[Illustration: Book Cover] NOOKS AND CORNERS OF SHROPSHIRE [Illustration] [Illustration: Butcher Row. Shrewsbury.] Nooks and Corners of Shropshire. BY H. THORNHILL TIMMINS, F.R.G.S., AUTHOR OF 'NOOKS AND CORNERS OF HEREFORDSHIRE,' 'NOOKS AND CORNERS OF PEMBROKESHIRE.' _WITH MAP AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS_ _BY THE AUTHOR._ LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1899. PREFACE My work completed, I may be permitted to add a few words by way of envoi. 'Nooks and Corners' is the outcome of many prolonged sketching rambles in Shropshire, where, as I roamed about the County, in search of subjects for pen and pencil, I succeeded in gleaning a good deal of original information anent the places I visited; and I was greeted by all sorts and conditions of Salopians with that hospitality for which they are proverbial, and which has left me their grateful debtor. Though the more important places here illustrated are probably familiar to many of my readers, there are certain scenes and objects in the course of this work which have never been pictured or described before, and which will, I trust, prove of interest to Salopians. Amidst such an embarras de richesses, I have of necessity been obliged to pick and choose the subjects dealt with; for in matter antiquarian the locality is well-nigh inexhaustible. But if the gentle reader, in perusing the following pages, should share in some degree my own pleasure and interest in compiling them, I shall have the satisfaction of feeling that I have not rambled in vain amidst the Nooks and Corners of Shropshire. H. THORNHILL TIMMINS. HARROW, _November_, 1899. CONTENTS PAGE A GENERAL SURVEY. THE TOWN OF SHREWSBURY 1 FROM SHREWSBURY TO PITCHFORD, ACTON BURNELL, AND CHURCH STRETTON 21 STRETTON DALE AND THE LONGMYND. A VISIT TO STOKESAY CASTLE 42 FROM CRAVEN ARMS TO BISHOP'S CASTLE AND CLUN 60 ROUND ABOUT CLUN FOREST. TO KNIGHTON AND LUDLOW 79 ROUND ABOUT LUDLOW 94 THE CLEE HILLS, CORVE DALE, AND WENLOCK EDGE 108 WENLOCK, WROXETER, AND THE WREKIN 135 TO LILLESHALL ABBEY, TONG, AND BOSCOBEL 153 ROUND ABOUT BRIDGNORTH 171 BETWEEN SEVERN AND CLEE 194 WESTWARD HO! TOWARDS THE WELSH BORDER 214 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS