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Shropshire and the Norman Conquest |
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Shrewsbury Abbey, through which Thomas Telford built the A5 |
The Abbey's independence can be explained as a consequence of the special position enjoyed by Roger de Montgomery and the other Marcher Lords. In other areas of England, William the Conqueror was careful to divide up the country in such a way as to prevent the development of mini-kingdoms. However, he encouraged the Marcher Lords who controlled regions encompassing Welsh borders to develop little empires, selecting only trusted allies to fill these earldoms, presumably believing that by giving them more freedom they made a stronger barrier against the Welsh. Therefore, Roger de Montgomery had the authority to appoint his choice of sheriff, build castles and establish his own monastery.
In later years, Shrewsbury Abbey became one of England's most sacred pilgrim sites, second only to Canterbury. King Henry V even made the pilgrim's journey, walking from the Abbey to Holywell in North Wales.
Many of the buildings with which the Normans used to subjugate and rule England in 1066 have lasted more than 900 years. Shropshire's own Norman legacy, in the form of the abbey and a number of castles, testifies to its role as a military stronghold and religious centre. Although the idea of the Norman Yoke and the destruction of native English tradition still finds an audience today, Shropshire's take shows that some Anglo-Saxon settlements grew and became regional capitals thanks to the Norman invaders.
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