The History of Oswestry: Comprising the British, Saxon, Norman, and English eras; the topography of the borough; and its ecclesiastical and civic history; with notices of botany, geology, statistics, angling, and biography: to which are added sketches of the environsCathrall, William
History
The History of Oswestry: Comprising the British, Saxon, Norman, and English eras; the topography of the borough; and its ecclesiastical and civic history; with notices of botany, geology, statistics, angling, and biography: to which are added sketches of the environs
Cathrall, William
Natural history -- England -- Shropshire; Oswestry (England) -- History
The subsequent history of the Fitz-Gwarines presents but few interesting
features. This illustrious race became extinct at the death of Henry,
fifth Earl of Bath (who inherited the title of Fitz-Gwarine through the
marriage of Elizabeth, sister and heiress to Fulk the _ninth_, with
Richard Haukford, Esq.,) and the manor, after various transfers in
succeeding ages, was purchased by Francis (or William) Albany, Esq., of
London, from one of the Earls of Arundel, it having been granted to him
by Queen Mary, but afterwards mortgaged and sold. The manor, advowsons,
and estate of Fernhill passed subsequently to the house of Aston, by the
marriage of Sarah, daughter and heiress of the said Francis Albany, Esq.,
to Thomas Lloyd, Esq., of Aston. In the year 1760 the eastern tower of
the Castle fell into the moat after a severe frost, and some years
afterwards one of the northern towers and the western wall were taken
down to repair, it is said, the road leading from Whittington to Halston
bridge.
[Picture: Whittington Castle]
The remains of the Castle are still a picturesque ruin, which attracts
artists from all parts of the kingdom to sketch its lingering beauties.
Our own artist has done justice to the Castle in the sketch he has taken.
The towers of the gate-house are still entire, and part of the ancient
building is converted into a dwelling, and occupied by Thomas Broughall,
Esq. A running brook passes through the moat, which is overhung with
fine old trees, casting their shade upon the waters. In the year 1796
three curious bottles, richly gilt, were found, and subsequently, in
clearing the bottom of one of the old towers, some huge iron fetters, a
gyve of ponderous size, with a number of the heads and antlers of deer.
The Castle, from its position on the frontier of Wales, and from the
warlike spirit of its lords, was in feudal times a place of great
consequence, and, like other border fortresses, alternately the scene of
clashing arms and knightly festivity.
The church, which is dedicated to St. John, is a rectory in the
archdeaconry and diocese of St. Asaph, and was originally designed as a
chapel to the castle. The body of the church was rebuilt in 1805, from a
design by the late Mr. Thomas Harrison, architect, of Chester. It is a
large brick building of 60 feet by 50, and cost £1500. To lessen the
expense of building the church two briefs were procured that raised £703
15s. 1d., but of this sum only £42 2s. 1d. was received. In 1810 a new
organ was erected in the church. In the same year the church-yard wall,
being much out of repair, was rebuilt with stone. The Rev. Charles
Arthur Albany Lloyd, who had filled the office of Rector for many years,
died July 24th, 1851, he being also Rector of Selattyn at the time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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