‘Blue-Remembered’ Hills of Shropshire (a poetic history)

Caroline Smith (an admission – these blue hills are in Scotland, but it’s nice art that matched the post!)

Shropshire is (along with Northumberland) one of England’s least-populated counties. And one of its most beautiful. From ancient woodlands to many canals, this is a county of rolling hills, green meadows and clean rivers. Even the main town of Shrewsbury is charming, nothing like a ‘city’.

Out walking? Follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and other toxic plants/trees) and on leads during nesting season (and near barnyard friends and wild ponies).

How to upright an overturned sheep

If when out walking you see a sheep on its back (due to pregnancy or rain-soaked wool), just firmly right it back (or it will die) then stay with it, until the rain has drained off. 

Origins of the ‘blue remembered hills’ phrase

The phrase is from a poem inspired by the rolling hills near the tranquil town of Clun and Bishop’s Castle (1.5 miles from Wales), which look blue in the distance and are filled with ancient hedgerows and wildflowers, with views over the Welsh border.

It’s believe the ‘blue’ is due to an atmospheric ‘mirage’ caused by the area’s coniferous trees.

Edward Housman was a poet who lived from 1859 until 1936. He only published two volumes of poetry in his lifetime. Born in Worcestershire, he studied classics at Oxford University and worked as a London clerk for 10 years, then taught Latin at Cambridge University.

He died in the city as a recluse, rejecting honours and avoiding the public acclaim that his poetry had given him:

Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?

That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.

Ludlow (a medieval ‘foodie town’ in Shropshire)

Ludlow is a little town in southern Shropshire, that is known for being a ‘foodie place’. The town’s medieval streets are packed with independent delis, local bakeries and weekly markets.

Known for its medieval streets, poet Sir John Betjeman once described this place as ‘the loveliest town in England’ (he also adored Sidmouth in North Devon).

The town name is old English for ‘loud roaring hill!’ Here you’ll find almost 500 listed buildings and an 11th century castle (which once was the capital of Wales!)

Ludlow is one of the few towns in England (though the number is growing as councils increasingly refuse planning permission for new outlets) to not have a McDonald’s. Like Tavistock in Devon, here the local food is so good, that people simply would never dream of eating it!