Bridgnorth

Bridgnorth (formerly Brug or Bruges = Bridge), a municipal borough of Shropshire, 19 miles S.E. of Shrewsbury. The Severn divides it into the upper or 'High Town,' and lower or 'Low Town.' The former is built on a red sandstone rock rising 180 feet above the right bank of the river. This rock was formerly crowned by a royal fortress, a huge leaning fragment being all that now remains of the keep. The walk round the castle-hill was said by Charles I. to be 'the fairest in his dominions.' Bridgnorth has two parish churches, a grammar-school existing in Henry VIII.'s reign, carpet, worsted, and tanning industries, and agricultural trade. Until 1868 it sent two members, and until 1885 one member, to parliament. The Danes wintered here in 896, and the site of a Saxon castle, built by the princess Ethelfleda, is still distinctly marked. Early in the 12th century, Robert de Belesme (a kinsman of the Conqueror) built the Norman castle, and unsuccessfully defended it against Henry I. It was also besieged by Henry II. and Edward II. According to Shakespeare (Henry IV., Part I., III. iii.), Bridgnorth was the meeting-place of the royal forces before the battle of Shrewsbury; and, according to Clarendon, before the battle of Edgehill. The castle was demolished by the Parliamentarians after a three-weeks' siege, during which the 'High Town' was destroyed by fire, one of the few houses surviving being the fine old Tudor mansion, still standing, in which Bishop Percy was afterwards born (1728). To recompense the inhabitants, Charles II., by proclamation, authorised them to make a special collection in every church throughout the kingdom. High Town and Low Town are connected by an inclined railway (1892). Pop. (1861) 5876; (1891) 5865.