Part 18

This venerable tree still rears aloft its gaunt, grey, wrinkled branches, lifeless now, save for some ragged foliage that yet clings around the lower part of the trunk. The latter has become hollow inside, where a sort of paved chamber affords standing-room for perhaps a dozen people.

As seen in our sketch, a sturdy prop, itself a fair-sized tree, serves to buttress the old giant upon the side towards which he inclines.

According to a time-honoured tradition, the Welsh Prince, Owen Glendower, climbed up amidst the branches of the Shelton Oak, in order to watch thence how the fortunes of war progressed during the famous Battle of Shrewsbury:

'The bloody rout that gave To Harry's brow a wreath--to Hotspur's heart a grave.'

Soon after leaving the Shelton Oak, the towers and steeples of the County-town put in an appearance ahead; here and there a country house is seen, overlooking the Severn as it winds through the vale, and bricks and mortar begin to usurp the place of trim green fields and hedgerows. That red-brick mansion upon yonder bank is The Mount, birthplace of that very distinguished Salopian, the late Charles Darwin.

Anon we descend a hill, and enter the 'antient streete callyd Fraunckarell this many a daye,' a transpontine suburb of Shrewsbury, deriving its name from the fact that, in earlier days, its denizens were exempted from payment of certain tolls levied upon their neighbours over the water.

Across the street rises a group of half-timbered houses, whose quaint congeries of beetling gables, chequered beams, lattice-paned casements, and dark, timeworn archways, make an old-world picture. More ancient still, perhaps, is the long, low, two-storied house front a little farther on; its massive old moulded cornices black with age, and curious louvred lights in the upper story--a venerable specimen.

And here at last is the Welsh Bridge, in Leland's time the 'greatest, fayrest, and highest Bridge upon Severne Streame.' At that period, as Leland tells us, the Bridge had 'six great Arches of stone, with a great gate at one end of it to enter by into the Towne, and at the other end towardes Wales a mighty stronge Towre, to prohibit Enimies to enter into the bridge.'

Old paintings and woodcuts shew it to have been an extremely picturesque structure, with bold buttresses, and narrow, pointed arches; and a tall, machicolated tower, with frowning gateway, portcullis, and mailed figure of King Edward IV. keeping guard at the western end of the Bridge--a subject worthy the brush of a James Holland, or a Samuel Prout.

* * * * *

So now, with our arrival at Shrewsbury, we have completed the circuit of our Shropshire wanderings. The subject treated of is so wide, so varied, and of such many-sided interest, that one can do little more than scratch the ground, so to speak, within the compass of a volume such as this. But we venture to hope that the perusal of these pages may lead others to explore this pleasant land for themselves; and it only remains for us to bid farewell to the gentle reader, by whose courtesy we have rambled thus far together amidst the 'Nooks and Corners of Shropshire.'

INDEX

A.

Abbey Foregate, 5, 16 Abcott, 89 Abdon Burf, 123 Acton Burnell, 28-30 Acton Round, 190 Acton Scott, 49, 50 Alberbury, 231-233 Albrighton, 167 Alceston, 51 Aldenham, 189 All Stretton, 48 Alveley, 197, 198 Ancient Roads, 4, 27, 35, 42, 46, 52, 127, 148 Apley Park, 185 Arleston, 152 Ashford Bowdler, 212 Astley Abbots, 187 Aston Botterel, 203 Aston Eyres, 189 Aston Rogers, 226 Atcham, 149

B.

Badger, 181 Barrow, 139 Bausley Hill, 230 Beatchcott, 48 Beckbury, 182 Beckjay Mill, 88 Bedstone, 88 Benthall, 140 Bettws-y-Crwyn, 81-83 Bewdley, 207, 208 Billing's Ring, 46, 63 Binweston, 225 Bishop's Castle, 67-70 Bitterley, 109-111 Bitterley Cross, 110 Boningale, 169 Boraston, 210 Borrow, George, 157 Boscobel, 162-165 Bourton, 133 Braggington, 229 Breidden Hills, 123, 230 Brewood Forest, 162, 165 Bridgnorth, 171-177, 185, 194 Bridgnorth Castle, 176 Brimstree Hill, 157 Bringwood Chase, 92, 111 Broadward Hall, 88 Brockhurst Castle, 49 Brocton, 131 Bromfield, 91, 92 Broncroft Castle, 119 Broome, 91 Broseley, 140 Broughton, 71 Brown Clee Hill, 122, 203 Bucknall, 88 Buildwas Abbey, 142, 143 Burford, 209, 210 Burwarton, 202 Bury Ditches, 63, 72

C.

Caer Caradoc, 2, 40, 45, 86, 123 Camlad River, 219, 224 Cantlin Cross, 84 Caractacus, 80, 86, 230 Cardeston, 235 Carding Mill Valley, 44 Cardington, 39 Caurse Castle, 226 Caynham, 212 Chatwall, 36 Cheney Longville, 60 Chirbury, 219, 225 Church Preen, 36 Church Stoke, 71 Church Stretton, 42-44, 48 Claverley, 183 Clee Hills, 2, 108, 111, 122 Cleobury Mortimer, 204-206 Cleobury North, 202 Clun, 72-78, 80, 85 Clun Castle, 73 Clun Forest, 2, 79 Clungunford, 88 Clun River, 3, 79 Coedway, 231 Condover, 23 Corfield, 131 Corfton, 115 Corndon Hill, 217 Corve Dale, 114, 117, 124, 127 Corve River, 114, 119, 133 Cound River, 3, 21 Cox, David, 88, 157 Coxwall Knoll, 87 Craven Arms, 59 Crawl Meadows, 93 Cressage, 145, 146 Crow Leasow, 111, 112 Culmington, 114

D.

Danesford, 197 Danford, 183 Davenport House, 179 Delbury, 115, 117 Devil's Causeway, 35 Dickens, Charles, 159 Dinham, 93 Ditton Priors, 202 Dodmore, 108 Donington, 168 Donnington, 153 Dowles, 206 Downton Hall, 112 Dudley, Earl of Leicester, 204 Dunvall, 187

E.

Eardington, 195 Easthope, 131, 132 Eaton Constantine, 145 Elsich, 115 Ercal Hill, 150 Ewdness, 186 Eye Farm, 145 Eyton, 146

F.

Farley Dingle, 141 Ford, 235 Forest Oak, Quatford, 195 Forest of Brewood, 162, 165 Forest of Clun, 79 Forest of Morf, 194, 196 Forest of Mount Gilbert, 150 Forest of Shirlot, 141 Forest of Siefton, 115 Forest of Wyre, 2, 206, 208 Forest, The Long, 126 Frankwell, 5, 236, 237 Frodesley, 34

G.

Gaer Ditches, 86 Gaerstone Rock, 40 Garn Gap, 87 Gatacre Hall, 196 Great Oxenbold, 131 Great Woolaston, 228 Greete, 211

H.

Halesowen, 199 Halford Church, 52 Hall-of-the-Forest, 85 Hampton Hall, 225 Hampton Load, 197 Hanwood, 214 Hay Gate, 149 Heath Chapel, 121, 122 Heath House, 88 Heightley Hall, 219 Hermitage at Bridgnorth, 178 Highley, 199 Holgate, 127-129 Holloway Rocks, 87 Honour of Clun, 72 Honour of Tempseter, 81 Hope Bagot, 212 Hope Bowdler, 40 Hope Vale, 216 Hopton Castle, 90 Hopton Heath, 88, 91 Hopton Wafers, 213 Hubbal Grange, 161 Humphreston, 167 Hyssington, 70

I.

Ippikin's Rock, 133 Island Farm, 145

J.

Jeffreys, Judge, 6, 146 Jerningham Arms, Shiffnal, 155 Jessopp, Dr., 53 Jocosa Burton, 149

K.

Kenley, 31 Kinlet Church, 201 Kinlet Hall, 200 Kinlet Park, 200

L.

Langley, 114 Langley Chapel, 32 Langley Hall, 33 Larden Hall, 131 Lawley Hill, 46 Lawley's Cross, 141 Lea, 65, 66 Ledwyche Brook, 3, 210 Leebotwood, 46 Lee Family, 34 Leighton, 145 Lilleshall, 153, 154 Linley, 70 Little Stretton, 48, 49 Little Wenlock, 151 Long Forest, 126 Longmynd, 41, 44, 45, 60 Longnor, 35 Loton, 231 Loton Deer Park, 233 Ludford, 104 Ludlow, 94-107 Ludlow Castle, 95-98 Ludlow, St. Lawrence's, 99-102 Ludstone, 182 Lutwyche Hall, 133 Lydbury North, 63 Lydham, 70 Lythwood, 21

M.

Madeley Court, 143-145 Mainstone, 71 Major's Leap, 130, 134 Malins Lee Chapel, 155 Marche-Manor Farm, 227 Marrington Dingle, 219, 224 Marrington Hall, 223 Marsh Brook, 49 Marsh Pool, 217 Marton Pool, 225 Mawley Hall, 208 Melverley, 231 Middleton, 112 Milburga, Legend of St., 113 Millichope, 124-127 Minsterley, 215 Mitchell's Fold, 217 Moat Hall, 214 Monk Hopton, 190 Moors, The, Ancient Custom, 195 More, 70 Morf, Forest of, 194, 196 Mortimer's Cross, Battle of, 98 Morville, 188 Much Wenlock, 135-139 Munslow, 117-119

N.

Narrow Dale, 65 Nash Chapel, 211 Neen Savage, 204 Neen Sollers, 208 Newcastle, 80, 85 New Invention, 86 Newton, 59 Nordy Bank, 35, 122 Norton, 186 Norton Camp, 58

O.

Oak, The Shelton, 236 Oakley Park, 92 Offa's Dyke, 80, 85, 230 Oldbury, 177 Old Parr, 228 Onibury, 91 Onny River, 3, 52, 60, 91 Onslow Hall, 236 Ordericus Vitalis, 149 Owen Glendower, 74, 176, 236 Oxenbold, 131

P.

Parr, Old, 228 Penderel, Joan, 164, 166 Pepperhill, 170 Pitchford, 24-26 Pitch Well, 26 Plash, 37 Plowden Hall, 61, 62 Pontesbury, 214 Pool Hall, 198 Portway, The, 46 Potter's Load, 199 Presthope, 134

Q.

Quat, 196 Quatford, 194-196 Quatford Oak, 195 Quenny Brook, 49

R.

Radnor Forest, 85 Ragleth Hill, 49 Ratlinghope, 48 Rea River, 3, 202, 225 Redlake River, 86, 88 Rhyd-y-Groes, 225 Roman Roads, 127, 148, 204 Romans in Shropshire, 3, 58, 127, 147, 216 Rowton Castle, 235 Royal Oak, Boscobel, 162 Rushbury, 127

S.

Severn River, 2, 145, 185, 199, 233 Sharpstones, 40 Shelton Oak, 236 Shelve, 216 Shiffnal, 155, 156 Shipton, 129, 130 Shirlot Forest, 141 Shrawardine, 236 Shrewsbury, 4-20 Shrewsbury Churches, 8, 9, 16, 19 Shrewsbury School, 5 Siefton Forest, 115 Smallman Family, 130, 134 Stage Plays, 222 Stanton Lacy, 112, 113 Stanton Long, 129 Stapleton, 21-23 Stiperstones, 123, 216, 226 Stockton, 186 Stokesay Castle, 53-57 Stokesay Church, 57, 58 Stottesdon, 203 Stow, 87

T.

Teme River. 3, 79, 93, 94, 208 Tempseter, Honour of, 81 Tenbury, 209 The Moors, Ancient Custom, 195 Ticknell, 208 Titterstone Clee Hill, 111, 124 Tong, 157-161 Tugford, 119, 120

U.

Upper Millichope, 124-127 Uppington, 149 Upton Cressett, 190-193 Uriconium, 2, 146-148

V.

Vale Royal, 123 Vernons of Stokesay, 56 Vernons of Tong, 159, 161 Victoria, Princess, 25 Vitalis, Ordericus, 149 Vyrnwy River, 231

W.

Walcot Park, 63 Walltown, 204 Watling Street, 27, 42, 52, 58, 148, 149 Wattlesborough Castle, 233, 234 Wattlesborough Heath, 228 Wellington, 152 Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury, 4, 237 Wenlock Edge, 2, 127, 131 Wenlock, Little, 151 Wenlock, Much, 134-139 Wenlock Priory, 136-138 Westbury, 226 Wheathill, 203 Whettleton, 58 Whitcliff, 94, 97 Whitcot, 80 White Abbey, 233 Whiteladies, 165, 166 Whitton Court, 212 Wilderhope, 130 Willey Hall, 141 Wistanstow, 51 Withington, 149 Womerton, 48 Woolaston, Great, 228 Woolstaston, 46, 47 Worf River, 3, 156, 179 Worfield, 179-181 Worthen, 225 Wrekin, The, 123, 150, 151 Wroxeter, 146, 148 Wyre Forest, 2, 206, 208

THE END.