The Salopian Journal was viewed as “the acknowledged organ of the Conservative Party in Shropshire” (Mitchell’s Newspaper Press Directory 1886), being pro-landed interests and a strong supporter of the Established Church. It was politically opposed to the Shrewsbury Chronicle.

The Journal was founded by Joshua Eddowes (1724-1811), a printer and bookseller in Shrewsbury and his son, William, who died in 1833. The paper remained in the Eddowes family until the 1850’s and became known as Eddowes Shrewsbury Journal.