Shropshire does well in uselessness rankings
Shropshire is a bit useless, according to the author of a new book called The Completely Useless Guide to England.
Martin Pullen has scoured the country for offbeat and unusual customs and traditions, with a number from the county making the cut.
"When it comes to uselessness, Shropshire punches above its weight," says Martin.
"Although it’s one of England’s least densely-populated counties, it does command several useless entries."
Getting a mention is the village of Pant near the Welsh border, which he says sounds like the remnant of men's underwear following a severe boil wash. The name in fact derives from the Welsh for hollow or valley.
Among other local highlights are the Wenlock Olympian Games, which continue to be held in Much Wenlock, and are considered to have played a part in inspiring the modern Olympics.
Then there's the legend of The Wrekin Giant, while other Shropshire mentions include the village of Crudgington, the birthplace of Lymeswold cheese.
That was thanks to Dairy Crest's research and development laboratories at Crudgington. In fact some of Dairy Crest's most popular products, like Clover spread and a range of Frijj milkshakes, started life there. The Dairy Crest site closed in 2014.
Martin has a degree in graphic design, specialising in animation, and his book brings his "useless" choices to life with fun illustrations.
He worked as an assistant animator on Paddington Bear, and has since spent a long career either animating or directing children's television series, many commercials, and the odd feature film.
His television work includes The Wombles, Postman Pat, Treacle People, and the Koala Brothers.
"I have always had a passion for trivia – I very much enjoy pub quizzes – which inspired me to write and illustrate The Completely Useless Guide to England," he said.
Among more general quirks that have caught his attention and make it into the book is the fact that that, during construction of the M6 Toll motorway, as a way of absorbing traffic noise and prolonging the life of the road’s surface, 2.5 million Mills & Boon novels were pulped and added to the molten tarmac.
Another is that the Bramble Bank Cricket Match is contested annually at spring low tide 1.5 miles out to sea on a sandbank between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
