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An Introduction to Shropshire

Shropshire (shortened as Salop) is in the North West of England and shares its western border with Wales and one of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of England

The county is principally agricultural, with some engineering, electronics and food-processing industries.  The ancient Watling Street and Offa's Dyke cross the county and in Anglo-Saxon times, Shropshire was a part of the kingdom of Mercia. 

One of the most dramatic areas in the county is the is the Wrekin, a large hill of typically volcanic formation, with immense views from its summit, almost certainly the headquarters of the Cornovil tribe, who controlled the area before the arrival of the Romans. This structure is visible throughout much of the county.

The county town is Shrewsbury which has been called England’s finest Tudor town as there are so many black & white “magpie” buildings as well as the ancient “shuts” or passageways which connect them. There are over 650 listed buildings in the town, including a Norman Abbey and a medieval castle.

In addition to the delights of Shrewsbury,  there is the  spectacular Bridgnorth, which is two towns rolled into one (an upper and lower town with the cliff railway conecting them).  King Charles I was said to say “The fienst view in all my Kingdom”!! so must be worth a visit.

One of county’s top attractions is the Ironbridge Gorge. It is known as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and has been designated a World Heritage site. The most of the original factories are long gone, but some have been restored and or recreated to provide an extensive series of Victorian / Industrial Revolution themed museums, most are operated by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. The Iron Bridge itself (The world's first Iron Bridge) was built in 1779 and has been recently refurbished and painted.

The county also has several important historic houses with Weston Park (home to the Earl of Bradford) and Attingham Park.

For railway enthusiasts, the Severn Valley Railway is a full-size standard-gauge line running regular steam-hauled passenger trains for the benefit of tourists and enthusiasts alike between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire, a distance of 16 miles. The journey is full of interest, for the route follows closely the meandering course of the River Severn for most of the way; one highlight of the trip is the crossing of the river by means of the Victoria Bridge - a massive 200-foot single span, high above the water.