Although the exact date of the establishment of a castle in Shrewsbury is unknown, it is recorded that the "King's Castle in Scrobesbury was beseiged by Owen Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales." The Domesday book records the castle as occupying the "site of 51 houses, and that 50 houses lie waste."
In the early 12th century, the castle became Crown property after Robert de Belesme surrendered to the King in 1102 and was subsequently expelled from England. The importance of the castle then varied depending on the degree of turbulance on the Welsh border and the importance accorded it as a strategic castle by the English kings. Following the capture of the town by Llewelyn the Great, Prince of Wales in 1215, attention was drawn to the state of the defences. Henry III visited in 1226 when he made his peace with Llewelyn and gave a Royal Grant to rebuild the town ramparts; the work lasting 32 years although the work undertaken did not last long, the castle soon falling into "ruinous decay".
Early in the 14th century, a constable, Roger Springhouse was appointed custodian where he ran a prison. Leonius succeeded Springhouse as keeper. a position he accompanied with "armour and victuals".There followed frequent changes of keeper, the King regarding the rewarding of deserving retainers with the "office of constable of the King's castle at Shrewsbury." Such retainers were allowed to keep the fees and profits; Hugh Cheyney recorded this as 6 1/2d daily from the "issue of the County of Salop".
Security seemed lax as gradually the outer bailey became private property; county gentry erected themselves houses therein. Indeed, Churchyard writing in the 15th century described the castle as "old and ruynate"; the castle no longer serving a military purpose and providing a somewhat inadequate prison. Queen Elizabeth I granted "all the walls (of the castle) and stone thereof and all the soil, ditches etc. within the precincts" to the bailiffs and burgesses at the same rent they paid previously when the lease was owned by Richard Onslow.
An upper storey was added to the castle during the 17th century although the exact date remains unknown. During 1600 a "Kyre (crier) or caller for the night-tyme" was appointed; his job being to "kyre and call throughe the towne in the night gyving all people knowlledge of the clock, to take heede of doores and lockes, of fyre and candell-light, and so bydding them all good-night". Following a visit by Lord Capel in 1643, Prince Rupert, Captain General of the Forces wrote to Sir Francis Ottley requiring that the townsmen "asssist in the charges requisite for covering the Castle of Shrewsbury" and dividing and fitting the rooms to receive stores " so as such ammunition as from time to time shall be sent into these parts may lie dry and safe." Immediately after receiving this communication the town had to raise £1000 to provide troop accomodation; the castle was then garrisoned for the Royalist cause.
In February 1644, Lieutenant Benbow led a small army through St. Mary's Water-lode; scaling the bank underneath the Council House, they captured the Burgess Gate next to the Free School and then admitted the main body of soldiers who marched into the town centre. Only a little fighting actually took place and a total of five men, from both sides, were killed. At approximately 12 noon, the Castle garrison surrendered and were allowed free leave to march to Ludlow. Plundering of goods left many town tradesmen ruined and the capturing soldiers looted the goods left in the castle for safekeeping by county gentry.
In 1686, the arms, munition and cannon were removed from the castle which then ceased to have any military role. From the reign of James II until the 18th century the castle became a private home; it was reported that Mr. Gosnell of Rossall who leased the castle had made alterations "making it an inconvienient and dismal domicile." When the lease was taken over by Sir William Pulteney, the castle was, however, modernised by the famous engineer, Thomas Telford, a friend of Sir Pulteney.
Today, the castle houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum and it is possible to arrange marriage services in a castle room. The sheltered gardens are open to the public year round and the restored ornamental cannons provide much joy to children as they discover handles which they can move! The view from the ancient Laura's Tower on the motte is stunning and this is the original site of the earlier Norman Castle.
Reference: J. A. Morris "Shrewsbuury Castle" 1937.publisher unknown (copy available in Shrewsbury Library)
