23/02/2024
Shropshire Day 23rd February
Mention Shropshire and what comes to mind? ee housman’s Shropshire Lad – describing a sleepy semi-rural county on the Welsh border, or maybe the famous painting of the hell of the Coalbrookdale furnaces - the cradle of the Industrial revolution, and maybe the Ironbridge Gorge museums, Acton Scott farm and living history programmes.
Shropshire has history in spade loads as many archaeologists, amateurs and detectorists will tell. There is far more to the county than the eighteenth century and many sites make excellent dog walks: Mitchell’s Fold stone circle, near Stapeley, the l hill forts: Caer Caradoc near Church Stretton, Titterstone Clee near Ludlow, Oswestry and he Wrekin.
When the Romans came there was a major city at Wroxeter – Vironconium Cornoviorum and several villa in the surrounding area. Watling Street. Wroxeter was on the famous Roman highway, Watling Street, which linked Holyhead, Chester, London and Dover. Wroxeter was also linked to Venta Silurum in Monmouthshire to the south.
Monasteries, Abbeys, great churches and great houses came and went. The county saw various battles and skirmishes during the civil war.
Shropshire still has the ruins of numerous historic sites that are well worth visiting. Many of them are excellent dog walking spots. The Shropshire Way long distance path will reveal to you some of England’s best kept secrets. You will discover the stark rocky crags of the Stiperstones with its unique landscape. You will walk over ancient hill forts, pass through medieval towns and villages, wander through beautiful woodland and experience spectacular views from the summits of the Clee Hills and the Wrekin.
Castles, monasteries, Abbeys, great churches and great houses - there is a lot our doorstep.
