Ironbridge & Bridgenorth

Another day trip from Ludlow just to see what happens at these nearby towns. About a 50 minute drive, we took the B roads which are a lot narrower and not necessarily a lot less busy. The countryside is amazingly beautiful and you can see for miles with only undulating hills to spoil the view.

First stop, Ironbridge where we found the first iron bridge of its kind in the world and a monument to the industry that began here. The bridge was built in 1779 across the River Severn and used to cost a halfpenny to cross each way. There was no one way fee, only a return of 1 penny. In 1934 they closed the bridge to vehicular traffic, and today it is a pedestrian only bridge. The last person to pay the toll was Prince Charles with a 1779 penny to commemorate the opening of the bridge. It was built with a budget of £3250 but ended up costing perhaps £6000! Same old story.....
The town of Ironbridge itself is very pretty and surrounded by tree lined hills

Water cooling towers in the background
 

We had been told by one of the Ludlow market ladies about the Eley's Pork Pie shop in Ironbridge and that we shouldn't miss it. We didn't have time last year but we made time this year and wow! Of all the pork pies I have eaten, and that is a lot a lot, these pies are the very best. John had a long old chat with the pieman, got all his secrets and told him all his. The shop was very busy and we left with a medium sized pie. We should have got a large one, it was fantastic.

Him telling his secrets

Him telling his secrets

Next stop, Bridgenorth a market town with a central market building right in the middle of the town, just like Ledbury.

Wonderful Cushion Shop

It has a 12th century castle, or what's left of it, another one blown up by our friend Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War. The remains lean at an angle of 15 degrees 3 times the lean on Pisa!

Bridgenorth Castle Remains

Castle Gardens

We went for a walk in the gardens, beautifully done, and spied a steam train commencing it's journey.

A lovely day out.....

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Castle has been mentioned in passing, but after going there, needs further attention I think.

The castle was built between 1086 and 1094 and added to over the centuries. It is built on a steep rock face with the River Teme running around 2 sides. It's surrounded by a dry moat filled with brambles, thorny bushes and very sharp stakes making it difficult for enemies to cross.
As well as the Great Hall and the Gatehouse, being the more important buildings, still standing proud,

The Great Hall

View from the Gate House

 Ludlow also had its own Chapel. Built in the 1100's the unusual round nave is all that remains, but remains quite beautiful inside. In 1580 a first floor was inserted into the nave. This allowed the more important residents to worship in the same chapel without having to mix with the lower orders on the ground floor.

The Chapel remains

Ahhh...the class system is alive and well!
History....it's a wonderful thing. the people that passed through this gate over time. Edward II, Prince Arthur and his bride Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII no doubt, Price Edward and Prince Richard known as "the little princes in the tower" subsequently imprisoned and murdered, among just a few.

The Main Gate

Who would have guessed they played basketball back then

The grounds are plentiful and to think that a very young Catherine of Aragon would have looked out her window to see views not much different from these.

Ludlow Castle is an important tourist attraction for the town and is also used for weddings and special events.

The Brits love a good hat

Still in Ludlow

Still in Ludlow and I don't tire of the scenery. Another walk, another beautiful view.....

At the end of my road

Elgar

What do we know about Edward Elgar?

He was born in Lower Broadheath near Worcester in 1857 and had no formal training as a musician which is amazing considering he was the man who supposedly, put England back on the map with his compositions. He spearheaded the revival in English music.
He is best known for the popular 'Land of Hope and Glory' from the Pomp and Circumstance Marches and the Enigma Variations.
He was a sensitive man and because he was self taught and had no formal training he felt somewhat inadequate. He married Caroline Alice Roberts, known as Alice, the daughter of a senior British army officer. Her family was horrified by her intention to marry an unknown musician who worked in a shop and was a Roman Catholic. She was disinherited.
She encouraged and inspired him both musically and socially with limited success to start. In the end, his achievements earned him many honours including a knighthood, a Baronetcy and the order of merit. He accepted these honours reluctantly, knowing they were more important to Alice  and her social class and in recognition of all she had given up to further his career.  
In her diary she wrote "The care of a genius is enough of a life work for any woman"

Elgar in his garden

He could be a difficult man to live and work with, with his mood swings sometimes causing him to give up on his music entirely. He was heard to say in one of his lower moments, "My life is one continual giving up of little things which I love". Very sad indeed. But constantly encouraged by Alice, Elgar travelled extensively and continued to compose further works of art.
Alice died in 1920 and Elgar was devastated. He lost his interest in composing and took up other hobbies such as alchemy, football, bicycling, and being chauffeured about the countryside. He sold the family home and moved back to Worcestershire where he lived from 1923 - 1927 and composed large scale symphonic works.
Elgar was involved in the pioneering days of recording. In 1926 he made a series of recordings of his own works and was the first composer to take the gramophone seriously.
In his final years Elgar experienced a musical revival and was writing an opera 'The Spanish Lady' which sadly, was not completed due to illness. He died in 1933.

This house we visited today is now The Elgar Birthplace Museum and is the house where Edward Elgar was born. It is said to be the one place Elgar felt most at home and it was the only wish he had, that this cottage should be preserved. His daughter Carice carried out this wish, gathering her father's belongings and opening the Cottage Museum in 1936
And so it is and I very much enjoyed my visit......

Hampton Court Castle & Gardens

This Castle is not to be confused with Hampton Court Palace near London. This is actually the original castle and predates HC Palace by some 80 years. It is a piece of medieval magnificence in a magical setting.

The early history of this Castle is dominated by some noble kings including Henry IV who established it, Henry V who rode out of this very door to Agincourt and then Henry VI.

Out this very door

And down this very road

Over the years it has been owned privately by various families, relations of the King in the 15th century, prominent noble Herefordshire folk, a Vicountess of Hereford and a travelling American who bought it after spending 10 minutes in the library. He was not the last owner but the subsequent owners have had to put it on the market again and always for the same reason.....the cost of maintenance. If you have a cool 12 million you could purchase this castle today, but the upkeep will cripple you, just heating alone is exorbitant and it has been the same story throughout the ages. It has been repaired and changed so it's in pretty good nick, but without further work it will fade.
It is being kept open these day by a wonderful group of volunteers with entry fees and mandatory Teas and Scones, helping the cause, and it's a magical setting for weddings. There are 10 rooms available for overnight accommodation too, so that makes the whole prospect very appealing.

Breakfast will be provide in the Dining Room which was reminiscent of Government House in Canberra, just a little up it's own bottom.

A walk through the original Victorian gardens is stunning. A walled garden with herbaceous borders, a maze, a sunken garden with a waterfall and a secret passage I chose not to enter, a kitchen garden and a woodland. Just a splendid day out.

Wisteria Walk without the flowers

Mr Bumble Bee

Looked too scary for me...

Houses of Ludlow

Ludlow, a market town of around 11,000, dates back to the late 11th century. One of the main attractions is Ludlow Castle which was built on a small hill in the centre of the town.

 

It was an important border fortification and in the 15th century became the seat of the Council of Wales and the Marches. It was also a temporary home to several holders of the title Prince of Wales. 
Ludlow has nearly 500 listed buildings and includes some fine examples of medieval and Tudor style half timbered buildings.

The Feathers Hotel

Old Coaching Inn

The medieval street plan remains and some streets are famous for their rich architectural heritage and vistas with many fine Georgian buildings.

There are strict rules now that the town must not be altered, so in fact very little has changed for centuries.
It was a town whose growth was due to wool and cloth and during the 1700s contained several coaching inns and public and ale houses. The stage coach passed through Ludlow and as you wander around you can sense and see the history.
These days the town has become a gastronomic centre with a prestigious annual food festival and has its own brewery. Getting the picture now are we?
It also has the Ludlow Marches and Festival of Food and Drink where over 150 local small food producers showcase and sell their wares. It's a 3 day event and involves the town centre in food and drink trails including the famous "Sausage Trail"