Bridgnorth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bridgnorth | |
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  Bridgnorth shown within Shropshire |
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| Population | 12,216 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Bridgnorth |
| Shire county | Shropshire |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRIDGNORTH |
| Postcode district | WV15, WV16 |
| Dialling code | 01746 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Shropshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| European Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Ludlow |
| List of places: UK • England • Shropshire | |
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left. It is the seat and most populous town of Bridgnorth district. The population of the town of Bridgnorth was 11,891 at the 2001 Census and a 2008 estimate puts it at 12,216.[1]
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[edit] History
Bridgnorth is named after a bridge over the River Severn, that was built further north than an earlier bridge at Quatford.[2] The earliest historical reference to the town is in 895, at which time it is recorded that the Danes created a camp at Cwatbridge,[3] and subsequently in 912, Æthelfleda constructed a mound on the west bank of the River Severn, or possibly on the site of Bridgnorth Castle, as part of an offensive against the Danes.[2]
After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror granted the manor of Bridgnorth to Roger de Montgomerie. The town itself was not created until 1101, when Robert de Belesme, the son of Roger de Montgomerie, moved from Quatford, constructing a castle and church on the site of the modern-day town. The castle's purpose was to defend against attacks from Wales.[2] On Robert's attainder, in 1102 the town became a royal borough. Later, in 1546, the town was incorporated by James I.
It is probable that Henry I granted the burgesses certain privileges, for Henry II confirmed to them all the franchises and customs which they had in the time of Henry I.[4] King John in 1215 granted them freedom from toll throughout England except the city of London, and in 1227 Henry III conferred several new rights and liberties, among which were a gild merchant with a hanse. These early charters were confirmed by several succeeding kings, Henry VI granting in addition assize of bread and ale and other privileges. The burgesses returned two members to parliament in 1295,[5] and continued to do so until 1867, when they were assigned only one member. The burgesses were additionally granted two fairs: a yearly fair on the feast of the Translation of St. Leonard and three following days was granted in 1359, and in 1630, Charles I granted them licence to hold another fair on the Thursday before the first week in Lent and two following days. The town was disfranchised in 1885.
In 1978, Bridgnorth twinned itself with the French town of Thiers, and later in 1992 it also twinned with the Bavarian town of Schrobenhausen, Germany[6] that was already twinned with Thiers since a few years. On August 21, 2003, Bridgnorth was granted Fairtrade Town status.[7]
In 2005, unverified German papers dating from 1941 were found, outlining new details about Operation Sealion, the military plans of Nazi Germany for an invasion of Britain. The plan was never carried out but included details about two quiet Shropshire towns in the documentation—Ludlow and Bridgnorth. Some experts now believe that it was Hitler's intention to make Bridgnorth the German headquarters in Britain, due to its central position in the UK, rural location, rail connections and now-disused airfield.[8]
[edit] Landmarks
Bridgnorth is home to a funicular railway that links the high and low towns, the Castle Hill Railway, which is the steepest[3] and only inland railway of its type in the country.[9] Additionally, within the Low Town is Bridgnorth railway station on the Severn Valley Railway, which runs southwards to Kidderminster.
The ruins of Bridgnorth Castle, built in 1101, are present in the town. Due to damage caused during the English Civil War, the castle is inclined at an angle of 15 degrees.[10]
High Town is dominated by two Church of England churches: St. Mary's Church, a church built in the classic style of the late 18th century, which was designed by Thomas Telford;[11] and St. Leonard's, which was formerly collegiate and, from 1860, was largely rebuilt.[12]
Other notable buildings in the town are the seventeenth century Bridgnorth Town Hall, a half-timbered building, and a surviving town gate. Daniel's Mill, a well known watermill is situated a short distance along the River Severn from Bridgnorth.
[edit] Culture
In terms of culture and entertainment, there is a theatre, the Theatre On The Steps, and a 1930s cinema (still in use), the Majestic, originally having one screen, but now three. The town has a number of bars and restaurants and, beyond these, there are 27 pubs, most of which traditional, which makes the town attractive to many tourists,such as the Railwayman's Arms, Golden Lion, King's Head and Stable Bar, Bear, Shakespeare and Bell and Talbot.
[edit] Education
There are a number of Primary Schools in Bridgnorth, including: Castlefields County Primary School, two Church of England schools, St Mary's and St Leonard's; the Roman Catholic St John's school; and, in addition, the Morville and Brown Clee schools.
The town has two Secondary schools: Oldbury Wells School and The Endowed School. These serve the town and its outlying villages, including Alveley and Highley.
[edit] Sport
Bridgnorth Town F.C. are the local football club based in Bridgnorth. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase. They won the championship of the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division in 2008.
Bridgnorth Spartans Juniors Football Club is one of the biggest junior football clubs in Shropshire, running 21 teams in the 2007/08 season. These teams include 16 boys' teams, ranging from Under-8's to Under-16's, 4 girls' teams and a ladies team. They also run a crèche for 3 to 7 year-olds at St Mary's School on Saturday mornings called Little Spartans. Home games are played at Oldbury Wells School on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season. The home kit features a colour scheme of red & black, arranged in stripes.
In 2007, Bridgnorth hosted the UK Downhill Street Race in Cycling.
[edit] Notable residents
A number of notable people have been born in Bridgnorth, including Thomas Percy, bishop of Dromore, the editor of the Reliques of Ancient English Poetry,[13] and David Preece (May 28, 1963 – July 20, 2007), an English professional footballer who played in midfield, who played three times for the England B team.[14] Dominic Sandbrook, a British historian and writer, was also born in Bridgnorth, in 1974. Francis Moore (1657 - 1715), the originator of Old Moore's Almanack was another person born in Bridgnorth.[13]
Richard Baxter (November 12, 1615 - December 8, 1691) the English Puritan church leader, divine scholar and controversialist, called by Dean Stanley "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen" lived in Bridgnorth town centre, in 1640.[15] Another former resident of the town, Max Rafferty, a musician, attended Bridgnorth Endowed School.[16] Rafferty played bass guitar in indie rock band The Kooks until 30th January 2008. Martin Butler (born 15 September 1974 in Dudley, England) is an English football striker with Walsall FC, who spent much of his youth resident in the town.
[edit] Closest cities, towns and villages
| Destinations from BRIDGNORTH | |||||||||||
| Much Wenlock, Shrewsbury | Broseley, Telford, Newport |
Albrighton, Wolverhampton | |||||||||
| Church Stretton, Bishop's Castle |
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Bobbington, Wombourne, Dudley, Birmingham | |||||||||
| Ludlow, Craven Arms | Highley, Alveley, Cleobury Mortimer |
Enville, Kinver, Stourbridge, Bewdley, Kidderminster | |||||||||
[edit] References
- ^ Bridgnorth. world-gazetteer.com.
- ^ a b c Raven, Michael (2005). A Guide to Shropshire. Michael Raven, 32. ISBN 0906114349. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b Bridgnorth. Shropshire Routes to Roots. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ BRIDGNORTH, Shropshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868. GENUKI. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Parliamentary Constituencies in the unreformed House. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Twin Towns. Bridgnorth District Council. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ History Of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. About Bridgnorth. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Hitler's secret Shropshire plans. BBC.
- ^ Bridgnorth Town Guide. BBC Shropshire. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Bridgnorth Castle. Visit Britain. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth. Engineering Timelines. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2006). Shropshire. Yale University Press, 161. ISBN 0300120834. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b Bridgnorth. Literary Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ David Preece. Luton Town. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Richard Baxter. Literary Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Up sticks to Bridgnorth, Shropshire", Shropshire Star, 2007-11-12. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock and the Severn Valley
- About Bridgnorth, Tourist and Local Information Site
- Bridgnorth Spartans Junior Football Club
- Bridgnorth Music Festival 2008
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