Shropshire uk
Shropshire (pronounced /ˈʃrɒpʃər/ or /ˈʃrɒpʃɪər/), alternatively known as Salop[6] or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops,[7] is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties,[8] with the population of the non-metropolitan/shire county 289,100 - making it the least populated two-tier governed area in the United Kingdom. The shire county and its districts will be replaced with a unitary authority on 1 April 2009. The borough of Telford and Wrekin, included in Shropshire for ceremonial purposes, has been a unitary authority since 1998.[9]
The county is centred around six main towns starting with the county town of Shrewsbury, which is culturally and historically important,[10] although Telford, which was constructed around a number of older towns, most notably Wellington, Dawley and Madeley, is today the most populous.[11] the other main towns are are Oswestry in the north-west, Newport to the east, Bridgnorth in the south-east, Ludlow to the south, two towns of Whitchurch and Market Drayton in the north of the county these are smaller towns and are generally quieter than the six main towns in Shropshire. The Ironbridge Gorge area is advertised as the 'Birthplace of Industry'[12], and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley.[13] There are additionally other notable historic industrial sites located around the county such as Broseley, Snailbeach and Highley as well as the Shropshire Union Canal.[14]
The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers about a quarter of the county, mainly in the south.[15] The Wrekin is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the county,[16] though the highest hills are the Clee Hills,[17] Stiperstones[18] and the Long Mynd.[19] Wenlock Edge is another significant geographical and geological landmark,[20] via the and the River Severn, Great Britain's longest river, runs through the county, exiting into WorcestershireSevern Valley. Shropshire is landlocked, and with an area of 1,346 square miles (3,490 km2), is England's largest inland countyHistory
The area now considered Shropshire was for a long time considered within Wales and was the eastern part of the Kingdom of Powys; known in Welsh poetry as the Paradise of Powys. It was annexed to Mercia by King Offa in the eighth century, at which time he built two significant dykes there to defend his territory against the Welsh or at least demarcate it. In subsequent centuries, the area suffered repeated Danish invasion, and fortresses were built at Bridgnorth and Chirbury.[22]
After the Norman Conquest in 1066, major estates in Shropshire were granted to Normans, including Roger de Montgomerie, who ordered significant constructions, particularly in Shrewsbury, the town of which he was Earl.[23] Many defensive castles were built at this time across the county to defend against the Welsh and enable effective control of the region, including Ludlow Castle[24] and Shrewsbury Castle.[25] The western frontier with Wales was not finally determined until the 14th Century. Also in this period, a number of religious foundations were formed, the county largely falling at this time under the diocese of Hereford and that of Coventry and Lichfield. Some areas in later times fell under the diocese of St. Asaph until it ceased to exist in 1920.
The county was a central part of the Welsh Marches during the medieval period and was often embroiled in the power struggles between powerful Marcher Lords, the Earls of March and successive monarchs.[26]
The county also contains a number of historically significant towns, including Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Oswestry. Additionally, the area around Coalbrookdale in the county is seen as highly significant, as it is regarded as one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution. The village of Edgmond, near Newport, is the location of the lowest recorded temperature (in terms of weather) in England and Wales.[27]
[edit] Etymology
Salop is an old abbreviation for Shropshire, sometimes used on envelopes or telegrams, and comes from the Anglo-French 'Salopesberia'. It is normally replaced by the more contemporary 'Shrops' although Shropshire residents are still referred to as 'Salopians'. [6]
When a county council for the county was first established in 1888, it was called Salop County Council. [28] Following the Local Government Act 1972, Salop became the official name of the and a campaign, led by local councillor John Kenyon, succeeded in renaming both the county and council to Shropshire in 1980. [29]
County extent
The border with Wales was defined in the 16th century - the hundreds of Oswestry (including Oswestry) and Pimhill (including Wem), and part of Chirbury had prior to the Laws in Wales Act formed various Lordships in the Welsh Marches.
The present day ceremonial county boundary is almost the same as the historic one. Notably there has been the removal of several exclaves and enclaves county), and the largest of the enclaves was Herefordshire's . The largest of the exclaves was Halesowen, which became part of Worcestershire in 1844 (now part of the West MidlandsFarlow in South Shropshire, also transferred in 1844, to Shropshire. Alterations have been made on Shropshire's border with all neighbouring English counties over the centuries. Gains have been made to the south of Ludlow (from Herefordshire), to the north of Shifnal (from Staffordshire) and to the north (from Cheshire) and south (from Staffordshire) of Market Drayton. The county has lost land in two places - to Staffordshire and Worcestershire