Note 157 — SHREWSBURY. (continued 2)

Continuing our walk we speedily reach the peaceful and sequestered village of Meole Brace, celebrated for its excellent trout stream, on the banks of which was born and educated Thomas Barker, from whom honest Izaak Walton, in his delightful book, “The Complete Angler,” acknowledges that he derived the greater portion of his information, relative to fly-fishing. Mr. Barker published in 1691 a work entitled “Barker’s Delight, or the Art of Angling,” which ran through three editions in the space of eight years, and which is still in much repute among the lovers of the “gentle art.” Near the Bridge are Evans’s Alms-houses, built in 1844, under the will of the late Mr. John Evans of this town, for nine poor widows, who each have a liberal yearly allowance.