In 1283, Edward I summoned the first Parliament to meet where commoners were represented, and it met in Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury was one of twenty important towns instructed to send two representatives, and each Sheriff sent two knights. One of the first tasks of this new style parliament, from which the present House of Commons is descended, was to decide the fate of Prince David, grandson of Llewelyn the Great, who languished in Shrewsbury Castle.

His crimes included being a traitor and committing murder on Palm Sunday. His punishment was absolute. He was dragged through the town behind a horse, then, at the top of Pride Hill, he was hung and quartered. With this public and bloody act the Border Wars came to an end, and Shrewsbury reached another mile stone it its chequered history.

With the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, the town still suffering with the after effects of the plague, and Owen Glyndower still not acting in a neighbourly way, the 15th century did not start too well for Shrewsbury. But the townsfolk were made of stern stuff and it was not long before Shrewsbury was on the up. Much of this was due to the strong industrial base the town enjoyed. Steadily, the single merchant guild divided into separate groups, each representing a specific or allied group of trades.

These Guilds had the effect of ensuring the quality of their products, and with this quality came increased trade and wealth. There was also a strong religious connection and each GuiId had its own patron saint. As an example of their community work, the Draper's Guild, founded in 1460, built Alms houses in the town one year after their founding.

These Guilds held a joint annual celebration on the Thursday after Whitsun, and, although changed in form, this annual event is still held today in the form of Shrewsbury's Flower Show. In its early form, this annual celebration began with a grand procession through the town, led by priests and followed by the clergy and friars, the members of the Corporation and the members of the Guilds, each in their own colours and carrying their banners. From the town they made their way to Weeping Cross to confess their sins. This was followed by a service in old St. Chad's. After all these religious ceremonies, the Guilds would retire to their respective quarters to celebrate and, perhaps, sin all over again!

The Drapers quickly became the most wealthy of Shrewsbury's Guilds and, of course, the owning of property was important. Because of this, some of Shrewsbury's finest buildings today are a result of these Guilds.

In the early days of this building boom, the buildings would be in timber, the shop would be at the front and the workshops at the rear or even above. Often, the upper floors would overhang the ground floor which would give a sheltered pavement for pedestrians. - An idea seemingly forgotten by today's architects.

Between the Battle of Shrewsbury and the crowning of Henry VI, in 1422, Shrewsbury was left to its own devices, and national and international events were of little consequence to the residents. But Henry VI was not a strong king, either mentally or physically, and a more prominent figure was Richard, Duke of York who acted as Protector during the King's spells of insanity.