SHREWSBUKY.

"Let this small monument record the name
Of Cadman, and to future times proclaim
How by'n attempt to fly from this high spire,
Across the Sabrine stream, he did acquire
His fatal end. "Twas not for want of skill,
Or courage to perform the task, he fell,
No, no, a faulty cord, being drawn too tight,
Hurried his soul on high to take a flight,

Which bid the body, here beneath, good night."

7

St. Julian's Church. The body of this building is of brick, and the tower of stone; the former is of modern erection. When or by whom the church was founded is not known; it was formerly styled a royal chapel.

wars.

St. Chad's Church was erected in 1792, at some distance from the ancient building of the same name. Of the latter, part of the chancel is yet standing, and is at present appropriated to the use of the charity school. This building (old St. Chad's) stood on the site of a palace of the princes of Powis, which was destroyed by fire during the Saxon The church was probably erected not long afterwards. In the year 1393 the first structure was burnt down by the carelessness of one of the workmen who was mending the leads. The fellow observing the mischief he had done, and that the flames had become too powerful for him to extinguish them, ran home, put some money in his pocket, and attempted to escape, but was drowned in fording the river. On an inquisition before the coroners of the town of Shrewsbury, the jury found," that John Plomer, working upon the leads of St. Chad's church, and perceiving the same in flames through his neglect, ran to his own house in the High-street, put five marks four shillings and sixpence in his pocket, and fled. On reaching the ford at the Stone Gate, in endeavouring to make his escape, he was drowned in the river Severn." In order that this loss might be retrieved, King Richard II. granted to the bailiffs

and commonality of the town, for three years then following, acquittance from their fee farm, and likewise from their arrears of taxes then lately granted by the Parliament to the King. The fabric erected from this indulgence is that of which the ruins are still left.

The New St. Chad's is built near the ground called the Quarry: it is highly ornamented. The principal entrance is through the east door into a circular vestibule, which contains the stairs leading to the galleries. The body of the church is circular, and in the interior, owing to its galleries with their supporting pillars and the general effect of the decorations, rather resembles a place of amusement than of sacred worship.

The Quarry is a most delightful walk along an avenue of fine old limes, which leads to the Severn, and then a considerable distance each way along its bank.

The House of Industry is a large brick building, on the opposite lofty bank of the Severn. The situation is one of the most healthy that could have been chosen. The front of the building commands a fine view of the town and suburbs of Shrewsbury. Beyond is seen the Wrekin and others of the Shropshire mountains, and at a little distance, in an opposite direction, the Breiddin hills and an extensive tract of country towards Wales.

The House of Austin or Augustine Friars stood close to the river, at a short distance from the Quarry. It is supposed to have been founded by some one of the Stafford family.

The Grey or Franciscan Friary was situated a little to the south of the English bridge; of this, however, there is scarcely a vestige remaining. It is supposed to have been founded some time prior to 1353.

The Black or Dominican Friary stood near the river, between the castle and the English bridge, at the bottom

of St. Mary's, Water Lane. Its foundation is ascribed to Maud, the wife of Jeffry, Lord Genevil, about the year 1265. The two sons of Edward the Fourth, who are believed to have been murdered in the Tower by order of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard the Third, are said to have been born in this friary.

The Free School stands in a street leading to the castle. It is a large antique stone building, with a square tower, and contains, besides good school-rooms, a dwelling-house, chapel and library. In the latter, which was rebuilt in 1815, there is a valuable collection of books and several natural and artificial curiosities. This school was founded in 1552 by King Edward VI., and the original building was constructed of timber. The present edifice was erected about forty years afterwards.

The Infirmary, which was rebuilt in the year 1830, stands near St. Mary's church-yard. It is supported by voluntary benefactions, and its benefits extend not only to the town and country, but to all proper objects without distinction of place.

Millington's Hospital is situated on an eminence above Frankwell, a suburb beyond the Welsh bridge. It is a handsome brick building, and was founded in 1734 under the direction of Mr. James Millington, formerly a draper of Shrewsbury. It maintains twelve decayed house-keepers (single persons), and a charity-school for twenty boys and twenty girls, from the district of Frankwell, if such are to be found, and if not, from the nearest part of the parish of St. Chad. No dissenters of any denomination can have relief from this charity; it is confined to persons of orthodox principles of the Church of England.

St. Chad's Alms-houses, for decayed old men and women, were founded in 1409, by Bennet Tupton, a brewer of

Shrewsbury. They are situated in old St. Chad's churchyard.

St. Mary's Alms-houses, in Ox-lane, near St. Mary's church, were founded, about the year 1460, by Digery Waters, a draper. He is said to have lived here among the poor people. They are confined principally to old persons, and those from St. Mary's parish only. The people have clothes and a small salary allowed them.

The Charity School in Back-lane was founded in 1724, under the will of Mr. Alderman Bowdler. This was intended for poor children of the parish of St. Julian, and if such cannot be found, of the parish of Holy Cross.

The Subscription Charity School, for instructing and clothing poor children, is situated by the road-side leading to the abbey. It was begun in the year 1778. The boys are taught to read, and the girls to read, sew and knit.

Mr. John Allat, formerly chamberlain of the borough, bequeathed property to a considerable amount to charitable purposes; a portion of which was to be applied in clothing, instructing and apprenticing poor children of parents not receiving parochial relief. A handsome freestone building was erected for this charity in 1800.

The Town Hall, in which the assizes are holden, and where the magistrates transact public business, is a capacious and handsome building, lately erected from designs by Smirke.

Besides the buildings already mentioned, the Markethouse, which is now used exclusively for the sale of corn, and some curious old houses in Butcher's-row, are well worthy of notice.

A theatre has been lately built in this town, and assembly-rooms are in the course of being erected.

History of Shrewsbury.—The town of Shrewsbury boasts of a very remote origin, but the exact date of its foundation

cannot at this day be ascertained. It is supposed to have been first built from the ruins of the Roman Uriconium, or the Vreken Ceaster of the Saxons, the site of which has been discovered at Wroxeter, a village on the bank of the Severn, about four miles distant. The Welsh name for Shrewsbury was Pen Gwern, the Head of the Alder Groves; and the Saxons called it Scrobbes Byrig, on account of the eminence on which it was situated being covered with wood, from which, written in Domesday-book Sciropesberie, its present name is derived.

In the reign of William the Conqueror, Shrewsbury was granted to Roger de Montgomery, who shortly afterwards founded the castle and abbey. At this time it was called a city, and had 252 citizens. Whenever the king passed through the place, twelve of the highest order of these were compelled, whether he was sleeping or waking, to attend on his with horses and arms were also and as many person; to attend him whenever he took the recreation of hunting in the neighbourhood. These services were imposed as a punishment, in consequence of Edric Streon, Duke of Mercia, having near this place lain in wait for and murdered Prince Afhelm, as he was returning from the chase.

The burgesses of Shrewsbury had many privileges even before the Conquest; and Henry I. on the forfeiture of Robert de Belesme, son to Montgomery, seized the town. into his own hands, and granted the burgesses their first charter. By various grants and charters in this and subsequent reigns, the burgesses, amongst others, were allowed the following privileges:-To hold all pleas except those of the crown; to receive toll and custom from all the Welsh that traded in the town. They were exempted from pontage, toll, and other exactions. Their goods could not be seized for any forfeiture made by their servants. They could in no case be summoned to appear before any others than