Information about Shropshire

Shropshire lies to the west of central England, in the region long known as The Marches and bordering on Wales.

It is a county rich in agricultural land and beautiful countryside, and can be thought of as being split into two halves. In the north are undulating but relatively flat fields, whilst to the south are high, rolling hills separated by river valleys. The River Severn runs through the county, creating a natural barrier between these two 'halves'.

County administration

Although the county name defines the whole area (the Ceremonial County), administration by local government is divided in two - Shropshire County Council is responsible for most of the county, whilst the area around Telford (with the greatest population density) is administered separately as the Unitary Authority of Telford and Wrekin.

Industrial heritage - birthplace of the Industrial Revolution

Although now seen as largely rural, the county has a strong industrial heritage. In part this was because of wide-ranging deposits of ore and minerals essential for the industrial processes of the time, but it reflects also the importance in times gone by of the River Severn as a means of transportation.

Coalbrookdale was the original source of the Industrial Revolution, and nearby Ironbridge the location for the construction of the world's first iron bridge (still in use, but now limited to pedestrian traffic).