Stourport, Shrewsbury, Sutton Coldfield and Litchfield
Monday, 11th December, 1989
Swans on the Severn at Bewdley
ac's birthday. We took a picnic to Bewdley (after doing the washing and shopping) and drove along an incredibly narrow country lane to Mac's old weekender. He was amazed to find it was still there, looking much the same. We went for a walk along the Severn, where I picked a spray of holly from the hedges for my lapel, then went back to the town to picnic by the river and feed the ducks and swans.
fter lunch we drove about, looking for scenes he remembered from his boyhood, a sentimental journey. At six we went to his parents' place where we had a drink (cider) and went off to a picturesque pub (they are all picturesque) called "The Running Horse" for dinner. Very ordinary food but quite nicely served. I hope the senior Macs don't wear themselves out.
Tuesday, 12th December, 1989
Shrewsbury Square (from Tourist Brochure)
oday was a really magic day. We went to Shrewsbury in the first real rain we've had. It is a lovely mediaeval town full of leaning old half timbered shops and pubs. It's a wonder they still stand. We popped into the Tourist Information Office for some tourist information and went off to see the remains of "Brother Cadfael's Abbey". The Priory of Saints Peter and Paul. All that remains of the Abbey is a large church; the cloisters were wilfully destroyed to allow the building of a road in the 18th century. Lots more was destroyed by Henry VIII in the Dissolution. However, because part of the abbey was the parish church, the commissioners were persuaded to leave it and lots more was saved as well. We had a really lucky break because we were the only visitors and the volunteer guide took us in hand and gave us the full tour - showed us what Brother Cadfael would have recognised (had he existed), St.Winifred's shrine, Roger de Montgomery's tomb (the founder of the Abbey, second in command to William the Conqueror) and told us all the history.
Shrewsbury Castle Gate house
(from Tourist Brochure)
hen we had finished we had lunch in a classy and pricy little Brasserie and wine bar across the Foregate, who did cuisine nouvelle with flair. Delicious, the best meal we've had in England.
fter lunch, we went to find the castle. Shrewsbury Castle is in remarkably good nick, considering its age (founded by William the Conqueror). It houses a very good museum devoted to the Shropshire regiments and has a dedicated curator and staff of volunteers, one of whom gave us a full tour, and the curator himself, finding us Australians, showed us his own collection of photos from Ulverstone, Tasmania, where HMS Shropshire has a naval historical park. He kindly gave us a postcard and more information. Unfortunately, time, as usual, was running out and, after climbing in the dusk to the Laura Tower for a spectacular view of Shrewsbury under light mist and full of Christmas lights, we left. A thoroughly interesting day, we have lots of souvenirs for mum.
omorrow we are lunching in Sutton Coldfield with Olwen and Lawrence. This trip we'll try our first motorway, to skirt Birmingham.
Wednesday, 13th December, 1989
aining again today, the first time I've had my brolly up. We had a very pleasant lunch with Olwen and Lawrence, (Olwen is Mac's cousin but is the generation older than Mac. She has a daughter not much younger than us.) They are very nice people. While we were sitting there, the rain turned to snow!
e drove with them to Litchfield and saw the Cathedral, very beautiful and of course, ancient. It is unique in having three spires. St.Chad's, 1300 years old. We were fortunate enough to hear a rehearsal for a carol service with the choir and organ, it sounded wonderful. We saw the Litchfield Gospels display, beautifully illuminated copies of the Gospels, which are Litchfield's greatest treasure. I bought a booklet about them for Auntie Gra. Litchfield is the birthplace of Dr.Johnson, the dictionary man and we saw his statue and his old home. We had tea in a teashop with Olwen and Lawrence then headed off home.
now started falling quite heavily, several cars parked near Birmingham were heavily coated with snow but it didn't really cause us any problems. It is still raining, which will curtail any plans for long distance sightseeing, so tomorrow we may change our plans and go to a motor museum near Bridgnorth and an aerospace museum also near Bridgnorth. It depends on the weather. Touring through sleet and/or snow is not very appealing. We have been very lucky so far, however.
