one of the oldest borough towns in the kingdom. Its chief attraction is
the Abbey, founded by St. Milburgh, a Saxon saint, and daughter of Penda,
one of the last and fiercest of the Saxon heathen kings. It fell before
the Danes, but was rebuilt by Earl Leofric and his wife Godiva. A second
time it fell, and was again rebuilt; this time by Norman masons, in
greater splendour than before. Of the architecture of this period the
present ruins show some fine examples, and none finer than the chapter-
house, the clustering arches of which are shown in our engraving.
The south transept, with a portion of the nave, of the Early English
style of architecture, remind the visitor of the stately grandeur of the
church, which was upwards of 400 feet in length. The house of the prior,
which communicated with the chapter-house, is now the private residence
of J. M. Gaskell, Esq., M.P., the present proprietor of the estate. The
parish church has several points of interest, one of which is its fine
Norman front, hidden from the street by the present tower. To this may
also be added the arches which separate the nave and side aisles, rising
from clustering pillars of great beauty; also the one dividing the nave
from the chancel, where there is an elegant sedilia. Wenlock grew up
beneath the patronage and protection of its Priory, by means of which it
received many royal favours, and was protected by many royal charters,
one of which conferred the right, at a very early period, of
representation in the Commons House of Parliament.
[The Chapter-House of Wenlock Abbey: 32.jpg]
The Guildhall is an ancient building of timber and plaster, with a
projecting upper story resting on piazzas. The room used for quarter
sessions has the arms of Charles II. over the recorder's chair, and the
Inner or Municipal Court is beautifully furnished with elaborately-carved
oak panellings and furniture. The borough is nearly the same now as
formerly, the modern franchise extending over the ancient possessions of
the church, wherein the prior of the monastery had jurisdiction over
eighteen parishes.