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!