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We enjoyed staying in Shrewsbury and visiting Ironbridge and Much Wenlock a few years ago. Our happy memory brought us back to Shrewsbury in May 2012.
Mark had arranged for us to get on the tilting train between London Euston and Birmingham New Street and the local train between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury on 19 May. He had booked the same hotel as we stayed in 2009.
After leaving the station, we took the backstreet off Castle Street, and the little lane of St Mary’s Water Lane leading to the riverside walk. We climbed on the step as we reached English Bridge. We walked on Abbey Foregate towards Abbey Court Hotel.
After having a rest, we headed for the town centre via Wyle Cop and High Street and popped in some of the charity shops along Wyle Cop and High Street. We arrived at the tourist information centre at Rowley’s house. Mark picked up the map of Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock.
We then walked to the Quarry Park and roamed through the Dingle. Colourful rhododendrons, bluebells, cornflowers, etc were out on 19 May, and they matched with the
sculptures e.g. Sabrina, animals, and fountains in the water garden.
Next, we headed to Victoria Avenue along the river. We found the Quay where Sabrina boats depart near Welsh Bridge. We also found the modern sculpture featuring Darwin’s ammonite beside the Welsh Bridge opposite to the theatre.
On 20
th May, we got up at 8 o’clock and had a full English breakfast at the hotel. As planned, we took the riverside trail from English Bridge. It was very peaceful and quiet. Several boat riders were on the training on Sunday morning. The trainers were giving instructions whilst riding on the bikes. Riverside path led us to Victoria Avenue, and we found the Boat House and Shrewsbury School on the opposite bank. We learnt from the information board that several celebrities, e.g. Charles Darwin, Dr Samuel Johnson, and Michael Palin are associated with Shrewsbury.
We were a little early for the departure time of the boat. We decided to look round the museum at Rowley’s house. There were a wide range of collections of bones, teeth, heads of ancient animals and rocks, copper and metal surgical equipment and accessories, fragments of vessels
and porcelain, and pieces of documents, all of which were used for everyday use and education, and all of which have been excavated in and around Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is the birthplace of the Britain’s most famous scientist, i.e. Charles Darwin. There were a number of his and his family’s memorabilia, e.g. porcelain, furniture, and documents, and animal stuff related to his discovery and scientific research. There were also collections of porcelain, stuff and animals and plants, tiles, and sketches produced by the scientists and artists who were born in and around Shrewsbury and produced outstanding items during the Industrial Revolution.
We decided to get on the Sabrina boat departing at 12 o’clock. Quite a few people got on the boat at the same time as us. We sat at the table on the upper deck. The boat gently steered along the Severn River via Boat House and Shrewsbury School, Cathedral, and Pump House, and Woodland Avenue with commentary. We were offered refreshments during the boat journey, and it enhanced our enjoyment whilst viewing historic houses along the river. The boat changed the direction around English Bridge. We truly enjoyed the 40 minutes ride and good commentary.
There seemed to be having a special event in the Quarry Park on 20 May. There were various types of food stalls. I was interested in the hogroast rolls, and we bought them for our lunch.
One of the commentaries on the boat included the information about St Chad Church and the church was used for filming “A Christmas Carol. We popped in the churchyard and found the very plain grave inscribed “Ebenezer Scrooge”, one of the characters appearing in the Dickens’ Christmas stories.
We then walked on Murivance and Town Walls and reached the Catholic Cathedral. Unfortunately, Cathedral was closed at that time. We continued walking on the Town Walls, and it led us to Wyle Cop. We strolled through the medieval district on the backstreet of High Street. Many medieval buildings had very distinctive features, e.g. uneven shaped timbers inserted on the surface, small windows, bigger space built on the top floors. We found the plate saying that the Rev. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, preached in this house on his first visit to Shrewsbury on 16 March 1761, along the medieval district. Many shops were closed on 20 May, and we just popped in a couple of shops.
I wondered if the special service was held at Shrewsbury Abbey on Sunday afternoon. In fact, the choral practice was carried out in the abbey. We were invited to the inside and listened to professional choirs recital.
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