Shrewsbury

] A fault, the Hodnet Fault, starts approximately at the town, and runs as far as Market Drayton. Shrewsbury area

uburbs and surrounding settlements

Shrewsbury has a large number of suburbs and surrounding villages. As the town continues to expand, however, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between the suburbs, which are joined to the town, and the surrounding villages, which often join on to the suburbs. [cite web|url=http://www.uklanddirectory.org.uk/home-plans.asp|title=New Home Plans in the West Midlands (Shrewsbury)|publisher=UKLandDirectiry|accessdate=2008-03-16]

An example of where this has happened is Bayston Hill, which has grown considerably in the last 20 years; now separated from the Meole Brace suburb by only a few fields and the A5 road. It remains, however, a separate entity to the town, with its own parish council, etc. Bayston Hill lies convert|3|mi|km|0 south of the town centre of Shrewsbury and on the A49 and near to the A5. [cite web|url=http://www.shrop.net/baystonhill/|title=Bayston Hill Parish Council|Shrop.net|accessdate=2008-03-16] The smaller village of Battlefield, this time to the north of the town, is also considered now as a suburb of the town due to growth in the surrounding area. It is covered by the parish of Shrewsbury. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/yourcouncilatwork/planning/planningpolicy/localdevelopmentframework/issuesandoptions/summary/retail/retail+4.4.htm|title= Expansion of Retail parks|publisher=Shrewsbury & Atcham council|accessdate=2008-03-16]

Climate

The climate of Shrewsbury is similar to that of the rest of Shropshire, generally moderate. Rainfall averages 76 to 100 cm (30 to 40 in), influenced by being in the rainshadow of the Cambrian Mountains from warm, moist frontal systems of the Atlantic Ocean which bring generally light precipitation in Autumn and Spring.cite web|url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781530177/Shrewsbury.html|title=Shropshire|publisher= MSN Encarta|accessdate=2008-02-24] The nearest weather station is located at Shawbury.

Shawbury weatherbox

Demography

According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of the town of Shrewsbury is 67,126.Cite web |url=http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/factsfigures.nsf/open/2446F06FDB25620980256CC400419A93 |title=Census - 2001 - Population & Age Structure |work=Shropshire County Council |accessdate=2008-01-02] The same census puts the population of the borough of Shrewsbury and Atcham at 95,850. In 1981 the population of the town was 57,731 and in 1991 the population of the town was 64,219. [Cite web |url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-1495&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=x&geo=513773725 |title=Shrewsbury |work=World Gazetteer |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] Shrewsbury is Shropshire's second largest town, after Telford. The population of the town centre (the area within the loop of the Severn) is approximately 1,300. In line with the rapid growth of town population, a 2005 report on prison population in the UK has found that the prison, HMP Shrewsbury, is the most overcrowded in England and Wales. [Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/shropshire/4722157.stm |title=Jail most overcrowded in country |work=BBC News |date=2005-07-27 |accessdate=2008-01-16 ]

The 2001 census also indicates that the population of the town consists of 51.1% females, and 48.9% males, which echoes the trend of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough, and that of Shropshire as a whole.Cite web |url=http://www.safetypartnership.org.uk/v2/downloads/4.2%20ShrewsburyTown.pdf |title=Shrewsbury Town |work=Safety Partnership |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-01-17] According to the same census, the ethnic composition of the town is largely white, at 98.5% of the total population. The next largest ethnic group is mixed race, at 0.5% of the town's population. 0.4% of the population is Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi, and 0.1% of the population is South Asian or British Asian. A further 0.1% is Black, Caribbean or African.

Historical population

Economy

Throughout the Medieval period, Shrewsbury was a centre for the wool trade, [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsburydrapers.org.uk/guild|title=The Shrewsbury Drapers Guild|work=shrewsburydrapers.org.uk|accessdate=2008-04-04] and used its position on the River Severn to transport goods across England via the canal system. Unlike many other towns in this period, Shrewsbury never became a centre for heavy industry. By the early 1900s, the town became focused on transport services and the general service and professional sector, owing to its position on the A5 road, part of the strategic route to North Wales. [cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_IND&data_cube=N_OCC_ORD1921&u_id=10023750&c_id=10001043&add=Y|title= Shrewsbury, Shropshire Industry Statistics|publisher=A Vision of Britain|accessdate2008-03-09]

The town is the location of the borough and county councils, and a number of retail complexes, both in and out of the town centre, and these provide significant employment. Four in five jobs in the town are in the service industry. Within this sector, the largest employers are the administration and distribution sectors, which includes retail, food and accommodation. Shrewsbury is home to two small shopping centres, the Darwin and Pride Hill centres, which house many high street retailers such as Marks & Spencer, TK Maxx and Boots. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsbury-shopping.co.uk/|title=Darwin & Pride Hill Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury|work=EFM Facilities, LTD|accessdate=2008-03-23] There is also the large Meole Brace Retail Park to the south, and the Harlescott Retail Park to the north. Major supermarkets in the town are the 2007-opened environmentally friendly [cite web|url=http://www.tescocorporate.com/crreport07/04_climatechange/reducingenergyuse.html|title=Tesco Corporate Responsibility Review 2007|work=Tescocorporate.com|accessdate2008-04-16] Tesco Extra at Harlescott, Morrisons on Whitchurch Road, ASDA on Old Potts Way and Sainsbury's at Meole Brace.

The visitor economy of Shrewsbury and Atcham was worth about £115 million in 2001, with approximately 2,500 people employed directly in the visitor industry and 3,400 indirectly. There were about 3.1 million day and staying visitors to the borough in 2001, with 88% being day visitors and 12% being staying visitors; staying visitors accounted for 42% of spending. [cite web|url=http://shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/business/towncentreissues/execsummary+for+publication.doc|title=A Visitor Economy Strategy and Action Plan for Shrewsbury & Atcham|work=Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council|accessdate=2008-03-21] Shrewsbury's position of being the only sizable town for a large area, especially to the west in Mid-Wales, allows it to attract a large retail base beyond that of its resident population. This is not only evident in the retail sector, but also in the healthcare sector, where the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has the only A&E department eastwards until Aberystwyth, approximately convert|75|mi|km away. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/5165812.stm|title=Hospital's cash plans are delayed|work=BBC News|accessdate=2008-03-23]

In terms of social and economic deprivation, according to the Overall Index of Multiple Deprivation of 2004, one Super Output Area (SOA) in the town is in the bottom 15% of all areas nationally. This area is located in the ward of Harlescott. [Cite web |url=http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/factsfigures.nsf/open/EB9BEA10E543F61780256ED7003B0ACC |title=Index of multiple deprivation - overall results |work=Shropshire County Council |accessdate=2008-01-17 ] A further four SOAs fall into the bottom 30% nationally, these being located in the wards of Monkmoor, Sundorne, Battlefield and Heathgates, and Meole Brace. [Cite web |url=http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/factsfigures.nsf/viewAttachments/JPUH-74JBV2/$file/imd04-01-deprivation-in-shropshire.pdf |title=Deprivation in Shropshire |work=Sustainability Group |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-01-17 ] The most affluent areas of the town are located to the south, surrounding Shrewsbury School. Areas such as Kingsland and Porthill tend to have higher house prices than average. [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060322/ai_n16145940|title=Cream of the Country: Shrewsbury|accessdate=2008-02-24]

Landmarks

The historic town centre still retains its medieval street pattern and many narrow streets and passages. Some of the passages, especially those which pass through buildings from one street to the next, are called “shuts” (a suggestion is that this is because they were once shut at night). [cite web |url=http://shrewsburyforum.co.uk/ar/f219.htm |title=Shuts of Shrewsbury |publisher="Proud Salopian", ShrewsburyForum.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-23] Many specialist shops, traditional pubs and local restaurants can be found in the hidden corners, squares and lanes of Shrewsbury. Many of the street names have also remained unchanged in centuries and there are some more unusual names, such as Butcher Row, Longden Coleham, Dogpole, Mardol, Frankwell, Roushill, Grope Lane, Gullet Passage, Murivance, The Dana, Portobello, Bear Steps, Shoplatch and Bellstone. [cite web |url=http://www.fatbadgers.co.uk/Tourism/shrinfo.htm |title=Shropshire Information |publisher=FatBadgers.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-23]

The town was also used as the set for the popular 1984 movie, "A Christmas Carol", [Cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087056/ |title=A Christmas Carol |work=The Internet Movie Database |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] which filmed many of its interior and exterior shots in and around Shrewsbury. The facade of the Shrewsbury Music Hall doubled as the London Exchange Building in the film. The gravestone of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by George C. Scott), which was used in production, is still present in the graveyard of St. Chad's Church.

In the centre of the town lies The Quarry. This 29 acre (120,000 m²) [Cite web |url=http://www.shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk/ |title=Welcome to the Shrewsbury Flower Show |work=Shrewsbury Flower Show |accessdate=2008-01-02] riverside park attracts thousands of people throughout the year and is enjoyed as a place of recreation. Shrewsbury is known as the "Town of Flowers" and this was the motto printed onto many of the signs on entrance to the town via major roads, although in 2007 the signs were replaced, instead branding the town as 'the birthplace of Charles Darwin'. [cite web |url=http://www.shrewsburyguide.info/ |title=Shrewsbury Tourist Information & Visitor's Guide |publisher=ShrewsburyGuide.info|accessdate=2008-02-23]

The British Army's Light Infantry has been associated with Shrewsbury since the 17th century when the first regiments were formed and many more regiments have been raised at Shrewsbury before being deployed all over the world from the American Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, after several major reorganisations, the Light Infantry Brigade now forms part of the regiment known simply as The Rifles. Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks, spiritual home of the Light Brigade, still houses the Headquarters of the British Army's 5th Division. [cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/lightinfantry/history_traditions/county_regiments/ksli.htm|title=The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (53rd and 85th foot)|publisher=Army.mod.uk|accessdate=2008-03-04]

Between 1962 and 1992 there was a hardened nuclear bunker, built for No 16 Group Royal Observer Corps Shrewsbury, who provided the field force of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation and would have sounded the four minute warning alarm in the event of war and warned the population of Shrewsbury in the event of approaching radioactive fallout. [cite web |url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/roc/group_hq.html |title=UKWMO Group Controls|publisher=Subbrit.org.uk|accessdate=2008-03-17] The building was manned by up to 120 volunteers who trained on a weekly basis and wore a Royal Air Force style uniform. After the break up of the communist bloc in 1989, the Royal Observer Corps was disbanded between September 1991 and December 1995. However, the nuclear bunker still stands just inside Holywell Street near the Abbey as a lasting reminder of the cold war, but is now converted and used as a veterinary practice.

The tourist information centre is at the Music Hall on The Square in the town centre. The three main museums are Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (located at Rowley's House), Shrewsbury Castle (which houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum) and the Coleham Pumping Station. [cite web |url=http://www.shrewsburymuseums.com/ |title= Shrewsbury Museums|publisher=Shrewsbury Museum Service|accessdate=2007-09-18] Also, there is the Gateway arts and drama centre and there are also various private galleries and art shops around the town. Another notable feature of the town is Lord Hill's Column, the largest free-standing Doric column in the world. [Cite web |url=http://www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/leisure/gallery/default.htm |title=Photo Gallery |work=Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council |accessdate=2008-01-02]

Religious sites

There are many church denominations represented in Shrewsbury, housed in a range of buildings, including Shrewsbury Abbey, founded by Roger de Montgomery in 1083. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsburyabbey.com/left_menu/abbeyhistory.htm|title=History of Shrewsbury Abbey|work=ShrewsburyAbbey.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] The Orthodox Church's main building, which is located on Wenlock Road to the east, is over 1,000 years old. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsburyorthodox.com|title=Shrewsbury Orthodox Church|work=ShrewsburyOrthodox.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] Shrewsbury is home to the Roman Catholic Shrewsbury Cathedral, located by Town Walls, [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsburycathedral.org/|title= Shrewsbury Cathedral Home Page|work=ShrewsburyCathedral.org|accessdate=2008-03-17] as well as two other parishes in Harlescott and Monkmoor, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury.

There are several Anglican Churches in Shrewsbury. [cite web|url=http://www.acny.org.uk/result.php?query=shrewsbury&type=place|title=Shrewsbury - A Church Near You|work=acny.org.uk|accessdate=2008-03-17] Other denominations, such as methodists [cite web|url=http://www.bvmc.freeuk.com/|title=Belle Vue Methodist Church, Shrewsbury UK|work=bvmc.freeuk.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] and baptists [cite web|url=http://www.claremont-baptist-church.co.uk/|title=Claremont Baptist Church|work=Claremont-Baptist-Church.co.uk|accessdate=2008-03-17] are represented alongside newer church groups, which include: Elim pentecostal [cite web|url=http://www.riverswayelim.org/|title= Rivers Way - An Elim Church|work=RiversWayelim.org|accessdate=2008-03-17] and two Newfrontiers churches. [cite web|url=http://www.barnabascommunitychurch.com|title=Barnabas Community Church, Shrewsbury|work=BarnabasCommunityChurch.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] [cite web|url=http://www.northshrewsbury.org.uk/|title=North Shrewsbury Community Church|work=NorthShrewsbury.org.uk|accessdate=2008-03-17] Many community projects in Shrewsbury are based in, or have been started by local churches, including the Isaiah 58 project, which is the primary work amongst homeless people in the town. [cite web|url=http://www.shrop.net/isaiah58project/|title=Isaiah 58 Project|work=shrop.net|accessdate=2008-03-17] Basics Bank is another example, based at The Barnabas Centre, which provides debt relief for local people. [cite web|url=http://www.barnabascommunitychurch.com/debtrelief.htm|title= Debt Relief - Barnabas Community Church Shrewsbury|work=BarnabasCommunityChurch.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] Churches Together in Shrewsbury is seeking to continue its long term commitment to helping homeless people through The Ark project. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsburychurches.org/ark.htm|title=Churches Together in Shrewsbury - The Shrewsbury Ark|work=ShrewsburyChurches.org|accessdate=2008-03-17]

Culture

;Events and venuesShrewsbury is home to one of the largest and oldest horticultural events in the UK - the annual Shrewsbury Flower Show. [cite web |url=http://www.shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk |title=Shrewsbury Flower Show website |accessdate=2007-09-18] A two day event, the Flower Show takes place in mid-August, has been running for more than 125 years, and attracts around 100,000 visitors each year. Set in the Quarry park, there are a multitude of events, exhibitions and displays, with a fireworks display at the end of each day. The town is well known for its flower displays, and has won numerous awards in recent years. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7009409.stm|title=Town celebrates top floral awards |publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-09-23]

Shrewsbury is also home to one of the region's main agricultural shows - the West Mid Show. This is held every year, usually in May, at the Shropshire Agricultural Showground on the outskirts of town at Coton Hill. [cite web |url=http://www.westmidshow.co.uk/ |title=West Mid Show |work=WestMidShow.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-23] The town is host to the Shrewsbury International Music Festival, when musical groups from all over the world come to perform for about a week for local residents, and give a final concert in the Abbey. The festival is organized by WorldStage Tours. [cite web |url=http://www.eayo.org/festivals/shrewsbury.htm |title=Festivals - Shrewsbury |work=eayo.org|accessdate=2008-02-23] 2006 saw the first Shrewsbury Folk Festival, after the event moved to the town from nearby Bridgnorth. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday, the event is very popular, with people travelling from across the UK to attend. In 2006 much of the event was held in the Quarry, with other related festivities happening around the town. For 2007 the event moved to the West Midlands Showground on the other side of the river. [cite web |url=http://www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk |title= Shrewsbury Folk Festival website|work=shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk|accessdate=2007-09-18] A new annual arts festival - the Shrewsbury Summer Season - was established in 2004 and runs each year from June to August with an extensive programme of music, visual arts, theatre and spectacle. [cite web |url=http://www.shrewsburysummer.co.uk |title=Shrewsbury Summer Season |work=ShrewsburySummer.co.uk|accessdate=2007-09-18]

There are some very old public houses, which have been continuously open as pubs, such as the Golden Cross (established 1428 - the oldest pub in the town), the Dun Cow and the King's Head. [cite web |url=http://www.goldencrosshotel.co.uk/alternate.html |title=Shrewsbury's oldest pub|publisher=GoldenCrossHotel.co.uk |accessdate=2008-02-23]

Construction of Theatre Severn, [cite web |url=http://www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/yourcouncilatwork/councilprojects/nev/default.htm |title= New Enternainment Venue - Theatre Severn|publisher=Shrewsbury.gov.uk|accessdate=2007-09-18] a new entertainment complex in Frankwell, was commissioned in September 2006. Actual construction began on the site in April 2007 when the Borough Council appointed a contractor. The design will feature a prominent glass curve and steel frame. The site is positioned next to the Guildhall, alongside the namesake River Severn. [cite web |url=http://www.musichall.co.uk/ab_nev.htm |title=New Entertainment Venue|publisher=The Music Hall website|accessdate=2007-09-18] The new complex is to replace the existing theatre, the Shrewsbury Music Hall. The Music Hall will then be refurbished, and take on the role of Rowley's House Museum, which will then be closed for renovation for the foreseeable future. [Exhibit in Former C&A, "Pride Hill Shopping Centre", Shrewsbury. Published by SABC council. Viewed 20th February, 2008] ;Cultural referencesThe town appears in the "Brother Cadfael" novels by Ellis Peters, aka Edith Pargeter. The novels take Shrewsbury Abbey for their setting, with Shrewsbury and other places in Shropshire portrayed regularly, and have made Medieval Shrewsbury familiar to a wide worldwide readership. [cite web |url=http://user.chollian.net/~beringar/e-cad.htm |title=Brother Cadfael |work=user.chollian.net/~beringar|accessdate=2008-02-23]

The local author, Carol Ewels has written two children's books, including "Jack the Cat", which are set in the town. Also, the children's author Pauline Fisk writes about a town called Pengwern, which is based entirely on Shrewsbury, in books including "Midnight Blue", and "Sabrina Fludde". Frank Cottrell Boyce, another children's author, writes briefly about Shrewsbury in his book "Millions".

;MediaTwo newspapers are published for Shrewsbury - the "Shrewsbury Chronicle", [cite web |url=http://www.mediauk.com/newspapers/41765/shrewsbury-chronicle |title=Shrewsbury Chronicle |accessdate=2008-02-23] and the local edition of the county's "Shropshire Star". [cite web |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com |title=Shropshire Star |accessdate=2008-02-23] There are presently three radio stations that specifically serve either the Shrewsbury area or encompass it as part of a Shropshire-wide broadcast. They include: Beacon Radio, part of the wider network of radio stations owned by GCap Media; [cite web |url=http://www.beaconradiowestmids.co.uk/ |title=97.2 Beacon Radio |accessdate=2008-02-23] BBC Radio Shropshire, which is based in Shrewsbury; [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/local_radio/ |title=BBC Radio Shropshire |accessdate=2008-02-23] and, as of September 2006, The Severn, which broadcasts live from Abbey Foregate. [cite web |url=http://www.thesevern.co.uk |title=106.5 & 107.1 The Severn |accessdate=2008-02-23]

ports

Shrewsbury is home to a variety of established amateur, semi-professional and professional sports clubs, including Shrewsbury Town, a Football League team currently playing in Football League Two. Shrewsbury Town's achievements include winning The Welsh Cup 6 times, a record for an English club, a sustained run in the old Second Division in the 1980s and victory in the Conference National Playoff Final 2004. The club relocated to the New Meadow stadium in 2007, to a purposely built site located near Meole Brace. Prior to this, the club played at the Gay Meadow stadium, situated just outside of the town centre, for a 97 year period from 1910 to 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk|title=Shrewsbury Town Football Club website|work=STFC|accessdate=2008-03-04]

There is also a local rugby club, Shrewsbury Rugby Club. [Cite web |url=http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/sports.nsf/open/7BA9BAFA99E9B372802572A60034D952 |title=Rugby Clubs in Shropshire |work=Shropshire County Council |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] The River Severn in the town is used for rowing by both Pengwern Boat Club [cite web|url=http://www.pengwernbc.co.uk|title=Pengwern Boat Club website|work=PengwernBC|accessdate=2008-03-20] and the Shrewsbury School Boat Club. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=sport.content&cmid=75|title=Rowing|work=Shrewsbury School|accessdate=2008-03-04] Shrewsbury Sports Village, a new sports centre, was recently opened in the Sundorne district of the town, with the aim of providing a wider and improved range of sports facilities for townspeople. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/sport/facilities/shrewsburysportsvillage/default.htm|title=Shrewsbury Sports Village|publisher=Shrewsbury and Atcham council|accessdate=2008-03-04] There are also a number of motorsports and golf facilities (including Meole Brace Municipal Golf Course) in the area. The local motorsports heritage includes the Loton Park Hillclimb and Hawkstone Park Motocross Circuit situated near Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury Motocross Club has staged motocross events in the area for over 30 years. [cite web|url=http://www.shrop.net/shrewsburymxc/history-of-smxc/|title=History of SMXC|work=Shrop.net|accessdate=2008-03-04]

Education

Shrewsbury is home to Shrewsbury School, a public school, located on a large commanding site ("Kingsland") just south of the town centre overlooking the loop of the Severn. The school was once located in the town centre, in the buildings that are now the main county library on Castle Street. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=features.content&cmid=124|title=History of Shrewsbury School|publisher=Shrewsbury School|accessdate=2008-03-02] Opposite it on the other side of the river is Shrewsbury High School, an independent girls' day school.

The long established Prestfelde School is an independent preparatory school, located on London Road, close to the Lord Hill column. As part of the Woodard Schools group, it is affiliated to the largest group of Church of England schools in the country. Whilst originally a school for boys only it diversified and, in the late 1990s, started also accepting girls between the ages of three and thirteen. The school is set in thirty acres of grounds on the outskirts of the town. [cite web|url=http://www.prestfelde.co.uk/home.php?menu=2|title=Prestfelde Preparatory School Home Page|publisher=Prestfelde Preparatory School|accessdate=2008-03-02]

However, the majority of the town's pupils attend one of the eight comprehensive schools. The Priory School, formerly a grammar school for girls, generally has the best GCSE exam results in the town. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/893_4368.stm|title= League tables: Secondary Schools in Shropshire|publisher=BBC.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-26] "Meole Brace School" currently carries the status of Science College; "The Grange" the status of Arts College; "Sundorne" the status of Sports College and "Belvidere" has the status of Technology College.
The Wakeman School, which is geographically the nearest school to the town, situated next to the English Bridge, was previously known as 'Shrewsbury Technical School', which was attended by the famous war poet Wilfred Owen. Additionally, there are two other establishments located out of the town which serve the town's students. "The Corbet", located to the north at Baschurch; and "Mary Webb School", located in the large village of Pontesbury, to the south-west.

Post-16 education is handled by Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, which has some of the best A-Level results in the country,cite web |url=http://www.sos.sbwdesign.co.uk/intro.htm|title=Introduction|publisher=Save our Sixth Form|accessdate=2007-09-22] and Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology, which handles primarily vocational courses. Proposals from 2007 to co-locate the two colleges have met with fierce opposition, from the fear that town centre trade will suffer from the loss of the student population, as well as the reduced access to the London Road site, which lacks the rail and bus stations of Shrewsbury town centre. [cite web |url=http://www.sos.sbwdesign.co.uk/facts.htm|title=Facts and Figures |publisher= Save our Sixth Form|accessdate=2007-09-22]

Transport

Shrewsbury is the county's public transportation hub and has extensive road and rail links to the rest of the county and country.

Rail

Five railway lines connect the town to most corners of Shropshire and the town is regarded as the "Gateway to Wales". Shrewsbury railway station is served by Arriva Trains Wales and London Midland. Trains frequently run east to Birmingham via Telford and Wolverhampton, north to Chester, Manchester, Crewe and Wrexham, south to Hereford and Cardiff, and west to Aberystwyth. [cite web |url=http://nationalrail.co.uk/stations/SHR.html |title=Shrewsbury Railway Station |publisher=NationalRail|accessdate=2008-02-23] Heart of Wales Line trains operate from this station to Swansea. On 28 April 2008 open access service provider Wrexham & Shropshire commenced services to London. This restored the county's direct rail link to London; previously Shropshire was the only English county without a dedicated service to the capital. [cite web |url=http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/ |title=Wrexham & Shropshire railway services|work=wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-23]

Roads

Shrewsbury is connected to the national road network and nearby towns via a number of significant roads.

The A5 connects the town northwest to Oswestry, and east towards Telford, where it becomes the M54. The A5 once ran through the town centre, until a bypass was built in the 1930s. Subsequently, in 1992, a seventeen mile dual carriageway was completed at a cost of 79 million pounds to the south of the town, and was made to form part of the A5 route. This dual carriageway was built further out of the town to act as a substantial link to Telford, as well as a bypass for the town. [cite web |url=http://newroads.speedlimit.org.uk/ |title=Pre-Motorway New Roads|work=speedlimit.org.uk |accessdate=2008-02-23]

The A49 also goes to Shrewsbury, joining the A5 at the south of the town, coming from Ludlow and Leominster. At this point, the road merges with the A5 for three miles, before separating again to the east of the town. From there it runs north, passing Sundorne, then Battlefield, before heading out towards Whitchurch. At Battlefield, the A53 route begins and heads northeast towards Shawbury and Market Drayton then onwards towards Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.The A458 (Welshpool-Bridgnorth) runs through the town centre, entering in the west and leaving to the southeast. The A528 begins in the town centre and heads north, heading for Ellesmere. The A488 begins just west of the town centre in Frankwell and heads out to Bishop's Castle, Clun and Knighton crossing the border in the southwest of Shropshire.

Major roads within the town include the A5112, A5191 and A5064. The A5191 goes north-south via the town centre, while the A5112 runs north-south to the east of the town centre. The A5064 is a short, one mile stretch of road to the southeast of the town centre, called "London Road". Additionally, the A5124, the most recent bypass, was completed in 1998, and runs across the northern edge of the town at Battlefield (connecting the A49/A53 to the A528), though it did exist before as Harlescott Lane (which has since become unclassified).

;BusesBus services in the town are operated by Arriva and serve most parts of the town, congregating at the town's bus station adjacent to the Darwin Shopping Centre and a short stroll from the railway station. Arriva also operate county services both independent of and on behalf of Shropshire County Council. There are other bus companies operating around the Shrewsbury area, including Minsterley Motors.

Shrewsbury has a Park and Ride bus scheme in operation and three car parks on the edge of town are used by many who want to travel into the town centre. The three car parks are located at Harlescott (to the north, colour-coded orange), Oxon (to the west, colour-coded brown) and Meole Brace (to the south, colour-coded green). It is proposed that a fourth one be built to the east of the town, at either Emstrey or Preston. [cite web |url=http://www.totaltravel.co.uk/travel/midlands/shropshire/guide/coaches-shropshire |title=Shrewsbury's Coach & Bus Station|work=totaltravel.co.uk |accessdate=2008-02-23]

;BridgesThe town has many bridges, which cross the River Severn and the Rea Brook. Frankwell footbridge is a modern pedestrian footbridge between Frankwell and the town centre spanning the River Severn. Downstream is the Welsh Bridge, which was built in the 1790s to replace the ancient St George's Bridge. Further along is the Porthill Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge running between The Quarry and Porthill, built in 1922. The next bridge along the river is the Kingsland Bridge, a privately owned toll bridge, and the subsequent bridge is the Greyfriars Bridge, a pedestrian bridge between Coleham and the town centre. Following the Greyfriars Bridge is the English Bridge, historically called "Stone Bridge", which was rebuilt in the 1930s, and beyond it is the railway station, which is partly built over the river. After the station is the Castle Walk Footbridge, another modern pedestrian footbridge. [cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/shrewsbury.html |title=A Short History of Shrewsbury |work=localhistories.org|accessdate=2008-02-23]
A. E. Housman wrote of the area this verse, which mentions the bridges of the town: [cite web|url=http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~martinh/poems/complete_housman.html|title=Complete Housman|work=greenend.org.uk/~martinh|accessdate=2008-03-17] cquote
High the vanes of Shrewsbury gleam
Islanded in Severn stream;
The bridges from the steepled crest,
Cross the water east and west.

Notable people

There have been a number of notable "Salopians", and people otherwise associated with the town of Shrewsbury, including Charles Darwin, a biologist and evolutionary theorist, one of the most important thinkers of the nineteenth century, [cite web|url=http://www.edinformatics.com/great_thinkers/darwin.htm|publisher=EDinformatics|title=Charles Darwin - Great Minds, Great Thinkers|accessdate=2008-03-16] who was born in Shrewsbury on 12 February 1809 at The Mount House, [Cite web |url=http://darwin.baruch.cuny.edu/biography/shrewsbury/mount/ |title=The Mount House, Shrewsbury |publisher=City University of New York (CUNY)|accessdate=2008-01-02] and was educated in the town at Shrewsbury School.

People with political associations also have connections with the town. Leo Blair, the father of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, is a resident of the town. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/756633.stm|title=Leo Blair: What's in a name|work=BBC News|accessdate=2008-03-17] Former residents have included Michael Heseltine, a Conservative politician who was educated at Shrewsbury School, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/727824.stm |title=Heseltine: Political CV |accessdate=2008-01-13 |work=BBC News ] and Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet, who was once Britain's richest man, and was MP for Shrewsbury. [Cite web |url=http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/101_135/132summer2004/132johnstone.html |title=Sir William Johnstone Pulteney and The Scottish Origins of Western New York |work=The Crooked Lake Review |last=Johnstone |first=Jeffrey |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] He lived in apartments at Shrewsbury Castle. Robert Clive was MP for Shrewsbury, and also the mayor. [Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2005/03/29/robert_clive_feature.shtml |title=Robert Clive: Tearaway to empire builder |work=BBC.co.uk |accessdate=2008-01-16 ]

Ian Hunter (or Ian Patterson), the lead singer of the 70's pop group Mott the Hoople, was a resident of 23a Swan Hill in the town centre, and wrote a song of the same name. [cite web|url=http://everything2.com/node/1170116|title=Ian Hunter|work=Everything2.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] Also a resident of the town was John Peel, a DJ and radio presenter, who was educated at Shrewsbury School. [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/09/npeel09.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/10/09/ixnewstop.html| title= In his own words, the teenage rape of John Peel|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2008-03-17] Another DJ from the town is Lange, a producer of dance music, who was born in Shrewsbury. [cite web|url=http://supra.armadamusic.nl/artists/lange-aka-firewall/|title=Langa (AKA Firewall)|publisher=Armada Music|accessdate=2008-03-17] The 1980s pop group "T'Pau" was formed in the town and the band's vocalist Carol Decker was born and educated in the town, along with other members of the band. [cite web|url=http://www.tpau.org/ints/recmir87.html|title=For Crying Out Loud! (T'Pau interviews)|work=T'Pau.org|accessdate=2008-03-17] Shrewsbury has also been home to contributors to literature. Prior to the First World War, Wilfred Owen, a poet lived in the town. [Cite web |url=http://www.wsws.org/arts/1998/dec1998/owen-d02.shtml |title=The war poet Wilfred Owen 80 years on |work=World Socialist Web Site |last=Thompson |first=Harvey |date=1998-12-02 |accessdate=2008-01-15 ] Paul Gustafson, an author, self-publicist and biologist was born in Shrewsbury, and Mary Webb is buried there. [Cite web |url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10298952 |title=Mary Webb |work=Find a Grave |accessdate=2008-01-18 ] Michael Palin, the writer, actor and comedian attended Shrewsbury School. [Cite web |url=http://www.acornmedia.com/rippingyarns/MEP_Bio.htm |title=Michael Palin |accessdate=2008-01-16] Other actors with associations with the town include Nick Hancock, presenter of "They Think It's All Over", who, like Palin, was educated at Shrewsbury School. [Cite web |url=http://www.tatler.co.uk/Schools/2006/Details.aspx?Type=Public&Area=Midlands&ID=350&List= |title=Shrewsbury School |work=Tatler Schools Guide |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] Nick Conway is another actor connected to the town, and was born in it in 1962. [cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/nick-conway/person/151284/summary.html|title=Nick Conway|work=Tv.com|accessdate=2008-03-17]

Sporting Salopians include Danny Guthrie, a footballer who was born in Shrewsbury; [Cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=1166 |title=Player Profile |work=LFChistory.net |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] and Joe Hart, an under-21 international footballer, born in the town, [Cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/player/0,,11761_262521,00.html |title=Joe Hart |work=Sky Sports |accessdate=2008-01-16 ] and educated at Meole Brace School. Sandy Lyle, a professional golfer, was also born in the town. [Cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/17/17/ |title=Sandy Lyle |work=PGATOUR.com |accessdate=2008-01-16 ]

Other notable people of the town include Robert Cadman, a performer and steeplejack, who is buried in the town, at St. Mary's Church. [cite web |url=http://www.findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=city&FScityid=404045|title=Robert Cadman|work=Findagrave.com|accessdate=2007-09-18] Simon Gosling, a designer was born in the town, and was resident there until 1994. [cite web|url=http://www.lovefilm.com/community/view_list.html?customer_list_id=5719|title=Simon Gosling|publisher=LoveFilm.com|accessdate=2008-03-17] John Gwynn, an 18th century architect, who designed the English Bridge and the bridge at Atcham was born in the town. [cite web|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3Zqbit3opjQC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=john+gwynn+shrewsbury&source=web&ots=R1V72cDq1V&sig=eG7U2CABPARYLtlf2WJ4KKUEQ_Y&hl=en| title=Shropshire|work=Google Books|accessdate=2008-03-17] Percy Thrower, the gardener and broadcaster was a resident of Shrewsbury. [cite web|url=http://www.youandyesterday.co.uk/articles/Thrower,_Percy:_Percy_was_the_forerunner_of_TV's_gardening_celebrities|title=Percy was the forerunner of TV's gardening celebrities|work=You&Yesterday|accessdate=2008-03-17]

Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock DSO, DFC and Bar was born in nearby Bayston Hill and was educated at Prestfelde public school on London Road. Lock became internationally recognised as a high scoring fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during World War II with twenty six victories before his death in combat at the age of twenty one. He was the RAF's most successful British-born pilot during the Battle of Britain, shooting down 16.5 German aircraft in a period of just a few weeks. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2005/04/09/great_salopians_eric_lock_feature.shtml "Shropshire's 'Sawn Off' Battle of Britain hero"] , BBC. Accessed 3 January 2008.] [Lashmar, Paul. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000916/ai_n14340752 "`The Few' who saved Britain were even fewer in number than anyone"] , "The Independent", 16 September 2000. Accessed 3 January 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk/gallery/shrewsbury?page=1 Virtual Shropshire images of Shrewsbury]
* [http://gallery.beautifulengland.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4302 Photographs of Shrewsbury]

geocompass
hub = Shrewsbury
type= ex
NN = Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Nantwich
NE = Shawbury, Hodnet, Market Drayton
Stoke-on-Trent
EE = Wellington, Oakengates, Telford, Shifnal
West Midlands conurbation
SE = Atcham, Much Wenlock, Ironbridge, Broseley, Bridgnorth, Kidderminster
SS = Bayston Hill, Condover, Dorrington, Church Stretton, Craven Arms, Ludlow
SW = Pontesbury, Minsterley, Bishop's Castle, Clun, Knighton, Newtown
WW = Westbury, Welshpool
NW = Nesscliffe, Oswestry, Chirk
Wrexham