Shropshire Facts

The county town, Shrewsbury, was home to that evolutionary Charles Darwin. Ironbridge, just down the road, was birthplace to the Industrial Revolution.

However below are a few facts that you probably didn't know about Shropshire:

1. Shropshire has the tallest collum in the world

The Lord Hill column outside the offices of Shropshire County Council is built in the Doric style (as used by ancient Greeks) and is the tallest of type in the World - it stands at 133ft 6ins tall

2. Shropshire has the worlds first skyscraper

The Ditherington Flax Mill on the outskirt of the county town, Shrewsbury was the first multi-storey iron framed building and therefore is the father of all tower blocks and skyscrapers. It was built in 1797 and is currently awaiting re-devlopment. It is one of over 600 listed building in Shrewsbury.

3. Shropshire is home of the humble sweetpea

The town of Wem, was home to one Henry Eckford who cross-polinated blooms until he gave birth to the sweet scented flowers we know today. The town still holds and annual sweet pea festival every year.

4. Shropshire gave birth to the modern Olympics

The modern Olympic Games were first revived in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, in 1861. The brainchild of William Penny Brookes, his lofty aim was to provide the locals with an alternative to one of their favourite pastimes: drinking.

5. Ebenezer Scrooge is burried in Shrewsbury

In St. Chads graveyard to be exact. The 1984 film "A Chrsitmas Carol" was filmed in Shrewsbury and once they left the town, the prop tombstone remained.