Shrewsbury, Shropshire’s county town, has been an important trading and administrative centre since medieval times because of its position on the River Severn close to the Welsh border. Today, much of the town follows its original medieval street layout and remains largely unspoilt, with its intriguingly named streets and alleyways. For visitors and residents alike there is much history to discover from the red sandstone castle to the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century timber-framed buildings reflecting the wealth from the wool trade.In ‘A-Z of Shrewsbury’ local author Dorothy Nicolle seeks out stories from the past about the town’s places and its famous sons and daughters. Notable people including Charles Darwin, Robert Clive and Wilfred Owen, intermingle with those who are, perhaps, lesser-known ranging from Aethelflaeda to Percy Thrower (the gardening expert), Cadman (the tightrope artiste) to Judge Jeffreys (the ‘Hanging Judge’). Shrewsbury School offers a number of interesting old boys and then there are fictional characters who have connections with the town such as Scrooge, and Brother Cadfael from the medieval murder mysteries by Ellis Peters. The author also focuses on the war memorials, statues and sculptures together with the wonderful street names that Shrewsbury is famous for including Grope Lane, Gullets Passage and how about Pig Trough! Among the events covered are the Battle of Shrewsbury, the Civil War as well as visits by royalty through the centuries and the Shrewsbury Flower Show which is one of the oldest in the country. Finally, many people ask is the name pronounced ‘Shrowesbury’ or ‘Shruesbury’? Well, that depends largely on whoever you ask but, it seems that locals like to tell visitors that neither is right and neither is wrong – as long as they make time to explore this lovely town.