Part of Lost Railways series which includes 'Lost Railways of Shropshire'.

(Leslie Oppitz, Countryside Books, p/b, ISBN 978-185306-754-9)

This book of over 260 old photographs is a celebration of Ludlow.

Throughout, people feature as prominently as the townscape, for Ludlow is a vibrant community as well as an architectural treasure trove.  More than sixty local people have contributed photographs and information for this enthralling collection and the final work is an achievement in which the whole town will take much pride.

(David Lloyd, Nonsuch Publishing, p/b, ISBN 978-1-84588-159-7)

The photographs were taken by W.G. Cross & Sons of Shrewsbury who travelled round the county in the summer of 1960 taking hundreds of photographs of all the major towns in Shropshire, building up a wonderful time capsule of images for future generations of local historians.

(David Trumper, Sutton Publishing, p/b, ISBN 978 0 750 936590)

Evidence suggests that mining was almost certainly undertaken in Shropshire in the Bronze and Iron Ages, but it is with the Romans that the county's mining history can be truly said to have begun.  The lead mines continued to be worked in the Middle Ages, providing lead for roofing, pipes and water tanks.  But it was the period from the late 1700s to the mid-1900s that saw the busiest period of mining, and in this period Shropshire became famous for its lead mines, most notably Snailbeach and the adjacent Tankerville mines on the western slopes of the Stiperstones.

(by Michael Shaw, Logaston Press, ISBN 9781906663094)

Over 100 full colour pages featuring the work of talents Swiss photographer Sabina Rueber whose scintillating pictures have appear in magazines such as The English Garden, House and Garden and Gardens Illustrated.  Here she explores 20 delightful private gardens, all of which are hidden away behind ht ancient walls of Ludlow in Shropshire- one of Britain's oldest and most beautiful market towns.

(Sabina Rueber & Michael Dawson, Ampersand Books, p/b, ISBN 978-0905125084)

A Matter of Life and Death.  The Secrets of Shrewsbury Cemetery

(Peter Francis, Logaston Press, p/b, ISBN 978-1904-39658-1)

The Medieval Church Screens of the Southern Marches, by Richard Wheeler.

A second collection of circular walks, with a pub, in Shropshire and along its Staffordshire borders.

by Roger Seedhouse

North Telford, Wellington, Oakengates and Surrounding Areas (Images of England series)

This fascinating selection of photographs reflects some of the different and varied aspects of life in  North Telford.  In this companion volume to South Telford, the areas north of the M54 motorway are the centre of attention.  The photographs show the communities close the Thomas Telford's Holyhead Road (the later A5), their working environments, families and leisure activities.  The area had a different character to that of hte small scattered settlement to the south, and at the heat of North Telford, Wellington was an established market town long before the Industrial Revolution.  It managed to retain its urban identity despite the industrial changes nearby, and the arrival of Telford New Town in the 1960s.

(John Powell & Michael A Vanns, The History Press, p/b, ISBN 978 0 7524 0124 9)

A Night in the Snow - the story of a struggle for life on the Long Mynd.

(by Rev E Donald Carr, paperback, ISBN 1874200068, published 1998 Scenesetters)

by Chris Morris with an introduction by Neil Cossons.

The Old Houses of Shropshire in the 19th Century- The Watercolour Albums of Frances Stackhouse Acton

Frances Stackhouse Acton, always known as Fanny, deserves to be better known in her native counties of Herefordshire and Shropshire.  She was a botanist, gardener, antiquarian and archaeologist as well as author and artist.

Contains 95 paintings and drawings.

(Julia L Ionides and Peter G Howell, Dog Rose Press, hardback, ISBN 978 0952 836742)

This book describes all the features of interest dating from Early Christian times up until the end of the 18th Century to be seen in about 170 parish churches in the counties of Breconshire, Mongomeryshire and Radnorshire.

(Mike Salter, Folly Publications, p/b ISBN 978 1871 731620)

Precious Bane is a novel by Mary Webb, first published in 1924. It won the Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Prize. The story is set in rural Shropshire shortly after the Napoleonic Wars. It is narrated by the central character, Prue Sarn, whose life is blighted by having a harelip. Only the weaver, Kester Woodseaves, perceives the beauty of her character, but Prue cannot believe herself worthy of him. The title of the story is from John Milton's Paradise Lost: Let none admire That riches grow in Hell; that Soyle may best Deserve the precious bane. It refers to the love of money, which, as Prue records, blights love and destroys life.

From the industrial Midlands to the flat country of North Shropshire, and then down the Border hills from the Dee Valley to within touching distance of Gwent, Van Greaves' superb photography illustrates this stunning area at its best.

(Van Greaves, Halsgrove, hardback, ISBN 978 1841 148373)

Pathfinder- Shropshire, Staffordshire and the Heart of England

Photographing the River from the Mountains to the Sea.

Spanning more than two hundred miles, the Severn is Britain's longest river and was for centuries its most important trade route.  Exploited by the Romans, it was subsequently linked to the development of the canal system and played a vital part in the Industrial Revolution.

Photographer Chris Morris follows the Severn from central Wales to the Bristol Channel, presenting luminous riverscapes, evocative images of coracles, fishing and trade and also the new bridges, white yachts and riverside pubs of the modern river.  The result is a vivid portrait of the Severn in all its moods.

Chris Morris, Tanner's Yard Press, hardback, ISBN 978 0954 209650)

The thirty walks in this volume combine some of the most beautiful scenery in Shropshire with the opportunity to enjoy a meal and a drink in a good local pub.  The strolls vary in length between 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 miles and are suitable for all age groups.

(Robert Smart, Countryside Books, p/b, ISBN 978 1 853067 891)

(ISBN 9781874200017, paperback, Scenesetters)

The River Wye is one of Britain's most scenic rivers.  From its source, in the wild uplands of Plymlimon, to its mouth at Chepstow, the river and its environs lock into photogenic landscapes.  The landscapes are rich sources of wildlife and plant species and the river supports Atlantic salmon. The lower 52 miles (83km) are designated an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A long distance walk, 'The Wye Valley Walk' covers the entire length of the river (136m/182km) but does not always hug it.  There are numerous foray into the surrounding hills, both in Wales and inside England, and indeed these are featured in this book.  In fact, the only flatlands of any note around the Wye are from Hereford down to Ross on Wye.

A plethora of ancient and historical settlements, castles and churches, blend in with open and wooded landscapes.  They all unite to provide a feast for the eyes, recorded in sweeping images by the discerning photography of the renowned Van Greaves.

(by Van Greaves, hardback, ISBN 9781841147666, Halsgrove)

This book takes the reader on a journey in words and pictures along the entire length of the River Wye, using more than 200 old postcards from the authors' extensive collections.  It is a record of how the river once was, including its industrial heritage as well as more idyllic rural scenes, and shows how it was immortalised by earlier generations of photographers and artists for the benefit of innumerable tourists and travellers.

(Jan Dobrzynksi and Keith Turner, p/b, ISBN 978-0-7509-4850-0)