Daring Escape From The Dana

1897: Notorious criminal Walter Roach had been quietly planning his escape from the Dana prison in Shrewsbury for weeks. He was awaiting trial for a burglary at a post office at Grindley Brook near Whitchurch. On Saturday 30th October, at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon he decided now was the time. He sprung the…

Harsh Punishment for Scrumping

1886 – Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News – Saturday 14 August. Stealing Fruit  – Thomas Oban, a lad living in Smithfield Square, was charged with stealing pears, the property of Henry Franklin, of the Raven Hotel, on the 10th inst (10th August). Richard Wild, foreman to Mr. Franklin, said he saw a number of boys in…

PODCAST:VICTORIAN FRANKWELL – A tour

  In Victorian times The ‘little borough’ of Frankwell was a lively and fiercely independent place. In this podcast local historian and author David Trumper takes us on a tour of the many pubs that used to stand there. You’ll learn about some of the antics of the local drunks and hear about the enormous…