Shrewsbury, Shropshire’s county town, has been an important trading and administrative centre since medieval times because of its position on the River Severn close to the Welsh border. Today, much of the town follows its original medieval street layout and remains largely unspoilt, with its intriguingly named streets and alleyways. For visitors and residents alike there is much history to discover, from the red-sandstone castle to the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century timber-framed buildings reflecting the wealth from the wool trade.

In A–Z of Shrewsbury local author Dorothy Nicolle seeks out stories from the past about the town’s places and its famous sons and daughters. Notable people, including Charles Darwin, Robert Clive and Wilfred Owen, intermingle with those who are, perhaps, lesser-known, ranging from Aethelflaeda and Percy Thrower (the gardening expert) to Cadman (the tightrope artiste) and Judge Jeffreys (the ‘Hanging Judge’). Among the events covered are the Battle of Shrewsbury and the Civil War, as well as visits by royalty through the centuries and the Shrewsbury Flower Show, which is one of the oldest in the country. Finally, many people ask is the name pronounced ‘Shrowesbury’ or ‘Shruesbury’? Well, that depends largely on whoever you ask, but it seems that locals like to tell visitors that neither is right and neither is wrong – as long as they make time to explore this lovely town.