in the adjacent parts. The new hall was completed in 1785, at an expense of £11,000, raised by a county rate. In consequence of sinkings having in 1832 been observed in different parts of the structure, the building was surveyed by different architects and pronounced unsafe and dangerous. The proper authorities immediately determined to take down the whole edifice, and erect a more commodious one on its site. For this purpose some adjoining premises were purchased, and the present substantial structure, admirably adapted for the purposes intended, was completed, as already noticed, by Messrs. Birch, builders, in 1837.
The Town and County Gaol stands on a salubrious cliff of gravel, a short distance from the castle, and contiguous to the railway station. The building was erected in 1793, on the principles of the benevolent Howard, at an expense of £30,000. The front of the prison displays a bold and massive appearance, having two rusticated stone lodges and a gateway in the centre, over which is a fine bust of Howard, by Bacon. The building is of brick, and is spacious, airy, and well supplied with water, by means of a pump worked by the prisoners. Immediately in front of the gateway is the governor’s house, which, with certain offices, forms the southern front of the building. The chapel is an octagonal structure in the centre of the prison, and is contrived so as to separate every class of prisoners, yet, so that the minister may be seen by all the congregation. The remainder of the structure is divided into four principal courts, with several smaller ones, around which are cloisters, with sleeping rooms above for the prisoners, and cells for the refractory. A regard to the gradation of vice is strictly observed in the classification of the prisoners, many of whom are employed in some useful trade, such as shoemakers, tailors, blacksmiths, &c., others are employed in picking oakum and wool. The galling and disgraceful restraints of irons are altogether dispensed with, except in cases of capital and very refractory offenders. Great attention is paid to the moral culture of the inmates by the assiduous chaplain, in order to reclaim the wanderer. Divine service is performed twice every day, except Saturday; and the prisoners are all separately catechised several times during the week. The water to supply the gaol is pumped from the Severn into a large reservoir, which will hold 2,000 gallons. The gaol is calculated to accommodate 300 prisoners, and there are 135 separate cells. During the year ending September, 1849, there was a total of 1,291 prisoners; greatest number of prisoners at any one time in the year, 203; daily average of criminals, 147; daily average of debtors, 9. Gross expenditure for the same period, £3,337. 17s. 8d. Mr. John Shepherd is the governor; and the Rev. David Winstone, chaplain. The corporate magistrates are entitled, under the act for erecting this gaol, to send to it prisoners, both criminal and civil, for whose maintenance, of course, the borough pays.
The Market House, situated in the Market Square, an antique and interesting fabric, is one of the handsomest structures of its kind in the kingdom. In Dr. Taylor’s MSS. is the following account of the first Market House in this town of which any record remains:—“This yere, 1567, Maister John Dawes, of Shrosbery, an alderman of the sayde towne, began and buylded two fayre houses in the Corne Market there, for the saffe placinge of corne from wether, so that the owners thereof may stand saffe and drye, the which buildings was at his own coste and charge, which place servyth for the inhabitantes as also strangers to walke in, and the loft above for soondry profitable purposes.” To these timber buildings others were added in 1571, for the like purpose. In 1595 the whole was removed, and the present structure built on the site. The principal front is towards the west, and has in the centre a spacious portal, over which are sculptured the arms of Elizabeth. On each side of the portal is an open arcade of three round arches, supported by massive pillars, over which a range of square mullioned windows lights the upper story. Large open arches occupy the north and south ends, which are terminated with pointed gables. Above the northern arch is a tabernacled niche, containing a statue of Richard, Duke of York, in complete armour, with his armorial bearings, removed from the tower of the old Welsh Bridge, on its demolition in 1791. At the south end is the figure of an angel, in a canopied niche, bearing a shield of the arms of France and England. This fragment of antiquity formerly stood in the southern tower of the Castle, or North Gate, and was removed here in 1825, when that building was taken down to widen the street. The basement of the Market House is 105 feet long, and 24 feet wide. The upper story is devoted to the purposes of a Mechanics’ Institution. The market is held on Saturday, is numerously attended by farmers from the surrounding district, and considerable quantities of corn are sold, chiefly by sample.
The Music Hall and Public Rooms occupy the southern side of the Market Square, and form a handsome pile of building, erected in 1840 from a design by Mr. Haycock. On the ground floor is the Post Office; and immediately above, the Public News Room, which is supported by annual subscription. The Music Hall, a noble apartment, occupies the remaining portion of the second floor. It measures 90 feet in length, 42 feet wide, and 38 feet high. The orchestra, which is situated at the south end, contains a fine-toned and powerful organ, the munificent gift of the late Rev. Richard Scott, B.D., to the Choral Society of the town. On the third story are Billiard Rooms, &c.
The Theatre, situated in the Shoplatch, has a lofty stuccoed front, with three niches, containing statues of the immortal Shakspere, and of the comic and tragic muses, which give it a bold and imposing effect. The lower part consists of a rusticated base, one hundred feet in length, comprising a range of good shops, and a dwelling for the manager. The interior is conveniently arranged, and handsomely decorated with appropriate devices. It will accommodate a numerous audience; and was opened September 8th, 1834. It stands on the site of a former Theatre, which, if we may credit the affirmation of Phillips, was part of the ancient palace of the Princes of Powisland, who, in their frequent transactions with the sovereigns of England, often resided in Shrewsbury. The ancient boundary wall of this mansion inclosed all the space contained between Cross Hill, St. John’s Hill, Murivance, Swan Hill, and Shoplatch. It is probable that the old edifice was part of the great chamber, appropriated, according to the usage of the times, for receiving company, and occasionally for exhibiting shows and dramatic interludes.
The Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society was established on the 26th of June, 1835. The Museum, situated in Dogpole, is principally designed to illustrate the natural history of the district in its various branches of geology, mineralogy, zoology, and botany, by the gradual formation of complete and systematic arrangements of its productions in each of these departments. It is also open to other objects of scientific interest, and in particular is a suitable repository for such remains of antiquity as are found within the district, or illustrate its general history. The library contains many valuable books, illustrative of natural history and antiquities. It is deeply to be regretted, that hitherto the council have been able to do little more than maintain the museum in existence. Had they been entrusted with a larger amount of funds, they might have very considerably enlarged its collection, and extended its interests. Many donations are still in store for exhibition, whenever a more commodious building can be procured. It is, therefore, hoped that a district of so much scientific and antiquarian resource may, before long, be furnished with a building, in which specimens of its own productions may be placed for inspection, and which may also be a repository for objects of general interest and national importance. President: The Right Hon. the Earl of Powis.—Treasurer: Thomas Eyton, Esq.—Honorary Secretary: Henry Johnson, M.D.
The Mechanics’ Institution was originally established in 1825, and in the year 1833 a building was erected for their meetings, in Howard Street. The committee of management subsequently took the Corn Market chambers, which are found admirably adapted for the objects of the institution, which affords to mechanics, artisans, and others, opportunities of acquiring, at their leisure hours, the principles of science and the arts; and for the cultivation of literature. The library comprises upwards of 2,000 volumes, and the reading-room is supplied with the leading London and provincial newspapers and magazines. There are classes for the English and French languages, arithmetic, mathematics, writing, drawing, music, and modelling. The present number of members is two hundred. The income for the year ending September, 1849, was £110. 15s. 10d. President: Mr. Edward Elsmere.—Honorary Secretaries: Mr. W. P. Scoltock and Mr. Robert France, jun.
The Church of England Literary and Scientific Institution was established in 1850, under the patronage of the Lord Bishop of Lichfield. Its general object is to afford the young men of the town of Shrewsbury the means of spending their leisure hours in a rational and profitable manner, and of acquiring useful knowledge on literary and scientific subjects, in subservience to the doctrines and precepts of revealed religion. A library and reading room have been established, and competent persons employed to deliver lectures on various interesting and scientific subjects. All persons subscribing twelve shillings and sixpence annually, or five guineas in one donation, to the funds of the institution, are members; and all persons elected by the committee, on the payment of six shillings per annum, have the advantages of the institution. Treasurer, W. B. Lloyd, Esq. Honorary Secretary, Mr. Henry Newham.
The Subscription Library, on St. John’s hill, contains a valuable collection of books in the various department of literature and science, numbering upwards of nine thousand volumes. It was established in 1785. Proprietary members pay one guinea admission, and an annual subscription of a guinea and a half. Elinor Urwick is the librarian.