THE markets of Shrewsbury are plentifully supplied with the luxuries and
conveniences of life. They are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The
first is small; that on Saturday is, perhaps, not surpassed in the
display of eatables, by the market of any town of a similar size in the
kingdom. Butcher’s meat is sold at the single and double rows on Pride
Hill, and at the Shambles in Fish-street. Butter, Eggs, and Poultry of
every description at the Butter Market. The green market is held in the
square before the town-hall, where there is generally a luxuriant supply
of vegetables, and of extremely early production. Wheat and all sorts of
grain are disposed of in the market-house. With milk the inhabitants are
tolerably well supplied by persons of the town who keep cows expressly
for the purpose; but “art, ever jealous of nature, and benevolently
careful of the stomachs of the inhabitants, has, by the application of a
certain useful element, wisely deprived it of its luxuriant richness.”
The Fish market is well supplied. Not only the Severn salmon, which is
caught at their doors, but a very considerable quantity of different
descriptions of the finny tribe from Wales, are regularly exposed for
sale at tolerably moderate prices. For its excellent brawn, Shrewsbury
has long been distinguished.
Fairs.
Fairs are held here on the second Tuesday and Wednesday in every month.