There is no doubt about the fact that Shrewsbury is an English town that we should be very proud of

Its location on a hill, with the river creating an almost complete loop for protection, its medieval charm with a wealth of timber-framed buildings, some of which lean so crazily that I'm surprised that they still stand, and its history which seems to be almost visible, are all things which make Shrewsbury unique. As far as Shrewsbury's visible history is concerned, the real founder of Shrewsbury was Roger de Montgomery, who became the first earl of Shrewsbury. It was he who was responsible for erecting a castle on the narrow spit of land to protect the growing settlement of Shrewsbury. The castle still stands today, although it has been altered considerably over the centuries, and the oldest parts now visible probably date from the time of Henry II in the 12th century.

To the east of the town across the English Bridge are Cherry Orchard, Monkmoor and Shrewsbury Abbey which have a history almost as long as the castle itself. Roger de Montgomery founded the Abbey, and even entered as a monk shortly before his death. He is buried there, but the spot not known today.
The Shrewsbury that I love is the one you will find on Sundays when you can spend time looking for the architectural gems that still exist, but, as in many modern towns with long histories, you may have to look carefully to find them.

Click here for some Shrewsbury Ghost Stories!

For more information about Shrewsbury and the surrounding area, or to receive a free brochure, please click on the logo above to visit the Shrewsbury Tourist Information page

GO2 Ltd thank Tim Carrington of S'Shropshire Promotions' for these extracts