Shropshire Routes to Roots

Trade directories: History and description of Shrewsbury (Slaters Directory, 1850)

History and description of Shrewsbury, 1850 [Shropshire Archive reference: Slater's Directory, 1850]

SHREWSBURY is a market town and ancient borough, both corporate and parliamentary, having separate jurisdiction, locally in the liberties to which it gives name...

There are several public buildings in Shrewsbury elegant and ornamental. Amongst the most ancient, as well as interesting, is the castle, founded by Roger de Montgomery. It stands on a narrow neck of land, and has been so greatly altered by modern hands, that it is difficult to form any probable idea of its primitive state. The portions of it now remaining consist of the keep, the mount, the walls of the inner court, and the great arch of the interior gateway. The castle is at present the property of the Duke of Cleveland. The town-hall was finished in 1786; but, owing to a defect in the foundation, was taken down and a new one subsequently erected: in it are held all meetings of the corporation and grand juries - likewise the courts of justice for the town and county. The town and county gaol and bridewell, which now form one building, stands near the castle; its situation is at once beautiful and salubrious. The market-house is one of the largest and most magnificent buildings of its kind in England; adjoining which, and in other parts of the town, are conduits, which supply the inhabitants with excellent spring water. A cheese and butter market has been erected in Circus-place, near the Welch bridge; and a new cattle market, on a grand scale, is about to be formed in the neighbourhood of Raven-road. The old theatre was part of the palace formerly belonging to one of the princes of Powis; it was taken down in 1833, and a very handsome one erected in its place, the basement of which forms a row of good shops: a new circus has also been added to the buildings for amusement. The two bridges over the Severn, called the Welch bridge and the English bridge, are both modern structures. The noble column in honour of General Lord Hill was completed in June, 1816, the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. The height of the pedestal for the figure, 11 feet 6 inches; the colossal statue of his lordship, 17 feet; the extreme height, 133 feet 6 inches: the total expense, including the cottage, amounted to £5,973. 13s. 2d. The new public building in the Corn-market is an elegant structure; it comprises the post office, stamp office, a music hall, a billiard room, and an exceedingly handsome news room. Public baths, replete with every convenience for hot and cold bathing, have been erected at Cotton-hill: near which are the water-works, which supply the town with water from the river. Races are held on the second week in May, and are well attended. The course, situated within a few minutes' walk from the centre of the town, may, in most points, compete with any of the secondary courses in the kingdom; and the grand stand is a commodious and handsome building. Three newspapers are issued from the press here, weekly - their titles, days of publishing, &c. will be found under their proper head.

The manufactures of Shrewsbury are neither prominent nor extensive. At one period, its trade with the Welch, in flannel, was considerable; but from causes variously assigned, it has nearly fallen to decay, and is not likely to be recovered. There are three iron and brass foundries, at one of which the Menai bridge, and other similar works were constructed. The malting business is carried on here extensively; and there are three breweries, two tanneries, and the same number of roperies. The ancient art of staining glass has been brought to perfection in this town; and it has long been famous for that delicate article of pastry - Shrewsbury cake: the brawn, also, made here, is in high repute; but the chief support of the place is the custom of the country people, who resort to it, for many miles round, for the purchase of their various domestic necessaries. Shrewsbury possesses valuable facilities for commerce and travelling: the communication by rail with London and Liverpool is effected by means of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham and the Shrewsbury and Chester railways; there is also direct intercourse opened with Staffordshire and the Potteries, by the Shrewsbury and Stafford branch of the Shropshire Union Railway. The river, also, affords a convenient transit, for goods of every description, to Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol, and other towns; and the Shrewsbury canal is the grand medium for supplying the town with coal of an excellent quality.

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The principal market is on Saturday, but there is another on Wednesday; and every second Wednesday in the month a fair (or large market) is held, which is numerously attended, when the produce of the rich and fertile country around is disposed of. For the purposes of the monthly market, there is a spacious and convenient hall in Howard-street. The borough, town, and liberties of Shrewsbury, contained, in 1831, 21,227 inhabitants, and by the census of 1841, 21,525; of which last number 18,285 belonged to the borough. The borough and liberties, at the present time (1849), probably number 22,300 persons.

PONTESBURY, a parish in the hundred of Ford, is divided into the four quarters of Cruckton, Edge, Longdon and Pontesbury. In the last named quarter is the parish church of Saint George, once collegiate, and rebuilt a few years ago: it is situated about 7 miles S.S.W. from Shrewsbury. In this parish are lead mines, worked to considerable profit. The whole parish (including Little Hanwood, locally in the liberties of the town of Shrewsbury) contained, in 1831, 2,936 inhabitants, and in 1841, 3,311.

POST OFFICE, MARKET SQUARE, SHREWSBURY,
Mr. JOHN WILLIAM TOWERS, Post Master.
Arrival of the Mails.