Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) was born in Oswestry. One of the leading poets of the First World War. Brought up in Birkenhead and Shrewsbury, Owen worked as a lay assistant to the vicar of Dunsden before teaching in France the year before the war broke out. In 1915 he enlisted in the Artists Rifles and was wounded in combat in 1917. Recovering from concussion and shell shock in an Edinburgh hospital, Owen met another patient, the poet Siegfried Sassoon, who became his mentor. At this time Owen wrote many of his greatest poems including ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’. In June 1918 Owen returned to France and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery. He was killed on 4th November 1918, one week before Armistice Day. We have a wide selection of Wilfred Owen’s poetry in stock.
Charles Darwin (1809-82) born at The Mount in Shrewsbury, a Victorian scientist and naturalist, has become one of the most famous figures of science to date. The advent of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859 challenged and contradicted all contemporary biological and religious beliefs. We keep a selection of his works in stock.
Alfred Edward Housman (1859-1936) born at Valley House in Fockbury, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire , usually known as A. E. Housman, was an English classical scholar and poet, best known for his collection of poems A Shropshire Lad. His poems conjure up a potent and idyllic rural world imbued with a poignant sense of loss and sadness. We have a selection of “A Shropshire Lad” editions in stock, along with Housman’s other works.
Mary Webb (1881-1927) born in Shropshire, novellist, poet, mystic and lover of nature Her most famous novels are ‘Gone to Earth’ and ‘Precious Bane’, both titles are available and stocked here.
Phil Rickman (6 March 1950 – 29 October 2024) Bestselling author of the Merrily Watkins series. Merrily is a parish priest and diocesan exorcist who, along with daughter Jane and partner Lol encounter many spooky goings-on in the fictional Ledwardine in Herefordshire. Phil has also penned two historical novels about Dr John Dee, and his latest paranormal thriller ‘Night After Night’.
Geology of Shropshire by Peter Toghill, . This book explains the geological history of Shropshire, lasting 500 million years, from the Antarctic Circle through the Tropics and across the equator to our latitudes, a distance of 12,000km.
The Bottled Waters of Church Stretton by Barrie Raynor
The Iron Men of Shropshire by Norman Pagett
Though the Industrial Revolution was born in Shropshire, iron-working techniques had been known for millennia. However, it was an expensive undertaking in real terms, needing large amounts of wood to make the charcoal to produce the iron and objects that had to be beaten out in a blacksmith’s forge.
On the Trail of the Mortimers in the Welsh Marches – 2nd edition by Philip Hume
Richly illustrated history of the medieval Mortimer family of Wigmore north Herefordshire
Hillwalking in Shropshire by John Gillham 32 Hill and Country Walks a year round walking destination Shropshire offers countless delights, from glorious landscapes, standing stones, hillforts and much, much more.
Church Stretton Through the Ages by Tony Crowe and Barrie Raynor, £20.00. At long last the reprint of this local history book is now available
Shropshire From Dawn to Dusk by John and Mike Hayward. Local father and son partnership, showcasing the stunning Shropshire countryside and buildings.
Downton Gorge: the matchless valley Edited by Gisele and Tom Wall
Landscape and industry, nature and culture ‘Matchless’ is a big claim, but appropriate for this scenic gem in Herefordshire carved by the river Teme from fossil-rich Silurian rocks.
Downton Postcards by Mark O’Hanlon, deltiology of the Downton Castle Estate, Herefordshire
Floreat Salopia by Roger H. White
Shropshire, as one of the contributors to this volume notes, is simultaneously remote and well-connected … which also means it is often (but wrongly) overlooked and underestimated. This volume of collected papers – newly commissioned and bringing entirely new research into play – was brought together to commemorate the issuing of the 100th volume of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society’s Transactions. It offers snapshots of Shropshire’s past, from the earliest prehistory to the end of the twentieth century. The contributors to this volume almost all have long-standing connections to Shropshire, and some are also proud Salopians. Most are based in the county, and continue their long-term research there, while one holds a significant role in the protection of Shropshire’s heritage.
Fan-Peckled by Jan Atkin and Katy Alston, twelve Old Shropshire Words in poems and pictures – beautifully illustrated.
Finding Home: Journeys with the Hillforts of Shropshire by Jo Jukes. A delightful look at the history, mystery and beauty of Shropshire’s ancient hillforts, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout.
Saskia Van Der Zee has recently published three crime novels set in Shropshire, ‘Death at the Devil’s Chair’, ‘Death by Relic’, and ‘Lies Beneath The Mynd’ there are more novels to come …
Saskia van der Zee | Shropshire Crime Fiction Author | Death at the Devil’s Chair
Hilary Jane Jones Hilary has written two personal development books (‘Choosing a Better Life’ and ‘Personal Progress Through Positive Thinking’) and the text for Peter Andrew Jones’ book ‘Paintings of the Stiperstones’. Her most recent publications are in partnership with photographer Tracey Swain: ‘The Journey’ trilogy – a fully illustrated poetic tale (‘The Wicked Wood’, ‘The Faerie Glen’ and ‘The Crystal Lake’) and ‘Shirelands’, a fusion of photography and verse that celebrates the glorious landscapes of Shropshire and the Welsh Borders. www.hilaryjanejones.net
Ludlow at Leisure by Derek Beattie £14.99 A lively, illustrated account of a country town at play, 1800-1950.
A History of the Speake Families in Shropshire by John D Speake £18.00
The Concise History of Ludlow by David Lloyd. This illustrated history traces the development of Ludlow, one of Shropshire’s most beautiful market towns, from Anglo-Saxon times to the present day.
Folklore of Shropshire: by Roy Palmer, £12.95. Popular folk tales including Wild Edric, Mad Jack Mytton, Humphrey Kynaston, Caractacus, plus ghosts, witches, charmers, and many more.
Shropshire Folk Tales or Children by Amy Douglas, £9.99
Heresy Unlocked: Faith Rebounds by Roger Wilson CBE A Church Elder and founder of cancer charity, Sarcoma UK, the author explores the influence of heresy on Christianity. Roger lives with his wife Sheelagh in Church Stretton.
Simon Whaley: Simon lives in Church Stretton: his books are always amongst our bestsellers, including “One Hundred Ways For A Dog To Train Its Human”. Simon has recently ventured into novel writing and the first two books in the crime/humour Marquess of Montiforde series, ‘Blooming Murder’ and ‘Foraging for Murder’, are proving popular www.simonwhaley.co.uk
Kate Innes: Kate trained as an archaeologist, teacher and museologist. She now writes novels, leads workshops, and performs her poetry with acoustic band Whalebone. http://www.kateinneswriter.com
Peter Andrew Jones Peter is an internationally renowned artist who has produced artwork for many bestselling sci-fi novels, the BBC, and also Hollywood posters. He now resides in Church Stretton and runs his own publishing company: his artwork is on display at Mr Bun Baker Mr Bun The Baker | Facebook in Church Stretton. Peter Andrew Jones | Official Website
The Birds of Shropshire provides the most comprehensive record of the County’s avifauna ever published. Produced by Shropshire Ornithological Society, the book is based on the results of six years fieldwork by over 650 different observers who submitted over 333,400 records. These records have been used to produce maps showing the current distribution of almost 200 different species.
Malcolm Saville (21 February 1901–30 June 1982) His Lone Pine series which was set around South Shropshire especially The Long Mynd. Most of his books are now out of print, we endeavour to locate any recently re-printed including ‘Jane’s Country Year’.
A Night in the Snow, by Reverend Donald Carr, The true story of a struggle for life on the Long Mynd one wild, snowy evening in 1865.