The clouds have gone and the sun is shining from a clear blue sky. It’s still really cold though… Wenlock Edge, above Aston Munslow, should be good for a walk with the camera.
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A visit to the museum of the Bishop’s Castle Railway Society.
The Bishop’s Castle Railway was a failure. The line that opened (unofficially) in 1865 and (officially) in 1866 was only half of the originally planned through route. By the end of 1866 it was in the hands of the receivers, who tried unsuccessfully to sell it while continuing to run services. Remarkably, they did so until 1935, by which time it was utterly decrepit. Within two years the line had been lifted and its rolling stock had all gone for scrap metal.
Today, much of the trackbed remains, as do a couple of the stations, but at Bishop’s Castle all that exists is the weighbridge building. Only a few years ago it was derelict and in danger of being lost forever, but it has been lovingly restored and is now the 
home of the BCRS museum, a collection of small exhibits and – star attraction – one of the nameplates of the BCR’s locomotive Carlisle. The building also serves as a café (home-made cakes!), while in the yard is the body of a former BR banana van, full of very reasonably priced second-hand railway books.
It’s cold, grey and dull, though yesterday’s light snowfall provides an extra dimension to the local scenes. In Coalbrookdale the Coke Hearth Crocheters have decorated the bus shelter for Christmas, and by the time I reach Ironbridge there’s a warm glow of light in the shops.
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It seems we need to visit an art and craft fair in Jackfield village hall. It’s a fine dry afternoon (but still very cold) – we’ll walk, and we’ll go the long way, down Pound Lane and along the old railway track to the Coalport bridge. There, we’ll cross the river and wander along past the old china works, before recrossing and heading for Jackfield. We leave the village hall several pounds (£) lighter, but we can’t carry everything we like the look of. I expect we’ll need to return tomorrow…
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…clear and sunny. There’s been a hard frost overnight, lingering in the shade. I’m walking out through the fiery fields (no warmer than anywhere else…) and up Lodge Lane to Benthall Hall and the woods. It’s good to be out, but too cold to stand around. Better keep moving!
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… and first lambs! Colder weather is here, and today’s frost, the first of the winter, has lingered all day. We hadn’t expected the lambs at Harnage Grange though. The days are short – the sun is sinking over the horizon as we return to the car, and there’s a full moon rising.
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…around Cound. At least it didn’t rain on us. Brighter, but colder weather is forecast for later in the week – frost and sunshine. Things are looking up!
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After a misty, murky grey week, there’s some blue sky this morning, and we’re on our way out to enjoy it. It’s not going to last, but it’s good to be wandering around Hurst Farm and Aldenham on a day like this.
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Some sunshine in Coalbrookdale, despite the forecast…
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It’s certainly a dull November day, but there’s colour in Ludlow, on this walk around some of its quieter ways.
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