Chapter VII: Part 7

In the days of King Stephen, when the popular passion for relics had attained an unbounded extravagance, the monks of Shrewsbury determined not to be behindhand with their brethren in availing themselves of so fruitful a source of opulence; therefore, during the abbacy of Herbert, the third abbot, they commenced business on their own account. After ransacking the legends of Wales for a subject, they at length had the good fortune to pitch upon one sufficiently absurd for their purpose, in the bones of the martyred Virgin St. Wenefrede, which lay interred in the churchyard at Gwytherin, in Denbighshire. After much fruitless negotiation with the priest and the people of Gwytherin, the abbot of Shrewsbury procured an order from Henry I. for the translation of the sacred dust to his monastery. The Welshmen honoured their saint more than their king, and turned a deaf ear alike to entreaties and menace. The Salopian monks persevering in their purpose, held a chapter, in which Robert Pennant, their prior, a Denbighshire man, who is supposed to have fabricated the legend, was commissioned to make a pilgrimage to Gwytherin, and to leave no expedients untried for obtaining possession of the relics. Assisted by a priest in Wales, two clever monks of his abbey, and the prior of Chester, he practised on the credulity of the Welsh by pretended visions and divine warnings. The prize was given up, and the delegates returned with it in triumph to Shrewsbury, where it was enshrined with great pomp and solemnity, near the high altar of St. Peter and St. Paul. The speculation of the monks was completely successful; multitudes of pilgrims flocked with gifts to the shrine, and even nobles contended who should offer the richest donations. In addition to these treasured bones the monks in after times appear to have possessed a most extensive and varied assortment of other relics, doubtless of equal value and efficacy. In 1486 the abbot Thomas Mynde incorporated the devotees of St. Wenefrede into a religions guild or fraternity, founded by him in her honour. A great bell was also dedicated to her memory. One of the most remarkable persons this house produced was Robert of Shrewsbury, a monk, who was promoted to the see of Bangor, in the reign of Henry II. His influence in Wales excited the jealously of King John, who imprisoned him in his own cathedral, and for his ransom obliged him to pay three hundred hawks. This eminent prelate, it is said by his will, ordered his body to be buried, not in his cathedral church, but in the middle of the market place of Shrewsbury. At the various visits with which the English sovereigns honoured Shrewsbury, it is highly probable that they took up their residence in the abbey, and there can be little doubt that the parliament of Edward I., 1283, and that of Richard II., 1398, called the Great Parliament, were held within the monastery. At the dissolution of 1513, when the property and possessions of this monastery fell to the crown, the burgesses of Shrewsbury presented a petition that the abbey might be converted into a college or free school, to which request Henry refused to accede, alleging as a reason his intention of erecting Shrewsbury into a bishopric, the diocese of which was to include the counties of Salop and Staffordshire, and the endowments to consist of the monastic revenues. Dr. Bouchier, the last abbot of Leicester, was actually nominated Bishop of Shrewsbury, and hence it is said arose the appellation “Proud Salopians,” founded on the tradition that the inhabitants rejected the offer of having their borough converted into a city. The bailiffs and principal inhabitants of the city in vain petitioned their monarch to spare the buildings of the monastery. On the 22nd of July, 1546, Henry VIII. granted the site of the dissolved abbey to Edward Watson and Henry Henderson, who the next day conveyed the same to William Langley, a tailor, in whose family it continued for five generations, until 1701, when Jonathan Langley, Esq., devised it to Edward Baldwyn, Esq., and he in like manner in 1726 passed it to his sister Bridget, wife of Thomas Powys, Esq. In 1810 the premises were sold by the trustees of the wife of Thomas Jelf Powys, Esq., to Mr. Simon Hiles, in whose devisees they are now vested. The property with which the abbey had been endowed at various periods, comprised seventy manors, twenty-four churches, and the tithes of thirty-seven parishes, besides very extensive and valuable privileges and immunities of various kinds. In 26 Henry VIII., their possessions were found of the yearly value of £572. 15s. 5¾d., equal to £4700 in the present day. Pensions were assigned to the late abbot, Thomas Boteler, and the seventeen monks.

The abbey presents few features of its ancient grandeur, the chapter house, cloister, and refectory are entirely destroyed. In the stately chapter house occurred the early authorised assembly of that popular representation in the constitution of this kingdom, to which, under Providence, Englishmen have been indebted for much of their subsequent prosperity. From the important state affairs which were transacted here in 1307–8 it was denominated the Great Parliament. The cross of Canterbury was brought here, upon which the lords spiritual and temporal were sworn to observe and keep all the statutes which were then made. Here too, Richard II., attended by a numerous guard of Cheshire men, entertained the members of his parliament with a sumptuous feast. The site of the abbey embraced upwards of ten acres, but it is no longer possible to trace the wide circuit of the ancient embattled walls. In 1836, on excavating near the site of the chapter house, a leaden seal was found, which had once been appended to a bull from the pope, whose name is thus inscribed on it:—INNOCENTUS. P.P. IIII. The most interesting portions of the ruins is a little octagonal structure, six feet in diameter, which is generally called the Stone Pulpit, the admiration of every antiquary and person of taste. Some broken steps lead to the interior through a narrow flat arched door on each side. The south part stands upon a portion of a ruined wall, and originally looked into one of the outer courts. The corresponding moiety projected considerably within the hall, and rests upon a single corbel, terminating in a head. From this point it gradually spreads, with a variety of delicately ribbed mouldings, until it forms the basement under the floor. The whole is crowned with a dome of stone work, at about eight feet from the base, supported on six narrow pointed arches, rising from pillars similar to the mullions of the windows. One of the remaining sides of the octagon is a solid blank wall, and the other contains the door. The roof within is vaulted on eight delicate ribs springing out of the wall, and adorned at their intersection in the centre, by a boss representing an open flower, on which is displayed a delicate sculpture of the crucifixion. The spaces between the divisions of the three northern arches, are filled up four feet above the base, with stone panels, over which they are entirely open, and the light thus introduced is productive of a beautiful effect. On the centre panel is a rich piece of sculpture designed to represent the annunciation. The right hand panel bears the images of St. Peter and St. Paul; that on the left St. Wenefrede and the abbot Beuno. The architecture of this interesting structure is referred to the time of Henry VIII. Much conjecture has arisen among antiquaries respecting its probable use, but there can be little doubt that it originally projected from the wall of the refectory, and was used as a pulpit, from which one of the junior brethren of the monastery, in compliance with the rule of the Benedictine order, daily read or recited aloud, during meal times, a subject of divinity to the monks during dinner. Southward from the pulpit is a range of red sand stone building, now incorporated with the abbey house. To the south east is the abbot lodge, of which the only remnant is a portion of the cloister, consisting of three pointed arches. The dormitory was cut through on the formation of a new line of road in 1836.

SHREWSBURY CASTLE.—The events which belong to the Castle are intimately connected with the history of the town, where they are more fully noticed. Its founder, Roger de Montgomery, made it his residence soon after the Conquest, and it became the chief seat of his baronial power. As his new possessions had been acquired by the sword, Earl Roger considered the inhabitants as his property; therefore, to afford an eligible site for his new buildings, he is stated to have destroyed fifty houses; a fifth part of the town at that period. After the fall of the great house of Montgomery, in the reign of Henry I., on the forfeiture of Earl Robert de Belesme, the Castle became a royal fortress. Its defence was entrusted to a constable, usually the sheriff, who maintained the prison of the county within its walls; and the vast possessions annexed to it were parcelled out among various knights, on the condition of their keeping castle-ward for a certain number of days during war. During the turbulent reign of Henry III. the castle fell into great dilapidation; but his son, Edward I., immediately on his accession, almost entirely rebuilt the structure. The stronger portion of the castle now remaining was probably erected by direction of that monarch, being in the style generally adopted during his reign.

It was at this time considered rather as a place of great consequence in protecting the country from the invasions of the Welsh, than as a royal or baronial residence. By the union with Wales all apprehensions on this ground vanished, and the importance of the castle as a fortress ceased. In the time of Henry VIII. it seems to have been rapidly hastening to decay. Leland, who then saw it, observes that it had been a “stronge thynge, but now much in mine.” In the reign of Elizabeth, a grant was made of its site and buildings to Richard Onslow, Esq., who subsequently transferred his interest in it to the corporation.

During the civil war, in the reign of Charles I., the Castle resumed some share of its former importance, and was garrisoned for the royal party. The dilapidated walls were repaired, and its gates strongly fortified. After its surrender to the parliamentary forces, in 1645, it escaped the destruction that fell upon many other castles, owing to the circumstance of its being entrusted by the House of Commons to the government of Colonel Mitton, a native of the county, who, displeased with the virulent persecution of the king, soon after resigned his commission. Colonel Mackworth was then appointed governor, and he was succeeded by Colonel Hunt. On the restoration of Charles II., the property of the Castle returned to the burgesses, who in 1663 surrendered it to the king. That monarch shortly afterwards presented it to Viscount Newport, afterwards Earl of Bradford. The garrison at this time consisted of two companies with their officers; the daily expenses of which, as given in an old record, are stated at £8. 17s., or £3,230. 5s. per annum. The Castle continued in a fortified state, and had a large magazine of arms, which was not removed till the reign of James II. It is probable that the out-works were in a great measure destroyed, and its ancient chapel demolished, about this period. The part still remaining was leased by the Earl of Bradford to Mr. Gosnell. About the year 1730, this gentleman converted it into a gloomy habitation, in which state it remained until Sir William Pulteney repaired and greatly improved it. The outer walls of the Castle are now undergoing a complete reparation by the present proprietor, the Duke of Cleveland.

The Castle stands boldly elevated on a considerable eminence on the narrow isthmus formed by the windings of the Severn, which in every other part, by surrounding Shrewsbury, formed a portion of its defence. It has undergone so many changes, and has suffered so much from the dilapidations of time, that it is not easy to form any correct notion of its original state. Its appearance does not convey an adequate idea of the size, stateliness, or the strength of a great baronial fortress, placed in so important a position as Shrewsbury was once esteemed. The present buildings are of red free stone, and consist of the keep, the walls of the inner court, and the great arch of the interior gate. How far the original fortifications extended cannot now be absolutely determined. It is probable that the usual appendages of feudal castles, the outer court or ballium, with its strong gate, portcullis, and towers, once made part of the fortress, and extended, perhaps, beyond the Council House. The keep is a square building of great strength, connected with two round towers, embattled and pierced, and originally consisted of one great apartment on each of the upper floors. The interior as well as the exterior has been greatly altered. In the vestibule is a statue of the founder, Roger de Montgomery. A handsome stone staircase, of modern construction, leads from the vestibule to the principal apartments. The drawing room, a spacious and handsome apartment, was used as a guard chamber in the time of Charles I. A narrow stone staircase within the wall, lighted by chinks, leads to an apartment in the western tower, in which was a recess, with a strong groined ceiling, and small sharp pointed windows. This building does not appear older than the time of Henry III.; the beams are of an immense size, and the walls are ten feet in thickness. The battlements of the walls are pierced with narrow cruciform openings, called loops or oilets, which were intended for the convenience of the cross-bowmen. The noble arch of the gateway is the only existing part of the original Norman fortress of Roger de Montgomery. It is eighteen feet high, semi-circular, and with plain round facings; and its walls appear to have sustained a tower, from which hung the portcullis. On the east side of the court is a postern, built probably in the time of Charles I., when the fortress was restored; and near it are the massive foundations of an ancient tower. The Castle still retains one mark of its ancient dignity, for in the area of the inner court the knights of the shire are nominated, and from time immemorial have been girt with their swords by the sheriff.

On the south side of the court is a lofty mount, which rises abruptly from the Severn, the summit of which is crowned with ruinous walls, and an ancient watch tower for the purpose of descrying an enemy at a distance. This was rebuilt about thirty years ago, and converted into a beautiful summer room, commanding a fine panoramic view, and now called Laura’s Tower. From the above mount there is also a view of uncommon grandeur and beauty—the sides of the mount are richly clothed with foliage, the Severn winds majestically below—the eye of the spectator beholds in succession, the town, with its spires and turrets, its beautiful suburbs, and a wide sweep of finely wooded and diversified country, with the most extensive amphitheatre of mountains of which perhaps the island can boast. The majestic Wrekin is connected by the hills of Acton Burnell and Frodesley with the towering heights of the Lawley and Caradoc, from whence the Long Mynd, Stiperstones, and Long Mountain, form an uninterrupted chain, with the bold and precipitous cliffs of Kefn-y-Castyr and Breddyn;—thence the horizon is bounded by the stupendous Berwin range, losing its blue summit in the clouds,—while the northern prospect is terminated by the humbler eminences of Grinshill, Pymhill, Hawkstone, and Haughmond.

When the frontier situation of Shrewsbury is considered, and that for four centuries it was, perhaps, the most important station on the marches of Wales, it is extraordinary that, though it has several times fallen into the enemies’ power by treachery and surprise, yet it never sustained more than two sieges, and those in rather early periods of its history. This circumstance may partly be attributed to the slender hopes an adverse army must have entertained of reducing by regular approaches a place so strongly fortified both by nature and art; for it was not only defended by its castle, but by the river, and a wall which completely surrounded it.

THE TOWN WALLS.—The following account of the ancient walls of Shrewsbury is chiefly taken from Phillip’s history of the town:—The walls were built across the isthmus, from the castle down to the river on each side, by Robert de Belesme, son of Roger de Montgomery. The other part of the walls surrounding the town was built in the reign of Henry III., who earnestly pressed the inhabitants to fortify and strengthen their borough, lest the enemy should surprise them unawares. This part of the wall was thirty-two years in building; it was finished in 1252, to defray the charge of which the king, at sundry times, granted the burgesses leases of the tolls of the town, and other favours; among which, every barge laded with merchandise upon the river had to pay the charge of fourpence. That part from the north end of the above-mentioned wall to the Welsh bridge, called Roushill, was built by Oliver Cromwell in the year 1645, the stone of which was brought from Shrawardine Castle. The more accessible parts of the town walls, particularly on the south and south-western sides, were formerly strengthened by towers, which are now demolished, excepting one, situated near the Murivance; it is square, embattled, and of two stories high, lighted by narrow loop holes, the entrance of the upper story being from the top wall. The only portions of the ancient walls now left standing are those on the north side of the town, extending from the Castle gates towards the Welsh bridge, and on the south-west side, where they stretch to a considerable distance. Although reduced in height, and stripped of the battlements, they form an agreeable walk to the inhabitants of the town.

GATES AND POSTERNS.—In an exchequer manuscript, without date, several gates or posterns are mentioned, to the keepers of which the coroners of the town delivered bolts and locks for their security. Those at Shepelache and at Kaymeplace no traces of the names remain. That called Bulgerlode was under the place formerly called the Gulph, at the bottom of the Wyle Cop, and Cleremont, on the top of Claremont Hill. There were also gates in Milk Street, Barker Street, and Water Lane. The latter only remains, and is memorable as the avenue through which the parliamentary forces were treacherously admitted into the town, at the siege of Shrewsbury, on February 22nd, 1644.

STREETS, &c. The following are some of the ancient names of the principal streets given in Phillips’ History of Shrewsbury, many of which have become obsolete.

_Mardol_, anciently written Marlesford, Mardefoie, and Mardvoll. It had the name of Marlesford from the ford through the Severn at the bottom of the street, near the welsh bridge.

_Chepynges-street_.—An ancient name probably of the street leading from the Corn Market to Murivance.

_Stalles_.—The street leading from Mardol head to High-street.

_High-street_, formerly called Baxter’s-row, also Barker’s-row.

_Ickeslode_.—A lane that went from Dogpole to the Walls.

_The Sextry_ was the Shutt from the passage from Kiln-lane to High-street.

_Frankwell_, anciently Frankvill; the Frank’s Vill, probably inhabited by the Franks, for in Doomsday book it is recorded that a part of the town containing 45 Burgase were inhabited by those people, who are there called _Francigence_.—This place seems to have been regarded as unconnected with the other part of the town; they had a strong work erected there for their defence, which at the time Shrewsbury was taken by the parliamentary forces surrendered upon bare quarter; and in the year 1640, when the plague began there, the inhabitants made an attempt to come into the town, but were beaten back by the bailiffs and townsmen.

_Cheddelode_.—A lane that went to the Severn, by Stury’s Close.

_Bulgerlode_.—A place at the bottom of the Wyle Cop, taken down in 1766.

_Murivance_.—A name of French extraction signifying before the walls, or within the walls.

_Murivance-lane_, led from the town wall down to the river.

_Sheteplace_, in old records written Sotteplace, and Soetteplace, is now called Shoplatch. _Behind the Walls_, from its situation behind the walls, now the Quarry.

_Priest’s-lane_, led from the walls near the tower, to Murivance, now inclosed.

_Romboldesham_, now called Barber-street.

_The Bailey_.—That part of the town which lies before the castle.

_Hound-street_.—A street leading from the playhouse to Barber-street.

_Grope-lane_.—A narrow “shutt” leading from High-street to Fish street.

_Corvisor’s-row_.—The same as that which is now called Pride-hill.

_Shoemakers’-row_.—In Speed’s map the lower part of Pride-hill.

_Hawmon-strete_.—Probably that now called Castle-street, or Raven-street.

_Merival_.—At the east end of the New bridge. Early in the 16th century, Merival was separated from the jurisdiction of the corporation, and considered a hamlet within the liberty of the town.

_Altus Vicus_.—The high pavement, near the Cross made in 1570.

ANCIENT MANSIONS.—THE COUNCIL HOUSE, was so called from having been the residence of the Council of the Marches of Wales, during their occasional visits to Shrewsbury. It is situated in the precincts of the Castle, on a bold acclivity which rises abruptly from the Severn, and commands a most delightful prospect of the surrounding country. The house has been modernized, and divided into several tenements; that portion which comprises the hall and the great chamber over it, includes nearly the whole of the building which retains any resemblance of its original features. It was built about the year 1501. The unhappy Charles I. resided here for six weeks, upon the commencement of his troubles in 1642. James II. on his visit to the town 24th August, 1687, held his court here. These once magnificent apartments have been subdivided and despoiled of their rich furniture and beautiful stained glass. A fine old porch, and the entrance hall with other relics have been carefully preserved. The present proprietor, William James Clement, Esq., has furnished several of the apartments with antique oak furniture, elaborately carved. The gateway of the council house is an interesting specimen of the style of architecture which prevailed in the early part of the 15th century.

THE WHITE HALL, situated near the Abbey Foregate, is a stately mansion, and exhibits a fine specimen of the Elizabethan style of architecture. It is a lofty structure with numerous pointed gables; the roof is adorned with ornamental chimnies, and crowned with a central octagonal turret. At the back of the mansion is a magnificent walnut tree, probably coeval with the house. It was formerly the manorial seat of Richard Prince, Esq., by whom it was built in 1758.

ROWLEY’S, on HILL’S MANSION, said to have been the first brick building erected in Shrewsbury, was built in 1618, by William Rowley, Esq. He amassed great wealth by fortunate speculations in Barbadoes. His son, Roger Rowley, Esq., was the first person in this town who kept his carriage. The daughter and heiress of the latter married John Hill, Esq., who lived in this mansion, from whom the street received the appellation of _Hill’s-lane_, instead of Knuckin-street. The house has been unoccupied some time, it now presents a dilapidated appearance.

IRELAND’S MANSION, situated in High-street, a noble timbered residence four stories high, terminating in pointed gables, was formerly the town residence of the ancient family of Ireland, long seated at Albrighton. When entire it must have presented an imposing appearance; it is now divided into three excellent tenements.

JONES’S MANSION, situate near St. Mary’s Church, was built by Thomas Jones, Esq., who was appointed by Charles I. in 1638 the first mayor of Shrewsbury. Subsequently the mansion became the residence of Chief Justice Jones. The Duke of York was lodged here in 1624, during the stay of Charles I. in Shrewsbury, and Prince Rupert made it his residence after the battle of Worcester.

THE JUDGES’ LODGINGS, situated at Belmont, is a spacious residence purchased by the county in 1821, for providing suitable accommodation for the Judges during their attendance at the assizes.

In various parts of the town are seen many curious old timbered houses, interesting as specimens of the domestic architecture of the honest burghers of former days. Nearly opposite the Butter Cross stood the mansion of the Prides, who gave their name to the street. This house has been greatly modernized, and partly rebuilt. In the Butchers’-row, is one of the largest, and supposed to be one of the oldest timber houses in the town. History is silent as to the time or by whom it was erected. It may have been the town mansion of the Abbot of Lilleshall, who had a residence in this part of the parish, and to which monastery the patronage of this church belonged.

ANNALS OF THE TOWN OF SHREWSBURY.

The following is a brief chronological sketch of the most remarkable events which have at different periods taken place in the town of Shrewsbury:—

A.D. 961—Land about Shrewsbury sold for one shilling per acre. The price of an ox was 2s. 6d., a cow 2s., a sheep 1s., a pig 8d.

1110.—A great earthquake, and great mortality among men and cattle.

1225.—Three gallons of ale sold for one penny in the town, and four out of town.

1315.—The price of provisions settled by the bailiffs.—A corn fed ox 24s., a grass fed ox 16s., a cow 12s., a fat sheep 1s. 8d., a fat hog 3s. 4d., a goose 2d., a hen 1d., a capon 2d., four pigeons 1d., twenty-four eggs 1d.

1347.—A fine horse 6s. 8d., an ox 4s., a sheep 4d., a lamb 2d.

1349.—The sweating sickness desolated the town.

1421.—Rees-ap-Doe, a Welsh Esquire, was hanged, drawn, and quartered here for treason.

1454.—Wheat sold for 14d. a quarter (eight strikes).

1490.—Wheat sold for one shilling and eightpence a bushel.

1509.—Provision made for building upon waste land and repairing decayed houses, by an Act of Parliament.

1519.—A general Chapter of the Grey Friars held here.

1520.—Griffith Wickham drawn through the town and afterwards hanged.

1532.—George Goldsmith drawn through the town and afterwards hanged, for coining money.

1537.—The plague raged frightfully during this year.

1542.—Rowland Lee, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, burned before the high altar of St. Chad’s church.

1563.—The bailiffs agree that no foreigner should be a freeman of the town without paying £10 and the usual fees.

1570.—Two men killed by the falling of the clapper out of St. Wenefrede’s bell, in the Abbey Church.

1571.—Humphrey Onslow built the chapel of our Lady in St. Chad’s church, and paved the causeway from the Lord’s place, (the Council House) to the cross, at his own cost.

1575.—That fearful malady, the plague, again visited Shrewsbury.

1581.—John Capper, clerk of the Abbey Church, was hanged at Kingsland for treason.

1582.—John Prestige was hanged upon a gibbet near the abbey mill, for the murder of his wife.

1588.—Richard Reynolds was put into the pillory and had both his ears cut off, for setting fire to a sheep-cote.

1591.—After the assizes in September, eight men were hanged at the Old Heath, one of whom was hung in chains there.

1596.—Wheat sold for 20s. a bushel, rye for 16s. a bushel.

1630.—Great numbers died of the plague. In 1632 and 1634—many fell victims to the same malady.

1647.—December 23rd. A woman was burnt in the dingle of the quarry for poisoning her husband.

1683.—An earthquake felt here, February 7; a dreadful fire in the Abbey Foregate.

1708.—Wheat sold for 9s. a bushel, muncorn 8s., rye 7.

1715.—It being the time of the rebellion new gates were made to the walls and the trained band called together.

1726.—Lamps were put up in several parts of the town, at the expense of the several parishes.

1727.—An earthquake felt here. A great meeting of quakers from all parts of England.

The judges of the assize were refused the usual compliments by the
mayor, on which account the next assize was held at Bridgnorth.

1756.—Thirty-seven colliers brought to gaol for rioting and committing outrages in the county; four died in gaol, and two were executed.

1758.—The country butchers were again admitted to sell meat in the town, and shambles were erected for them near St. Alkmund’s church.

1762.—A great fire happened in New-street, Frankwell, on the 23rd February.

1766.—February 12th, 13th, and 14th, there fell a great snow in Shrewsbury, which lay on the ground several days, eighteen inches deep.

1772.—A smart shock of an earthquake was felt, which occasioned much terror and consternation.

1774.—On Good Friday, April 1st, a fire broke out in the Abbey Foregate, by which forty-seven houses were burnt down, and several others much damaged.

1775.—September 8th, the inhabitants were much alarmed with the shock of an earthquake; in the midst of a calm a rumbling noise much like that of a strong wind was heard; this was soon followed by two tremulous motions of the earth, succeeding each other instantaneously.

1778.—The Shropshire militia marched from Shrewsbury on May 7 to Bridgnorth, where they were reviewed; from thence they marched into Kent.

1780.—A stage coach began to run between Shrewsbury and Holyhead.

1782.—Baron Hotham laid a fine of £2000 upon the county, till they should build a new Shire Hall; the new hall was built 1786.

1789.—July 23rd, T. Phipps, a lawer, and his son, just twenty years of age, were executed at the old heath for forgery; Mr. Phipps had an income of about £300 a year from landed property.

1793.—May 13th, the first stone of the new Welsh bridge was laid.

1794.—April 28th, John Pritchard died in Frankwell in the 101st year of his age; he had ten children by the first wife, and twenty-two by the second.

1795.—February 7th to 11th, one of the greatest floods ever remembered in the Severn; Mr. Johnson and his man were both drowned in endeavouring to recover a large barrel.

1802.—A sturgeon eight feet six inches long, three feet four inches in girth, and weighing 192lbs. was caught near the wear below the castle.

1809.—February 7. The suburbs of the town deeply inundated by the Severn.

1811.—May 27th. An extraordinary flood in the Meole Brook, which inundated all the houses in Coleham, situated near the confluence of the brook with the river Severn, and caused the latter river to rise four feet in less than ten minutes; although the Meole Brook is an inconsiderable stream, the rush of water actually turned the current of the Severn at its confluence with that river.

1811.—August 24th. Four persons executed on the new drop for a burglary at Betton, near Market Drayton.

1814.—June 30th. Lord Hill paid a visit to Shrewsbury after the peace of Paris. The day was one of general festivity among the inhabitants; thousands went out to meet him, and in the evening partook of tea in the quarry. On the 17th of December the first stone was laid of the column in honour of Lord Hill.

1827.—July 19th. First stone of the new infirmary laid by General Lord Hill; opened for the reception of patients September, 1830.

1828.—August 4th. Three persons executed on the new drop of the county gaol for murder. On the 24th of the same month Ann Harris was executed for the same offence.

1831.—February 10th. In consequence of the sudden melting of the snow, the suburbs of the town were deeply inundated.

Though the flood in 1831 was considered a very high one, according to evidence of brass plates affixed to the inside of the window jambs of a house in Frankwell, the Severn at that end of the town was 3½ inches lower than the great flood in 1795. The lowest plate bears the following inscription:—

“This is to let you know
The Severn up to me did flow.
December 21, anno 1672.”

A second plate two inches above the preceding, records—

“To this line flowed Severn.
November 8, 1770.”

On the third plate six inches higher than the second is inscribed—

“This plate is fixed to let you know
That Severn to this line did flow.
February 11, 1795.”

1832.—The cholera morbus in its destructive career through the kingdom visited Shrewsbury, when about a hundred persons fell victims to that direful malady.

1849.—The cholera again made its appearance in Shrewsbury; the fatal cases were fewer than in 1832.

CHARITIES.

_Sir Thomas White_, in 1566, bequeathed certain monies for charitable uses, in respect of which £100 is annually paid to twenty-four corporate towns in rotation (Salop being one), to be lent out, without interest, for a period of ten years, to poor young men of the said towns.

_Robert Allen_, by will 24th August, 1568, bequeathed £200 to be lent out to the poor inhabitants of the town of Salop, in sums of £10, to be held for three years; each recipient to find a bondsman for the repayment of the same at the expiration of the term, and to pay 4d. per annum, to be divided among the inmates of the almshouses of St. Mary and St. Chad.

_Paul Clarke_, April 15th, 1606, bequeathed £20 to be lent out, in sums of £10, to persons of his name and kindred only for the space of two years, and then to be returned to the bailiffs of the town, to be again put forth by the said bailiffs, from time to time, on sufficient security being given for the repayment of the same.

_Sir Samuel Jones_, by will, dated 10th March, 1670, gave to the town of Shrewsbury £500, to be employed for the setting poor people on work there, which sum he directed should he paid to the mayor and corporation of the said town, and should be by them, from time to time, lent on good security, without interest, to young tradesmen who should set up there.

_Rev. John Hilton_, in 1697, bequeathed £50 in trust to the mayor and corporation, to be lent out to five young tradesmen of the town, £10 to each, for the term of five years, interest free.

The foregoing abstracts are taken from the recitals in a decree of the Court of Chancery, made in the year 1772, in a cause between the attorney-general and the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, of the town of Shrewsbury. By this decree it was ordered that the sum of £2,404. 14s. 6d., found to be in the hands of the corporation, should be apportioned to the preceding charities, in a ratio proportionate to their several bequests. It appears that shortly after these proceedings in Chancery, the whole of the funds of these charities were lost; that a sum exceeding £3,000 was raised by subscription to replace the money so lost, which was subsequently repaid to the subscribers by the corporation. In addition to the above sum found to be in the hands of the corporation, two sums of £100 each have been since received from Sir Thomas White’s charity, leaving £2,596. 5s. 3d. in the hands of the corporation to be accounted for. In lending out the different sums of money, particular attention is paid to the directions of the several donors. No applications for loans are refused, provided the parties are properly qualified, and sufficient securities are proposed.

_David Lloyd ap Rogers_, by will, bearing date May 1st, 1623, devised certain premises at Frankwell, in trust to the bailiffs and burgesses of the town of Shrewsbury, and directed out of the yearly income thereof, 10s. to be paid to the minister of St. Chad, 10s. to be employed in repairing the bridges in Shrewsbury, 10s. to be expended in repairing Buttington bridge, in the county of Montgomery, and the residue thereof to be distributed to the poor of the parish of St. Chad. The premises now consist of two tenements, the estimated value of which is upwards of £30 per annum.

_Henry Smith’s Charity_.—The corporation are in possession of an estate in Chelmick, purchased with part of the personal property given by Henry Smith for charitable uses. It consists of a farm house, outbuildings, and 129A. 2R. 15P. of land. In 1805, upon the enclosure of the waste lands, an allotment was set out to the corporation; but the situation was remote from the remainder of the farm, and it was accordingly sold for £201. 10s.; £100 of which was subsequently laid out in improving the farm, and the residue put out at interest. The income arising from the above sources amounts to £85. 1s. 6d., which is carried to the Burlton estate account.

In an old book of accounts, belonging to the corporation of Shrewsbury, there is an entry stating that gifts and legacies had been given to the poor of the town of Shrewsbury previously to the year 1663, amounting in the whole to £1,301. 11s. 11d. The principal legacy is one of £300, left by William Spurstow. Six other donors left legacies of £100 each, and the remainder is made up of smaller items. In the whole there are names given of twenty-four several donors. The sum of £1,200 was laid out in the purchase of an estate at Burlton. In 1796 a sum of £925, which arose from the sale of timber on the estate, was laid out in the purchase of the tithes of corn, grain, and hay, in the said parish. In 1829, the sum of £264. 12s. was received for timber cut on the estate; and in the same year £266. 9s. was expended in rebuilding and improving the farm premises, £50 of which had been advanced by the tenant. The income derived from the Burlton estate and the farm at Chelmick, belonging to the charity of Henry Smith, amounts to £297. 7s. 6d. per annum. The principal part of this income is applied in putting out apprentices, with a premium of £10 each, and in distributing coals among the necessitous poor.

_James Phillips_, _Esq._, of London, in 1661, devised certain tenements in the borough of Southwark, in trust to the corporation of Shrewsbury, out of the rents and profits thereof, to maintain a lecture on the Thursday in every week in the year, in the parish churches of Ellesmere, Oswestry, Whitchurch, and Shrewsbury; such lectures to be delivered by able and orthodox divines. The residue of the said rents to be expended in gowns or clothes for the poor people of the said parishes. In 1825, the corporation sold two tenements, situated in the parish of St. Saviour, left by the same donor, for the sum of £1,685, which was laid out in the purchase of £2,146. 10s. three per cent. consols. Out of the income, amounting to £232. 7s. 10d. per annum, there has been appropriated for many years £10 per annum to the officiating ministers of Ellesmere, Oswestry, Whitchurch, and Shrewsbury; and the residue is expended in flannel, and distributed among the poor of the above-mentioned parishes.

_Edward Donne_, in 1668, bequeathed £200, and directed his executors to dispose of the same in the purchase of lands, and lay out the yearly proceeds in apprentice fees, upon poor children born in the parishes of St. Chad, St. Mary, St. Alkmund, and St. Julian. It appears the amount was invested in a rent charge of £10 per annum, arising from certain lands situated at Bulchey, Bryn-y-Koppall, and Wollaston. Dr. Gardiner took possession of this property under the will of his father, in 1801, and considerable arrears were allowed to accumulate in his hands. He, however, in March, 1801, offered to discharge the arrears by paying £60 a-year till the whole were liquidated, and to pay the amount of the rent charge in future to the corporation.

_William Jones_.—From an entry in one of the books of the Company of Drapers, in the town of Shrewsbury, under the date of March, 1653, we learn that William Jones conveyed the manor of Wigmore, in the parish of Westbury, upon trust, that there should yearly be paid out of the said premises £11. 6s. 8d. to the master warden and assistants; £10 thereof to be yearly distributed among the most necessitous poor of the town of Salop, more especially those dwelling in the parishes of St. Mary and St. Alkmund. The residue, £1. 6s. 8d., to be paid to the Vicar of St. Alkmund, for reading morning prayers.

_Widow Baugh_ bequeathed twenty marks per annum; one-third thereof for the better maintenance of the minister of St. Chad, and the other two parts to the relief of the poor of Shrewsbury. Certain lands in Preston Montford are charged with the payment of the twenty marks, or £13. 6s. 8d., one-third of which has been paid to the minister of St. Chad, and two-thirds thereof to the directors of the House of Industry for the united parishes of the town of Shrewsbury. [We conceive that the two-thirds of the annuity which has usually been paid to the directors of the House of Industry, in aid of the parish rates, ought to be discontinued; and the amount distributed among proper objects of charity in the town of Shrewsbury, according to the intentions of the donor.]

_John Allatt_, by will, bearing date 7th April, 1792, after bequeathing certain legacies directed all his personal estate, not specifically disposed of, to be held in trust, to apply such sums as the trustees should think proper in the erection of a school house and residences for the teachers; and the residue to be invested in government stock, to be applied in support of the school. By a codicil to his will, dated October 31st, 1796, he directed £1,600 to be invested in the three per cent. consols, the dividends thereof to be expended in the purchase of gowns for poor widows, poor single women not less than the age of 40 years, and coats for poor men of the age of 50 years and upwards. The testator died in 1796, and the school buildings were erected in 1800, at an expense of upwards of £1,500. In addition to the sum laid out in erecting the school premises, £4,497. 4s. was laid out in the purchase of three per cent. consols, and also the sum of £1,600 left for the purpose of providing clothing for the poor. With the former, £8,743 stock was purchased; and with the latter, £3,257. Subsequent purchases have been made with the surplus of the income; and a legacy of £45 left for the same use, by the will of _Sarah Mason_, in 1809. There is, therefore, now a capital of £14,000, of which the dividends of £10,800 are appropriated as the educational fund, and £3,400 as the clothing fund.

_Sarah Darley_, by will, 29th January, 1821, bequeathed £100 upon trust, and directed the yearly produce should be applied in the purchase of four tons of coals, for the use and benefit of all the prisoners who might be confined in the county gaol of Shrewsbury; and that the residue should be applied in aid of the prison charity. And she further bequeathed £500, to be placed out at interest by her executors, and the interest applied in releasing one or more debtor or debtors who should be confined in the gaol of Shrewsbury, but who, through misfortune, is forced into confinement; and that particular regard should he paid to those whose families should be suffering from their confinement.

_Esther Jones_, by will, dated 2nd July, 1823, bequeathed to the treasurer for the time being of the county of Salop, £300 three per cent. consols, upon trust, to apply the dividends towards the relief of the industrious poor prisoners, who should, from time to time, be confined in Salop gaol.

Upon a table, containing the benefactions to poor prisoners, it is stated that _Isaac Hawkins_, _Esq._, bequeathed £100, in 1803; _Rowland Hunt_, _Esq._, in 1810, gave £25; and that _Mrs. Knight_ gave £25. In respect of Hawkins’ gift, there is a sum of £189. 11s. 6d. three per cent. consols, the dividends of which amount to £5. 13s. 8d.; and in respect of the two latter benefactions, the sum of £75. 3s. 9d., three per cent. consols, producing £2. 5s. yearly. The amount of these subscriptions is paid over to the treasurer of the prison charities, and is added to subscriptions raised for the purpose of enabling debtors to gain a livelihood while in confinement, to reward them for good behaviour, and to furnish them with implements on quitting prison to support themselves and their families; and also to encourage industry and good behaviour in criminal prisoners, and to furnish them with the means of returning home. The subscriptions usually amount to upwards of £70 per annum, and the whole is applied under the direction of the visiting magistrates.

_Samuel Shuker_, by will, 18th June, 1821, gave to John Edwards, Esq., £1,200, upon trust, to purchase therewith a government annuity, determinable on the death of Mary Watkins; and if she should marry, or dispose of the said annuity, the proceeds should thenceforth be applied for the benefit of the Infirmary of Shrewsbury. The testator also devised to another person a copyhold messuage and premises in Twickenham for her life. And upon her marrying, or disposing of her life interest, he directed his trustees to sell the same, and stand possessed of the monies arising from the sale thereof, for the benefit of the said Infirmary.

PARISH OF ST. ALKMUND.

CHARITIES.—_Robert Owen_, by will, bearing date 14th March, 1603, gave £40, and directed the interest to be distributed to the poor; _William Williams_, and _Sarah Street_, each gave £5 for the same purpose; _George Lyndon_, in 1706, bequeathed £50 for the benefit of the poor; _Esther Hill_ gave £5; _Honour Dryden_, in 1715, gave £20; _Edward Donne_ directed the interest of £20 to be given among poor housekeepers receiving no alms; _Elizabeth Hanmer_ gave £20, the yearly proceeds to be expended in bread for the poor; _Lucy Minors_, in 1692, gave £10, the interest to be distributed in bread among the poor of the parish, on St. Luke’s day, yearly; _Thomas Jones_, _Esq._, gave to the parish of St. Alkmund £50, out of the yearly proceeds the clerk of the parish to have 10s. yearly for his care in looking after the testator’s tomb in the church, and the residue to be distributed among the poor parishioners; _Thomas Lloyd_, in 1721, bequeathed £20 to the minister and churchwardens of St. Alkmund, on trust, to place the same out at interest, and to pay 10s. yearly to the minister for preaching a sermon in the parish church on the 1st of November, yearly; 9d. to the sexton and clerk for officiating on that day, and the remainder to be distributed in twopenny loaves immediately after the sermon on the 1st of November. Of the several legacies above-mentioned amounting to £245, it appears that certain lands were purchased in Meole Brace and Coton, with part of the money, and the residue invested in the purchase of £175 three per cent. consols. The stock was subsequently sold, and there is now a sum of £200 secured on bond, the interest of which £10 per annum, and the yearly sum of £5. 5s., to which is added £2 10s., arising from the charity of Jane Brooks; with these sums bread is purchased, and sixty-three penny loaves are given away on the Sunday after St. Thomas’s day, and on every succeeding Sunday till the whole is exhausted. The rents of the land above-mentioned, amounting to £35 per annum, are given away every St. Thomas’s day, among the most necessitous poor of the parish, in sums varying from 3s. to 12s., a preference being given to those not receiving parish relief.

_Sarah Brook_, in 1760, left a rent charge of £5 per annum, issuing out of certain lands in Uffington, the amount to be paid to the churchwardens and overseers of the parish of St. Alkmund, and St. Julian, in Shrewsbury, to each parish 50s., to be by them respectively laid out in twopenny loaves, and given among poor, old, and decayed people of honest life.

_Ann Parry_ gave to the churchwardens and overseers of the parish of St. Alkmund £20 to be placed out at interest, and the proceeds to be paid to four widows of the said parish yearly at Christmas. _Francis Wingfield_, in 1813 bequeathed £20, the interest to be distributed to poor persons of the parish on St. Thomas’s day yearly. These two legacies are held by the churchwardens, for which £2 yearly is paid as interest; the churchwardens and overseers distribute the interest according to the donors’ intentions.

_Josina Pemberton_, by a codicil to her will, bearing date 17th September, 1817, desired that her sister would pay yearly, during her life, the sum of two guineas, to the churchwardens for the time being of each of the parishes of St. Mary, St. Julian, and St. Alkmund, to be by them respectively laid out in coals, and distributed among the poor of the respective parishes, and she requested that her nephew, Robert N. Pemberton, would continue the annual payment during his life. The amount is laid out in coal, and distributed among thirty poor housekeepers on new year’s day.

PARISH OF ST. CHAD.

CHARITIES.—MILLINGTON’S HOSPITAL.—_James Millington_, by his will, bearing date 8th February, 1734, devised the greater part of his ample fortune for the erection and endowment of an hospital and free school. The hospital is pleasantly situated upon elevated ground in Frankwell, and consists of a handsome pedimented front with a stone portico; the central portion comprises the chapel and school room, and the houses of the master and mistress, and in the wings on each side are the apartments of the hospitallers. The property purchased by the trustees in 1753 and 1794 is wholly situated in the parish of Llanvair Waterdine, in the county of Salop, and in the parish of Beguildy, in the county of Radnor, except an estate of 15A. 0R. 9P., situate in the parish of Kinnerley. The entire property comprises 2,429A. 2R. 9P. of land, and produces a yearly income of £1227. The hospital consists of twelve in-hospitallers and ten out-hospitallers. These persons are appointed by the trustees as vacancies occur. They are required to be parishioners of St. Chad, and inhabitants of that part of the parish called Frankwell. No persons are selected except poor decayed housekeepers, and the preference has usually been given to females. Each of the in-hospitallers has a dwelling house in the hospital, consisting of a room above and another below, with a small garden, and other conveniences. The four senior of the out-hospitallers are allowed to occupy four sets of apartments over the schools, and they generally succeed as vacancies occur to the situation of in-hospitallers. Each of the inmates receives £10 10s. a year by quarterly payments, and three tons of coals, and a sixpenny loaf every Wednesday and Saturday. They are also supplied with a certain quantity of clothing. The out-hospitallers receive £4 per annum, and each has a like allowance of bread and clothing. A clergyman of the church of England is paid a salary of £50 a year as chaplain. He attends at the hospital every school day and reads prayers to the scholars and in-hospitallers, and the first Thursday in every month catechises the children. The minister in addition to his yearly stipend receives one guinea for preaching a sermon on the 12th of August. In the schools twenty-five boys and twenty-five girls are instructed. The schoolmaster receives £50 a year, and the mistress of the girls’ school £42 per annum, and each of them has an allowance of coal. The scholars are the children of parishioners of St. Chad’s, living in Frankwell, and are appointed by the trustees. They are admitted between six and nine years of age, and are allowed to remain till they are fourteen. During their stay in the school they are completely clothed and supplied with books and stationery; and when they are of sufficient age, the boys are bound out to trades, and the girls placed out in service. A premium of £10 is allowed with each apprentice, and £5 is paid to them when they have completed their time. The girls are allowed £3 when going out to service, and a like sum as a reward for good behaviour afterwards. There is a good garden for the schoolmaster and mistress, and a plot of garden ground for each of the twelve hospitallers, which they generally let for their own benefit, being worth about £2 per annum.