Sights and Sounds in Shropshire

So with tickets booked to see Show of Hands in Shrewsbury - one of my favourite folk groups on their (possibly) final tour - we decided to have a couple of days in the 'big' city (well 'town' if you want to be technical about it!).

After a leisurely drive through mid-Wales, stopping along the way a couple of times - we arrived in Shrewsbury mid-afternoon, with time for a wander round the museum and a few shops, before enjoying a few drinks and a very nice curry in the evening.

The next day we actually got a bit of sunshine in the morning - taking a walk down by the river, and through the gardens in all their autumn colours. 

Along the way visited St Chad's Church - a distinctive and really interesting round building - further distinguished by the presence of an 'Ebenezer Scrooge' gravestone in its churchyard (used in the 1984 George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol.)  

Apparently it isn't a prop, but rather a period gravestone where the original inscription was no longer visible - not sure if was quite ethical to allow a film production to reinscribe it, but it certainly makes a noteworthy addition to the churchyard!

After our musical evening, made our way home the next day via Oswestry, and the British Ironwork Centre - lots more to see than on our last visit - from the original 'spoon' Gorilla, to Marvel characters, and an ecological sculpture park.

The cakes were just as good as last time too - although Martin got a bit of a shock on visiting the Gents . . .

All in all it made for a nice couple of days away - plus we got a bit of Christmas shopping done, and stocked up the wine cupboard at 'English' prices! 😊

Shrewsbury Trip

End of June, and we decided on another day out - this time to Shrewsbury.  Hadn't realised how long it had been since we were last there for a proper look around - working out that it was probably 2011!

Parked in a side street and made our way into town along the river bank and had a good wander round the antique stores, and town centre.

Lots of lovely old buildings, although the 'Mardol Dragon' pictured here, isn't actually that old - having been added as part of a 1980s renovation to disguise the end of replacement steel 'Dragons Beam'.

Had our lunch sitting in the Quarry park overlooking the river, followed by a wander round the central sunken garden, 'the Dingle' - a part of Shrewsbury I'd missed on previous visits.

Finished with a wander along a section of the old town walls, past the National Trust's Town Walls Tower - again something we've missed in the past.

Headed for home having concluded that there is much more to see here - we'll be back!