Difference between revisions of "Shropshire"
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'''Shropshire''', sometimes known as '''Salop''', is a county of western [[England]], on the border with [[Wales]] and for statistical purposes classed as part of the West Midlands. Forming a part of the historic Welsh Marches region, it borders [[Cheshire]] to the north, [[Staffordshire]] to the east, [[Worcestershire]] and [[Herefordshire]] to the south, bordering the Welsh counties of [[Radnorshire]] to the south west, [[Montgommeryshire]] to the west and [[Denbighshire]] to the north west. It is largely [[agricultural]]. The county town is the historic town of [[Shrewsbury]]. The largest town by urban area in Shropshire is Telford, a new town, just south of which lies [[Ironbridge]], named for the world's first cast-iron bridge over the River Severn built in 1779, which partly confirmed Shropshire as one of the birthplaces of the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Other notable towns include Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry and Whitchurch. | '''Shropshire''', sometimes known as '''Salop''', is a county of western [[England]], on the border with [[Wales]] and for statistical purposes classed as part of the West Midlands. Forming a part of the historic Welsh Marches region, it borders [[Cheshire]] to the north, [[Staffordshire]] to the east, [[Worcestershire]] and [[Herefordshire]] to the south, bordering the Welsh counties of [[Radnorshire]] to the south west, [[Montgommeryshire]] to the west and [[Denbighshire]] to the north west. It is largely [[agricultural]]. The county town is the historic town of [[Shrewsbury]]. The largest town by urban area in Shropshire is Telford, a new town, just south of which lies [[Ironbridge]], named for the world's first cast-iron bridge over the River Severn built in 1779, which partly confirmed Shropshire as one of the birthplaces of the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Other notable towns include Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry and Whitchurch. | ||
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| + | == Name == | ||
| + | The name ''Shropshire'' is derived from [[Old English]] ''Scrobbesbyrigscir'', literally meaning "[[Shrewsbury]]-shire". | ||
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| + | Both the county and its county town Shrewsbury are known in [[Latin]] as ''Salopia'', which spawned the English alternative name for the county, ''Salop''. ''Salopia'' ultimately derives from the Old French (brought to England in 1066 AD following the Norman conquest) name for Shrewsbury, which was ''Salopesberie''. | ||
== Transport == | == Transport == | ||
Revision as of 09:28, September 10, 2024
Shropshire, sometimes known as Salop, is a county of western England, on the border with Wales and for statistical purposes classed as part of the West Midlands. Forming a part of the historic Welsh Marches region, it borders Cheshire to the north, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire and Herefordshire to the south, bordering the Welsh counties of Radnorshire to the south west, Montgommeryshire to the west and Denbighshire to the north west. It is largely agricultural. The county town is the historic town of Shrewsbury. The largest town by urban area in Shropshire is Telford, a new town, just south of which lies Ironbridge, named for the world's first cast-iron bridge over the River Severn built in 1779, which partly confirmed Shropshire as one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution. Other notable towns include Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry and Whitchurch.
Name
The name Shropshire is derived from Old English Scrobbesbyrigscir, literally meaning "Shrewsbury-shire".
Both the county and its county town Shrewsbury are known in Latin as Salopia, which spawned the English alternative name for the county, Salop. Salopia ultimately derives from the Old French (brought to England in 1066 AD following the Norman conquest) name for Shrewsbury, which was Salopesberie.
Transport
The county has only one motorway: the M54, which links Telford to Wolverhampton in Staffordshire and, via the M6 motorway, to Birmingham and the south of England. The A49 road forms a rural, north-south road across the county linkingv via Shrewsbury, Whitchurch in the north of the county to Warrington in Lancashire, and Ludlow in the south to Hereford and Leominster. Another major road in Shropshire is the A5 which, broadly following the Roman London-Holyhead road Walting Street, links Shropshire with North Wales and also serves traffic to Chester and Liverpool.