Thursday 25th August, 2022 - Craven Arms, Stokesay Castle, Offa's Dyke, Leintwardine and Ludlow

We are staying in a lovely cottage, which was converted from a double garage, called Topsy Turvy. The bedroom is downstairs and the kitchen and living area is upstairs, something which is quite unusual for the English!!

Our hosts suggested that we visit Craven Arms, which we did, but not really sure why, as we could find nothing special about it, just a less than average village, unless we missed something!!!! From here we drove the few minutes to Stokesay Castle. Adjacent to the Castle is St John the Baptist Church

The church was established in 1150, and still conducts services today.  There is collection of oak box pews, which are vary rarely seen.

The bell ringer pulls are on the ground floor - quite unusual.

Stokesay Castle was built in the 1280's by a wool merchant, Laurence of Ludlow.  There was a settlement at Stokesay at the time of the Doomsday Book (1086).  There was a Manorial building on the site of the castle, although almost everything seen on the site today was constructed in the 1280's

The Solar Block or Private apartment, was an area, similar todays living room, where important guests were greeted and to dine and relax in.  The wood panelling has survived since the 17th Century

The Great Hall

We found it incredible amazing that something that was built in the 1280's is still completely intact

The 17th Century gatehouse, in this picture, is the only addition to the castle since the late 13th Century

In 1869 John Derby Allcroft, a successful London glove manufacturer, bought the estate, and soon began an extensive and sympathetic programme of repairs.  He built himself a new mansion nearby, at Stokesay Court, and decided that the Castle should be left empty but kept safe and sound as an historic monument

 After recovering for a while with a nice cool drink, we headed in search of the Offa's Dyke Information Centre, which actually took us to Knighton in Wales. Offa's Dyke is a lineal earthworks that roughly follows the border between England and Wales.  It is names after King Offa, who was the Anglo-Saxon King of Mercia from 757 to 796, who is believed to have ordered its construction.  The centre was very informative, but you can't actually see any of the dyke from there. 

There is replica of King Offa's Throne, which is very colourful.

The visiting school children made the artwork for the centre which is displayed as you enter.

By this time is was early afternoon, we came across The Lion, Bar and Restaurant at Leintwardine.  It is in a very picturesque setting overlooking the River Teme, not far from Ludlow. It has been named the Best Pub in Shropshire, and it was easy to see why😄 a great place for a late lunch.

We then drove into Ludlow, just to check it out, as we already had plans to meet our friends Jo, Chris, Jack, Emily and Harry there tomorrow.

Ludlow is an Medieval Market town in Shropshire