Bridgnorth, a municipal borough of Shropshire, 19 miles SB. of Shrewsbury. The Severn divides it into the upper or 'High Town,' and lower or'Low Town,' the two connected by an inclined railway (1892) with a vertical rise of 111 feet. The High Town is built on a red sandstone rock rising 180 feet above the right bank of the river. This rock was formerly crowned by a royal fortress, a huge leaning fragment being all now left of the keep. Bridgnorth has a grammar-school existing in Henry VIII's reign, carpet, worsted, and tanning industries, and agricultural trade. Until 1868 it returned two members, and until 1885 one. The Danes wintered here in 896, and the site of a Saxon castle, built by the princess Ethelfleda, is still distinctly marked. Robert de Belesme (a kinsman of the Conqueror) built the Norman castle, and unsuccessfully defended it against Henry I. It was also besieged by Henry II. and Edward II. The castle was demolished by the Parliamentarians after a three-weeks' siege, during which the 'High Town' was destroyed by fire, one of the few houses surviving being the fine old Tudor mansion, still standing, in which, Bishop Percy was afterwards born (1728). Baxter began his ministry here. The population is over 6000.