The Town of Bridgnorth

Nestling in the heart of Shropshire's countryside, the picturesque market town of Bridgnorth enjoys what Charles I described as "the finest views in all my Kingdom". With the River Severn flowing right through the centre, Bridgnorth is separated into High town and Low town, the two parts linked by Britain's only electrically-powered funicular railway.

Throughout the Middle Ages Bridgnorth was the county's second largest town, due to the town's castle and its strategic position which made the town a place of military importance. A bridge chapel, St Leonard's parish church and two hospitals were founded in the 12th century. A Franciscan friary was recently uncovered and the remains have been conserved and interpreted for public viewing.

In 1295 Edward 1 ordered the town to send two members to the Parliament of the year. This continued until 1654 and one representative continued to be selected until the borough ceased to be a constituency in 1885.

Damage caused by the Civil War and in particular the siege of 1646 was worse in Bridgnorth than in any other Shropshire town and it was long before the town recovered its losses. But the town retained its importance as a river port until the coming of the railways in the 1850s.

Many long established industries flourished, some until the 19th and 20th century, including tanning, gun making, malting, brewing and lacemaking. Some of the older industries declined from the mid 19th century when the important railways bypassed Bridgnorth and destroyed its river trade.

Bridgnorth has now become an attractive town of great historic interest in a scenic setting which is easily accessible from the whole of the West Midlands.