Bishops Castle, Shropshire

Description
Bishops-Castle, a small market-town, a municipal borough, and a parish in Salop. The town stands on a declivity, 3 miles W of the river Onny, 4 E of Offa's Dyke, 8 1/2 SE of Montgomery, 9 1/2 WSW of Church-Stretton, and 161 from London. It has a station forming the terminus of the Bishops-Castle railway, which is connected at Craven Arms with the L. & N.W. and G.W.R. systems. Bishops-Castle is an ancient town, deriving its name from the castle which was founded here in the early part of the 12th century by the Bishop of Hereford for the protection of the marches. The site of the castle, which has long since been destroyed, is now occupied by the Castle Inn, but a few traces of the walls of the keep remain. It is a quiet and picturesque little town, irregularly built on the summit and slopes of a hill, and has a head post office, two banks, a town-hall, a market-house, a police station, and a reading-room. The workhouse for Clun Union is situated here. The church is situated at the bottom of the hill, and occupies the site of one burnt in the Civil Wars; it was, with the exception of its old square tower, rebuilt in 1861. There are Congregational, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels. A weekly market is held on Friday, and stock fairs are held on the second Friday in every month, except 26 March and May, in which latter month a hiring fair is held on the Friday following the first day. The town sent two members to parliament till disfranchised by the Act of 1832. A charter was granted by Queen Elizabeth and confirmed by James I. The town was incorporated in 1885, and is now governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors. It is the head of a county court district and a seat of petty sessions. Area of the municipal borough, 1867 acres; population, 1586. Area of civil parish, 5872 acres; population, 1793. The parish extends beyond the borough liberties, and includes the townships of Broughton, Colebatch, Woodbatch, and Lea-with-Oakeley. The manor belongs to the Earl of Powis, who holds a court-leet once a year. Bishops-Moat, on a high hill, a mile W of the town, is an ancient entrenchment of nearly an acre. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Hereford; net value, £293 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Powis.