Shropshire is a large county; the largest of the shires without a coastline. It remains rural except in one intense district of industrialisation and urbanisation at Telford and Ironbridge. The River Severn shapes much of Shropshire. It passes through the middle of the county forming a broad, rich valley and floodplain.
The Severn curls around Shrewsbury, the county town like a moat. Shrewsbury is a town built on a hill above the Severn with a mediæval castle and Tudor streets. It was King Charles I’s capital for a while too.
Further downstream the Seven enters the Severn Gorge where it is bridged by the famous Iron Bridge, a symbol of the Industrial Revolution which took root here. The town of Ironbridge which grew up from the works around the bridge, is no longer at the cutting edge of industrial advances; it is a heritage centre. Immediately north though is the growing New Town of Telford; modern modernity encapsulated. However a mile or so west is witness to earlier ages; the Wrekin, a lone, massive hill dominating the landscape and imagination and which has given a name since immemorial time to the area; Roman Viroconium, Saxon Wrocensæt, Wroxeter and Wrockwardine.
Downstream of Ironbridge is Bridgenorth, a town full of history on a precipitous hill above the Seven. The ruin of its castle stares down over the Severn Valley it once commanded.
North of the Severn the landscape is gentler, and given over to agriculture. Around Ellesmere is a group of small lakes, the “meres”, including Ellesmere itself. However westward the hills begin to rise. At the edge of this area is the historic town of Oswestry. South of the Severn Shropshire has new scenic glories of wilder hills, especially westward towards Radnorshire. In this part of the shire are high, rounded hills, deep-set valleys, and woods full of charm all around. The chief town of the south of the county is Ludlow, set on a hill and the former capital of Wales (despite not being in Wales). Ludlow retains its age-worn charm and is full of fine timbered houses. In the town itself is Ludlow Castle. North are the distinctive long hills of the district such as the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge, an inspiration for Housman’s A Shropshire Lad.
County Facts
County Town: Shrewsbury
Main Towns: Bishops Castle, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Dawley, Donnington, Ellesmere, Ludlow, Coalbrookedale, Newport, Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Telford.
Main Rivers: Severn, Perry, Roden, Tern, Clun, Onny, Corve, Rea.
Highlights: Cliff railway, Bridgnorth; Ironbridge; The Wrekin; The Long Mynd.
Highest Point: Brown Clee Hill, 1,772 feet.
Area: 1,343 sq miles
County Flower: Round-leaved Sundew
