Part 13

THE BUTTER AND POULTRY MARKET, situated at the top of Pride-hill, was erected in 1819 by voluntary contributions amounting to £2000. It is not at all commensurate with the wants of the town, and of the ample produce brought to its weekly markets large quantities are exposed for sale in the streets.

THE NEW BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKET, situated in Howard-street, is a spacious building containing an area of 5400 feet. The exterior consists of a centre and two wings, and has a handsome appearance; the roof is supported by four rows of cast iron pillars—and there is ample room to dispose of the large quantities of butter and cheese which are brought for sale on the Wednesdays following the first fair in each month.

THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY was originally built as an asylum for the reception of orphans from the Foundling Hospital in London. This spacious structure is situated at Kingsland, and crowns the steep eminence above the river, whence a most delightful and picturesque view of the town and country is obtained. The governor of the Foundling Hospital began the building in 1760, and finished it in five years, at an expense of £12,000. Children were sent down from London in great numbers, and put out to nurse with the neighbouring cottagers, under the inspection of the gentlemen in the vicinity. At a proper age they were taken into the house, where they were employed in the manufacture of wool, and afterwards placed out as apprentices. At one time there were more than four hundred orphans in the hospital; but the funds of the institution not proving adequate to the plan of sending children to provincial hospitals, it was discontinued in 1774. After being shut up several years, it was converted into a place of confinement for the Dutch prisoners taken in the American war. It was afterwards used as an infirmary, whilst the present noble structure was building. The rapid increase of the parochial rates, of Shrewsbury, induced the inhabitants to petition parliament for an act to incorporate the five parishes of the Town and Meole Brace, so far as concerned the poor, and to establish a general House of Industry. In 1784, they purchased the orphan hospital from the governors of the foundling charity, for the admission of the poor, who, in their declining years, here find an appropriate shelter, and are supplied with decent and comfortable necessaries of life. The situation is highly salubrious, and the terrace in front of the house commands a fine view of the quarry, the town, its suburbs, and the whole range of mountains in Salop, Montgomery, and Denbigh. The internal arrangements have a clean and orderly appearance, and the kind attention of the governor and guardians to the wants of the inmates, who are chiefly the aged, infirm, and helpless poor children, is highly creditable. [When we visited the house there were six old women of the age of 75 and upwards, one had reached the age of 95 years.] There is accommodation for 350 inmates, exclusive of that portion of the building which has been let off as a private asylum; the inmates are now 75. The infirmary and vagrant ward are in the rear, as are the schools, which are held in a building formerly used for hand-loom weaving; adjoining which are four acres of land, cultivated by the scholars; it is chiefly used in raising green crops, and is highly productive. The union embraces the parishes of St. Chad, St. Mary, St. Alkmund, St. Julian, Holy Cross, and Meole Brace, for which ten guardians are appointed. _Chairman_, Mr. Charles Lloyd. _Surgeon_, Henry Keate. _Chaplain_, Rev. W. J. James. _Governor_, Mr. William N. Kindellon.

THE SAVINGS’ BANK, situated on College-hill, was erected in 1838, at a cost of £2000, which includes a sum of £600 given for the site. The capital stock of the bank, on November 20th, 1849, amounted to £179,990. 6s., at which time 4461 depositors, 56 Charitable societies, and 42 Friendly societies had accounts with the bank. Of the depositors there were 2329 whose respective balances did not exceed £20; 1138 were above £20 and not exceeding £50; 587 were above £50 and not exceeding £100; 253, not exceeding £150; 134 not exceeding £200; and 20 exceeding the latter amount. The bank is open on Monday and Saturday, from 11.30, a.m. to 1.30, p.m. Mr. Charles Blount, _Actuary_. The gross amount of the capital invested by the Charitable Societies, amounts to £307. 14s. 5d.; and of the Friendly Societies, to £18,362. 5s. 4d.

THE ROYAL BATHS, situated at Benbow-place, were established in 1831, by Mr. William Onions. The front of the building exhibits a chaste design, being ornamented by a portico, supported by two Ionic pillars, and two pilasters. The conveniences, are varied and ample, and such as are only to be met with in the first rate establishments in the kingdom. The moderate charges and strict attention to cleanliness and comfort will, no doubt, insure to them an extensive patronage. The swimming bath is of sufficient dimensions to enable persons to learn or practice the art of swimming; there are also hot, air, vapour, shower, warm, medicated, salt, and fresh water baths in constant readiness. A charge of 21s. per annum is made for the use of the swimming bath, and sixpence for a single bath.

THE SHREWSBURY WATERWORKS were established, by a company of shareholders, under an act of parliament, obtained in 1830, for the purpose of affording the inhabitants a constant supply of water from the Severn. The works are situated in Chester-street, and the water is raised by means of a steam engine, capable of throwing up 20,000 gallons per hour, into a large reservoir near the top of Pride-hill, and thence distributed in pipes to all parts of the town. The town is also gratuitously supplied with excellent water from a fine spring called Broadwell, near Crow Meole, distant about two miles, being conducted thence to conduits placed in different parts of the town for the convenience of the inhabitants. Few towns have such an excellent and abundant supply of this fine beverage of nature.

THE GAS WORKS are situated in the Castle Foregate, near the goods depôt of the Shrewsbury and Ellesmere canal. They were established in 1820 by a company of shareholders with a capital stock of £10,000 raised in £10 shares. The luminous vapour is supplied from three gasometers which will hold together 80,000 cubic feet of gas.

THE RAILWAY STATION.—The united station of the Shrewsbury and Chester, the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and the Shrewsbury and Stafford branch of the Shropshire Union Railway, is a magnificent structure in the perpendicular style of architecture, situated near the Castle-gates. It exhibits a frontage of 150 feet in length, and two stories in height, with a square tower in the centre, ornamented with a richly carved battlement, with octagonal turrets of considerable elevation, at the corners. On each side of the tower extends a large wing, divided into four equal spaces by projecting turrets. The ridge of the roof is finished with an ornamental cast iron crest, and the windows are divided by stone transoms and mullions. The total cost of the station-house, offices, and engineering works, was £51,000; the goods, engine-station, and other necessary works £20,000. The gross cost of the above works, including the viaduct of the Severn, contiguous to the station, and the bridge over Castle Foregate, exceeded £100,000.

The ground floor is appropriated to booking offices, waiting rooms, and a large refreshment room; above are the offices for the clerks, and other offices. The platforms respectively measure 600 feet, and 450 in length, and 16 feet wide. A wrought iron roof, beautifully designed, of 70 feet span, covers the platforms and lines of rails for a space of 450 feet. The goods and coal depots are situated between the station and Coton-hill, with convenient access from Castle Foregate-street: here an abundance of coal, lime, and slates is always on hand. Near the station is the _Viaduct_ over the Severn, consisting of seven elliptical arches, 45 feet span. The rails are 36 feet above the ordinary level of the river. A cast iron bridge of sixty-four feet span, from the Brymbo iron works, carries the Shrewsbury and Chester railway over the Castle Foregate. The whole of the works were executed by Mr. Brassey, the contractor, under the direction of Mr. James Baylis, the resident engineer, at the joint expense of the several companies whose lines unite in Shrewsbury.

LORD HILL’S COLUMN, erected to commemorate the brilliant victories and achievements of that distinguished warrior, stands on rising ground near the entrance of Abbey Foregate, from the London road, and forms a conspicuous and interesting object to the surrounding country. This fine Doric pillar, considered to be the largest in the world, was completed on the 18th of June, 1816, at a cost of £5,973. 13s. 2d. The pedestal, which is square, has a buttress at each angle, on which is a lion couchant, worked out of Grinshill free stone, of which material is the column. The chastely fluted shaft is surmounted by a cylindrical pedestal, supporting a statue of his lordship, of colossal proportions, executed in artificial stone, by Messrs. Coade and Sealey, London. The statue is 17 feet high, and the height of the pillar 116 feet, making a total height of 133 feet from the ground to the top of the statue. A beautiful spiral staircase, the munificent donation of the builder, Mr. Straphen, winds round the interior of the shaft, and opens on the summit, at the base of the pedestal of the statue, whence the visitor will enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Shrewsbury and the fertile plains of Shropshire, unrivalled in extent and splendour. On the sides of the pedestal are inscriptions, recording the victories of the gallant general, to whose honour this voluntary tribute of Salopian esteem was erected.

THE ARMOURY, situated near to St. Giles’ church, is a spacious brick edifice, built by government in 1806, at an expense of £10,000, and intended as a depôt for containing the arms of the volunteer corps of this and the adjoining counties. The principal building is 135 feet long by 39 feet wide, divided into an upper and lower story, capable of containing 25,000 stand of arms; at each angle is a small residence, and within the enclosure are two magazines for ammunition. The arms having been removed to Chester, the premises have remained unoccupied ever since. The structure now presents a dilapidated appearance; it has become by purchase the property of Lord Berwick.

THE COUNTY COURT OFFICES for the recovery of debts not exceeding £20 are situate in Wyle Cop. The court contains within its jurisdiction the following parishes and places, viz.:—Acton Burnell, Alberbury, Albrighton, Astley, Atcham, Baschurch, Battlefield, Berrington, Cardington, Cardiston, Church Preen, Church Pulverbatch, Church Stretton, Condover, Cound, Cressage, Easthope, Eaton-under-Haywood, Eaton Constantine, Fitz, Ford, Frodesley, Great Harwood, Great Ness, Habberley, Hadnal, Harley, Haughmond Demesne, Hope Bowdler, Hughley, Kenley, Leebotwood, Leighton, Little Ness, Longnor, Melverley, Meole Brace, Middle, Minsterley, Montford, Petton, Pitchford, Pontesbury, Preston Gubballs, Ruckley and Langley, Rushbury, Shineton, Shipton, Shrawardine, Shrewsbury—viz.: St. Chad, St. Julian, St. Mary except Clive, and Holy Cross and St. Giles, and Smethcott, Stapleton, Sutton, Uffington, Uppington, Upton Magna, Westbury, Withington, Wolstaston, Wollaston and Wroxeter.—_Judge_: Uvedale Corbett, Esq., Aston Hall.—_Clerk_: Joshua John Peele, Esq., Murivance.—_High Bailiff_: Mr. Henry Bloxham, St. Mary’s square.—_Bailiffs_: Edward Bury and Richard Prinn.

THE CATTLE MARKET or NEW SMITHFIELD, situated near the banks of the Severn, on a plot of land called Raven Meadow, is approached from the lower part of Mardol, and the Castle gates nearly opposite the railway station. This market covers four acres of land, and is not surpassed by any provincial market in England for the conveniences it affords, and its adaptation to the purposes intended. It was opened on November 19th, 1850. The total cost has been £15,000, of which £2500 was expended in raising the ground. A lofty brick wall surrounds the market, which is capable of affording accommodation for 700 horses, 1400 cattle, 5000 sheep, and 1000 pigs, with suitable trial ground for the horses, appropriate pens for the sheep and pigs, and a long range of sheds under the north wall for the cattle. If the tolls are not sufficient to pay the interest of the money borrowed for the formation of the market, the act of parliament authorizes a rate upon the town to meet the deficiency. The market or fair is held every alternate Tuesday, when stock of all kinds is brought in very considerable quantities for sale.

FAIRS for cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and fat stock are held every alternate Tuesday. The following will be the dates for the year 1851, viz.:—January 14, 28; February 11, 25; March 11, 25; April 8, 22; May 6, 20; June 3, 17; July 1, 15, 29; August 12, 26; September 9, 23; October 7, 21; November 4, 18; December 2, 16, 30.

BUTTER AND CHEESE FAIR is held on the Wednesday following the first fair in each month.

THE WOOL FAIR takes place on July 1 and August 26.

THE ENGLISH BRIDGE is a substantial and elegant structure, 400 feet in length, and composed of seven arches, crowned by a bold balustrade. It was erected in 1774, at an expense of £15,710, of which £11,494 was raised by voluntary subscriptions. The central arch is sixty feet in width, and forty in height, which is double the height of the end arches, and consequently disagreeably steep; the breadth of the thoroughfare is also inconveniently narrow (only twenty-five feet) for the innumerable carriages and passengers which are continually passing over it. The object in its construction was to contrive as much space as possible for the water during floods. With the exception of this defect, its architectural beauty is surpassed by few bridges in the kingdom; it is highly ornamental to the town, and an equally noble monument of the public spirit of the gentry of the county. The keystone of the central arch is adorned with a fine head of Sabrina, “goddess of the river,” and that on the opposite side with a head of Neptune, the “father of fountains.” The keystones of the other arches are worked into a shell; on the central piers of the arches are finely carved dolphins.

The old English bridge, built probably by the abbots and burgesses conjointly, was taken down on the completion of the present structure. It was constructed on seventeen arches, and extended over the main stream, also an arm of the river now filled up which flowed into the Meole Brook; its length was 864 feet, and the breadth only 12 feet, being greatly encumbered with houses. Near the eastern extremity was a gate and a strong embattled tower, with chamber and portcullis, and beyond a draw-bridge.

THE WELSH BRIDGE, so called on account of the road from Shrewsbury to a considerable part of North Wales lying over it, is situated at the foot of Mardol, and crosses the river into the populous suburb of Frankwell. It is a bold and substantial structure, consisting of five arches, the length being 266 feet and the breadth 30 feet, completed in 1795, at an expense of £8000, raised by subscriptions. The old Welsh bridge taken down on the erection of the above structure, was situated a few yards higher up the stream than the present fabric. It was a most interesting monument of antiquity, and consisted of seven arches, with massive gate towers at each extremity, in the finest style of castellated building. Leland, who visited Shrewsbury in 1539, in describing this bridge says:—“It is the greatest, faynest, and highest upon the stream, having six great arches of stone; it standeth on the west syde of the towne, and hath at the one end of it a great gate to enter by into the towne; and at the other end towardes Wales a mighty stronge towre to prohibit enemies to enter on the bridge.” Above one of the gates stood an armed statue of a knight, which was removed in 1791, and placed in a niche in front of the Market-house. This effigy was an important object of attraction to the Welshmen, from a tradition, that it represented Llewelyn, Prince of Wales. Antiquaries, from its attendant embellishments, state it represented Richard Duke of York. The tolls arising from marketable goods over this bridge were abolished by the payment of £6000 to the corporation, which sum was raised by public subscriptions.

THE RAILWAY VIADUCT over the Severn, situated a little east from the station, consists of seven elliptical arches, forty-five span, and thirty-six feet above the ordinary level of the river. The whole has a bold, massive, and elegant appearance.—A BRIDGE of cast iron of sixty-four feet span, crosses the Castle Foregate, and carries the four lines of rails of the Chester and Shrewsbury railway.—A WOODEN BRIDGE, consisting of two timber arches, eighty-five feet span each, on the bow and spring principle, leads from the public walk called the Dana, over the railway station, to the front of the county gaol.

TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.—The trade of this town was once esteemed of great importance to the kingdom, and though its consequence has been eclipsed by the subsequent increase of other places, yet it has never been destitute of a considerable share of internal commerce. In early times it was distinguished for its glove cloth, and shoe manufactories, but its ancient traffic in Welsh woollens was in a great measure the cause of the former opulence of Shrewsbury. Camden, in his account of the town in 1586, observes:—“It is a fine city, and of good commerce; and by the industry of the citizens and their cloth manufacture, and their trade with the Welsh, is very rich, for hither the Welsh commodities are brought as to the common mart.” Pennant, who wrote more than half a century ago, says:—“From very early days this place possessed almost exclusively the trade with Wales, in a coarse kind of woollen cloth called Welsh webs, which were brought from Merinoth and Montgomeryshire to a market held here weekly on Thursday. They were afterwards dressed, that is, the wool raised on one side, by a set of people called shearmen. At the time of Queen Elizabeth the trade was so great, that not fewer than 600 persons maintained themselves by this occupation. The cloth was sent chiefly to America to clothe the negroes, or to Flanders, where it is used by the peasants. At present the greatest part of this traffic is diverted into other channels, and not more than four or five hundred thousand yards are brought to the ancient mart.” The stout Welshmen were accustomed to come to the market, with troops of hardy ponies, each with a halter of twisted straw, and laden with bales of cloth.

It was a practice of the drapers and shearmen to assemble at the Market-house at two o’clock, and according to ancient usage proceed up stairs in seniority. The traffic was a ready money business, and as the Welshmen left much of their cash behind them, in exchange for groceries, malt, and other commodities, the loss of such a trade may easily be conceived, when it is said that more than six hundred pieces of web have been sold in one day. The Welsh flannels were formerly made by the rural population, and the small farmers employed their female domestics at leisure hours in this business. These seldom made more than four or five pieces during the year, and those from the wool of their own flocks. The principal manufacturers were farmers, who maintained servants solely for that purpose, and hired weavers by the year. They produced forty or fifty pieces annually at market, each measuring from 100 to 150 yards; and, as it was a ready money trade, many of them made considerable sums. At present, chiefly from the introduction of spinning mills and the power loom, this ancient domestic manufacture is almost swept away. The market, formerly held here every Thursday, is now removed to Welshpool, Newton, and Llanidloes, which has nearly caused the total extinction of this branch of local commerce. There are now only two flannel merchants in the town, and they visit the different localities in which the flannels are manufactured to purchase their goods.

The general trade and prosperity of Shrewsbury are said to have been very much injured by the exactions of its guilds or incorporated companies, the most considerable of which are the drapers and the mercers. The former were incorporated by Edward IV., and united with an ancient guild or fraternity of the Holy Trinity, founded in the church of St. Mary. Their company is recognised by several subsequent acts of parliament. They have now a considerable estate, originally purchased by the voluntary contributions of the members, which is expended in the support of the inmates of St. Mary’s almshouses, in liberal subscriptions to the charitable institutions of the town, and in relief to widows and families of deceased members. On the south-west side of St. Mary’s church is the Drapers’ Hall, a curious half-timbered building, erected, probably, about the time of Elizabeth. The large room, finely wainscotted with old oak, contains two massive oak tables, and a fine old chest, with richly carved ornaments. Portraits of the royal founder of the company, and of Degory Watur and his spouse, decorate the wainscot. Among the records of the Drapers’ Company are the following:—“25 Elizabeth, 1583, ordered that no draper set out for Oswestry on Monday before six o’clock, on forfeiture of 6s. 8d., and that they should wear their weapons all the way, and go in company. Not to go over the Welsh Bridge before the bell tolls six.”—“27 of Elizabeth, 1585, a market was held at Knocking, and a halfpenny paid by the drapers for every piece of cloth bought.”—“1621, agreed to buy no more cloth in Oswestry.”