Shropshire | county, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com county, England, United Kingdom England Shropshire, also called Salop, administrative, geographic, and historic county of western England bordering on Wales . Historically, the county has been known as Shropshire as well as by its older, Norman-derived name of Salop. Shrewsbury , in central Shropshire, is the administrative centre. St. Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Eng. Chris Bayley The administrative, geographic, and historic counties cover somewhat different areas. The administrative county is bounded to the north by the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the unitary authority of Cheshire East , to the east by the administrative county of Staffordshire and the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin , to the southeast by the administrative county of Worcestershire , to the south by the unitary authority of Herefordshire , and to the west by Wales.

Until 2009 the administrative county was divided into five administrative entities: the districts of Bridgnorth , North Shropshire , and South Shropshire , the borough of Oswestry , and the borough of Shrewsbury and Atcham . The geographic county includes the entire administrative county and the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin. The historic county is nearly coterminous with the geographic county, but two small areas within the geographic county lie outside the historic county: an area south of Market Drayton in North Shropshire belongs to the historic county of Staffordshire, and an area south of Ludlow in South Shropshire belongs to the historic county of Herefordshire . The historic county of Shropshire also includes a small area along the River Severn south of Upper Arley in Wyre Forest borough of the administrative county of Worcestershire .

The River Severn divides the geographic county of Shropshire into the hilly southwest—a series of ridges and “hogsbacks” running northeast-southwest and separated by deep valleys—and an undulating drift-covered plain in the northeast, with sluggish streams and large areas of former marsh (e.g., the Wealdmoors), peat mosses, and meres (near Ellesmere). Toward the east, tributaries of the Severn have dissected the plain into a series of valleys and low ridges running generally north-south. The climate tends to be humid. River Severn at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Eng. Chris Bayley Surrey Archaeologists have discovered numerous Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age artifacts . Bronze Age remains also include round barrows near Ludlow and stone circles on Stapeley Hill. Early Iron Age hill forts survive at the Bury Ditches, Hopesay Burrow Camp, Caer Caradoc, the Wrekin, and Old Oswestry. The 1st-century-ce Roman legionary fortress at Wroxeter (Viroconium) was one of the largest towns in Roman Britain . The Romans exploited silver-bearing lead ores and outcrop coal.

The historic county’s position on the boundary between England and Wales shaped its medieval history. The Anglo-Saxon conquest led to the construction during the 8th century of Watt’s Dyke and Offa’s Dyke , which formed a boundary between the predominantly Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia to the east and the principalities of Wales to the west. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, large areas of Shropshire were set aside as forests and hunting grounds under special jurisdiction, and a double line of castles against the Welsh was established. The subsequent history of medieval Shropshire is a chronicle of Welsh incursions and baronial rebellions. In the 13th century the high quality of Shropshire wool brought prosperity to Ludlow, Shrewsbury, and Bridgnorth , the main commercial centres. Shrewsbury became a market for an extensive area, including much of northern Wales. Cattle raising became important in wetter areas. From the 15th to the 17th century, holdings gradually increased in size, some common lands were enclosed, and attempts were made to drain the marshes.

Modern industry originated in the early 18th century, when Abraham Darby came to Coalbrookdale, in present-day Telford and Wrekin, and developed his method of smelting ironstone with coke. The area offered supplies of sulfur-free coal, limestone, charcoal, and waterpower in the dale, and the River Severn provided water transport. Shropshire rapidly became the greatest iron-producing area in England. The world’s first cast-iron bridge was erected at Ironbridge in 1779, the first iron-built boat floated on the Severn in 1787, and one of the first experimental railway engines was built by the Coalbrookdale Company for Richard Trevithick in 1801. Goods were distributed along a network of canals linking the Severn with the Rivers Dee , Mersey , and Stour. Coal mining ceased by the end of the 20th century. The region centred on Ironbridge was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

Aerial view of the Ironbridge over the River Severn near Coalbrookdale, Telford and Wrekin, … © Adam Woolfitt/Robert Harding Picture Library Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots Despite its industrial heritage, Shropshire remains heavily agricultural. Sheep are bred in the lowlands and raised together with cattle in the southwestern uplands. Dairy farming predominates on the northern plain. There are many cattle markets, including Shrewsbury, Ludlow, and Oswestry, and Craven Arms has some of the largest sheep sales in the country. The main crops are grains, sugar beets, and potatoes. Besides iron founding, industries include food processing and engineering. Clay is excavated and agricultural limestone quarried. Area administrative county, 1,234 square miles (3,197 square km); geographic county, 1,346 square miles (3,487 square km). Pop.

(2001) administrative county, 283,173; geographic county, 441,498; (2011) administrative county, 306,129; geographic county, 472,770. Farm field by the Wrekin (hill; background), southwestern Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, England. Chris Bayley Visit Shrewsbury | The Original One-Off More on this story Free advice for Shropshire couples A Shropshire family mediation service is opening its doors to offer free help for people who are facing a new year separation and aren’t sure where to turn. Wace Morgan Family Mediation Service in... More on this story Shrewsbury flies the flag for safety as nightlife booms Shrewsbury is boasting double success after retaining its award as a vibrant and safe destination and experiencing a 20 per cent increase in people enjoying nights out in the town*. Purple Flag...

More on this story Local landlords encouraged to join Council and University Centre Shrewsbury scheme An increase in student numbers at University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS) has led to a demand for more privately-owned rented accommodation, and an event this month seeks to highlight the opportunities... More on this story Consultation to start next week on proposed Public Spaces Protection Order for Shrewsbury A formal consultation on a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Shrewsbury town centre and Frankwell playing fields is to start next Monday 9th January 2017 and run for eight weeks. The...

Shropshire travel guide - Wikitravel Villages[ edit ] Whittington - a pretty little village near Oswestry and home to the impressive Whittington Castle situated in the heart of the village Other destinations[ edit ] Must see's in Shropshire include: The Ironbridge Gorge Valley, home to the World's first Iron Bridge and home to the 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums The Shropshire Hills with magnificent views of Shropshire and its neighbouring counties Stokesay Castle, near Craven Arms and the oldest and best preserved manor house in England Ludlow, Shropshire's gastronomic town and the first UK Cittaslow town. Specialist food and drink shops and markets can all be found here. Shrewsbury, Shropshire's county town and home to over 660 listed buildings including magnificent black and white examples. Royal Air Force Museum Cosford [2] , home of the National Cold War Exhibition. Understand[ edit ] Since 1998, Shropshire has been administratively divided into Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire County Council.

However for most purposes it is still one county with the same media, press, emergency services, records service, etc. Talk[ edit ] Some parts of West Shropshire have a Welsh influence in their place names, though the people living there speak English like the rest of the county. Get in[ edit ] Shropshire is relatively easy to get to by road and rail. The A49 (which runs from Herefordshire to Lancashire ) runs through Shropshire from north to south, while from the M6 the M54 and A5 run east to west. Railways also run from the south to Shrewsbury , stopping primarily in Ludlow and Church Stretton . The main line from Birmingham and Wolverhampton also runs to Shrewsbury and then north to Chester or west to Wales . Shropshire does have a direct link to London, albiet it only a few times a day, and it taking approximately four hours direct (the 'scenic route'), when switching at Birmingham New Street and taking two trains, arriving at London Euston would be just over two hours.

The direct service is called Wrexham and Shropshire and runs from Shrewsbury to London, stopping at Wellington and Telford in Shropshire, before continuing to Banbury and then London Marylebone Air travellers will normally fly to Manchester Airport, Birmingham International and possibly John Lennon Airport, Liverpool . East Midlands Airport is also a possibility. Get around[ edit ] Shropshire is a predominantly rural area and sparsely populated. Car transport remains essential for travellers wanting to take full advantage of the county, despite recent efforts to increase public transport usage. It is possible to see most of the major sites by public transport. However, trains and buses can be infrequent or seasonal. Most towns in Shropshire have their own public transport and taxi service. Seasonal shuttle buses give access to areas of Shropshire including the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (see Church Stretton ). See[ edit ][ add listing ] With Shropshire home to over 32 castles, there is plenty of history and heritage to be found in Shropshire. If gardens are more your thing, then you won't be disappointed.

Shropshire is home to some 20 national collections including English Roses, Clematis and Tulips. Choose from the award winning Wollerton Old Hall Garden near Market Drayton, the Dorothy Clive Garden near Market Drayton and Hawkstone Park and Follies near Shrewsbury to name a few. With over 90 attractions to visit, here is a taster of just some of the attractions that you can explore and discover: Stokesay Castle. A very romantic 13th Century fortified manor house. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums. The world's first iron bridge (oddly beautiful) spanning the River Severn. Birth place of the industrial revolution, Ironbridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums are nine award winning museums and sites that tell this momentous story. The Severn Valley Railway. Britains premier steam railway, 16 miles of glorious countryside and restored stations. Shropshire has many other steam train attractions besides. Wroxeter Roman City (Viroconium). The fourth largest Roman city in Britain. Wroxeter was also the city of Camelot from the ledgend of King Arthur. Much to see and learn.

You can follow the trail of the Real King Arthur. The Royal Airforce Museum Cosford. Aviation history brought to life, the largest collection of missiles in the country. Exciting displays of civil and military planes…Last of the few. Weston Park. Ancestral home of the Earls of Bradford. Lots of events, concerts and the occasional world summit too. Hawkstone Historic Park and Follies. Wooded magical land of Grottoes, caves, cliffs and follies. Setting for the TV Chronicles of Narnia. Awesome. Wroxeter Roman Vineyard. One of the worlds most northerly vineyards producing red, white and sparkling wines. A working watermill, Victorian Judges Lodgings and a Nuclear Bunker. Just how diverse can we get? Shropshire is is an excellent place to find locally grown produce, farmer's markets and delis. The county is home to the National winner of the retail cheese awards and a national finalist in the Taste of England awards. Shropshire specialties include Shrewsbury biscuits, Gingerbread, Whimberry Pie and Fidget Pie. Traditional pubs and inns, tearooms and fine dining restaurants can all be found in Shropshire.

Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Shropshire is renowned for its real ale and leads the way in the "home brew" revival. Here you'll find traditional pubs and inns and micro-breweries. The South Shropshire town of Bishops Castle has been happily brewing since 1642 and is home to some of the county's breweries. You can even try Shropshire wine at Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, an historic site near Shrewsbury. Choose from a whole host of wines including Shropshire Gold, Wrekin Reserve and Wroxeter Medium. The vineyard also offers tours and tastings. Shrewsbury travel guide - Wikitravel 14 Get out Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire in England . It's a very traditional market town, with a lot of mediaeval architecture and feel to the town. Historically, Shrewsbury was a vital town in the wool trade with Wales and due to its extremely good strategic geography, it was used as a garrison town and was part of the "Ring of Iron" of Edward Longshanks.

Typically, the name is pronounced as "Shrewsbury" by local residents, or "Shrowsbury" by outsiders. Understand[ edit ] A view of the town square and old corn market. Shropshire is a large and rural county in what is known as the Welsh Marches. The border with Wales is only 9 miles away and there is considerable Welsh influence in the county. The town even has a Welsh name - Amwythig - and many other towns in Shropshire have Welsh names as well as their English ones. The population of the town is now just over 70,000. It is not the largest town in Shropshire - that is Telford . The town's most famous son is Charles Darwin, the celebrated naturalist and explorer. He was born in the town in 1809 and lived in Shrewsbury until he was 27. There are many companies and cultural insitutions in the area which use the Darwin name, and tourists will see lots of references to the man.

By train[ edit ] With the demise of 'Wrexham & Shropshire Railways' in early 2011, Shrewsbury no longer has a direct rail link with London. However, there are frequent trains from London Euston to Birmingham where there are connections to Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury's railway station is a large, imposing, Victorian building, opened in 1848. It is located on Castle Gates, right next to the castle, just north of the town centre, within easy walking distance of the town centre, shops and many of the town's attractions. Shrewsbury acts as an interchange for many rail lines, including the beautiful Heart of Wales line and Cambrian Coastal line and Shrewsbury is easily reached by rail from most of England and Wales. There are frequent services to Manchester , Wolverhampton , Birmingham and Crewe , and other services to Chester , Wrexham Aberystwyth , Swansea , Pwllheli , and Cardiff . The famous Heart of Wales Line runs between Shrewsbury and the sea-side city of Swansea , passing through some of Wales' most spectacular scenery and picturesque towns during its three hour and forty minute journey.

Check their website for up to date train times. By car[ edit ] Access is best via the M54 from the West Midlands conurbation, then the A5 from Telford. Parking in the town is notoriously difficult, therefore Park & Ride schemes operate (see National Park and Ride Directory ), which enables the visitor to park outside the town in a large car park and then take a bus into the town centre. Check the link for pricing information. The park & ride bus goes all round the town centre, and has stops outside most attractions, shops, etc. Park & Ride car parks are located at Meole Brace (to the south of the town), Harlescott (to the north), and Oxon (Shelton) (to the east). By bus[ edit ] The main hub for buses and coaches running to and from Shrewsbury is Raven Meadows bus station. This is located on the riverside behind Pride Hill, which is the main pedestrianised shopping street. (SY1 1PL). Shrewsbury is on the route of the London - Aberystwyth and the London - Wrexham coach services (operated by National Express).

There are various local bus services, mainly linking Shrewsbury with other towns and villages in Shropshire and the surrounding area. Get around[ edit ] Shrewsbury’s town centre is very compact due to being confined by the loop of the river Severn, and as such it is easy to walk between almost all of the tourist attractions and shops. Park and Ride services from Oxon, Harlescott and Meole Brace to the town centre and back (Monday-Saturday) (free parking at Oxon, Harlescott and Meole Brace). Other bus services go from the bus station in the town centre to places in town and further out in the county. Cabs available at the train station on Castle Gates. Otherwise there are numerous taxi companies. Roads inside the town centre are to be avoided if travelling by car. Please park outside the town centre in the many car parks available - St Julian's Friars, Abbey Foregate, Frankwell, etc.

See[ edit ][ add listing ] Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery , The Square SY1 1LH (located in the centre of Shrewsbury, behind the Old Market Hall), ☎ +44 1743 258885 (shrewsburymuseum@shropshire.gov.uk). This building is a must for any visitor to Shrewsbury, as it is home to Shrewsbury’s Tourist Information Centre as well as a museum, art gallery and café. It was previously the theatre until the opening of Theatre Severn (mentioned later). Part of the museum is free to look around (behind the café), see the website for accurate pricing for the rest. Shrewsbury Castle and Shropshire Regimental Museum , Castle Gate (adjacent to Shrewsbury Railway Station), (shropsrm@zoom.co.uk). Museum open Tu-Sa and Bank Holidays 10:00-16:00; grounds all year round, M-Sa 09:00-17:00 & summer Sundays.

Shrewsbury Castle was built in the eleventh century but now belongs to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, and houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum, and an exhibition about the history of the castle. The grounds are also pleasant to walk in and explore. Also site for outdoor drama productions and other events in the summer. £2.50 for museum (Senior citizens £1.25; students, local residents and under-18s FREE; entry to grounds only FREE). Old Market Hall , The Square SY1 1LH, ☎ +44 1743 281281 (info@oldmarkethall.co.uk). Open from 10:00. Films usually show at approx 14:30, 17:30 and 20:00 daily. Originally opened in 1596 as a Market Hall in the centre of Shrewsbury, this Elizabethan building is now an arts cinema showing foreign-language and artistic films of considerable variety. There is also a cafe-bar and digital arts exhibition. £5 for films (£3.50 for students, over-60s and disabled people.

FREE for Digital Arts exhibitions and cafe-bar). St Chad's Church (in the south part of the town centre, opposite the Quarry Park), ☎ +44 1743 365478 (info@stchadschurchshrewsbury.com), . Summer M-Sa 08:00-17:00, Winter M-Sa 08:00-13:00 (From 13:00 the outer vestibule and St Aidan’s chapel are open until 17:00). Church dating from 1792, has a unique circular nave. St. Chad’s also holds free concerts every Friday lunchtime (12:40). St Mary's Church , ☎ +44 1743 357006. M-F 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00. Stained glass windows dating from 14th-19th century.

The Quarry Park Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Shrewsbury Market Hall The Market Hall, The Market Hall, Claremont Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QG (Straight down the hill from the Pride Hill pedestrianised shopping street), ☎ +44 1743 351067 ( kate.gittins@eu.jll.com ), [2] . This building houses a great collection of small businesses selling everything from local produce to antiques and bicycles. There is a variety of cafés as well, and it is well worth a look. edit River tour by boat (Sabrina river tour), Sabrina Boat, Victoria Quay, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 8LH (Just downstream of Welsh bridge, which is on the north-western side of the river loop.), ☎ +44 1743 369741 ( info@sabrinaboat.co.uk ), [3] . Shrewsbury’s location inside a loop of the river Severn means that you can see a lot on this boat tour.

The standard tour takes about 40 minutes, but there are sometimes themed tours and activities, so check the website for more information. £6.75 for adults. edit Haughmond hill, SY4 4PW (Leaving Shrewsbury on the B5062 the hill becomes obvious, and the car park is signed off this road (on the brow of the hill, to the right)), ☎ +441584813826 ( georgina.sharp@forestry.gsi.gov.uk ), [4] . 21:00-17:30. This hill lies just outside the town, and it is possible to walk to it by following the river past the town’s weir, then along an old canal. Ask at tourist information for more accurate directions. There are the ruins of an old abbey, which are nice to look around, but the main attraction is to follow the paths through the wooded hillside out to a viewpoint overlooking the town and surrounding area. £1 parking. edit The Darwin Town Trail, (The trail starts at the 'Darwin Gate' sculpture at the top of Mardol), [5] .

As part of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth a route through the town was opened in 2009 linking together many of the town's sights. A leaflet with directions and information is available from the Tourist Information centre in the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (in the main square). edit Shrewsbury Town FC. Watch a match at Shrewsbury Town FC, the only professional club in the town. Who play in League 1. edit Learn[ edit ] Shrewsbury is home to Shrewsbury School, a public school, where Sir Philip Sydney, Charles Darwin, Michael Palin, John Peel, Nick Hancock and Michael Heseltine were educated. It is on a large commanding site ("Kingsland") just south of the town centre overlooking the loop of the Severn. The school was once located in the town centre, in the buildings that are now the main county library on Castle Street. Opposite it on the other side of the river is Shrewsbury High School, a private girls day school. However the majority of the town's resident children attend one of the town's seven comprehensive schools.

The comprehensive schools of the town include: The Priory, which was formerly a grammar school for girls. Meole Brace School, which currently carries the status of Science College. The Corbet School The Wakeman School, geographically the closest school to the town, situated next to the English Bridge, alongside the Severn and being adjacent to the Gay Meadow football ground. The site was previously 'Shrewsbury Technical School' which was attended by the famous war poet Wilfred Owen. The Grange Sundorne Belvidere The Mary Webb School serves many inhabitants of Shrewsbury, although is, in actuality, located in the large village of Pontesbury , to the south-west. The post-16 education is handled by Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology. In the building that used to house Rowley’s House museum there is, from 2014, the University Centre Shrewsbury , a higher education establishment partnered with the University of Chester. Cafés[ edit ] Café bar in Old Market Hall [8] -Nice cafe and free Wi-Fi in the centre of town.

Alfie & Billy’s, 78 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT (directions), ☎ +44 1743 340341 ( info@alfieandbillys.com ), [9] . M-Sa 09:00-17:00. Situated at the top of Wyle Cop, a hill running up into the centre of town, this café serves a range of meals, including breakfast, lunch, and a variety of cakes, as well as teas, coffees and other drinks. c. £5 for food. edit Budget[ edit ] There are no youth hostels around the town centre, and it can be hard to find budget accommodation. Historical Shropshire Historical Shropshire history Historical Shropshire The purpose of this project is to give a historical background to Shropshire, to provide information about those individuals of Historic importance linked to the county and to add links to any profiles of significant people linked to Shropshire who have profiles on GENi.

The visitation of Shropshire , taken in the year 1623 You are invited to contribute in any way you can - Getting Involved Feel free to follow, request to collaborate To join the project use the request link under "actions" at the top right of the page. Visit See the discussion Project Help: How to add Text to a Project - Starter Kit to get you going! How to Participate If you have any queries please start a discussion linked to this project. (See the menu top right). Please add related projects to the menu on the right. If you have links to related web pages that would be of interest to others please add them in the relevant section at the bottom of the page. In order to do this use the drop down menu at the top left of the screen and Join the Project. If this option is not available to you then contact a collaborator and ask to be added to the project. As a collaborator you will be able to edit this page. Add any documents of interest using the menu at the top right of the page, and then add a link to the document in the text under the heading below. If you do not know how to do this please contact one of the other collaborators to assist you.

Please add the profiles off your Shropshire born ancestors to the Shropshire - Family Heads or Shropshire - Famous People projects, not here. Main Reference WIKI Shropshire Information shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License - see Creative Commons Licenses Shropshire was established during the division of Saxon Mercia into shires in the 10th century. It is first mentioned in 1006. After the Norman Conquest it experienced significant development, following the granting of the principal estates of the county to eminent Normans. The Coalbrookdale area of the county is designated "the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution", due to significant technological developments that happened there. Etymology The origin of the name "Shropshire" is the Old English "Scrobbesbyrigscīr" (literally Shrewsburyshire), perhaps taking its name from Richard Scrob (or FitzScrob or Scrope), the builder of Richard's Castle near what is now the town of Ludlow.

However, the Normans who ruled England after 1066 found both "Scrobbesbyrig" and "Scrobbesbyrigscir" difficult to pronounce so they softened them to "Salopesberia" and "Salopescira". Salop is the abbreviation of these. When a council for the county was set up in 1888, it was called "Salop County Council". The name was never popular, with local MP Jasper More raising an amendment to the 1972 Local Government Bill to rename the county "Shropshire"[1] - at the time the council itself opposed the change, although later, in 1980, would exercise its power to legally change the name of the county. The Times noted in a 19 February 1980 article about the name change that "there was no record of why the name Salop County Council was adopted". The decision to make the change was taken on 1 March 1980, at a special meeting of the council, with 48 votes in favour versus five against.

It came into effect on 1 April.[2][3] The term "Salopian", derived from "Salop", is still used to mean "from Shropshire". Salop can also mean the county town, Shrewsbury, and in historical records Shropshire is described as "the county of Salop" and Shrewsbury as "the town of Salop". There is a reference in the Encyclopædia Britannica (1948) to Shropshire being called Sloppesbury, and this name being shortened to Salop. The Latin motto of "Floreat Salopia" (may Shropshire flourish) was originally used by the borough of Shrewsbury, and was adopted in 1896 by Salop (or Shropshire) County Council when they received a grant of a coat of arms. The motto is now used in a number of other emblems associated with the county. Another reason why Salop was unfavourable was the fact that if you add the letter 'E' and make it Salope, this is a French word and means 'Bitch or Loose Woman'.

County extent The border with Wales was defined in the 16th century - the hundreds of Oswestry (including Oswestry) and Pimhill (including Wem), and part of Chirbury had prior to the Laws in Wales Act formed various Lordships in the Welsh Marches. The present day ceremonial county boundary is almost the same as the historic county's. Notably there has been the removal of several exclaves and enclaves. The largest of the exclaves was Halesowen, which became part of Worcestershire in 1844 (now part of the West Midlands county), and the largest of the enclaves was Herefordshire's Farlow in South Shropshire, also transferred in 1844, to Shropshire. Alterations have been made on Shropshire's border with all neighbouring English counties over the centuries. Gains have been made to the south of Ludlow (from Herefordshire), to the north of Shifnal (from Staffordshire) and to the north (from Cheshire) and south (from Staffordshire) of Market Drayton.

The county has lost land in two places - to Staffordshire and Worcestershire.[4][5] Romano-British Period Cornovii Tribe The entire area of modern Shropshire was included within the territory of the Celtic Cornovii tribe, whose capital was the Wrekin Hill fort. Roman Rule After Roman military expansion into the area in 47, the tribal territory was reorganised as a Roman Civitas and the capital was relocated to Viroconium. Pengwern & Powys Following the collapse of the Romano-British administration, the Cornovii territory may have become part of the Kingdom of Powys, but its status is obscure. Welsh historians associated Pengwern with Shrewsbury, but its location is uncertain. Integration with Mercia to 1066 The Saxon Kingdom of Mercia The northern part of Shropshire was part of the territory of the Wreocensæte. The southern part probably belonged to the Magonsaete.[6] Both were absorbed by the Saxon Kingdom of Mercia by King Offa.

In 765 he constructed Watt's Dyke to defend his territory against the Welsh, and in 779, having pushed across the River Severn, drove the Welsh King of Powys from Shrewsbury, he secured his conquests by a second defensive earthwork known as Offa's Dyke. (This enters Shropshire at Knighton, traverses moor and mountain by Llanymynech and Oswestry, in many places forming the boundary line of the county, and finally leaves it at Bron y Garth and enters Denbighshire.) Danish invasions In the 9th and 10th centuries the district was frequently overrun by the Danes, who in 874 destroyed the famous priory of Wenlock, said to have been founded by St Milburga, granddaughter of King Penda of Mercia, and in 896 wintered at Quatford.

In 912 Ethelfleda, the Lady of Mercia, erected a fortress at Bridgnorth against the Danish invaders, and in the following year she erected another at Chirbury.[7] The establishment of Shropshire Mercia was mapped out into shires in the 10th century after its recovery from the Danes by Edward the Elder. The first mention of 'Shropshire' in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle occurs under 1006, when the King crossed the Thames and wintered there.

In 1016 Edmund Atheling plundered Shrewsbury and the neighbourhood.[7] In 963 AD two towns are described in East Shropshire these have now been identified as Newport, Shropshire, Plesc was described as having a High street, a stone quarry and a religious community, The name Plesc means fortified place or one with palicade, denoting it was of some importance.[citation needed] Thirteen years before the Norman Conquest, the Saxon Chronicle relates that in 1053 the Welshmen slew a great many of the English wardens at Westbury, and in that year Harold ordered that any Welshman found beyond Offa's Dike within the English pale should have his right hand cut off.[8] Earl Godwin, Sweyn, Harold, Queen Edith, Edward the Confessor and Edwin and Morcar are all mentioned in the Domesday Survey as having held lands in the county shortly before or during the Norman Conquest.[8] 1066 to the late Middle Ages Norman Conquest After the Norman Conquest of 1066 the principal estates in Shropshire were all bestowed on Norman proprietors, pre-eminent among whom is Roger de Mont

gomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, whose son Robert de Bellesme forfeited his possessions for rebelling against Henry I, when the latter bestowed the Earldom on his Queen for life.[7] The principal landholders at the time of the Domesday Survey were the bishop of Chester, the bishop of Hereford, the church of St Remigius, Earl Roger, Osbern Fitz-Richard, Ralph de Mortimer, Roger de Laci, Hugh Lasne and Nicholas Medicus.

Earl Roger had the whole profits of Condover hundred and also owned Alnodestreu hundred. The family of Fitz-Alan, ancestors of the royal family of Stuart, had supreme jurisdiction in Oswestry hundred, which was exempt from English law.[8] Richard Fitz-Scrob, father of Osbern Fitz-Richard and founder cf Richard's Castle, was lord of the hundred of Overs at the time of the Conquest. Gatacre was the seat of the Gatacres. The barony of Pulverbatch passed from the Pulverbatches, and was purchased in 1193 by John de Kilpeck for £100. The family of Cornwall were barons of Burford and of Harley for many centuries.

The family of Lestrange owned large estates in Shropshire after the Conquest, and Fulk Lestrange claimed the right of holding pleas of the crown in Wrockworthyn in 1292.[8] Among others claiming rights of jurisdiction in their Shropshire estates in the same year were Edmund de Mortimer, the abbot of Cumbermere, the prior of Lanthony, the prior of Great Malvern, the bishop of Lichfield, Peter Corbett, Nicholas of Audley, the abbot of Lilleshall, John of Mortayn, Richard Fitz-Alan, the bishop of Hereford and the prior of Wenlock.[8] Forests At this period a very large portion of Shropshire was covered by forests, the largest of which, Morfe Forest, at its origin extended at least 8 miles in length and 6 miles in width, and became a favorite hunting-ground of the English Kings. The forest of Wrekin, or 'Mount Gilbert' as it was then called, covered the whole of that hill and extended eastward as far as Sheriffhales.

Other forests were Stiperstones, the jurisdiction of which was from time immemorial annexed to the Barony of Caus, Wyre, Shirlot, Clee, Long Forest and Brewood.[7] Castles The constant necessity of defending their territories against the Welsh prompted the Norman lords of Shropshire to such activity in castle-building that out of 186 castles in England no less than 32 are in this county. Shropshire became a key area within the Welsh Marches. Of the castles built in this period the most famous are Ludlow, founded by Roger de Montgomery; Bishop's Castle, which belonged to the Bishops of Hereford; Clun Castle, built by the FitzAlans; Cleobury Castle, built by Hugh de Mortimer; Caus Castle, once the Barony of Sir Peter Corbet, from whom it came to the Barons Strafford; Rowton Castle, also a seat of the Corbets; Red Castle, a seat of the Audleys.

Other castles were Bridgnorth, Corfham, Holgate, Newport, Pulverbatch, Quatford, Shrewsbury and Wem.[7] Welsh Marshes The early political history of Shropshire is largely concerned with the constant incursions and depredations of the Welsh from across the border. Various statutory measures to keep the Welsh in check were enforced in the 14th and 15th centuries.[8] In 1379 Welshmen were forbidden to purchase land in the county save on certain conditions, and this enactment was reinforced in 1400. In 1379 the men of Shropshire forwarded to parliament a complaint of the felonies committed by the men of Cheshire and of the Welsh marches, and declared the gaol of Shrewsbury Castle to be in such a ruinous condition that they had no place of imprisonment for the offenders when captured. In 1442 and again as late as 1535 acts were passed for the protection of Shropshire against the Welsh.[8] Medieval national affairs Apart from the border warfare in which they were constantly engaged, the great Shropshire lords were actively concerned in the more national struggles.

Shrewsbury Castle was garrisoned for the empress Maud by William Fitz-Alan in 1138, but was captured by Stephen in the same year. Holgate Castle was taken by King John from Thomas Mauduit, one of the rebellious barons.[8] Ludlow and Shrewsbury were both held for a time by Simon de Montfort. At Acton Burnell in 1283 was held the parliament which passed the famous Statute of Acton Burnell, and a parliament was summoned to meet at Shrewsbury in 1398.[8] During the Percy rebellion Shrewsbury was in 1403 the site of a battle between the Lancastrian Henry IV, and Henry Percy ('Harry Hotspur') of Northumberland. The Battle of Shrewsbury, was fought on 21 July 1403,[8] at what is now Battlefield, just to the north of present day Shrewsbury town. The battle resulted in the death of Henry Percy, and a victory to King Henry IV, who established a chapel at the site to commemorate the fallen.

Religious foundations Among the Norman religious foundations were:[7] the Cluniac priory at Much Wenlock, re-established on the Saxon foundation by Roger Montgomery in 1080 the Augustinian Haughmond Abbey founded by William Fitz-Alan the Cistercian Buildwas Abbey, now a magnificent ruin, founded in 1135 by Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Chester Shrewsbury Abbey, founded in 1083 by Roger de Montgomerie the Augustinian abbey of Lilleshall, founded in the reign of Stephen the Augustinian priory of Wombridge, founded before the reign of King Henry I the Benedictine priory of Alberbury founded by Fulk FitzWarin in the 13th century and Chirbury Priory founded in the 13th century. Hundreds The fifteen Shropshire hundreds mentioned in the Domesday Survey were entirely rearranged in the reign of King Henry I, and only Overs and Condover retained their original names. The Domesday hundred of Ruesset was replaced by Ford, and the hundred court transferred from Alberbury to Ford.

Hodnet was the meeting-place of the Domesday hundred of Odenet, which was combined with Recordin, the largest of the Domesday hundreds, to form the modern hundred of Bradford, the latter also including part of the Domesday hundred of Pinholle in Staffordshire. The hundred of Baschurch had its meeting-place at Baschurch in the time of Edward the Confessor; in the reign of Henry I. it was represented mainly by the hundred of Pimhill, the meeting-place of which was at Pimhill. Oswestry represents the Domesday hundred of Mercete, the hundred court of which was transferred from Maesbury to Oswestry. Munslow hundred was formed in the reign of, but in the reign of Richard I a large portion was taken out of it to form a new liberty for the priory of Wenlock, the limits of which correspond very nearly with the modern franchise of Wenlock.

The Domesday hundred of Alnodestreu, abolished in the reign of King Henry I, had its meeting-place at Membrefeld (Morville).[7] Administration Shropshire was administered by a High Sheriff, at least from the time of the Norman Conquest, the first Norman sheriff being Warin the Bald, whose successor was Rainald, and in 1156 the office was held by William Fitzalan, whose account of the fee farm of the county is entered in the pipe roll for that year (see list at High Sheriff of Shropshire). The shire court was held at Shrewsbury. A considerable portion of Shropshire was included in the Welsh Marches, the court for the administration of which was held at Ludlow. In 1397 the castle of Oswestry with the hundred and eleven towns pertaining thereto, the castle of Isabel with the lordship pertaining thereto, and the castle of Dalaley, were annexed to the principality of Chester.

By the statute of 1535 for the abolition of the Welsh Marches, the lordships of Oswestry, Whittington, Masbroke and Knockin were formed into the hundred of Oswestry; the lordship of Ellesmere was joined to the hundred of Pimhill; and the lordship of Down to the hundred of Chirbury. The boundaries of Shropshire have otherwise varied little since the Domesday Survey. Richard's Castle, Ludford, and Ludlow, however, were then included in the Herefordshire hundred of Cutestornes, while several manors now in Herefordshire were assessed under Shropshire. The Shropshire manors of Kings Nordley, Alveley, Claverley and Worfield were assessed in the Domesday hundred of Saisdon in Staffordshire; and Quatt, Romsley, Rudge and Shipley appear under the Warwickshire hundred of Stanlei.

By statute 34 and 35 Henry VIII, the town and hundred of Aberton, till then part of Merionethshire, were annexed to this county.[7] Ecclesiastical organisation Shropshire in the 13th century was situated almost entirely in the diocese of Hereford and diocese of Coventry and Lichfield; forming the archdeaconries of Shropshire and Salop. That portion of the county in the Hereford diocese, the archdeaconry of Shropshire, included the deaneries of Burford, Stottesdon, Ludlow, Pontesbury, Clun and Wenlock; and that portion in the Coventry and Lichfield diocese, the archdeaconry of Salop, the deaneries of Salop and Newport.[7] In 1535 the Hereford portion included the additional deanery of Bridgnorth; it now, since 1876, forms the archdeaconry of Ludlow, with the additional deaneries of Montgomery, Bishops Castle, Condover, and Church Stretton.

The archdeaconry of Salop, now entirely in the Lichfield diocese, includes the deaneries of Edgmond, Ellesmere, Hodnet, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Wem, Whitchurch and Wrockwardine. Part of Shropshire was included in the Welsh diocese of St Asaph until the disestablishment of the Church in Wales (1920), comprising the deanery of Oswestry in the archdeaconry of Montgomery, and two parishes in the deanery of Llangollen and the archdeaconry of Wrexham.[7] Certain parishes in Montgomeryshire chose to remain in the diocese of Hereford.[citation needed] English Civil War On the outbreak of the Civil War of the 17th century the Shropshire gentry for the most part declared for the king, who visited Shrewsbury in 1642 and received valuable contributions in plate and money from the inhabitants. A mint and printing-press were set up at Shrewsbury, which became a refuge for the neighbouring royalist gentry.

Wem, the first place to declare for Parliament, was garrisoned in 1645 by Richard Baxter. Shrewsbury was forced to surrender in 1644, and the royalist strongholds of Ludlow and Bridgnorth were captured in 1646., the latter after a four weeks' siege, during which the governor burnt part of the town for defence against Parliamentary troops.[8] Commerce and industry The earliest industries of Shropshire took their rise from its abundant natural resources; the rivers supplying valuable fisheries; the vast forest areas abundance of timber; while the mineral products of the county had been exploited from remote times. The Domesday Survey mentions salt-works at Ditton Priors, Caynham and Donnington. The lead mines of Shelve and Stiperstones were worked by the Romans, and in 1220 Robert Corbett conferred on Shrewsbury Abbey a tithe of his lead from the mine at Shelve.[8] In 1260 licence was granted to dig coal in the Clee Hills, and in 1291 the abbot of Wigmore received the profits of a coal mine at Caynham.

Iron was dug in the Clee Hills and at Wombridge in the 16th century. Wenlock had a famous copper-mine in the reign of Richard II., and in the l6th century was noted for its limestone.[8] As the forest areas were gradually cleared and brought under cultivation, the county became more exclusively agricultural. In 1343 Shropshire wool was rated at a higher value than that of almost any other English county, and in the 13th and 14th centuries Buildwas monastery exported wool to the Italian markets. Shropshire had never been distinguished for any characteristic manufactures, but a prosperous clothing trade arose about Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth, and Oswestry was famous in the l6th century for its "Welsh cottons", [8] cheap woolen cloth in which the nap was raised, or "cottoned" by carding.[9] The Industrial Revolution Coalbrookdale, a small area of Shropshire has been claimed as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, because of Abraham Darby I's development of coke-smelting and ironfounding there in the early eighteenth century.

Shropshire is the "geological capital" of the UK, as just about every rock type in Northern Europe is found within its borders, as are coal, lead, copper and iron ore deposits. In addition to this, the River Severn flows through the county and has been used for the transportation of goods and services for centuries. A result of this was that the Ironbridge Gorge became a focal point of new industrial energies in the 18th century. The towns of Broseley and Madeley were centres of innovation during the late 18th Century. In Broseley, John Wilkinson pioneered precision engineering by providing cylinders for Boulton and Watt's improved steam engines, and by boring cannons with greater accuracy and range. He also constructed the first iron boat. It was in nearby locations where key events of the Industrial Revolution took place. Coalbrookdale is where modern iron smelting techniques were developed, Ironbridge is where the world's first iron bridge was constructed, to link Broseley with Madeley and the Black Country, and Ditherington is where the world's first iron framed building was built, the Ditherington Flaxmill. Other places notable for early industry are Jackfield and Coalport.

Later, Broseley and Madeley became notable for their continuation of trade in the field of bricks and tiles, which became a stable to the booming building trade, and millions of Broseley clay pipes were exported across the British Empire. Lord Lieutenants of Shropshire see Lord Lieutenant of Wales for pre-English Civil War lieutenants This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire. Before the English Civil War, the lieutenancy of Shropshire was always held by the Lord Lieutenant of Wales, but after the Restoration, its lieutenants were appointed separately. Since 1708, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Shropshire.

Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis 18 May 1804 – 16 May 1839 George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland 13 July 1839 – 14 November 1845 Rowland Hill, 2nd Viscount Hill 14 November 1845 – 3 January 1875 Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford 30 January 1875 – 25 July 1896 George Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis 25 July 1896 – 3 August 1951 Robert Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount Bridgeman 3 August 1951 – 20 March 1970 Lt.-Col.

Arthur Heywood-Lonsdale 20 March 1970 – 3 March 1975 Sir John Dugdale 3 March 1975 – 1994[1] Gustavus Hamilton-Russell, 10th Viscount Boyne 19 June 1994 – 14 December 1995[2] Algernon Eustace Heber-Percy 11 March 1996 – present High Sherrifs of Shropshire The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. The High Sheriff changes every March. From 1204 to 1344 the High Sheriff of Staffordshire served also as the High Sheriff of Shropshire. This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

11th century c.1086 Rainald De Balliol, De Knightley (1040–1086) 1102 Hugh (son of Warin) 12th century 1114: Alan fitz Flaad (died 1114) 1127–1137: Pain fitzJohn (died 1137) 1137–1138: William Fitz Alan (exiled 1138) 1155-1159: William Fitz Alan (died 1160) 1160–1165: Guy le Strange 1166–1169: Geoffrey de Vere 1170:Geoffrey de Vere and William Clericus 1171–1179: Guy le Strange 1180–1189: Hugh Pantulf, 4th Baron of Wem 1190-1201: William fitz Alan II (died 1210) 13th and 14th century 1828

: Sir William Lacon Childe of Kinlet Hall[3] 1829: Charles Kynaston Mainwaring of Oteley.

1830: Rowland Hunt, of Boreatton Park[99] 1831: Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, 6th Baronet, of Acton Burnell Castle[100][101] 1832: William Oakeley, of Oakeley[102] 1833: Walter Moseley, of Buildwas Park[103][104] 1834: Hon.

Henry Wentworth Powys, of Berwick House[105] 1835: Sir Baldwin Leighton, 7th Baronet, of Loton Park[106] 1836: Sir William Rouse-Boughton, 2nd Baronet, of Downton[107] 1837: Thomas Henry Hope, of Netley Hall[108] 1838: William Wolryche Whitmore, of Dunmaston[109] 1839: Peter Broughton, of Tunstall[110] 1840: Thomas Eyton, of Eyton Hall, near Wellington[111] 1841: Hon.

Gustavus Frederick Hamilton, of Burwarton[112] 1842: Henry Justice, of Hinstock[113] 1843: Sir Andrew Corbet, 2nd Baronet, of Acton Reynald Hall[114] 1844: John Charles Burton Borough, of Chetwynd Park[115][116] 1845: St John Chiverton Charlton, of Apley Castle[117] 1846: Richard Henry Kinchant, of Park Hall[118] 1847: Joseph Venables Lovett, of Belmont[119] 1848: William Henry Francis Plowden, of Plowden[120] 1849: Panton Corbett, of Longnor[121] 1850: Ralph Merrick Leeke, of Longford[122] 1851: Robert Henry Cheney, of Badger Hall[123] 1852: Robert Burton, of Longner Hall[124] 1853: Algern

on Charles Heber-Percy, of Hodnet Hall[125] 1854: Robert Aglionby Slaney, of Walford Manor[126] 1855: Willoughby Hurt Sitwell, of Bucknall[127] 1856: Edward Lloyd Gatacre, of Gatacre[128] 1857: Sir William Curtis, 3rd Baronet, of Caynham Court, Caynham[129] 1858: Edmund Wright, of Halston[130] 1859: Charles Orlando Childe Pemberton, of Millichope Park[131] 1860: Sir Charles Henry Rouse-Boughton, 11th Baronet, of Downton Hall, Stanton Lacy[132] 1861: George Pritchard, of Broseley[133] 1862: Sir Vincent Rowland Corbet, 3rd Baronet, of Acton Reynald Hall[134] 1863: Thomas Charlton Whitmore, of Apley Park

[135] 1864: David Francis Atcherley, of Marton Hall[136] 1865: Francis Harries, of Cruckton[137] 1866: Thomas Hugh Sandford, of Sandford[138] 1867: Sir Charles Frederick Smythe, 7th Baronet, of Acton Burnell Castle[139] 1868: Charles Spencer Lloyd, of Leaton Knolls[140] 1869: John Rocke, of Clungunford[141] 1870: Salusbury Kynaston Mainwaring, of Otley Park[142] 1871: William Kenyon Slaney, of Hatton Grange[143] 1872: John Henniker Lovett, of Fern Hill, Oswestry[144] 1873: Charles George Wingfield, of Onslow, Shrewsbury[145] 1874: Richard Thomas Lloyd, of Aston Hall, Oswestry[146] 1875

: Sir Henry George Harnage, 3rd Baronet, of Belswardine[147] 1876: Arthur Mostyn Owen, of Woodhouse[148] 1877: Sir Henry Thomas Tyrwhitt, 3rd Baronet, of Stanley Hall, Bridgnorth[149] 1878: The Honourable Robert Charles Herbert, of Orleton[150] 1879: Henry de Grey Warter, of Longden Manor[151] 1880: Charles Donaldson-Hudson, of Cheswardine Hall[152] 1881: Robert Jasper More, of Linley Hall[153] 1882: James Jenkinson Bibby, of Hardwicke Grange, Hadnall[154] 1883: William Orme Foster, of Apley Park[155] 1884: Charles John Morris, of Oxon[156] 1885: William Edward Montagu Hulton-Harrop, of Lythwood Hall[157] 1886:

 Arthur Sparrow, of Preen Manor[158] 1887: Sir Offley Wakeman, 3rd Baronet, of Rorrington Lodge, Chirbury[159] 1888: Arthur Pemberton Heywood-Lonsdale, of Shavington[160] 1889: John Tayleur, of Buntingsdale, Market Drayton[161] 1890: Thomas Slaney Eyton, of Walford Hall, Shrewsbury[162] 1891: Sir Edward Ripley, 2nd Baronet, of Bedstone Court, Bucknell,[163] 1892: Henry Reginald Corbet, of Adderley Hall, Market Drayton[164] 1893: John Derby Allcroft, of Stokesay Court, Onibury[165] 1894: Francis Stanier, of Peplow Hall, Market Drayton[166] 1895: Edward Wood, of Culmington Manor, Craven Arms[167] 1896: William

 Henry Whitaker, of Totterton Hall, Lydbury North[168] 1897: John Baddeley Wood, of Henley Hall, Ludlow[169] 1898: Sir Walter Orlando Corbet, 4th Baronet, of Acton Reynald, Shrewsbury[170] 1899: Hugh Ker Colville, of Bellaport Hall, Market Drayton[171] 20th century 1900: Frank Bibby of Hardwicke Grange, Hadnall.

1901: John Sidney Burton-Borough of Chetwynd Park, Newport[172] 1902: James Augustine Harvey Thursby-Pelham of Cound Hall, Shrewsbury[173] 1903: William Henry Foster of Apley Park, Bridgnorth[174] 1904: Herbert James Hope-Edwards of Netley, Dorrington, Shrewsbury[175] 1905: Charles Edward Morris of Oxon, near Shrewsbury[176] 1906: Alfred Edmund William Darby of Adcote, near Baswich[177] 1907: Charles Francis Kynaston Mainwaring of Otley Park, Ellesmere[178] 1908: Edward Charles Ayshford Sanford CMG, of Chipley Park, Wellington[179] 1909: Alfred Wynne Corrie of Park Hall, Oswestry[180] 1910: Sir Raymond Robert Tyrwhitt-Wilson Bt ( later Baron Berners of Stanley Hall.

1911: Edward Brocklehurst Fielden of Condover Hall, Shrewsbury[181] 1912: Alexander Cowan McCorquodale, of Cound Hall, Shrewsbury[182] 1913: Charles Ralph Borlase Wingfield of Onslow, near Shrewsbury.[183] 1914: Sir William St Andrew Rouse-Boughton Bt. of Downton Hall, Stanton Lacy.

1915: William Swire of Longden Manor,Shrewsbury[184] 1916: James Volant Wheeler of Bitterley Court, Bitterley, Ludlow[185] 1917: John Reid Walker of Ruckley Grange, Shifnal[186] 1918: John Henry Arthur Whitley of Bourton, Much Wenlock[187] 1919: Lt Col Nathaniel Ffarington Eckersley of The Trench, Wem[188] 1920: Henry Ernest Whittaker of Ludford Park, Ludlow[189] 1921: Captain James Whittaker of Winsley Hall, Shrewsbury[190] 1922: Colonel John Robert Howard-McLean of Aston Hall, Shifnal[191] 1923: Alfred Rowland Clegg of Nash Court near Tenbury[192] 1924: Captain Harry Anthony Van Bergen of Ferney Hall, near Craven Arms[193] 1925: Humphrey Sandford

, of The Isle, Shrewsbury[194] 1926: Norman William Howard-McLean, of Brereton Hall [195] 1927: Lieut.-Col.

Ralph Charles Donaldson - Hudson of Cheswardine, Market Drayton[196] 1928: Major Herbert Rushton Sykes, of Lydham Manor, Bishops Castle.[197] 1929: Capt. Frank Brian Frederic Bibby, of Sansaw, Shrewsbury.[198] 1930: John Arthur Gwynn Sparrow, of Albrighton Hall, Shrewsbury [199] 1931: Lieut.-Col. Harold Platt Sykes, of Longford Hall, Newport [200] 1932: Major Arthur William Foster of Apley Park, Bridgnorth [201] 1933: John Russell Allcroft, of Stokesay Court, Onibury [202] 1934: Sir Offley Wakeman Bt.

of Yeaton Peverey House, near Shrewsbury[203] 1935: Robert Orlando Rodolph Kenyon-Slaney of Hatton Grange, Shifnal[204] 1936: Lt Col Hon Francis Henry Cecil Weld-Forrester of Decker Hill, Shifnal[205] 1937: Joseph Eccles, of Halston Hall, Whittington, Oswestry [206] 1938: Col. Charles Reginald Morris-Eyton of Walford Manor, Baschurch, Shrewsbury [207] 1939: Major Charles Morris Threlfall, of Ruyton Manor, Shrewsbury [208] 1940: Sir Edward Hotham Rouse-Boughton Bt. of Downton Hall, Stanton Lacy. 1941: Lieut.-Col.

Roger Arthur Mostyn-Owen, of Woodhouse, Oswestry [209] 1942: Major Anthony Charles Stevens Bovill, of Mytton Hall, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury [210] 1943: Lieut.-Col.

John Nicholas Price Wood, of Henley Hall, Ludlow [211] 1944: Major Lawrence Warner Wyld Lees, of Old Hall, Cheswardine, Market Drayton [212] 1945: Lieut.-Colonel George Paton Pollitt of Harnage Grange, Cressage, Shrewsbury [213] 1946: Wiston John Kynnersley-Browne of Leighton Hall, Shrewsbury [214] 1947: Reginald Adam Black, of Prees Hall, Whitchurch [215] 1948: Folliott Sandford Neale, of Berwick House, Shrewsbury [216] 1949: Captain Codrington Gwynne Reid Walker, of Ruckley Grange, Shifnal [217] 1950: Major Reginald Culcheth Holcroft, of Wrentnall House, Pulverbatch, Shrewsbury [218] 1951: Brigadier Sir Alexander Beville Gibbons Stanier, 2nd Baronet

 of The Citadel, Weston, Shrewsbury.[219] 1952: Lieut-Colonel William Warburton Hayes, of Harcourt, Stanton, Shrewsbury.[220] 1953: Charles Wingfield of Onslow, near Shrewsbury.[221] 1954: Lieut.-Colonel Edward Anthony Fielden of Court of Hill, Ludlow [222] 1955: Arthur Frederick Vavasour McConnell, of Hampton Hall, Worthen [223] 1956: Sir Richard Tihel Leighton Bt.

of Loton Park[224] 1957: Col. J.S.

Burton Borough[225] 1958: Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese Bt., K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O.,of Lower Hall, Worfield, Bridgnorth.[226] 1959: Captain Richard William Corbett of The Dower House, Longnor, near Shrewsbury.[227] 1960: Arthur Nicholas Fielden, of Cruckton Cottage, Shrewsbury.[228] 1961: Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Patrick Sykes of Lydham Manor, Bishop's Castle.[229] 1962: Brigadier James Norman Ritchie of Yeaton House, Baschurch [230] 1963: Major Edward Fitzhardinge Peyton Gage, of Chyknell, Bridgnorth[231] 1964: Charles Hugh Rogers-Coltman of The Home, Bishop's Castle[232] 1965: Brigadier Gordon Forbes Maclean of Pentreheylin, Maesbrook, Llanymynech.[233] 1966: Lieut.-

Colonel Sir John Vincent Corbet, 7th Baronet of Acton Reynald, Shrewsbury.[234] 1967: William Francis Godfrey Plowden of Plowden Hall, Lydbury North.[235] 1968: John Leigh Reed of Sidbury Hall, Bridgnorth.[236] 1969: Peter George Culcheth Holcroft of Eaton Mascott Hall, Berrington, near Shrewsbury.[237] 1970: Major Hubert Robert Holden of Sibdon Castle, Craven Arms.[238] 1971: John Seymour Evan Rocke of Clungunford House, Craven Arms.[239] 1972: Major Francis John Yates, of The Wood, CodsaH Wood, near Wolverhampton [240] 1973: Robert Ivan Kenyon-Slaney of Hatton Grange, Shifnal.[241] 1974: Captain John Michael George Lumsden of Henley Hall, Ludlow.[242] 1975: Colonel Guy Mytton Thornyc

roft, of The Mount, Cressage, near Shrewsbury [243] 1976: Lieut.-Col.

Robert Charles Henry Armitstead, of Stoke Court, Greete, Ludlow[244] 1977: Peter Howard Thompson, of Coton Hall, Bridgnorth[245] 1978: John Anthony Fielden, of Court of Hill, Ludlow.[246] 1979: William Simon Rodolph Kenyon-Slaney, of Chyknell, Bridgnorth.[247] 1980: Lieut-Colonel Robert Charles Gilfrid Morris-Eyton,T.D., of Calvington Manor, Newport.[248] 1981: Vesey Martin Edward Holt, of Orleton Hall, Wellington, Telford.[249] 1982: John Cyril Yeoward of Newcastle Court, Clun, Craven Arms[250] 1983: David Langdon Upton Scott, of Harnage Grange, Cressage.[251] 1984: Christopher Ronald Thompson, of Aldenham Park, Morville, near Bridgnorth.[252] 1985: Christopher Stephen Motley, of Chilton Grove

, Atcham, near Shrewsbury[253] 1986: Timothy Claud Heywood-Lonsdale, of The Old Laundry, Shavington, Market Drayton.[254] 1987: Algernon Eustace Hugh Heber-Percy[255][256] 1988: Roger Everard Angell-James, of Berwick House, Shrewsbury.[257] 1989: David Robin Bibby Thompson of Sansaw, Clive, Shrewsbury.[258] 1990: Denis Peareth Hornell Lennox, of The Old Mill, Bayton, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire,[259] died and was replaced by Hugh Bernard Meynell, of Brockton Court, Shifnal[260] 1991: Lionel Richard Jebb, of The Lyth, Ellesmere.[261] 1992: Edward Martin Amphlett Thompson, of The Bolt Hole, Six Ashes, Bridgnorth.[262] 1993: Roger Michael Gabb[263] 

1994: Jeremy Hugh Gifford Lywood of Ashford Court,Ashford Carbonel, Ludlow.[264] 1995: Nicholas Edward Egerton Stephens of Grafton Lodge, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury.[265][266] 1996: Timothy William Edward Corbett, Esq., of The Dower House, Longnor, Shrewsbury.[267] 1997: Elizabeth Catherine Weld-Forester, Baroness Forester, of Willey Park[268] 1998: Lindsay Claude Neils Bury, of Millichope Park, Munslow, Craven Arms.[269] 1999: Jonathan Rupert Blakiston Lovegrove-Fielden, of Longden Manor, Pontesford, Shrewsbury[270] 21st century

Question: What is the county town of Shropshire?
Answer: SHREWSBURY