Whistle stop tour of the famed Shropshire market town
The “Enchanted Garden”, Shrewsbury, 25th August 2022 (Author’s Collection).
The Shropshire market town of Shrewsbury sits just a hop, skip and a nine or so mile jump from the border with the neighbouring nation of Wales and follows in the traditions of similar border market towns in this county with a medieval history, a Tudor period architecture, historic and latter day links to the Armed Services, umpteen historic places of worship and next to the narrow and winding streets flows the River Severn that rolls through the very beating heart of England. As you will see shortly, the stained glass windows of St Mary’s Church are every bit as beautiful as the reviews here within The Matrix would have you believe, the circular nave of St Chad’s Church is every bit as distinctive as the “War Memorial” it faces, the River Severn continues to be as beautiful as the last time I saw her and both Shrewsbury Castle and it’s esteemed Abbey or Abbey Church remain magnificent to the touring eye. Throw in a cathedral, a library, Charles Darwin, an “Enchanted Garden” and a “Cosmic Egg” and you’ve got yourself a very enjoyable afternoon indeed.
Eagle eyed regular readers (thank you David Perlmutter) will recognise a few of the images that follow as I’ve used the town of Shrewsbury recently as a stopping off point as I’ve headed north west into Wales and their incredible waterways and canals as well as a World Heritage Site aqueduct that resides under both the clouds and under the moniker “A Stream in the Sky” and I also completed a similar article to this one almost a year ago. When, in October 2021, Shrewsbury was beginning to show the Autumnal hues under a darkened sky, this edition will be under far more sunshine filled skies and, departing again from previous editions, this article will feature a far longer look at the town’s Abbey, the Quarry or public park that runs alongside the River Severn, as well as the beautifully grand St Mary’s Church and “Enchanted Garden”, all so far unseen.
As with all similar travel articles in this series, the pictorial roll that follows is simply a representation of the afternoon stroll undertaken as well as a narrative and colour commentary alongside the sun filled images captured. Today’s walk was a loop, from the town’s famed castle and incredible public library building via hence far unseen images from St Mary’s Church, from inside the famed Abbey, the “Enchanted Garden”, as well as the Quarry public park that hugs the banks of the River Severn.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this virtual pictorial stroll in the sunshine of Shrewsbury, with all images captured by me on the afternoon of Thursday 25th August 2022.
Shrewsbury Castle and Shrewsbury Library
Shrewsbury’s “Cosmic Egg” and a commemoration for the Queen’s recent Jubilee celebrations at the entrance to the town’s famous castle.
Sun streaks on the “Cosmic Egg” and a first glimpse of the nearby public library.
The Tudor architecture common to Shrewsbury and other Shropshire market towns is represented here by the yellow and black timbered Gatehouse at the entrance to the castle grounds.
The “Cosmic Egg” and a larger glimpse of the Grade I listed building that is the magnificent public library building.
(1) Dated as far back as the 12th Century, Shrewsbury Castle is a Grade I listed building and sits atop a hill overlooking the town, the railway station and the nearby River Severn.
(2) Dated as far back as the 12th Century, Shrewsbury Castle is a Grade I listed building and sits atop a hill overlooking the town, the railway station and the nearby River Severn.
Dated variously between the 16th and 17th Century and a former home to the prestigious and famous “Shrewsbury School”, the library is also a Grade I listed building.
Charles Darwin, sitting comfortably at the entrance to Shrewsbury Library — Part 1.
Charles Darwin, sitting comfortably at the entrance to Shrewsbury Library — Part 2.
Charles Darwin, sitting comfortably at the entrance to Shrewsbury Library — Part 3.
The bust of local poet and novelist Mary Webb and the beautiful Gatehouse building leading to the entrance to the Castle.
Deleted Scenes from Shrewsbury Castle and Library — Part 1.
Deleted Scenes from Shrewsbury Castle and Library — Part 2.
Shrewsbury Cathedral, Public Square and Old Market Hall
The magnificent entrance to Shrewsbury Cathedral and the only cathedral within the county of Shropshire.
This 19th Century Roman Catholic Cathedral resides close to the town’s renowned “City Walls” and I was only able to capture these two beautiful images of its magnificently ornate entrance.
Shrewsbury’s “Old Market Hall” and another of the town’s Grade I listed buildings dating as far back as the 16th Century.
The bronze “Clive of India” statue that welcomes you to Shrewsbury’s public square. “The statue commemorates Robert Clive (Clive of India) who was born in Shropshire in 1725. He was MP for Shrewsbury from 1761 until his death in 1774 (though much of his time was spent in India) and Mayor of Shrewsbury in 1762–1763”.
Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Alkmund’s Church
The beautiful spire of the Church of St Mary the Virgin or more simply, “St Mary’s Church”. The largest church in Shrewsbury is variously dated to the 13th Century, is another Grade I listed building and, like it’s religious contemporaries within the town, is cramped within the confines of the tight town streets. I therefore only have this one usable image from the outside.
View from the Chancel through to the magnificent and world renowned stained glass window of St Mary’s Church.
Taken directly from the information board nearby — “German glass from the 15th and 16th Century: The glass in the middle window of this aisle comprises glass from different churches. Most of the glass was rescued from Altenberg Abbey, near Cologne, which closed in 1806. It was bought in 1845 by Reverend William Rowland, vicar of St Mary’s. Rowland was a keen enthusiast for the revival of stained glass and wanted to “flood the church with colour”.
Trinity Chapel — “Built around 1360, this chapel replaced the original Leybourne chapel from the previous century. It was last significantly modified in the late 19th Century”.
Two views of yet another spire that dominates the Shrewsbury skyline, and the spire of St Alkmund’s Church. Founded in the year 912AD, it too is hemmed in by the tight winding streets that surround it but unfortunately wasn’t as open for visitors as its religious contemporaries today — Part 1.
Two views of yet another spire that dominates the Shrewsbury skyline, and the spire of St Alkmund’s Church. Founded in the year 912AD, it too is hemmed in by the tight winding streets that surround it but unfortunately wasn’t as open for visitors as its religious contemporaries today — Part 2.
Shrewsbury Abbey
Welcome to Shrewsbury Abbey!
A full length view of the magnificent Abbey and as you’ll see, the clock is permanently stuck at 3 minutes to 7!
The Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul or more simply, Shrewsbury Abbey, is yet another Grade I listed building and was originally founded in the year 1083 as a Benedictine Monastery.
From the congregation chairs through the central chancel and archways leading to the Church Altar.
Concrete burial chambers leading to a private chapel adjacent to the main church and altar.
A beautiful private chapel within the Abbey.
My camera can never capture the insides of churches or cathedrals such as these. But this is rather magnificent! An organist was playing and practising in St Mary’s Church earlier too.
A final exterior image of the magnificent Shrewsbury Abbey.
Deleted Scenes from Shrewsbury Abbey.
St Chad’s Church and “The Quarry”
As viewed from “The Quarry” or Quarry Park, this is St Chad’s Church with its distinctive round “Nave”. Charles Darwin was baptised here in 1809.
Juxtaposition of the memorial to the Boer War and the 18th Century, Grade I listed building of St Chad’s Church.
The memorial to the Boer War and “The Quarry” or Quarry Park behind.
Welcome to The Quarry, a huge public park that hugs the banks of the River Severn.
A beautiful image that typifies the afternoon as a paddle boarder enjoys the River Severn with “Shrewsbury School Boat Club” to his left.
Two front images of the rather startling World War memorial situated within The Quarry — Part 1.
Two front images of the rather startling World War memorial situated within The Quarry — Part 2.
Two rear images of the World War memorial in Quarry Park with the distinctive St Chad’s Church to your right — Part 1.
Two rear images of the World War memorial in Quarry Park with the distinctive St Chad’s Church to your right — Part 2.
Shrewsbury’s very own Hercules!
I just missed these canoeists but it’s a rather beautiful image all the same.
Shrewsbury’s very own slinky spring! Or more officially, “The Darwin Memorial Geo-Garden Quantum Leap”.
Delated Scenes from St Chad’s Church and The Quarry public park.
The “Enchanted Garden”
A little weather beaten but worthy of inclusion and a perfect welcome to four images from the “Enchanted Garden” to perfectly round off a beautiful walk in the Shrewsbury sunshine.
Two views from on high of the “Enchanted Garden” — Part 1.
Two views from on high of the “Enchanted Garden” — Part 2.
View across to the flower gardens as we approach the final image of the afternoon.
The ducks, water fountains and even a “Lady of the Lake” inside Shrewsbury’s Enchanted Garden.
Your humble narrator, 10 miles or so along the River Severn at Ironbridge Gorge, early August 2022 (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading. My “Summer Project” has taken me to the waterways and many historical castle ruins as I’ve crisscrossed the border between England and Wales and my three most recently published travel articles are linked below:
