50 walks of 2-10 miles

(Julie Royle, AA Publishing, p/b, ISBN: 0749536322)

The true story of Trevor Bowyer, DFC, ISM, born in Shropshire, a veteran rear gunner in RAF Bomber Command during World War Two.

(By Kenneth Ballantyne, Laundry Cottage Books, p/b, ISBN: 978-0-9550601-3-7)

Artisan Art: Vernacular wall paintings in the Welsh Marches, 1550-1650

(by Kathryn Davies, 240 pages with 312 mainly colour plates, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1904396 92 5 Paperback)

Around Bridgnorth is a stunning collection of over 220 photographs, mainly from the private postcard collection of Ray Farlow, which have never been published before.  David Trumper explores the town and outlying settlements of Broseley, Shifnal, Cleobury Mortimer, Much Wenlock and many more. 

(David Trumper, Sutton Publishing, p/b, ISBN 978-0750946728)

This collection of 200 archive pictures, many never before published, highlight some of the changes and developments that have taken place in and around the county town of Shrewsbury during the last century.

(Derek M. Walley, Tempus Publishing, p/b, ISBN 9780752433714)

The story of a Shropshire gamekeeping family, through two World Wars- a fascinating insight into the changing fortunes of a 20th century British sporting estate.

(Norman Sharpe, Merlin Unwin Books, h/b, 978.1.906122.16.4)

Barges and Bargemen : A Social History of the Upper Severn Navigation 1660-1900, by Barry Trinder. The carriage of goods in river barges was for centuries one of the principal forms of commercial transport in Britain. This book focuses on the River Severn between the Worcestershire ports of Bewdley and Stourport, and the medieval weir near Welshpool that marks the uppermost limit of boating, a stretch where the river remained 'in a state of nature'. Dr Trinder traces the fascinating history of river trade from 1660, through its heyday during the Industrial Revolution, when Manchester textiles, Coalbrookdale iron castings, Birmingham hardware, and Hanley and Burslem pottery were all transported via the Severn, to its gentle decline in the late 19th century. He creates an absorbing picture of the colourful lives of barge owners and watermen. Complemented by superb illustrations, this book makes essential reading for both transport historians and those interested in the social and economic history of the West Midlands and the Borderland. Family historians will be delighted by the author's analysis of the linear riverside community running from Gloucestershire, through Worcestershire and Shropshire, into mid-Wales. (ISBN-13: 978-1860773617, Publication Date: 05-10-2008, The History Press Ltd, Hardback 192 Pages)

by Simon Whaley From beyond Llangollen in the north to Symonds Yat near Chepstow in the South, the Welsh/English border provides a wealth of great walking country. It has had a turbulent history, but now offers some of the quietest and most remote walking in Southern Britain, and the history in the form of Offa's Dyke, and of numerous castles, abbeys, quiet villages and small towns and relics of industrial and military activity is always present and alive. Through the evocation of the poetry Housman and the music of Elgar (both of whom frequented the area) it is brought into more recent times. This book selects 35 of the best walks, including ascents of "Wenlock Edge" and "The Sugar Loaf", and provides examples for walkers of all ages and abilities. ISBN 13: 9780711227668 No of Pages: 304 Page Size: 110 x 170 Publisher: Frances Lincoln Published Date: May 08 Cover: paperback Illustrations: colour photos

A highly illustrated and informative account of the town's breweries (Shropshire, Wrekin, Mill Field, Red Lion and Union), various pop works and bottling firms, and how the renowned O.D. Murphy eventually dominated drinks manufacture and supply in the area. 128 pages. Published by Tempus

A comprehensive guide to the history and architecture of castellated buildings dating from the mid 11th century to the late 15th century in the county of Shropshire.

(ISBN: 978-1-871731-00-2, ISBN-10: 1-871731-00-3, paperback, Mike Salter, Folly Publications)

This book is a comprehensive guide to the history and architecture of over 70 castles and fortified houses dating from the late 11th century to the 16th century in Gwent (or Monmouthshire), Glamorgan and Gower. 

(Mike Salter, Folly Publications, p/b, ISBN 978 1871 731613)

A comprehensive guide to the history and architecture of 38 castles and fortified houses dating from the 12th century to the 15th century in the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfon, Denbigh, Flint and Meirionnydd.

(Mike Salter, Folly Publications, p/b, ISBN 978 1871 731279)

A comprehensive guide to the history and architecture of castellated buildings dating from the mid 11th century to the late 15th century in the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

(Mike Salter, Folly Publications, p/b, ISBN 978 1871 731446)

The Celtic Christian Sites of the central and southern Marches

(by Sarah & John Zaluckyj, Paperback, 448 pages, with some 250 photographs, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1 904396 57 4)

Cinderellas and Packhorses- A History of the Shropshire Magistracy

This book provides a very readable and clear picture as to how the early forerunners of Justices of the Peace came about during the reigns of Richard I, Edward I and Edward II, and developed over time.

(edited by David J. Cox and Barry S. Godfrey, Paperback, 112 pages, 30 b/w illustrations, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1 90 4396 45 1)

This light-hearted yet well-researched exploration of punishments given to criminals in Shrewsbury over the centuries features tales of criminals and their misdeeds from the Romans to the last execution to take place in Shrewsbury in 1960.  The informative account also explains how different devices, such as the stocks, pillory, ducking stool, brank, guillotine and whipping post were used.

(Martin Wood, History Press, p/b, ISBN 978 0752 445465)

Death and Disaster in Victorian Telford makes compulsive reading; it adds a new dimension to the way death is viewed as well as a novel approach to the history of this part of Shropshire.  Customs and practices common throughout England at the time are revealed using examples from what is now the Telford area.

(by Allan Frost, paperback, ISBN 9781848683891, Amberley Publishing)

(by Di Bryan, Paperback, 144 pages, over 90 illustrations, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1 904396 61 1)

The Domesday Survey of Shropshire. 

The Domesday Book is a statistical survey of England in 1086 A.D.  The present edition corrects the few errors detected in the 18th Century setting of the Latin text and provides a parallel, uniform, modern English translation; with a map, indices and an explanation of the technical terms for each county.

(General editor: John Morris, Phillimore, p/b, ISBN 978 0850 335866)

(by Martin Speight, Paperback, 208 pages, 60 b/w illustrations, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1904396 66 6)

Many people have written biographies of Charles Darwin, but the story of his family and roots in Shrewsbury is little known.  This book, containing original research, fills that gap.  The key player is Charles' father, Dr Robert Darwin, a larger-than-life character whose financial acumen enabled Charles to spend his whole life on research unencumbered by money worries.  Through Susannah, Charles' mother, we are introduced to the Wedgwood family, whose history was so closely interwoven with the Darwins.  The stories of Charles' five siblings are detailed, and there is a wealth of local material, such as information on Shrewsbury School and its illustrious headmaster, Samuel Butler.

The book is fully illustrated with contemporary and modern pictures and will be of interest to anyone wanting to discover more about the development of Shrewsbury's most famous son.

(by Andrew Pattison, History Press, ISBN 9780752448671)

Anyone wandering the country lanes of Worcester and Hereford in the early 1900s might have come across a bowler-hatted, handlebar-moustached man rhythmically and thoughtfully pedalling his handsome 'Sunbeam' bicycle.  This is the story of that cyclist, Edward Elgar, and how some of his greatest music was born in the saddle in sight of the Malvern Hills he loved so much.

(by Kevin Allen, Print Matters, ISBN 9780620350310, reduced from £9.99)

English Architecture since 1900- The Shropshire Experience

A comprehensive guide to Shropshire's architecture, covering church and secular buildings from Anglo-Saxon times to 1900.  The range includes Anglican, Catholic and Non-Conformist churches, manor houses and country mansions, the houses of the gentry and yeomanry, town houses, semis and working class terraces as well as public and communal buildings like railway stations, banks, factories and shops.

(Eric Mercer, Logaston Press, p/b, ISBN 978 1904 396086)

Over 250 photographs, drawings and samples of music.

(Roy Palmer, Logaston Press, p/b, 978.1.904.39616.1)

The Fitzalans, Earls of Arundel and Surrey, Lords of the Welsh Marches (1267-1415)

(By Michael Burtscher, Paperback, 192 pages with 52 b/w illustrations, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1904396 94 9)

This books looks at the early history of manned flight in the southern Marches, from ballooning, through gliding and parachuting, to flying.  In doing so, it considers the question as to whether the earliest manned flight in Britain was actually made in Shropshire.

(Tony Hobbs, Paperback, 128 pages, 75 b/w illustrations, Logaston Press, ISBN 978 1904396 79 6)

Gentlemen of the River- the last Coracle men of the Severn Gorge

(Phyllis Blakemore, Stenlake Publishing Ltd, p/b, 9781840334739)

This book is a geological history of Britain from over 2,000 million years ago to the present day, and describes the enormous variety of rocks, minerals and fossils that form this fascinating land.  The modern concept of plate tectonics explains how two separate halves of Britain, divided by 7,000 km of ocean 500 million years ago, came together and slowly drifted north from the Southern to the Northern hemisphere.  This journey, a distance of 12,000 km for Southern Britain, has resulted in the enormous variety of British rocks that represent tropical, desert, temperate and glacial climates.

An introductory chapter covers the fundamental principles of geology and is followed by further chapters that describe the rocks, minerals and fossils of the recognised periods of geological time, and the areas where they are found today. The book is written for the lay person interested in the great variety of Britain's rocks and landscapes but also includes a wealth of information for students of all levels.

(Peter Toghill, Airlife, p/b, ISBN 978 1840 374049)

This book explains the geological history of Shropshire, a story based on Shropshire's incredible journey, lasting 500 million years, from the Antartic Circle, through the Tropics and across the Equator to our present latitudes, a distance of 12,000km.  This journey, often near to plate boundaries, has resulted in Shropshire displaying rocks of ten of the twelve recognised geological periods of time.  No other area in Britain, or perhaps the world, displays such a variety of rock types in such a small area.

(Peter Toghill, Crowood, p/b, ISBN 978 1861 268037)

This book contains descriptions of all the towns, villages and hamlets of the County of Hereford, their history, geography and commercial activities, all known prehistoric sites, Roman remains and medieval castles and monasteries, all parish churches, important houses and notable people past and present, their beauties, treasures and a few skeletons in the cupboard.

(Michael Raven)

Shropshire is a county rich in history.  There are towns that existed in Roman times, Saxon settlements, Norman planned towns and late developers that grew as a result of the Industrial Revolution.  Discovering Shropshire Towns explores this variety.

There are walks in sixteen towns, suitable both for those who want an introduction to their history and also for those who live here and already know something of the towns but perhaps need encouragement to explore further.

(by Dorothy Nicolle, paperback, ISBN 9780956029324, Blue Hills Press)

A topographical guide to the county of Shropshire.

(Michael Raven, ISBN 0906114 34 9)

Chris Morris and his camera track down this legacy, much of which remains, to provide an unrivalled visual celebration of the great man and his work.  Alongside the graphic photography is a commentary which reveals Isambard Kingdom Brunel to be as much a visionary as an engineer.

(Chris Morris with an introduction by Neil Cossons, Tanner's Yard Press, hardback, ISBN 978 0954 209643)

From accounts of poltergeists to first-hand encounters with ghouls, this collection of tales compiled by Shrewsbury's illustrious town crier contains a chilling range of ghostly goings-on.

(Martin Wood, Tempus Publishing, p/b, ISBN 978 0752 443034)

When Paddy Ariss set out to research this book, little did she realise how many local privies there were to discover.  True, some had been converted into to woodsheds, tool sheds, hen houses and in one case a summerhouse. But many were still intact- one, two, three and even a five-holer, built to accommodate the entire family.

Funny, gruesome, vivid and crammed with outlandish information, Herefordshire Privies is a descriptive and pictorial tribute to the lavatories of yesteryear. It takes us from the highly unsanitary Middle Ages ('Beware of emptynge pysse pots, and pyssing in chimnes') to the more comic encounters of recent times.

(Paddy Ariss, Countryside Books, p/b, ISBN 978 1853 066412)

Part of the Villages of Britain series.

Herefordshire's roots lie in its villages.  Despite the changes brought about by the age of the motor car, the villages still retain their character and charm and are a source of delight to both local people and visitors.

(Herefordshire Federation of Women's Institutes, p/b, ISBN 978 1853 065781)

With over 200 images drawn from the archives, including postcards and old advertisements, this book explains the development of the pub in Herefordshire, and what each establishment meant to its community.  A brief history of each pub is also provided, and often the stories of the various landlords and tenants are as interesting as the establishments they presided over.

(by John Eisel and Ron Shoesmith, paperback, ISBN 9780752444666, The History Press)

Using archaelogical and historical evidence, the authors chart the rise and fall of the iron, clay and coal industries of Ironbridge, and bring to life the communities that worked in them.  They have written the definitive guide to the surviving buildings and archaeological remains, portraying the distinctive character of a string of small settlements.

(Richard Hayman and Wendy Horton, The History Press, p/b, ISBN 978 0752 414607)

An Illustrated History of the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Light Railway.

A detailed history of this fascinating railway which passed to the control of the army during World War Two and remained under military control until it was largely closed in 1960. Tracing this intriguing line, this publication presents the railway in photographs and text from its early beginnings through to closure and includes many images being published for the first time.

Contains 14 maps. 15 track diagrams. 175 b/w and 12 colour photos.

(Peter Johnson, OPC, Hardback, ISBN 978 0860 936190

...a deeply fascinating, penetrative and well-integrated history of a small part of the English Midlands which never becomes parochial but is neatly placed within both a regional and national context... this work deserves to be compulsory reading for all students of the British Industrial Revolution'. (Tom Donnelly, Industrial Archaeology Review)

(Barrie Trinder, ISBN 978 1860 771330)

Images of Shrewsbury from the collections of Shrewsbury Museums Service.

David Trumper continues his popular coverage of Shrewsbury in Old Photographs with this brand-new selection of images, this time from the previously unpublished archives held at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.  For the first time, these unique and evocative photographs, some of them from the earliest years of photography, have been printed- and are reproduced here, together with the author's knowledgeable and entertaining captions.  No one knows Shrewsbury as well as David Trumper, and this book will be as enthralling as all his others- bringing the past to life and reminding us of what we have lost.

(David Trumper, The History Press, p/b, ISBN 978 0750 942614)

The Iron Bridge: Symbol of the Industrial Revolution

(Neil Cossons and Barrie Trinder, hardback, ISBN 978 1860 772306)

More than 180 photographs.

The Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, was one of the first places to feel the full effects of the Industrial Revolution.  As the result of a major breakthrough in ironmaking by the first Abraham Darby in Coalbrookdale in 1709, which had previously been a little-known, wooded valley in the middle of nowhere, was to be transformed into a place of intense industrial activity, attracting attention and curious visitors from far and wide.

(John Powell, Amberley Publishing, p/b 978.184868.671.7)

20th Century Defences in Britain- the West Midlands area.

This is a comprehensive guide to twentieth century military and civil defence sites in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands Conurbation.

The detailed text is supported by many photographs and detailed plans and maps.  A comprehensive site gazetteer and bibliography complete the book.

(by Colin Jones, Bernard Lowry & Mick Wilks, Logaston Press, p/b, ISBN 978 1 904 39699 4)