Henry Pidgeon

“ THE TOWN AND COUNTY GAOL
Is situated on a dry, beautiful, and salubrious eminence, a short distance from the Castle.
The front of the prison displays rather a bold appearance, having two rusticated stone lodges and a gateway in the centre; over the latter is a bust of the philanthropic Howard, by Bacon.
The interior possesses every necessary convenience appropriate to its purpose that sagacity and humanity can devise. It is spacious, airy, and well supplied with water, by means of a pump worked by the prisoners. ”

“ On the floor are several ancient stones bearing crosses, no doubt denoting the interment of some of the masters of the old hospital of St. Giles.
A spacious cemetery surrounds the building, where the contemplative mind,
“Free from noise and riot rude,”
may resort, and, unmolested by the vulgar gaze of unsympathizing intruders, pour the grateful tribute of a sigh, or embalm afresh the memory of that departed spirit with whom he once took generous and undesigning counsel ”

“ Our native poet (Churchyard) speaks of this stone mansion in his usual quaint manner, as standing “so trim and finely that it graceth all the soil it is in.” In front is a handsome gatehouse; and the pointed gables, central cupola, and ornamental chimnies, strongly characterise it as an interesting specimen of the old English residence peculiar to the reign of Elizabeth, while its sombre appearance is finely set forth by the vivid foliage of walnut and other trees adjoining. The interior has been modernised, and forms a comfortable habitation. ”

“ THE VILLAGE OF UFFINGTON,
which is delightfully situated, and affords many rural beauties. p. 215Here for a time the lover of nature may enjoy that calm delight which moves the soul to contemplation; and whilst the eye has been charmed with the prospect enjoyed from the summit of the adjoining eminence, the heart seems hushed to the noise of a populous town, and a feeling of tranquillity imperceptibly steals upon the mind, for which a cause can scarcely be assigned. ”

“ The South Porch of the nave is of the early Norman era, the outward arch circular, having zigzag mouldings issuing from clustered columns, and an inner rib, obtusely pointed; the windows on each side are curious as early specimens of the rudiments of the mullioned window, introduced about the time of Stephen; the arches of these windows rest on short thick columns, and are bisected into two lights by a similar pillar as a mullion, the capitals of which are all different; in the apex is a quatrefoil, one of the simplest and most ancient kind of ornaments. ”

“ To render these important alterations of the fabric complete, the low massy tower was raised, and large double pointed windows were placed on each side, and the whole surmounted with an embattled parapet and pinnacles, which (being much decayed) were judiciously restored in 1816. From this tower rises an octagonal spire of noble proportions, which may be ranked as equal in height to the third loftiest spire in the kingdom, and forms an interesting and prominent object from every part of the rich and beautiful scenery which surrounds the town. ”

“ From this cursory view of the piety of our forefathers, it may be justly asserted, that in the present day there is no provincial town in the kingdom, considering its extent, where so much has been done to promote the cause of religion, and to give a suitable effect to buildings set apart for Divine Worship, as in Shrewsbury. Those individuals, therefore, whose taste and liberality have mainly contributed to the accomplishment of this praiseworthy object, are deserving of the best thanks of their cotemporaries ”

“ The Interior is approached by two entrances, north and south, beneath a stone cornice sustained on pilasters; and, if not splendid in decoration, it has that solemnity which becometh the House of God: it possesses, however, one great advantage, in being capable of comfortably accommodating a congregation of 800 persons, 620 of whom may possess free sittings. On the floor are thirty-six pews, the other part being entirely free. There are galleries over the north and south aisles, and at the western end, the whole of which are free sittings. ”

“ THE VILLAGE OF ALBRIGHTON,
distant three miles N.E. of the town on the Chester road, is a township in the parish of St. Mary, Shrewsbury. The church, a small humble structure, has been so effectually repaired by the modern goths with red stone and brick, that no reasonable conjecture can now be formed as to the period of its erection. A wooden loft issues from the west end, and inside the building is a curious ancient font, that will admit of total immersion, which has no doubt stood here for several centuries. ”

“ The interior is particularly neat, possessing an air of solemnity unusual in the generality of modern churches. Four large Roman-Doric pillars support the roof of the nave, which is coved and adorned with the fret-work of the old church. Galleries occupy three sides of the building. At the west end is an excellent organ, by Bowsher and Fleetwood, of Liverpool, erected by a subscription in 1834, the exterior of which is tasteful in design, and harmonizes with the internal architecture of the edifice. ”

“ The pulpit and reading desk stand in the centre of the area in front of the chancel.
The organ is placed above the south or great entrance of the church; it is in a mahogany case, with a small painting of David playing upon the harp. The instrument was built by Gray, of London, and cost 400 guineas.
Between the piers of the gallery-windows are hatchments; and the building, although of modern date, contains several tasteful memorials which indicate,
“All that virtue, all that wealth e’er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour—
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” ”

“ Twenty cities and towns, Shrewsbury being one, were directed to send two deputies, and every high sheriff to send two knights. It is supposed they met in the chapter house, or refectory of the abbey, where David was tried and cruelly condemned to be dragged at a horse’s tail through the streets of Shrewsbury, and to be afterwards hung and cut down while alive, his heart and bowels burnt before his face, his body quartered, and his head sent to London to accompany that of his brother Llewelyn. ”

“ Of the state of our town under its native princes we have no information: the arts of civil life, in which the Britons had improved, under their Roman masters, were probably lost during the almost constant warfare of three centuries. This we may reasonably conclude was the case, from the appellation given to it by the new possessors, Scrobbes-byrig, a fenced eminence, but overgrown with shrubs.
Nothing is related of the town during the period it formed a portion of the Mercian territory, though the place doubtless experienced the many revolutions of that kingdom. ”

“ In short, the whole of the arrangements of the new Salop Infirmary are admirably adapted for the purpose they are designed to fulfil, and whilst the workmanship, the materials, and general construction are of the best description, and reflect the highest credit on the several contractors, the building it is to be desired will, from its site and general formation, remain a lasting monument not only of Salopian liberality, but of general usefulness. ”

“ For if Shrewsbury was no longer the emporium of North Wales, it was becoming the centre of communication between London and Dublin; and the agriculture of the neighbourhood and the trade of the town received a new impulse from the vast increase of posting and stage coaches, but far inadequate to the advantage which it derived from its trade in Welsh woollens and the weekly visits of the Cambrian farmers. ”

“ The church is a respectable building in the Doric style, composed of brick. It was erected by subscription, and consecrated for divine worship August 24th, 1830.
In plan, it consists of a tower, nave, side aisles, and an elliptical recess for the communion, with a vestry in the base of the tower.
The tower is of three divisions, and rises to the height of 70 feet; the basement is square, on which rests an octagonal belfry, crowned by a similar division of smaller dimensions, having a cornice charged with lions’ heads, the whole being surmounted by an angular lead roof and a gilded cross. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Present an agreeable variety of pleasant drives and interesting walks, unfolding from most points some changing feature of landscape scenery, insulated, or grouped in picturesque masses, and interspersed with lofty hills, which afford an imposing back-ground to the town, producing a succession of rich and varied prospects calculated to interest the lover of nature, while the artist, the antiquary, the botanist, or the geologist, may find an ample field for the cultivation of their respective pursuits. ”

“ The window is in the decorated style, and divided horizontally by transoms, and perpendicularly by six mullions, into seven compartments for the glass, the lower division having blank panels which have never been pierced for glazing. The arched head is gracefully pointed and filled with a profusion of the most rich and delicate tracery.
On each side of the window are the remains of a canopied niche, which once contained statues, probably of Saint Peter and St. Paul, the tutelar saints of the Abbey. ”

“ Most of the dead bodies were buried on the spot, over whom Henry, in gratitude for his victory, piously erected a college of secular canons to pray for the souls of the slain. The more distinguished were interred in the Dominican and Augustine Friaries of the town.
The gallant Hotspur was discovered among the slain covered with wounds, and dispatched to Shrewsbury, where Henry satiated his revenge by the ignominy of dismembering the lifeless remains, the head and quarters of which were exhibited over the gate at York, and afterwards delivered to his wife for interment. ”

“ The Chancel is elevated above the church by a double ascent, and the ceiling, like that of both the transepts, is excellently painted, but panelled in a style somewhat similar to that of the nave, and adorned with some of the rich fret work removed from the wreck of the churches of St. Chad and St. Alkmond.
On the north side of the altar is a most beautiful triple lancet window, with arches remarkably acute, and resting on isolated columns, whose capitals are adorned with elegant foliage, &c. The window is filled with three figures in ancient stained glass. ”

“ Further eastward are the venerable and truly picturesque ruins of Haghmond Monastery, founded in the year 1100, for canons of the order of St. Augustine. Near the remains of this once more noble pile is the wooded ascent of Haghmond Hill, and its conspicuously placed Shooting Tower, beneath which is the retired village of Uffington and its primitive church.
Direct east stands exalted in noble majesty the isolated Wrekin, the natural Heart of Shropshire, in front of which appears the exuberant foliage surrounding Longner Hall. ”

“ D. Evans, of Shrewsbury, and may be considered as some of the finest specimens of the art in the kingdom, both as regards brilliancy and harmony of colours, beauty of design, and exquisite workmanship, whilst the “dim religious light” which they shed around, imparts an impressiveness of character that at once bespeaks the sacred purpose of the place as the House of Prayer.
Below the south window of this transept is a bold composition of monumental architecture, designed by Mr. J. Carline, consisting of three acute-angled crocketed canopies, crowned with a finial. ”

“ The first record we possess of the existence of such charitable institutions in Shrewsbury is as early as the time of Henry the Second, beside an “Infirmary” founded by Earl Roger de Montgomery, within the precinct of the “Abbey,” as an asylum for diseased and superannuated monks, a fragment of which erection yet remains. ”

“ At the foot of the Wyle, and turning to the right, we leave on the left the precinct of the Grey Friars, and pass along Beeches Lane, anciently Bispestan and Bushpestanes, in which is the Blue School and the Roman Catholic Chapel, and arrive at
THE TOWN WALLS,
erected in the time of Henry the Third, to fortify the place against the inroads of the Welsh, and towards the completion of which the burgesses were materially assisted by the royal bounty. These walls, although now deprived of their battlements, form an excellent footpath, and afford a delightful view of the river and adjacent country. ”

“ The shaft of the ancient font (sunk in the ground) stands at the north-east angle of the pointed arch which separates the nave from the tower. The second floor of the tower is singularly furnished with a fire-place, having a chimney formed within the thickness of the wall and opening outside beneath the belfry window.
A tabernacled niche above the chancel window contains the crowned statue of Henry the Fourth: the right hand once sustained a sword, and on the same side also hangs the scabbard. ”

“ The parish of Saint Mary extends several miles in detached parts of the country, having within its boundaries five chapels of ease, viz. Albrighton, Astley, Berwick, Clive, and St. Michael’s (Castle-foregate) .
The church is a royal peculiar, and the official court has probate of all wills and cognizance of all other ecclesiastical matters arising within the parish. The living is a perpetual curacy, and was, previous to the late municipal act, in the presentation of the Corporation of Shrewsbury ”