Pictures of Market Drayton

a Historic Market Town in the county of Shropshire

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About Market Drayton

Market Drayton is famous as the home of Gingerbread, and as the birthplace of Robert Clive - Clive of India, he was educated at the Grammar School, founded in 1558, and his desk bearing his carved initials is still preserved.

This attractive town has produced Gingerbread for over two hundred years, it is produced to a secret recipe said to contain rum. Many believe it has restorative powers which act more quickly if you dunk your gingerbread into a glass of port!

Historically the town grew out of a Saxon settlement and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086.

A market has been held in the town every Wednesday ever since it was granted its market charter by Edward I over eight hundred years ago. This is a lively event, with the atmosphere made more vibrant by the picturesque ancient buildings which act as a backdrop to the colourful, crammed with local produce market stalls.

Market Drayton possesses many historic places to see; there is a wealth of black and white buildings and others from the 17th and 18th centuries. At nearby Hodnet, there is gracious Hodnet Hall, home of the Herber-Percy family and their ancestors for several centuries, here visitors can take pleasure in over 60 acres of glorious gardens and parkland. Other gardens include; The Dorothy Clive Gardens, the award winning gardens of Wollerton Old Hall, and Bridgemere Garden World. For a unique landscape of follies, caves, cliffs and grottoes, you should hasten to unforgettable Hawkstone Park.

St.Mary's Church is set in a picturesque position high above the Tern Valley, this been a place of constant worship for hundred of years and stands on the site of church of Saxon times, but nothing of this remains. However, visitors can see a 12th century doorway set in to a tower of the 14th century which has 16th century battlements and is adorned with 19th century pinnacles. Inside the church there is much of interest including beautiful stained glass windows. There is a calm, peaceful atmosphere which encourages you to spend a few moments kneeling in silent prayer.

Market Drayton offers several town trails, these give a glimpse of its history and heritage - you can take the trail of the boyhood haunts of Clive of India, a Murder and Mayhem trail, or for children there is a Wild Animal Adventure Trail. Another pleasure is to walk along the foot paths of the Shropshire Grand Union Canal and take the 40 steps to the top of the aqueduct for breathtaking views of the local scenery.

Food is still an important Market Drayton commodity, it was once famed for its Damson Fairs when traders would buy the fruit to make dye for their cloth. Today, you can still purchase this delicious fruit in the region as well as cheeses, pies, jams and of course tasty Damson Gin!

Apart from the regular Wednesday market the town offers a pleasant shopping experience with several individual shops where the owner himself will attend to your needs. There is a wealth of friendly inns and hotels, some historic retaining many of their original features. The town also offers excellent recreational facilities.

Market Drayton offers visitors a lively experience and makes an ideal base from which to explore the famous Shropshire countryside, the old towns of the Potteries, Ironbridge and the Severn Gorge, Shrewsbury and magnificent Chester.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Market Drayton

Hodnet Hall	(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Hawkstone Park	(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Bridgemere Garden World	(6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Moreton Corbet Castle	(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Eccleshall Castle	(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction E)	Pictures
Whitmore Hall	(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Grinshill Hill	(11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Trentham Gardens	(12.4 miles, 20.0 km, direction E)	Pictures
Monkey Forest	(12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
Cholmondeley Castle	(13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Haughmond Abbey	(14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Downs Banks	(14.7 miles, 23.7 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery	(15.2 miles, 24.4 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Colemere Country Park	(15.5 miles, 25.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Stafford Castle	(15.8 miles, 25.4 km, direction SE)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Market Drayton

Hodnet, in the county of Shropshire (5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction SW)
Shropshire is a beautiful old county with a wealth of ancient and historic villages, some, like Hodnet, retain wonderful 'gems' from an old and illustrious past.
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Audlem, in the county of Cheshire (5.9 miles, 9.4 km, direction N)
A walk around the village reveals pleasant black and white timber framed properties, delightful cottages, and buildings of the Victorian era when the canal system and railways came to the area.
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Nantwich, in the county of Cheshire (11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction N)
Today, Nantwich is a busy bustling place of business and commerce that still manages to retain its unique 'Elizabethan' flavour.
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Grinshill, in the county of Shropshire (11.7 miles, 18.8 km, direction SW)
The picturesque village of Grinshill is spread beneath Grinshill Hill, an isolated rocky outcrop which rises above the plains of the Severn Valley.
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High Ercall, in the county of Shropshire (11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction SW)
High Ercall, or rather Arkle, as the locals pronounce it, is the very epitome of rural charm.
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Crewe, in the county of Cheshire (13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction N)
Crewe has always been associated with its great railway junction, and it is from this point in the "hey-day" of rail travel that Crew began to prosper.
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Stoke-on-Trent, in the county of Staffordshire (14.9 miles, 24.0 km, direction NE)
Town known best as "the potteries" but in reality Stoke-on-Trent is a 1906 amalgamation of six towns, each of which still maintain their own individuality and character.
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Colemere, in the county of Shropshire (15.0 miles, 24.2 km, direction W)
Clolemere is a countryside heritage site with miles of waymarked walks circling over 70 acres of water, woodland and sweet scented meadows.
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Stafford, in the county of Staffordshire (16.6 miles, 26.7 km, direction SE)
Set in a landscape of contrasts with constantly changing scenery from the Royal hunting forests of Cannock Chase to the breweries...
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Ellesmere, in the county of Shropshire (17.4 miles, 28.0 km, direction W)
Ellesmere, has a lovely 'holiday' atmosphere which gives it an 'away from it all' feel.
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Shocklach, in the county of Cheshire (17.4 miles, 28.1 km, direction NW)
Shocklach is a small rural hamlet set beside a tributary of the River Dee between Wrexham and Nantwich. It is a lovely...
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Norton in the Moors, in the county of Staffordshire (17.5 miles, 28.1 km, direction NE)
Norton-in-the-Moors is exactly what its name implies - it is an old village set on the side of a windswept hill with far reaching views over rolling countryside towards the Peak District.
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Shrewsbury, in the county of Shropshire (17.7 miles, 28.4 km, direction SW)
Shrewsbury is a wonderfully atmospheric town which beguiles the visitor with sights of bygone centuries and much a great charm is to be found in its narrow streets and medieval buildings.
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Mow Cop, in the county of Staffordshire (18.0 miles, 29.0 km, direction NE)
The sheer scale of the height of this village with the quaint sounding name has made it famous, for it is believed that on a clear day the hill is visible to no less than five counties.
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Tong, in the county of Shropshire (18.1 miles, 29.2 km, direction SE)
Fortunately, this attractive village was saved from the ravages of traffic by the building of the A41 By-Pass which was built around 1966.
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Nearby travel help

Prees Station	(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction W)
Whitchurch (Salop) Station	(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction NW)
M6 Junction 15	(11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction NE)
M6 Junction 16	(13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction NE)
Manchester Airport	(32.7 miles, 52.6 km, direction N)
Liverpool John Lennon Airport	(33.4 miles, 53.8 km, direction NW)
Market Drayton to London	(139.0 miles, 223.6 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Market Drayton

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Market Drayton center
Hawkstone Park	(7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction SW)
Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Country Club	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction NW)
Aston Lodge	(10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction W)
De Vere Venues Wychwood Park	(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction N)
Old Rectory Hotel	(10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction W)
Crown Hotel	(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction N)
The White Lion Hotel	(11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction N)
The Ramada Newcastle-Under-Lyme	(12.3 miles, 19.9 km, direction NE)
Crewe Hall - A QHotel	(12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction N)
Hadley Park House	(12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction S)
All hotels in Market Drayton