Severn Stories

Towns such as Bridgnorth, sitting on the banks of the River Severn, used the river to transport goods.

What sorts of things were carried along the river?

The main exports from medieval (1066-1547) Bridgnorth were clothes, wool and beer! Bridgnorth made its own brew, called cave beer.  This name came from the sandstone caves at the river's edge where the beer was stored, like the ones in this photograph.

What else was sent down the River?

There was a thriving wool trade across much of Shropshire by the 13th century.  The monks from Buildwas Abbey used to load their wool fleeces onto boats at a wharf in Cressage.

The river was also used to export timber. Logs were tied together to form a flotte. These were then floated downstream, guided by flottesmen. There is also an early reference that shows that passenger transport was common from at least the 13th century.  Passengers were carried in vessels called Whirries.

Coal was also carried down the Severn to Worcester, Bristol and beyond from around 1570. Coal trade along the Severn became vital to the development of Shropshire as an important player in the Industrial Revolution. During the English Civil War (1642-1651), river ports became military targets and control of them meant control of produce. Coal transport was blockaded and this led to shortages downstream, in turn leading to civil unrest.