Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Shrewsbury Guide
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire almost completely encircled by a loop of the River Severn.
With hundreds of historic buildings which escaped any damage during World War II, this pleasant, market city of around 70,000 people is something of a hidden gem.
Charles Darwin was born here and the city also has a connection with Clive of India.
Nowadays Shrewsbury is known for its annual Shrewsbury Flower Show in mid-August, its many fine restaurants ranging from vegan to sushi, and its cycle-friendliness.
If you have not discovered Shrewsbury yet, you really should find time to explore this fascinating place steeped in history and tradition.
History
Is it Shrewsbury pronounced as in "shrew" - the rodent - or Shrewsbury with the "Shrew" pronounced "Shrow"? Good news both are fine!
The town was known as Pengwern before the Roman period and was fought over after the Roman departure by the Welsh and English. Wroxeter (Viroconium) 5 miles (8 km) southeast was a significant Roman settlement.
After the Norman conquest of 1066, Roger de Montgomery was given the land in this area. He built Shrewsbury Castle in 1074 and founded Shrewsbury Abbey in 1083.
The now castle town prospered through the wool trade to Europe during the medieval period. Wool was shipped along the River Severn for export.
During the English Civil War the town was staunchly Royalist. It did eventually fall to the Parliamentary army after they were let in through what is now known as Traitor's Gate.
Robert Clive, known for his successful military campaigns and subsequent looting of India, was Shrewsbury's MP from 1762 until his death in 1774. He also served as mayor of the town. His statue stands in The Square.
Like nearby Ironbridge, Shrewsbury developed significantly during the Industrial Revolution. Ditherington Flax Mill ("the grandfather of skyscrapers") is known as the first iron-framed building in the world. The Shrewsbury Canal (1797) connected to the Shropshire Canal and the network of industrial waterways in England.
Almost completely surrounded by the River Severn, a number of bridges both ancient and modern span the river in Shrewsbury. The town is particularly prone to flooding, however, with several major inundations in recent years.
Attractions
There are hundreds of historical buildings in Shrewsbury. Thankfully spared any German bombing in World War II the town boasts numerous historic churches, a castle, a Roman Catholic Cathedral and the iconic Old Market Hall.
Shrewsbury Castle was built by Roger de Montgomery in 1074. It stands close to Shrewsbury Station and was besieged a number of times during its history. Now belonging to the town council, the castle is home to the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum (aka Shropshire Regimental Museum). Laura's Tower is nearby. This was built by Thomas Telford in the late 18th century as a summer house and 21st birthday present for the daughter of Sir William Pulteney MP. It opens just one day a year for Heritage Day. The red sandstone castle visitors see today in Shrewsbury owes much to Telford's redesign of the castle as a private residence for Sir William Pulteney.
Shrewsbury Cathedral (The Cathedral Church of Our Lady Help of Christians and Saint Peter of Alcantara) is a Roman Catholic cathedral that dates from 1856. The church is notable for its fine stained glass windows by Margaret Agnes Rope. It is the only cathedral in Shropshire which does not have an Anglican equivalent.
The Quarry is Shrewsbury's main park and the venue for the Shrewsbury Flower Show in August as well as other events throughout the year. A former quarry, hence the name, the 29-acre park has a Victorian bandstand and war memorial and was created back in 1719. The Dingle is the actual former quarry and now an ornamental sunken garden with pleasing ponds, statues and fountains.
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery is located within the 19th century Music Hall and the 13th century Vaughan's Mansion. There are five galleries with exhibits of from the Roman, Medieval, Tudor and Stuart periods as well as two galleries for temporary exhibitions. There is a museum shop and cafe too.
Old Market Hall
The Old Market Hall in The Square was completed in 1587 and is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture. A statue, thought to be of Richard Duke of York can be seen in the arch. Completely renovated in 2004, the building is now an arts venue and café showing movies and hosting various exhibitions.
Historic Buildings
There are many historic buildings to enjoy in Shrewsbury. Beeches Lane, Belmont, Butcher Row, College Hill, Dogpole, St Mary's Street, Swan Hill, St Alkmund's Place, The Square, Wyle Cop, the High Street and Fish Street are particularly rich in traditional architecture.
Many of these black and white timbered or later brick buildings now serve as hotels, shops, pubs and restaurants.
Ditherington Flax Mill, a little way outside the town was the first iron-framed building in the world. It has been called "the grandfather of skyscrapers." Completed in 1797, the building was later used as a maltings until the 1980s. The site is undergoing restoration but the visitor centre is open to the public.
Churches
There are several churches in Shrewsbury other than the cathedral that merit a visit.
Shrewsbury Abbey was founded in 1083 as a Benedictine monastery by Roger de Montgomery. It was a center of pilgrimage in the medieval period. After its dissolution in the 16th century, parts of the old nave became a parish church.
The Shrewsbury United Reformed Church and its distinctive spire is at the eastern end of the English Bridge over the Severn.
St Mary's Church is the largest church in Shrewsbury and a Grade I listed building. It has various styles of stained glass dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
Bridges
Being almost surrounded by the River Severn, the city has multiple bridges linking it to the outside world. These include road bridges such as the English and Welsh bridges, a toll bridge (Kingsland Bridge), a suspension bridge (Port Hill Suspension Bridge) and pedestrian bridge (Castle Walk Footbridge).
The 64.6 meter Kingsland Bridge dates from 1883 and charges a small fee to cross the river here. Port Hill Suspension Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that opened in 1923.
Sport
Shrewsbury Town FC ("The Shrews") are the local professional football team. They were founded in 1886 and play their home games at the just under 10,000-capacity New Meadow.
Access
Shrewsbury Station has trains to Chester Station in Chester and on to Holyhead on Anglesey.
There are also trains to Aberystwyth, Birmingham New Street, Crewe, Coventry, Manchester Piccadilly Station in Manchester, Cardiff Central in Cardiff, Wolverhampton and Wrexham.
The #436 bus connects Shrewsbury with Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, and Ironbridge.
By car the town is about 50 minutes from Birmingham on the M6 and M54 motorways. From Aberystwyth take the A44 or A458. Driving time is about two hours.
Accommodation
Shrewsbury has many superb places to stay. Choose from the Prince Rupert Hotel a timber-framed hotel on Butcher Row, the Lion Hotel is a former 16th century coaching inn and can count Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin among its guests or the Lion & Pheasant Hotel with a restaurant, large rooms and free WiFi.
The Station Hotel is just opposite Shrewsbury Station and offers single, double and deluxe rooms.
See a listing on hotels in and near Shrewsbury
Nearby
Bridgnorth is 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Shrewsbury also on the River Severn. Once one of the busiest river ports in the country, the river divides the town into two parts, High Town and Low Town. Nowadays Bridgnorth is known mostly for its funicular railway, said to be the steepest in the country, and its heritage Steam railway, the Severn Valley Railway.
24 km (15 miles) or so east, along the River Severn is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ironbridge. The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, it was here the world's first iron bridge was constructed by Abraham Darby III. A Quaker, Darby was the third man of that name among the Darby family that played such a pivotal role in Britain's industrial breakthrough.
A further 15 km east of Ironbridge is the Royal Air Force Museum in Cosford, one of Britain's many fine aviation museums. Cosford's collection includes both passenger aircraft, fighter planes and bombers from the UK and overseas. Among the many planes on display are an Avro Vulcan, de Havilland Mosquito TT.35, Gloster Gladiator I, Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire I.
Wenlock Priory in the village of Much Wenlock dates to the 12th century. Now ruined, the priory was dissolved in 1540, with many of the buildings destroyed at the time. The site is now managed by English Heritage. The spacious grounds contain a collection of topiary.
Just 5 miles southeast of Shrewsbury, Attingham Park is an 18th century country house and estate. It was built for Lord Berwick on his existing property at Attingham. John Nash's Italianate villa was added later and was a gift from Lord Berwick for his agent. The houses and 650-acre estate are now managed by the National Trust.
Wroxeter in Shropshire, a little over 6 miles from Shrewsbury, was once Viroconium Cornoviorum, the fourth largest city in Roman Britain. It had a population of around 15,000 people and lay near the end of Watling Street, the Roman road from Dover. Excavations have revealed the impressive 7 meter-high remains of the basilica (Old Work), and a Roman bath. In addition, visitors can enjoy a reconstructed Roman townhouse built in 2010. A museum displays the Roman period artefacts discovered at the site such as coins, glassware, pottery and ornaments.
Moreton Corbet Castle, 8 miles northeast of Shrewsbury, is a ruined castle now managed by English Heritage but still owned by the Corbet family. The ruins consist of a medieval castle and a later Elizabethan manor house.
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