anciently written _Frankville_, lies on the west side of the Welsh
bridge, and is a township within the parish of St. Chad. In former times
it suffered much from the ravages of the Welsh, being in the line of road
to the principality, as it is now the thoroughfare to Holyhead.
The inquisitive eye of the antiquary will discover in this suburb many
curious specimens of the half-timbered dwellings of our ancestors, one in
particular, better known now as the “String of Horses,” appears, from
initials, &c. over the chimney piece, to have been erected at least as
early as 1576. To the left of this building is “New Street,” leading to
Millington’s Hospital, Kingsland, &c. Roads also branch off to the
village of Hanwood, and the mining districts of Pontesbury and Westbury.
Passing onward to the right is St. George’s church (page 89), a short
distance from which is the “Mount,” so called from a strong outwork
erected during the civil wars, under the direction of Lord Capel, and in
which he planted several pieces of cannon to protect the town. The
garrison of this fort vigorously resisted the attacks of the
parliamentarians, even after the town and castle had been captured. In
the evening, however, of that day, they had no other alternative but to
surrender upon bare quarter.
Near this fortification stood a religious house called Cadogan Chapel,
which, in the third year of Edward VI. passed into lay hands. In 1604 it
was remaining, though in a ruinous state, having been appropriated in
that year as the “Pest House.” {190}
The precinct of this chapel probably extended as far as Millington’s
Hospital, the site of the latter being to this day called “The Chapel
Yard,” and in the gardens adjoining it skeletons have been found, while a
strong yew-tree hedge, still visible at the western end of Cadogan Place,
was no doubt its boundary in that direction, near which spot stood
“_Cadogan’s Cross_,” where sermons in other days were occasionally
delivered. The bailiffs’ accounts, for 1542, record the item of sixpence
for wine given to the Lord President’s chaplain, preaching at Cadogan’s
Cross on the Rogation day. The meadows below (on the banks of the
Severn), called “_Monks Eye_,” were granted by Reginald Pinzun to the
“Almonry” of Shrewsbury Abbey, in the reign of Henry III. previously to
which they bore the appellation of “_Crosfurlong_.”
Extending our walk for one mile on the great Holyhead road (with the fine
woods of Berwick on the opposite side of the river) we reach the township
of SHELTON, where are some neat suburban villas which unite architectural
taste and rural decoration with beauty of situation and commanding
prospects. At this place stands