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Shropshire

Did You Know?

 The heart of Henry VIII’s older brother Arthur is buried in St Laurence Church in historic Shropshire beneath the chancel.  The rest of his body was interred at Worcester Cathedral.

Ditherington Flax Mill, on the outskirts of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, was the first multi-storey iron-framed building – and therefore the forerunner of every skyscraper and tower block in the world. Built in 1797,  it has recently undergone an exciting redevelopment. It is one of 660 listed buildings in the town.

The first-ever modern-day Olympic Games were held in Shropshire. To be precise, Much Wenlock in 1850. The brainchild of Dr Brookes, the games were originally designed to promote the moral, physical and intellectual improvement of the inhabitants of the town and its neighbourhood. 

Müller Dairy, which is based in Market Drayton in the north-east of the county – and 90% of the milk used in production comes from within 30 miles of the dairy.

Most of Shropshire was granted to Roger De Montgomerie by William the Conqueror after 1066, which helped Roger’s wealth grow so much that he is considered, in real terms, the richest man in history.

Shropshire, particularly the south of the county, is something of a magnet for geologists. There are more rocks of different ages here than any area of similar size in the world (dating from 700 to 200 million years ago). Places like Ludlow and Wenlock Edge have even given their names to geological periods. 

Shropshire has provided locations for a number of films and TV over the years. Most recently ‘Time’ (2021) which was filmed at Shrewsbury Prison and prior to this: Atonement (2007) Stokesay Castle; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) Severn Valley Railway; Clockwise (1986); Lost in Austen (2008); A Christmas Carol (1984) and Absolution (1978)… among others.

All three of the West Midlands business support functions for the food and drink industry are within the county of Shropshire, making it the best place to start up, expand or relocate your food and drink business.

The castle keep at Bridgnorth leans at a seventeen-degree angle. This is three times further than the Leaning Tower of Pisa

English Parliament first gathered in Acton Burnell in Shropshire, and not London as most people think. Edward I brought his parliament together at a barn in the area, the ruins of which can still be seen today.

The delicious Sweet Pea was first introduced to our plate by Henry Eckford of Wem, who was responsible for creating the first ever sweet peas in 1888.