The Royal Free Grammar School of King Edward VI
founded by that monarch by letters patent, dated 10th February, 1552, and endowed with portions of the estates of the late dissolved Colleges of St. Mary and St. Chad, in this town. The original endowment, on the request of the learned, estimable, and ever to be venerated Thomas Ashton, the first Schoolmaster, was considerably enlarged by Queen Elizabeth, in the 13th year of her reign, by a donation of other portions of the properties of those ecclesiastical institutions. Mr. Ashton himself left by will a handsome legacy; and Dr. John Taylor, the learned editor of Demosthenes, bequeathed the greater part of his valuable library.
The amount of the present annual revenue is £3086. 15s. 1d. which is appropriated in the payment of the Salaries of the Masters and Bailiff, the maintenance of scholarships and exhibitions in the Universities, the stipends of the Vicar of Chirbury, and the Curates of St. Mary, Clive, and Astley, the necessary repairs, &c. of the school-buildings and estate, the Library, Rewards, Prizes, &c., providing residences for the Incumbents of the School livings, and a Play-ground. The surplus is applied to the formation of a Reserved Fund, not exceeding £5000, to be applied from time to time, under the direction of the Court of Chancery, for repairs, &c. of the School buildings and Estate.
The head-master receives a salary of £425, including £100 for Mathematical instruction, and a further sum of £40 as catechist and reader; the second master £200, and the third master £100, with the use of dwelling-houses, free from rent, taxes, and repairs; the French and German master £50, and the writing master £50.
The exhibitions and scholarships from this school to both Universities, are numerous and valuable, and are mostly confined to the sons of burgesses, (who have attended the school for two years), born in the town or suburbs, or in the Abbey Foregate; or in default of such, to persons born in the parish of Chirbury; or in default of such, to those born in the county of Salop.
Advantages Open to All Boys Educated at Shrewsbury School
Four scholarships of £63 per annum each, on the foundation of John Millington, D.D. at Magdalen College, Cambridge, tenable during residence till M.A. Electors, the Master and Fellows of the College.
One Fellowship of £126 per annum, on the same foundation, in the same College. Electors, the same.
One Exhibition of £23 per annum, on the foundation of John Taylor, D.D. open to any College. Electors, the Head and Second Masters, and the Mayor of Shrewsbury.
One Exhibition of £10 per annum, on the foundation of Mrs. Nonnely, for a boy proceeding to the University of Oxford.
One Exhibition of £30 per annum, on the foundation of Mr. Podmore, for a boy nominated by the Head Master, and proceeding to Trinity College, Cambridge.
Prizes for Composition in the Greek, Latin, and English Languages, are awarded annually, with a Gold Medal to the best Scholar leaving School for the University. There are also Exhibitions for which Shrewsbury School has a preference, at Balliol College, Oxford, and at St. John’s College, Cambridge.
Advantages Limited in Point of Qualification
Five Exhibitions of £50 per annum each, tenable for four years. Electors, the Trustees of the School.
Two Exhibitions founded by Mr. James Millington, for sons of burgesses born in Frankwell, and proceeding from the School in Millington’s Hospital to Shrewsbury School, and thence to Magdalen College, Cambridge. Electors, the Trustees of Millington’s Hospital. Value £40 per annum each.
Two Exhibitions, founded by Oswald Smith, of £25 per annum each, for sons of burgesses. Electors, the Head and Second Masters, and the Incumbent of St. Mary’s, Shrewsbury.
Four Exhibitions to Christ Church, Oxford, founded by Mr. Careswell, for natives of Shropshire. Examiners, the Dean of Christ Church, or his Deputy. Electors, two or more Justices of the Peace for the County. Present value £60 per annum each.
The whole management of the school and revenue, was, by Act of Parliament, 38 George III. vested in the Bishop of Lichfield as Visitor, and Thirteen Governors and Trustees. The election of the head and second masters rests solely in the Master and Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The under-master is appointed by the head-master.
All the sons of burgesses of Shrewsbury, who are not under eight nor more than twenty years of age, may be admitted on the foundation, on application to the head-master, provided they are able to write and read English. Any boys not sons of burgesses may be admitted on payment of certain fees,—viz. two guineas admission, and fifteen guineas yearly.
The instruction in the schools is “in the Holy Scriptures, the Church Catechism, the Liturgy, Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, the Greek, Latin, English and French languages, Reading, Writing, and Grammar, in Ancient and Modern History, sacred as well as profane, and Geography, in Arithmetic and Mathematics, and also in such other modern Languages, Arts and Sciences, as the Governors, with the consent of the Visitor, shall think proper.”
The head-master is Rev. B. H. Kennedy, D.D.; the second master is Rev. W. Burbury, M.A.; the third master, H. Greenwood, Esq. M.A.; the assistant classical master, Edward Calvert, Esq. M.A.; Mathematics and Arithmetic, Rev. A. T. Paget, M.A.; Modern Languages, T. A. Bentley, Esq.; Latin Accidence and Writing, Mr. T. N. Henshaw.
Among the many persons of eminence who have received their education at this school we may enumerate Sir Philip Sidney; his friend, Sir Fulke Greville, Lord Brook; the son of Edwyn Sandys, Archbishop of York; the cruel Judge Jeffries; Lord Chief Justices Jones and Price; Dr. Bowers, Bishop of Chichester; Dr. John Thomas, Bishop of Salisbury; Dr. John Taylor, editor of Lysias and Demosthenes; Dr. Edward Waring, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics; James Harrington, the author of “Oceana;” Wycherley, the Dramatist; Ambrose Phillips, the Poet; and the Venerable Archdeacon Owen, and the Rev. J. B. Blakeway, the learned and estimable Historians of Shrewsbury.
Through the indefatigable exertions and learning of the late venerated head-master, (The Right Reverend Samuel Butler, D.D. F.R.S. &c. late Lord Bishop of Lichfield,) the institution attained to an unrivalled celebrity and repute, most deservedly ranking among the first public schools in England. And as an earnest of continued prosperity, we cannot do better than refer to the words of the venerable Bishop, who, on resigning his arduous duties to his learned and talented successor, stated “that he considered Dr. Kennedy, as the most brilliant scholar he had ever sent forth, as the brightest star in that galaxy of distinguished pupils whose names adorn the ‘Boards’ of Shrewsbury School.—That from Dr. Kennedy’s experience of his system, both as a pupil and assistant master at Shrewsbury School, from his constant practice as a lecturer and private tutor at College, and as an assistant master for six years or more at Harrow, as well as from his own unrivalled talents and high literary distinctions, from his fine taste and sound learning, there was not a shadow of doubt but that he would fully maintain the reputation which Shrewsbury School had already acquired, and would add, at least as many distinguished names to its Boards, during his superintendence of this important foundation, as had been inscribed there by himself in any equal period.” These bright anticipations of the venerated Bishop have been already, and are daily more and more fully realized.
More than 100 gentlemen educated at Shrewsbury School have during the present century been elected Fellows of various Colleges in both Universities, and nearly 250 Scholars and Exhibitioners; of whom more than forty have subsequently been Tutors or Lecturers in their several Colleges.
Permission having been kindly granted, we are enabled to give the following copy of the Boards alluded to:—
| 1806 | Thomas Smart Hughes, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Latin Ode. |
| 1807 | Thomas Smart Hughes, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. |
| John Turner, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Second Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| 1809 | Thomas Smart Hughes, St. John’s College, Cambridge, First Bachelor’s Prize. |
| 1810 | Thomas Smart Hughes, St. John’s College, Cambridge, First Bachelor’s Prize. |
| William Henry Parry, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Third Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| 1811 | Robert Wilson Evans, Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Medallist. |
| 1812 | Marmaduke Lawson, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Latin Ode. |
| Robert Wilson Evans, Trinity College, Cambridge, First Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| 1813 | William Henry Parry, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Norrisian Prize. |
| Robert Wilson Evans, Trinity College, Cambridge, First Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| 1814 | Marmaduke Lawson, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Pitt University Scholar, (the first elected on that foundation.) |
| 1816 | Marmaduke Lawson, Magdalen College, Cambridge, Medallist. |
| Richard P. Thursfield, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Second Bell’s Scholar. | |
| 1817 | Rev. T. Smart Hughes, Fellow of Edmund College, Cambridge, and Proctor of the University, The Seatonian Prize. |
| 1819 | Spencer Wilde, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Recorded Equal to Bell’s Scholar. |
| 1821 | Edward Baines, Christ College, Cambridge, Second Bell’s Scholar. |
| 1822 | T. Williams, Oriel College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. |
| 1823 | John Price, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Recorded Equal to Bell’s Scholar. |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Adjudged the Browne Medal, Latin Ode. | |
| 1824 | Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Pitt University Scholar. |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Latin Ode. | |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| 1825 | Thomas Williamson Peile, Trinity College, Cambridge, Davies University Scholar. |
| John Hodgson, Trinity College, Cambridge, The Parson Prize. | |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Browne’s Medal, Epigram. | |
| 1826 | John Hodgson, Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Medallist. |
| Horatio Hildyard, Peterhouse, Cambridge, First Bell’s Scholar. | |
| Thomas Butler, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Recorded Equal to Bell’s Scholar. | |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| 1827 | Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Senior Medallist. |
| George H. Johnson, Queen’s College, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. | |
| Thomas Williamson Peile, Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Undergraduate’s Latin Essay. | |
| 1828 | Charles Kennedy, Trinity College, Cambridge, First Bell’s Scholar. |
| Thomas Williamson Peile, Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Medallist. | |
| Edward Massie, Wadham College, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. | |
| Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, First Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| George H. Johnson, Queen’s College, Oxford, Double First Class. | |
| 1829 | Charles Borrett, Magdalen College, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. |
| John Thomas, Wadham College, Oxford, Craven University Scholar. | |
| Charles Kennedy, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| Charles Kennedy, Trinity College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| Herbert Johnson, Wadham College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| 1830 | Charles Kennedy, Trinity College, Cambridge, Pitt University Scholar. |
| Peter S. Payne, Balliol College, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| Charles Kennedy, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| Robert Scott, Christ Church, Oxford, Craven University Scholar. | |
| Charles Kennedy, Trinity College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| 1831 | James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Battie University Scholar. |
| Thomas Brancker, Wadham College, Oxford, elected Ireland University Scholar, while yet in the Sixth Form of Shrewsbury School. | |
| George Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, First Bell’s Scholar. | |
| George H. Johnson, Queen’s College, Oxford, Mathematical University Scholar, (the first elected on that foundation.) | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Latin Ode. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Epigrams. | |
| George Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| Peter S. Payne, Balliol College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| 1832 | George Kennedy, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Davies University Scholar. |
| Horatio Hildyard, Peterhouse, Cambridge, Second Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| John Thomas, Trinity College, Oxford, Latin Verse Prize. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Latin Ode. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Member’s Prize, Latin Essay. | |
| 1833 | Robert Scott, Christ Church, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, Second Medallist. | |
| George H. Marsh, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Bell’s Scholar. | |
| John Gibbons Longueville, Wadham College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| Robert Scott, Student of Christ Church, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| Thomas F. Henney, Pembroke College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| James Hildyard, Christ College, Cambridge, First Bachelor’s Prize. | |
| William Fletcher, Trinity College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| 1834 | Alexander G. Hildyard, Pembroke College, Cambridge, Second Bell’s Scholar. |
| Robert Scott, Student of Christ Church, Oxford, Bachelor’s Latin Essay. | |
| 1835 | William Gilson Humphry, Trinity College, Cambridge, Pitt University Scholar. |
| George Augustus May, Magdalen College, Cambridge, Bell’s Scholar. | |
| Edward J. Edwards, Balliol College, Oxford, Kennicott Hebrew Scholar. | |
| 1836 | William Dickenson, Trinity College, Oxford, Latin Verse Prize. |
| W. G. Humphry, Trinity College, Cambridge, Latin Essay. | |
| W. G. Humphry, Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Medallist. | |
| 1837 | Henry Holden, Balliol College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. |
| 1838 | James Fraser, Scholar of Lincoln College, Oxford, Recorded Second to Ireland University Scholar, with the words “proxime accesssit.” |
| Rev. R. Scott, M.A. Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, Denyer’s Theological Essay. | |
| Robert Middleton Dukes, Scholar of Lincoln College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| Thomas Evans, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| William Dickenson, Trinity College, Oxford, Latin Essay. | |
| 1839 | James Fraser, Lincoln College, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. |
| Edward M. Cope, Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| James Fraser, Lincoln College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| 1840 | Edward Bather, Merton College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. |
| John Bather, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Reexamined with Craven’s University Scholar. | |
| 1841 | Hugh A. Johnston Munro, Trinity College, Cambridge, Lord Craven’s University Scholar. |
| George Druce, St. Peter’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| George Nugee, Trinity College, Cambridge, Latin Essay. | |
| 1842 | Edwin H. Gifford, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Pitt University Scholar. |
| Hugh A. J. Munro, Trinity College, Cambridge, Senior Chancellor’s Medallist. | |
| George Druce, St. Peter’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| William George Clark, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Epigrams. | |
| Thomas Ramsbotham, Christ College, Cambridge, Latin Essay. | |
| W. T. Basil Jones, Trinity College, Oxford, Ireland University Scholar. | |
| 1843 | E. H. Gifford, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Senior Chancellor’s Medallist. |
| George Druce, St. Peter’s College, Cambridge, Junior Chancellor’s Medallist. | |
| Rev. M. Bright, Magdalen College, Cambridge, Tyrwhitt’s Hebrew Scholar. | |
| W. G. Clark, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| W. G. Clare, Trinity College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| G. Nugee, B.A. Trinity College, Cambridge, Latin Essay. | |
| 1844 | W. G. Clark, Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Chancellor’s Medallist. |
| George Osborne Morgan, Balliol College, Oxford, Craven University Scholar, while yet in the Sixth Form of Shrewsbury School. | |
| J. G. Fussell, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Epigrams. | |
| J. G. Fussell, Trinity College, Cambridge, Latin Essay. | |
| 1845 | James Riddell, Balliol College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. |
| H. de Winton, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| George Nugee, Trinity College, Cambridge, Sir Peregrine Maitland’s Prize for Christian Essay. | |
| 1846 | George Osborne Morgan, Balliol College, Oxford, Sir R. Newdigate’s Prize for English Poem. |
| 1847 | George Osborne Morgan, Worcester College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. |
| 1848 | H. C. Tayler, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne Medal, Epigrams. |
| 1849 | William Owen, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Recorded Second to Craven University Scholar. |
| William Owen, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Marquis Camden’s Gold Medal for Latin Poem. | |
| Francis Kewley, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| 1850 | T. Clayton, Trinity College, Oxford, Hertford University Scholar. |
| William Owen, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| P. Perring, Trinity College, Cambridge, Browne’s Medal, Greek Ode. | |
| G. O. Morgan, Worcester College, Oxford, English Essay. | |
| G. B. Morley, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| G. O. Morgan, University College, Oxford, Eldon Law Scholarship. | |
| H. C. A. Tayler, Trinity College, Cambridge, Latin Essay. | |
| 1852 | S. H. Burbury, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. |
| D. Trinder, Exeter College, Oxford, Mrs. Denyer’s Theological Essay. | |
| J. L. Balfour, Queen’s College, Oxford, Ellerton’s Theological Essay. | |
| Henry Parker, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, Latin Essay. | |
| W. Inge, Worcester College, Oxford, First Glass Moderations. | |
| 1853 | Edward L. Brown, Trinity College, Cambridge, First Bell’s Scholar. |
| S. H. Burbury, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Craven University Scholar. | |
| S. H. Burbury, St. John’s College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. | |
| W. Inge, Worcester College, Oxford, First Class, Lit. Hum. | |
| A. B. Rocke, Christ Church, Oxford, First Class, Moderations. | |
| 1855 | E. L. Brown, Trinity College, Cambridge, The Porson Prize. |
Cambridge First Class Classics
| 1824 | Edward Baines, Christ College | 4th |
| 1825 | John Price, St. John’s College | 3rd |
| John Hodgson, Trinity College | 5th | |
| Frederick E. Gretton, St. John’s College | 7th | |
| 1827 | Benjamin Hall Kennedy, St. John’s College | Senior. |
| George A. Butterton, St. John’s College | 3rd | |
| 1828 | T. W. Peile, Trinity College | 2nd |
| 1829 | Horatio S. Hildyard, Peterhouse | 5th |
| Robert Smith, St. John’s College | 6th | |
| Thomas Butler, St. John’s College | 7th | |
| 1831 | Charles Kennedy, Trinity College | Senior. |
| Charles J. Johnstone, Caius College | 4th | |
| 1832 | Richard Shilleto, Trinity College | 2nd |
| Edward Broadhurst, Magdalen College | 7th | |
| 1833 | James Hildyard, Christ College | 2nd |
| 1834 | George F. Kennedy, St. John’s College | Senior. |
| Edward Warter, Magdalen College | 4th | |
| 1835 | George F. Harris, Trinity College | 3rd |
| John Cooper, Trinity College | 7th | |
| 1836 | Geo. Hy. Marsh, St. John’s College | 2nd |
| William H. Bateson, St. John’s College | 3rd | |
| Richard Edward Turner, Trinity College | 6th | |
| 1837 | W. Gilson Humphry, Trinity College | Senior. |
| 1838 | George A. C. May, Magdalen College | 3rd |
| Henry Thompson, St. John’s College | 7th | |
| William Parkinson, St. John’s College | 8th | |
| 1839 | Augustus W. Hopper, Trinity College | 6th |
| 1840 | Francis France, St. John’s College | Senior Æqual. |
| 1841 | Edward M. Cope, Trinity College | Senior. |
| John Bather, St. John’s College | 2nd | |
| Henry Thring, Magdalen College | 3rd | |
| 1842 | Hugh A. J. Munro, Trinity College | 2nd |
| Francis Morse, St. John’s College | 7th | |
| 1843 | George Druce, St. Peter’s College Edwin H. Gifford, St. John’s Coll. | Seniors Æqual. |
| 1844 | William G. Clark, Trinity College | 2nd |
| 1846 | H. De Winton, Trinity College | 3rd |
| 1848 | J. E. B. Mayor, St. John’s College | 3rd |
| 1849 | H. C. A. Tayler, Trinity College | 4th |
| 1851 | J. W. Taylor, St. Peter’s College | 12th |
| 1852 | Robert Burn, Trinity College | Senior Æqual. |
| Philip Perring, Trinity College | 4th | |
| W. Chandless, Trinity College | 5th | |
| Arthur White, Magdalen College | 16th | |
| 1854 | S. H. Burbury, St. John’s College | 2nd |
| G. M. Campbell, St. John’s College | 7th | |
| H. Day, St. John’s College | 9th |
Cambridge Wranglers
| 1808 | W. H. Parry, St. John’s College | 16th |
| 1809 | John Evans, Clare Hall | 6th |
| W. R. Gilby, Trinity College | 7th | |
| 1811 | R. W. Evans, Trinity College | 7th |
| 1824 | W. Crawley, Magdalen College | 27th |
| 1826 | John Hodgson, Trinity College | 16th |
| 1827 | George A. Butterton, St. John’s College | 8th |
| 1828 | T. W. Peile, Trinity College | 18th |
| 1830 | Charles Whitley, St. John’s College | Senior. |
| Edward Yardley, Magdalen College | 40th | |
| 1834 | Henry Trentham, St. John’s College | 13th |
| 1835 | Francis Procter, Catharine Hall | 30th |
| John Cooper, Trinity College | 33rd | |
| 1836 | W. Twiss Turner, Trinity College | 15th |
| Thomas E. H. Headlam, Trinity College | 17th | |
| 1837 | Alexander J. Ellis, Trinity College | 5th |
| William Gilson Humphry, Trinity College | 27th | |
| 1838 | H. J. Hodgson, Trinity College | 24th |
| G. A. C. May, Magdalen College | 36th | |
| 1840 | Henry Cadogan Rothery, St. John’s College | 19th |
| 1843 | Edwin H. Gifford, St. John’s College | 15th |
| 1851 | J. S. Clarke, St. John’s College | 11th |
| 1854 | B. W. Horne, St. John’s College | 4th |
| H. Day, St. John’s College | 5th | |
| S. H. Burbury, St. John’s College | 15th |
The structure is large, lofty, and of freestone, and surrounds two sides of a small quadrangle. The portion immediately fronting the street was erected in 1630, and contains on the first and second floors dwelling houses for the assistant masters. The upper story is entirely occupied by The Principal School-Room and was originally divided into three apartments by wooden carved partitions, now removed. The centre of this front is pierced by a gateway, adorned on each side with a Corinthian column, supporting statues of a scholar and graduate, bare-headed, and in the costume of the times. Over the arch is a sentence in Greek from Isocrates, importing that a love of literature is essential to the formation of a scholar. Above are the arms of Charles I. The windows, with the exception of a large pointed one in the style of the 14th century, at the south-end of the principal school-room, are all of the square form of the Elizabethan age. The walls are crowned with a singular and clumsy battlement of curled leaves and pinnacles.
Situated at right angles to this is the remaining wing of the edifice, originally erected in 1595, comprising the chapel and library, with the tower containing the staircases in the angle.
Bible Stand in the Chapel The Chapel, in which prayers are read by the headmaster every morning, occupies the ground floor, and is divided from the ante-chapel, by an oak screen, carved in the grotesque manner prevalent in the days of Elizabeth. The pulpit and BIBLE-STAND are in a similar style. The ceiling is adorned with carved foliated bosses, interspersed with the arms of the founders, and of the first and late head-masters.
Above the chapel and of the same size, is The Library containing a very valuable and extensive collection of MSS. and books. This part was lately rebuilt and repaired at a considerable expense. Two large pointed windows, filled with mullioned tracery, afford light to this venerable apartment; in the northern one of which are the arms of Edward VI.; Queen Elizabeth; St. John’s College, Cambridge; the See of Lichfield and Coventry impaling Cornwallis; and those of the town: and in the southern one, those of the four principal benefactors, with appropriate inscriptions in Latin. Richly foliated bosses, the arms of the founders, visitors, and thirteen first trustees, decorate the ceiling. Around the walls are portraits of Henry VIII. half-length; his son Edward VI. when a boy of ten or twelve; an Admiral, full length, in the dress of the time of Charles II.; five of the former head-masters, and the late head-master, Bishop Butler, by Kirkby.
By the late scheme made by the Court of Chancery, (1853) a sum not exceeding £70 yearly, is to be applied to the purchase and repairs of Books, Mathematical, Philosophical and other instruments and articles for instruction.
We would venture to suggest the propriety of persons educated at Shrewsbury School, or natives of the town and county, presenting to the Library copies of any works which they may publish. Such a practice would at once form an interesting memento of their connection with the venerable institution, and add to the valuable and useful stores already accumulated on its shelves, which in former years have been so greatly enriched by similar benefactions.
The Library also contains three sepulchral inscribed stones, and various other Roman antiquities from Wroxeter, and a small collection of fossils and natural curiosities.
A court, enclosed by a stone wall, intervenes between the street and the schools. At the back of the school-buildings are two spacious houses for the head and second masters, most delightfully situated, and commanding extensive views of several portions of the town, the river and Welsh bridge, and the rich woods of Berwick and Almond Park. On this side are extensive play-grounds for the use of the school.
Passing down Castle Gates, we have on our right