This week the weather gods are treating us to hoar frosty nights and chilled, sun-filled days. The wind has dropped too – ideal conditions, then, for watery reflections. So here’s a flipped image of the River Severn, and a mysteriously vivid mirror-world that, in this photo at least, looks more real than reality. Strange how that can happen.
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The photo was taken yesterday afternoon on a trip into Shrewsbury, our county town. Here it is restored to uprightness.
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And now the upstream view, showing off the Welsh Bridge, the town’s westerly exit. (There is also an English Bridge over the easterly stretch):
The Severn is Britain’s longest river (220 miles). It rises in the mid-Wales mountains and then meanders down England to the Bristol Channel and thence into the Celtic Sea. At Shrewsbury it all but encircles the town centre, a hilltop settlement of ancient Saxon origins and ever a busy centre for trade and manufacturing. The river was once its super highway, woollen cloth and wool being key export commodities from which great fortunes could be made. These days the riverside parks and walks are a precious resort for tranquil pursuits (and reflection) away from nose-to-tail traffic that clog up the mediaeval streets. Interesting the ways things change.
More sun and frost promised tomorrow.
Tish Farrell 
Beautiful images Tish!
Thank you, Anne.
😊
Extraordinary! Your flipped photos look the right way up! Clever stuff.
It is so unexpected isn’t it. The magic of light.
Interesting that the sky is much bluer in the reflection. That’s the only way I could tell which way was up! Nice to see Shrewsbury in the winter sun. I always thought that the town doesn’t make enough of its riverside.
I said to G that over many years of visiting the town we’ve tended to concentrate on getting the SHOPPING done, and completely missing the best parts. Only by chance this week did we discover the riverside path from Frankwell to the Mount.
Crisp and beautiful, Tish. I like them a lot.
Oh my, what glorious photographs! Your river was like a perfect looking glass. Absolutely wonderful.
Thanks, Marilyn. It was a perfect afternoon for light and stillness.
Always enjoy the reflections in photos. Thanks for these stunning photos.
Thanks, Cath.
Hope it stays this way!
No sun here today, but at least it’s dry!
Absolutely beautiful.
Many thanks, Jennie.
You’re welcome, Tish.
Great way to present the images. Looks wintry but another cold slot here with frost this morning. Shrewsbury sounds both idyllic by river and manic streets!
The air was definitely wintery when I took those photos. It’s interesting how it shows up in the images: something about the quality/clarity of light.