Close by is a highly ornamental timber gateway, erected in 1620, leading
to the Council House, the temporary residence, during feudal times, of
the Lords President of the Marches. Continuing along this street, we
pass the Raven Hotel, recently rebuilt at a cost of nearly 20,000 pounds.
It was here George Farquhar wrote his comedy of the "Recruiting Officer,"
which he dedicated to "All friends round the Wrekin." Descending Pride
Hill, the eye rests upon a number of rare old specimens of domestic
architecture, which, like those in High Street and others, were the homes
of the ancient burghers; mansions here and there of more pretension are
also to be seen, mingling an air of antiquity with one of comfort. The
town is rich in specimens of ecclesiastical architecture, and possesses
some very handsome churches. Of the four whose towers and spires are
seen within the circle of the Severn, St. Mary's is the most interesting.
Its site is 100 feet above the river, and its tall and graceful spire is
a landmark seen for many miles. The lower portion of the tower, the
nave, transepts, and doorway, are of the 12th century, whilst other
portions are of the 15th and 16th. The interior, with its clustered
columns, decorated capitals, moulded arches, and its oak-panelled
ceiling, ornamented with foliage, has a fine effect; added to which, the
exquisitely-sculptured pulpit, given in memory of a former minister, and
the still more recently erected screen, in memory of another, with
numerous mural monuments, in stone and marble, are of peculiar interest.
The windows are of stained glass, some being very ancient, and most of
them elaborately and beautifully painted, and highly deserving of
attention.

Near to St. Mary's are the churches of St. Alkmund and St. Julian, the
former indebted for its foundation to the piety of Ethelfleda, daughter
of Alfred; the latter, also of Saxon origin, to Henry IV., who in 1410,
attached it to his new foundation of Battlefield College, raised in
memory "of the bloody rout that gave to Harry's brow a wreath--to
Hotspur's heart a grave."

The old collegiate church of St. Chad, founded, it is supposed, soon
after the subjugation of the country by Offa, and transformed, as
tradition alleges, out of one of the palaces of the Kings of Powis, is
now a ruin. The modern one, dedicated to the same saint, of whom there
is an ancient carved figure in the vestry, is now the fashionable church
of the town.

T