The Stranger in Shrewsbury: or, an historical and descriptive view of Shrewsbury and its environsHowell, Thomas J.
History
The Stranger in Shrewsbury: or, an historical and descriptive view of Shrewsbury and its environs
Howell, Thomas J.
Shrewsbury (England) -- Description and travel
Within the demesne of Sundorn, the remains of Haughmond Abbey are
situated. Of the foundation of this once venerable pile there is now no
entire trace. Of the Abbey-church, nothing remains but the south door of
the nave, a most beautiful and highly adorned round arch, resting on
slender shafts, between which on each side have been inserted a Gothic
tabernacle, inclosing statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. The
chapter-house is entire; it is oblong, with the upper end forming two
sides of a hexagon. The roof is of fine oak, and above has been another
story. The entrance is by a richly decorated round arch, with a window
on each side, divided into two round arched compartments, by slender
short pillars. The spaces between the shafts of these arches have Gothic
niches, and statues of the Virgin Mary, Gabriel, St. Catherine, St. John,
&c. South of the chapter house, and opposite the site of the church, are
remains of the Refectory, and beyond a large building, consisting of a
spacious hall, eighty-one feet by thirty-six, lighted by Gothic windows
on each side, and a large one, once filled with tracery, at the west end.
On the north side is a curious antique fire-place. Communicating with
this, at the eastern extremity, and at right angles, is another apartment
of nearly the same size, once evidently in two rooms. At the south end
is an elegant bay window. It is conceived this building formed the
abbot’s lodgings and hall. The situation of the Abbey on a rising
ground, backed by a noble distant forest, commands a very rich and
extensive view of the great plain of Shrewsbury, with the town and
castle, enriched by mountainous tracts.
Proceeding from the Abbey along the bottom of the wood, and ascending the
hill, we reach a shooting box, erected in the form of an ancient turret,
by the late Mr. Corbet. Near it Lord Douglas, in the battle of
Shrewsbury, was taken prisoner, in attempting to precipitate himself down
the steep, when his horse fell under him, and he received a severe
contusion on the knee. On reaching the summit of this hill, the
traveller will enjoy a beautiful prospect. His attention is lost in
variety; and his imagination for a while suspends its powers in
contemplating indiscriminately the vast but diversified assemblage. In
this situation he will recollect with pleasure the animated lines of
Thomson, whose descriptive genius must continue to do honour to his
country, as long as taste and elegance are regarded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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