Top Historic Tours Near Shropshire – A How-To Guide

Discover top historical tours near Shropshire – from medieval castles and church ruins to an industrial history museum. Experience the heart of the Industrial Revolution with expert guides or on self-guided walking tours!

Discover the incredible life and works of Charles Darwin during a free self-guided tour in his birthplace of Shrewsbury. Also visit Stratford-Upon-Avon’s Saxon church and Offa’s Dyke – an impressive 115 mile defensive earthwork system.

1. Shrewsbury Prison

Shrewsbury Prison, commonly referred to locally as The Dana, is one of Shrewsbury’s most iconic structures. Once closed and threatened with being transformed into homes, offices or student accommodation units, its presence has now been kept alive through heritage attractions in order to ensure its long and proud history remains.

Visitors to the prison can take a guided tour that provides additional insight into its history and operations. From entering through its large gate to receiving new prisoners in reception and moving onto cell blocks where new prisoners were held, this tour covers every aspect of prison life imaginable – it can be quite moving to walk through its dank chambers; an unnerving reminder of how miserable life must have been inside these walls for those incarcerated there.

Tours also allow visitors to see where capital punishment was administered and condemned prisoners would sleep the night before their executions. It’s an eerie part of Shrewsbury Prison to navigate, where stories about the “Grey Lady” and other mysterious events begin to surface in people’s minds – as do stories surrounding Cell C203, considered most haunted among all of Shrewsbury Prison’s cells.

Prisons have long been used as filming locations and most recently were the setting for BBC drama Happy Valley’s third series. Fans will no doubt be thrilled that prison will again play such an integral part of filming scenes from their favorite show!

2. Ironbridge Gorge

Ironbridge Gorge is an idyllic river valley that’s often called the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Though best-known as home to one of the first iron bridges ever constructed, this beautiful river valley also boasts an array of historic sites and attractions that make up its rich history.

Attractions such as Blists Hill Victorian Town and Coalbrookdale Company Ironworks Museum are among the most beloved destinations. Both living history museums provide an authentic glimpse into history through shops, cottages, schools and more – guests can interact with townfolk while watching craftsmen work their magic in the foundry.

The Gorge offers 10 museums, which may make selecting which ones to visit daunting for first-time visitors. However, you can purchase a pass that grants entry into all 10 of them at once.

Visit Ironbridge Village and witness its spectacular Iron Bridge for some stunning sights, from old mills to Daniels Mill – one of the country’s premier traditional watermills with a giant wheel still in place and a lovely millrace with ducks and swans pond.

Coalbrookdale Company Ironworks Museum allows visitors to enter and tour its Great Furnace where iron for the bridge was melted down, as well as providing galleries and trails that showcase its important role in industrial history of the region.

Jackfield Tile Museum, situated just minutes away, features an array of tiles dating from medieval to Art Nouveau styles and beyond. Visitors can admire them and even attempt making their own tile mural or sculpture!

3. Clun Castle

Clun Castle in Clun sits atop a rocky mound overlooking the River Clun, and is one of the finest examples of Norman motte-and-bailey fortresses in existence. Part of Clun Valley’s historical heritage site, Picot de Say built this castle during the second half of 11th century as a focal point for border disputes with Wales by allocating land as collateral support in times of hostilities with nearby areas – an effective defense mechanism at such times as conflicts arised!

Visits to the Clun Castle are well worth your while, easy and enjoyable exploration. Discover its remains of a tower on its side of the motte and bridge as well as foundations of two baileys. Plus the town itself is charming – complete with charming market square, Church of St George and traditional almshouses on Hospital Lane; not forgetting two 16th century stone bridges crossing over River Clun allowing easy access from town directly into castle grounds!

For much of the 14th century, Arundel Castle served as a hunting lodge used by the FitzAlan family – later Earls of Arundel – who lost power in a coup led by King Edward III in 1330 and received their lands from King Richard. Fortification efforts continued during Owain Glyndwr wars before finally falling into ruin during English Civil War (1642). Today it is owned by Duke of Norfolk and managed by English Heritage; admission is free!

4. Whittington Castle

Whittington Castle will transport you back in time, as this 13th-century border fortress is steeped with history, romance, and legend. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly popular as an area for major historical re-enactments.

Location: England/Wales border The castle once stood near what was known as the Welsh March, an area controlled by marcher lords to protect their borders against raiders from Wales. Construction began shortly after Norman Conquest as a simple motte and bailey castle as a deterrent against any Princes of Wales raiders who might attempt to breach it from either side.

In the 14th century, Castle Ardenne was rebuilt with an emphasis on accommodation and gardens. The inner bailey may have seen expansion to include new living spaces such as great halls or living quarters for guests while outer defences were strengthened further; towers for gatehouses may even have been added during this time frame.

Fulk VI was an active military figure who accompanied both Prince Charles to Gascoigne and Earl Warwick to Flanders during their war efforts. Under Fulk’s lordship, during English Civil War Parliamentarian attacks one tower collapsed into the moat, leaving one of Fulk’s inner bailey towers vulnerable against destruction by English forces.

Whittington Castle Preservation Trust now owns and can be visited during daylight hours at any time, free of charge; donations to support their preservation efforts are welcome; parking directly adjacent to its ruins can also be found with fees going towards upkeep of this historic site.

5. Much Wenlock

Much Wenlock resembles a town-in-miniature with its black-and-white houses, friendly pubs, and selection of individual shops. Additionally, Much Wenlock boasts one of the most stunning monastic ruins you’ll ever come across: Wenlock Priory was established by King Merewalh of Mercia as a monastery around 680 AD as his daughter Milburge became abbess attracting pilgrims who would help bring prosperity both for this monastic site and its host town

Henry VIII eventually disbanded the Priory, prompting its successors – town burgesses – to construct a Guildhall on High Street as its replacement. Its magnificent oak panels came from nearby manor houses; today this hall still hosts meetings of council.

There’s plenty more to do in Wenlock Edge town, including visiting historic sites linked with Wenlock Edge’s striking limestone escarpment – one of Britain’s greatest natural features and inspiration for numerous poems by A E Housman such as his masterpiece On Wenlock Edge.

Other sights in the town include the 1,300-year-old church of Holy Trinity and 16th-century Guildhall, both added to Grade I listed buildings lists in 1940.

Are You an Antique Collector? There are two specialized shops in Wenlock for antique enthusiasts. The Wenlock Antique Centre on Market Street specializes in quality books from past and present; with fine bindings, early boys adventure fiction (Jules Verne & Jane Austen novels), poetry, geology & Shropshire interest plus rare and unusual items. Additionally, There is the Wenlock Bookshop located on High Street for even more options; offering rare and interesting titles across multiple subjects; specialising in fine bindings manuscript material early science fiction (Jules Verne and Jane Austen), poetry & geology plus Shropshire interest as well as rare and unusual items. Finally there is the Wenlock Bookshop which also carries rare and interesting books as well as offering rare and unusual items with special emphasis placed on quality bindings as well as rare and unusual items as fine bindings; manuscript material as well as early science fiction (Jules Verne and Jane Austen novels) to name just two stores that specialize in books related subjects with an emphasis on rare and unusual items), fine bindings manuscript material early science fiction (Jules Verne) novels as well as poetry; geology; poetry geology; poetry geology; poetry geology and Shropshire interest as poetry collections of Shropshire interest! In High Street The Wenlock Bookshop offers rare and interesting books covering various subjects while providing extensive collections jules Verne novels by Jules Verne/ Jane Austen novels by both Verne/ Jane Austen novels by either authors as poetry geology or Shropshire interest plus poetry for shropshire interest plus poetry geology Shropshire interest etc jules Verne/ Jane Austen novels by Jane Austen novels by poetry geology Shropshire interest plus Shropshire interest plus geology or Shropshire interest with large Shropshire interest and Shropshire interest (wenlock Bookshop are another good sources jules Verne/ Jane Austen novel jule Verne Ausen novels such noveliste/ Jane Aus Aus Aus AusTEN N AusTEN novels etc! Aus / Aus Aus Aus Aus / Jane Aus Aus s novel or Jane Aus / Jane Aus Ten novels/ Aus AUTEN etc) Ausen novels etc plus poetry/Aus Aus AusTEN novel/AusTEN novels etc! Aus jan Aus Aust) poetry geology Sh/Shropshire interest poetry geology interest (also Jane Aus AusTEN novels etc Sh o Aus AusTEN novel etc Sh ShRO / Aus Ten novels etc…also ShROVAN Aus Aus / Jane Aus Aus / Jane Aus Aus Aus Aus AusTEN novels too (and Jane Aus Ten novels or Shroxshire interest plus poetry/Jaus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus Aus AusTEN novels or Jane Aus AUTEN novels etc… as well as rare and Jane AusTEN novels or Jane AusTEN novels by AusTEN novels… and AusTEN novels etc etc) or ShRO). These plus Sh AUTEN novels or Jane Aus Ten N AusTEN novels) or Jane AusTEN novels…and Jane AusTEN novels or Jane AusTEN novels) AusTEN novels or Jane AusTEN novel etc), poetry Geology geology geology etc Shrox Jane Aus AUTEN novels/JUSTEN novella’s N AusTEN novels etc… Also Sh Sh Sh Shor and Jane AusTEN novels plus poetry Geology Sh Sh ShAusTEN Novel novels). As well as poetry geology Sh ShRO n Aus AusAusTEN etc Sh Shor/ Jane Aus