Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Shropshire, England

The relatively unknown and underrated county of Shropshire is unspoilt, unrushed and tranquil. Shropshire borders Wales, covers an area of approximately 1,235 square miles and has a population of approximately 287,900. South Shropshire has a landscape of green golden valleys rising to dramatic hills and moorlands, which is officially an area of outstanding beauty. Long distance walks include the Shropshire Way, Wild Edric's Way and Offa's Dyke. Shropshire has many traditional market towns, including Ludlow (described by John Betjeman as "the loveliest town in England"), and the county town of Shrewsbury which, surrounded by the River Severn, is one of England's finest medieval towns and is the birthplace of Charles Darwin. It is also host to the longest running flower show in the country. Although Shropshire is inland, the county is well serviced by Britain's extensive waterways - the Shropshire Union Canal is the county's main canal which runs from Ellesmere Port to Wolverhampton. A canal trip is an excellent way to see the beautiful countryside.

A brief history

Historically Shropshire was part of the Kingdom of Mercia, and the name exists to this day in the police force which the county comes under – West Mercia Constabulary. Shropshire's stormy past has left it with a littering of hillforts, castles and abbeys, which were put to the sword many times. There are 25 hillforts in Shropshire, which are clear evidence of the Iron Age civilisation of around 600BC, all built with deep ditches and ramparts. Offa's Dyke, built by King Offa in the 8th century to keep the Welsh Princes at bay, is the longest archaeological monument in Britain. The Romans built the Viroconium, the largest city in Roman Britain and Watling Street which connected Shropshire with Canterbury. Out of the 186 castles in England, no less than 32 are in Shropshire, situated around Ludlow, Stokesay, Whittington and Clun, and ruined abbeys, which are a reminder of Shropshire's medieval spiritual past. The origin of the name "Shropshire" is the Old English "Scrobbesbyrigscir" (meaning Shrewsburyshire).

Living in Shropshire

Families who are searching for property for sale in Shropshire will find a county that enjoys low crime rate levels and a community where the fear of being a victim of crime has fallen steadily during recent years. This success has been achieved through West Mercia Constabulary investing in a record number of police officers and staff, and the development of effective working partnerships with local authority partners and the communities. Property for sale in Shropshire is still at relatively affordable prices, and it is possible to get a bit more for your money.

There are a number of key towns in Shropshire, one of which is Telford - named after Thomas Telford, the renowned civil engineer. Telford is one of the UK's fastest growing and most successful new towns. Telford is considered to be very family orientated; with lots of attractions for children, including the 500 acre Telford Town Park, which has leisure facilities and play areas, as well as the 'Wonderland' theme park, where nursery rhymes and fairy stories are brought to life. Nearby there is Telford Ski Centre, Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom and Telford Steam Railway. Telford also has an ice skating rink, a ten-screen cinema, cafés, restaurants, night clubs and wine bars. The popular shopping centre in the heart of the town, is the biggest shopping centre in the county and has high street brands. Families searching for houses in Telford should expect to pay £205k+ for a modern four bedroom property.

People who are relocating and searching for property for sale in Shropshire will find some of the major employers in the county include Shropshire County Council, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, British Telecom, Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, Palethorpes Ltd, Royal Mail, Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Muller Dairy (UK) Ltd, Anglo Beef Processors Ltd and the West Mercia Constabulary.

Property for sale in Shropshire varies across the county. There are predominantly brand new developments in the new town of Telford, and Georgian properties in Ludlow. Other types of property for sale in Shropshire include farmhouses, converted barns, cottages in canal side settings, modern detached houses, flats in converted Georgian houses, modern bungalows and terraced houses.

The county town of Shrewsbury is a stunning historic town with over 600 listed buildings and some strange street names – Dogpole and Mardol, Gullet Passage and Grope Lane. People searching for property for sale in Shrewsbury will find the town has interesting specialist and independent shops, as well as indoor shopping malls with high street names, and access for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Shrewsbury has an indoor market on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, enjoys a reputation for being a charming county town and also to be the politest town in England. People searching for houses in Shrewsbury should expect to pay £205k+ for a four bedroom detached house. The property rental market is buoyant in Shrewsbury; people searching for a property to rent in Shrewsbury will find a good selection advertised by the estate agents in Shrewsbury.

Travel and transport links in the county of Shropshire

The county of Shropshire is easily accessible via a good motorway network and regular mainline rail services. People searching for property for sale in Shropshire who work in Birmingham could commute by rail from Shrewsbury to Birmingham in just one hour. Shropshire connects to the M6 and motorway network via the M54. The A49, A5, A53 and A458 all make this county easily accessible. If you are travelling to Shropshire to search for houses in Shrewsbury, the journey by car would take approximately three hours. The nearest airports to Shropshire are in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, and are all approximately one hour away. Birmingham and Manchester airports also connect to mainline rail networks. The National Express run coaches to many of the towns in Shropshire. Cyclists will find the county has a number of regional and national cycle routes that connect major towns via scenic and quiet routes.