Spot the difference, yesterday I crossed the border so the Severn Way signs no longer have Llwybr Hafren on them. A more significant difference is that in Wales there were no stiles, just nice galvanised steel gates, here in Shropshire most crossings use stiles some of which are a little decrepit.
It was raining quite hard when I set out this morning and it did not let up until after 11am but by 12.00 I had a spring in my step as I was drying out, I had completed a days walk according to the book (if you remember I decided to do two days worth today) and I was about to arrive at Montford Bridge pub for lunch – whooppee.
The pub was closed! It does not open on Mondays and Tuesdays. The spring in my step was gone and I despondently trudged on the next 6 miles to Shrewsbury. But I made it and am rather pleased I did not spend a night in Montford Bridge with no food options.
The first item of interest today was Melverley Church built in 1406 after the previous one was destroyed by Owain Glyndwr. It is unusual as it is timber framed with wattle and daub walls, perhaps they wanted to build it quickly which is why they used timber and not stone or perhaps they expected Owain to come back and destroy this one. I am pleased to say it was not locked and gave me shelter for a 10 minute biscuit break. The Severn Guidebook says Charles Darwin's parents were buried in the churchyard, I did not look to hard for them in the rain, a good job as the book is wrong, they are buried in another church at Montford which I passed later in the day.
Charles Darwin's father died in 1848, it was another 10 years before his son's great work was published so I suspect Charles was a disappointment to his father. He had hoped he would follow him into medicine or become a clergyman. Charles married his cousin which is not ideal for improving the species but she did have one thing going for her, her family were rich (Wedgwood’s).
So I eventually arrived in Shrewsbury where almost all of the BT Cabinets have been painted. What a great idea but it would be interesting to know how they maintain the standard, all the ones I have seen are very good.
And after a long day I had a BATH, the first on this journey, up until the rooms have only had showers. I might have a second bath tomorrow morning just to make the most of it.
Tomorrow is an easier walk and hopefully won’t be in the rain.