A partial view of Wem, a market town in north Shropshire

WEM LOCAL
A Partial View of Wem in North Shropshire
Please note: Content is copyright of Wem Civic Society unless otherwise stated.

For Images of Wem

	History of Wem For more information about Wemians in WWI and WWII see Wem: Memories of War This website includes the stories of both the Fallen and the Survivors; the Memorials, Cemeteries, Objects, and locations linked with them. Buildings and Built Environment Buildings in High Street Entertainment: Cinema; Industries Memories, Town & Village; Roden, Wem's Missing Market Charter and the Victoria County History. WWI & WWII;
Wem Civic Society Information about the society For the 2026 programme see Diary. The next general meeting is on Tuesday 16 May A Romano-British Supper followed by a Cheese & Wine Tasting. The wines will be from grapes that the ancient Romans would have been familiar with. Tickets are £20 each. For more information on meetings - contact the society at wemcivsoc@yahoo.co.uk Research is continuing into a number of areas including the history of Wem and the surrounding villages. Publications are available for sale. Wem Civic Society has been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to research, preserve, and share the stories of local individuals, who lived through WWI & WWII. This project, Wem: Memories of War,has produced a website, and will publish a book, and create a QR Trail. The new website www.wemcs.org.uk is now live and data is being uploaded. Planning: Shropshire Planning Portal

Wem Combine Harvesters - Markets

The last Harvest Market was held on Saturday, September 27th., 2025.
For information, click here.
The next Spring Market
will be on Saturday April 25th., 2026.

Click here to see the application form.
Click here to see the trader's leaflet.

WCH is made up of Wem Civic Society, and Wem & Dist. Garden Club, and Incredible Edible in Wem. The group organises town markets in Wem twice yearly, the Spring and Harvest Markets. They are morning markets offering food, drink, crafts and plants for sale. They are held in Wem Town Hall, and on Jubilee Square. If the Spring Market is around St. George's Day, it is aka the St. George's Day Market. The Harvest Market is held on the last Saturday in September.

The White Horse
The White Horse Hotel (Inn) sits at a prominent road junction in Wem, near the Shrewsbury Gate. As such it sets the tone for the town as people enter from that direction.
It has been in an increasingly decrepit state for a number of years. Now that Shropshire Council has purchased the building, many Wemians hoped to see its renovation
and rejuvenation to help reinvigorate this part of the High Street.
The inn dates back to at least the C18th. In 1795, John Bagshaw was the proprietor of “The White Horfe Inn”.
By 1840, Wem was an important staging point for stagecoach services. It was on a coach route from Shrewsbury to Liverpool and Manchester.
It was listed as a Grade II building in 1983.
In support of any renovation, the society has completed a survey to find out what Wemians believe would be the best solution for the White Horse.
This survey has now been completed with over 200 responses and went to the June meeting of Wem Town Council and to Andy Wigley (Historic Environment - Shropshire).
SC's contractors have carried out an initial survey of the building, which indicates a more extensive survey is required.
However the parlous state of Shropshire's finances has dampened any hopes.