Stokesay Castle

Stokesay is the best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England

Set in the now peaceful countryside near the Welsh border, the castle, timber framed gatehouse, and church form a picturesque group of buildings

Eve

The 17th century gatehouse is constructed in a distinctively Shropshire style featuring elaborate wood carvings including, angels, Adam and Eve and the serpent from the Garden of Eden

 Serpent

Through the gatehouse is the inner courtyard leading to the Great Hall which has remained totally unaltered since the time it was built in 1291

The Great Hall has never had glass in its windows apart from the small area to the left accessed by an outside stairway. This is called the solar - it is where the family had their private living and sleeping quarters. The glass in the solar was considered to be so valuable that it was all removed and hidden each time the family stayed away from their home 

During the winter months can you imagine just how cold, draughty, and damp it must have been in the Great Hall with the wind and rain blowing over from the Welsh Marches through these bare shuttered windows 

Stokesay's magnificent open hearthed great hall displays a fine timber roof considered a rare survival for the period, and a precipitous stairway, its treads cut from whole tree trunks. 

The remains of the central fire pit - there was no outlet for the smoke which would have drifted upwards into the roof timbers

The solar is one of the few areas that has been "modernised" since the medieval period. In 1641 fine panelling and a richly decorated fireplace overmantel were added. The overmantel was originally painted in five colours and with careful observation faint traces of colour can still be seen

the long steep climb to the top of the South Tower was worth making for the views

Snapshots from Shropshire

A lovely September morning, a sense of peace and tranquillity filling the air, it is hard to believe that we are wandering through a landscape that was once at the heart of the Industrial Revolution.

Suddenly the peace and quiet is shattered by merry laughter from children and their teachers looking for all the world like Lowry's matchstick men.

Viewing the scene today it is difficult to imagine that some 300 years ago this valley echoed all day long to the sounds of clanking machinery and roaring furnaces. The River Severn was filled with boats stacked high with iron ready to supply the Empire and the world.

The world's first cast iron bridge, made here in the village of Coalbrookdale, is a proud symbol of the Industrial Revolution - a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

It appears from the last line that even the Royal Family were not exempt from paying the toll, but for us it was free!

I was intrigued to see that all the pavements were edged with iron

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Benthall Hall and Gardens

Benthall Hall was built in 1535, but there have been Benthalls living on this site since the medieval Saxon period. Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, this fine stone house has mullioned and transomed windows, a stunning interior with a carved oak staircase.

The gardens are known for their crocus displays in both the Spring and Autumn - these are Colchiums or Naked Ladies - flowering on naked stems, they are one of the first signs that Autumn is approaching

Dovecot - the white fantail doves were not around on our visit

Swathes of Pacelia along with Fenugreek have been planted in the orchard area. This will be dug into the

ground at the end of the season which apparently  increases the grounds fertility - this may be a good tip for other gardeners

Pacelia

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Much Wenlock

The town's prosperity grew up around its Priory founded c.680 by Merewalh, a son of King Penda of Mercia. King Penda installed his daughter Milburga as abbess in 687 who was credited with many miraculous works.

Have you heard of Dr.William Penny-Brookes? 

He was born and lived in Much Wenlock

It was in 1850 that the first ever Olympian Games were held in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. It was the brainchild of William Penny Brookes, a local doctor. His aim was to promote the moral, physical and intellectual improvement of the inhabitants, at a time when British sport was organised by an elite who restricted it to amateurs and gentlemen. So successful was Brookes in opening sport to everyone that Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the driving force behind the revival of the Olympic Games of ancient Greece, visited Much Wenlock in October 1890, and was inspired by what he saw. In 1896 the first international Olympic Games were held in Athens.

If time permits you can follow the Wenlock Olympian Pavement Trail which takes you

to the Museum with its collection of Wenlock Olympian Society artefacts

Illustrates the town's role in the revival of the modern Olympic Games

The Raven Hotel where Baron Pierre de Coubertin stayed on his visit (President of the IOC from 1896 to 1925)

The house where William Penny Brookes was born etc.

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Bridgnorth

There are two distinct areas to Bridgnorth - high town and low town. Upper town is situated on a cliff, and lower town lies besides the River Severn.

There are lovely walks along the river towpath

places to sit and watch the world go by

Upper town is where most of the interesting little shops, markets, and cafes are to be found

The pathways between the two are very steep, long and narrow. Imagine a daily climb up or down here carrying heavy bags.

but fear not - help is close at hand

Since 1892 the oldest and steepest inland funicular in Britain has travelled up and down the sandstone cliff linking both areas of Bridgnorth for the princely sum of £1.20 return. There are two little trains which pass each other up and down all day long.

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire was founded by Saxons, extensively developed by Tudors and lies within a giant loop of the River Severn. It is famed for its castle, spires, abbey, and half timbered medieval buildings. Fortunately the city has mostly managed to avoid the modern day blight of developers bulldozing down old buildings in favour of new, and retains a good proportion of architectural styles from down the ages.

We visited the city partially in the hope of finding the gallery which sells youngest son's linocut prints

which we discovered down one of the many narrow alleyways

only to find that the day we chose to visit was their weekly closing day

A visit to the Tourist Information Office informed that there was a church designed by Edward Pugin, son of Augustus Pugin, for the Earl of Shrewsbury with magnificent stained glass windows by the Arts and Crafts designer, Margaret Rope. 

The visitation

Edward's designs show Gothic influences he must have received from his father  

The 'Lady Chapel' - all that remains of the old church of St. Chads dating back to the 8th century - St. Chad was the first Bishop of Mercia in the 7th century. A wonderful early Saxon arch with crude infilling to give support. To my eye it is an architectural crime that it has not been done more sympathetically.