Severn Stories

The Vikings arrive in Shropshire

In AD 895 a small Viking army sailed up the River Severn into Shropshire. They set up camp near a crossing point on the river at Quatford, just south of Bridgnorth. They stayed over winter before moving on. The River Severn provided a link from the sea into the heart of Shropshire and beyond.

Around 16 years after the Vikings arrived Aethelflaeda, the daughter of Alfred the Great, set up a series of burhs, or fortified sites, to combat the Viking threat. One such burh was at Shrewsbury. The burh was located to control the river crossing. Another was set up at Bridgnorth.

The River Severn and Shrewsbury

The town of Shrewsbury was able to develop over the centuries because it was protected by a large loop, or meander, in the River Severn. Shrewsbury Castle was built to defend the only land approach to the town.

The River as a boundary

During the 7th century AD the River Severn became a boundary between the lands of two rival tribes. These were the Magonsaetan, who occupied the area to the south of the river, and the Wroecensaetan (people of the Wrekin), who lived to the north of the river. These boundaries have remained the same until today. They now divide regions of church authority; i.e. the dioceses of Lichfield and Hereford. The remains of the Roman town of Wroxeter can be seen here with the Wrekin in the background.

Crossing the River Severn

To cross from one side of the river to the other a crossing point (ford) had to be available or a bridge had to be built. There are several natural fording points along the River Severn.

The Roman (AD43-450) town of Wroxeter was built close to a ford on the River Severn. The ford was important as it was on a direct route into Wales. When the Roman army arrived at Wroxeter in the 1st cenury AD, they built a fort of earth and timber to control passage over the river.

The Normans (1066-1154) also saw the importance of fords and bridges. They sought to stamp their authority on the passage up the river by building timber castles. Two such castles were at Quatford and Shrewsbury. These were later replaced by stone castles at Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.

Want to know more about Bridgnorth?

Bridgnorth was known simply as Brycg until the 13th century, which is old English for Bridge. Its very name highlights the importance of the bridge at this location.

The current bridge partly dates to the 14th century. However, most of it dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. The early bridge was topped with a range of building, including a chapel and a gatehouse. These were demolished during the early 20th century, to aid traffic flow across the bridge.