Shropshire
is a county in the west midlands of England,
bordering Wales to the west
and Cheshire to
the north. It also borders Staffordshire, Worcestershire and
Herefordshire. The county has a total
area of 1,346 square miles and an approximate population of 500,000 people.
There are
five main towns in Shropshire: Shrewsbury,
Telford, Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Ludlow.
Shropshire
is well known for being one of the most peaceful and relaxing areas in England. The
Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers a quarter of the
county. Offa’s Dyke Path is one of England’s National Trails and
attracts visitors from all over the world.
The River Severn (Britain’s
longest river) runs through Shropshire.
Shropshire Gardens boasts 20 national collections
including roses, aralias and tulips.
Shropshire’s
historical sites include Stokesay
Castle, which dates back
to 1281, the castle features two towers, a great banqueting hall and many
medieval furnishes. Another popular historical site is Haughmond Abbey which
was founded in 1135. Also notable are Clun
Castle and Ludlow Castle.
Famous
residents from Shropshire include actress
Hermione Baddeley, who grew up in Broseley and starred in many films including
Mary Poppins, Maude and A Christmas Carol. Others include Charles Darwin
(naturalist), Paul Blackthorne (actor), Jesse Armstrong (writer) and Peter
Jones (actor).