A MORNING IN MUCH WENLOCK.
In August we spent a morning in Much Wenlock where there is so much to see and do. On a day when Great Britain went on to scoop a clutch of unexpected medals at the Rio Olympic Games several people followed the Olympic town trail which celebrates Much Wenlock’s proud links with the games. The town is delightful and the numerous buildings of note are easily accessible; the priory, the museum, the church, the guildhall, but also the fascinating ‘shuts’, the gaol and a farm right in the centre and buildings identified by plaques a very active history society together with lovely independent shops making Much Wenlock so different to the ubiquitous identikit towns.
AN AFTERNOON AT ALDENHAM PARK.
We spent the afternoon at Aldenham Park, a place not normally open to the public. We had our first glimpse of the house through the elaborate gates and then approached this lovely home up a long straight drive and parked on an area of raked gravel. We toured the house led by the young owner and her husband who have taken over the house from her father. Her grandfather had rescued the house and park from a state of dire decline.
We all agreed that there is something very special about visiting a house which is a home and in this case home to a young couple with three small boys. Toy tipper trucks on the gravel, outside play equipment and a set of drums in the ballroom are somehow joyous, sharpening the beauty of the exterior and interiors. We got a real insight into the way in which the family lives and the work involved in trying to keep the property dry warm and safe for the future.
Margaret Hathaway.