 Central
Shropshire |
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Here are a few of them.
Albrighton is a large, attractive village, east of Telford on the border of the county close to Wolverhampton. There is little to mark the border between the counties now, but at one time crossing the border must have been similar to visiting another country. It was for this reason that Albrighton was formerly a Borough Incorporate. It received its charter in 1303, and was renewed in 1662 for rather unusual reasons. The charter declared that "because Albrighton (then) adjoined Staffordshire on the east, south and west sides, felons and other malefactors fled Staffordshire to escape prosecution because there was no resident justice of the peace in that part of Shropshire." The church of St. Mary Magdalene is believed to have been founded in the 13th century. It is a fine red sandstone building, with some interesting tombs and memorials, which has been restored in the Decorated style, and much of it dates from the mid-19th century. Opposite the church stands the Shrewsbury Arms, a half-timbered building with interesting patterns in the brickwork. This building is believed to have been the Hall and residence of the Talbots.
Berrington is a village and parish immediately to the south of Shrewsbury, away from the main roads. It is a village of pleasant houses, some of them having been built in recent years, and a magnificent church which dates back to the 13th century with foundations which are believed to go back to Saxon times. Of the many treasures in the church, the most interesting is the figure of a knight carved from a solid piece of oak. He lies with his legs crossed, his head on a cushion, his hands in prayer and with a lion at his feet. He has been described as a Knight Templar of the late 13th century, but this identity seems to have been lost in time. Unless, that is, you accept for truth the story that it is Old Scriven of Frodesley (four miles to the south) who, whilst going to visit his lady at Eaton Mascott, was attacked by a lion which he proceeded to cut in two with one blow of his mighty sword. In the encounter he apparently received a cut to his face, and the scar is reproduced on his effigy.   |
The
parish of Acton Burnell,
eight miles southeast of Shrewsbury, lies in a semi-circle around Acton
Burnell Park. The name 'Burnell' comes from Robert Burnell, first a
clerk in the service of Prince Edward, the eldest son of King Henry
III. In 1260 he was involved with the Prince's affairs in Wales and the
Marches. He was at the Prince's side at his succession, became
Chancellor in September 1274 and a few months later was elected Bishop
of Bath and Wells. He was a statesman, a clever and capable man, and
probably leaning more towards the law than to God as his political
record implies. Certainly he was ambitious, but not selfishly so. His
family obviously counted for much, as most probably did the people of
his estates. (It is said he had possessions in nineteen counties and
owned eighty-two manors!)
The
village of Atcham,
just south-east of Shrewsbury, is clustered around the entrance to
Attingham Park and the parish church. The fine old 11th-century church
is the only one in England to be dedicated to St. Eata, and it stands
on the banks of the river Severn a few yards downstream from where the
old A5 crosses the river. Outside the church, it is a picturesque
setting of church, village and river. Inside all is peace, as it should
be in God's house. One cannot stand inside this church and not be moved
by its splendid simplicity. Presumably, the present church was built on
the site of an earlier structure, as much of the north wall is of Saxon
construction, built mainly with stone from the nearby Roman city of
Viriconium, and some stones in the church still bear traces of Roman
design. Across the road from the village of Atcham stands the main
entrance to Attingham Park, once the home of the Berwick family and now
in the hands of the National Trust.