Telford

Telford is the largest town in Shropshire. The town gets its name from the famous civil engineer Thomas Telford although the town really expanded rapidly in the 1960's and 1970's under plans to take the pressure of the rapid expansion of Birmingham and surrounding urban areas. Telford connects up to the main highways with the M54 motorway.

The town of Telford has plenty of good hotels and restaurants and it does receive thousands of tourists every year due its location near the Ironbridge Gorge Museums and other other major attractions. In fact, within easy striking distance of Telford is the Severn Valley Railway, the RAF Museum at Cosford, Weston Park and the Wrekin. There is something for all ages in and around Telford. There are play areas, a boating lake and the Wonderland family park. The town has a wealth of leisure and recreational facilities as well as being home to The International Centre, a large conference and exhibition complex.

At Telford Shopping centre there are over 150 stores with all the major brand names set in a 50 acre site. You literallyc can shop till you drop here in Telford. Recognised as the 'Birthplace of Industry' Telford's Ironbridge Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

For more photographs of Telford and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum click here

 

Hampton Loade

Hampton Loade is a picturesque village in Shropshire that is famous for being situated on the River Severn and for having a cable ferry that has been working here for about 400 years. The cable or chain ferry takes passengers across the river from Hampton Loade to Hampton.

The Severn Valley Railway runs through Hampton Loade and has a station here. This makes it a popular destination for tourists but there is also ample parking and plenty of space for a picnic if you are arriving by car.

For more photographs of Hampton Loade click here

Dudmaston Hall

For 850 years the Dudmaston Estate has moved through time with its changing owners and fortunes. The house was completed in 1701 and a parapet and changed roof line added in the 1820's. The estate passed over to the National Trust in 1978 as a gift from Rachel Labouchere who was fulfilling her fathers wishes that the estate be looked after for future generations. 

The oak room is impressive and the furniture and paintings, along with the sculptures make this an interesting residence. The estate walks are also superb.

Dudmaston Hall, Quatt, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire. WV15 6QN.  Tel:01746 780866

For more photographs of Dudmaston Hall click here or view on You Tube

Bridgnorth

Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn. It is the seat of the Bridgnorth district. As of the 2001 census the district's population was 52,497. The population of the town of Bridgnorth is estimated to be 11,500.

Low Town is home to the Severn Valley Railway, which runs southwards to Kidderminster. Low Town is connected to the High Town by the steepest inland cliff railway in Britain, the Castle Hill Railway.

 
High Town is dominated by Bridgnorth Castle and St Mary's church, designed by Thomas Telford. Other notable buildings in the town are the seventeenth century Bridgnorth Town Hall, a surviving town gate, and Daniel's Mill, a watermill.

The Castle, built in 1190 by Robert de Belleme (later Earl of Shrewsbury) was besieged four times in its history, last by the Roundheads in 1646 during the English Civil War. Parliamentary forces used an artificial hill (Panpudding Hill) across from the castle in order to bombard it. The castle survived the seige only to be blown up by the Roundheads in order to prevent its use by the Royalists. The only part that remains, part of the great tower, leans at an angle greater than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

 
On August 21, 2003, Bridgnorth was granted Fairtrade Town status.

It is popular with Black Country tourists and drinkers because of, amongst many other things, its 27 pubs, including 'The Golden Lion', 'The Railwayman's Arms', 'The Black Horse' and 'The Black Boy'.

Bridgnorth is the home of a well-known folk festival.

Nazi HQ of Britain? In 2005, German papers from 1941 were discovered outlining a possible Nazi invasion of the United Kingdom. There is a lot of detail about two Shropshire towns in the documentation - Ludlow and Bridgnorth. Some experts now believe that it was Hitler's intention to make Bridgnorth his HQ in Britain, due to its central, but rural, location and its now disused airfield.

For more photographs of Bridgnorth click here or view on You Tube

Oswestry

Oswestry is a market town in Shropshire which is very close to the Welsh border. The town has many Welsh street names since the town changed hands between the English and Welsh a number of times.

Oswestry gets its name from Oswald's Tree. There are several historic buildings in the town which still has a market held each Wednesday. A statue of a shepherd and his sheep in Market Square reminds us that prior to the late 1960's and an outbreak of foot and mouth disease the livestock market was held within the town.

The town has a number of good independent shops, pubs and cafe's and is a popular destination for visitors especially at weekends. 

For more photos of Oswestry click here or view on You Tube