South Shropshire

Introduction

South Shropshire is the most rural district of one of the UK's most rural counties, the population of the district is 40,000 spread out over 1,027 km² of forest, mountains, moors, hills and poor quality farmland. It borders Powys in Mid Wales, which it closely resembles, economically, socially, culturally and historically. 65% of the district is part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Only the towns of Ludlow and Church Stretton have populations in excess of 3000. Other towns in the district are Clun, Bishop's Castle, Cleobury Mortimer and Craven Arms.

Economics and Demographics

Economically the district is dependent on tourism, now that farming is of little economic importance (and lead and coal mining having died in the area years ago), although there is some light industry around Church Stretton. Wages are low and although unemployment is below average, official statistics do not (and cannot) take into account "disguised unemployment" in the tourism and agricultural sectors.

Something to note about the demographics of the area, is the lack of a genuine middle class, something that may be caused by the area's agricultural past, and that is perpetuated by the wide economic gap between affluent newcomers and poorer old communities. This is particularly noticeable in Ludlow.

Geography

The District of South Shropshire covers an area of 1,028 square kilometres, or 397 square miles, which is roughly one third of the administrative county of Shropshire.

South Shropshire is a land of mountains, valleys, hills, moors, forests and low grade farmland, and seems to have been that way for a very long time.
The landscape is often rugged, with crags and rock outcrops very common, especially in the west and around Clee Hill, and was for the most part gouged by glaciers during the ice age.
It contains a myriad of rock types, and is widely regarded as the geological capital of the UK, with Wenlock Edge being especially highly regarded by geologists.

The countryside in South Shropshire is very rural, open and fairly hilly. See the Shropshire Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

History

South Shropshire is littered with ancient monuments, with Mitchells Fold on the Welsh border being the most notable, and there is evidence of neolithic quarrying in the Apedale.
The area seems to have been settled by the Ordovicii people in the last millennium BC, and was a stronghold of the Celtic chieftain Caractacus (Caer Caradoc is named after him).
The area was probably part of the "Military" division of the Roman occupation and locals claim that the Romans mined lead in the North West of the district.

In the Dark Ages, the area was a battleground between the Welsh and the Saxon Kingdom of Mercia and Offa's Dyke, which is partially in the district, is a permanent reminder of the areas border status.

In the Middle Ages, Southern Shropshire was part of the Welsh Marches, a lawless area ruled by tyrannical feudal lords, who had de facto independence from the King.
It has been remarked that the attitude of the time lives on in the areas mistrust of outside control.
During the English Civil War the area was generally spared from fighting, although there was a small massacre at Hopton Castle.

During the Industrial Revolution, coal was mined around Clee Hill, lead on the border with Wales and Church Stretton was a centre of textile manufacture and Ludlow thrived on the malting trade, while the rest of the area was populated by smallholders.
The economy of the area was fragile, and most industry in the area had collapsed by 1900.

Politics

The dominant ideology in South Shropshire is "bloody-mindedness". As a general rule people vote "for the man, not for the party", and although the Liberal Democrats have tended to outperform the other parties in local elections, independents (often covers for political parties) do well at election time. The council is renowned for its instability, and a senior councillor was convicted last year of fraudulent benefit claims.

Results of the elections to South Shropshire District Council, 1 May 2003

Party	Seats
Liberal Democrat and Progressive	14
Conservative	10
Independent	9
Green	1
Total	34

For reasons unknown, the Labour Party do not stand candidates for the council, however several "independents" are believed to be members of the Labour Party. Various groupings have developed since the election and the Green is now an independent.

• Senior Councillors
• *Council leader: Helen Kidd, LD, Chirbury
• *Deputy leader: Zigards Kronbergs, LD, Church Stretton
• *Colin Pendry, Community Group, Clun (convicted for fraudulent benefit claims)
  

  Various Statistics

Sources

• Local knowledge
• Various books and newspaper articles
• An old C19th county atlas
• Shropshire County Council data