On a sunny September Sunday, our group of nineteen left St Ives to travel to Shropshire for our short holiday – all in good spirits. On the way we visited Compton Verney, a great start, with a lot to see in the galleries, and sculptures to track down in the beautiful grounds.
We reached the Valley Hotel in Ironbridge in good time to relax and refresh before dinner. The staff made us very welcome, and an excellent dinner showed us the further culinary delights we would enjoy in the following days.
Disappointingly, the scenic boat trip on the River Severn from Shrewsbury the next day had to be cancelled for safety reasons, as the river level was too high, and the water too fast flowing following copious rain in the preceding days. But a visit to the Museum of Ironbridge’s Iron Bridge was an interesting and fascinating substitute.
Our next visit was to the National Trust’s Attingham Park. The large Italian-influenced Georgian house has an impressive Nash-designed picture gallery and much else to view. There is a large area of parkland to explore, and the huge walled garden is cultivated and provides fruit and vegetables for the cafe.
The following day saw us visiting the Coalport China Museum, which was most enlightening, showing how the beautiful ceramics were created and developed.
This was followed by a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane. We spent the afternoon in the Blist’s Hill Victorian Town. It was exhausting trying to see everything there, but the traditionally cooked and presented fish and chips were enjoyed by many of us! Some of us also took the opportunity for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
Our next day saw us visiting Stokesay Castle; a fine example of a medieval fortified house – truly magnificent.
A brief visit to the bustling market town of Ludlow followed. There are many fine examples of listed medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings, and Sir John Betjeman described it as ‘probably the loveliest town in England.’ It was very satisfying to see a multitude of independent shops – and even a bobby on the beat! We finished the day on the Severn Valley railway from Kidderminster to Bridgenorth, enjoying some wonderful scenery.
Our last day took us to Coughton Court, home to the Catholic Throckmorton family for more than 600 years. We learned about their link to the infamous Gunpowder Plot, and viewed the priests’ holes from the days of Catholic persecution. The house is beautiful to explore, and climbing the ancient stone spiral staircases rewards one with spectacular views of the garden. The Throckmorton family still lives in this impressive house.
And then home, exhausted but uplifted; wonderful visits, good food, and excellent company.
The dry sunny weather (though chilly!) lasted through the whole five days, which definitely enhanced the holiday. A very big thank you is due to Mary Knowles for her patient and faultless management of the whole trip. Our Dews coach driver Elaine joined in with the group each day, and she proved to be a highly skilled driver, great at manoeuvering the big coach in tight spaces and narrow roads.
I do hope we can look forward to another little holiday next year!*
Kay Coope
* which depends on our finding a new Holiday Secretary (Chair).