National Trust, English Heritage, museums etc.
It’s another warm sunny day (with the possibility of a shower later?) – we’ll throw together a quick picnic and find somewhere to eat it (Whitcliffe Common, Ludlow) on the way to Berrington Hall. We explored the interior about this time last year – today we’ll take a walk around the lake. It’s easy going, even on such a warm afternoon, and the ice creams in the gardens are very welcome, though I’m not sure we’ve really earned them.
Somewhere for a light lunch, on the way home from Leominster… Not a day for the hills – the sunshine is tempting, but the showers are sharp, so we’ll have a look around the house and, weather permitting, garden.
Rain is threatened – better not stray too far. A wander around Dudmaston might be pleasant? It was! Spring is really getting going here – and not just the flora. The swans on the lake are quite excited about it, and the geese are honking happily. Just out of sight in the Severn valley, the steam trains whistle as they clatter along, a far more relaxing sound than the motorcycles screaming along the A442…
Dudmaston NT
We’d driven past once or twice, but never looked more closely. The last regular service was held here in 1871, according to English Heritage, its owners. They also say it was one of the first historic buildings to be taken into the care of the state – in 1914! It’s in the middle of nowhere (i.e roughly half-way between Acton Burnell and Kenley, perhaps 10 miles to the south of Shrewsbury), built for the farm nearby, Langley Hall (itself worth a second glance), when presumably it was of some significance in the area. A remarkable little building – heavy, rather plain and rustic oak pews (and box pews), very simple, very quiet ( a perfect brief Good Friday outing – there’s no-one else here!), and kept clean and tidy despite its long redundancy.
The morning’s sun has gone, but it’s a fine afternoon at Attingham, where we’re taking a last look at the snowdrops – their season is nearly past. We’ll look at the deer too – and unexpected nuthatches by the hide, who are quite reluctant to pose for the camera…
The one seems to accompany the other – we’ve been to Attingham on previous occasions, to see the floral display and to find the river Tern resembling a lake, backing up from the nearby Severn. It’s a pleasant spot for a cold afternoon, and though the morning’s sunshine has gone, there’s barely a breeze – the water’s like a mirror. There are post-stroll tea and cakes too…
A sunny afternoon (especially after a wet night and morning) is too good to waste at this time of year! We’ll have a walk around Attingham Park – the footpaths shouldn’t be too bad there, and the longest route is a reasonable leg-stretch. We can say hello to the crocodile* in the far pool (he wasn’t there! Where’s he gone? Warmer climes perhaps)…
*see “Snowdropping” Feb 2015
…or perhaps its grandfather? It’s the world’s first iron-framed building – built as a flax mill in 1797, it was converted to maltings in 1897 – and remained in use as such, on and off, until 1987, by which time its historic significance (and a Grade 1 listing) ensured continued existence. Work is now ongoing to restore the buildings on this site in Shrewsbury to further commercial – and community – use, work that will not be finished overnight. Our visit today, with an excellent guided tour, was a (free) Heritage Open Day event, and well worth a donation to funds. Must have another look in a year or two…
Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings
Sunday: We’re travelling through Herefordshire, and need somewhere for a picnic and fresh air. How about the Weir? It’s a National Trust property, consisting of a riverside garden and walled garden on the steep north bank of the Wye, a few miles upstream from Hereford. The riverside garden is attractive in a wild (dare I say unkempt?) kind of way; the walled garden nearby is more traditional, perhaps, with colourful floral displays and rows of veg. Once again, the butterflies are being fairly relaxed…
