John ireland actor biography

Iron Age

Iron Age settlers called the cornovii, left evidence of at least two camps in the area of Wem but the history of the area is not well recorded until after the Roman conquest when the local tribes were overrun and the Romans colonised what is now Shropshire.

Saxon times

To the Saxon founders, Wamm meant a 'marsh' and has since been spelt as Wemme, Weme, Wimme and finally Wem.

The marshy ground refers to the area surrounding the river Roden which flows through the town.

Doomsday Book

The 1086 entry in the Doomsday Book records Wem as being "William Pantulf holds it of Earl Roger" and that it consisted of "four manors or farms". It paints a picture of a thickly wooded landscape with roebuck and hawks as part of the local wildlife.

Wem remained with the Pantulf family for over a century and they gave their name to local places such as Pankeymoor.

Market Town

In 1202 a grant from King John permitted Wem to hold a market on a Sunday and on the Feast of St P Broderick Crawford TOQ