Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury School interiors

Shrewsbury School interiors


	After passing through the archway in the South wing, we enter an inner courtyard bounded by a later brick building. Today, the old school houses a modern and comfortable Shrewsbury Library. The original complex of buildings was restored over a period of 9 years and terminated with reinstatement of the garden in 1983 (Carr and Fullman, 1983).
Original elements were retained in the thorough reconstruction; here, a fireplace decorates an interior wall of the South wing on the second level of the Library.
Upstairs, the West wing housed the school library. Samuel Butler, who was appointed headmaster in 1798, was responsible for the last major work on the old buildings. "..the attic storey was removed and Gothic windows were inserted at either end of the library. A parapet was constructed to correspond with that on the other wing and the handsome Gothic plaster ceiling featuring the coats of arms of the school's trustees was put up. ... The shelves were placed along the walls." (Carr and Fullman, 1983)

"The large schoolroom, known as Top Schools was used to teach three classes simultaneously. ... Also at this end of the room, in the SE corner, was a punishment cell known as the Black Hole. It was 4 ft square and 7¹/₂ ft tall. Boys placed in here were occasionally forgotten; two had to break out on one occasion and climb down a drainpipe to avoid being left there all night." (Carr and Fullman, 1983) This large airy room now houses the music collection of the Shrewsbury Library.


	Generations of students carved their names in the sloping sills under the tall windows; Charles Darwin's name is not among them. [We asked the librarian, who said that numerous people had searched the inscriptions.]
"The boarders lived in school houses in School Lane, Castle Street and in Rigg's Hall. Comfort was minimal. Complaints about the food provided were continuous, on one occasion leading to a riot. It was said in the school that the initials still over the headmaster's gateway next to the school were a public house sign for 'stale bread, sour beer, salt butter, and stinking beef sold by Samuel Butler'." "Despite its limitations, the school had an unrivalled education record of scholarships to the ancient universities. Old Salopians recalled Drs Butler and Kennedy with great affection and esteem and created considerable opposition to the school leaving its old site." (Carr and Fullman, 1983) Charles Darwin, however, felt no such affection. Return to Shrewsbury introductory page.
References cited: Carr, A. M., and T. Fullman. 1983. Shrewsbury Library, its history and restoration. Shrewsbury, Shropshire Libraries. unpaginated We appreciate the opportunity to photograph architectural features of the interior that Charles Darwin would have seen, when he was a student. We thank the staff of the Library and hope that these pages provide a useful reference to visitors who ask them about Charles Darwin and the Shrewsbury School.

Last updated 4 October 1998 (JHW)