Shrewsbury, Shropshire's county town, has been an important trading and
administrative centre since medieval times because of its position on
the River Severn close to the Welsh border. Today, much of the town
follows its original medieval street layout and remains largely
unspoilt, with its intriguingly named streets and alleyways. For
visitors and residents alike there is much history to discover from the
red sandstone castle to the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century
timber-framed buildings reflecting the wealth from the wool trade.In
'A-Z of Shrewsbury' local author Dorothy Nicolle seeks out stories from
the past about the town's places and its famous sons and daughters.
Notable people including Charles Darwin, Robert Clive and Wilfred Owen,
intermingle with those who are, perhaps, lesser-known ranging from
Aethelflaeda to Percy Thrower (the gardening expert), Cadman (the
tightrope artiste) to Judge Jeffreys (the 'Hanging Judge'). Shrewsbury
School offers a number of interesting old boys and then there are
fictional characters who have connections with the town such as Scrooge,
and Brother Cadfael from the medieval murder mysteries by Ellis Peters.
The author also focuses on the war memorials, statues and sculptures
together with the wonderful street names that Shrewsbury is famous for
including Grope Lane, Gullets Passage and how about Pig Trough! Among
the events covered are the Battle of Shrewsbury, the Civil War as well
as visits by royalty through the centuries and the Shrewsbury Flower
Show which is one of the oldest in the country. Finally, many people ask
is the name pronounced 'Shrowesbury' or 'Shruesbury'? Well, that depends
largely on whoever you ask but, it seems that locals like to tell
visitors that neither is right and neither is wrong - as long as they
make time to explore this lovely town.
