Bishop's Castle

Coordinates: 52°29′35″N 2°59′52″W / 52.493°N 2.9978°W / 52.493; -2.9978

Bishop's Castle is a small market town in the southwest of Shropshire, England, and formerly its smallest borough. According to the 2011 Census it had a population of 1,893.

Bishop's Castle is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the Wales-England border, about 20 miles (30 km) north-west of Ludlow and about 20 miles (30 km) south-west of Shrewsbury. To the south is Clun and to the east is Church Stretton. The town is within an agricultural area and has also become known for its alternative community including artists, musicians, writers and craftspeople. The surrounding area is hillwalking country and Bishop's Castle is a "Walkers are Welcome Town", gaining the award in 2008. The long distance footpath the Shropshire Way runs through the town and Offa's Dyke is only a few miles to the west.

The ancient trackway of the Kerry Ridgeway, a prehistoric Bronze Age route, runs from the town. The BC Ring, a 60-mile (100 km) challenging route around the town, was published in 2008. The town has two micro-breweries, including the Three Tuns, the UK's oldest brewery, many pubs and eating places and a wide variety of places to stay in the town itself and the surrounding countryside.

Bishop's Castle (UK Parliament constituency)

Bishop's Castle was a borough constituency in Shropshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
It was founded in 1584 and was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two burgesses.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1584–1660

MPs 1660–1832

Fictional Member

Captain Monk Adderley, a character in Winston Graham's Poldark novel series, is stated to be the Member for Bishop's Castle which was an extant constituency in the period the novels are set (late 18th-early 19th century). Malcolm Tierney portrayed in the TV adaptation series.

Election results

References

See also