Thanks to photography, we have a window into the world of Shropshire’s Victorians - how they lived, what they looked like, and the towns they inhabited.
It was the first era to be documented by photography. And you know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words.
So let’s take a trip back in time and take a look through the lens at the life of our Salopian forebears who were immortalised for posterity by something which still feels a bit special even today - the simple act of having our picture taken.
- Shrewsbury in 1979: 25 pictures of football glory and life around town - see them here
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1. Firefighters of Bridgnorth
The days of clanging bells, belching smoke and flying horse-drawn fire engines are recalled in this picture of Bridgnorth Fire Brigade in 1888. It came originally from Miss Alice Crockson, of Friar Street, whose father, Mr G Crockson, is on the extreme left of the top row. The others are, from left: W Preen, W Dexter, T Wright, C Massey, and W Owen. In the front row (left to right) are: J Thomas, E Langford, T Jordan, J Lester, H Bishop, W Thomas, and Superintendent Childs. | Express & Star archive
2. Before the scandal
Members of the Corbet family of Acton Reynald and Moreton Corbet, in a photo which was shared by Keryl Holt, who was researching the family. The tall woman, fifth from right with a feather in her hat, is, he said, Beatrice Corbet. Looking at her is Mabel H Corbet and on the ground in front is Lord Ashburton. Keryl said Beatrice, the daughter of Sir Vincent Rowland Corbet, was red-haired and over 6ft. He said she became pregnant while unmarried and consequently left Shropshire in 1891 and moved to Bath, so the picture is likely from before then. | Keryl Holt
3. Gentleman John on Bridgnorth Bridge
The information with this photo looking over Bridgnorth Bridge says: "Before Cliff Railway was made. The first figure on the left is John Taylor, property owner and a weaver known as gentleman John . In that day he was the only one to work in cloth clothes." | Frank Foxall
4. Clock tower is a dating clue
Another, more distant, view of Bridgnorth Bridge, including two foundries at the bottom of Doctor's Lane. According to the internet the current brick clock tower on the bridge was put up in November 1949, which replaced a clock tower which was erected in 1876, although there was a clock tower previous to that. The upshot is that if you can identify the clock tower you'll be able to narrow down the date. We'll guess 1870s. | Ralph Walker/Walter Rutter