“The XVth day of June was this building begun, William Jones and
Thomas Charlton, Gent. then Bailiffs, and was erected and covered in
their time 1595.”
It is built entirely of free stone, and is one of the largest of similar
erections in the kingdom. In the centre of the principal front, which
faces the west, is a spacious portal, over which are the arms of queen
Elizabeth in high relief. Attached to the imposts of the great arch are
pillars, supporting each the figure of a lion bearing a shield on its
breast. Above are two stories, with large square mullioned windows. On
each side this portal is an open arcade, consisting of three spacious
round arches, which form the main building, over which is a range of
square windows with mullions, and a very rich parapet, consisting of a
series of embrazures carved like the Ionic volute, between which at
alternate distances, are a kind of grotesque pinnacles in the same style.
At the north and south ends are large open arches, the whole edifice
being finished above by sharp pointed gables.
The ground floor of this building is appropriated to the corn market, and
is 105 feet long by 24 feet wide. A room over of similar size was
formerly rented by the company of drapers, and used by them for a flannel
market on Thursdays; but the sale of that staple article of Welsh
manufacture having been removed to Welsh Pool, it has been rented of late
as an ironmonger’s warehouse. Over the northern arch is placed the
statue of Richard duke of York, removed hence from the old bridge in
1791, as appears by the inscription at his right hand: on his left are
the arms of the town finely sculptured in relief.
Its spacious area is a useful promenade for the inhabitants in bad
weather, and its architecture is a fine specimen of the fantastic style
of the 16th century.
Lord Hill’s Column.
The splendid achievements of the British army in Spain and Portugal from
1808 to 1814, together with the disastrous retreat of Napoleon from his
Russian campaign, and the subsequent occupation of France by the allied
troops, having produced a general peace, a proposition appeared in the
Shrewsbury Chronicle of December the 17th, 1813, by the Proprietor of
that paper, to erect some suitable memorial of the prominent part lord
Hill had acted throughout the whole of those eventful campaigns.—At a
meeting in the News Room on the following day, nearly £400 was subscribed
to carry this intention into effect. Subsequently, however, it was
determined to extend the original plan, a meeting of the inhabitants of
the town was called, and it was resolved to solicit subscriptions
generally from all who participated in the triumphs of their country, or
who felt any respect for the brilliant and varied services of the gallant
general.
After a variety of plans had been proposed it was at length determined to
erect the column now under notice. The first stone was laid on the 27th
of December, 1814, agreeably to masonic rule, by Richard Phillips, esq.
master of the Salopian Lodge, and at that time mayor of Shrewsbury. The
foundation stone, which weighed four tons and a half, is of the following
dimensions, viz: length 11 feet 3 inches, breadth 3 feet, and 2 feet
thick. In a cavity underneath, a bottle was deposited, containing gold
and silver coins of George III. accompanied with the SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE
of the preceding Friday. Over the cavity was a plate bearing the
following
_INSCRIPTION_
Of this Column, intended to be erected to commemorate the brilliant
achievements of Lieutenant-General ROWLAND LORD HILL, Knight of the
Bath, and Knight of the Tower and Sword.
The first Stone was laid by RICHARD PHILLIPS, Esquire, Mayor of
Shrewsbury, and Matter of the Salopian Lodge of free and accepted
Masons, assisted by the Chaplain, Wardens, the Brethren of this and
Deputies from other Lodges, upon the 27th Day of December, in the
year of our Lord, 1814, and in the year of Masonry—5814, being the
_Festival of St. John_. The funds for this beautiful Memorial, in
honour of splendid talent and private worth, were furnished by a
public Subscription, raised chiefly by the inhabitants of the town
and county of Salop.
The column is situated on a rising ground, at the entrance of this town
from the London and Bath roads. From its insulated and lofty situation,
it is seen from many parts of the town, and is conspicuous at a
considerable distance in the country.
_FT._ _IN._
The height of the pedestal is 13 0
shaft and capital 91 6
pedestal supporting the statue 11 6
statue 16 0
The whole height 132 6
Solidity and durability have been particularly attended to in its
construction, the stones with which it has been built, being as large as
could conveniently be raised, from an excellent quarry at Grinshill, in
the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury.
The pedestal is square, standing upon two steps, having a large pier or
buttress at each angle, upon which are placed Lions couchant. The piers
are formed of three stones in each, the top one of each on which the
lions are placed, being 10 feet 6 inches long, 4 feet 3 inches wide, and
3 feet 3 inches deep, and their weight 10 tons. The lower diameter of
the column is 15 feet, and the masonry 2 feet 3 inches in thickness; the
top diameter 10 feet 6 inches, by 1 foot 6 inches in thickness. Each
course of stones is 3 feet high, six stones form the course. There are
326 stones in the whole structure, and the top stone immediately under
the statue, weighs two and a half tons. There are 17,993 cubic feet in
the whole, and its weight is 1120 tons. There is a beautiful staircase
up the shaft, the view of the surrounding country from the top, being
most extensive. The expense was about £5,500.
The proportion of this column is half a diameter higher than those in the
portico of the celebrated Parthenon at Athens, and is THE LARGEST GREEK
DORIC COLUMN IN THE WORLD. The figure is designed and executed by
Messrs. Coade and Sealy, of London, in their artificial stone, which is
so well calculated to resist the action of the weather. The lions are
worked in Grinshill stone, by Mr. Carline of this place. The contractors
were the late Mr. Simpson, and Mr. Lawrence: owing to the death of the
former the contract devolved upon his successor Mr. Straphen. The
original design is by Mr. Edward Haycock, architect, of this town, with
some alterations in the pedestal by Mr. Harrison, of Chester.
The Town & County Goal.
This building, a pleasant and admirably constructed brick edifice, was
finished in 1793, at the expense of about £30,000, on a plan furnished by
Mr. Haycock, architect, of this town. It was erected in consequence of
the light diffused on the subject of prisons by the later philanthropic
Mr. Howard, the old gaol being (says Mr. Howard) “both wretched in its
accommodations, and a complete school of vice.”
The prison is situate on the banks of the river, on a dry gravelly soil
on the south-east side of the town, in the immediate vicinity of the
castle, and is spacious, airy, well supplied with water, and as
comfortable as these abodes of human misfortune and depravity possibly
can be.
The entrance is through a free stone gateway, having a lodge on each
side, over the arch of which is a fine bust of Howard, presented by the
late Rowland Hunt, and Thomas Knight, esquires, two county magistrates.
There are reception cells in the lodges for the examination of the
persons by the surgeon previous to their being lodged in the different
apartments; during their continuance in the prison, criminals wear a
woollen jacket, waistcoat and cap, composed of blue and yellow stripes
before conviction, after which the dress is changed for one of brown and
yellow. All executions take place on the flat roof of the northern
lodge, when all the criminals are brought into the area before the
governor’s house to witness the awful scene. This house, in which is an
apartment for the magistrates, faces the entrance gate, in the centre of
the west front of the prison. The chapel, which is a neat octagonal
structure, well calculated for the important purposes of its erection,
stands in the centre of the whole building, and is so arranged that every
class of prisoners is separated and hid from each other, though all may
see the officiating clergyman. The prison, the boundary wall of which
encloses two acres of ground, and is 16 feet high, is divided into four
principal courts, besides smaller ones, and not only are the sexes
separated, but each description of prisoners are subdivided, into
classes, which have each their respective courts and day rooms. The
debtor’s rooms are airy and comfortable, commanding many pleasing views
of the adjacent country. At the eastern extremity is the infirmary, near
which the under keeper resides, who has constantly for sale various
articles manufactured by the prisoners, the profits of which are applied
for their benefit.
Closely allied to the superior construction of the prison are the
excellent and judicious regulations for its internal management, which,
whilst they tend to ameliorate the condition of the unhappy sufferers,
are calculated to reclaim their vicious habits; and should they return to
the bosom of society, stimulate them to atone for their depredations on
their fellow-creatures, by their honest and exemplary deportment in
future. Prayers are read every Thursday, and a sermon preached every
Sunday by the chaplain, and the justices appointed at the quarter
sessions visit the different apartments of the prison when they please,
and have the power of making any alteration in the mode of treating the
criminals which to them may appear judicious.
Convinced that the design of punishment is to prevent the commission of
crimes, and to repair the injury that has thereby been done to society or
the individual, and that it is the duty of every good government to
_reform_ rather than _exterminate_ offenders, the exertions of the late
Rowland Hunt, esq. were directed to the formation of the following
excellent plan, which was instituted in 1797.
_First_—To enable debtors to gain a livelihood while in confinement;
to reward their industry and good behaviour while there; and to
furnish them with some implements or materials on quitting prison,
the better to support themselves and their families on their return
to society.
_Secondly_—To encourage industry, penitence, and orderly behaviour in
criminal prisoners; and to furnish with clothes and implements those
who on quitting prison receive a certificate of good behaviour.
_Thirdly_—To provide all those who are dismissed, with a small sum
for immediate maintenance, to prevent the great temptation of
committing a crime for that purpose.
This praiseworthy charity, the subscriptions to which from the county at
large amount to about £80 yearly; also distributes bibles and prayer
books to the wretched objects of its bounty, and thus endeavours to
impress on the minds of these outcasts of society, the sacred lessons of
divine wisdom. The benevolent stranger will perceive in the large outer
gate of the prison, two small apertures, and on the other side two boxes
are affixed, into one of which he may drop his mite, “to prisoners in a
state of reformation,” and in the other “to debtors in a state of
industry.”
The Military Depot,
Is a very handsome brick edifice, erected by government in the year 1806,
from a design by Mr. Wyatt, at an expense of about £10,000. It stands in
a piece of ground near St. Giles’s Church, at the east end of the
Abbeyforegate.
The principal building is 135 feet by 39, in two stories, and is capable
of containing 25,000 stand of arms. Within the enclosure are two
magazines for ammunition, and a small neat house at each angle for the
storekeeper, armourer, and subalterns’ guard.—It was intended for the
reception of the arms of the volunteer corps of Shropshire and the
adjoining counties, but until lately very few arms of any description
have been deposited here—in fact it has been a complete sinecure. Mr.
Linton is the present governor.
The English, or East Bridge,
Called also the Stone Bridge, which connects the suburb of Abbey-foregate
with the town, was finished in 1774, from a plan produced by Mr. Gwyn, at
an expense of £16,000 raised by public subscription. This bridge, which
is 400 feet in length, is built of Grinshill free stone, on seven
semicircular arches, and crowned with a fine balustrade. The central
arch is 60 feet in width, and 40 in height from the bed of the river, the
two arches at the extremities being 35 feet wide and 20 high. The
breadth between the balustrades is 20 feet.—On the northern front is the
head of Sabrina in bas relief and the date of its erection. Its
ornaments are tasteful, and it may justly be classed among the most
elegant modern erections in the empire. Some persons, probably, may
conceive that the elevation of the centre is too great, but when they are
informed that in the memorable flood of 1795, even the great arch was not
more than capacious enough to admit the torrent, they will no doubt be
inclined to praise rather than censure the artist, who was actuated by a
desire to blend the useful with the ornamental.
The Welsh Bridge,
Built in the opposite direction to the before named structure, and which
received its name as being the grand route into Wales, was finished in
1795, from a design by Messrs. Tilly and Carline of this place. It
consists of five spacious arches with balustrades above, and is 266 feet
in length, with a driving road 20 feet wide, and paved on each side, for
the convenience of foot passengers, 5 feet. It is a plain though neat
erection, and has a remarkably solid and substantial appearance.
Public Subscription Library,
Situated on St. John’s Hill, is a plain brick edifice, formerly a private
house, and has been lately purchased by the Committee of the above
institution, and fitted up for the purpose of lodging the books belonging
to the Society. The number of subscribers is about 140, who pay annually
£1. 11s. 6d. and 2 guineas entrance; but their shares are transferable.
The managers of the society are a president, a treasurer, a committee of
twelve, who sit gratuitously, and a librarian at a stipend. The
following are some of the principal laws and regulations:—The library is
open for the free use of subscribers five hours every day at the rooms,
with the right of having several books at one time at their own houses, a
certain number of days. Forfeits are established and rigorously enforced
for detaining and damaging of books.—The method of admitting books is,
for any member to write down the title, size and price at the library,
with his signature, one clear week before the monthly meeting, at which
period it will be ordered, if the majority of the subscribers present are
agreeable.
The society which has been instituted about forty years, now possesses
5000 volumes—a valuable mass of general literature in every department.
Neither divinity nor law has been permitted to _load_ the shelves; and in
the matter of that great stumbling block of mixed associations,
_politics_, a due regard to that invaluable maxim “audi alteram partem,”
has never been forgot or violated, and diversity of opinion has only
promoted the successful progress of the establishment.