A guide, descriptive and historical, through the Town of Shrewsbury — John Shaqi
A guide, descriptive and historical, through the Town of ShrewsburyLeighton, W. A. (William Allport)
History
A guide, descriptive and historical, through the Town of Shrewsbury
Leighton, W. A. (William Allport)
Shrewsbury (England) -- Guidebooks
Immediately fronting the High Street, behind the premises of Mr. Burrey,
upholsterer, are the remains of some extensive building of red stone,
probably ecclesiastical, and in the style of the 14th century.
Considerable doubts have been entertained by our best antiquarians
concerning these remnants of fallen grandeur, and no record is extant by
which their use or name can be ascertained with any certainty. In an
entry in the chartulary of Haughmond Abbey, in this county, of the early
date of 2d Rich. II. 1378, these premises are mentioned, as having been
known before that time, by the name of
“BENNETTE’S HALLE,”
but when or from what cause they acquired that appellation is unknown.
[Picture: “Bennette’s Halle”]
Turning to the right, we proceed up Pride Hill, on the right-hand side of
which may be seen many curious old timber houses, the ancient mansions of
our honest burghers.
Midway of Pride Hill, on the right, is the
DOUBLE BUTCHER ROW,
in which are also many interesting specimens of domestic architecture.
At the top of Pride Hill, on the right, is
THE BUTTER CROSS,
intended for the accommodation of persons bringing Butter, Eggs, and
Poultry to the markets. The old cross, a heavy, inconvenient brick
building, with a large reservoir on its top for supplying the upper parts
of the town with water, stood nearly in the centre of the thoroughfare,
whence it was removed in 1818, and another erected at the expense of the
Corporation, on the present site; which also proving insufficient and
inconvenient, was taken down, and the present structure, on an enlarged
scale, built in 1844, by the Corporation, aided by the subscriptions of
the town and neighbourhood.
[Picture: Timber Houses on Pride Hill]
In early times a Cross stood on this spot, of which frequent mention is
made in old documents, by the name of the High Cross, and the adjoining
street was called the High Pavement. Here proclamations were accustomed
to be made, and criminals executed. This cross is remarkable as the
place on which David, the last of the British Princes of Wales, underwent
a cruel and ignominious death, by order of Edward I. and where many
noblemen, taken prisoners at the battle of Shrewsbury, were executed.
On part of the site of the present Cross stood, previously, an ancient
timber structure, probably part of the collegiate buildings of the
adjacent church of St. Mary.
Nearly opposite the Butter Cross, on the left-hand side of the street, is
an old mansion, now new-fronted, modernised, partially rebuilt, and
divided, once, it is believed, the residence of the opulent and ancient,
but now extinct, family of the Prides, who gave their name to the street
“Pride Hill.” Some idea of its former splendour may have been collected
from the ornamented plaster ceilings, which remained in several of the
rooms, but which, by recent alterations, are probably now removed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account