which took place on Corpus Christi day, one of the most splendid
festivals of the Romish Church. The several Companies, preceded by their
Masters and Wardens, attended the Bailiffs and Corporation, who with the
Abbot and dignified Ecclesiastics of the Abbey, Friaries, and Churches of
the town, clad in their splendid robes, and bearing the Holy Sacrament
under a rich canopy, lighted with innumerable wax tapers, proceeded in
solemn order to a stone cross called the Weeping Cross, without the town.
Here having bewailed their sins, and offered up petitions for a joyous
harvest, they returned in the same order to St. Chad’s church, and
attended the celebration of High Mass. Three days of unbounded jollity
and recreation followed this magnificent festival. On the Reformation of
religion this ceremonious procession was of course discontinued, and the
present single day of relaxation and amusement substituted in its stead
by the authorities of the place.
While on the subject of our ancient customs, we must not omit the popular
one of _Heaving_, formerly prevalent over most of the kingdom, but
latterly confined to Shropshire. Heaving is performed on Easter-Monday,
by men who perambulate the streets, and call at the houses with chairs
gaily adorned with ribbons and flowers, in which they sportively hold
down any young woman they meet, and heaving her up three times, turn her
round and set her down again. The ceremony invariably concludes with a
hearty kiss, to which is often added by the more opulent of the
inhabitants a small present of money. On Easter-Tuesday the young women
perform the same ceremony to the men. This custom is supposed to have
originated in the usage of binding persons in chairs, anciently practised
on Hock Tuesday, or Binding Tuesday, designed to represent the stratagems
employed by the English women to aid their husbands in massacreing the
Danes on St. Brice’s day, 1002. At the Reformation, this, with many
other old customs, of which the origin was imperfectly remembered, was
_spiritualized_, and intended to represent the Resurrection of our Lord.
For more particulars of the custom of Heaving we would refer the reader
to Brand’s Popular Antiquities, i. 155, and Hone’s Every Day Book; in
which latter excellent work there is a spirited engraving of the
ceremony.
On the north side of Kingsland is
THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY.
which crowns the steep eminence above the river, from whence a prospect
of the town and environs, more pleasing and comprehensive than can be
obtained from any other station, bursts upon the view.
This handsome brick building was erected in 1765, at an expense of
£12,000, and used for a few years as a Foundling Hospital, until the
funds becoming inadequate to the support of the charity, it was shut up
in 1774. It was afterwards employed during the American War, as a prison
for Dutch prisoners, until 1784, when it was purchased by the several
parishes of the town, and appropriated to the use of their infirm and
helpless poor, who in their declining years here find a comfortable
shelter from the pitiless compassion of the world, and are supplied with
the decent and wholesome necessaries of life.
Descending the eminence, we cross the river by the ferry, proceed up the
Quarry, down St. John’s Hill, and passing the Talbot Buildings, re-enter
the Market Square, from whence we commenced our perambulation.
And now, traveller,
our tale is told,
and in sending you onward on your way,
we would heartily bid you “good speed,”
with a sincere hope that when in after years,
amid the storms and sunshine
which checquer the great journey of life,
thy restless memory in the stillness of reflection
shall recur to the few incidents which,
like oases in the desert,
have ministered to thy happiness,
recollection may long and fondly dwell
on those pleasing hours
you spent amid
the antient walls of
Shrewsbury.
EMINENT NATIVES OF SHREWSBURY;
WITH REFERENCES TO WORKS IN WHICH THEIR BIOGRAPHIES ARE DETAILED.
“There is a history in all men’s lives.”
SHAKSPEARE.
Name. Distinction. Born. Died. References.
Adams, Wm. divine, 1706 1789 Owen and
Blakeway’s
History of
Shrewsbury, ii.
218. Gent.
Mag. March,
1789.
Armstead, T. author, 1662 Wood’s Athenæ
Oxon. iii. 661.
Arnway, John, divine and 1601 1653 Wood’s Athenæ
author, Oxon. iii. 307.
Walker’s
Sufferings of
the Clergy.
Benbow, John, admiral, 1650 1702 Owen and
Blakeway’s
History of
Shrewsbury, ii.
390.
Biographia
Britannica.
Blakeway, J. divine and 1765 1826 Gent. Mag.
Brickdale, topographical xcvi. pt. 1. p.
historian, 277.
Bowers, John, Bishop of 1724
Chichester,
Bowen, James, genealogist, 1774
Bowen, John, genealogist, 1832 Gent. Mag. cii.
pt. 2. p. 185.
Burney, Chas. historian of 1726 1814 Gent. Mag.
music, 1726 1814.
Owen and
Blakeway’s
Hist. of
Shrewsbury, ii.
388. Life by
his daughter,
Madame
d’Arblay.
Churchyard, Thomas, poet, 1520 1604 Wood’s Athenæ.
Oxon. Life
prefixed to
Chalmers’ edit.
of Churchyard’s
Chips.
Costard, Geo. divine, 1709 1782 Biographia
biblical Britannica.
critic, & Owen and
mathematician, Blakeway’s
Hist. of
Shrewsbury, ii.
388.
Cresset, Edw. Bishop of 1697 1755
Llandaff
Davies, Sneyd, divine and 1709 1769 Owen and
poet, Blakeway’s
Hist. of
Shrewsbury. ii.
387. Nichols’s
Illustrations,
i. 485.
Farmer, Hugh, presbyterian 1714 Life by Hugh
divine and Dodson, Biogr.
author, Brit. v. 664.
Greisley, Hen. divine and 1678 Wood’s Athenæ.
poet, Oxon, iii.
1167.
Gwynn, architect,
Haynes, Jos. artist and 1830 Gent. Mag. c.
engraver, pt. 1. p. 379.
Jones, Sir, Thomas, Lord Chief 1614 1692
Justice of the
Common Pleas.
Onslow, Rich. Speaker of the 1528 1571 Owen and
House of Blakeway’s
Commons, Hist. of
Shrewsbury, ii.
167.
Orton, Job, Non-conformist 1717 1783 Life by S.
divine Palmer,
prefixed to his
Letters. Owen
and Blakeway’s
Hist. of
Shrewsbury, ii.
478.
Owen, Hugh, divine and 1760 1827 Gent. Mag.
topographical xcviii. pt. 1.
historian, p. 478.
Parkes, James, artist, 1794 1828 Gent. Mag.
xcviii. pt. 1.
p. 376.
Pemberton, Thomas, lawyer and 1763 1833 Gent. Mag.
author, ciii. pt. 1. p.
377.
Phillips, Ambrose, poet, 1674 1749 Owen and
Blakeway’s
Hist. of
Shrewsbury, ii.
284.
Plantagenet, Rd. Duke 2nd son of 1473 1483
of York, Edwd. IV.
Plantagenet, George, youngest son of
Edw. IV.
Price, Samp. D.D. divine, and 1585 1630 Owen and
chaplain to Blakeway’s
James I. and Hist. of
Charles I. Shrewsbury, ii.
212.
Price, Daniel, D.D. divine, 1631 Wood’s Athenæ.
Oxon.
Scott, John, Non-conformist
divine,
Scott, Jona. Dr. oriental 1753 1829 Gent. Mag.
professor and xcix. pt. 1. p.
author, 470.
Shrewsbury, Ralph, Bishop of Bath elect’d 1329 1363
and Wells,
Shrewsbury, Robert, Biographer of flo. 1140
St. Wenefrede,
Shrewsbury, Robert, Bishop of consecrated 1215 Owen and
Bangor, 1197 Blakeway’s
Hist. of
Shrewsbury, ii.
98.
Talbot, Thos. antiquary, 1538
Talbot, Robt. antiquary, 1558
Taylor, John, editor of 1704 1776 Some Account of
Demosthenes, the antient and
present State
of Shrewsbury,
p. 371.
Thomas, Jno. Bishop of translated 1761 1766 Some Account of
Salisbury, the antient and
present State
of Shrewsbury,
p. 374.
Tomlins, Thomas, musician and 1778 1847
composer,
Turner, John, lawyer and 1680 Wood’s Athenæ.
author, Oxon. iii.
1269.
Waring, John Scott, friend and 1749 1819
defender of
Warren
Hastings, and
author,
Wooley, Edw. Bishop of consecrated Wood’s Fasti,
Clonfert, 1665 54.
BIRDS
SEEN IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SHREWSBURY.
“And now is Mirthe therein, to here
The birdes how they singen clere,
The manis and the nightingale,
And other jollie birdes smale.”
_Chaucer’s Romaunt of the Rose_.
THE NAMES AND ARRANGEMENT ARE THOSE OF BEWICK.
Falco Buteo, Buzzard, Haughmond Hill;
Grinshill; Wrekin.
— Milvus, Kite, Bomere Pool.
— cyaneus, Hen Harrier, meadows about
Berwick.
— Pygargus, Ringtail, Westfelton Moors.
— Tinnunculus, Kestrel, Shrewsbury; Wrekin.
— Nisus, Sparrow-hawk, near Castle Foregate;
Old Heath.
Strix Otus, Long-eared Owl, Westfelton, but
rarely.
— flammea, Yellow Owl, meadows;—Shrewsbury.
— stridula, Tawny Owl, very common.
Lanius Excubitor, Ash-coloured Shrike, Babin’s Wood, near
Whittington.
— Collurio, Red-backed Shrike, Wolf’s Head;
Shottaton; Lowe Bank.
Corvus Corax, Raven, Wrekin; Aston.
— Corone, Crow, every where.
— Cornix, Hooded Crow, Weston Lullingfield.
— frugilegus, Rook, common;—Whittington
Castle.
— Monedula, Jack-daw, common;—Nesscliffe.
— Pica, Magpie, common.
— glandarius, Jay, Almond Park; Berwick.
Ampelis Garrulus, Chatterer, nr. Oswestry,
occasionally.
Sturnus vulgaris, Starling, common; Westfelton.
Turdus viscivorus, Missel Thrush, Shrewsbury Castle.
— musicus, Throstle, common.
— pilaris, Fieldfare, common.
— iliacus, Redwing, common.
— Merula, Blackbird, common.
— torquatus, Ring Ouzel, Breidden Mountains.
Cuculus canorus, Cuckoo, common:—Fairyland,
Westfelton.
Yunx Torquilla, Wryneck, Shrewsbury Quarry and
Meole Brace.
(on the authority of
Robert Griffith
Temple, Esq.
Barrister at Law.)
Picus viridis, Green Woodpecker, common.
— major and medius, Pied Woodpecker, Shrewsbury Quarry,
occasionally.
— minor, Barred Woodpecker, Shrewsbury Quarry and
Westfelton.
Sitta europæa, Nuthatch, Shrewsbury Quarry.
Upupa Epops, Hoopoe, Rednall, a pair, only
once seen.
Certhia familiaris, Creeper, Shrewsbury Quarry.
Loxia curvirostra, Cross-bill, on larch trees,
occasional visitors.
— Coccothraustes, Grosbeak, farm-yards; at
Nesscliffe, in
company with
sparrows.
— Enucleator, Pine Grosbeak, Nesscliffe Hill.
— Chloris, Green Grosbeak common in gardens.
— Pyrrhula, Bullfinch, common in gardens.
Emberiza Miliaria Bunting, hedges and lanes,
common.
— Citrinella, Yellow Bunting common in high-roads.
— Schœniclus, Black-headed Bunting, Raven Meadow;
Dorsett’s Barn,
Shrewsbury.
Fringilla domestica, Sparrow, every where.
— cælebs, Chaffinch, common in gardens.
— Carduelis, Goldfinch, common in fields.
— Spinus, Siskin, Westfelton, in
flights, but rarely.
— cannabina, Greater Red-pole. near
mountains;—Pimhill.
Fringilla linaria, Lesser Redpole, on gravel walks.
— linota, Linnet, not uncommon.
Muscicapa Pied Flycatcher Westfelton; one pair,
Atricapilla, annually.
— Grisola, Spotted Flycatcher very common; about
houses.
Alauda arvensis, Lark, very common in
fields.
— pratensis, Titlark, common in fields.
— arborea, Woodlark, common; Westfelton.
Motacilla alba, Pied Wagtail pools and brooks.
— Boarula, Grey Wagtail, farm-yards.
— flava, Yellow Wagtail rather common;
ploughed fields.
— Luscinia, Nightingale, Sutton Spa; and
Westfelton once.
— Rubecula, Redbreast, every where.
— Phœnicurus, Redstart, common; orchards and
farm-steads.
Sylvia hortensis, Garden Warbler common in high
Ruckler, leafy-sycamores.
Motacilla passerina, Passerine Warbler, gardens.
— modularis, Hedge Warbler, every where; near
houses.
— Salicaria, Reed Warbler, New Inn, near
Dorsett’s Barn.
— Atricapilla, Black-cap common;—low bushes
and gardens.
— Sylvia, White-throat, common;—woods.
— Trochilus, Yellow Wren, Almond Park.
— Willow Wren, (Bewick, common.
vol. i. p. 257, 6th
ed.)
Motacilla, Chiff Caff, (Bewick, common, and generally
vol. i. p. 258, 6th the first arrival.
ed.)
Trochilus minor, Least Willow Wren, Marsh Hall.
Motacilla Regulus, Golden-crested Wren, not uncommon;—firs
and yews.
— Troglodytes, Wren, common;—out-
buildings.
— Oenanthe, Wheatear, Haughmond Hill and
Dovaston.
— Rubetra, Whinchat, common on gorse
bushes.
— Rubicola, Stonechat, Sharpstones Hill.
Parus major, Greater Titmouse, very common.
— cæruleus, Blue Titmouse, very common.
— ater, Coal Titmouse, not uncommon.
— caudatus, Long-tailed Titmouse, hedges and bushes.
— palustris, Marsh Titmouse near Shrewsbury.
Hirundo rustica, Swallow, common;—chimneys.
— urbica. Martin, common;—churches.
— riparia, Sand Martin, common;—Shelton rough
— Apus, Swift, common;—eaves.
Caprimulgus europæus, Night-jar, Nesscliffe;—Haughmond
Hill.
Columba Palumbus, Ring Dove, Almond Park; Berwick;
Shelton.
— Turtur, Turtle Dove, nr. Preston Boats;
Westfelton.
Phasianus Colchicus, Pheasant, woods, parks;—Aston.
Tetrao Perdix, Partridge, stubble fields.
— Coturnix, Quail, Shotton and Sandford.
Charadius Pluvialis, Golden Plover, very rare; once at
Westfelton.
Ardea major, Heron, Isle: Sandford Pool.
— stellaris, Bittern, Sandford Pool; and on
Vyrnwy River.
Scolopax Arquata, Curlew, Source of the Morda,
above Oswestry, in
summer.
— Rusticola Woodcock, woods;—Treflach.
— Gallinago, Snipe, wet bogs and springs.
— Gallmula, Judcock, bogs and wet meadows.
Tringa Vanellus, Lapwing, Ensdon; Twyford
Vownog.
— Hypoleucos, Common Sandpiper, occasionally on the
margins of large
pools.
Hæmatopus Ostrolegus, Oyster-catcher, near Oswestry,
occasionally in the
winter.
Sturnus Cinclus, Water Ouzel, Meole brook and
Morda.
Alcedo Ispida, Kingfisher, Meole brook;
Ellesmere Canal.
Rallus aquaticus, Water Rail, very uncommon.
Gallinula Crex, Land-rail, in long growing hay &
corn.
— chloropus, Common Gallinule, pools, common.
Fulica atra, Coot, large pools:
Sandford.
Podiceps minor, Little Grebe, weedy pools, not
uncommon.
Larus canus, Common Gull, occasionally in
flight.
Procellaria pelagica, Stormy Petrel, Prees—found dead.
Anas Anser ferus, Grey Lag Goose, large waters:
Baggymore.
— Boschas, Mallard, pools; Woodhouse.
— Penelope, Wigeon, pools: Halston.
— Crecca, Teal, river Severn.
Pelecanus Carbo, Cormorant, Isle; Montford
Bridge.
For the foregoing list, we are indebted to the kindness of the late JOHN
F. M. DOVASTON, Esq. A.M. of Westfelton, near Shrewsbury, the Friend and
Biographer of Bewick; a gentleman who, with enthusiastic ardour, devoted
many years of unceasing attention and observation, to an accurate
investigation of the varieties and habits of the feathered tribes.
A FEW OF THE
RARER SPECIES OF PLANTS
GROWING IN A WILD STATE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF SHREWSBURY.
The Arrangement adopted is that of the Natural System, and the
Nomenclature from Babington’s Manual of British Botany.
“what skill, what force divine,
Deep felt, in these appear!”
THOMSON.
Ranunculus Lingua, Bomere and Hancott pools.
— auricomus, Haughmond Hill; Shelton Wood.
— arvensis, corn-fields.
— parviflorus, near Red-barn: Pulley;
Sharpstones Hill.
Berberis vulgaris, Sharpstones Hill.
Papaver Argemone, fields, near Bank farm.
Corydalis claviculata, Pimhill.
Fumaria micrantha, near Harwood’s Boat-house.
Nasturtium palustre, banks of Severn.
— sylvestre, banks of Severn.
Turritis glabra, Berwick Knolls.
Cardamine amara, banks of Severn between Preston
Boats and Uffington.
Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Shrewsbury Abbey ruins.
Cochlearia Danica, Dominican Friary, Shrewsbury.
Thlaspi arvense, corn-fields near Shrewsbury.
Teesdalia nudicaulis, Haughmond and Sharpstones hill.
Viola palustris, Bomere and Almond Park pools.
— sylvatica, Weir Coppice.
Drosera longifolia, Bomere pool.
Elatine hexandra, Bomere pool.
Dianthus plumarius, Haughmond Abbey.
— deltoides, Sharpstones Hill and Downton.
Saponaria officinialis and var: Haughmond Abbey.
flore pleno,
Mœnchia erecta, Haughmond Hill.
Alsine rubra, Pimhill; Haughmond Hill.
Hypericum elodes, Bomere and Oxon pools.
— humifusum, near Sundorne.
— maculatum, Haughmond hill and Meole Brace.
— pulchrum, Sharpstones hill.
Geranium Pyrenaicum, road-side near Bicton Grove.
— columbinum, Pulley.
— lucidum near the Lea; Wrentnall.
Rhamnus Frangula, Bomere pool.
Ulex nanus, Kingsland; Sharpstones hill;
Haughmond hill.
Genista Anglica, Bomere pool.
Vicia sylvatica, Shelton rough.
Lathyrus sylvestris, near Pimley; Shelton rough.
Orobus tuberosus, Sharpstones hill.
Geum rivale, old course of Severn, under Cross
hill.
Comarum palustre, Bomere, Berrington, and Hancott
pools.
Rubus suberectus, Almond Park.
— fissus, Almond Park.
— plicatus, Shawbury Heath.
— affinis, Shawbury Heath.
— nitidus, generally about Shrewsbury.
— tenuis, about Shrewsbury.
— corylifolius and var. London-road; Coleham; Flash.
— cordifolius and var. Almond Park.
— discolor, generally about Shrewsbury.
— — δ. argenteus, Berwick.
— leucostachys β. vestitus, Crowmeole; Almond Park.
— — y. argenteus, Copthorn.
— sylyaticus, Almond Park.
— carpinifolius, Almond Park.
— macrophyllus, Almond Park.
Rubus macrophyllus, Haughmond hill.
β. Schlechtendalii,
— Babingtonii, Almond Park.
— rudis, hedges & woods about Shrewsbury.
— β. Leightonii, Haughmond hill; Cross hill;
Berwick-road.
— fusco-ater, hedges generally
— — γ. echinatus. Almond Park.
— hirtus, Almond Park.
— glandulosus, γ. rosaceus, Almond Park.
— Schleicheri, Flash; Haughmond hill; Red hill.
— nemorosus, Haughmond hill; Weir Coppice.
— cæsius α. aquaticus, Flash.
— — δ. ferox, hedges near Greenfields.
Rosa villosa, near Shrewsbury.
Cratægus Oxyacantha, α. hedges near Shrewsbury.
Pyrus Malus, α. & β. hedges near Shrewsbury.
Peplis Portula, Bomere pool.
Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Berrington pool.
Montia fontana, Bomere pool.
Cotyledon Umbilicus, Haughmond hill.
Sedum Telephium, Haughmond hill.
— Forsterianium, Haughmond hill.
— reflexum, Shrewsbury Abbey walls.
Saxifraga granulata, near Harwood’s Boat-house.
Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Shelton wood.
Smyrnium Olusatrum, Shrewsbury Castle mound.
Sambucus Ebulus, Exford Green,
Valerianella dentata, fields near Bomere pool.
Inula Conyza, Nobold.
Artemisia Absinthium, Bomere pool.
Cichorium Intybus, Welbatch.
Hieracium boreale, Bickley Coppice.
Lobelia Dortmanna, Bomere and Berrington pools.
Campanula patula, banks of Severn, near Bickley
Coppice; Berrington.
Vaccinium Oxycoccus, Bomere pool.
Hyoscyamus niger, Haughmond Abbey.
Lathræa squamaria, Council-house garden.
Linaria Cymbalaria, Council-house walls;—naturalized.
— Elatine, near Sharpstones hill.
Orobanche major, Sharpstones hill.
Limosella aquatica, Shelton rough.
Veronica scutellata, Bomere pool.
— montana, Almond Park; Shelton wood.
— polita, cultivated ground, Shrewsbury.
Galeopsis versicolor, Calcott.
Ballota ruderalis, Bomere pool.
Lamium amplexicaule, Lyth hill.
Calamintha officinalis, Red hill.
Scutellaria minor, Haughmond hill; Oxon pool.
Utricularia minor, Bomere pool.
Hottonia palustris, Bomere pool; near Albright
Hussey.
Lysimachia vulgaris, Almond park pool.
Anagallis cærulea, near Shotton.
— tenella, Haughmond hill; Abbot’s Betton
pool.
Littorella lacustris, Bomere pool.
Plantago Coronopus, Lyth hill.
Chenopodium Bonus Henricus, Uffington, &c.
Rumex maritimus, Hancott pool.
— pratensis, Hancott pool.
— Hydrolapathum, New Park.
Polygonum Bistorta, Sutton; Meole Brace.
Euphorbia exigua, fields near Bomere pool.
— Lathyris, cultivated ground, Shrewsbury.
— amygdaloides, Almond Park: Lyth hill.
Butomus umbellatus, river Severn, and canal.
Alisma ranunculoides, Berrington pool.
— natans, Hancott pool.
Sagittaria sagittifolia, Canal between Shrewsbury and
Uffington.
Scheuchzeria palustris, Bomere pool.
Zannichellia palustris, Bomere.
Habenaria viridis, Bomere woods.
— chlorantha, Bomere woods.
Epipactis latifolia, Bomere woods.
Convallaria majalis, Pimhill.
Colchicum autumnale, fields near Dorsett’s barn;
Sutton.
Typha angustifolia, Berrington pool.
Potamogeton oblongus, Bomere pool.
— rufescens, pit near Sharpstones hill.
— heterophyllus, Berrington pool.
Sparganium natans, Bomere pool.
— simplex, Berrington pool.
Rhynchospora alba, Bomere pool.
Eriophorum vaginatum, Bomere and Hancott pools.
Carex curta, Bomere pool.
— ovalis, Bomere pool.
Carex muricata var: β. (_Smith_.) Sharpstones hill.
— divulsa, Cloud Coppice, Berrington.
— teretiuscula, Bomere pool.
— pseudo-cyperus, Bomere and Hancott pools; Canal.
— limosa, Bomere pool.
— vesicaria, Bomere pool.
— ampullacea. Bomere pool.
— filiformis, Bomere and Berrington pools.
Phalaris arundinacea, banks of Severn.
Brachypodium sylvaticum, woods and hedge banks.
* * * * *
For more ample details of the Botany of Shrewsbury and its vicinity, the
reader is referred to Leighton’s Flora of Shropshire.
INDEX.