Part 12

The school is open for the gratuitous instruction of burgesses of Shrewsbury, who are not under six nor more than sixteen years of age, provided they are qualified to begin the Latin accidence. By act of parliament, 38th George III., the whole management of the school and revenue was vested in the Bishop of Lichfield, as visitor, and thirteen governors and trustees. The appointment of head master rests with the Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The under master is appointed by the head master. Among the many persons of eminence who have received their education in this school, we may enumerate Sir Philip Sidney; Sir Fulke Greville; Lord Brook; Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York; Judge Jeffries; Lord Chief Justice Jones; Dr. Bowers; Bishop of Chichester; Dr. Thomas Bishop, Salisbury; Dr. Taylor, editor of _Lysias and Demosthenes_; James Harrington, the author of _Oceana_; Wycherley, the dramatist; Ambrose Phillips, the poet; and the Rev. J. B. Blakeway and the Venerable Archdeacon Owen, the learned historians of Shrewsbury. Through the exertions and learning of the late venerable head master, Dr. Butler (late Bishop of Lichfield), the school attained to unrivalled celebrity, and the learned prelate observed, on resigning his arduous duties to his talented successor, “That he considered Dr. Kennedy as the most brilliant scholar he had ever sent forth, as the brightest star in that galaxy of distinguished pupils whose names adorn the ‘boards’ of Shrewsbury school. That from Dr. Kennedy’s experience of his system, both as a pupil and assistant master at Shrewsbury school, from his constant practice as a lecturer and private tutor at College, and as an assistant master for six years or more at Harrow, as well as from his own unrivalled talents and high literary distinction, from his fine taste and sound learning, there was not a shadow of doubt but that he would fully maintain the reputation which Shrewsbury school had already acquired, and would add at least as many distinguished names to its ‘boards,’ during his superintendence of this important foundation, as had been inscribed there by himself in an equal period.” We are happy to observe that the bright anticipations of the venerable bishop have been already realised. By an act of parliament, passed 33rd George III., for the better government and regulation of the Free Grammar School in Shrewsbury, it was ordered, that, after the payment of all taxes, salaries, scholarships, exhibitions, and repairs of the school, and all expenses about the necessary business of the school, the surplus should be employed in founding and maintaining exhibitions in the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, as the governors and the bishop of the diocese for the time being should think fit; and that such surplus should, when and as often as it should amount to £100 or upwards, be laid out in the purchase of lands and tenements, or in the purchase of stock, or in such other way as the governors and bishop should deem advisable. At this period the annual income of the school amounted to £900.

From the Charity Commissioners’ Report, published in 1830, we learn that the total income of the school property for the year ending December 31st, 1828, amounted to £2,740. 2s. 9d. The following will show the particulars of the property held by the governors:—The tithes of Albrighton, in the parish of St. Mary, £101. 15s. 6d.; the tithes of Chirbury, £1,045. 13s. 4d.; tithes of Clive, in the parish of St. Mary, £347. 13s.; tithes of Astley, £221. 15s.; tithes of Oxon and Shelton, £71. 4s.; tithes of Frankwell, £56. 14s.; tithes of Betton, £129. 1s.; tithes of Whitley and Welbatch, £99.; tithes of Leaton, £150; tithes of Wollascot, £13.; tithes of Woodcote, Horton, Bicton, and Calcot, £397.; tithes of Almond Park, Berwick, and Newton, £52. 10s.; tithes from Castle Foregate, £18. 18s.; schoolhouse at Grinshill, built in pursuance of one of the orders of Thomas Ashton, for the scholars to retire to in case of infectious disorders, let for £4. 4s.; spiritual jurisdiction of St. Mary’s, demised by the corporation to the Rev. W. G. Rowland, the office of the said ecclesiastical, spiritual, peculiar, and exempt jurisdiction, with all the profits thereto belonging, and the seal of office for twenty-one years, at the yearly rent of £1. 6s. 8d., payable to the governors and trustees of the Free Grammar School, dated 29th January, 1828; Chief rents at Astley and Sansaw, 18s. 3d.; for encroachments on school garden, 3s.; and £30 per annum arising from the sum of £1,000 invested in the three per cent. consols, purchased in 1828. In January, 1829, the amount of stock was £14,570. 10s. 4d. three per cent consols. This was subsequently reduced by sales, made under the directions of the Court of Chancery, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of repairs on the estates, to £13,311. 19s. 6d.

The income arising from the school property now (1851) amounts to upwards of £3,000 per annum, which is appropriated in the payment of the salaries of the masters, the maintenance of scholarships and exhibitions in the universities, the stipend of the Vicar of Chirbury, and the curates of St. Mary’s, Clive, and Astley, and the necessary repairs of the school buildings. The surplus is employed in founding additional exhibitions in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The following list will show the great advantage presented to meritorious scholars of Shrewsbury School:—Four exhibitions, of £63 each, founded by James Millington, D.D., in 1724, at Magdalen College, Cambridge, tenable during residence till M.A.; two exhibitions of £40 each, founded by the same donor, for sons of burgesses born in Frankwell, and who have been educated at the school, in Millington’s Hospital, founded by the testator; also one fellowship of £126 per annum at Magdalen College, tenable during residence till M.A.; one exhibition, of £23 per annum, founded by the Rev. John Taylor, D.D., in 1766, open to any college. The scholars chosen are allowed to enjoy the exhibition for the term of six years, provided they reside in the college the greater part of each term. One exhibition of £10 per annum, the gift of Mr. Noneley; one of £30 per annum, founded by Mr. Podmore. There are also four foundation exhibitions of £70 per annum each; one Butler foundation of £100 per annum; and one of £66 per annum;—all limited to the sons of burgesses of Shrewsbury. Two exhibitions, founded by Oswald Smith, of £25 per annum; four exhibitions to Christ Church, Oxford, founded by Mr. Careswell, in 1689, for natives of Shropshire, of £60 per annum.

_Head Master_: Rev. Benjamin Hall Kennedy, D.D.—_Second Master_: Rev. William Burbury, M.A.—_Assistant Master_: Rev. John Mort Wakefield, M.A.—_Mathematical Teacher_: Rev. Alfred Tolver Paget, M.A.—_Assistant Master_: Rev. Vanden Bempde Johnstone, M.A.—_Modern Languages_: Mr. Thomas Amand Bentley.—_Writing Master_: Mr. Thomas Northage Henshaw. The head master has a salary of £300 per annum, and the second master £150.

BOWDLER’S, or THE BLUE SCHOOL, situated in Beeches-lane, a plain brick building with a cupola, was founded in 1724, pursuant to the will of Mr. Thomas Bowdler, alderman and draper, for the instruction, clothing, and apprenticeing poor children of St. Julian’s parish. Twenty-five boys and an equal number of girls are now educated and clothed; the dress of the children is blue, whence the school is called “The Blue School.” The master has a salary of £40 per annum, and the privilege of taking twenty day scholars, and the mistress £20 per annum. Robert Rogerson and Mary Ann Sharrat are the teachers. The foundation of the several charity schools will be more particularly noticed with the general charities of the borough.

ALLATT’S CHARITY SCHOOL, situate in St. John’s-row, is a neat structure of free stone, comprising commodious houses for the master and mistress, connected by arcades, with spacious school rooms. The school was built in 1800, pursuant to the will of Mr. John Allatt, who bequeathed his property for the educating and clothing of the children of the more respectable class of poor persons resident in the town. There are forty boys and forty girls educated, clothed once a year, and a certain number at a proper age apprenticed. The funds of the school consist of a capital stock of £14,200, of which £10,800 are invested in three per cents, as the educational fund, and £3,400 as a clothing fund. Thomas Bagley and Frances Buttery are the teachers.

MILLINGTON’S SCHOOL stands in the rear of the hospital, and was founded by the munificence of Mr. Millington, for the instruction of twenty-five boys, and as many girls, natives of Frankwell. The children are completely clothed twice in every year, and at the age of fourteen apprenticed with a small premium; on producing a certificate of good conduct during their apprenticeship they are rewarded with a gratuity. Two exhibitions of £40 a year each, in Magdalen College, Cambridge, are founded, to which scholars originally on the hospital foundation have the preference, or in default of such, two born in Frankwell, educated at the free schools. Sarah Bishop and Francis Cullis are the teachers.

SHREWSBURY NATIONAL SCHOOL, situated in the Abbey Fore gate, is also called the “Brown School,” from the brown dress of the children. The schools are commodious, and there is a convenient residence for the teachers. It is supported by subscriptions, and sermons annually preached in aid of its funds. There are now 190 boys and 96 girls educated in this school. Joseph Barker Molynaux and Mary Ann Williamson are the teachers. The annual income amounts to £250 per annum.

ST. CHAD’S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL is a plain substantial edifice, situated in Barker-street. It is supported by subscriptions and donations, and a small weekly sum contributed by the children. The average number of children that attend the school may be calculated at a hundred boys and an equal number of girls. Edward Evans and Jane E. Turner are teachers.

HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL is a spacious building of brick, situated in the rear of the Holy Trinity Church, at Coleham; a residence for the teachers adjoins the school. There are about 100 boys and girls, and 120 infants, receiving instructions in these schools. James Owen and Martha Clarke are the teachers.

ST. MARY’S AND ST. MICHAEL’S SCHOOLS, situated in St. Michael-street, owe their origin in a great measure to the Rev. W. G. Rowland, the incumbent of St. Mary’s, who was a munificent contributor towards their erection. The schools were built in 1832, in the old English style of architecture. They are supported by voluntary subscriptions, and the scholars are provided with books, and gratuitously educated, with the exception of a number of the children from the extensive factory of Messrs. Marshall and Co., whose instruction is paid for by the proprietors of the mill. Richard Jones and Sophia Evans are the teachers. About 120 boys and 100 girls attend. Adjoining the school premises are ten neat cottages, built by the Rev. W. G. Rowland, the income arising from which is expended in bread, and distributed amongst the necessitous poor, in St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s churches.

THE DIOCESAN SCHOOLS, Swan hill, in connection with the Lichfield Board of Education, was established in 1842. This is an institution for the general education of youth, ably conducted by Mr. Henry Newsham. Particular attention is paid to the mathematical education of the youth of this establishment. A limited number of boarders are taken.

THE BRITISH or LANCASTERIAN SCHOOLS were first established in Shrewsbury in 1812, when a commodious school was built opposite the county gaol, for conducting education on the plan suggested by Mr. Joseph Lancaster. Subsequently the premises were taken down, and the site is now occupied as a railway station. A building was afterwards taken in Watery-lane, where the school was conducted till the present year (1851), when a neat school-house, measuring forty-eight feet by twenty-eight, was erected at the rear of the county gaol, at an estimated cost of £700. About 150 boys and 100 girls attend the school. Mr. Thomas Harris is the teacher.

ST. ALKMUND’S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, situated between St. Mary’s-street and St. Alkmund’s-place, is numerously attended both by boys and girls. The teachers are William Donellan and Martha Badger.

INFANT SCHOOLS.—_St. Chad’s Infant School_ is situated in Barker-street, not far from the National School. One hundred and twenty attend the school, which is conducted by Segismunda Roberts. The _Infant School_, Castle Foregate, has an attendance of eighty. Ann Townsend is the teacher. There is also an infant school in Frankwell, which was built by the late Dr. Darwin, and is now chiefly supported by Miss Darwin. These are interesting institutions for giving an early moral bias to the mind, and calculated to effect much good.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.—The Sunday schools of Shrewsbury have existed nearly from the earliest formation of such institutions. Schools are connected with the established churches, and the different congregations of dissenters, which are very numerously attended.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

THE SALOP INFIRMARY.—This excellent institution, situated near St. Mary’s churchyard, was established in 1747, and has the honour of being one of the earliest of these Samaritan institutions in the kingdom. The building, which preceded the present stately fabric, was a plain brick structure, designed for a private residence; although repeatedly enlarged, it was found too small for the additional number of patients consequent upon an increasing population, and at a meeting held on November 16th, 1826, it was resolved that a new infirmary should be built on the site of the old one. The present building was erected in 1830, from a design by Mr. Haycock, at the cost of £18,735. 18s. 10., of which £12,994. 1s. 3d. was raised by subscriptions, and the remainder disbursed from the funded property of the charity. The structure has a noble appearance, and stands in a commanding position on the verge of an eminence overlooking the Severn; it is 170 feet in length, by 80 feet in height, having a handsome Doric portico in the centre. There is ample accommodation for 150 patients, and the internal arrangements are admirably adapted for the purpose they are designed to fulfil. The principal floor is appropriated to the board room, dispensary, waiting room for patients, with private apartments for the house surgeon and matron; the first floor has seven wards for male patients, with day room, scullery, and baths; the upper room contains a spacious operation room, with wards for females; in the attics above are four other wards with nurses’ room, &c. A staircase at each end communicates with spacious galleries extending the length of each story. The whole is thoroughly ventilated, and an uniform temperature preserved by a patent hot water apparatus. A spacious terrace has been constructed on the eastern side, that such of the patients as are able may possess every benefit resulting from pure air and exercise. From this the eye commands an uninterrupted view of an extensive and finely wooded country, bounded by the long ridge of Haughmond Hill, the Wrekin, and the Stretton Hills. The pecuniary concerns of the institution are superintended by a board of directors; a treasurer is also appointed annually, who, on the anniversary day in the hunt week, is accompanied to church by the subscribers and patrons of this charity, where, after a sermon, a collection is made in aid of the funds. From its establishment to midsummer, 1849, the sum of £219,934. 16s. 7¼d. has been received for its support; 60,077 in-patients admitted, and 117,747 out-patients recommended as fit objects for its benefits. The weekly average number of patients in the house during the year ending midsummer, 1849, was 103; out-patients on the books, 603. The total receipts for the year ending at the same period was £3,237. 7s. 5d., of which £1,669. 11s. was received from yearly subscriptions; £355. 2s. 6d. from benefactions and legacies; £627. 6s. 11d., the interest and dividends of funded stock, and £585. 7s. 6d. from miscellaneous sources, which includes £183 8s. 6d. collected at the anniversary sermon in St. Chad’s church. Of this stock £16,400 is secured in the three per cent consols, £3,449. 10s. new 3¼ per cents; £100 on the Watling-street road, and £150 on the Bridgnorth-road. Subscriptions have been made amounting to £1,227. 6s. 8d., as a “Chaplain’s Endowment Fund.” “The house surgeon is allowed to take three pupils at a premium of twenty guineas to himself, and 200 guineas to the infirmary, which entitles the pupil to board and residence for five years.” Attendance at this hospital is recognized by the Royal College of Surgeons, and the apothecaries’ company, London.—_Physicians_: Henry Johnson, M.D., Thomas James Drury, M.D., Henry Parker, M.D.—_Surgeons_: H. E. Burd, J. Dickin, and J. Y. Arrowsmith.—_House Surgeon_: John Robert Humphreys. _Secretary_: Henry Bevan.

THE DISPENSARY, like most other institutions of this kind, is supported by annual subscriptions and benefactions. It was established in 1843, and although the funds do not allow the full extent of usefulness which the charity is capable of, yet it is pleasing to observe from the annual reports that it is making steady progress in the estimation of the public. It appears from the report ending September, 1849, that the total number of patients have been 3,391. The receipts for the year ending at the same period were £160. During the year 560 cases received attention, of which 403 were cured, 123 relieved, 30 died, and 4 were dismissed.—_Patron_: His Grace the Duke of Sutherland.—_Surgeon_: Mr. G. P. Gill,—_Hon. Secretary_: Folliott Sandford, Esq.—_Dispenser_: Mr. G. S. Whitney.

THE EYE AND EAR ESTABLISHMENT, Castle-street, was established in 1818, under the management of a committee of gentlemen, for the special object of affording relief to the humbler members of society, who may be suffering from any calamity incident to those delicate organs of the human frame, the eye and ear. The number of patients admitted from the opening of this institution has been 6,224.—_President_: Viscount Hill.—_Surgeon_: Edwin Foulkes. The institution is open every Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

THE COUNTY HALL, situated in the Market-square, is a handsome and commodious building, completed in 1837, at the cost of about £13,000. It is built from a design of Sir Robert Smirke, of beautiful white free stone, the principal front measuring 112 feet in length, and exhibits the Italian style of architecture. In the interior of the structure the different apartments are convenient, lofty, and well adapted to the various purposes for which they are intended. On the ground floor is a commodious vestibule, which communicates with rooms on each side, for the mayor, and counsel at assizes and witnesses. Opposite the entrance door is a noble staircase; on the first landing, the centre one leading to the judge’s room, and those on each side to the respective courts, which are of equal dimensions, forty-two feet by thirty-six feet. The bench is elevated three feet above the floor, on each side is accommodation for the magistrates; immediately before the judge is a large table, with seats provided for the councillors. In each court is a gallery for the public, and the ceiling is panelled and ornamented. From this division the staircase leads to another large room, adapted for a third court, or other public purpose; above it are offices for the clerk of the peace, and for the town clerk.

The ancient Guild or Shire Hall was a low timbered fabric, with a high clock turret, erected in the reign of Henry VIII., and stood across the market square. The lower part was appropriated to retail shops, and the upper story contained the rooms in which the business of the town was transacted, and the assizes held. The municipal records were preserved in a strong square tower near the south east side, erected in 1490. At the summer assizes, in 1783, in consequence of the pressing remonstrance of the judge, enforced by the threat of a fine upon the county, an act of parliament was obtained the following year for this purpose. To render the new building more handsome and commodious, and to remove the inconvenience occasioned by the old one standing across the street of the greatest resort, several houses, together with the ancient tower of the Exchequer, were taken down, and various other improvements made, in the adjacent parts. The new hall was completed in 1785, at an expense of £11,000, raised by a county rate. In consequence of sinkings having in 1832 been observed in different parts of the structure, the building was surveyed by different architects and pronounced unsafe and dangerous. The proper authorities immediately determined to take down the whole edifice, and erect a more commodious one on its site. For this purpose some adjoining premises were purchased, and the present substantial structure, admirably adapted for the purposes intended, was completed, as already noticed, by Messrs. Birch, builders, in 1837.

THE TOWN AND COUNTY GAOL stands on a salubrious cliff of gravel, a short distance from the castle, and contiguous to the railway station. The building was erected in 1793, on the principles of the benevolent Howard, at an expense of £30,000. The front of the prison displays a bold and massive appearance, having two rusticated stone lodges and a gateway in the centre, over which is a fine bust of Howard, by Bacon. The building is of brick, and is spacious, airy, and well supplied with water, by means of a pump worked by the prisoners. Immediately in front of the gateway is the governor’s house, which, with certain offices, forms the southern front of the building. The chapel is an octagonal structure in the centre of the prison, and is contrived so as to separate every class of prisoners, yet, so that the minister may be seen by all the congregation. The remainder of the structure is divided into four principal courts, with several smaller ones, around which are cloisters, with sleeping rooms above for the prisoners, and cells for the refractory. A regard to the gradation of vice is strictly observed in the classification of the prisoners, many of whom are employed in some useful trade, such as shoemakers, tailors, blacksmiths, &c., others are employed in picking oakum and wool. The galling and disgraceful restraints of irons are altogether dispensed with, except in cases of capital and very refractory offenders. Great attention is paid to the moral culture of the inmates by the assiduous chaplain, in order to reclaim the wanderer. Divine service is performed twice every day, except Saturday; and the prisoners are all separately catechised several times during the week. The water to supply the gaol is pumped from the Severn into a large reservoir, which will hold 2,000 gallons. The gaol is calculated to accommodate 300 prisoners, and there are 135 separate cells. During the year ending September, 1849, there was a total of 1,291 prisoners; greatest number of prisoners at any one time in the year, 203; daily average of criminals, 147; daily average of debtors, 9. Gross expenditure for the same period, £3,337. 17s. 8d. Mr. John Shepherd is the governor; and the Rev. David Winstone, chaplain. The corporate magistrates are entitled, under the act for erecting this gaol, to send to it prisoners, both criminal and civil, for whose maintenance, of course, the borough pays.