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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Shrewsbury
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(91,000 in 1991) Town in a loop of the river Severn; administrative centre of Shropshire. It has been a place of strategic importance between Wales and England from at least the 5C. Leading out of the town across the river, in rival directions, are two beautiful bridges of the 18C, the Welsh Bridge and the English Bridge. The Norman castle was adapted for modern living by Telford and now provides the council chamber. Of the *Benedictine abbey (founded 1083) only the church survives, much restored apart from its magnificent west end. The 12–15C St Mary's is famous for its stained glass, in particular a great Jesse window of the mid-14C. The Roman Catholic cathedral, never completed, is by one of Pugin's sons.
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Among the steep streets there are many timber-frame Tudor houses, one of them (Rowley's House) containing Roman finds from nearby *Viroconium. The town's museum and library is in a 17C building near the castle. This previously belonged to Shrewsbury School, a leading *public school (founded 1552) which moved in 1882 to a new site outside the loop of the river.
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