The hold situation of the town, girdled by the health-bearing breezes of
a beauteous river, with an eminence crown’d by aspiring temples,
That upward cast their golden vanes, and shine
A bright tiara,
gives a striking and majestic appearance to Shrewsbury.
When seen from most parts of the adjacent country the town forms a
delightful object,—a gem encircled by a paradise;—new beauties and
charming views being continually produced by the pre-eminent spires and
towers; whilst the effect in the background is much heightened by an
extensive range of noble mountains, which diversify the prospect, and add
interest to the rich and picturesque landscape.
The exterior of the town is in most parts separated from the river by a
portion of garden and meadow ground, skirted by a line of genteel houses,
which command delightful prospects of the adjoining country.
As a place of residence Shrewsbury has long been considered highly
eligible, from its elevated and beautiful situation, the salubrity and
general healthfulness of its air, the natural dryness of the soil, the
agreeable drives and promenades by which it is surrounded, and (what is
equally important) the excellence and purity of its water.
Many parts of the environs have been justly recommended as suitable to
valetudinarians who may visit Shrewsbury from North Wales and other
parts, to avail themselves of the able medical assistance which it
possesses, and who are, as it were, enticed by the agreeableness and
variety of the scenery to a salutary and necessary exercise.
The interior of the town presents several curious and interesting
specimens of the domestic architecture of our ancestors; the projecting
bay windows, fanciful antique carving, mouldings, &c. display a singular
appearance in contrast with the more modern habitations, in many of which
the taste of their respective proprietors is effectively evinced.
The streets, as in most other ancient towns, are irregularly formed, and
several of them, it must be admitted, are inconveniently narrow. Many
important alterations have however been made, under the provisions of an
act obtained in 1821, for removing obstructions, watching, lighting, and
the general improvement of the town, the powers of which are vested in
trustees, who must be persons occupying property rated at £50 per annum
to the street assessment, or worth £2000 above reprizes and resident
within the town, or resident and receiving rents to the amount of £80 per
annum, or non-resident and receiving rents from premises within the town
worth £100 per annum, from whom a committee of management of nine
individuals is selected, three of whom retire annually by rotation; and
it has been remarked by one of the first members of this committee,
“_that if judiciously chosen and faithful to their trust_, _our town may
in time assume its due place among the cities of the empire_.”
In 1820 a company was established, with a capital of £8000, raised in 800
shares of £10 each, to supply the town with gas.