It is one of the most industrial parts of the town, and is the 5th most deprived ward in non-metropolitan Shropshire [citation needed] Neighbouring suburbs include Sundorne to the east and Ditherington to the south.

The earthwork and buried remains of the medieval moated site are situated on a gentle north east facing slope.

The moat is now visible as a slight earthwork having been drained in 1950 and largely infilled following the construction of the housing estate.

The arms of the moat, which survive as buried features, are between 12m and 15m wide and define a rectangular island approximately 40m by 46m.

Shrewsbury's livestock market was at Harlescott (between 1956 and 2006 [citation needed] - it is now at a new site out-of-town at Battlefield) to the north.

Recently, there has been significant retail development around Harlescott, including a newly built public house called The Featherbed and owned by Marston's Breweries.