Monday 11 April 2023 - A Visit to Bridgnorth

Easter Monday saw us meeting up with my old University pal, Peter, his wife Cassie, and his even older school mate Rod and wife Kate. Peter and Cassie are over from Calgary, and we all met up in Bridgnorth, recalling our previous meeting in Wales on 1 November 2017.

Anyway, whilst we spent most of the day chatting and enjoying a fine luncheon spread, Peter, Sue and I did, in between hefty showers, manage a 5km stroll around Bridgnorth. First we headed down to the river Severn on a good path under the Severn Valley railway viaduct and past Daniels Mill, which may have been mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Soon the riverside path was gained, along which we walked into the low level part of the town.

The following pictures trace our route up to the high level and through Bridgnorth's well maintained antiquities.

Window tax!

Friary remains that used to be the site of a carpet factory

St Leonard's Church

The old grammar school

Inside the church, where lots of nice 'bric a brac' china and jigsaw puzzles were being sold

Town Hall - built on stilts to provide a covered market place for the town

Remains of the C12 castle, which leans four times a much as the tower in Pisa!

A view towards the railway from the lovely Castle Gardens

The church of St Mary Magdalene was designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1792-95

There's a good view to the river from the path below the church

We made our way down to the railway station, where the 'pre-Beeching' era is alive and well. My Iain Allan trainspotter's bible is in the loft, or I'd tell you whether I've spotted Pendennis Castle before (almost certainly 'yes' - I think I spotted all the 'Castle' class as they ran through Albrighton, where I used to go trainspotting after junior school.

After lunch, the sun came out and we were able to enjoy tea and cake outside Rod and Kate's house, where Jane, who had driven over from Denby Dale for a few days, joined the party.

L to R: Cassie, Kate, Rod, Peter Jane and Sue

Then Sue and I went home, via Great Grandma Dot (now 98) in Eccleshall. What a lovely day out.