Bridgnorth
Encyclopedia
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. The population of the town of Bridgnorth was 11,891 at the 2001 Census
and a 2008 estimate puts it at 12,216.
. The earliest historical reference to the town is in 895, at which time it is recorded that the Danes created a camp at Cwatbridge, and subsequently in 912, Æthelfleda constructed a mound on the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.
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
. On Robert's attainder
, in 1102 the town became a royal borough. Bridgnorth's town walls were initially constructed in timber between 1216 and 1223; murage
grants allowed them to be upgraded to stone between the 13th and 15th centuries. By the 16th century, the antiquarian
John Leland reported them in ruins and of the five gates, only one survives today.
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. 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, 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 1961 the RAF initial recruit training unit was at Bridgnorth.
In 1978, Bridgnorth twinned itself with the French town of Thiers
, and later in 1992 it also twinned with the Bavaria
n town of Schrobenhausen
, Germany
that had already twinned with Thiers a few years earlier. On August 21, 2003, Bridgnorth was granted Fairtrade Town
status.
In 2005, unverified German papers dating from 1941 were found, outlining new details about Operation Sea Lion, the military plan
s of Nazi Germany
for an invasion of Britain. Two quiet Shropshire towns were mentioned in the documentation—Ludlow
and Bridgnorth. Some experts 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.
Bridgnorth is home to a funicular
railway that links the high and low towns, the Castle Hill Railway
, which is the steepest and only inland railway of its type in the country. 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.
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, was designed by Thomas Telford
; and is still used for worship. St. Leonard's
was formerly collegiate, and Bridgnorth was a Royal Peculiar
until 1856. It was subsequently largely rebuilt but is no longer used for regular worship. It has many community uses and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
.
Bishop Percys House on the Cartway was built in 1580 by Richard Forster and has been a Grade 1 listed building since 18 July 1949. It was one of the few properties of its type to survive the great fire of Bridgnorth in April 1646, and was the birth place of Thomas Percy
, the Bishop of Dromore and author of ‘Reliques of Ancient English Poetry’.
Other notable buildings in the town are the seventeenth century Bridgnorth Town Hall, a half-timbered
building, and a surviving town gate the Northgate which houses the Museum. Daniel's Mill, a well known watermill
is situated a short distance along the River Severn
from Bridgnorth.
, and a 1930s cinema (still in use), the Majestic
, originally having one screen, but now three. There is a museum, the Northgate Museum, with many artifacts connected with the town and surrounding area and is the first independent museum in Shropshire to be awarded Accreditation by the MLA http://www.bridgnorthmuseum.org.uk.. 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, New Inn, King's Head and Stable Bar, Bear, Shakespeare and Bell & Talbot.
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 Bridgnorth Endowed School
(previously named Bridgnorth Grammar School). These serve the town and its outlying villages, including Alveley
and Highley
.
For many year there was a Bridgnorth College, however this was demolished to make way for a new housing estate in the mid 2000's.
Bridgnorth Town F.C.
is 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 Rowing club is a ranked the second fastest on the Severn (from the 2010 Head Of the River results). They compete year-round in local regatta and head events and have a boat house in Bridgnorth's Severn Park. Bridgnorth RC regularly hosts an annual regatta for local clubs, and a Fun Regatta event for competitors trained from the local community.
Bridgnorth Army Cadets is the oldest Army Cadet detachment in Shropshire. The Army Cadet Force (ACF) In 2010 will be celebrating 150 years.
In 2007, Bridgnorth hosted the UK Downhill Street Race in Cycling.
In January 2010, the Kidderminster Branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts expanded to Bridgnorth providing the town with a part time performing arts school for people of ages between 6 and 18. Stagecoach Kidderminster students have performed in London's West End. The Kidderminster school, now named "Stagecoach Kidderminster & Bridgnorth" remains highly popular and successful.
Bridgnorth also has a one of the nation's first co-educational cheerleading team established in 2001 the Bridgnorth Tigers Cheerleading Club. The BTCC hold the title of national small senior team champions for 2003. They have also gained numerous regional titles since this time.
(1657–1715), the originator of Old Moore's Almanack. 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. 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, was another person born in Bridgnorth.
Notable people who received their secondary education at Bridgnorth Grammar School (now renamed Bridgnorth Endowed School
) include Dr Thomas Beddoes
, the physician and scientific writer, Professor Peter Bullock
, the Nobel Prize winning soil scientist, Rev. Robert William Eyton
, the author of The Antiquities of Shropshire, Bishop James Fraser
, the reforming Bishop of Manchester, Rev. Osborne Gordon
, the influential Oxford don, Sir John Josiah Guest
, engineer, entrepreneur, and Member of Parliament, Sir Cedric Hardwicke
, the Hollywood character actor, Ralph Lingen, 1st Baron Lingen
, an influential Victorian civil servant.
, Dr William Macmichael
, physician to Kings George IV and William IV and author of The Gold-Headed Cane, Bishop Thomas Percy, Bishop of Dromore and author of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry
, Henry John Roby
, the classical scholar, writer on Roman law, and Member of Parliament, Bishop Francis Henry Thicknesse
, inaugural Suffragan Bishop of Leicester, General Sir Charles Warren
, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police during the period of the Jack the Ripper Murders and a General in the Second Boer War, and Cyril Washbrook
, the cricketer who played for Lancashire and England. Guitarist Max Rafferty, and singer Ross Antony
, are also former students of the Endowed School.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, along the Severn Valley
Severn Valley (England)
The Severn Valley is a rural area of mid-western England, through which the River Severn runs and the Severn Valley Railway steam heritage line operates, starting at its northernmost point in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and running south for 16 miles to Bewdley, Worcestershire in the Wyre...
. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left. The population of the town of Bridgnorth was 11,891 at the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
and a 2008 estimate puts it at 12,216.
History
Bridgnorth is named after a bridge over the River Severn, that was built further north than an earlier bridge at QuatfordQuatford
Quatford is a village in the Severn Valley, Shropshire, England. It is located on the A442, just south of the town of Bridgnorth and on the bank of the River Severn.-History:...
. The earliest historical reference to the town is in 895, at which time it is recorded that the Danes created a camp at Cwatbridge, and subsequently in 912, Æthelfleda constructed a mound on the west bank of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
, or possibly on the site of Bridgnorth Castle
Bridgnorth Castle
Bridgnorth Castle is in the town of Bridgnorth, Shropshire beside the River Severn .The castle was founded in 1101 by Robert de Belleme, the son of the French Earl, Roger de Montgomery, who succeeded his father to become the Earl of Shrewsbury...
, as part of an offensive against the Danes.
After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror granted the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Bridgnorth to Roger de Montgomerie
Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
Roger de Montgomerie , also known as Roger the Great de Montgomery, was the first Earl of Shrewsbury. His father was also Roger de Montgomerie, and was a relative, probably a grandnephew, of the Duchess Gunnor, wife of Duke Richard I of Normandy...
. The town itself was not created until 1101, when Robert de Belesme, the son of Roger de Montgomerie, moved from Quatford, constructing a castle
Bridgnorth Castle
Bridgnorth Castle is in the town of Bridgnorth, Shropshire beside the River Severn .The castle was founded in 1101 by Robert de Belleme, the son of the French Earl, Roger de Montgomery, who succeeded his father to become the Earl of Shrewsbury...
and church on the site of the modern-day town. The castle's purpose was to defend against attacks from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. On Robert's attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
, in 1102 the town became a royal borough. Bridgnorth's town walls were initially constructed in timber between 1216 and 1223; murage
Murage
Murage was a medieval toll for the building or repair of town walls in England and Wales.This was granted by the king by letters patent for a limited term, but the walls were frequently not completed within the term, so that the grant was periodically renewed....
grants allowed them to be upgraded to stone between the 13th and 15th centuries. By the 16th century, the antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
John Leland reported them in ruins and of the five gates, only one survives today.
It is probable that Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
granted the burgesses certain privileges, for Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
confirmed to them all the franchises and customs which they had in the time of Henry I. King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
in 1215 granted them freedom from toll throughout England except the city of London, and in 1227 Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
conferred several new rights and liberties, among which were a gild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
merchant with a hanse. These early charters were confirmed by several succeeding kings, Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
granting in addition Assize of Bread and Ale
Assize of Bread and Ale
The Assize of Bread and Ale was a 13th-century statute in late medieval English law, which regulated the price, weight and quality of the bread and beer manufactured and sold in towns, villages and hamlets. This statute is usually attributed to act 51 Hen. III, occurring about 1266–1267. It was...
and other privileges. The burgesses returned two members to parliament in 1295, 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
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
granted them licence to hold another fair on the Thursday before the first week in Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
and two following days. The town was disfranchised in 1885.
In 1961 the RAF initial recruit training unit was at Bridgnorth.
In 1978, Bridgnorth twinned itself with the French town of Thiers
Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme
Thiers is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France. Thiers is twinned with Bridgnorth, England and Schrobenhausen, Germany.Thiers is built upon a hillside along the Durolle river valley...
, and later in 1992 it also twinned with the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n town of Schrobenhausen
Schrobenhausen
Schrobenhausen is a town in the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Paar, approx. 25 km southwest of Ingolstadt, and 35 km northeast of Augsburg....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
that had already twinned with Thiers a few years earlier. On August 21, 2003, Bridgnorth was granted Fairtrade Town
Fairtrade Town
Fairtrade Town is a status awarded by a recognized Fairtrade certification body describing an area which is committed to the promotion of Fairtrade certified goods...
status.
In 2005, unverified German papers dating from 1941 were found, outlining new details about Operation Sea Lion, the military plan
Military plan
A military operation plan is a formal plan for military armed forces, their military organizations and units to conduct operations, as drawn up by commanders within the combat operations process in achieving objectives before or during a conflict...
s of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
for an invasion of Britain. Two quiet Shropshire towns were mentioned in the documentation—Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
and Bridgnorth. Some experts believe that it was Hitler's
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
intention to make Bridgnorth the German headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
in Britain, due to its central position in the UK, rural location, rail connections and now-disused airfield.
Landmarks
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
railway that links the high and low towns, the Castle Hill Railway
Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, also known as the Bridgnorth Funicular Railway or Castle Hill Railway, is a funicular railway in the town of Bridgnorth in the English county of Shropshire...
, which is the steepest and only inland railway of its type in the country. Additionally, within the Low Town is Bridgnorth railway station
Bridgnorth railway station
Bridgnorth railway station is a station on the Severn Valley Railway heritage line, serving the Shropshire town of Bridgnorth, England. It is currently the northern terminus of the SVR, home to the main engine shed and a large gift shop amongst other facilities.-History:Bridgnorth station was not...
on the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
, which runs southwards to Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
.
The ruins of Bridgnorth Castle
Bridgnorth Castle
Bridgnorth Castle is in the town of Bridgnorth, Shropshire beside the River Severn .The castle was founded in 1101 by Robert de Belleme, the son of the French Earl, Roger de Montgomery, who succeeded his father to become the Earl of Shrewsbury...
, built in 1101, are present in the town. Due to damage caused during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, the castle is inclined at an angle of 15 degrees.
High Town is dominated by two Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
churches. St. Mary's Church
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth, is a Parish Church in the Church of England.-Early history:The College of St. Mary Magdalen, Bridgnorth was founded as a royal free chapel, and its church was in the royal castle at Bridgnorth....
, a church built in the classic style of the late 18th century, was designed by Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
; and is still used for worship. St. Leonard's
St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth
St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth, is a redundant Anglican church in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.-History:...
was formerly collegiate, and Bridgnorth was a Royal Peculiar
Royal Peculiar
A Royal Peculiar is a place of worship that falls directly under the jurisdiction of the British monarch, rather than under a bishop. The concept dates from Anglo-Saxon times, when a church could ally itself with the monarch and therefore not be subject to the bishop of the area...
until 1856. It was subsequently largely rebuilt but is no longer used for regular worship. It has many community uses and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
.
Bishop Percys House on the Cartway was built in 1580 by Richard Forster and has been a Grade 1 listed building since 18 July 1949. It was one of the few properties of its type to survive the great fire of Bridgnorth in April 1646, and was the birth place of Thomas Percy
Thomas Percy
Thomas Percy was Bishop of Dromore. Before being made bishop, he was chaplain to George III. Percy's greatest contribution is considered to be his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry , the first of the great ballad collections, which was the one work most responsible for the ballad revival in...
, the Bishop of Dromore and author of ‘Reliques of Ancient English Poetry’.
Other notable buildings in the town are the seventeenth century Bridgnorth Town Hall, a half-timbered
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
building, and a surviving town gate the Northgate which houses the Museum. Daniel's Mill, a well known watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
is situated a short distance along the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
from Bridgnorth.
Culture
There is a theatre, the Theatre On The StepsTheatre On The Steps
The Theatre On The Steps is a theatre in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. It was formed in 1962 in a converted church dating from 1829, on the site of an older, demolished chapel dating from 1709....
, and a 1930s cinema (still in use), the Majestic
Majestic Cinema, Bridgnorth
The Majestic Cinema is the only working cinema in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. It opened in 1937, and has three screens, a large screen with around 330 seats and two small with around 80 seats...
, originally having one screen, but now three. There is a museum, the Northgate Museum, with many artifacts connected with the town and surrounding area and is the first independent museum in Shropshire to be awarded Accreditation by the MLA http://www.bridgnorthmuseum.org.uk.. 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, New Inn, King's Head and Stable Bar, Bear, Shakespeare and Bell & Talbot.
Education
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
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
Oldbury Wells School
Oldbury Wells School is a comprehensive school in Bridgnorth, England. The 2010 Ofsted inspection lists the school as "the best school in shropshire" having 1,034 pupils, 224 of whom are in the sixth form...
and Bridgnorth Endowed School
Bridgnorth endowed school
Bridgnorth Endowed School is a co-educational secondary school in the market town of Bridgnorth in the rural county of Shropshire, England, founded in 1503. The Endowed School is a state school and is a specialist Technology College. The age range of the School is 11–18 years.The school celebrated...
(previously named Bridgnorth Grammar School). These serve the town and its outlying villages, including Alveley
Alveley
Alveley is a village and civil parish in south east Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley on the east side of the River Severn. It has appeared in records dating back to AD50....
and Highley
Highley
Highley is a large village in Shropshire, England, on the west bank of the River Severn and on the B4555 road. Highley has a population of approximately 3,100, but is beset by transport problems due to the lack of a road bridge, resulting in a high unemployment rate.-History:Highley began as a...
.
For many year there was a Bridgnorth College, however this was demolished to make way for a new housing estate in the mid 2000's.
Sport and clubs
Bridgnorth Spartans Juniors Football Club is one of the biggest junior football clubs in Shropshire, running a number of junior and adult teams. These teams include boys' teams, ranging from Under-8s to Under-15s, girls' teams and women's teams. They also run a crèche for 3 to 7 year-olds at Oldbury Wells 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.Bridgnorth Town F.C.
Bridgnorth Town F.C.
Bridgnorth Town F.C. are a football club based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase...
is the local football club, based in Bridgnorth. They joined the Worcestershire Combination
Midland Football Combination
The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions...
in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
. They won the championship of the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division in 2008.
Bridgnorth Rowing club is a ranked the second fastest on the Severn (from the 2010 Head Of the River results). They compete year-round in local regatta and head events and have a boat house in Bridgnorth's Severn Park. Bridgnorth RC regularly hosts an annual regatta for local clubs, and a Fun Regatta event for competitors trained from the local community.
Bridgnorth Army Cadets is the oldest Army Cadet detachment in Shropshire. The Army Cadet Force (ACF) In 2010 will be celebrating 150 years.
In 2007, Bridgnorth hosted the UK Downhill Street Race in Cycling.
In January 2010, the Kidderminster Branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts expanded to Bridgnorth providing the town with a part time performing arts school for people of ages between 6 and 18. Stagecoach Kidderminster students have performed in London's West End. The Kidderminster school, now named "Stagecoach Kidderminster & Bridgnorth" remains highly popular and successful.
Bridgnorth also has a one of the nation's first co-educational cheerleading team established in 2001 the Bridgnorth Tigers Cheerleading Club. The BTCC hold the title of national small senior team champions for 2003. They have also gained numerous regional titles since this time.
Notable residents
A number of notable people have been born in or lived in Bridgnorth, including Francis MooreFrancis Moore (astrologer)
Francis Moore was a British physician and astrologer who wrote and published Old Moore's Almanack.He was born into poverty in Bridgnorth. Moore was self-educated, learning to read by himself, and became a physician and astrologer...
(1657–1715), the originator of Old Moore's Almanack. Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
(November 12, 1615 - December 8, 1691) the English Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
church leader, divine scholar and controversialist, called by Dean Stanley "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen" lived in Bridgnorth town centre, in 1640. 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, was another person born in Bridgnorth.
Bridgnorth endowed school
Bridgnorth Endowed School is a co-educational secondary school in the market town of Bridgnorth in the rural county of Shropshire, England, founded in 1503. The Endowed School is a state school and is a specialist Technology College. The age range of the School is 11–18 years.The school celebrated...
) include Dr Thomas Beddoes
Thomas Beddoes
Thomas Beddoes , English physician and scientific writer, was born at Shifnal in Shropshire. He was a reforming practitioner and teacher of medicine, and an associate of leading scientific figures. Beddoes was a friend of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and, according to E. S...
, the physician and scientific writer, Professor Peter Bullock
Peter Bullock (scientist)
Peter Bullock was a soil scientist whose initial work in the field of soil micromorphology preceded an interest in land degradation...
, the Nobel Prize winning soil scientist, Rev. Robert William Eyton
Robert William Eyton
-Life and career:Robert William Eyton was born in 1815. He was the son of Reverend John Eyton. He was educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Eyton then went up to Christ Church College, Oxford. He went on to become the Rector at Ryton, Shropshire. He married Mary Watts in...
, the author of The Antiquities of Shropshire, Bishop James Fraser
James Fraser (bishop)
James Fraser was a reforming Anglican bishop of Manchester, England. An able Church administrator and policy leader, he was active in developing the Church's approach to education and in practical politics and industrial relations...
, the reforming Bishop of Manchester, Rev. Osborne Gordon
Osborne Gordon
Osborne Gordon was an influential Oxford college tutor and Church of England Clergyman.- Life :Osborne Gordon was born in Broseley, Shropshire. He was educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School and Christ Church College, Oxford University. He served as proctor, censor at Christ Church and University...
, the influential Oxford don, Sir John Josiah Guest
John Josiah Guest
Sir Josiah John Guest, 1st Baronet, known as John Josiah Guest, was a Welsh engineer and entrepreneur.-Life:Born in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, as the son of Thomas Guest, a partner in the Dowlais Iron Company...
, engineer, entrepreneur, and Member of Parliament, Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Cedric Hardwicke
Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke was a noted English stage and film actor whose career spanned nearly fifty years...
, the Hollywood character actor, Ralph Lingen, 1st Baron Lingen
Ralph Lingen, 1st Baron Lingen
Ralph Robert Wheeler Lingen, 1st Baron Lingen KCB was an English civil servant.-Background and education:...
, an influential Victorian civil servant.
, Dr William Macmichael
William Macmichael
William Macmichael was a physician and medical biographer, remembered as the author of The Gold-Headed Cane .-Life and career:...
, physician to Kings George IV and William IV and author of The Gold-Headed Cane, Bishop Thomas Percy, Bishop of Dromore and author of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry
The Reliques of Ancient English Poetry is a collection of ballads and popular songs collected by Thomas Percy and published in 1765.-Sources:...
, Henry John Roby
Henry John Roby
Henry John Roby , was an English classical scholar and writer on Roman law, and a Liberal Member of Parliament.-Early life and Cambridge:...
, the classical scholar, writer on Roman law, and Member of Parliament, Bishop Francis Henry Thicknesse
Francis Henry Thicknesse
Francis Henry Thicknesse was the inaugural Suffragan Bishop of Leicester from 1888 until 1903.He was born Francis Henry Coldwell, son of the Revd William Edward Coldwell, Prebendary of Lichfield and Rector of Stafford...
, inaugural Suffragan Bishop of Leicester, General Sir Charles Warren
Charles Warren
General Sir Charles Warren, GCMG, KCB, FRS was an officer in the British Royal Engineers. He was one of the earliest European archaeologists of Biblical Holy Land, and particularly of Temple Mount...
, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police during the period of the Jack the Ripper Murders and a General in the Second Boer War, and Cyril Washbrook
Cyril Washbrook
Cyril Washbrook was an English cricketer, who played for Lancashire and England. He had a long career, split by World War II, and ending when he was aged 44. Washbrook, who is most famous for opening the batting for England with Len Hutton, which he did fifty one times, played a total of 592...
, the cricketer who played for Lancashire and England. Guitarist Max Rafferty, and singer Ross Antony
Ross Antony
Ross Anthony Catterall ; is a British-German musical actor; better known by his stage name Ross Antony. He attended Bridgnorth Endowed School. He rose to fame as a member of the R&B/Pop group Bro'Sis...
, are also former students of the Endowed School.
Closest cities, towns and villages
External links
- Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock and the Severn Valley
- About Bridgnorth, Tourist and Local Information Site
- Discover Bridgnorth, Bridgnorth Guided Tours
- Bishop Percys House, Bridgnorth
- Bridgnorth Spartans Junior Football Club
- Bridgnorth Music and Arts Festival 2010
- Haunted Bridgnorth
- Paranormal United | Ghost Hunting Bridgnorth
- Daniels Mill Bridgnorth
- Bridgnorth Army Cadets
- Aerial photographs of Bridgnorth.
- Mole and Rabbit Control.
- Bridgnorth Guide