Thursday, May 26, 2016

Visiting the UK: Part Three

The next day, after A's boys were safely off at their schools and I had a lie in (8:30 UK time, 5:30 according to my body), A and I headed off to Shrewsbury and its gorgeous streets.


There were alleys and timber framed Tudor styled buildings bearing ancient names such as Grope Lane. There are a variety of theories as to the origin of the name 'Grope Lane' two of which are 1) the alley being narrow and dark in medieval times so you would have to 'grope'  your way along it and 2) that it was a street where prostitutes would advertise their wares. 


As you can see, Shrewsbury is certainly worth visiting if you are in this area of Shropshire and not just because of the fancy street names.


I love the types of details that only seem to be found in old buildings nowadays. The scrollwork on these windows is striking.


Too bad the owners weren't hosting an open house so we could have seen these windows from the inside with the light glowing through them.


While I was taking a picture of this house, a lovely and knowledgeable lady stopped to comment on the building's striking architecture and how it used to be used by the City Council. Sadly, the Council has moved onto more 'modern' buildings. Can you imagine going to work in this building every morning?



More pictures looking from the main road into wee alleys and gardens as well as along the main streets...







We also managed to visit Shrewsbury Abbey which was a bit of a highlight for me as the Brother Cadfael mysteries are based from this Abbey. As you can see below, the Abbey is a beautiful structure and place of worship. The Lady Chapel, which I neglected to photograph, is equally stunning. I often find that I prefer Lady Chapels in large places of worship probably because they are smaller and more intimate.


I took this photograph to inspire myself with the quality of the embroidery. It's a pipe dream of mine to eventually take an embroidery course(s) from the Royal School of Needlework during a UK visit. Isn't it striking?


This is just one of the stunning windows surrounding the Abbey. This one caught my eye as it is about a female saint, Saint Winifred. The legend under the window said that she was becoming a nun but was almost raped by a man named Caradoc. She fought back and was decapitated by him. Her head rolled to her Uncle, Saint Beuno, who placed her head back on her body and she was healed, forever marked by a circular scar around her neck. After his attack, Caradoc's body was absorbed into the ground and he was never seen again. Shivers.



Another details from outside a shop window.


Happily, A and I found The Lion Hotel and treated ourselves to an Afternoon Tea for a very reasonable price. Sadly, my pictures of the tea itself came out too blurry to use here but I think you can get a sense from these pictures that we had fun! Cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches, to name a few, cakes and, my favourite, clotted cream with scones and jam. Can you say 'Yum'???

Isn't she gorgeous?
Yum!
After our tea and a brief walk along the river, A brought me through The Quarry, a gorgeous garden in a former - ahem - quarry. Why doesn't my back yard look like this? Inspirational for sure.




I love this wagon feature!


I have many, many more pictures of this gorgeous city but decided that you might want to do something else today;)! Before I go, here is the progress I was then making my sock, ready to start the heel then turn it. Too bad I had to do that four times over the course of my holiday before I got it right!



1 comment:

  1. I'll have to put Shrewsbury on my list. I enjoyed your U.K. diaries so far.
    https://happywonderer.com/

    ReplyDelete