Shrewsbury


Shrewsbury


The county town of Shropshire is first mentioned in a charter of year 901. Shrewsbury is a stunning historic town with over 660 listed buildings and some very strange street names - Dogpole and Mardol, Gullet Passage and Grope Lane. Part of the town's medieval street plan still exists with Shrewsbury's Shuts and Passages - a unique maze of narrow alleys, which criss-cross the town centre. Shrewsbury also has great shops, especially the kind of interesting, independent shops that so many towns have lost or let go. We're particularly proud of our food shops, not forgetting the indoor market on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Roman vineyard at Wroxeter and Tanners wine merchants head up a good selection of wine sellers and hostelries who will make sure you don't go thirsty. Charles Darwin is Shrewsbury’s famous son; he was born and educated here. Shrewsbury’s historical buildings include a Norman Abbey dating back to 1083, a medieval Castle and The Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery housed in a 16th century timber framed warehouse. All are worth a visit. Along with a thriving contemporary arts scenery, Shrewsbury is home to a number of events and Festivals including its famous Flower Show held annually in August with more than 3 million blooms on view. Source: Visit Britain

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Shrewsbury Attractions

Shrewsbury Abbey Abbey/Priory, Shrewsbury Address: Abbey Foregate, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6BS Tel: +44 (0)1743 232723 Fax: +44 (0)1743 240172 Email: shrewsburyabbey@netscapeonline.co.uk Website: http://www.shrewsburyabbey.com When people think of Shrewsbury Abbey, they think of Brother Cadfael. The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, written by Ellis Peters are inspired by medieval Shrewsbury. Despite Ellis Peters' (whose real name was Edith Pargeter) death in 1995, her mystery novels are still popular and have even been adapted as a television series of dramas starring Sir Derek Jacobi, and it partly due to Ellis Peters' fictional monk Brother Cadfael that Shrewsbury Abbey attracts thousands of visitors each year, from all over the world. Shrewsbury Abbey was founded in 1083 by the Norman Roger de Montgomery and started life as a small, wooden, Saxon, chapel of St. Peter. It was the priest of St. Peters church, who, returning from a pilgrimage to Rome, persuaded Roger de Montgomery, the newly appointed Earl of Shrewsbury, to turn the church into an Abbey. Roger sent for two monks from Normandy to direct the construction of the Abbey. The Abbey became the centre of Norman and Medieval power in the region. The Monks who formed the community here followed the rule of St. Benedict for 457 years. The church was the centre of a daily round of prayer, study and manual work. During the early twelfth century, the Abbey flourished. However, the Abbey's monks felt their monastery was incomplete, lacing any religious relics. The then prior, Robert Pennant, went with his Abbots blessing to find remains of someone suitable for burial in the Abbey church. He returned from Wale in 1138 having acquired the bones of St. Gwenfrewi, known as St Winifred to the English. The relics were enshrined and made Shrewsbury Abbey a major centre of pilgrimage.In the 13th Century Parliament moved around the country and met at important sites, chosen by the king. In 1283 a parliament met in the Chapter House, the first national assembly in which the commons were involved. As is common with all English Abbeys and Priories the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII saw monastic life come to an end. However, during the dissolution in 1540, the Abbey lost its domestic buildings and much of the church. After the dissolution a shortened nave was left to serve as the parish church. Today Shrewsbury Abbey stands on a large, harp-shaped green, planted with trees and laid out with gravestones. The Noble west tower, with its large decorated, stained glass window, was built in the 14th Century in the reign of Edward II whose statue can be seen above the window. Inside, the Abbey retains four of the massive drum-shaped columns from the original Norman church, and fragments of the shrine of St Winefride, the 7th Century Welsh martyr. The First World War memorial below the tower includes the name of Lieutenant W.E.S. Owen, MC – the war poet Wilfred Owen who lived in Shrewsbury and was killed in action in 1918 Shrewsbury Castle & Shropshire Regimental Museum Museum, Shrewsbury Address: Castle Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AT Tel: +44 (0)1743 361196 Fax: +44 (0)1743 358411 Email: museums@shrewsbury.gov.uk Website: http://www.shrewsburymuseums.com Shrewsbury castle as it can be today is a Norman red sandstone construction built by Roger de Montgomery in 1070. It is built on the site of an original Anglo-Saxon fortification that would have guarded the original approach to the town and the river Severn. Little of the castle survives today, as much of it was demolished under the reign of Edward I when a rebuilding and strengthening programme was initiated. Over the years the castle lost its defensive significance and fell into a state of decay. The castle was captured by Parliamentarians in 1645 and was eventually surrendered to the crown in 1660, once Charles II was restored to the thrown. The king then granted Shrewsbury castle to Sir Francis Newport of High Ercall in 1663. The castle remained in private until 1924 when it was acquired by the Corporation of Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council), who undertook a process of restoration and opened the castle to the public in 1926. Today Shrewsbury castle houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum including spectacular collections of pictures, weapons, uniforms and other memorabilia from the 1700's to the present. If you head up to Laura's Tower on the motte, you'll be standing on the site of the first Norman castle. Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery Museum, Shrewsbury Address: Rowleys House, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QH Tel: +44 (0)1743 361196 Email: museums@shrewsbury-atcham.gov.uk Website: http://www.shrewsburymuseums.com The three buildings are Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (Rowley's House), Shrewsbury Castle and Coleham Pumping Station. Clive House (a museum from 1969-2001) was sold in July 2001 and the collections transferred to Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. Clive House is now a private dwelling. Shrewsbury Museums Service works in partnership with The Shropshire Regimental Museum Trust at Shrewsbury Castle and with Shrewsbury Steam Trust at Coleham Pumping Station. Parade Specialist Shopping Centre Shop/Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury Address: St. Mary's Place, Shrewsbury, SY1 1DL Tel: +44 (0)1743 343178 Email: pfreeman@the-parade.ndirect.co.uk Website: http://www.paradeshops.co.uk An exciting mix of specialist shops in a magnificent setting in Shrewsbury. Stylish fashions for men and women, quality handcrafted goods and fabulous giftware. Relax and delight in a pleasurable shopping experience which offers superb gift solutions, attractive jewellery, leather goods, antiques, lingerie, hosiery and hand-made shoes.

Shrewsbury Accommodation

Fieldside Guest House 38 London Road SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY2 6NX England Tel: 01743 353143 Bed & Breakfast Price Single From : 35.00 GBP All prices include a full english and/or continental breakfast. We are a no smoking establishment and offer plenty of private parking. We currently have no card facility so regretfully only take cash and cheques. Sandford House Hotel St Julians Friars SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY1 1XL England Tel: 01743 343829 Abbots Mead Hotel 9 St Julian's Friars Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 1XL England Tel: 01743 235281 Hotel Price Single From : 39.00 GBP Abbots Mead Hotel, is a Shrewsbury hotel situated close to the river Severn and within easy walking distance of the town centre. Wyle Cop being the start of town and only a few hundred yards of the hotel. Lion & Pheasant Hotel 49-50 Wyle Cop Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 1XJ England Tel: 01743 236288 Hotel Price Single From : 45.00 GBP

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