Friday, 22nd July, 2011

Hello to all
We set off this morning to do something as basic as a load of washing, the laundromat was packed and the street it was in was closed to any type of parking, after a drive around, parking is something one does not do easily in these small towns and even with Masie's assistance we went around the one way streets on a number of occasions, past a funeral at least five times, after driving up a bus lane I suggested to Sam we get out of there and do something more interesting than a load of washing. Found a car park near the tourist info picked up some brochures and found one that we thought would be good. We set out to see Attingham Hall, it was built for the 1st Lord Berwick in 1785 and owned by the same family for more than 160 years. It has an amazingly interesting history, our guide was a lady who was an actress and opera singer probably in her 70s and she was fabulous. She brought the entire place to life for us all, she knew the history down to the last detail and really had everyone enthrawled. It took about an hour an half and when she was finished everyone applauded her, on the way out I shook her hand and said that was just amazing, everyone following did the same, so to say the least and Sam and I have said this all the way thru the person you have as your guide makes or breaks the experience you have.
We then went on to have a quick look at Haughmond Abbey ruins,the extensive remains of an Augustinian Abbey, which include spectacular stone carvings and a roofed Chapter House, there is a connection to Attingham Hall.
We headed home and then went for a walk into town to see Shrewsbury Abbey, the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter and St Paul founded in 1083 by Roger de Montgomery and built on the site of a wooden Saxon Church. As a Benedictine Abbey it was one of the most influential foundations in England. Its Chapter House saw one of the first democratic parliaments in the land and one of its Abbots pleaded for long hours with Henry IV and Harry Hotspur to try to avoid the bloody Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403.
Unfortunately time was of the essence and it had to close but just before this the heavens opened and it was torrential, we sheltered in the doorway until they closed then sheltered in the pub across the street. It let up a little so we decided to head off to our pub we had been to the previous evening, we made it without getting too wet, had a lovely dinner and a bottle of Hardy's wine and wandered home. We set off tomorrow for Pembrokeshire and will catch up with anor cousin of Sams who lives in Pembroke Dock. All the best Sam and Sabine