The Battle of Shrewsbury 1403 - Shrewsbury History Part 12

Our video below is our interpretation of the events of the Battle of Shrewsbury 1403, and the video is Part 12 of our Shrewsbury History. Please be aware that the images have been selected for illustrative purposes, for the best entertainment value, not accuracy.

This page covers the events in our Part. 11, of the Story of Shrewsbury.

Watch our Part 11 story of Shrewsbury video below. However, if you prefer to read text, scroll on down, because we have added a transcription of our video below:

The Battle of Shrewsbury 1403 

The Battle of Shrewsbury was fought at the place named "Battlefield" to the north of the town.

Before we talk history. May we suggest a visit to the site?

You can easily explore the site of the brutal battle, fought between King Henry IV, and the rebellious Harry Hotspur, six hundred years ago.

If you want to get a feel for where it took place, watch out at the end of this video, and make a note of the web site, where you can download the directions to the start of the 1.5 mile long public footpath.

Walk the footpath, and as you walk read the downloadable map, which also explains the events of the battle and assumed locations.

Now let's talk about what happened during the Battle of Shrewsbury.

To recap on the last video; Harry Hotspur was the son of a powerful northern lord.

He’d marched south from Northumberland hoping to raise an army to fight the new King.

The rebel Owain Glyndwr had also promised him help from Wales, but Glyndwr’s Welsh army never arrived.

Harry’s army were tired from walking and hadn’t had breakfast.

But, despite the absense of Owain Glyndwr's men, Hotspur fought heroically.

Eventually in desperation, followed by thirty of his best knights, he galloped at full speed into Henry's army, straight toward the place where the royal standard had been set up.

The force of the charge was tremendous.

The royal banner was beaten to the ground; the Prince of Wales was wounded in the face, and many of Henry IV's closest followers were killed.

Hotspur reigned in his panting horse, sheathed his blood stained sword, and raised his visor.
The next moment, as he got a clear view of the battlefield; "a cloth yard arrow, barbed with steel, pierced him between the eyes, and for a moment stood quivering on his head".

"In an instant the young hero of the marches of the north dropped dead."

It is said that Glyndwr had by this time reached Shelton, a few miles away on the opposite side of the Severn.

Climbing an oak to view the scene of the battle, he saw that his allies were being overwhelmed.
Instead of going to their help he retreated into Wales.

It is said that a hundred thousand arrows fell in the first minute of the battle.

Thousands died in the first five minutes.

Text based upon The Story of Shrewsbury, by Richard Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993.

Images were used of the Battlefield walk, and, a very useful .pdf formatted Battlefield Walk route map is available at: http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/

Images are for entertainment purposes and not necessarily accurate depictions (or even of the correct century!).

Run Up to the Battle of Shrewsbury: Richard II's Demise at the Hand of Henry IV, Owain Glendower, and Harry Hotspur: Pt. 11

There is a lot in this video instalment of the events in the period before the Battle of Shrewsbury. It includes Richard II's demise, at the hand of Henry IV, Owain Glendower, and Harry Hotspur. Harry Hotspur, joined up with Owain to fight Henry IV.

This page covers the events in our Part. 11, of the Story of Shrewsbury.

Watch our Part 11 story of Shrewsbury video below. However, if you prefer to read text, scroll on down, because we have added a transcription of our video below:

Only a year after Richard II had called another parliament to Shrewsbury, in 1399, he was imprisoned and deposed by the Duke of Lancaster.

Not content with unseating Richard II, he was soon murdered by the Duke, who then named himself King Henry IV.

By 1401, only 2 years after Henry II's Shrewsbury Parliament had reigned supreme, the Welsh Prince Owain Glendower commanded an uprising against Henry IV who he saw as an impostor.

On one occasion when Henry IV was on his way to attack Owain's men, it is said that Owain called down a gale of wind that blew down the king's tent.

As that happened it is said to have overturned his standard so heavily that the spear point entered the king's side.

Hostilities hotted-up further in 1402 when Owain Glendower agreed a coalition with a baron named  Harry Percy  (also known as Hotspur), and local landowners "the Mortimers".

Both Hotspur's rebel army, and the Royal army advanced upon Shrewsbury to do battle, but when Hotspur reached the suburbs he saw that Henry IV's banner was already flying above the castle battlements.

So, he retreated a little distance to the north of Shrewsbury, making camp in Little Berwick.
Hotspur wanted to avoid the battle starting, until Glendower could join him with another army.
But, he was not given the time because the very next day Henry IV marched his army out
to them and the Battle of Shrewsbury began.

Watch our Next Shrewsbury Story Video (Part 12) to find out what happened during the Battle of Shrewsbury!

Text based upon The Story of Shrewsbury, by Richard Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993.

NOTE: While images of the main characters are referenced to that person, all other images are purely illustrative and for entertainment purposes.

Dogpole - Historic Shrewsbury Street Names Part 2

It seems that serious historians say the story about the origin of Dogpole is that the unusual street name is obscure and there are no plausible explanations.

I prefer the explanation provided by Martin Wood (Town Crier) who is probably more steeped in Shrewsbury history than almost anyone alive. 

In part, this is probably because as town crier, and a Shrewsbury tour guide from time to time, he has received feedback to his tours from knowledgeable people and generally more access to this information than most other people.

Using Martin Wood's article on the "Love Shrewsbury" website we created the following video to explain how Dogpole got its name:

To read Martin's article click here.

To quote from Martin's explanation is short and simple, as follows:

"... it could be that I tell our American visitors that in medieval times dogs were not allowed in the town so they had to tie them to a post hence a dog-pole! 

But, the real reason is that part of the old inner town wall ran across this street and there was a small gate that people had to duck to get through so "Duck-hole" or, Dogpole, came into being.

How the "duck hole" of Dogpole may have looked

NOTE: All images, apart from the pics of Dogpole buildings, are for entertainment purposes and do not depict the actual walls or "hole".

Shrewsbury Becomes 3rd Largest Population Centre in ALL England - History of Shrewsbury Part 10

History of Shrewsbury Part:10 - Shrewsbury Becomes 3rd Largest Population Centre in ALL England and the Ducking Stool!

We hope that you find this instalment of our Shrewsbury History Video Series interesting. You can ether watch it by clicking the embedded video below, or scroll on down and read the story.

Apart from the major set-back of the Black Death (See SoS Part 9), Shrewsbury experienced peace and prosperity for more than a hundred years from the 1280s to the 1380s.

The River Severn was then navigable all the way from Bristol.

After the River Thames, it was the most important inland waterway in England, at a time when roads hardly existed.

Enormous quantities of trade passed up and down the Severn.

By the 1380s, Shrewsbury had recovered from the struggles, and the population had risen back to pre-Black Death levels, to become the third largest centre of population after London and York.

All the main towns built market halls, most of which were in continual use from those days until recent modernisations.

Shrewsbury's first market hall was built in "The Square" in 1260, and stood until 1596 when the present "Old Market Hall", now a cinema, was built.

In front of the Market Hall in the Square there was a pool or bog.

It is said that this pool was called the Bishop's Pool and that it was the ducking pool used for punishment of nagging wives and dishonest traders, from about 1292.

The offender was tied to a chair called the cucking stool or ducking stool, exposed to public derision and then immersed in water.

The women had no equivalent method of punishing bad behaviour in their husbands!

Since 2004, when the council owned Old Market Hall was restored as a cinema and cafe,
the lovely old building has again become a very popular town attraction.

Text based upon The Story of Shrewsbury, by Richard Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993 w

https://facebook.com/shrewsburymemories with additions from www.oldmarkethall.co.uk and www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk

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The Dana - Historic Shrewsbury Street Names Part 1

Shrewsbury Street Names - The Dana

The Dana is one of the more intriguing Shrewsbury place names, especially for visitors!

It starts with steep steps as a walkway from Castle Street, continues around the Castle, and across the railway, and then becomes a street skirting the Prison until it merges with Victoria Street.

Click on image to enlarge.

The Dana (pronounced ‘Danner’, not ‘Darner’) is named after Rev Edmund Dana (1739-1823), who was Vicar of Wroxeter, Eaton Constantine, Harley and Aston Botterell, all apparently at the same time!

He did not live in any of these places, however, but in Castle Gates House, the black and white house near the Castle entrance.

He had a reputation for being a very eccentric character, but he was a magistrate, Hence, his interest in improving the rough path that wound around the Castle.

Powerful Dana Connections

His wife, Helen Dana was related to the powerful Vane family, through whose influence Edmund had became the Vicar of Wroxeter, and later other Parishes.

Helen Dana was also related to William Pulteney, who owned Shrewsbury Castle, which is presumably why the Danas (who eventually had 13 children, nine girls and four boys), lived in Castle Gates House.

Thomas Telford, another protégé of William Pulteney, arrived in Shrewsbury in 1786, initially to superintend the rebuilding of the Castle, so one assumes that he advised Dana on the re-engineering of the path, which was finished in 1790.

The text of this video is based upon an article by Dr. A Pattison at http://shrewsburylocalhistory.org.uk/dana.htm

Message us at www.anaerobic-digestion.com/advertising/ for a quote for your video!

The Black Death - Shrewsbury Family and Friends are Dying TSOS Part 9

Imagine Family and Friends Dying Around You and Nobody Knows Why: The Black Death - Story of Shrewsbury Pt. 9.

In 1349, Shrewsbury suffered like all other towns in England, from the ravages of the Black Death, which carried off a third of the population.

Watch our video below, to learn more about the Black Death in the town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK:

Crosses were painted on the doors of those houses where the plague had struck; and at night carts drove through the streets to carry away the dead, and bury them in mass graves.

Halfway up Grope Lane, where the rubbish bin now stands, used to be St. Martins Chapel.
It is believed that under this chapel was one of the three Plague pits that we had in the town.

Around 2,000 of the 9,500 Shrewsbury folk who succumbed to the black death -
are thought to be buried in the pit, but sadly all traces of the chapel are long gone,
and others were buried in Kingsland, on the other side of the river.

It was most likely carried by rat fleas living on the rats of the time.

It has been calculated that one-fourth of the population of Europe died, or 25,000,000 persons.

Yes. 25 million people are thought to have died in Europe alone!

It was truly terrible, and although it accentuated tensions between rich and poor, historians believe that society held together remarkably well.

There was no descent into savagery of the sort depicted at times in popular TV series,
such as the "Walking Dead".

Far from falling into social chaos, the inhabitants of districts from which all authority figures had fled, and, to which farmers and merchants no longer brought food, continued to work, bury the dead, and, even take economic advantage of the plague
by taking over the supply and sale of food and other essentials.

Historic Text: The Story of Shrewsbury, Robert Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993, and www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history.

Plus, Grope Lane info from our Town Crier Martin Wood.

Coming soon. Peace and prosperity in Shrewsbury!

How to Discover the History of Shrewsbury - from a Canoe!

Yes. We are going to tell you how to discover the history of Shrewsbury from a Canoe on the River Severn Loop!

The conducted tour starts at Frankwell, and ends at the weir in Castlefields.

It's easy and fun - simply join in on, a "Paddle into the Past" organised group in 2018,
for a unique historical tour of Shrewsbury around the Severn as it loops around the town.

You will be travelling with the river current, so there is very little effort to be expended in the paddling!

See where skirmishes and plunder took place during the Welsh wars:

• hear about evidence of the Vikings, 
• see the relics of the river trade, 
• listen to stories of past Shrewsbury floods, 
• be appalled at the sight of real Victorian health-hazards, and more, 

all with our archaeologist "tour guide with a difference" - Dr Nigel Baker.

Watch our video below which explains all about Shrewsbury Loop Canoe Trips:

You may even have already seen them on TV!

The organisers of "Paddle into the Past" were recently featured on the More4 TV series, "Discovering Britain", with Michael Beurk.

All degrees of mobility accommodated in stabilised canoes with professional staff, Dates available from May 2018,

Book now to avoid disappointment.

All gear is provided, and no previous experience is necessary.

You can book online, or telephone 01743 365022

Further details: info@docanoe.com
TICKETS £25 Adults, under 16s £15,
and under 16's must be accompanied by an adult.

Brutal Shrewsbury Beheadings in the Reign of Edward I - Story Part 8

The Story of Shrewsbury Part 8: Shrewsbury Beheadings - How Two Brothers Get Their Heads Chopped-Off in 1282

Watch our video, immediately below, which explains this horrible chapter in the history of Shrewsbury town:

During the reign Edward I (1239 - 1307) who built the hall, now the Shrewsbury Castle Museum, in the Castle Grounds there were two further Welsh uprisings.

After the second, 1282, the Welsh King Llewelyn II was defeated and killed.

His severed head was impaled on a spike at the Tower of London.

Not long after that, his brother David was also captured and brought to Shrewsbury.

A parliament was called, and it met in the Chapter House of Shrewsbury Abbey.

Parliament condemned David to death.

He was hung, drawn and quartered at the High Cross in Castle-Gates.

Afterwards, his head was also sent to London and impaled next to his brother's.

Surely these are the most brutal Shrewsbury Beheadings you have ever heard of, including at  anywhere else?

Shrewsbury Abbey - Where is the Benedictine Monastery Now - Story of Shr...

The Story of Shrewsbury Part 6: Where is the Benedictine Monastery Now?

In Shrewsbury as elsewhere throughout the UK the Catholic monasteries for a very long time. In fact Shrewsbury monastery existed for more than 400 years. The end came when Henry VIII asked for annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and the church in Rome refused. So, in 1534 Henry VIII decread that the Church of England be separated from the Roman Catholic Church.

That led to Shrewsbury Monastery, which was by then much in need of repair, being sold and falling into further decay.

Ancient pulpit (C) Geograph-1732941-by-John-S-Turner

Those that took an interest in history at school may remember that the Church of England became the established church by an Act of Parliament, in the "Act of Supremacy". That was the start of a series of events known as the "English Reformation", but there was no dramatic sacking and burning of Shrewsbury Abbey. According to Wikipedia, the lead from the roof was removed, leading to decay and eventual collapse.

Some evidence of the monastic buildings remained until the famous Engineer, Thomas Telford, built his A5 road through the Abbey grounds c.1836. It was during that roadbuilding that they removed much of the remaining evidence of the monastic layout.

However, the old refectory pulpit is still visible across the road from the church, and a single wall of an Abbey building still stands as an integral part of another building.

The Abbey's Church that you can visit today had always doubled as the church for the Abbey Foregate parish, and has continued in that use. The western part of the Abbey Church (nave, side aisles, porch and west tower) have survived as parts of the parish church.

In the late 19th century the possibility of the Abbey becoming a cathedral again was considered. A bill to make that happen was drafted in 1922. But, in 1926 the plans for Shrewsbury Cathedral were defeated by just one vote, in the House of Lords.

The Story of Shrewsbury Part 5 - Roger and Edric Castles and Abbey

Transcription: 

The Story of Shrewsbury 1066 to 1094, Wild Edric's Siege and Benedictine Abbey Building

The Norman Castle now dominated the town, and so did Roger!

In fact, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT Roger of Montgomery (the first Earl) of Shrewsbury,

who had good reason to be big on castles!

Because, the people of Shropshire resisted his Norman rule at first.

Their leader was 'WILD' EDRIC

In 1069 Edric Sylvaticus (known as Wild Edric) struck an alliance with the Welsh.

...and led the men of Shropshire,Hereford and Cheshire

in a siege of Shrewsbury.

This was only partly successful and, after burning part of the town, they left.

Roger (the first Earl of Shrewsbury, built about 70 other castles in all, including Ludlow Castle.

Shropshire quickly became the most heavily fortified county in Norman England.

The castles helped protect Roger's earthly power and in time his rule became less harsh, giving him time for pious thought.

He worried about the state of his soul, and set about his great work of church building.

At that time, a little wooden church existed near the bank of the River Seven, on the English or east side of Scrobbes-byrig.

Earl Roger decided that this should be replaced by a new stone church, at the heart of a great Benedictine Abbey.

Roger clearly knew how to get things done, and that's how Shrewsbury got it's Abbey.

He pushed the work ahead rapidly in the years before 1094.

At last, in 1094 the Abbey was complete.

His intention was to retire to it.

He abandoned his wealth and power and became a simple monk.

Sadly for him though, we are told that he only lived 3 days, as a monk, before he died!

Historical text derived from: "The Story of Shrewsbury" by Richard Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993, and www.shropshirehistory.com.

History of Shrewsbury The Normans Shrewsbury Castle Lauras Tower - Pt 4

Transription: THE HISTORY OF SHREWSBURY PART 4: THE NORMANS

When the Normans occupied Shrewsbury, they did as they had done elsewhere.

'A time of invasion and battle fortifications'.

They found a suitable site from which to dominate the town, dug a circular moat.

This image shows the type of moat thought to be similar (this one is not in  Shrewsbury).

They threw the earth into the centre to form a mound, (This picture is of 'The Moat' in Dundonald, for example.)

and on that mound they erected a wooden Keep.

(This picture shows an archaeological reconstruction in France of a wooden Norman keep.)

The site they chose (which may have looked similar to this slide), is now occupied by Laura's Tower.

This is the modern-day Laura's Tower.

The commanding view meant that the Normans could easily watch for enemies.

Imagine the view without the castle.

TRUST ME! That did not exist at the time. Keep watching! Explained later.

Here is another shot of the present Laura's Tower.

In order to secure his borders against the Welsh, William the Conqueror gave enormous powers to three of his followers.

They became the Palatinate Earls of Chester, Shrewsbury and Hereford.

(This is a portrait of William the Conquerer.)

Roger of Montgomery, a kinsman of the Conqueror, was created the first Earl of Shrewsbury in 1074.

And, he immediately began rebuilding the original wooden castle.

By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, he had swept away 51 houses, to make room for a much more substantial Castle, including the secure walled area of an 'inner bailey'.

And, a further fifty houses had been demolished near the Castle to create a vast 'outer bailey',

which stretched right down to present-day Castle Street.

The Norman gateway is the only part of Earl Roger's original building which still survives.

BUT, you won't believe this! Shrewsbury Castle LOOKS INCREDIBLY ancient, but isn't Norman, & wasn't started until c1300.

Now. watch out for the History of Shrewsbury, Part 5 - coming soon!

The Story Of Shrewsbury - Part 2 From Pengwern to Scrobbes-byrig. Anglo-Saxon Shrewsbury

This "Story of Shrewsbury" video is about the period just after he first settlers arrived in Shrewsbury.

When the citizens of Wroxeter settled in what we now call Shrewsbury, they called their new town Pengwern.

Pengwern means simply "the fenced-in hill-top with Alders". So, it was here that the Britons stayed and since it commanded the River Severn whose board valley provide done of the only safe means of passage into the mountains of Wales, it grew in importance.

You can also view this on the YouTube website here.

The importance of the strategic position of Pengwern was soon recognised.

In the year 617 Briochel Yscithrog, King of Powys, which at that time included a large part of modern-day Shropshire, chose Pengwern as his capital. The connection continued and his descendents ruled from the town until about 760.

Part 3 The Story of Saxon Shrewsbury Up to 1066 and All That

Pt. 3 - Saxon Shrewsbury Up to 1066 and All That!

Scrobbes-byrig (Shrewsbury) flourished as a Saxon town.

It had its own mint in the early 900s, during the reign of King Alfred's son Edward the Elder.

The mint produced coins for the Saxon kings, and, in 2015 the Shropshire Star reported on an auction of one of the coins. 

This coin, worth a penny when it was created in Shrewsbury more than 1,000 years ago, was sold for more than £500 in 2015.

The mint had closed by the time of the Norman invasion in 1066.

In 1006 the Kingdom of Pengwern was organised into "shires" (smaller areas of administration). and "Scrobbesbyrigscire" (Shropshire), was created.

So, even in 1006, people were still evidently talking about the "town of scrubby bushes" (Scrobbes-byrig) for many years to come.

...That's quite a tongue-twister! Try saying it out loud. NOW!

AND, it gets worse!

...You got it! They even named the whole COUNTY after those "scrubby bushes" (alders)!

That happened when "Scrobbesbyrigscire", became the County name of what we now call "Shropshire".

Moving on to a new subject.

The County Sheriff was a powerful man, and acted on behalf of the king.

He had the authority to collect taxes and raise armies for attacks into Wales.

He was also responsible for enforcing law and order.

Presumably attacking Wales was a perfectly respectable thing, in those days!

Maybe, it was tit for tat?

Also in 1006 King "Aethelred the Unready" spent the winter in Shrewsbury.

Translation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles states "Unready" to mean “poor counsel”, “evil counsel” or “unwise".

By the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 the town was important enough to be called a city, and Included within its walls four churches and two hundred and fifty-two houses. But, it's was still only the size of one average housing estate!

Historical Text from: The Story of Shrewsbury, R. Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993.

And, www.shropshire history.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgStNKgiYZuxQXqwHujxLew