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Wem lies
in the heart of north Shropshire, an ancient town dates back
to Saxon times which was almost destroyed during a battle
in the War of the Roses.
More damage occured in the 17th
century when Wem sided with the Parliament against the King
during Civil War. In 1643 the town was attacked by 5,000
Royalists under Lord Capel. The garrison of only 40
Parliamentarians was so outnumbered that the women of Wem
joined in and successfully held the town against the Royalists.
Wem has been a market town since
1202 and a market is still held in the Town Hall every Thursday.
Visit this attractive town that
still has many coaching inns offering real ales and noted
for its range of speciality shops. The Treacle Mine,
a traditional sweet shop, is very popular with visitors of
all ages !.
Wem is famous as the home of
the modern sweet pea, created in 1887 by the nurseryman Henry
Eckford FRHS. Every July the town celebrates Eckford's
contribution to gardening with the Sweet Pea Festival.
Famous former residents of the
town include Judge Jeffreys (the 'hanging' Judge), who was
Baron of Wem, William Hazlitt, the essayist and John Astley,
the painter.
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Wem
Mythstories,
Museum of Myth & Fable, The Morgan Library, Aston Street, Wem,
SY4 5AU, an unusual museum which explores myths, fables, legends
and stories from all over the world. Popular with children,
the actual and virtual museum focuses on storytelling and the
oral tradition. Many Shropshire legends are brought to life
and every visitor gets to hear at least one verbal story.
