A rainy Bank Holiday for a circular drive to Chester Sunday 25th May

The Shropshire area is wonderful the brochures told us, all these little market towns along the way.  So off we went, a bit later than usual, but as it was raining it didn't matter.

Our route took us to Hadley, and then to Wellington, then up to Stanton upon Hine Heath, Market Drayton, Chester, and return.  Some of my grandparents were from the Hadley area, and the land around is all farmland, and I didn't even take any photos of the town.  Unusual for me.

Then to Wellington, and the Church, because while every town has a different church, they stand as a monument to the historical events of the residents including our ancestors.  Some are buried there, some we have no idea where, but with the influence of the Church, it is a sure bet that our g.grandparents stepped inside one of them at some stage of their life!

The Anglican church in Wellington has iron entry gates, in recognition of Queen Victoria.

The village square of Wellington

The architecture of the buildings in and around Shropshire is interesting.  Some have been built with an infill of bricks all in different shapes and angles.  We saw a pub built this way yesterday, and I don't know the significance if any of the style.  Others are the same black and white, others have large chimneys, some have a thatched roof. 

On to Stanton on Hine Heath, home of Thomas Shone, John's 5th great grandfather. He forged some cheques when he was working in a solicitors office in Shewsbury, and got a one way ticket to Australia, in chains.  Only he managed to do very well for himself, and called his Georgian house that he built Stanton after his village, and compared the area in Back River in Tasmania to the Shropshire hills that he had left.

Not my photo, too much cloud today, but it gives a perspective of the hills and valleys

The clock is unique, only one of 3 in the UK

Thomas's sister Hannah died aged 3 and another family member discovered her headstone and photographed it, we couldn't find it, and as we were dodging heavy rain, the ground was soaked and quite mushy.

The old pub in the square in Stanton.

Our next stop was Market Drayton, a lovely village home of the Gingerbread man.  So they said.  What they didn't tell you was that nothing opens on a Sunday!  (Our host confirmed that when we got home).  So no gingerbread man, but soup and a pie at the "cheapest" pub according to Thelma, who engaged in conversation the whole time we were there.

Bit lonely, but she amazed me by telling me the date that Prince George was born!  And the snappy girls at the next table were all clad in different forms of Hunter boots.  One look and I could see my daughter in a pair!  80 pounds but cheaper on line!

We took a small diversion to the village of Malpas, home of my ancestors, and found another beautiful old church where a wedding had just taken place and the church bells were ringing.  But check out the bridal cars - reproductions

Then we headed up to Chester.  Lots of farmland all around us, we crossed the Shrewsbury Canals, and managed to drive around Chester quite a few times, but it was so crowded, people everywhere, it was raining, and we didn't feel like walking around in the wet.  Others were walking around the Roman Walls, but then they all have the proper footwear for the wet weather.

Then to Shrewsbury.  Another town of interesting building styles, and also where Thomas worked, we wondered which solicitors firm he worked at, just maybe it is in one of our photos.  Just our luck half the town was closed to a bike rac

Our home route was through Wrexford, and back to find something for dinner.  We thought of pizza, but couldn't find any Pizza Huts, due to all the road works and diversions in Telford.  Then John found a KFC, and we had not too nice chicken for tea.  I think Red Rooster could make a fortune if they franchised their product here.

So what have we learnt lately, there are no wine spritzers, no bottled spirit mixers, some in cans just coming in, no chicken shops, not a lot of our sort of fast food, but lots of greasy spoons,  not a lot of restaurants other than in the pubs, and we have had some excellent meals.  I won't feel like cooking when we get home.  I can easily confuse one of the girls behind the bar, they don't seem to know what a Reisling or Chardoney is, (is that sweet), and undoubtedly the best wine is German and there are many ways to make a Pimms.  (With lemonade I have to remember to ask).

Some other things come to mind, fish in batter, with chips and peas, plenty of smoked haddock (I cannot tolerate the smell), fresh seafood, heaps of salmon (fresh), fresh smoked trout, little prawns, roasts are generally only served on Sunday lunch, delicious steak, no veal, (they don't like the thought of killing the calves, neither do I but I love veal), not a lot of lamb on menus.  

Tomorrow we leave England for quite a while.  Into Wales, Snowdonia, then to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, (cannot wait for that) before we head off to UK again in 2 weeks, then down the eastern parts.

Have we enjoyed it YES!