Shrewsbury town is mentioned in the Domesday book at which time it had 250 houses and 5 churches. The town is located within a bend of the river Severn and is a natural defensive site. After the Norman Conquest Shrewsbury was granted to Roger de Montgomery who promptly build a castle to defend the town and the river crossing. 50 houses were demolished to make room for the new castle. In the reign of Henry I Shrewsbury castle was surrendered to the king by Robert de Belleme who was supporting Robert, Duke of Normandy. In 1126 the castle was granted by Henry I to Adeliza of Louvain his second wife. Fitz-Alan was made the castle's constable and he defended the castle for Matilda against King Stephen. Stephen managed to capture the castle in 1138 but Henry (II) reclaimed Shrewsbury by the end of Stephen's reign. A Parliamment met at Shrewsbury in 1283 after David, the last Prince of Wales, was captured. David was sentenced to death and was executed as a traitor. In 1402 Henry IV assembled an army as Shrewsbury to attack Owen Glendower and a year later Henry managed to arrive at Shrewsbury before his enemy Hotspur and in the battle that took place just outside the town left Hotspur dead. During the War of the Roses Shrewsbury supported the Yorkists and Edward IV treated the town with favour.
Mini Timeline
| 1102 | | Earl Robert of Belleme
| | | Henry I brings several charges against Robert of Belleme. Robert resists Henry but finally surrenders at Shrewsbury Castle. Robert is exiled. | | 1126 | | Shrewsbury Castle granted to Adeliza
| | | The castle at Shrewsbury was granted by Henry to his second wife Adeliza. The command of the castle was given to Fitz-Alan. | | 1138 | | Shrewsbury Castle captured by Stephen
| | | Stephen captured the castle at Shrewsbury. Henry (II) would capture back the castle before the end of Stephen's reign. | | 1283 | Jun | David of Wales captured
| | | David the brother of Llewelyn was handed over to the king by his own supporters who had already surrendered. He was taken to Shrewsbury Castle where a Parliament met and sentenced him to death by execution. | | 1402 | | Henry IV assembles an army
| | | The king assembled an army at Shrewsbury Castle in preparation to fight Owen Glendower. | | 1403 | Jul 21 | Battle of Shrewsbury
| | | Henry IV managed to reach Shrewsbury just before Hotspur arrived and the rebel army had to camp outside the town to the north. The battle lasted all day but it ended when Hotspur was killed. |
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Selection of references used:
- ,The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,
- John Timbs & Alexander Gunn,Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England & Wales (North),1872
- Jean Powie,Eleanor of Castile,
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