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. As befits the Society, it offers both archaeological and historic perspectives and demonstrates the importance of the county in the wider context of the United Kingdom. While not attempting to be comprehensive in its contents, it nonetheless offers insights into how the county came into being, and the forces that shaped it, not the least of which is its extraordinarily diverse geology. The volume offers too a perspective of those historically researching Shropshire’s past, often women who gained their foothold either through teaching on or participating in adult education.This is certainly the first attempt to offer a comprehensive overview of Shropshire in over 50 years, and what it seeks to achieve in its scope has not been attempted before. The Society’s aim is both to showcase the research going on in the county, but also to parade its riches: there is much more to learn about Shropshire, and it is hoped this book will encourage others to take up its challenges and continue to allow the understanding of the county to flourish.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.
