enacted in Oswestry, which, from the celebrity of the parties engaged in
it, forms no uninteresting feature in the history of the town. Charles’s
reign was marked by odious political intolerance and injustice. He aimed
at absolutism, and was as regardless of religious liberty as of religion
itself. The controversy to which we have alluded occurred in the
Guildhall of Oswestry, in September, 1681, and was conducted throughout
in a spirit of candour and moderation not frequently to be witnessed in
that turbulent period. The leading parties engaged were Dr. Lloyd,
Bishop of St. Asaph (the prelate who preached the first sermon in the
Chapel Royal to William III.), and the distinguished Philip Henry, of
Broad Oak, Flintshire (father of the erudite and evangelical Matthew
Henry, the Commentator on the Bible). Other nonconformist Ministers were
present, and took part in the proceedings, especially Mr. James Owen,
then of Oswestry—but afterwards of Shrewsbury Seminary for the education
of Dissenting Ministers—a man of considerable acquirements and genuine
piety. The Bishop, upon his elevation to the episcopal chair, was
desirous of securing the conformity of those who dissented, and “that he
might do it with the cords of a man, he resolved to reason the matter
with them, and endeavour to effect their conviction by discourse, in
which he had a very great facility both by learning and temper.” The
account from which we derive these particulars goes on to state, that
“one of the most eminent nonconformist ministers in his diocese was Mr.
James Owen, of Oswestry. The Bishop had several interviews with Mr. Owen
in private. At last he appointed a meeting to be held in the Town Hall,
Oswestry, on Tuesday, the 27th of September, 1681, at which he requested
Mr. Owen to give an account ‘by what right he exercised the ministry, not
having episcopal ordination.’ He also directed him to procure any other
ministers he could to assist him, for ‘he would be glad to hear what any
of them had to say for themselves.’ Mr. Owen sought the co-operation of
Mr. Henry, which, after much hesitation, was granted; to whom also was
joined Mr. Jonathan Roberts, ‘a plain man of great integrity, and a very
good scholar.’ On the day appointed the Bishop made his appearance with
the famous Henry Dodwell. In those days of intolerance, some parties had
refrained from engaging in the controversy, ‘lest it might be prejudicial
to their liberty. The Bishop, however, was pleased to promise that no
thing which should be said, by way of argument, should be any way turned
to the prejudice of the disputants, nor advantage taken of it to give
them trouble.’ There was convened a large number of the gentry and
clergy of the neighbourhood, the magistrates of the town, and a great
concourse of people. The discussion lasted from two in the afternoon
till between seven and eight at night. ‘Much was said, pro and con,
touching the identity of bishops and presbyters, the bishoping and
unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, &c. It was managed with a great deal
of liberty, and not under the strict laws of disputation.’ ‘The Bishop
won golden opinions from all parties on account of the gravity, calmness,
and evenness of spirit’ with which he conducted his part; while he seems
to have been so much gratified with the temper of his opponents, as to
have formed from that time a most intimate friendship with Mr. Henry.”
The report does not inform us whether the Bishop was convinced by the
arguments of the nonconformists. That Philip Henry retained his opinions
is undeniable; for he never ceased advocating, with Christian zeal and
moderation, the principles of nonconformity. It is gratifying, however,
to read of so tolerant and well-conducted a disputation in so persecuting
an age; it speaks much in favor of the just and beneficent spirit of
Bishop Lloyd.
The reign of James II. offers no particular incident in relation to
Oswestry. As a sovereign he was worthless and dangerous. His darling
objects were, the establishment, throughout the land, of the Roman
Catholic religion, and the restriction of popular freedom. During his
brief occupation of the throne he paid a visit to Shrewsbury and
Whitchurch; and on his way from the metropolis sojourned at Ludlow for a
night, and passed through the Strettons. The people of Shrewsbury had
not been favoured with a royal visit for nearly half a century, and were
now disposed to give the monarch a cordial reception. All the public
functionaries were trained and disciplined as to duty, for an incident
had occurred in the royal progress, so ludicrous in character, that the
Shrewsbury corporation resolved it should not be re-enacted amid their
loyal congratulations. The story to which we refer may be true or
fabulous; but it is too good not to be connected with a notice of James’s
reign: and, after all, the mayor of the town where the scene is laid, in
adopting literally the promptings of the learned recorder, was not, to
use a common phrase, “so great a fool as he seemed to be.” If King James
had received those promptings in a wise spirit—mirth-exciting as they
must have been—he might have been a good sovereign, and had around him
loyal and devoted subjects.
The mayor whose absurdities we are about to describe is said to have been
both illiterate and dull, incapable of reading or remembering an address.
It was settled therefore, says the tale, that the recorder should stand
behind him, to set him right if he happened to be out. When they (the
corporation) were ushered into the royal presence, and the chief
magistrate was about to commence his harangue, as he appeared somewhat
sheepish and embarassed, his friendly monitor whispered in his ear,
“_Hold up your head_, _sir_, _and look like a man_!” Mistaking this for
the beginning of his speech, he boldly stared the king in the face, and
roared out, “_Hold_, _up your head_, _sir_, _and look like a man_!”
Alarmed at the frightful blunder just made, the recorder whispered to the
chief magistrate (who at this moment must have resembled the celebrated
Mayor of Garrat, with two nosegays in his coat), “_What the d—l do you
mean_, _sir_?” The mayor, as stolid as ever, and nothing abashed,
thundered out the recorder’s exclamation as boldly as before. The
recorder, indignant and irritated, muttered, “By heavens, sir, you’ll
ruin us all!” His worship, taking this to be a continuance of the
speech, and still staring his majesty full in the face, with a yet louder
voice repeated, “_By heavens_, _sir_, _you’ll ruin us all_!” Even kingly
patience could bear this no longer, and rising, his majesty in an angry
tone demanded what was the meaning of this jargon? when the recorder laid
before him “the facts of the case,” and the king passed the affair by
with a gracious smile.
THE REVOLUTION.
The Revolution of 1688 brought over to England William III.; and his
reign was followed by that of “good Queen Anne.” Her reign has been
termed the Augustan era of English literature, as it was graced with the
polished writings of Sir Isaac Newton, Addison, Steele, Farquar (who laid
the scene of his comedy, “_The Recruiting Officer_,” in Shrewsbury, and
who, in his epistle dedicatory, first used the lively sentiment, “To all
friends round the Wrekin,” now one of the social laws of Salop), of
Vanbrugh, Prior, Pope, Parnell, Garth, Gay, _cum multis aliis_.
Instructed as the nation was by these and other eminent men, still
bigotry and enthusiasm were evidenced by many in matters of religion and
politics. In the year 1709 the nation was thrown into a gentle ferment
by the indiscreet conduct of the government towards an obscure clergyman
named Sacheverell (who had long been starving on a poor curacy in
London), in consequence of his having preached and published two
scurrilous and intemperate sermons, of which red-hot politics were the
staple. He was summoned to the bar of the House of Lords, and impeached.
The Whig ministry viewed his attacks with alarm, and he was sentenced not
to preach for three years. This persecution, as the proceedings of the
government were called at once martyrised Sacheverell, who suddenly found
himself famous. A gentleman residing in the neighbourhood of Oswestry,
Robert Lloyd, Esq., of Aston, sympathized with the suffering Sacheverell,
and became his friend. Mr. Lloyd had been the doctor’s pupil at Magdalen
College, Oxford; and as the rectory of Sylattyn, in his gift, became
vacant at this juncture, he presented it to the high-church meteor. This
was doubtless a god-send to the doctor, who set off from London, to take
possession of his new living, with all the state which a corrupt
popularity could give to him. A Tory writer of Queen Anne’s reign tells
us that “he entered upon his triumphant progress to Shropshire. He was
magnificently entertained at Oxford by the University, and received in
the other great towns he passed through (Shrewsbury and Oswestry
included) with the loud acclamations and joyful congratulations of the
people, upon his deliverance from whig persecution.” In Shrewsbury the
crier was sent about to proclaim his arrival, and the bells were rung in
honour of the event. As he passed through Oswestry, it is related, the
crowd assembled to witness his arrival was so great, that an enthusiastic
old woman, a great dabbler in politics and religion, no doubt, was so
excited in her endeavours to obtain a sight of the distinguished bigot,
that she succeeded only in catching a passing glance at his figure and
periwig. “I could see only part of the holy man,” she exclaimed, “but I
console myself with having had a sight of his ever-blessed wig as he rode
along.” This sort of mummery was not confined to Oswestry. In many
towns people were desirous to have their new-born infants christened with
a name so revered; which, having been transmitted through succeeding
generations, is not yet extinct in this county. On his return to London
he met with nothing but laudations, except at Worcester, where, by the
direction of Bishop Lloyd, a suitable rebuff was administered to him. Of
Dr. Sacheverell nothing more was heard worthy of transcription. Like
most other men whose popularity is created by intolerant doctrines in
religion or politics, he speedily found that his sudden greatness was as
mutable as it was undeserved.
The death of Queen Anne, in 1714, secured to the kingdom the Brunswick
Dynasty. The Act of Settlement, passed in the reign of William III.,
provided that the crown of Great Britain should henceforth be held only
by Protestant Princes. James Stuart, Queen Anne’s brother, known more
popularly as the Pretender, could not reign in England because he was a
Roman Catholic, and George, Duke of Brunswick, and Elector of Hanover, a
Protestant Prince, whose mother was grand-daughter of James I., became
King of Great Britain. The Brunswick succession has continued till the
present time, the united kingdom deriving especial benefits from the
reigns of the three Georges, of William IV., and of Queen Victoria.
Under the sway of George III. enlarged freedom, civil and religious, was
extended to his subjects; arts, science, and commerce flourished, and the
people made rapid advancement in religious and moral improvement. The
memorable wish of the venerable monarch George III., “That every one of
his subjects should read and possess the Bible”—a far more generous
sentiment than that of the French King who desired to see the day when
every one of his subjects should be able to put a fowl into the pot once
a week—was largely realized through the instrumentality of Robert Raikes,
Dr. Bell, and Joseph Lancaster, the great promoters of education in the
land, and by, also, the foundation of the British and Foreign Bible
Society, whose distribution of the Scriptures gave an impulse to
religious and benevolent efforts which have been increasing in usefulness
and efficiency to the present day. Under the auspices of George IV. the
nation derived numerous blessings, deficient as he was of many of the
bright qualities that ought to shine in the moral diadem of a British
King. The reign of William IV.—the Sailor King, as he has been
familiarly but appropriately called—was rendered illustrious by his
intense regard for the interests of the people, and his sanction to the
Second Great Charter of British rights. Under the mild and gracious rule
of our beloved Sovereign QUEEN VICTORIA, the rights and privileges of
Britons are held sacred; literature, arts, and science have acquired “a
more than double sway;” commerce and manufactures, in a multiplicity of
forms, for the comfort and luxury of mankind, have careered onwards with
giant steps, that have astonished and delighted the wisest and the best;
the social comforts of all classes of the British community are rendered
almost boundless by the progress of invention, the ingenuity of
mechanical skill, and the unceasing activity of all industrial pursuits;
the unrighteous laws that prohibited the importation of corn have been
abolished; free trade in bread has been established with all the nations
of the earth; ancient grinding monopolies have been destroyed; national
imposts reduced; the just demands of the people speedily granted; harsh
feudal laws, carrying with them inhuman punishments, have been blotted
out of the Statute-book; “man’s inhumanity to man,” under the sanction of
Acts of Parliament, has been softened if not wholly subdued; the just
principle of national brotherhood, inculcated by divine precept, has
gained vital force; religion has become less sectarian, and more
thoroughly Christian in profession and practice; the helping hand of man
to his brother man, in the hour of necessity, is seen now more actively
at work than ever; the people at large are united as one man, in all
great designs of philanthropy and benevolence, and in all puissant
combinations against injustice and oppression; our QUEEN and her
enlightened and virtuous CONSORT are ever watchful for the country’s
weal. The reign of VICTORIA is thus far the brightest page of regal
history, because it has been pre-eminently the best. We may sum up in
the eloquent language of Dr. Southwood Smith:—“We live in a glorious age.
The rapidity of the progress of liberal opinion, and I will add, of
liberal feeling, within these few years has been unexampled in the
history of our race. Sometimes indeed the tide of improvement like the
tide of the ocean may appear to have receded; but soon, as if deriving
strength from its momentary retreat, slow, majestic, irresistible, it has
rolled beyond its former limit; but, unlike its type, it has not
returned, _and it will not return_, to the boundary it has passed.”
Topographical History.
OSWESTRY is one of the most interesting of the English Border towns, as
we have already endeavoured to show; its early history, in various
conflicting ages, being crowded with incidents to give to it a lasting
renown. In its present state it offers numerous claims to public
attention; and the time does not seem far distant when it will take its
rank among the more flourishing towns of the empire. Having railway
communication direct with the metropolis, the great seats of
manufacturing industry in the northern counties, and by a new line of
conveyance, both of passengers and goods, _via_ the rapidly-rising town
and port of Birkenhead, with the sister kingdom, its importance and
improvement will quickly increase. Nor is the contemplated railway
extension from Oswestry to Welshpool and Newtown to be overlooked, as
that may soon lead to the still further construction of a railway forming
a junction with the projected line from the latter place to the busy town
of Llanidloes, and stretching onward till it reaches the great harbour in
course of formation at Milford Haven. With such “means and appliances”
the trade and commerce of Oswestry are not likely to retrograde; and
although we possess not the poetical and sanguine temperament of Griffith
of Glyn Ceiriog, who, some centuries ago, fancied that “in merchandise it
resembled Cheapside,” in London, yet we have no doubt that Oswestry,
which is now prospering commercially, and diffusing much good, both
morally and religiously, will advance steadily forward in the march of
general and social improvement. We are too gallant not heartily to
concur on another point with the Welsh poet just quoted. In his days, he
says, “The handsomest women, and the most becomingly drest, are those of
Oswestry.” If we did not unhesitatingly applaud this opinion of a
Welshman, we should consider ourselves unworthy the name of Englishmen!
The site of Oswestry is remarkable. It stands upon more elevated ground
than any other town in Shropshire, being 450 feet above the level of the
sea. Its commanding position freely exposes to the gaze of the delighted
spectator a range of landscape scenery which, for variety, beauty, and
grandeur, cannot be excelled in any part of the kingdom. On the heights
above the town the prospect expands. To the south-east the fertile vale
of Salop displays its diversified charms, the Nesscliff Rock, Hawkstone
(Lord Hill’s beautiful ancestral residence), and the huge and venerable
Wrekin peering forth in the distance; whilst the high ridges of the
Longmynd and Stiperstones form an uninterrupted chain along the Welsh
border, with the bold and abrupt acclivities of Cefn-y-Castell and
Moel-y-Golfa; and the Breidden, crowned with Rodney’s Pillar, completes
the great natural panorama. Towards the east the Macclesfield hills,
dividing Cheshire from Derbyshire, appear. The view on the Welsh side is
equally impressive, and may well be called “the paradise of Cambria.”
The fullest topographical description of ancient Oswestry that we have
discovered is that of Harrison, who wrote in 1564. He says,
“Oswester is eighteen miles from Shrewsburie, and containeth a mile
within the walls. It hath in like sort foure suburbs or great
streets, of which one is called Stratlan, another Wuliho, the third
Beterich, wherein are one hundred and forty barns, standing in a row,
belonging to the citizens or burgesses, and the fourth named the
Black Gate-street, in which are thirtie barns maintained for corne
and haie. There is also a brooke running thorough the town by the
crosse, coming from Simon’s well, a bowshot without the wall, and
going under the same, between Thorow-gate and New-gate, running under
the Black-gate. There is another, over whose course the Baderikes or
Baderich-gate standeth, and therefore called Baderich brooke; the
third passeth by Willi-gate or New-gate, and these all fall, together
with the Crosse brooke, a mile lower by south, into the Mordaunt.”
Leland, the historian, who briefly sojourned in the town in the reign of
Henry VIII., informs us that the northern part, or Beatrice-street, at
that period contained “many barns for corn and hay, to the number of vii
score several barns;” the eastern, or Black-gate, “xxx barns for corn,
with other houses ’longing to the townesmen.” The same writer adds,
“There be within the town iii most notable streates, the Cross-streate,
the Bayly-streate, and New-gate-streate. The houses withyn the town be
of timbre, and slated. There is a castell, sette on a mont be likelihood
made by hand; and ditched by south-west, betwixt Beatrise-gate and
Willow-gate, to the which the wall comith. There be no towers in the
waulles besides the gates. The town is dicked about, and brokettes ren
ynto it.” Camden describes Oswestry in his day as “a place of good
traffic, inclosed with a wall and ditch, and fortified with a castle.”
Pennant’s brief description brings us nearer to the present time.
“Oswestry,” he says, “stands just in Shropshire, on the very border of
the British frontier. It is 17½ miles from Shrewsbury, 11 from
Llangollen, and 179½ from London. The country for several miles round is
delightfully varied with hills, vales, wood, and water, and abounds in
rich scenery. The prospect on the Montgomery side is terminated abruptly
by the august ridge of the prominent mountains of Breiddyn. It is upon
higher ground than any other town in Shropshire.”
The Walls referred to by these writers were erected, as we have already
stated, by Edward I. (probably under the superintendance of his
celebrated architect Elreton, who built both Conway and Caernarvon
castles), that he might secure Oswestry as a key to his intended conquest
of Wales, and render it less liable to the plundering incursions of the
Welsh. These walls were about a mile in circumference, with a
skilfully-made intrenchment on the outside, which could be filled with
water from the springs in the vicinity. Some remains of this ancient
fortification may still be traced, and part of its boundary-line is
designated, up to the present time, as “the Walls.”
There were four Gates, the only inlets into the town, and they stood as
strong fortresses in times of disquietude and danger. As the town
advanced in trade and commerce the Gates became exceedingly inconvenient
for the passage of carriages and merchandize, and in 1766, the Black-Gate
was taken down by consent of Earl Powis, the lord of the manor. Rylance
assures us that “Black-Gate was demolished in consequence of its having
become so low in the arch, that loads could scarce go under, having been
rendered so by several pavements being put one over the other to repair
the street, and make a vent for the water, which made the passage through
it bad.”
[Picture: The New Gate] The convenience rendered to the town by the
removal of the Black-Gate induced the Corporation to obtain the consent
of the lord of the manor to the removal of the three other Gates. In
1782 an arrangement was accordingly made for their demolition, and the
materials were used in the erection of the borough prison. The New-Gate
was erected in the reign of Edward II., and was used as a prison and
guard-room for the soldiers. Over the New-Gate (as is seen in our
engraving) was the figure of a horse in full speed, with an oaken bough
in his mouth. Pennant remarks, “There is a conjecture, but I will not
pretend to say how well warranted, that it alluded to the generous breed
of horses which Powys-land (of which this was part) was famous for,
derived from some fine Spanish stallions introduced by Robert de Belesme,
Earl of Shrewsbury.”
[Picture: Beatrice Gate]
Beatrice Gate is said to have been named in compliment to Beatrice, the
Queen of Henry IV., and in all probability was built in that king’s
reign, as his sojourn in this district, during his long onslaughts upon
the Welsh, connected him much with the neighbourhood. The gate was a
handsome building, with a guard-house on each side, and over it the arms
of the Fitz-Alans (a lion rampant). It is said to have been built by
Thomas, Earl of Arundel.
Willow-Gate, or Wallia-Gate, derived its name from the road, in which the
gate was situate, leading directly into Wales.
The borough has now assumed, from a number of improvements made in it, a
highly-respectable appearance. Church-Street may vie, in neatness and
public accommodation, with the leading thoroughfare of any
similarly-sized town in the kingdom. Willow-Street is an active business
thoroughfare, the two Banks and the Post-Office being situated there;
Beatrice Street is the only thoroughfare to the Railway Station, and is
therefore, with Leg-Street, the chief street of traffic. Bailey-Street,
principally confined to shops, is a leading approach to the Powys Market,
Guildhall, and public offices; whilst Upper Brook-Street is a pleasant
location, and will doubtless soon become a favourite site for villa
residences; at least, its beautiful situation, and the fine healthy
country to which it is proximate, entitle it to such a distinction, Salop
Road is on the march of improvement, and some good modern houses are
erected in it; but yet its dwellings are irregular in size and
appearance, and some time may elapse before it exhibits much of harmony
or attraction, as a leading thoroughfare, unless the projected railway
extension through the town gives, as may reasonably be expected, a
stimulus to house-building in this district. The innovating hand of
modern improvement has not hitherto effected much change in the central
and more dense portions of the town. Let us “wait a little longer,” and
the unsightly dwellings deemed palaces by our forefathers, but which,
compared with modern domestic houses, are little better than huts or
hovels, will give place to habitations worthy of this age, so properly
distinguished for its sanatory regulations and general progress. Such
ancient and dilapidated buildings are mere figments of days gone past,
and atone not, by their pictorial beauty, for their ruined and desolate
condition. The flagging of the leading public streets, recently
determined upon, and which has been partly carried into effect, will be
one of the greatest improvements already adopted in the borough. The
principal thoroughfares in the entire town will speedily be flagged in
the same style, so that in a short time the inhabitants, ladies
especially, will be able to perambulate the streets, and amuse themselves
“a-shopping,” without paying for it the hard penalty of walking in their
fashionable boots or slippers over a flinty pavement. This improvement
is being effected from the funds of a voluntary subscription, to which a
large number of the professional gentry and trading classes have
liberally subscribed. The various roads leading from the town are wide
and well-constructed, and are generally kept in a good travelling
condition.