a fine Elizabethan building erected in 1582, by Richard Prince, Esq., a
celebrated lawyer. Churchyard speaks of it “so trim and finely that it
graceth all the soil it is in.” At a little distance is the Race Course
on which Charles I. drew up his army in 1642.
Hastening back towards the town we may turn to the left at the end of the
English Bridge for the suburbs of Coleham, Belle Vue, and Meole, where we
may see Trinity Church, a plain modern structure, raised in 1837: Belle
Vue Cemetery, opened in 1852 for the use of Nonconformists; and the
General Parochial Cemetery, opened and consecrated in 1856. Or we may
re-cross the bridge, descend the steps on the right, take the pathway on
the banks of the Severn, pass under the railway viaduct, inspect the
exterior of the County Prison, glance at the British School, All Saints’
Church and Schools, and the Gas Works, thence enter the suburb of Castle
Foregate, where a few minutes will suffice to make acquaintance with St.
Mary’s and St. Michael’s Schools, with St. Michael’s Church, a neat Doric
building erected in 1830. Then we return up Castle Foregate, turn to the
right by the railway bridge, and enter the suburb of Coton Hill. In the
Royal Baths on the right we may have a refreshing plunge if the weather
is warm. Beyond the Baths we see on the right a clump of sycamore trees,
denoting the site of the house where Admiral Benbow was born in 1650. In
1698 Admiral Benbow visited Shrewsbury, and was entertained by the
Corporation.
It may be mentioned here that in 1606 a considerable portion of Coton
Hill was burnt down, “the houses being set on fire by John Tench’s wife.”
We return by way of Chester Street to the station, where our run through
the town commenced and where it now ends, after having viewed places and
objects which vividly bring to mind events of the past, which present
numerous and radical changes in the habits and conditions of society, and
which, manifesting in a marked degree the variations of taste, and the
definite progress of manners, art, and religion exhibit the relation of
modern to ancient times, both in physical sciences and in customs of
life.
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[Picture: Decorative graphic]
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SHREWSBURY:
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DRAYTON BROS.
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