Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_
in the original text.
Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold=
in the original text.
Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals.
Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs.
Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved.
Typographical errors have been silently corrected.
The TOC entry “The Acquittal of the Seven Bishops celebrated in
Bridgnorth” was changed from 186 to 199.
On page 156 there is small text above numbers. These have been
represented here as: {xxxx/999}, eg. {either/224}.

THE
ANTIQUITIES
OF
BRIDGNORTH;

WITH
_Some Historical Notices of the Town and Castle._

BY
THE REV. G. BELLETT, A.M.
INCUMBENT OF ST. LEONARD’S.

Bridgnorth:
W. J. ROWLEY, BOOKSELLER, HIGH STREET.
LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
MDCCCLVI.

BRIDGENORTH:
W. J. ROWLEY, PRINTER, HIGH STREET.

TO THE MAYOR, AND CORPORATION,
AND INHABITANTS,
OF THE
BOROUGH OF BRIDGNORTH,
THE
FOLLOWING WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
BY THEIR FAITHFUL SERVANT,

G. BELLETT.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Substance of the following pages was given in two lectures, which I delivered last year to the Members of “The Society for Promoting Religious and Useful Knowledge.” Since then I have collected a few more facts relating to the early history of Bridgnorth, which I have here given to the reader, and I have also added an Appendix, containing some matter not altogether, I hope, undeserving of attention, although some of it is only remotely connected with my subject. The public documents relating to the town, such as the Terms of Capitulation, and the Proclamation of Charles II., it has been thought desirable to give entire, as but few copies of them, especially of the latter, are extant.

It would seem superfluous for me, after the many quotations which I have taken from his learned work on “The Antiquities of Shropshire,” to make any acknowledgement of my obligations to the Rev. Robert Eyton. But I owe him much more than is indicated by these quotations. He very kindly directed my attention to sources of information respecting Bridgnorth, which have been of the greatest service to me, particularly the Blakeway Papers, in the Bodleian Library, besides allowing me to refer to his better judgment and more extensive information, on any difficulty that occurred to me.

I am very much indebted also to Mr. Whitmore, of Apley, for his kindness in giving me the free use of his own collection of historical notices of our town and neighbourhood, from the MSS. in his possession. I would gladly avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my thanks likewise to the Town Clerk, for allowing me to consult the Common Hall Order Books, and other documents belonging to the Corporation; and to Mr. Hubert Smith for giving me his valuable assistance in decyphering them. Nor should I omit to offer my thanks to the Rev. G. L. Wasey, for some interesting particulars which he communicated to me, respecting the early history of Quatford; and to Mr. S. Sidney Smith, from whose antiquarian lore I have, on several points, derived much valuable information.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.
The Foundation of Bridgnorth 3
The site of Ethelfleda’s Castle 9
The Castle and Church of Quatford 11
Bridgnorth Castle built by Robert de Belesme 22
The First Siege, by Henry I. 27
The Second Siege, by Henry II. 32
Wooden Fortifications of the Town in the time of King John 42
Charter for St. Luke’s Fair 44
Charter of the Borough 45
The Visit of Prince Edward to Bridgnorth Castle,
after the Battle of Evesham 48
The Siege of Bridgnorth by Edward II. 50
His taking refuge in it when pursued by the Rebels 53
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene 55
Notice of William of Wykeham 63
The Church of St. Leonard 68
The Hermitage of Athelardestan 78
The Hospital of St. John 80
The Leper Hospital of St. James 83
The Friars 87
Bridgnorth Hobelers in the Army of Edward III. 105
Henry IV. at Bridgnorth, before the Battle of Shrewsbury 110
Thomas Hoord, Member for Bridgnorth, and the Duke of York 113
Suppression of the Religious Houses 120
The Cappers of Bridgnorth 126
The Transfer of the Castle of Bridgnorth to
Sir W. Whitmore 127
The Great Rebellion 128
Charles I. Visits to Bridgnorth 135
Narrow escape of Oliver Cromwell at Bridgnorth 149
Two Letters of King Charles’s written from Bridgnorth 155
Encounter between the King’s Troops and the Roundheads 158
The Final Siege of Bridgnorth 163
The Skirmish in St. Leonard’s Church Yard 164
The Destruction of the Town by Fire 167
The Surrender of the Castle 173
Richard Baxter 182
Collection made to Rebuild the Town 188
The Town Hall 190
Proclamation of Charles II. 194
The Acquittal of the Seven Bishops celebrated
in Bridgnorth 199
Conclusion 202

ILLUSTRATIONS.

VIEW OF BRIDGNORTH (_Frontispiece_) PAGE
DANISH BURIAL GROUND 5
ANCIENT OAK, SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO THE FOREST OF MORFE 18
THE POSTERN GATE 25
THE OLD CHURCH OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE 55
THE FIGURE OF A KNIGHT IN ARMOUR, ON A PAINTED WINDOW,
IN SAINT LEONARD’S CHURCH 71
THE HERMITAGE 77
THE SEAL OF THE FRIARS 90
VIEW OF QUATFORD 103
THE WEST (OR HUNGRY) GATE 145
SAINT LEONARD’S CHURCH 168
THE REMAINS OF THE CASTLE 174
OLD TIMBER HOUSE IN THE CARTWAY 185
THE TOWN HALL 192
COPY OF AN OLD MAP OF THE BOROUGH 206

THE ANTIQUITIES OF BRIDGNORTH.