Wem

Only a few miles south of the town is the county town of Shropshire, Shrewsbury. North Shropshire District Council have their headquarters at Edinburgh House, in the centre of Wem.

The civil parish which constitutes the town is Wem Urban - see also Wem Rural.

Within the town the Sweet Pea was first born, under the name the Eckford Sweet Pea, after its inventor, nursery-man Henry Eckford. He first introduced a variety of the sweet pea in 1882, and set up in Wem in 1888, developing and producing many varieties. There is a road to signify the Eckford name, called Eckford Park (within Wem). Each year, the Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem hold a Sweet Pea Show. In Victorian times, the town was known as "Wem, where the sweet peas grow".

Wem is twinned with the town Fismes (pronounced /fiːmz/ or "feems"), in France, which also has its own road in Wem, called Fismes Way.

The River Roden flows to the south of the town.

Each year Wem holds a carnival on the first Saturday of September.

Wem was the birthplace of the actor Peter Jones

[edit] References

The Story of Wem by Iris Woodward (1952)
The History of Wem by Samuel Garbet (1818)

[edit] External links

Official Wem Town Web Site - history, events, information
Shropshire Tourism Information on Wem - The official tourism website for Shropshire
Inside Shropshire - information on Wem
The Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem
Lower Lacon Caravan Park, Wem
Wem Carnival
Hanby Ales Local brewery in Wem
(http://www.thomasadams.net) Thomas Adams Digital Brain

Ceremonial county of Shropshire
Unitary authorities:	Telford and Wrekin
Boroughs/Districts:	Bridgnorth • North Shropshire • Oswestry • Shrewsbury and Atcham • South Shropshire
Cities/Towns:	Bishop's Castle • Bridgnorth • Broseley • Church Stretton • Cleobury Mortimer • Clun • Craven Arms • Dawley • Ellesmere • Ludlow • Madeley • Market Drayton • Much Wenlock • Newport • Oakengates • Oswestry • Shifnal • Shrewsbury • Telford • Wellington • Wem • Whitchurch See also: List of civil parishes in Shropshire