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Visit Market Drayton - Market Drayton Museum - Market Drayton Town Centre Walks

We visited Market Drayton
as part of our summer cruise 2009

Market Drayton lies primarily on the western bank of Thomas Telford's Shropshire Union Canal between Tyrley Locks (5) to the south and Adderley Locks (5) and is a north Shropshire market town. Market Drayton's southern suburbs are on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent.

The Shropshire Union crosses the River Tern and a minor road close to the southernmost visitor moorings. The town was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier until the late 17th C, simply as "Drayton".

Market Drayton Museum

The Story of Drayton, Museum & Resource Centre, a small but perfectly formed, local volunteer society on Shropshire Street, details the history of the town from the earliest times to the present.

Open April to October on Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat, between 10.30 and 13.00.

Market Drayton Town Centre Walks

There are a couple of interesting town walks - We walked the 'Discovery Trail' following the map (40p) purchased at Market Drayton Museum.

Market Drayton is on National Cycle Route 75 and the A53 Trunk Road (by-pass) skirts the northern edge of the town passing over the canal at Lord's Bridge (No.64).

The town is promoted as 'the home of gingerbread'. The oldest recorded mention of gingerbread in Market Drayton goes back to 1793. At its peak, the traditional biscuity gingerbread, which contained rum, was made by four bakers in the town. Today the leading gingerbread maker is Image on Food, who produce nearly one million novelty gingerbread figures for Britain's leading retailers.

There are a number of 17th and 18th century half-timbered buildings in the town centre, as well as a restored Norman church, St. Mary's, next to the Grammar School of 1558.

The town's 'Buttercross' marketplace is ancient, with a market charter granted from 1246, and the market continues today. The great fire of Drayton destroyed almost 70% of the town in the 17th century. It was started at a baker's, and quickly spread through the timber buildings. The Buttercross in the centre of the town still has a bell at the top for people to ring if there was ever another fire.

West Drayton is home to Palethorpe's, now part of the Pork Farms Group who are the towns largest employer - famous for their pork products and the Müller Dairies using much of north Shropshire's milk making yogurts and other dairy based products.

Clayton's Picture Framing at 15B Stafford Street (Tel: 01630 655785 - TF9 1HX) a short walk from canal bridge #62 has a selection of framed canal art, framing accessories and will frame pictures to your own requirements.

Bus to and from Market Drayton centre

There is an unmarked bus stop close to the canal opposite The Talbot public house (MAP) serviced by an Arriva bus No.64 to Shrewsbury via Market Drayton, Bus Station (MAP) (£1 each way - Free with bus pass!) - About 300m to Morrisons one way and the town centre the other, 200m to Lidle and a little further to Netto.

Check with www.arrivabus.co.uk

When we last looked the Monday to Saturday arrival times at Market Drayton, Bus Station were 07:09 - 07:39 - 09:09 - 10:09 - 11:09 - 12:09 - 13:09 - 14:09 - 15:09 - 16:09 - 17:09 - 18:19 - 18:59 - 19:29 Be at the Talbot at least 10 minutes before these times. Return departure times at at Market Drayton, Bus Station are: 07:31 - 07:41 - 09:11 - 09:11 - 10:11 - 11:11 - 12:11 - 13:11 - 14:11 - 15:11 - 16:11 - 17:11 - 18:11 (Ask for 'The Talbot' pub).