|
Shropshire ( or ; alternatively Salop;〔Blandings: English Counties – broken link〕 abbreviated, in print only, Shrops)〔(SHROPS – What does SHROPS stand for? Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary ). Acronyms.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 is a county in the West Midlands of England. It borders Powys and Wrexham in Wales to the west and north-west, Cheshire to the north, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire to the south-east and Herefordshire to the south. Shropshire Council was created in 2009, a unitary authority taking over from the previous county council and five district councils. The borough of Telford and Wrekin has been a separate unitary authority since 1998 but continues to be included in the ceremonial county. The county's population and economy is centred on five towns: the county town of Shrewsbury, which is culturally and historically important and is located close to the centre of the county;〔(Shrewsbury – Tourist Information & Accommodation ) for Shrewsbury, Shropshire.〕 Telford, a new town in the east which was constructed around a number of older towns, most notably Wellington, Dawley and Madeley, which is today the most populous;〔(Wrexham & Shropshire :: Telford ).〕 and Oswestry in the north-west, Bridgnorth just to the south of Telford, and Ludlow in the south. The county has many market towns, including Whitchurch in the north, Newport north-east of Telford and Market Drayton in the north-east of the county. The Ironbridge Gorge area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley.〔(Ironbridge Page on UNESCO World Heritage website ). Whc.unesco.org (6 March 2007). Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 There are, additionally, other notable historic industrial sites located around the county, such as at Shrewsbury, Broseley, Snailbeach and Highley as well as the Shropshire Union Canal.〔(BBC – Shropshire – Features – Industrial Archeology ).〕 The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers about a quarter of the county, mainly in the south.〔(Shropshire Hills AONB ). Shropshire Hills AONB. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties, with a population density of 136/km2 (350/sq mi). The Wrekin is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the county,〔(shropshirerocks.org: The Wrekin & The Ercall ) 〕 though the highest hills are the Clee Hills,〔(shropshirerocks.org: Brown Clee Hill ) 〕 Stiperstones〔(shropshirerocks.org: The Stiperstones ) 〕 and the Long Mynd.〔(shropshirerocks.org: The Long Mynd ) 〕 Wenlock Edge is another significant geographical and geological landmark.〔(shropshirerocks.org: Wenlock Edge ) 〕 In the low-lying northwest of the county overlapping the border with Wales is the Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve,〔http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/whixallweb/moss.htm〕 one of the most important and best preserved bogs in Britain. The River Severn, Great Britain's longest river, runs through the county, exiting into Worcestershire via the Severn Valley. Shropshire is landlocked and with an area of is England's largest inland county.〔(Shropshire Council ). Shropshire.gov.uk (15 July 2011). Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 The county flower is the round-leaved sundew.〔(website ). Plantlife.org.uk. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 ==History== (詳細はCornovii, which consisted of the modern day counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, north Staffordshire, north Herefordshire and eastern parts of Powys. This was a tribal Celtic iron age kingdom. Their capital in pre-Roman times was probably a hill fort on The Wrekin. Ptolemy's 2nd century ''Geography'' names one of their towns as being Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter), which became their capital under Roman rule and one of the largest settlements in Britain. After the Roman occupation of Britain ended in the 5th century, the Shropshire area was in the eastern part of the Welsh Kingdom of Powys; known in Welsh poetry as the ''Paradise of Powys''. It was annexed to the Angle kingdom of Mercia by King Offa in the eighth century, at which time he built two significant dykes there to defend his territory against the Welsh or at least demarcate it. In subsequent centuries, the area suffered repeated Danish invasion, and fortresses were built at Bridgnorth and Chirbury.〔(Article on Shropshire ). 1911encyclopedia.org (21 January 2009). Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 After the Norman Conquest in 1066, major estates in Shropshire were granted to Normans, including Roger de Montgomerie, who ordered significant constructions, particularly in Shrewsbury, the town of which he was Earl.〔(http ). //www.britannica.com. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 Many defensive castles were built at this time across the county to defend against the Welsh and enable effective control of the region, including Ludlow Castle〔() 〕 and Shrewsbury Castle.〔(Shrewsbury Museums Service – Shrewsbury Castle & The Shropshire Regimental Museum ). Shrewsburymuseums.com. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 The western frontier with Wales was not finally determined until the 14th century. Also in this period, a number of religious foundations were formed, the county largely falling at this time under the diocese of Hereford and that of Coventry and Lichfield. Some parishes in the north-west of the county in later times fell under the diocese of St. Asaph until the disestablishment of the Church in Wales in 1920, when they were ceded to the Lichfield diocese. The county was a central part of the Welsh Marches during the medieval period and was often embroiled in the power struggles between powerful Marcher Lords, the Earls of March and successive monarchs.〔(Secret Shropshire ). Secret Shropshire. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.〕 The county also contains a number of historically significant towns, including Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Oswestry. Additionally, the area around Coalbrookdale in the county is seen as highly significant, as it is regarded as one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution. The village of Edgmond, near Newport, is the location of the lowest recorded temperature (in terms of weather) in England and Wales.〔(Climate in Wales )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Shropshire」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|