^^6 SHREWSBURY. 



B elides thefe may be mentioned tbe Town Hallj 

 in "which tlie aflizcs are holden, and where the ma- 

 giftrates tranfadl pubHc bufmefs j and the Market' 

 Houfe^ where the drapers hold their market for 

 Welfh cloths and flannels. 



History of Shrewsbury. 



The town of Shrewfbury boafls a very remote 

 origin, but the exad date of its fomidatlon cannot 

 at this day be afcertained. It is fuppofed to have 

 been firfl built from the ruin of the Roman Urica^ 

 muTfiy or the Vreken Ceajler of the Saxons, whofe fite 

 has been difcovered at Wroxeter, a village on the 

 bank of the Severn, about four miles diftant. The 

 Welfh name for Shrewfbury was Pen Gwern, The 

 Head of the Alder-Graves ; and the Saxons called it 

 Scrobbes Byrig, on account of the eminence oil 

 which it was fituated being covered with wood. I 

 have before related that it was once the capital of 

 Powifland, and a feat of the Welfh princes. 



In the reign of William IIL, Shrewfbury was 

 granted to Roger de Montgomery, who fhortly 

 afterwards founded the caflie and abbey. At this 

 time it was called a city, and had two hundred and 

 fifty-two citizens. Whenever the king pafied through 

 the place, twelve of the liighefl: order of thefe were 

 compelled, whether he v/as fleeping or waking, to 

 attend on his perfon j and as many, with horfes and 

 arms, were al^o to attend him wiienever he took 



