Cover: November 1958.
50 years ago
JL Hobbs recounted the history of Shrewsbury’s markets in the previous two centuries or so.
In 1750, markets were still carried on in the streets in various parts of the county town: butter, cheese, eggs and poultry at the Butter Cross at the top of Pride Hill; sheep in Castle Street; swine on St John’s Hill and Cross Hill; and cutlery and other goods about the Cornmarket.
By 1800, horses were no longer brought into town owing to the danger to the public, and horsefairs were subsequently held each month at three sites just outside the bridges in Abbey Foregate, Frankwell and below the castle, where the railway station now stands.
Civilised amusements had taken the place of bull- and bear-baiting, wrote Hobbs, but they weren’t without danger. One Robert Cadman was killed in 1738 while attempting to “fly” or slide down a rope affixed to the spire of St Mary’s steeple. In the following century, balloon flights could be taken from the garden adjoining the gasworks in Castle Fields.
In 1798, “the gigantic Derbyshire youth”, nearly eight feet tall, was on view at the White Lion in Raven (Castle) Street for one week. There was a touch of snobbery about the advertised admission charges: “Ladies and Gentlemen 1s., Others 6d.”
About 1850, General Tom Thumb, only three feet high, made several visits to Shrewsbury, but these were “higher up the social scale” and took place at the recently erected Music Hall.
Cover: November 2008.
Aside from the articles you can browse on this website, the print magazine contains a wealth of fascinating feature pieces and regular items to keep you entertained and informed. This month, you can also read about:
Victorian vacations . . . A south Shropshire farm labourer’s cottage which has been retained in original condition is the subject of a BBC TV series – and will soon offer holiday breaks with a difference! Neil Thomas investigates
Remembered . . . Our photographer captured some of those attending the Festival of Remembrance, held last month at Oakengates
Friends indeed . . . The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital’s League of Friends are volunteers who have hugely benefited patients and families reliant on the county town’s hospital
The graveyard shift . . . A touching inscription on a Presteigne gravestone led to an about-turn in the direction that Jen Green’s life was going. Andy Richardson tells the story
Ludlow’s ‘Mr Fixit’, Alan Poulton.
Ludlow’s Mr Fixit . . . Whether it’s organising a Millennium party for thousands, or helping preserve the natural beauty of Ludlow, Alan Poulton never shirks the hard work, as Andy Richardson discovers
Compassion in action . . . The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals is entirely dependent on fundraising to continue its activities. Shirley Tart talks to new director general Jan McLoughlin about the challenges ahead
Out and About . . . Shirley Tart’s round-up of what’s going on in the county, and our photographers record your social events
Food and drink . . . Andy Richardson’s news round-up; eating out at Chang Thai in Ludlow
Puzzles . . . Roger Squires’s monthly crossword, Toby Neal’s county conundrums, and more mental gymnastics
Mum’s the word! . . . Tracey O’Sullivan on the perils of picking a pushchair
Beauty and fashion focus . . . Sue Turner puts on the ritz; Tracey O’Sullivan visits some local outlets offering bright boosts for winter; Rebecca Lawrence tries out some exquisite coiffure; and Nathan Rous on socks appeal
Travel . . . Robin Savage goes on the warpath in northern France, and Andy Richardson finds perfect peace at Lake Vyrnwy
Gardening . . . Ken Tudor finds a host of county gardeners digging for victory
Antiques . . . The ugly truth behind toby jugs is revealed by Nick Fletcher; Neil Thomas visits a Newport auction house to look behind the scenes; news from the salerooms
Motoring . . . Tony Adams goes up in the world, and finds it an expensive place to be in a Bentley Arnage
What’s on . . . Events around the county in November
The Last Word . . . Neil Thomas muses on the manners that maketh man, and Ben Bentley goes back to boyhood
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