48-451: Burcote is a village near Bridgnorth in Shropshire , England. [REDACTED] Media related to Burcote at Wikimedia Commons This Shropshire location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bridgnorth Bridgnorth is a town and civil parish in Shropshire , England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on
96-464: 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 were additionally granted two fairs: a yearly fair on the feast of the Translation of St Leonard and the three following days was granted in 1359, and in 1630 Charles I granted them licence to hold another fair on
144-482: A market town at the centre of a system of local radial roads linking it with more rural, smaller settlements. Many of these roads crossed Bridgnorth at the point on the High Street where the town hall now stands. The River Severn historically also played a major role as a trading connection for the town, but is no longer generally navigable this far upstream. Bridgnorth is connected to Shrewsbury and Stourbridge by
192-686: A daughter of Henry Nevill, 9th Baron Bergavenny and his second wife Catherine Vaux, and they had three children. Howard died on 22 April 1653 at the Hall in the Forest and was buried at Clun , after which his wife remarried John Berry A brass plaque in St George's church in Clun, stating his age as 63, commemorated Robert Howard's life. Howard's probable illegitimate son Robert was recognised by his mother's husband as his son and heir. He became 2nd Viscount Purbeck, after
240-524: A few years earlier. On 21 August 2003 Bridgnorth was granted Fairtrade Town status. The town is located in the Severn Valley , where the river passes through a relatively narrow valley with largely-wooded slopes. High Town, the part of the town sited on the west side of the Severn, is built on a notable promontory , at the southern end of which the castle was constructed, and is known as Castle Hill. Low Town
288-569: A member of parliament for Bishops Castle in Shropshire and was chosen again at many subsequent elections, including the two during 1640 for the Short and Long parliaments. During the second, the Star Chamber made adverse findings with regard to Howard, but they were deemed unlawful and all of those involved were fined, with Howard receiving one thousand pounds in compensation. Howard's credentials as
336-598: 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. Earliest names for Bridgnorth include Brigge, Brug and Bruges, all referring to its position on the Severn. After the Norman conquest , William I granted the manor of Bridgnorth to Roger de Montgomerie . The town itself was not created until 1101, when Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury ,
384-533: A regiment of dragoons and was in charge of Bridgnorth Castle when it was surrendered to the Parliamentarians in 1646. The three-week siege left the castle tower leaning more than the Tower of Pisa . Howard was again fined. This time he had to pay 952 pounds to recover the lands that were sequestered in punishment. In 1648, Howard finally married (Frances Villiers had died in 1645). He married Catherine Nevill,
432-504: A royalist had been laid in 1616. At the investiture of Prince Charles (afterwards Charles I ) as Prince of Wales on 4 November, both Robert and his brother William (1600–1672) were made Knights of the Bath . Howard had to leave the House of Commons in 1642 after killing the king's commissioner of array , but he did attend the session of parliament held at Oxford in 1641. Howard is said to have led
480-683: 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 England. Additionally, within the High 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
528-452: Is one of the steepest railways in the country and at least one source (the information panel outside the top station) claims it is both the steepest and shortest. It is the only functional inland funicular railway in England - there are about 15 more at English seaside towns. Originally, the railway was powered by a simple system using water and gravity, but was converted in 1943–44 to run on electricity. Then, in 1955, new cars were installed on
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#1732851198291576-462: Is situated on lower-lying ground on the banks of the river. High Town is at an elevation of 65–68 metres (213–223 feet) above sea level, whilst Low Town is at 32–33 metres (105 feet). The lie of the land of Low Town is less hilly but then rises steeply to its immediate east. The West Midlands Green Belt covers the countryside to the east of the Severn and the settlement. The civil parish includes Danesford , Oldbury and Quatford . Bridgnorth
624-597: The A458 road , Telford and Kidderminster by the A442 road , and Wolverhampton via the A454 road . The town is 11 miles (18 km) from the M54 motorway, at Telford. The A458 passes to the south of the town centre on a by-pass, construction of which was started in 1982 and now serves to relieve the town centre of the congestion that once plagued it. The bypass also provided a second bridge across
672-463: The English Civil War , the castle is inclined at an angle of 15 degrees. High Town has two prominent Church of England churches. Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth , 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
720-770: The Geopark Way begins in the town. Every year since 1967, a sponsored walk has been held in Bridgnorth. Since 2017 this has been organised by the Bridgnorth Lions Club. On the eastern side of the town is a large aluminium works, founded in the 1950s. The town council has sixteen members, with four elected from each of the four wards that cover the civil parish (named Castle, Morfe, East, and West). Castle ward includes Oldbury, while Morfe ward includes Danesford and Quatford. Robert Howard (Royalist) Sir Robert Howard KB (1598 – 22 April 1653)
768-454: The National Rail network are Telford and Wolverhampton. However, Bridgnorth does still have a station on an active heritage line, the Severn Valley Railway . Bridgnorth station was not the northern terminus of this line when built, but the main intermediate station, being 18 1 ⁄ 4 miles from Hartlebury and 22 1 ⁄ 2 miles from Shrewsbury . The station, which was opened to
816-506: The Parliamentarians in 1646. Robert Howard was the fifth son of Thomas Howard, first earl of Suffolk by his second wife, Catherine . He was uncle to the playwright Sir Robert Howard and brother of Theophilus, the second earl of Suffolk , Thomas, Earl of Berkshire and of Edward, Lord Howard of Escrick . In 1626, on the death of Howard's elder brother, Sir Charles Howard of Clun , Howard inherited Clun Castle in Shropshire. He
864-796: The River Severn while the top is adjacent to the ruins of Bridgnorth Castle . Opened on 7 July 1892 to great fanfare and the proclamation of a public holiday, the line is one of four funicular railways in the UK built to the same basic design - the others were the Clifton Rocks Railway in Bristol; the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway in Devon; and the Constitution Hill Railway in Aberystwyth, Wales. It
912-622: 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 . There is a sixth form in Bridgnorth, Bridgnorth Sixth Form , which is run within Oldbury Wells School. A consultation
960-506: The Wrekin and the local relay TV transmitters. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Shropshire , Heart West Midlands , Capital North West and Wales , Smooth West Midlands , Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire , Greatest Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire , and Severnvalley Radio, a community based station. The town is served by the local newspaper, Shropshire Star (formerly Bridgnorth Journal). Bridgnorth grew initially as
1008-469: 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 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
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#17328511982911056-543: The borough and liberties of Bridgnorth were well defined. The population of the municipal borough in 1841 was 6,198, and that of the town was 5,770. More than 255 men from the Bridgnorth area volunteered in the first months of the First World War . Their names were published in the Bridgnorth Journal on 26 December 1914 and those killed in action are remembered on the war memorial, sculpted by Adrian Jones , in
1104-546: The Duke of Buckingham had the pair brought before the Star Chamber on charges of adultery . Frances Villiers was found guilty. Howard was made a prisoner of the Fleet prison and excommunicated for refusing to answer questions at the trial. Frances, Lady Purbeck, was fined and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and to do penance – but she fled abroad. Eventually, she returned to England and reputedly set up house again with Howard, with
1152-464: The Parliamentarians from the garrison led by Sir Robert Howard . After a three-week siege, Cromwell was successful and he ordered that the castle be demolished. Bridgnorth had an ironworks in Low Town run by Hazledine and Company which in 1808 built the locomotive Catch Me Who Can designed and promoted by Richard Trevithick . A plaque on the foundry's site commemorates this association. By 1824,
1200-403: The Severn at Bridgnorth, which remains the only local alternative to the historic bridge that connects Low and High towns. The town is served by buses to and from Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Much Wenlock , Ironbridge , Shifnal and Kidderminster. These are operated by Arriva Midlands , Select Bus Services, and Diamond Bus . Currently the closest towns with active railway stations on
1248-657: The Thursday before the first week in Lent and two following days. The burgesses returned two members to parliament in 1295, and continued to do so until 1867, when they were assigned only one member. The town was disfranchised in 1885. During the Civil War, Bridgnorth was one of the Midlands' main royalist strongholds, and in 1642 many royalist troops were garrisoned there. In 1646, Cromwell's Roundheads arrived with orders to take Bridgnorth for
1296-567: 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. The Kidderminster School is now named "Stagecoach Kidderminster & Bridgnorth". Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central . Television signals are received from
1344-500: The birthplace of Thomas Percy (Bishop of Dromore) , author of 'Reliques of Ancient English Poetry'. Other notable buildings in the town are the 17th 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. The remains of an old hermitage can be seen from
1392-665: The castle grounds. Until 1961 the Royal Air Force 's initial recruit training unit was at RAF Bridgnorth , a station opened in 1939. During the Second World War , two women were killed in a German air raid in August 1940 when bombs hit neighbouring houses in High Town. In 2005, unverified German papers dating from 1941 were found, outlining new details about Operation Sea Lion , the military plans of Nazi Germany for an invasion of Britain. Two quiet Shropshire towns were mentioned in
1440-628: The documentation: Ludlow and Bridgnorth. Some experts believe that it was Hitler's intention to make Bridgnorth his personal headquarters in Britain, due to its central position in the UK, rural location, rail connections and airfield . In 1978, Bridgnorth was twinned with the French town of Thiers , and in 1992 it also twinned with the Bavarian town of Schrobenhausen , Germany that had already twinned with Thiers
1488-730: The edge of Severn Park, which was purchased by the club in 1983. Work to convert the malting building into the boat house started in 1993. It competes in events in the local region and further afield, including attending the annual Head of the River Race on the Thames in London, and hosts an annual regatta with racing along the length of the Severn Park. Bridgnorth Army Cadets is the oldest Army Cadet detachment in Shropshire. The Army Cadet Force (ACF) in 2010 celebrated 150 years. In 2007, Bridgnorth hosted
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1536-622: The first independent museum in Shropshire to be accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council . Bridgnorth Town F.C. was the football club based in Bridgnorth. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase . They won the championship of the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division in 2008. Affiliated to the club was
1584-566: The high town, they are commonly called The Queens Parlor by locals. One local legend tells of its occupation in AD 925 by a hermit called Ethelred or Ethelwald, a grandson to Alfred the Great. This may not be such an unlikely story as Bridgnorth was founded in 912 by Alfred the Great's daughter Ethelfleda. 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;
1632-573: The junior section known as "Bridgnorth Town Juniors". The teams ranged from under 8s to under 16s and competed in the Telford Junior League. After folding, the club was effectively replaced by "phoenix club" A.F.C. Bridgnorth . Bridgnorth Spartans Juniors Football Club run junior and adult teams. These teams include boys' teams, ranging from Under-8s to Under-15s, girls' teams and women's teams. Home games are played at Oldbury Wells School. Bridgnorth Rowing Club occupies 'The Maltings' building on
1680-483: The line, Linley . There exists an ongoing debate whether the railway should extend beyond its current limits north of Bridgnorth. The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, also known as the Bridgnorth Funicular Railway or Castle Hill Railway, is a funicular railway which has operated in Bridgnorth for over 100 years. The line links the lower part of High Town to the upper part. The bottom entrance is adjacent to
1728-480: The only listed railway station on the Severn Valley Railway. Necessitating that, any future plans to enhance visitor facilities will need to be carefully designed to be in keeping with the railway station's architecture and historic character. The line now ends just north of the modern-day station, where the line formerly bridged Hollybush Road and passed through Bridgnorth Tunnel and on to the next station on
1776-496: The public by the SVR on 1 February 1862, was passed to Great Western Railway (GWR) and then eventually to British Railways in 1948. It closed to passengers after 101 years of service on 8 September 1963 and to freight traffic on 30 November 1963. Although thought by some to have been closed as part of the Beeching cuts , its planned closure pre-dated his report. The neo-Jacobean station is
1824-411: The railway; these were able to carry 18 passengers each and are still in use today. As of April 2024 return tickets cost £2.00 with discounts available for groups of 15 or more. Single tickets are not available. The railway allows people to easily get between the two parts of High Town as the only other way down is down 200 steps or by using roads which drastically increase the journey. The terminals at
1872-558: The result that there were more children. In 1635, Howard was again summoned before the Star Chamber to answer for the resumed scandalous affair. He refused to answer as to the whereabouts of Frances and was kept for three months at the Fleet incommunicado , and he had to surrender bonds as surety that he would not again contact Frances and that he would appear again at the Star Chamber within 24 hours of being summoned. In 1623, Howard became
1920-520: The right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn . The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079. Bridgnorth is named after a bridge over the River Severn, which was built further north than an earlier bridge at Quatford . The earliest historical reference to the town is in 895, when it is recorded that the Danes created a camp at Cwatbridge ; subsequently in 912, Æthelfleda constructed
1968-464: The royal favourite George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham . John was generally believed to be insane, and the marriage had taken place over vehement objections from her mother. The result of the affair was a son born in October 1624 at Cripplegate who was initially called Robert Wright , but who would go on to take the name of Villiers and was finally known as Robert Danvers . Frances's brother-in-law
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2016-456: The son of Roger de Montgomerie, moved from Quatford, constructing a castle and a church on the site of the modern-day town. The town became a royal borough on Robert Bellême's attainder in 1102. The castle's purpose was to defend against attacks from Wales . The town was attacked and burnt by Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March during the Despenser War in 1322. A small Jewish community
2064-590: The upper and lower part of the railway are currently used as tea-rooms and guest houses. The railway was temporarily closed in December 2022 due to damage to a retaining wall and further damage was discovered during repairs. The railway reopened on 4th March 2024. Bridgnorth is on National Route 45 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, which is named the Mercian Way . The long-distance trail called
2112-447: Was an English landowner, member of parliament, and Royalist soldier. He was involved in a scandal when his mistress Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck , was found guilty of adultery and was twice summoned to explain her pregnancy with his son to the Court of High Commission . During the English Civil War , Howard was in command of the defence of Bridgnorth Castle when it surrendered to
2160-410: Was established in the town in 1267, but was expelled in 1274; one of the community was arrested in a campaign against alleged Jewish coin clipping, a prelude towards Edward I 's Edict of Expulsion in 1290. 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,
2208-600: Was published which outlines consideration of no new student intake in September 2024 and potential closure in September 2025. In September 2023, Telford College made a deal with both Bridgnorth secondary schools. There is a theatre, the Theatre on the Steps , and a 1930s cinema, the Majestic . The Northgate Museum contains many artefacts connected with the town and surrounding area. It was
2256-569: 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 Percy's 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
2304-491: Was the next heir under the Will of his great-uncle, the Earl of Nottingham . Howard had a long affair with the estranged wife of John Villiers, 1st Viscount Purbeck . She was Frances Villiers, the daughter of Sir Edward Coke and his second wife Elizabeth Hatton (née Cecil), and it was said she had been forced into the marriage at the age of sixteen with John, who was the brother of
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