BRIDGNORTH.

THE
ANTIQUITIES
OF
BRIDGNORTH;

WITH

Some Historical Notices of the Town and Castle.

BY

THE REV. G. BELLETT, A.M.

INCUMBENT OF ST. LEONARD’S.

Bridgnorth:
W. J. ROWLEY, BOOKSELLER, HIGH STREET.
LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
MDCCCLVI.

BRIDGENORTH:
W. J. ROWLEY, PRINTER, HIGH STREET.

TO THE MAYOR, AND CORPORATION,
AND INHABITANTS,
OF THE
BOROUGH OF BRIDGNORTH,
THE
FOLLOWING WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
BY THEIR FAITHFUL SERVANT,

G. BELLETT.

[Pg v]

The Substance of the following pages was given in two lectures, whichI delivered last year to the Members of “The Society for PromotingReligious and Useful Knowledge.” Since then I have collected a few morefacts relating to the early history of Bridgnorth, which I have heregiven to the reader, and I have also added an Appendix,containing some matter not altogether, I hope, undeserving of attention,although some of it is only remotely connected with my subject. The publicdocuments relating to the town, such as the Terms of Capitulation, andthe Proclamation of Charles II., it has been thought desirable to giveentire, as but few copies of them, especially of the latter, are extant.[Pg vi]

It would seem superfluous for me, after the many quotations which Ihave taken from his learned work on “The Antiquities of Shropshire,” tomake any acknowledgement of my obligations to the Rev. Robert Eyton.But I owe him much more than is indicated by these quotations. He verykindly directed my attention to sources of information respectingBridgnorth, which have been of the greatest service to me, particularlythe Blakeway Papers, in the Bodleian Library, besides allowing me torefer to his better judgment and more extensive information, on anydifficulty that occurred to me.

I am very much indebted also to Mr. Whitmore, of Apley, for hiskindness in giving me the free use of his own collection of historicalnotices of our town and neighbourhood, from the MSS. in his possession.I would gladly avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my thankslikewise to the Town Clerk, for allowing me to consult the Common HallOrder Books, and other documents belonging to the Corporation; and to[Pg vii]Mr. Hubert Smith for giving me his valuable assistance in decypheringthem. Nor should I omit to offer my thanks to the Rev. G. L. Wasey, forsome interesting particulars which he communicated to me, respectingthe early history of Quatford; and to Mr. S. Sidney Smith, from whoseantiquarian lore I have, on several points, derived much valuable information.[Pg viii]

[Pg ix]