Shropshire

Shropshire is one of the most unspoilt counties in England and has a lot to offer visitors. The main town is Medieval Shrewsbury with its castle and beautifully preserved timber framed buildings. Clive House, home of Clive of India is a popular attraction here. Nearby the pre historic barrows of Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge are great for walking.  Wenlock Priory in Much Wenlock is particularly atmospheric, and Much Wenlock is the originator of the modern Olympic Games.  

Shropshire is best known for its local food production which is celebrated in the town of Ludlow. There are markets three times a week, traditional food shops and good restaurants, and each year a well known food festival celebrating local produce. The nearby castle and museum tell the history of the town and are popular with the many visitors. At Stokesay Castle there is a beautiful garden and fortified manor house.

 

One of the most interesting places in Shropshire is Ironbridge Gorge which was an important centre of the Industrial Revolution and one of the world’s greatest iron making centres. The town now has a number of museums relating to the industries here and is spread along the banks of the River Severn. These include the Museum of Iron, the Coalport China Museum and the Blists Hill Museum.

Nearby Telford is named after Thomas Telford. Take a narrow boat down the Shropshire Union Canal or the Llangollen Canal to Wales. Bridgnorth is a lovely historic town on two levels with magnificent views and is the home of the Severn Valley Railway.

Visit Bishops Castle, home of traditional shops and a delightful town and Church Stretton with its thriving antiques centre. Shropshire is epitomized in the Houseman poem,” A Shropshire Lad,” and many parts remain unchanged today.