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Shropshire is a county worth visiting for its historic villages, beautiful countryside, literary connections, and industrial heritage. It’s also a stepping stone to the country of Wales. In the south are hills, moorlands and valleys with much of the area being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here are the Stiperstones, Long Mynd, Clun forest, and Stretton Hills. Towns and villages include Ludlow, Church Street, Craven Arms, Much Wenlock, All Stretton, and Bishops Castle. Ludlow castle’s architecture spans the time from the Norman conquest through the 16th century. Its purpose was to help the border defend itself against the Welsh. Ludlow became crown property in 1461 with the crowning of Edward IV and stayed in royal hands for 350 years. It was home to Princes Richard and Edward who disappeared into the Tower of London never to be seen again. The 12th century church is the resting place of A.E. Housman, famous Shropshire poet. The castle isn’t Ludlow’s only famous historic building. There are over 500 listed ones. The Feathers Hotel dates from 1521 and still welcomes guests. The local museum gives a town history. A. E. Housman is buried in St Laurence’s church. Wenlock Edge, a limestone escarpment is a favourite with walkers. Views reach in all directions. At the end of the ridge the village of Much Wenlock provides scenery of a different kind. Half-timbered buildings include a 16th century guildhall. The ruins of Wenlock Priory are of interest. Founded in 680, it was pillaged by the Danes, then rebuilt. The 350-foot long nave made it one of England’s longest monastic churches. A lavatorium has carved marble panels. Shipton Hall near Much Wenlock was built c1587 is an excellent example of Elizabethan architecture. There are Georgian additions to this family home. A Saxon church sits on the grounds. The town of Bishops Castle was once on the Drover’s trail. There are two local history museums and historic buildings. Clun lies in the Clun forest (treeless) and has a 14th century packhorse bridge and the ruins of a Norman castle. Stokesay Castle is near the town of Craven Arms. It is a well-preserved 13th century fortified manor house. The gatehouse is timber-framed, and the great hall retains its original medieval staircase. The grounds of the castle ruins at Bridgnorth are a public park. The town is also home to the Severn Valley Railway where steam trains follow a 12-mile journey in the summertime. North Shropshire is known for its mossy meres, sandstone hills, and 46 miles of canal. Here are the towns of Ellesmere (beside a glacial mere) with its Georgian houses and half-timbered buildings, Wem, Whitchurch, and Market Drayton (go there for the gingerbread). Attractions include the Hawkstone Park Follies, Wollerton Old Hall, and Hodnet Hall Gardens. Hawkstone Park and Follies were created in the 18th century in hilly terrain. It’s seen by footpath that traverses ravines, arches, bridges, cliffs, woodlands, and caves—allow 3.5 hours for a complete circuit. In the north is the town of Shrewsbury, home of Brother Cadfael of literary and TV fame. There’s a scenic walk around the old town that sits almost surrounded by the river Severn. Poet A. E. Housman immortalized it with these words, “High the vanes of Shrewsbury gleam, islanded in Severn Stream.” Boat trips on the river are on offer. Shrewsbury has over 660 listed buildings. Medieval buildings grew up around the town’s Norman castle, turned into a home, then into council chambers. It’s now the site of the Shropshire Regimental Museum. Queen Anne and Georgian buildings add to the mix of black and white houses. A particularly good example is Rowley’s House, a late 16th century Tudor merchant’s home. It’s is now the local history museum and art gallery. Across the bridge is the Benedictine abbey (now the parish church). The abbey was founded in 1083 and holds the remains of the tomb of St Winefride. There’s a historical exhibition. Weston Park, close to Shrewsbury, was built in 1671 and houses a collection of paintings, furniture, and objects d’art. There are 1000 acres of parkland, woodland, and landscaped grounds by ‘Capability’ Brown. For the kids there’s a pet corner, adventure playground, miniature railway and deer park. Attingham Park is a late 18th century house set in parkland. Italian furniture and a large silver collection are on view along with a picture gallery. There are costumed guided tours. Wroxeter Roman City is the ruins of one of Rome’s largest cities. It covered 200 acres of land, two miles of walls and housed 5000 people. Much is unexcavated. Ironbridge Gorge is a World Heritage Site of industrial locations that went full tilt in the 18th century. They are the result of Abraham Darby pioneering the use of coke to smelt iron (1709). This was the beginning of affordable engineering and led to the rise of the area’s industries. Here is the world’s first iron bridge, built in 1779. Ten museums provide a complete look at the industrial heritage of the area. The Museum of the Gorge gives the details of the history. Dale House is where plans for the Ironbridge were worked out by Abraham Darby III. The Museum of Iron is home to the original Darby furnace used to smelt iron. Coalport China Museum and Tar Tunnel, in its restored china works, displays their national collections and gives demonstrations of their craft. Tar tunnel oozes bitumen from its walls. Enginuity is an interactive technology centre of special interest to budding engineers. Jackfield Tile Museum was the centre of the decorative tile industry. Broseley Pipeworks is where clay tobacco pipe making took place. More attractions are the Open Air Museum of Steel Sculpture, a Victorian police station and old courthouse and the Maws Craft Centre. Children will enjoy Blists Hill Victorian Town, built on the banks of the Shropshire Canal. Wander around the town streets to visit shops, a working foundry, a grocers, printing shop, bakers, a working foundry, cottage gardens, a pub and much more. Costumed staff are on hand to lend authenticity to the experience. The 17th century hunting lodge Boscobel House is remembered because of its connection with the Royal Oak in the grounds. It was said that Charles II hid in the tree after the Battle of Worcester in 1651, thus escaping Cromwell and going on to become King of England. A tour gives all the details including hiding holes in the house. A farmyard, smithy, and exhibition round off a visit. Shropshire is home to a large number of gardens open to visitors, including those under the National Garden Scheme. Hodnet Hall Gardens, Wollerton Old Hall Gardens, and Burford House Gardens are worth visiting. Other English Heritage historic sites of interest are medieval Langley Chapel (at Acton Burnell); Lilleshall Abbey (at Oakengates) with its extensive ruins and ancient yew trees; Haughmond Abbey (at Upton Magna), a 12th century chapter house with medieval timber ceiling and sculpture; and Buildwas Abbey (Iron Bridge), a 12th century abbey with an almost complete church. A fantastic family day out can be found at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm. It demonstrates life on a Shropshire upland farm at the turn of the 20th century with people involved in farm tasks using the same methods as the Victorians did. There are shire horses, farmyard, and field animals. Some of the activities, depending on the day you visit, consist of milking and butter churning, blacksmith forge work, sheep-shearing, lambing, cider making and steam powered threshing. You can even stay on site and choose self-catering houses, bed and breakfast, or camping. Shropshire Attractions For opening times and full details of attractions see the Attractions section of our website. Acton Scott Historic Working Farm Wenlock Lodge, Acton Scott Signed from A49 near Church Stretton Tel. 0 1694 781 307 For photos and full details see our article Acton Scott Historic Working Farm Web: Acton Scott Historic Working Farm Attingham Park Atcham village, four miles from Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1743 708 123 (info line) Benthall Hall Broseley Tel. 0 1952 882 159 Boscobel House and the Royal Oak Minor road between A41 and A5 near Wolverhampton Tel. 0 1902 850 224 Buildwas Abbey On river Severn on A4169 Clun Castle Clun, near Craven Arms Tel. 0 121 625 6820 Daniels Mill Eardington, Bridgnorth Half mile from junction of B4555/B4363 roads out of Bridgnorth, WV16 5JL Tel. 0 1746 762 753 Web: Daniels Mill Dudmaston Quatt, four miles from Bridgnorth Tel. 0 1746 780 866 Haughmond Abbey Upton Magna, 3 miles north-east of Shrewsbury Off the B5062 Tel. 0 1743 709 661 Hawkstone Park and Historic Follies Weston-under-Redcastle, near Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1939 200 611 Hodnet Hall Gardens Hodnet, Market Drayton, on the A53 north of Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1630 685 786 Web: Hodnet Hall Gardens Ironbridge Gorge Bridge and Museums Ironbridge Gorge; Exit J4 of M54 Tel. 0 121 625 6820; 01952 884 391 (Tourist Information Centre) Web: Ironbridge Gorge Museums Langley Chapel Near Acton Burnell Tel. NA Lilleshall Abbey Oakengates, on minor road 1.5 miles from Acton Burnell Tel. 0 121 625 6820 (regional office) Longner Hall Uffington, off the B4380 Tel. 0 1743 709 215 Ludlow Castle Castle Square, Ludlow Tel. 0 1584 873 355 Web: Ludlow Castle Much Wenlock Guildhall Much Wenlock Tel. 0 1952 727 509 Moreton Corbet Castle Moreton Corbet, near Shrewsbury Tel. 0 121 625 6820 Royal Air Force Museum and National Cold War Exhibition Cosford, Wolverhampton Tel. 01902 376 200 Web: National Cold War Exhibition Shipton Hall Seven miles south-west of Much Wenlock Tel. 0 1746 785 4225 Shrewsbury Abbey Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1743 232 723 Web: Shrewsbury Abbey Shrewsbury Castle and Shropshire Regimental Museum Castle St, Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1743 358 516 Web: Shrewsbury Museums Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery Barker St, Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1743 361 196 Web: Shrewsbury Museums Staunton Country Park Just north of Havant, between A3 and B2149 Access from Middle Park Way, off B2149 Tel. 0 1705 453 405 Stokesay Castle One mile south of Craven Arms Tel. 0 1588 672 544 Stokesay Court Onibury, near Craven Arms Tel. 0 1584 856 238 Web: Stokesay Court Upton Cressett Hall Upton Cressett Tel. 0 1746 714 308 Web: Upton Cressett Hall Wenlock Priory Much Wenlock Tel. 0 1952 727 466 Weston Park Weston-under-Lizard, near Shifnal Tel. 0 1952 852 100 Web: Weston Park Whittington Castle Whittington, Oswestry, on the A495 Tel. 0 1691 662 397 Web: Whittington Castle For photos and more information see our article Whittington Castle Wilderhope Manor Longville, Much Wenlock Seven miles east of Church Stretton Tel. 0 870 770 6090 Wollerton Old Hall Gardens Wollerton, near Market Drayton Tel. 0 1630 685 760 Web: Wollerton Old Hall Garden Wroxeter Roman City Wroxeter, five miles east of Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1743 76 1330 Shropshire Tourist Information Centres Bridgnorth TIC The Library, Listley St, Bridgnorth Tel. 0 1746 763 257 Church Stretton TIC Church St, Church Stretton Tel. 0 1694 723 133 Ellesmere TIC The Mereside, Ellesmere Tel. 01691 622 981 Ironbridge TIC The Tollhouse (On the Ironbridge) Bower Yard, Ironbridge Tel. 0 1952 432 166 Ludlow TIC Castle St, Ludlow Tel. 0 1584 875 053 Market Drayton TIC 49 Cheshire St, Market Drayton Tel. 0 1630 652 139 Much Wenlock TIC The Museum, High St, Much Wenlock Tel. 0 1952 727 679 Oswestry TIC The Heritage Centre, 2 Church Terrace, Oswestry Tel. 0 1691 662 753 Oswestry TIC Mile End Services, Oswestry Tel. 0 1691 662 488 Shrewsbury TIC The Music Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury Tel. 0 1743 281 200 Telford TIC The Telford Centre, Management Suite, Telford Tel. 0 1952 238 008 (0 1952 238 009) Whitchurch TIC 12 St Mary's St, Whitchurch Tel. 0 1948 664 577 Shropshire Official Tourist Information Shropshire Wildlife Trust Insider Tip: the National Trust provides walking maps for the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge. On summer weekends a shuttle bus takes you from Church Stretton up to the Long Mynd, and then you can walk back down. For a great breakfast, lunch, or tea visit Carole Anne’s Coffee shop and Restaurant in Much Wenlock near the priory at 5 Sheinton St. Tel. 0 1952 728 444 Photos by Barbara Ballard and courtesy David Packman at Hampshire Cam and Boots and Paws
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Be a Destinations-UK-Ireland Sponsor Our Shropshire Articles Acton Scott Farm Wollerton Old Hall Garden Hodnet Hall Garden All Stretton Village Weston Park House and Gardens Boscobel House Whittington Castle Church Stretton Montgomery Canal Much Wenlock The Historic Buildings of Bridgnorth Other England Articles
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