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.