Wem High Street - Cripple Street and Ireland

The Fox Inn- Landlords 1830 John Oakley 1950 Robert Rogers 1880 George Woollam (described as Ellesmere Street) 1890 Carrie Vaughan 1917 Mary Bainbridge 1927 Percy Spencer 1934 Walter Jelf

The area between the end of Castle moat curve (known in the 19th century as 'Bow Street' and sometimes as 'Cripple Street', has a variety of houses. One magnificent Tudor house (right on photo opposite the petrol station) was saved from the demolition threat and restored, making a splendid gateway to the town.It was the coachman's house for the Grove House.
The old malting house has been converted in residential premises. At the end of the road is the Fox Inn, the most westerly of Wem's public houses, which has survived either in this name or as the 'Painters Arms' for over 200 years.the area was once known as 'Ireland', possibly because it was the nearest part of the town to that country or because a large number of Irish lived there.