History of Whitchurch: Timeline and interactive map

Prehistoric

c.3000BC Neothilic (New Stone Age) hunter-gatherers living around Whitchurch

c.2000BC Bronze Age people, who smelted metals from mineral ores

c.500BC
Iron Age (‘Ancient Britons’) well established, members of Cornovii tribe. Remains of their hill-top forts evident all over Shropshire

The Romans and After

43AD
Roman invasion of Britain. Relatively little local resistance

1st Century AD
Roman road (later called Watling Street) driven northwest from London. Whitchurch stands on site of Roman military fort Mediolanum, the mid-point between Viroconium (Wroxeter) and Deva (Chester)

200-300AD
Civilian town spreads eastwards to St Mary’s Street

c.410AD
Roman army leaves Britain. Mediolanum possibly survived for centuries, but no evidence yet discovered

c.650AD
Germanic tribes invade, settling in the area. Anglo-Saxon language develops, reflected in many of today’s place names

c.750AD
Offa, King of West Mercia, builds Anglo-Welsh border Dyke.
Died 796AD

c.800AD
Prince Alkmund, son of King Alhred, murdered. Now commemorated in
six English churches

912AD
Accepted date of foundation of St Alkmund’s Church in Whitchurch

1000 to 1599 AD

1000
Whitchurch known as Westune. Manor includes Ash, Broughall, Woodhouse, Hinton, Tilstock, totalling fewer than 200 inhabitants.
Southern hamlets Dodington, Alkington and Edgeley separately owned, with further 100 people

1060
Aelfgar, earl of Mercia, rules the area

1066
Westune becomes Royal Manor in January following marriage of Aelfgar’s daughter to Earl Harold of Wessex, who became King of England until death at Battle of Hastings in October. Roger de Montgomery receives most of Shropshire, passing Westune to William de Warenne

1086
Domesday Book census. William de Warenne builds new church to replace Saxon original, of white Grinshill stone, called Album Monasterium (in Latin), Blancminster (in French), finally becoming (White) Whitchurch. Motte and bailey castle built on Castle Hill

1296
First Rector of St Alkmund’s instituted. Whitchurch now small market town with weekly Wednesday market, annual fair, free court and gallows

1316
Fulke le Strange of Ellesmere becomes Lord of the Manor of Whitchurch

1327
Fulke le Strange’s son John marries Ankaret Botilar, bringing her dowry of the three southern hamlets into the Manor and Parish of Whitchurch

1330-49
John represents Shropshire in Parliament (1330-43). Fights at Crecy (1346). He and son perish in Black Death (1349). Swathes of land uncultivated due to widespread deaths

1383
Another Ankaret le Strange (married to Richard Talbot) inherits the estate

1403
Sir Henry Percy (‘Hotspur’) killed at Battle of Shrewsbury. Body buried
temporarily at St Alkmund’s Church

1404
Welsh raiders almost completely destroy Whitchurch, taking seven years
to rebuild

1420
John Talbot, son of Ankaret and Richard Talbot, inherits the estate

1427-52
John engaged in Hundred Years War. Gains massive reputation in struggle
to retain English possessions in France. Created 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (1442). Surrendered to French at Rouen (1449). Town slowly recovering

1453
John dies at Castillon, last battle of the War. Buried at St Alkmund’s

1459
Talbot family involved in Wars of the Roses, supporting Henry VI. John,
2nd Earl of Shrewsbury, killed in 1460

1485
Gilbert Talbot knighted for loyal service

c.1540
John Leland, antiquarian, visits and writes the first known (and
favourable) description of Whitchurch

1534-49
John Talbot Rector of Whitchurch, probably grandson of 1st Earl. Gives
£200 to found free Grammar School

1598
Edward Talbot sells Manors of Whitchurch and Dodington to Sir Thomas
Egerton for £20,000

1600 to 1990's

1603
Egerton appointed Lord Chancellor of England under James I, becoming Baron Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley

1641-46
Shropshire strongly Royalist in Civil war. Whitchurch taken by
Parliamentary forces 1643, retaken by Prince Rupert 1644

1650-51
113 deaths in worst Plague outbreak to date. Town population now 2,500

Late 1660s
Nonconformist minister Philip Henry living in Dodington, preaches locally for 20 years. Dies 1696, buried in St Alkmund’s

1699
Higginson almshouses at Bargates built and occupied.

1711
Medieval Church of St Alkmund’s collapses 31st July. New church consecrated October 1713.

1715
First Presbyterian Church burned down by High Church rioters.

1718
New Town and Market Halls built (now Barclays Bank). Many fine town houses built, especially along Dodington, during 18th Century.

1761
First map of Whitchurch made.

1788
Whitchurch Tradesmen’s Society formed to provide sick pay and pensions.

1790
James Joyce purchases 40-42 High Street for clock-making works.

1794
New Workhouse built at Deermoss. Mansion House built in Dodington.

1802
Last bull baiting held at Bullring.

1808
Branch of Ellesmere Canal reaches Sherryman’s Bridge, later extended to The Wharf (1811).

1826
Town gasworks established at Sherryman’s Bridge.

1828
New National School opens for 250 boys

1837
William Smith, later WH Smith and Co, opens small iron foundry.

1858
Railway line Crewe to Shrewsbury via Whitchurch opened.

1862
Composer Edward German born at Old Town Hall Vaults.

1863
Oswestry line opened (later Cambrian Railway).

1866
Working Men’s Hall (now Archibald Worthington Club) opened.

1869
First edition Whitchurch Herald published.

1874
First bypass built as Bridgwater and Brownlow Streets.

1886
First Cottage Hospital built opposite St John’s Church.

1899
Roman cremation urn unearthed at Sedgeford.

1915
Huge Army camp built on Prees Heath for 30,000 men.

1926
Harry Richards establishes ‘Salopia’ coach company.

1931
Electricity reaches Whitchurch, population now 6,000.

1944
Canal abandoned. Chester and Oswestry railway lines closed (during1950s and 1960s).

1991
Latest bypass built, population now over 8,000.

1990s
First section of renovated canal opens, from New Mills Bridge to Chemistry Bridge.

Interactive Map

To view an interactive map of Whitchurch that links to historic information about the streets of the town click on the 'Maps' button on the left hand menu and then select 'Whitchurch Town Trail Interactive Map - Whole Map'.