Besides Salmon, the river Severn contains twenty-one other sorts of fish, the chief of which are flounders, pike, trout, perch, eels, shad, carp, lamperns, and lampreys. The two latter are found in many other rivers, but none are so much valued as those taken out of the Severn, from whence they are sent to many parts of England. Lampreys are a delicious dish, but unwholesome if eaten in great quantities: of which we have an instance in the death of Henry I. who died in consequence of eating too plentifully of this fish.
Nor is it in the Severn alone that the angler will find amusement, Meole and Condover brooks affording excellent trout, and the river Tern, a great variety of delicate fish. Each of these streams are within a short distance of the town.
Bowling Greens.
Of this most healthful species of amusement Shrewsbury cannot boast; however, the pleasant villages of Meole, distant one mile, and Uffington, distant three miles and a half, furnish two very excellent greens, and where the pedestrian will be well accommodated and attended to, after the fatigues of his walk.
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
Water.
With this most necessary article Shrewsbury is abundantly supplied, and it is also of a most excellent quality. The first we shall notice, is that which is chiefly used for drinking, and is obtained from the
Conduits,
which are placed in several situations about the town for the general convenience of the inhabitants. The spring which supplies these fountains, rises at Broadwell, in a field near Crow-Meole, about two miles from the town. The work of conducting it to town in leaden pipes, was completed about 1574; a reservoir was placed under a shop in the Butcher Row in 1743, but was afterwards removed to Claremont Hill, and on the demolition of the town-walls, for the purpose of erecting the new church of St. Chad on its site, the lodge opposite the Quarry-keeper’s house, at the top of the centre walk of that beautiful promenade, was built for this purpose.