1-3037 * HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY JUL 181883 Bu Excharze. HUSTON ATHENAUM DUPLICATE R JUL 18 1883 LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET, AND CHARING CROSS. PREFACE. A HANDBOOK which embraces such a large section of England as the Handbook for Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, extending from the South Welsh mountains to those of Cumberland, from the Severn nearly to the Solway, must needs contain some inaccuracies -and especially in the manufacturing districts, where changes occur so much more rapidly than in others. New railways are made, factories spring up, villages become towns, and large populations are gathered together with a speed that would have been incredible a few years ago. The Editor will feel obliged to any Correspondent who will forward to him additional information or corrections, to care of Mr. MURRAY, 50, Albemarle Street. August, 1870. SHROPSHIRE, as viewed from its physical aspect, is well fitted for its position on the Marches of Wales: the Welsh portion possessing all the features of a mountain-land; the English, of fertile plain and rich farming country. There is so much variety in Salop that it may be considered an epitome of England, for it contains, within the compass of a few miles, all the characteristics of an Alpine district in miniature, while at the same time within sight of orchards, gardens, and farmhouses. From this very variety of scenery, which, of course, depends mostly on the geological formation, Shropshire has come to be regarded as a typical district by the geologist, who will find within its borders a complete history of the Paleozoic formation. The mountain-region is principally found on the Welsh, or western side. On the S., the Radnorshire hills are continuous with the Forest of Clun, from whence the high grounds run, with but little intermission, into the noble range of the Longmynd and the Stiperstones, the latter keeping up the connection with the mountains of Montgomeryshire, and the former abruptly ending at the beautiful valley of Church Stretton. On the other side this valley is the equally picturesque, though not so lofty, series of Hope Bowdler, Caradoc, Ragleath, and Lawley, separating the Church Stretton valley from Apedale, which joins it lower down at an acute angle, and is sheltered on the E. by the very characteristic ridge of Wenlock Edge. The latter commences, near Craven Arms, in a series of very striking wooded terraces, and runs diagonally across Shropshire until it is brought up by the great gap of the Severn Valley, near Coalbrook Dale. To the E. of it is Corve Dale, from whence hilly, un |