SHROPSHIRE is an inland shire, in the basin of the Severn and on the Welsh border: it is sometimes called Salop, and the people Salopians: the greatest length is from north to south, which is 46 miles, and the greatest breadth is 37 miles; it lies between 520 20' and 530 4' north latitude, and between 2° 17' and 38° 14' west longitude. On the north it is bounded by Cheshire and part of Flintshire; on the east, by Staffordshire; on the south-east, by Worcestershire; on the south and southwest, by Herefordshire and Radnorshire, and on the west and north-west, by Montgomeryshire and Denbighshire. The area is 859, 516 acres. The population in 1801 was 169, 248; in 1811, 184, 973; in 1821, 198, 311; in 1831, 213, 518; in 1841, 225, 820; in 1851, 229, 341; in 1861, 240, 959; in 1871, 248, 111; in 1881, 248, 014; and in 1891, 236, 339.

The number of males in 1891 was 116, 736, and of females, 119, 603; the number of houses in 1891, inhabited, was 49, 686.

Of the ancient inhabitants of Shropshire little is known. The Ordovices and the Silures certainly occupied the neighbourhood of its southern regions. Uriconium is supposed to be of Silurian derivation. The Celts to whom the Cornavii and Ordovices are supposed to have belonged, afterwards occupied the country. The Belgae approached it from the south-east, but its subjugation by them was prevented by the invasion of the Romans, who reduced the Silurian, Welsh and Belgic tribes in it and its neighbourhood.

The Romans closely settled the district, and their towns, habitations, and roads are to be traced throughout. Their chief settlements were Wroxeter, Shrewsbury, Yarchester near Hurley, Chesterton, Alceston in West Hope, Overton near Richard’s Castle, Overton near Middleton Scriven, Overton near Stottesden, Condover, Overs near Ratlinghope, Overwood in Neen, Stapleford, Stapleton, Stapeley near Monk Hopton, Longnor parish, Longnor near Atcham, Wentnor, Gravenor near Norbury, Oreton near Farlow, Horton near Shrewsbury, Ludford and Ludlow, Halford, Hungerford, Clungunford, Quatford, Montford, Pitchford, Chatford, Pontesford, Twyford near Oswestry, Hindford, Sandford near Prees, Longford near Moreton, Losford, Ashford, Basford near Edgton, Burford, Gosford near Brimfield, Shackeford, near Hinstock, Stanford near Hinstock, Sandyford and Potford near Great Bolas, Besford, Great Withyford, Dearnford near Tilstock, Hoilsford near Worthen, Blockford near Chirbury, Cosford near Ryton, Stratford near Worfield, Sandyford near Quatford, Stretford near Halford, Walford near Stapleton, Ford near Shrawardine, Hopton Cangeford, Tugford, Blackford Rindeford, Ford near Atcham, Ford near Alberbury, Sandford near Oswestry, Milford near Baschurch, Wytherford, Besford, Longford near Newport, Sparkford near Culmington, Stedford near Tiberton, Alford near Child’s Ercall, Dandyford near Cockshut, Linford near Weston, Sandyford near Woore, Hayford near Westbury, Horsford near Deuxhill, Dufford near Chetton, Crateford near Chetton Bromfield, Broome, Oldport near Oswestry, Newport, Wem, Shawbury, Preston Gobalds, Woore, Brompton near Chirbury, Shifnal Harlescott near Shrewsbury, Onibury, Diddlebury, Clunbury, Rushbury, Prestbury near Bishop’s Castle, North Legelbury, Sidbury, Oldbury, Beckbury, Pontesbury, Westbury, Alberbury, Maesbury, Chirbury near Weston, Winsbury near Chirbury, Robury near Wentnor, Munslow, Lutwych, Upper Ledwych, Bromwich near West Felton, Wycherley near Cockshut, Walltown near Neen, Walton near Onibury, Walton near Wenlock, Walton near Stottesdon, Walton near Ercall, Walton near Worthen, Chatwall, Wall Hill near Wytheford, Cotwall near High Ercall, Walls Bank near Rushbury, Walcott near Uppington, Wallsbatch near Chetton, Burwarton, Stanwardine, Worfield, Shrawardine, Wrockwardine, Bridgewarton, Belswardine near Cressage, Cound, Forton near Montford, Milborough or Stoke, Broughton near Bishop’s Castle, Broughton near Claverley, Broughton near Wem, Wattlesborough, Burton, Bourton, Berwick near Atcham, Berwick near Shrewsbury, Burley near Stanton Lacy, Burley near Great Bolas, Starley, Harcott near Sedbury, Hargrave near Woolaston, Stanton near Shifnal, Stanton Long, Stanton Lacy, Church Stretton, Edgton, Edgbold, Edgeley, Edgerley, Edgmond, Edge near Pontesbury, Cressage.

Many of these places were only moated farms or villas; some camps and military posts.

The names of the Roman roads in Shropshire are Watling Street, Portway, Ridgway, Stanway, Burway, Redway, Bradway, Holloway, Whiteway, Hanway, Greenway, Ashway, Heathway, Blakeway, Cookridge, Penkridge, Catridge, Caveridge.

Among the Roman and supposed Roman sites of undetermined application are to be noticed a Conevbury near Farlow, and another at Abdon, Windyharbour, Coundharbour, Cold Hill near Shelve, Cold Oak, Cold Stocking, Cold Hatton, Cold Green, Cold Weston, Coldwell, Hungry Hill near Cleobury, Hunger Hill near Condover, Hungry Heath near Hinstock and Hungerford, Woolaston, Woolston, Woolbury and Wolleston.

The name of Cock shoot or Cockshoot is common. There are seven—near Abdon, Ellesmere, Brimfield, Bitterley, Slimeton, Chetton and Cold Weston.

There are many camps and barrows of indeterminate age. Some of the round camps are called rings; three are named Castle Ring, viz., near Wistanstow, Edgton, and Ratlinghope; Billing’s Ring near Wendover; Robery Ring near Wentnor, and Bradbury Ring near Church Stretton.

Besides those places supposed to be Roman are many places bearing the name of bury and low, which may be Silurian, British, Old English, or Danish. After the downfall of the Roman dominions the British population became predominant, and they were strengthened by the successive bodies of their countrymen driven in by the invading English. These belonged to the Great Commonwealth of the Mid — English or Mercians.

The settlers, so far as they are recognisable, belonged to the same clans as took part in the settlement of Sussex, Middlesex, and East Anglia. Among them were the Billing, Welling, Donning, Marring, Hunting, Ludding, Totting, Sidding, Elling, Bonning, Whiting, Carding, Winning, Bobbing, Ucking, and Tibbing. They founded nearly a thousand townships or settlements, and occupied nearly the whole country, except on the west.

Several peculiarities occur in the topographical terms of Shropshire. One is the word batch, seemingly of Roman application; the termination wardine, which stands for waredean or waredon; the word leasowes; the word tump (a Herefordshire word); the word rough, for a woody common or coppice; the word stocking for a plantation.

The following termination are rare: —Dingle, 6; dumble, 1; shaw, 2; croft, 3; tree, nash, riddings, frith, acre, 3; wyke, 3; lye, 1; pool, 1; hough, 1; prill, 1; sich, 2; meole, 3; ock, 1; bold, 6; was, 1; lake.

The word furlong is found in Brierly Furlong, Healthy Furlong, Furlong near Hopton, and Wall Furlong. There are four Turnings at West Felton, and five Turnings at Lydbury. There are only three Follys, two seemingly of Roman site. There is Mundy House near Westbury, Windy Oak near Stanton, Peckbeggar near Stoke.

The only relic of the worship of Widen or Woden is Tueshill, near Bucknall.

In the Welsh districts of Shropshire the names of places are generally strictly Welsh, and the division is so clear that in many parts a line may be drawn on the map.

During the existence of the commonwealth of Mercia continual wars were carried on with the Welsh, and the great king Offa formed the dyke or rampart which bears his name, as a fortified wall, Teaching from Flintshire to the Bristol Channel, and within which the Severn became an inner boundary.

Mercia merged with Wessex into the commonwealth of England, and for centuries the Welsh Marshes were a constant scene of warfare. In the middle ages the county contained many castles, of which several remain. Shropshire has produced many names of historic note.

The principal rivers are the Severn and its tributaries, and the Teme.

The Severn enters the county on its western boundary near Melverley, and flows thence by Shrawardine, Montford, and the Isle, to Shrewsbury, Uffington, Atcham, Wroxeter, Cressage, Leighton, and Buildwas, Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge, Coalport, Bridgnorth and Quatford, and finally leaves the county in the parish of Dowles, adjoining the town of Bewdley. The Perry rises near Halston in the north-west, and flows by Hordley, Ruyton-in-the-Eleven-Towns, and Fitz, and falls into the Severn near Mytton. The Rea, in the west of the shire, flows by Worthen, Hanwood, Meole Brace, and Sutton to the Severn at Shrewsbury. The Tasley and Linley brooks intersect the parish of Astley Abbotts, and fall into the Severn above Bridgnorth. The Tern flows from the north, near Market Drayton, and thence to Stoke-upon-Tem, Great Bolas, Waters Upton, Longden-upon-Tern to the Severn between Atcham and Wroxeter. The Roden passes between Blackhurst Ford in the north of the county, and flows through Wem, Aston, Lee Brockhurst, Stanton, Moreton Corbet, Shawbury, Roden, and Rodington, and falls into the Tern at Walcot Mill. The Worfe runs by Kemberton, Ryton, Beckbury, and Worfield into the Severn above Bridgnorth. The Teme passes through the county in the south, flowing through Ludlow, Ashford Carbonell, and Ashford Bowdler. The Ony river rises from the confluence of several brooks near Wistanstow, and flows by Halford, Stokesay, Onibury, and Bromfield to the Teme. The Corve flows through Corve Dale by Shipton, Munslow, Diddlebury, Culmington, and Stanton Lacy to the Teme at Ludlow. The Rea, a second river of that name, is in the southeast of the county, and flows by Neenton, Neen Savage, and Cleobury Mortimer to the Teme. The Clun, in the south, flows by Clun, Clunbury and Clungunford. The Camlet rises on the borders of Montgomery, and flows by Chirbury. There are several meres or lakes: Ellesmere lake covers 116 acres.

The railway system centres in Shrewsbury, and is chiefly belonging to the Great Western and London and North Western Companies, other lines being the North Staffordshire on the north-east, the Cambrian on the north-west and a local company at Bishop’s Castle. The Great Western entering the county near Bewdley, whence it has a branch to Tenbury, runs through Coalbrookdale, where branches leave for Shifnal and Wellington to the east and south-west to Craven Arms; the main line continues to Shrewsbury, and trending north-west, leaves the county near Gobowen, whence is a branch to Oswestry. From Wellington, in continuation of the Coalbrookdale line, one runs north-east to Market Drayton (where it joins the North Staffordshire to Stoke), and on to Nantwich and Crewe; and from Shrewsbury a line runs east through Wellington to Shifnal. The Great Western and London and North Western railways work a joint line from Ludlow through Craven Arms to Shrewsbury, whence they send branches to Welshpool and Minsterley, and on the north to Wem and Whitchurch, and here the Cambrian leaves for Oswestry and Welshpool, through Ellesmere. The London and North Western railway has lines from Craven Arms to Knighton, Wellington to Stafford and Wolferton to Tenbury, and a local company work a line from Craven Arms to Bishop's Castle.

The Severn is the main navigable channel, flowing through the heart of the shire; and it is connected with the Donnington Canal, the Shropshire Union Canal, the Shrewsbury Canal, the Birmingham and Liverpool Canal, the Chester and Ellesmere Canal. By these canals Shropshire has access to Chester, Birmingham, Staffordshire and Liverpool, and by the river to Gloucester and Bristol.

Much of Shropshire is hill land, being a continuation of the Welsh hills: on the east are other chains: among the Shropshire hills is Wenlock Edge—a sharp ridge extending for a distance of nearly 20 miles in a line, and some portions of which are about 1, 000 feet high. The Wrekin, 1, 320 feet high, is a remarkable eminence standing out almost alone near the centre of the shire. The Breidden Hills are on the south bank of the Severn and are the Welsh boundary, assuming picturesque forms. The Clee Hills contain several high points: the Titter — stone Clee Hill is 1, 730 feet; Clee Burf, 1, 600 feet; and Abdon Curf, 1, 806 feet; the last is the highest hill in Shropshire: most of these hills and dales exhibit beautiful scenery.

Shropshire is a well wooded county: the forest of Wyre or Bewdley is on the right of the Severn: Clun Forest is a rough district of 12, 000 acres, which have, with the waste lands generally, been partially inclosed. Bagley Moors are between Shrewsbury and Drayton.

The Northern portion of Shropshire belongs chiefly to the new red sandstone formation, constituting a basin, while the south is mostly occupied by the old red sandstone: another portion of the south is occupied by the Silurian system. The geology of the district is very interesting, and presents some peculiar features.

The produce of Shropshire consists of coal, barytes (mainly sulphate), iron ore, iron pyrites, lead ore, a small quantity of zinc ore, limestone, calcspar, fireclay, potters’ and brick earth, pipeclay, oak, timber and bark, charcoal, wheat, barley, oats, peas, beans, vetches, turnips, potatoes, orchard fruits, hay, cattle, sheep (of which the shire gives name to a modern breed now much in favour), butter, cheese, wool; and in the rivers, salmon, trout, grayling, pike, perch, carp, shad, chub, and gudgeon.

The Coalbrookdale coalfield affords the material for valuable manufactures; it lies between Wenlock, Wellington, Lilleshall, and Shifnal. The Shrewsbury coalfield is of less extent and value. The Oswestry coalfield, as at present developed, is likewise small, but also has workable coal, and being adjacent to valuable mines in Denbighshire, probably will be extensive. The dislocated formations around the Clee Hills may be considered as constituting another field. Wyre Forest constitutes a fifth field. Discoveries of coal have been made on the property of the Lilleshall Company. The quantity of coal raised in the county is stated in the “ Mineral Statistics ” for 1893 to be 636, 628 tons, valued at £254, 651.

Ironstone of various kinds is extensively distributed in the Coalbrookdale coalfield, and is there worked; it is found also in the Clee Hill district. Iron mining and the iron manufacture are carried on at Coalbrookdale and elsewhere in Madeley district and in the Wellington district. The quantity of iron ore raised in 1893 was 54, 596 tons, of the value of £27, 298: the character of the ore is that known as Argillaceous Carbonate. The amount of pig iron manufactured in the county in the same year was 39, 504 tons, the produce of 10 blast furnaces, of which half were in blast: nails are also made.

Lead mining and the lead manufacture exists chiefly in the Atcham district, with a portion in Clun. Lead mines have long been profitably worked by the Snail-beach and other companies. The amount of lead ore raised in the county in 1893 was 1, 800 tons, producing 1, 382 tons of lead, and valued at the mines at £11, 171; iron pyrites, 370 tons; barytes, 5, 852 tons, valued at £5, 119; 8, 836 tons of fireclay, valued at £3, 314.

Stone and limestone quarries and lime burning are carried on chiefly in the Wellington, Oswestry and Newport districts, but the limestone trade in the Shrewsbury, Wellington and Madeley districts. Limestone produced in 1893 was 2, 990 tons and 751 tons calc spar.

The earthenware and china manufacture is at Coalport, in the Madeley district.

Bricks and tiles are manufactured on a large scale in the Broseley district, which is also the seat of the mosaic and encaustic tile trade. Tobacco-pipe making is carried on at Broseley.

The other manufactures are small. The carpet and rug manufacture at Bridgnorth; at Shrewsbury, the manufacture of linen yarn and thread; agricultural implements at Wellington, Ludlow and Wenlock, Shrewsbury and Oswestry; and there are small paper mills in various places.

Malting is on a considerable scale, but little is done in brewing, and that chiefly at Shrewsbury.

The soil in the valleys is good: on the right bank of the Severn it is a red clay and gravel—the debris of the new red sandstone formation. Wenlock Edge and the neighbouring hills admit of tillage, and so does Clun Forest; but some of the hills on the Welsh borders are too high and bare even for sheep feeding. The lofty Clee Hills are almost wholly cultivated or depastured; but their alluvial geological nature will account for their fertility. On the Severn are many water meadows.

The population is chiefly pure English, but on the Welsh border there is a mixed race of Anglo — Welsh; there are many Welsh immigrants in the manufacturing districts, and some Irish. The Welsh population is increasing, and though Shropshire may be looked upon on the whole as an English county, one — tenth of its population is Welsh.

Shropshire is in the Oxford circuit. The assize town is Shrewsbury.

The municipal boroughs are Shrewsbury, population in 1891, 26, 967, Bishop’s Castle, 1, 586, Bridgnorth, 5, 865, Ludlow, 4, 460, Oswestry, 8, 496, and Wenlock, 15, 703.

The other principal towns are Coalbrookdale or Madeley, 8, 177, Wellington, 5, 909, Broseley, 4, 033, Whitchurch, 4, 062, Ellesmere, 5, 507, Shifnal, 6, 516, Ironbridge, 2, 739, Newport, 2, 675, Wem, 3, 796, Wombridge, 2, 786, Drayton, 5, 089, Pontesbury, 2, 682, Clun, 2, 115, Cleobury Mortimer, 1, 463, and Church Stretton, 1, 707.

Shropshire is in the province of Canterbury, and chiefly in the dioceses of Hereford and Lichfield; and the archdeaconries of Ludlow and Salop, the former in the Hereford diocese and the latter in Lichfield; Ludlow (formerly Salop) archdeaconry is sub-divided into the deaneries of Bridgnorth, Burford (East and West divisions), Clun, Ludlow, Montgomery, Pontesbury (two portions), Stottesden and Wenlock (two portions); Salop archdeaconry is sub-divided into the deaneries of Condover, Edgmond, Ellesmere, Hodnet, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Wem, Whitchurch and Wrockwardine. Part of Welsh Shropshire is in the diocese of St. Asaph, comprising the deanery of Oswestry in Montgomery archdeaconry and two parishes in the deanery of Llangollen, archdeaconry of Wrexham.

The shire includes 252 civil parishes, besides parts of six others. Many of the parishes are very large, being composed of ten or a dozen townships. Some of the parishes extend over 10, 000 acres, or 15 square miles. The following are some of the largest: —Hodnet 9, 625, Ellesmere 26, 457, Clun 20, 535, Oswestry 16, 234, Wem 13, 898, Prees 13, 743, Whitchurch 14, 870, Market Drayton 14, 375, Stottesdon 9, 486, Shifnal 11, 750, Westbury 8, 800, Chirbury 11, 041, Church Stretton 10, 286, Worfield 10, 370, Pontesbury 11, 011, Diddlebury 8, 690, Alberbury 7, 908, Ercall 11, 392, Bettws 8, 664, Claverley 8, 185, Wenlock 8, 761, Whittington 8, 666, Baschurch 8, 491, Wellington 8, 731, Lydbury North 8, 195, Condover 7, 542, Bromfield 6, 322.

The number of townships in Shropshire is very large, the ancient territorial organization having been maintained. The whole number of townships is 817, exclusive of the minor divisions of hamlets, tithings and parochial divisions. The average area of a township in Shropshire is 11/2 square miles, or about 1, 000 acres, and the average population of a country township may be taken as from 200 to 250.

These townships have not, however, all preserved their entire jurisdiction; for although distinct for highway purposes, and as districts for the collection of rates and other purposes, a part only are distinctly rated and represented for the relief of the poor, in fact, about 300 only—the others being merged in districts.

There is a College of Divinity at Bridgnorth, besides Ellesmere college and nine grammar schools, of which Shrewsbury is one of the most eminent.

The Salop Infirmary, at Shrewsbury, was first founded in April, 1745: the present Infirmary, built on the site of a former structure at a cost of more than £18, 000, and opened for patients in 1830, is of freestone in the Classic style, with a Doric portico in the centre, from designs by Messrs. Haycock, of Shrewsbury; a wide terrace extends along the eastern front, whence an extensive and interesting view is obtained: an additional wing was completed in 1869 at a cost of £4, 000, and in 1877 the interior was renovated and re-arranged and several out-buildings added at a further cost of £5, 000, and the infirmary contains 130 beds; the average yearly attendance is about 1, 125 in, and 6, 208 out, patients: T. P. P. Marsh, J. de Styrap M. R. C. P. Irel. Henry Nelson Edwards L. R. C. P. Edin. and Edward Burd M. D., M. C. physicians extraordinary; Richard Walter Owen Withers L. R. C. P. Lond. and Edward Cureton M. R. C. P. Edin. physicians; William Eddowes, Henry John Rope F. R. C. S. Eng. Arthur Jackson F. R. C. S. Eng. and E. Lycett Bard M. D. surgeons; William Edwd. Harding L. D. S. R. C. S. Eng. dental surgeon; Leonard Joseph Godson, house surgeon; Miss Ida Dewing, lady superintendent; Rev. W. Annand M. A. chaplain; Joseph Jenks, secretary.

The Counties Lunatic Asylum for Salop and Montgomery, at Bicton Heath, near Shrewsbury, is a building in the Elizabethan style, and was opened in 1845, since which considerable additions have been made up to the year 1884, at a total cost of £158, 000, and the asylum will now hold 800 patients: the additions comprise a wing at each side, laundry, dining hall, workshops, mortuary chapel and a lodge, from designs by Mr. Thomas Groves, erected at a cost of over £70, 000: 35 acres, well cultivated, are attached to the building: Arthur Strange M. D. medical superintendent; Alan Rigden L. R. C. P. Lond. and Alfred Keppel Barrett L. R. C. P. Lond. assistant medical officers; Rev. John Thomas Burton Wollaston, chaplain; E. Cresswell Peele, clerk to the visiting justices; William Johnson, clerk of asylum.

Her Majesty’s Prison, in the Dana, Shrewsbury, erected in 1787-93, from a design by Mr. Haycock, at a cost of £30, 000: the south elevation, forming the governor’s house, has a bold castellated appearance, and over the gateway is a niche containing a bust of Howard, the philanthropist, by Bacon; the prison contains 203 cells, 180 for males and 23 for females, besides the apartments for debtors and infirmaries. The visiting justices meet at the prison once a month. Richard Roberts, governor; Peter Walton, deputy; Rev. W. G. D. Fletcher, chaplain; John Davies Harries, surgeon; John Grey, assistant surgeon; George Watson, schoolmaster.

Parliamentary Representation of Shropshire

Shropshire formerly returned four members in two divisions, but by the “ Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885, ” it still has four members, but in four divisions: —

No. 1. —The Western or Oswestry division comprises the sessional divisions of Cherbury, Condover, Ford, Oswestry and Pimhill (except so much as is comprised in division 2), the municipal borough of Oswestry and the parish of Fitz in the sessional division of Albrighton.

No. 2. —The Northern or Newport division comprises the sessional divisions of Albrighton (except the parish of Fitz); Bradford Drayton, Bradford Newport (except the part in division 3); Bradford Wem; Bradford Whitchurch and Brimstree Shifnal; the municipal borough of Shrewsbury; the parish of Middle, in the sessional division of Pimhill; and the following parishes in the sessional division of Bradford Wellington, viz.: Atchall, Ercall Magna, Longdon-upon-Tern, Rodington, Upton Magna, Waters Upton and Withington.

No. 3. —The Mid or Wellington division comprises the sessional divisions of Bradford Wellington (except so much as is comprised in division No. 2); the parishes of Lilleshall and Preston — on — the — Wold Moors, in the sessional division of Bradford Newport; and the parishes of Benthall, Broseley, Little Wenlock and Madeley, in the municipal borough of Wenlock.

No. 4. —The Southern or Ludlow division comprises the sessional divisions of Bishop’s Castle, Brimstree South and Stottesdon Chilmarsh; Burford, Clun and Purslow; Munslow Lower and part of Overs and Stottesdon, Munslow Upper and Stottesdon Cleobury; and the municipal boroughs of Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Wenlock (except so much as is comprised in division 3).

Under the provisions of the above-named Act, the representation of the boroughs of Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Wenlock was merged in that of the county, borough of Shrewsbury lost one member.

Members of Parliament for the County

Mid Division, Col. Alexander Hargreaves Brown J. P. Druid’s Cross, Wavertree, Liverpool; & 12 Grosvenor gardens S W & Brooks’ & Devonshire clubs, London S W Northern Division, Col. William Slaney Kenyon-Slaney J. P. Hatton grange, Shifnal, Salop; 44 Lowndes square S W & Carlton, Guards’ & Wellington clubs, London S W Southern Division, Robert Jasper More esq. M. A., D. L., J. P. Linley hall, Bishop’s Castle R. S. O.; Larden cottage, Long Stanton, Much Wenlock R. S. O. Salop; 25 Chester terrace S W & Oxford & Cambridge & Brooks’ clubs, London SW Western Division, Stanley Leighton esq. F. S. A., D. L., J. P. Sweeney hall, Oswestry; 23 Chesham place SW & Carlton & Athenaeum clubs, London S W.

Fairs & Markets

Bishop’s Castle stock fairs are held on the second Friday in every month, with the exceptions of March, which is always held on the 26th of that month, & May Fair, for the hiring of servants, which is held on the first Friday after May Day. Market day, Friday Bridgnorth fairs are held the third Mondays in January, February & March, for cattle; the first of May, for pleasure; the second Monday in June for wool & cheese; the second Monday in June & July for cattle; the third Monday in August & September; the principal fairs May 1 & October 29, the latter for cheese, butter & provisions, & on the second Monday in December, for fat stock. Market day, Saturday Broseley, last Tuesday in April Church Pulverbach, September 22, for cattle, sheep & pigs Church Stretton, second Thursday in January; third Thursday in March; May 14 (hiring servants); July 3 (wool); September 25 (sheep & colts); & last Thursday in November. The above fairs are for horses, cattle, sheep & pigs. Market day, Thursday Cleobury Mortimer, May 2, for hiring farm servants & for pleasure. Market day, Wednesday Clun, last Friday in January, third Monday in March, May 11 (for hiring servants), June 15), August 23, September 23 & November 22. Market day, Thursday Craven Arms, cattle fair monthly. Market day, Friday Dawley, first Monday in June, for horses, cattle & live stock. Market day, Saturday Ellesmere, fairs for horses, cattle, sheep & pigs every alternate Thursday. Market days, Thursday & Saturday Ironbridge, May 29. Market day, Friday Llanmynech, April 1, May 29 & September 23 Ludlow, second Monday in every month for horned cattle, horses, pigs & general merchandise. Market days, Monday & Saturday Market Drayton, Wednesday before June 22, first Wednesday in February, first Wednesday in May, first Wednesday in August & the last Wednesday in November; the fairs on Wednesday before Palm Sunday, September 19 & October 24 are statute & the others for cattle. Market days, Wednesday & Saturday Minsterley, second Monday in each month for stock & second Monday in September for cattle Nesscliffe, last Monday in April for live stock Newport, market day, Saturday & a cattle market on alternate Mondays for live stock Oswestry, cattle fairs weekly on Wednesdays; cheese & butter fairs the first; Wednesday in every month. Market days, Wednesday & Saturday Priors Ditton, May 10 & October 25, for cattle, sheep & pigs Shifnal, last Saturday in June & November 22, principally for cattle. Market day, Tuesday Shrewsbury, the markets for cattle, pigs & sheep, are held every Tuesday; horses, first Tuesday in each month; & for bacon, butter & cheese on the second Wednesday in every month; the great annual horse fair is held the first week in March; the fairs are held in the Smithfield Stokesay, cattle fair monthly Wellington, market days Thursday & Saturday Wem, every alternate Monday. Market day, Thursday Much Wenlock, May 12, for hiring. Market day, Monday Westbury, September 15 Whitchurch, cattle market every alternate Monday. Market day, Friday; cheese fair the fourth Wednesday of every month, except December.

Military

The troops in this county are under the North-Western District command; head quarters, Chester Shrewsbury is the depot of Regimental District No. 53, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, comprising the 1st Battalion (53rd Foot) and 2nd (85th Foot), to which is attached two Militia Battalions, the Shropshire and Hereford, comprising respectively its 3rd and 4th. The head quarters of the 3rd are at Shrewsbury. Full particulars are given at page 199. The Hereford Militia is stationed at Hereford.

— Kelly's Directories, written: 1900