80-529: Gay Meadow was a football ground in Shrewsbury , Shropshire , England, serving as the home ground of Shrewsbury Town . Located on the banks of the River Severn , it opened in 1910. The ground closed at the end of the 2006-07 Football League season and the club moved to a new stadium, provisionally titled The New Meadow , on the outskirts of the town. Local legend says that over 22,000 were inside
160-606: A crowd of 5,448 saw Shrewsbury Town beat Stoke City 5–0 in a match to mark the installation of the lights. The previous Saturday, over 10,000 witnessed the turning on of the lights in the game against Queens Park Rangers . The floodlights formed part of the Shrewsbury skyline for almost 47 years. New offices were built at the ground in 1965, with the Riverside terrace being built in the early 1970s. This terrace would gain legendary status amongst home fans in years to come. In
240-497: A cultural continuity possibly going back as far as the 8th century. The centre has a largely undisturbed medieval street plan and over 660 listed buildings , including several examples of timber framing from the 15th and 16th centuries. Shrewsbury Castle , a red sandstone fortification, and Shrewsbury Abbey , were founded in 1074 and 1083 respectively by the Norman Earl of Shrewsbury , Roger de Montgomery . The town
320-486: A dozen Irish prisoners were selected to be killed after picking lots. This prompted Rupert to respond by executing Parliamentarian prisoners in Oswestry . By the 18th century Shrewsbury had become an important market town and stopping point for stagecoaches travelling between London and Holyhead with passengers on their way to Ireland; this led to the establishment of a number of coaching inns, many of which, such as
400-413: A few miles north of the town centre, between King Henry IV and Henry Percy (Hotspur) , with the king emerging victorious. Hotspur's body was taken by Thomas Neville , to Whitchurch , for burial. However, when rumours circulated that Percy was still alive, the king "had the corpse exhumed and displayed it, propped upright between two millstones, in the market place at Shrewsbury". That being done, Percy
480-565: A hillfort near Baschurch . The Historia Divae Monacellae , composed in the 14th or 15th century, says that Brochwel Ysgithrog , the 6th-century king of Powis, had a palace at Shrewsbury that became the site of the foundation of St Chad. In the late 8th century, it is said that Offa took the town for the Mercians in 778, and he is associated by some sources with establishing the town's first church and dedicating it to St Chad . If so, then there may have been an ecclesiastical foundation in
560-605: A lock of the emperor's hair, presented to an officer of the 53rd, remains to this day in the collections of the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum at Shrewsbury Castle. HM Prison Shrewsbury , when new in the Georgian period, was considered a national example of improved conditions and more enlightened penal policy. Times change and a 2005 report on prison population found that it was the most overcrowded in England and Wales , despite
640-567: A major expansion in Victorian times. The prison, which was also known as the Dana because it was built near the site of the medieval Dana gaol, was closed in 2013 and then sold by the Ministry of Justice to private property developers in 2014. Shrewsbury Castle Shrewsbury Castle is a red sandstone castle in Shrewsbury , Shropshire , England . It stands on a hill in the neck of
720-568: A member of the Stanley family he was admitted. Thomas Mytton, the Bailiff of the town, a supporter of Richard III , had vowed that the only way he would get through was "over his dead body". Thomas then lay down and allowed Henry to step over him, to free himself from his oath. Henry was accommodated in the building now known as Henry Tudor House on Wyle Cop. In 1490, Henry VII, accompanied by his queen and his son, Prince Arthur , celebrated
800-534: A new stadium to the north of the town and Sainsbury's lined up to build a supermarket on the site of the old stadium. However, with Shrewsbury relegated from the Second Division in 1989 and Sainsbury's developing elsewhere in the town, the plans were abandoned. In the 1990s, plans were made to redevelop Gay Meadow; however, due to the poor access, capacity could rise to no more than 10,000. In 1999, recently elected chairman Roland Wycherley released plans for
880-553: A new stadium, provisionally titled the New Meadow , a 10,000 all-seater stadium on the southern outskirts of the town between the Meole Brace and Sutton Farm districts. Amongst other things, opposition from residents delayed the planning and building process until 2006, with the ground not being completed until July 2007. The New Meadow has a 10,000 all-seated capacity, with the scope to expand to beyond 40,000. In addition,
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#1732801713760960-515: A plague in Viroconium around this time. It is claimed that Pengwern , sometime capital of the Kingdom of Powis (itself established by the 440s), was at Shrewsbury. The first attested association of Pengwern with Shrewsbury is mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis in the 12th century. Alternative suggestions as to the location of Pengwern include Whittington Castle near Oswestry , and Berth,
1040-578: A professional match at Gay Meadow were Shrewsbury's biggest rivals Wrexham , who won 1–0 at the penultimate league game at the ground on 24 April 2007. The final League game played at Gay Meadow was against Grimsby Town on 5 May 2007, a 2–2 draw, with Grimsby equalising in the final minute. To commemorate the day, a parade of former Shrewsbury Town greats was organised, with commemorative T-shirts being handed out to fans free of charge with donations for local charities instead. Defender Kelvin Langmead took
1120-564: A tree at Gay Meadow some 200 feet below. Tragically for Cadman, the rope broke and he plunged to his death. In 1910, Shrewsbury Town were looking for a new ground to play at, having been told they could no longer use the Army-owned pitch at Copthorne Barracks . A consortium bought the site and leased it to the club. Despite objections from the local hospital, the Salop Infirmary , who feared crowd noise might disturb patients across
1200-468: Is a market town , civil parish and the county town of Shropshire , England. It is sited on the River Severn , 33 miles (53 km) northwest of Wolverhampton , 15 miles (24 km) west of Telford , 31 miles (50 km) southeast of Wrexham and 53 miles (85 km) north of Hereford . At the 2021 census , the parish had a population of 76,782. Shrewsbury has Anglo-Saxon roots and institutions whose foundations dating from that time represent
1280-501: Is owing to provision made by its head master, the excellent and worthy Thomas Ashton ", the school's first head master. During the English Civil War , Shrewsbury was a Royalist stronghold, under the command of Sir Francis Ottley . In the autumn of 1642 Charles I had a temporary base in the town. Prince Rupert established his headquarters in the town on 18 February 1644, being welcomed by Shrewsbury's aldermen. He
1360-497: Is the birthplace of Charles Darwin . It has had a role in nurturing aspects of English culture, including drama , ballet , dance and pantomime . Located 9 miles (14 km) east of the England–Wales border , Shrewsbury serves as the commercial centre for Shropshire and parts of mid-Wales, with a retail output of over £299 million per year and light industry and distribution centres, such as Battlefield Enterprise Park , on
1440-808: The Earls of Tankerville . St John the Baptist hospital passed to the Wood family and became almshouses. At this time the shrine and relics of St Winifred were destroyed. The Council of Wales and the Marches was established during the 1470s by Edward IV with a headquarters in the town. Its buildings partly survive near the castle and were later adapted to be an episcopal palace, the council also met at Ludlow Castle . Members of this council included John Dudley, Earl of Warwick , Sir Henry Sidney , William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke , and Sir Rowland Hill , publisher of
1520-528: The Empress Matilda the castle was held by William Fitz Alan , lord of Oswestry and Clun , on behalf of Matilda. After a short siege in 1138, King Stephen took the castle and had the surviving garrison hung from the battlements. The castle was briefly held by Llywelyn the Great , Prince of Wales , in 1215. Parts of the original medieval structure remain largely incorporating the inner bailey of
1600-554: The Forest of Arden , a thickly wooded area, unpenetrated by Roman roads and somewhat dangerous in medieval times, so that travellers would pray at Coughton before entering. In 1102, Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury was deposed and the title forfeited, as a consequence of him rebelling against Henry I and joining the Duke of Normandy 's invasion of England in 1101. William Pantulf , Lord of Wem , assisted Henry in putting down
1680-542: The Geneva Bible and potential inspiration for a hero in Shakespeare's As You Like It . Its functions were interpreted widely. It was to hear all suits, civil and criminal, which were brought by individuals too poor to sue at common law; it was to try all cases of murder, felony, piracy, wrecking and such crimes as were likely to disturb the peace; it was to investigate charges of misgovernment by officials and
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#17328017137601760-597: The Valley Parade fire of 1985 and the Taylor Report which followed the Hillsborough disaster of 1989. In addition, the ground's proximity to the river meant the ground often flooded during the autumn and winter months, leading to matches being postponed. Flooding also caused damage to offices and changing rooms. Shrewsbury Town had been considering relocation since 1986, when plans were drawn up for
1840-461: The 1220s, there was also a general hospital dedicated to St John the Baptist. In January 1234 Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth of Wales and Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke burned down the town and laid siege to its castle. In 1283, Edward I summoned a parliament in Shrewsbury, later adjourned to Acton Burnell , to try and condemn Dafydd ap Gruffydd , last of the native Princes of Wales, to execution by hanging, drawing and quartering within
1920-402: The 14th and 15th centuries and a new shrine for her relics was built in the late 1300s. Around this time the abbey illegally acquired the relics of St Beuno , uncle of St Winifred, by stealing them. As a result the abbey was fined but allowed to keep the relics. From 1155, during the reign of Henry II , there was a leper hospital dedicated to St Giles and associated with Shrewsbury Abbey. From
2000-684: The Bailiffs in a most royal and hospitable manner. Shrewsbury's monastic institutions were disbanded with the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the Abbey was closed in 1540. Henry VIII intended to make Shrewsbury one of his 13 new bishoprics (serving Shropshire and Staffordshire ) and hence a cathedral city, after the formation of the Church of England but the citizens of the town declined
2080-607: The Council House to St Chad’s Church, the choir of which was fitted up in imitation of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle with the stalls decorated with the arms of the Knights of the Garter ; on the conclusion of divine service Sir Henry devoted the afternoon to feasting the burgesses. Shrewsbury thrived throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, a period when the town was at the height of its commercial importance. This success
2160-528: The Council: represented a remarkable experiment in regional government. It administered the law cheaply and rapidly; it dealt with up to twenty cases a day and George Owen stated that the 'oppressed poor' flocked to it. In 1551 there was a notable outbreak of sweating sickness in the town, which Dr John Caius was in the town to attend to at the command of the council. The following year, after his return to London, Caius published A Boke or Counseill Against
2240-551: The Disease Commonly Called the Sweate, or Sweatyng Sicknesse . The president of the council was the dedicatee of the book and the dedicatory epistle explains his appointment. This text became the main source of knowledge of this disease, now understood to be influenza . In 1581, Sir Henry Sidney, celebrated the feast of St George, on 23 April, in this town, with great splendour: a solemn procession went from
2320-548: The Lion Hotel, are extant to this day. A town hall was built in the Market Place on the site of an ancient guildhall in 1730; it was demolished and a new combined guildhall and shirehall was erected on the site in 1837. Local soldier and statesman Robert Clive served as the town's mayor in 1762 and was Shrewsbury's MP from 1762 until his death in 1774. St Chad's Church collapsed in 1788 after attempts to expand
2400-750: The Quarry. In the Industrial Revolution the Shrewsbury Canal opened in 1797, initially connecting the town to Trench . By 1835 it had been linked up to the Shropshire Canal and thence to the rest of the canal network . In the period directly after Napoleon 's surrender after the Battle of Waterloo , the town's own 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot was sent to guard him in his exile on St Helena . A locket containing
2480-510: The River Severn, the first official match took place on 20 August 1910, when a crowd of up to 1,000 watched a pre-season practice match between the "Reds" and the "Whites". The first league game at Gay Meadow was between Shrewsbury Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves on 10 September 1910. Shrewsbury lost the match 2–1, with "Shinton" scoring the first league goal for Wolves, and Billy Scarratt scoring Shrewsbury Town's first goal at
Gay Meadow - Misplaced Pages Continue
2560-546: The Wakeman School. A covered, all seater stand for 1,000 home supporters. Centre Stand - So named due to forming the central part of the seated area. A covered, all seater stand for 1,000 home supporters. It also housed the directors' box. Family enclosure - This was a designated area for families consisting of 700 seats, with admission via designated "family" tickets. Station Stand - A seated section for away fans, holding roughly 250 away fans Whilst Gay Meadow
2640-543: The Welsh word Cae , a field, or Old English words galla , barren wet land, or gat , a goat. An alternative origin states that the land was originally owned by the Gay family, first represented by a "Richard Gegh" ( sic ) of 'Monks Foriet' (later Abbey Foregate) recorded in 1349. In 1739, stuntman Robert Cadman , a "steeple-flyer", attempted to "fly" across the River Severn using a rope attached to St Mary's Church at one side and
2720-744: The bones of a pike and possibly a swan. The museum combines the collections of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and the Shropshire Yeomanry . holding items such as a lock of Napoleon Bonaparte's hair, the Grand Admiral's Baton belonging to Karl Dönitz , and the Victoria Crosses of Captain Alfred Kirke Ffrench , Private Charles Irwin and Sergeant Major Harold Whitfield . Laura's Tower overlooks
2800-467: The castle; the outer bailey, which extended into the town, has long ago vanished under the encroachment of later shops and other buildings. Having fallen into decay after c. 1300 (at the end of the Welsh wars) the castle became a domestic residence during the reign of Elizabeth I and passed to the ownership of the town council c.1600. The castle was extensively repaired in 1643 during the Civil War and
2880-403: The club's police liaison officer, scored the only goal of the game, and thus the last goal at the ground. In September 2007 demolition of the stadium began, and by October 2007 the ground was reduced to rubble. The site was earmarked for residential building, with 150 flats scheduled to be built on the site. In 2009, building started on a number of luxury flats and it was completed in 2014. With
2960-410: The crypt compromised the structural integrity of the tower above. Now known as Old St Chad's, the remains of the church building and its churchyard are on the corner of Princess Street, College Hill and Belmont. A new St Chad's Church was built just four years after the collapse, but as a large neo-classical round church and in a different and more elevated location, at the top of Claremont Hill close to
3040-534: The early 1980s, the club's promotion to the Second Division meant the ground required further improvements. The old 600-seater Station Stand was demolished and a new 4,500 capacity centre stand built. This was the last major building work to take place at the ground before its closure. Minor changes in the 1990s included a new Executive Suite, a TV gantry in the Main Stand, the controversial demolition of
3120-419: The false verdicts of juries; it was to enforce the laws against livery and maintenance, to punish rumour mongers and adulterers, and to deal with disputes concerning enclosures, villein service and manorial questions; it heard appeals from the common law courts; and it was responsible for administering the legislation dealing with religion. According to historian John Davies , at its peak in the mid-16th century,
3200-467: The feast of St George in the town. The town is recorded as having entertained Henry again in 1496, with attendants lodged in the Sextry of Old St Chads; more generally it is said of Henry VII's relations with the town that: The intercourse which had begun thus favourably was kept up in after years by Henry, who, with his queen and son, frequently visited this town, upon which occasions they were feasted by
3280-556: The ground almost completely demolished, a charity zip-wire event was held on 14 October 2007. Over 100 townspeople "flew" from the St. Mary's area of the town centre, over the River Severn to land on the Gay Meadow pitch, emulating Robert Cadman's attempt in 1739. In addition, sections of the Gay Meadow turf were sold for a small fee for Severn Hospice, the organising charity. This was the final public event to take place at Gay Meadow before
Gay Meadow - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-453: The ground closed, the old turnstile sold for £3,050 at an auction staged at the ground on 17 June 2007, to a local Shrewsbury Town fan. Riverside Terrace - So named due to its position on the bank of the River Severn . The Riverside was a partially covered terrace running the length of the pitch, with a refreshments bar situated halfway along the terrace and roof mounted TV gantry (used only occasionally for high-profile matches). This part of
3440-436: The ground has far better road links, more car parking, and, being well away from the river, is unlikely to suffer from flooding. To fund the move, the Gay Meadow site was sold to property developers. The final season at Gay Meadow was 2006–07. Gay Meadow's final FA Cup tie was a goalless draw against Hereford United on 11 November 2006 in the first round (Shrewsbury lost the replay at Edgar Street ). The last team to win
3520-460: The ground was where the liveliest element of the home crowd were to congregate, with the most vocal of home chanting and support coming from supporters from "The Riverside", with frequent exchanges with visiting fans often heard. Famously, stray footballs were often kicked over this stand into the Severn, to be retrieved by a man in a coracle named Fred Davies, (not to be confused with the manager of
3600-422: The ground's wooden scoreboard, and, following the Taylor Report , the removal of perimeter fencing with the exception of the away Station End. Gay Meadow was located on the banks of the River Severn and was surrounded by trees and parkland, with the town centre towering above the ground on the hilltop behind. A number of the town's landmarks, including Shrewsbury Castle and Shrewsbury Abbey , were visible from
3680-401: The ground. For many years, Shrewsbury coracle maker Fred Davies would sit in his coracle during home matches and retrieve stray footballs from the river. Although Davies died long ago, his legend is still associated with the club. Due to the ground being small and in a cramped location, between the river and a major railway junction, there was little scope for expansion or renovation. Access
3760-425: The ground. Shrewsbury's first win at Gay Meadow occurred two weeks later against Halesowen . The ground did not see major improvements until the mid-1950s, when trees which lined The Narrows, the road leading to Gay Meadow, were felled to improve access. It was around this time that the club's supporters launched a floodlight committee in order to raise £12,000 for the installation of floodlights. On 25 November 1960,
3840-632: The guilds of the Ironmongers and Goldsmiths . This fraternity were patrons of the Altar of St Michael in St Chad's Church and they kept a Mercers Hall on the site of the Sextry of Old St Chads . In 1485, ahead of the Battle of Bosworth Field , Henry Tudor , while not yet king, marched his forces on a route that lay through Shrewsbury. He was initially denied access to the town, but on intervention by
3920-501: The honour of being the final Shrewsbury Town goal scorer at the ground, although Grimsby's Nick Fenton scored the ground's final professional goal. The final senior competitive match held at Gay Meadow was against Milton Keynes Dons on 14 May 2007, the first leg of the League 2 Play-offs. The game finished 0-0. Before demolition, fans were given the opportunity to play on the pitch in specially arranged friendly matches, and an auction
4000-405: The meander of the River Severn on which the town originally developed. The castle, directly above Shrewsbury railway station , is a Grade I listed building . A castle was ordered on the site by William I c. 1067 but it was greatly extended under Roger de Montgomery circa 1070 as a base for operations into Wales, an administrative centre and as a defensive fortification for the town, which
4080-471: The offer, which is the point of origin of the term "Proud Salopians": the town leadership preferring to be the most senior town in the country and not the most junior city. As a consequence of the dissolution, the monastic hospitals were closed and the incomes from their endowments were transferred to secular owners. St Giles's leper hospital passed to the Prince family, who were succeeded by their descendants
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#17328017137604160-631: The outskirts. The A5 and A49 trunk roads come together as the town's by-pass and five railway lines meet at Shrewsbury railway station . In Old English the settlement was known as Scrobbesburh ( dative Scrobbesbyrig ), which may mean either "Scrobb's fort" or "the fortified place in the bushes" (or "shrubs", the modern derivate). This name gradually evolved in three directions, into Sciropscire , which became Shropshire ; into Sloppesberie , which became Salop / Salopia (an alternative name for both town and county), and into Schrosberie , which eventually became
4240-443: The rebellion. To deal with the thickly wooded local forests, ideal for the concealment of archers, Pantulf brought in 6,000 foot soldiers to cut down trees and open up the roads. Henry subsequently took the government of the town into his own hands and in 1116 the nobility of England did homage to William Ætheling , Henry’s son, at Shrewsbury, and swore allegiance to his father. The early death of William Ætheling without issue led to
4320-441: The redevelopment of the site. Photographs 52°42′29.42″N 2°44′51.74″W / 52.7081722°N 2.7477056°W / 52.7081722; -2.7477056 Shrewsbury 52°42′29″N 2°45′14″W / 52.708°N 2.754°W / 52.708; -2.754 Shrewsbury ( / ˈ ʃ r oʊ z b ər i / SHROHZ -bər-ee , also / ˈ ʃ r uː z -/ SHROOZ - )
4400-534: The same name who was in charge between 1993 and 1997). Wakeman (or Tech) End - So named due to the Wakeman School (formerly a technical grammar school ) being directly behind it. It was an open terrace, with the windows of the school overlooking the pitch. This side of the ground along with the Riverside Terrace formed one large standing area for home fans, with movement unrestricted between
4480-410: The site, Gay Meadow was known locally for the fairs, carnivals and circuses which took place there. The origin of the name is not entirely clear, although it is widely believed to be related to a use for entertainment purposes. One suggestion by local historian J.L. Hobbs, is that it is of Norman influence and that the ground was a monastic park attached to Shrewsbury Abbey . Other suggested origins are
4560-412: The stadium for the league match against Wrexham on 21 August 1950, although the official figure is given as 16,000. The official record attendance is 18,917, set on 26 April 1961 against local rivals Walsall . Because it had only one entrance/exit road, in the years following the Taylor Report the capacity of the ground was reduced from 16,000 to around 8,000. Centuries before Shrewsbury Town occupied
4640-569: The strategic importance of the Roman Road link via the Via Devana ). Viking raiders from the north were reaching as far south as Bridgnorth by 910. In the early 10th century, the relics of St Alkmund were translated to the town from Derby , this was probably the work of Æthelflæd. (Later, after St Alkmund's Church became the property of Lilleshall Abbey in about 1145, the relics were retranslated back to Derby.) Roger de Montgomery
4720-621: The succession crisis, known in history as the Anarchy , and during this period, in 1138, King Stephen successfully besieged the town's castle held by William FitzAlan for the Empress Maud . In 1138 the relics of St Winifred were brought to Shrewsbury from Gwytheryn , following their purchase by the Abbot of Shrewsbury , the abbey being ready for consecration but having no relics prior to that time. The popularity of St Winifred grew in
4800-557: The town after Dafydd was captured, ending his rebellion against the king. It is thought this parliament met in the Abbey. Shrewsbury was devastated by the Black Death , which, records suggest, arrived in the spring of 1349. Examining the number of local church benefices falling vacant due to death, 1349 alone saw twice as many vacancies as the previous ten years combined, suggesting a high death toll in Shrewsbury. "The Great Fire of Shrewsbury" took place in 1394: St Chad's church
4880-599: The town in 1924 and it became the location of Shrewsbury's Borough Council chambers for over 50 years. The castle was internally restructured to become the home of the Shropshire Regimental Museum when it moved from Copthorne Barracks and other local sites in 1985. The museum was attacked by the IRA on 25 August 1992 and extensive damage to the collection and to some of the Castle resulted. The museum
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#17328017137604960-630: The town within a century of the death of Chad of Mercia . By the beginning of the 10th century, Shrewsbury was home to three moneyers who had permission to operate a mint in the town, using dies supplied by the royal government. In 914, Æthelflæd , daughter of Alfred the Great and known as the Lady of the Mercians, fortified Shrewsbury, along with Hereford and two other fortresses, at Scergeat (a currently unknown location) and Weardbyrig (thought to be Whitchurch , which would make sense given
5040-625: The town's name, Shrewsbury. Its later Welsh name Amwythig means "fortified place". The town's name can be pronounced as either 'Shrowsbury' or 'Shroosbury', the correct pronunciation being a matter of longstanding debate. Evidence of Neolithic occupation of a religious form dating back before 2,000 BC, was discovered in 2017 in the grounds of the medieval Church of the Holy Fathers in Sutton Farm , making it Britain's oldest place of worship. An Early Bronze Age urned burial
5120-502: The two. This often resulted in home fans congregating behind the goal on the Wakeman End when Shrewsbury Town were attacking in that direction - leaving the north part of the Riverside Terrace practically empty. The combined capacity of the Riverside and Wakeman Terraces was between 3,000 and 3,500 - depending on the size of the away following. The east side of the ground was a covered, all-seater section. Limited seating for away fans
5200-432: Was also a home terrace until the 1970s. Its capacity, depending on the away allocation, ranged from 1,500 to 2,000. Unusually it kept the bottom half of its perimeter fencing right up until its final game, most other stadia in the country having removed theirs following the Taylor Report . It was also notable for housing the oldest working football turnstile in the country, although this was only used on rare occasions. When
5280-425: Was also available. The stand also boasted executive seating for VIPs, sponsors and guests, a TV gantry and press offices. The east side of the ground was also adjacent to the club's offices, function rooms and official player's/supporter's bar. Although consisting of a single stand generally referred to as the Main Stand, it was split into four enclosures, as follows: Wakeman Stand - So named due to its proximity to
5360-586: Was billeted in a building then the home of the family of Thomas Jones in the precincts of what is now the Prince Rupert Hotel. Shrewsbury only fell to Parliament forces after they were let in by a parliamentarian sympathiser at the St Mary's Water Gate (now also known as Traitor's Gate). After Thomas Mytton captured Shrewsbury in February 1645; in following with the ordnance of no quarter ;
5440-417: Was briefly besieged by Parliamentary forces from Wem before its surrender. It was acquired by Sir Francis Newport in 1663. Further repairs were carried out by Thomas Telford on behalf of Sir William Pulteney , MP for Shrewsbury , after 1780 to the designs of the architect Robert Adam . The Shropshire Horticultural Society purchased the castle from a private owner, then Lord Barnard , and gave it to
5520-424: Was consumed by an accidental fire, which spread to a great portion of the town, then chiefly consisting of timber houses with thatched roofs. The damage was so considerable that Richard II remitted the town's taxes for three years towards the repairs. In 1398, Richard summoned a Great Parliament in the town, which is believed to have met in the Abbey. In 1403 the Battle of Shrewsbury was fought at Battlefield ,
5600-471: Was excavated at Crowmeole in 2015. An Iron Age double ring ditch has been excavated at Meole Brace . Amongst other finds, parts of an iron age sword and scabbard were recovered. At Meole Brace, an extensive roadside settlement along the line of the Roman military road connecting Viroconium Cornoviorum and Caersws was uncovered, with evidence of trading of amphorae and mortaria . A major discovery
5680-573: Was given the town as a gift from William the Conqueror and took the title of Earl of Shrewsbury. He built at Shrewsbury Castle in 1074, though archaeological excavations at the site of Shrewsbury castle in 2019 have indicated that the location may have been a fortified site in the time of the Anglo-Saxons. He also founded Shrewsbury Abbey as a Benedictine monastery in 1083. The town's position just off Watling Street placed it within
5760-447: Was in this period that Edward VI gave permission for the foundation of a free school, which was later to become Shrewsbury School . Later, William Camden , in his Britannia (begun 1577), remarked of the town that "Shrewsbury is inhabited both by Welsh and English, who speak each other's language; and among other things greatly to their praise is the grammar school founded by them, the best filled in all England, whose flourishing state
5840-575: Was largely due to the town's location, which allowed it to control the Welsh wool trade , a major industry at the time, with the rest of Britain and Europe, with the River Severn and Watling Street acting as trading routes. This trade was dominated by the Shrewsbury Drapers Company for many years. As a result, a number of grand edifices, including the Ireland's Mansion (built 1575) and Draper's Hall (1658), were constructed. It
5920-677: Was officially re-opened by Princess Alexandra on 2 May 1995. In 2019 it was rebranded as the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum . In 2019 and 2020 an archaeology project by Shropshire Council and the University of Chester undertook excavations in the castle. Work in 2019 found the remains of the original ditch surrounding the motte of c.1067, along with a range of medieval pottery and two arrow heads or crossbow-bolt heads. Excavations in 2020 failed to locate St Michael's chapel , but did recover evidence of 'high-status feasting', including
6000-493: Was otherwise protected by the loop of the river. Town walls , of which little now remains, were later added to the defences, as a response to Welsh raids and radiated out from the castle and surrounded the town; the area known as Town Walls still has a small section of them and a single tower, known as Town Walls Tower , which is in the care of the National Trust . At the start of the civil war between King Stephen and
6080-565: Was staged at the ground on 17 June 2007, where over 200 items were auctioned. In addition, 500 unsold seats were purchased by League of Wales side Caernarfon Town , to be used in the redevelopment of a stand at their ground, the Oval . The final football match to be staged at Gay Meadow was the club's annual friendly fixture between Shrewsbury's "Away Supporters" team and the Shrewsbury Town backroom staff on Friday 22 June. Alan Roberts,
6160-660: Was subjected to posthumous execution . One of the Princes in the Tower , Richard of Shrewsbury , was born in the town around 17 August 1473, the second son of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville . In 1480, Edward V , then Prince of Wales (and the other prince of the Princes in the Tower), was resident in Shrewsbury. On 11 May Edward V confirmed the composition of the town's Mercer's Company , which had merged with
6240-547: Was the finding of the Shrewsbury Hoard of more than 9000 Roman coins in a field near the town in 2009. Prior to the late 8th century, there is little in the way of reliable records. There is a tradition that the town was "founded in the 5th century, on occasion of the decay of the Roman Uriconium ." Historian John Wacher suggests that Shrewsbury may have been refortified by refugees fleeing an outbreak of
6320-426: Was via a small side street known as The Narrows and one of the main reasons the ground's capacity was reduced following the Taylor Report . Problems with evacuation and access for emergency services was one of the reasons cited by the club for moving to a new ground. Station End - So named due to its proximity to the town's railway station. A partially covered terrace, normally allocated to visiting fans, although it
6400-528: Was well regarded by fans and traditionalists within the English game, the ground was in a cramped location between the River Severn and a major railway junction. In addition, access to the ground was restricted to a narrow side street known locally as "The Narrows". The poor access, and poor scope for evacuation in the case of emergency, meant that the capacity of the ground was cut to 8,000 by the early 1990s following stricter ground safety regulations that followed
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