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Thursday 11th March 2010

Shrewsbury - Historic Town

Some people may be surprised to learn that the county town has more than 600 listed buildings in the town centre. Indeed there are over 2,000 in the borough.

Two buildings in particular stand out, firstly Shrewsbury Castle - founded in 1047 by Roger de Montgomery and Shrewsbury Abbey which sits just outside of the town centre over the English Bridge.

As lifestyle and trends change over the years, some of the town's historic buildings have been lost, however, fortunately the town remains an absolute stunner.

You'll find fine examples of timbered buildings from the tudor era and fine Georgian frontages. Is it any wonder that film-makers chose it as a backdrop to the wonderful 1984 version of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol starring George C Scott (Ebenezer Scrooges gravestone from the film remains a popular visitor attraction in St Chads churchyard).

It is a positive matter for celebration that much of the town's buildings and history has been preserved so incredibly well. For instance, take the town square, whilst this is not the oldest market square in Shropshire (Oswestry can lay claim to that) the market here dates back to 1190. Nowadays it is also the occassional site of street entertainment and events.

A statue of Clive of India stands at one end. Clive was born in the nearby town of Market Drayton and it was his battle winning credentials that kept the Indian subcontinent under the rule of Britain for 200 years.

Whilst we are talking of famous sons, lets not forget to mention Charles Darwin, who gave the world his theory of evolution by natural selection and whose likeness still sits outside the town's library (his former school).

A more recent figure was Shrewsbury's popular head gardener, Percy Thrower who was the borough's Parks Superintendent for 3 years. Indeed Percy's likeness is now celebrated in Bronze in the entrance to Shrewsbury's Quarry Park.

In the centre of the town square lies another lovely old building, the former market hall, which dates back from 1596. This elegant centrepiece serves as a reminder of bygone days.

Whilst the building has many uses including occassional courthouse, today it houses a small cinema and cafe.

On the other side of the Market Hall is the Music Hall which is a modern edition to the town (well comparitvely speaking) dating as it does from 1840.

Over the years, the Music Hall has welcomed performers to sing, dance, act and above all entertain the people and visitors of Shrewsbury. I'm sure this tradition will continue as the new Theatre Severn sits proudly on the banks of the River Severn.

Whilst the town's origins lie in it's Saxon past, when the town was known as Scrobbesbyrig. Today, Shrewsbury remains an historical and modern day treasure.

The town's castle sits atop of the victorian railway station, proudly greeting visitors as they enter the town. Today, the castle is home to the Shropshire Regimental Museum.

The town centre has enough attractions, shops, cafes and restaurants to keep the visitor absorbed for hours. As you wander around our passages and crooked streets, notice the names like Butcher Row, Milk Street, Fish Street, Grope Lane. All indications of what was originally sold in these streets - yes, Grope Lane, draw your own conclusions!

Take time to admire the 15th Century spire on St Alkmund's Church and the splendid (now redundant) St Mary's Church with one of the highest church towers in England.

Behind St Mary's sits a swish shopping centre, the Parade which was formally Shropshire's main hospital - the Royal Salop Infirmary. The building was built by subscription for the people of the county in 1979. After it had been closed and derelict for a number of years, an entrepreneurial building came along and restored it with a new vision.

You'll find so much more to investigate and absorb as you wander around. Consider the 17th Century Prince Rupert Hotel, once home of Prince Rupert. And the Lion Hotel, itself was once a 17th Century coaching inn that welcomed the likes of Charles Dickens himself and great violinist Paganini. It was also the place where Charles Darwin caught the stage coach south to join the crew of HMS Beagle.

Shrewsbury has also welcomed Royal visitors over the years - including the Queen on several occassions. I'm sure she was just as smitten with Shrewsbury as you will be. Visit soon.