DESTINATION:
Shropshire
With its rolling green hills, elegant country estates and abundance of local museums, Shropshire is perhaps the most enchanting of all the English counties. Thanks to its largely unspoiled countryside and charming medieval market towns, it stands out in modern Britain as a predominantly rural haven. Yet beyond its natural beauty, Shropshire boasts an impressive and intriguing history and cultural heritage.
Of England’s 186 castles, 32 are found in Shropshire. Its prominence in the Industrial Revolution has spawned numerous museums and the county boasts a number of private country houses with links to Queen Victoria including Weston Park and Pitchford Hall. From Attingham Park to the historic town of Shrewsbury, discover the wealth of history and natural beauty in this enticing area.
Recommended duration – 4 nights/5 days
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
- WESTON PARK – passed by family descent from the first owners in the medieval period, through to 1986 when the 7th and present Earl of Bradford gifted the house, collections and 1,000 acres of Capability Brown parkland to the nation in lieu of tax. The house boasts a remarkable collection of paintings including works by van Dyck, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Constable and Stubbs. Its decorative art collections are of equal measure to its paintings with Chippendale furniture, outstanding silver from the 17th to the 20th centuries, Oriental and European ceramics and Gobelin tapestries.
- IRONBRIDGE GORGE – one of the most important centres of the Industrial Revolution and also one of the world’s great iron-making centres. Industrial decline in the 20th century led to the decay of the Gorge, although today it has been restored as a complex of industrial archaeology. A visit to Ironbridge includes the following:
- MUSEUM OF THE GORGE
- IRON BRIDGE – stands as one of the greatest symbols of the Industrial Revolution.
- COALPORT CHINA MUSEUM – home to a collection of intricate treasures, including Victorian tea sets, statuesque vases and hand-painted miniatures.
- JACKFIELD TILE MUSEUM – the collection consists of some of the very best examples displayed in galleries and re-created rooms including a pub, tube station and church.
- BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN TOWN – a recreation of a late 19th century town with many cafés, restaurants and tea rooms.
- ATTINGHAM PARK – an elegant neo-classical house dating from 1785 and a fine setting for French and Italian furniture, an extensive picture collection and the Ambassadorial silver used by members of the Berwick family serving in Italy. The house is set in a 250-acre deer park landscaped by Repton.
- SHREWSBURY – the county town of Shropshire which boasts a wealth of timber framed and Georgian houses, steep narrow streets and little alleys gathered for protection within a great loop of the River Severn.
- STOKESAY CASTLE – a perfectly preserved example of a 13th century fortified manor house, providing a glimpse of the life and ambitions of a rich medieval merchant.
- STOKESAY COURT – the present house dates from the late 1800s and was built for a wealthy Victorian merchant. At the time of its construction it was at the cutting edge of technology and boasted modern amenities such as underfloor heating and internal electric lighting. Sadly the house fell into a state of decline and was eventually sold in 1992 following the death of the last member of the Allcroft line. In 2006 it was featured in the film ‘Atonement’, which has greatly helped its revival.
- CHIRK CASTLE (Wrexham) – enjoys a commanding position on the Welsh Marches and has been in continuous habitation ever since its construction in 1310. Its austere exterior contrasts with the elegant state rooms whose elaborate plasterwork, tapestries, portraits and superb Adam-style furniture all help create a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.
- POWIS CASTLE and GARDENS (Welshpool) – perched on a rock above the late 17th century garden terraces, this medieval castle contains the finest country house collections in Wales. It was built at the beginning of the 13th century by Welsh princes and has been owned and altered by successive generations of Herberts and Clives for 400 years. The castle is furnished with a wealth of fine paintings and furniture, and the CLIVE MUSEUM displays a beautiful collection of treasures from India. The world-famous gardens, created under the influence of Italian and French styles, are of the highest horticultural and historic importance.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
- ERDDIG HOUSE (National Trust) – one of the most fascinating houses in Britain, not least because of the unusually close relationship between the family and their servants, the beautiful State Rooms display furniture and textiles made for the house in the 1720s, including a state bed and some exquisite Chinese wallpaper. The extensive range of outbuildings includes the kitchen, laundry, bakehouse, stables, sawmill, smithy and joiner’s shop. The large walled garden has been restored to its 18th century layout with Victorian parterre and yew walk.
- LUDLOW – a lovely market town located above the River Teme in South Shropshire. Visits here include Ludlow Castle (ruins) and the late 11th century church of St Laurence which boasts an extensive set of misericords and fine stained glass.
- PITCHFORD HALL – Britain’s finest half-timbered house. Owned by the Colthurst family for more than 500 years before being sold in 1992, the house holds a wealth of royal history, including the priest-hole room where Prince Rupert hid from the Roundheads during the Civil War, and the Princess Victoria room, the bedroom of Princess (later Queen) Victoria during her childhood stays at Pitchford. It was recently bought by Rowena Colthurst and her husband who are embarking on a restoration project following 25 years of neglect.