16 TELFORD BECOMES COUNTY SURVEYOR. PART VIII. 



CHAPTER IV. 



BECOMES SURVEYOR FOR THE COUNTY OF SALOP. 



MR. PULTENEY, member for Shrewsbury, was the owner 

 of extensive estates in that neighbourhood by virtue 

 of his marriage with the niece of the last Earl of Bath. 

 Having resolved to fit up the Castle there as a residence, 

 he bethought him of the young Eskdale mason, who had, 

 some years before, advised him as to the repairs of the 

 Johnstone mansion at Wester Hall. Telford was soon 

 found, and engaged to go down to Shrewsbury to 

 superintend the necessary alterations. Their execution 

 occupied his attention for some time, and during their 

 progress he was so fortunate as to obtain the appoint- 

 ment of Surveyor of Public Works for the county of 

 Salop, most probably through the influence of his patron. 

 Indeed, Telford was known to be so great a favourite 

 with Mr. Pulteney that at Shrewsbury he usually went 

 by the name of " Young Pulteney." 



Much of his attention was from this time occupied 

 with the surveys and repairs of roads, bridges, and gaols, 

 and the supervision of all public buildings under the 

 control of the magistrates of the county. He was also 

 frequently called upon by the corporation of the borough 

 to furnish plans for the improvement of the streets and 

 buildings of that fine old town ; and many alterations 

 were carried out under his directions during the period 

 of his residence there. 



While the Castle repairs were in course of execution, 

 he was called upon by the justices to superintend the 

 erection of a new gaol, the plans for which had 

 already been prepared and settled. The benevolent 



