Bridgnorth

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.5315
longitude= -2.4179
official_name= Bridgnorth
population = 12,216
shire_district= Bridgnorth
shire_county = Shropshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Ludlow
post_town= BRIDGNORTH
postcode_district = WV15, WV16
postcode_area= WV
dial_code= 01746
os_grid_reference= SO716927
static_

static_image_caption=High Town from the River Severn

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. It is the seat and most populous town of Bridgnorth district. The population of the town of Bridgnorth was 11,891 at the 2001 Census and a 2008 estimate puts it at 12,216. [cite web|url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-70687&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&geo=513125758
title=Bridgnorth|publisher=world-gazetteer.com]

History

Bridgnorth is named after a bridge over the River Severn, that was built further north than an earlier bridge at Quatford.Cite book |title=A Guide to Shropshire |last=Raven |first=Michael |pages=32 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Txby6_Lrm0cC |year=2005 |isbn=0906114349 |publisher=Michael Raven |accessdate=2008-05-14] The earliest historical reference to the town is in 895, at which time it is recorded that the Danes created a camp at "Cwatbridge",Cite web |url=http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/places/bridgnorth/bridgnorth.htm |title=Bridgnorth |work=Shropshire Routes to Roots |accessdate=2008-05-14] 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. Later, in 1546, the town was incorporated by James I.

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. [cite web |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SAL/Bridgnorth/Gaz1868.html |title=BRIDGNORTH, Shropshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868 |work=GENUKI |accessdate=2008-05-14] 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, [Cite web |url=http://www.election.demon.co.uk/prereform.html |title=Parliamentary Constituencies in the unreformed House |accessdate=2008-05-14] 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 1978, Bridgnorth twinned itself with the French town of Thiers, and later in 1992 it also twinned with the Bavarian town of Schrobenhausen, Germany [Cite web |url=http://www.bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk/static/page1051.htm |title=Twin Towns |work=Bridgnorth District Council |accessdate=2008-05-14] that had already twinned with Thiers a few years earlier. On August 21, 2003, Bridgnorth was granted Fairtrade Town status. [Cite web |url=http://www.aboutbridgnorth.com/about.htm |title=History Of Bridgnorth, Shropshire |work=About Bridgnorth |accessdate=2008-05-14]

In 2005, unverified German papers dating from 1941 were found, outlining new details about Operation Sealion, the military plans 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. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/4461879.stm|title=Hitler's secret Shropshire plans|publisher=BBC]

Landmarks

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. [Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2005/03/22/bridgnorth_town_guide_feature.shtml |title=Bridgnorth Town Guide |work=BBC Shropshire |accessdate=2008-05-14] 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. [Cite web |url=http://www.visitbritain.co.kr/things-to-see-and-do/attractions-and-events/detail.aspx?TowPosCd=%25ube0c%25ub9ac%25uc9c0%25ub178%25uc2a4(Bridgnorth)&Sec=Events%2CAttraction&advsrch=1&display=list&Lat=52.53825069&Lon=-2.420245828&Rad=5&Caption=%25ube0c%25ub9ac%25uc9c0%25ub178%25uc2a4(Bridgnorth)&Pid=126791 |title=Bridgnorth Castle |work=Visit Britain |accessdate=2008-05-14]

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, which was designed by Thomas Telford; [Cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=565 |title=St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth |work=Engineering Timelines |accessdate=2008-05-14] and St. Leonard's, which was formerly collegiate and, from 1860, was largely rebuilt. [Cite book |title=Shropshire |pages=161 |last=Newman |first=John |coauthors=Pevsner, Nikolaus |year=2006 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0300120834 |accessdate=2008-05-14 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3Zqbit3opjQC]

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.

Culture

In terms of culture and entertainment, there is a theatre, the Theatre On The Steps, 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 from within the Town and surrounding area. The Museum is the first independent Museum in Shropshire to be awarded Accreditation by the MLA. 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 and Talbot.

Education

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.Cite web |url=http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/schools.nsf/open/042EA20A25E7FBDC80256D560031DD1B |work=Shropshire County Council |title=Shropshire County Council maintained schools in Bridgnorth |accessdate=2008-07-02]

The town has two Secondary schools: Oldbury Wells School and Bridgnorth Endowed School. These serve the town and its outlying villages, including Alveley and Highley.

port

Bridgnorth Town F.C. are 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 Spartans Juniors Football Club is one of the biggest junior football clubs in Shropshire, running 21 teams in the 2007/08 season. These teams include 16 boys' teams, ranging from Under-8's to Under-16's, 4 girls' teams and a ladies team. They also run a crèche for 3 to 7 year-olds at St Mary's 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.

In 2007, Bridgnorth hosted the UK Downhill Street Race in Cycling.

Notable residents

A number of notable people have been born in Bridgnorth, including Thomas Percy, bishop of Dromore, the editor of the Reliques of Ancient English Poetry,Cite web |url=http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/bridgnor.htm |title=Bridgnorth |work=Literary Heritage |accessdate=2008-05-14] and 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. [Cite web |url=http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10372~1076295,00.html |title=David Preece |work=Luton Town |accessdate=2008-05-14] Dominic Sandbrook, a British historian and writer, was also born in Bridgnorth, in 1974. Francis Moore (1657 - 1715), the originator of Old Moore's Almanack was another person born in Bridgnorth.

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. [Cite web |url=http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/baxter.htm |title=Richard Baxter |work=Literary Heritage |accessdate=2008-05-14] Another former resident of the town, Max Rafferty, a musician, attended Bridgnorth Endowed School. [Cite news |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/2007/11/12/bridgnorth-2/ |title=Up sticks to Bridgnorth, Shropshire |work=Shropshire Star |date=2007-11-12 |accessdate=2008-05-14] Rafferty played bass guitar in indie rock band The Kooks until 30th January 2008. Martin Butler (born 15 September 1974 in Dudley, England) is an English football striker with Walsall FC, who spent much of his youth resident in the town.

Closest cities, towns and villages

geocompass
hub = Bridgnorth
type= ex
NN = Broseley, Telford, Newport
NE = Albrighton, Wolverhampton
EE = Bobbington, Wombourne, Dudley, Birmingham
SE = Enville, Kinver, Stourbridge, Bewdley, Kidderminster
SS = Highley, Alveley, Cleobury Mortimer
SW = Ludlow, Craven Arms
WW = Church Stretton, Bishop's Castle
NW = Much Wenlock, Shrewsbury

References

*1911

External links

* [http://www.visitbridgnorth.co.uk Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock and the Severn Valley]
* [http://www.aboutbridgnorth.com About Bridgnorth, Tourist and Local Information Site]
* [http://www.bridgnorthspartansjfc.co.uk Bridgnorth Spartans Junior Football Club]
* [http://www.bridgnorthmusicfest.com Bridgnorth Music Festival 2008]
* [http://www.danielsmill.co.uk Daniels Mill Bridgnorth]