Stratford upon Avon

After visiting Warwick Castle we called into Stratford upon Avon on the way back to Leicester. The main street was very busy, mainly tourists, visiting sites connected with William Shakespeare. In the main street, Henley Street, we saw the house where William Shakespeare was born.

Further along the street is the local public library. A sign on the door says that the library is the result of a gift from the businessman and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The money for the library was provided in 1902 and the fifteenth century building was converted to house a library collection. The public library was opened in 1903.

After wandering down Henley Street we walked past the canal to the Avon River.

The Royal Shakespeare Company building is the most prominent building in this part of the town.

We only had a short time in Stratford upon Avon so we only had time for a short walk by the river. It was also starting to rain again.

This is very much a tourist town focused on the life of Shakespeare.

Warwick Castle

As the cricket match to be played on Wednesday 22 July was cancelled a group of us went to visit Warwick Castle.

Approaching the entrance to the castle you pass archers demonstrating their craft.

The deep ditch surrounding the castle, one of the defensive devices constructed to defend the castle from attackers, is clearly visible.

The castle is entered through the barbican.

Once inside the castle our first stop was the Castle Dungeon tour for which we had separate tickets. The dungeon was built in 1345. The tour includes at times gruesome re-enactments, with audience participation, which could be described as Horrible Histories for adults. Unfortunately it is not really possible to see the actual dungeon due to the darkness and special effects required for the performance. Once outside again we then found the entrance to the prison which allowed us to see the conditions in which prisoners were kept including the hole in the floor where some prisoners were discarded.

Quite some time was then spent in the Great Hall and other rooms in the castle. Suits of armor and a selection of weapons are part of the display in the hall. The hall and state rooms are impressive and we spent a good deal of time exploring the interior of the building open to the public.

Trebuchet

A walk along part of the castle wall was our next destination providing views of castle buildings and grounds as well as the area surrounding the castle.

Looking towards Warwick

While we were exploring the gardens the birds of prey show was about to begin. Being summer in England it was raining but we were able to seek shelter under some large trees nearby to watch eagles and other large birds of prey swoop overhead.

Walking around the gardens we met a number of peacocks including this one posing near a topiary peacock.

The gardens are worth exploring, when it is not raining.

Also in the grounds is a replica of a ballista, a medieval siege weapon. The castle also has a working replica of a trebuchet but it was not operating the day we visited the castle.

The castle had a Victorian water mill which in 1890 was adapted to supply electricity to the castle. The mill has been restored and is well worth visiting. As you enter the mill there is another view of part of the gardens.

The castle has a long history dating from 914. This timeline provides a brief outline. It is well worth visiting Warwick Castle to explore the buildings and the gardens however this may become more difficult in time as the Castle is managed by Merlin Entertainments (The Tussauds Group) and the feeling I had was that the Castle was on its way to being turned into a theme park. Hopefully visitors who wish to will still be able to explore the history of the Castle on its own and not as an object lost in re-enactments.

Game 9 against Warwickshire at Birmingham

On Friday 24 July we set off for Birmingham where the game was to be played at the Warwickshire Cricket Club Foundation.

Unfortunately it was raining when we arrived.

Members of both teams spent several hours in the club room socialising and watching the rain.

A number of the Wags connected with the world via social media.

After lunch and a few drinks we returned to the coach for the drive back to the hotel via Edgbaston Cricket Ground where some purchases were made at the Fan Shop. The third Ashes Test Match will be played at this ground from 29 July to 2 August.

Game 8 against Derbyshire

The week before the game we were informed that the match was cancelled as Derbyshire over 60s could not get together enough players for a team and could not find a ground for the game. The match scheduled for Wednesday 22 July therefore did not go ahead.

As this turned out to be a free day some of the men played golf while Steve took the rest of us on the coach to Warwick Castle and Stratford upon Avon.

Game 7 against Shropshire at Shrewsbury

Sunday 19 July we set off from Wrexham to travel to Shrewsbury to play cricket against the Shropshire over 60s at the Shrewsbury School.

The school dates back to 1552 and the original buildings were opposite Shrewsbury Castle. The renovated buildings used by the school until 1882 are now used by the public library. At its present location the school owns 100 acres of land by the River Severn. The school's most famous student is Charles Darwin. A statue of Darwin is in the school grounds.

The cricket honour boards in the club house provides information from 1882.

Shrewsbury School is a boarding school for 740 students and is now a co-educational school. Cricket is obviously important to the school and in 2006 the Neville Cardus Cricket Centre, an indoor cricket centre, was opened. There are also six cricket grounds.

Victoria batted first and made 6 for 186. Gordon Cowling retired at 50. Shropshire passed the Victorian score in the 39th over losing only two wickets. Robin umpired during the game.

After the match both teams posed for a photograph. Despite the result it was a good game played on a great ground.

Shrewsbury

On 19 July the cricket match was against Shropshire at Shrewsbury. The game was played on the main cricket ground at Shrewsbury School. During the game Steve drove the Wags into town so that we could do some exploring.

Shrewsbury is on the Severn River which we crossed to reach the town centre.

Once again this is a town with contrasting architectural styles.

The Darwin Gate was erected in 2004 honouring Charles Darwin who was born in Shrewsbury.

As we explored the town we crossed the river again to locate Shrewsbury Abbey.

The Abbey of St Peter and St Paul has been on this site for more than 1000 years but there have been many changes to the buildings with sections being demolished during the reign of Henry VIII and during the Civil War. Restoration of the remaining building was undertaken during the nineteenth century.

The nearby railway line passes over a stone bridge structure with roads passing underneath.

We had been told that we should visit the Quarry Park by the river. It was a pleasant walk to the park.

Quarry Park is 29 acres with the central feature being the Dingle, a former quarry now transformed into a bright and colourful garden.

Outside this area people were listening to a group performing from the bandstand.

Overlooking the park is St Chad's church. There has been a church on this site since 780. The present church was rebuilt between 1790 and 1792 after the collapse of the previous building in 1788.

Another building of interest in Shrewsbury is the castle founded in 1074 but extensively renovated in the eighteenth century.

There is a fine view from the castle to the town. The yellow and brown building in the foreground is Castle Gates House built in the late sixteenth century at another location but moved to its present location in the early eighteenth century.

Across the road is the building of the former Shrewsbury School which occupied the site from 1552 until 1882.  The stone buildings were constructed between 1594 and 1830. The building, since 1963, is now the public library. Charles Darwin was a pupil at Shrewsbury School.

A statue of Charles Darwin is in the garden in front of the library.

Unfortunately we only had two hours to explore this town. There are lots of interesting sites to see. Two days later on our way to Leicester we stopped at the town again for another short visit.

Wrexham (Wrecsam)

Wrexham, or Wrecsam in Welsh, in North Wales was our next base and we spent three nights at the Ramada Hotel.

On our rest day, on the Monday, we spent a couple of hours having a look around the town centre of Wrexham, a short walk from the hotel. The weather was cold and showery, similar to the weather we experienced when visiting south Wales four years ago.

Near the information office was an open air market outside the former Guild Hall building.

Like most other towns in the UK the streetscapes are interesting and varied with a variety of architectural styles.

View of roof tops and chimneys of Wrexham.

 One building that really stands out is St Giles Church. A church building has been on this site since the eleventh century but the present building dates from the end of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century. The 135 foot high tower was completed in 1506.

The brass eagle lectern has been used in the church since 1524. 

 Above the arch of the east wall is part of a wall painting from the sixteenth century.

The font also dates from the sixteenth century. 

A chapel dedicated to the Royal Welch Fusiliers contains the regiment colours, roll of honour plus memorials on the wall.

In the chapel there is also a memorial to the men of Wrexham who died during World War I.

The tomb of the merchant Elihu Yale (1649-1721) can be located in the church yard. He donated money to the establishment of Yale University, named after him, in America.