subject: From Ironbridge to Shrewsbury, discover the important history of Shropshire [print this page] Nestled between Wales and the Midlands, the county of Shropshire is too frequently overlooked by those tracing British history, despite its important role as a Norman base in the West of England and a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution.
A visit to Shropshire is a journey through history, whether you're driving past medieval castles and abbeys or the site of Ironbridge, the first structure to be built using cast iron. In fact, while the then-burgeoning metropolises of Birmingham and Manchester tend to be given greater attention for their industrial achievements, Shropshire towns were the first to truly innovate construction using smelted iron ore, most notably in the Coalbrookdale region.
Shropshire's rise to prominence was aided in no small part by the quality and diversity of its geology, as coal was relatively easy to extract from shallow drift mines and used as a fuel source. The presence of the River Severn also offered a natural transport route to deliver the goods far and wide, and soon saw Shropshire become a vital exporter of building materials throughout the British Empire.
Among the developments that Shropshire can proudly claim as its own are precision engineering, as pioneered by John Wilkinson when designing Boulton and Watt's first steam engines and the first iron boats. The first iron building was also constructed in Shropshire, in the town of Ditherington. It was later that Broseley and Madeley became better known as exporters of bricks and tiles, which subsequently became synonymous with the region.
But the county's claim to fame isn't just its industrial heritage, as history buffs whose passion lies even further back in time will know well. Due to the constant threat of attacks by the Welsh, the Norman lords who ruled Shropshire in the Middle Ages built an impressive number of castles in the county, many of which still stand today. It's a testament to Shropshire's importance that, of the 186 castles built across England, 32 were constructed in this county alone.
Those interested in unearthing Shropshire's fascinating history, from the Roman times to the present day, can visit dedicated museums across the region or simply take a look firsthand at the many monuments of the past that still stand, such as the well-preserved Ludlow Castle or Battlefield, the site of the bloody Battle of Shrewsbury fought in 1403 just north of the modern-day town.
Whether you're a local keen to gain further insight into your noble country or you're visiting from further afield with a car hire Birmingham Airport, Shropshire is full of historical attractions waiting to be discovered - and what's more, you won't have to deal with the crowds that plague more well-known tourism capitals of the UK.
From Ironbridge to Shrewsbury, discover the important history of Shropshire
