At last. We’ve landed. I’m back. And on a whole new edge; no longer Wenlock, but on the border between Shropshire and Wales. And although we are finally here in body, there’s still a sense of too long in transit; a Rip Van Winkle dislocation in time and space. So just so you and we know where we’ve come to (from Broseley in the east to the county’s south-west corner just north of Clun), here are some maps.
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Here we are, then, in the midst of Shropshire’s hill country, not far from the Long Mynd and the Stiperstones. Nor far either from the Welsh uplands. Bishop’s Castle also sits on its own steep hill.
This is the Town Hall, not quite on the summit. The clock chimes the hours and quarter hours, the plangent tones (when one is half asleep) evoking vague notions of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood, for although we lack the slow black, crow black fishing boat bobbing sea, I feel sure I will discover some equivalent.
Here’s the downwards view:
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This is the High Street. Curiously perhaps, it features tributes to elephants here and there along its length. The most dramatic and near life-size version is just above the Town Hall:
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But half way down the hill we find a whole herd:
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And on the corner with Union Street, our new-home road:
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And why the elephants, you ask?
Well, there are two reasons.
1) In the 18th century, the rapacious Robert Clive aka Clive of India, returned to England with his haul of Subcontinental booty and became Member of Parliament for the rotten borough of Bishop’s Castle. Yes, he bought the votes, folks; married into the Earls of Powys dynasty and included an Indian elephant in his coat of arms (seen here at the top of the town)
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2) Across the road from the coat of arms is the Castle Hotel. During World War 2 its stables were used to shelter a number of circus elephants, keeping them safe from bombing raids. When peace resumed and the elephants returned to their owners, it is said that one remained unclaimed and continued to be a familiar sight on the town’s byways.
The Elephant Gate House where the elephants lived has been refurbished and these days is a welcoming holiday retreat for humankind.
And now there’s an elephant I haven’t mentioned, but certainly featured in earlier blog posts on Bishop’s Castle. Please meet Clive, the mascot of the town’s Michaelmas Fair which is due to happen in two weeks time (I shall report back). Meanwhile here’s a photo of him from an earlier fair day:
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While I’m here, I’d like to thank all of you who wished us well with second house move since March. Those kind thoughts surely worked, and all went smoothly, and without the snowstorms of the first move. Though on the leaving day I was mightily caught out. Such is the fickleness of the human heart, but I felt more sad about leaving Broseley after a mere six months than ever I did about leaving Wenlock after sixteen years. Goodness! Where did that come from?
But then I probably do know. I fell in love with Broseley’s Jitties, the town’s meandering alleys and pathways that resonated with centuries of people history – of miners and iron workers, potters and clay pipe makers, water carriers and maypole dancers; and all discovered in a place I thought I knew.
It’s a lesson to carry onward. Don’t take things for granted. Look beyond the obvious. And I know very well that Bishop’s Castle has a myriad of tales to tell, from the ancient and antique to the quirkily new. It’s certainly home to many busily creating people.
And on that note, here’s a cheery (elephant-free) artwork from the end of our road. You can’t help but smile:
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PS: the header photo is the view from our bedroom window – if I stand on tiptoes.
Fascinating. Who would have thought of elephants in Bishop’s Castle. Excellent photos.
Thanks, Timothy.
Well I do love elephants and yes I did go back to look at the header photo. What a wonderful first look every morning. Bless your heart for staying so “up” with all of your moving. At my age I’m not planning on going any where …but one never knows. I also look forward to finding out more about your new place called home.
Many thanks for all those kind thoughts, Beverly. And yes, staying ‘up’ has not always been easy 😉
If I lived in your new home, I would stand in my tiptoes for hours on end just soaking in that view, gorgeous! And what a charming new town with all those elephants and art. Congrats on landing successfully in a place with so much lively ambience.
Lovely to hear from you, Babsje. You gave me a big smile, imagining you forever on tiptoes. Take off mode of course too, for a bird lover 🙂
Well said “take off mode” for a bird lover! You know me – and also birds – so well. Enjoy exploring your new environs. Happy weekend!
And to you, Babsje 🙂
I don’t remember all the elephants, now I shall have to look for my BC photos. They are a wonderful connection with your African days. I hope you settle in to your new abode and have many happy years there.
Many thanks for those kind words, Jude.
This all bodes so well for a happy new life. You seem to have made it your own already, your new home. We plan to go on visiting our friends in Shropshire (near Shrewsbury) as often as we can: but if there is a tour guide to Bishop’s Castle ever available, we certainly might enjoy a few hours exploring there too ….
Am happy to provide insider info as I get to grips with things, Margaret.
I’m only back from my Wyoming vacation so I’ve missed a lot, but I’m so happy to hear that you’ve landed well, with a good view, even through missing your last stop. Good reminder for me, because once my parents’ house is renovated, we’ll have to move again, although not too far away, and settle in to a new place and area as well.
The elephant motif had me wondering but I should have known you’d explain. I love the last mural
All the best!!
Many thanks, Janet. Moving house is a big thing. It seems to get bigger! Happy returns from Wyoming.
Tish, I’m so glad you’ve settled into your new home. I have a feeling you’ll be happy there. I love all the elephants. Take care, and good luck!
Much appreciate those good wishes, Anne. We are certainly IN the house. Not sure about ‘settled’ yet. Next begins a total re-doing from top to bottom. I can see that at some point I might have to take refuge as a paying guest in the Elephant Gate House 🙂
Oh boy, you do have your work cut out for you. Good luck!
Thank you 🙂
When do we see inside? 😀
Now that is a very BIG question, Edouard. Every room in the cottage needs some sort of radical attention. Also the chimneys. When I am daunted about living in a building site, I shall try to think of Mazamet and how beautifully you and Mike have brought your house back to life. Our whole cottage would probably fit in your drawing room 🙂
It looks lovely and artistic. I’m sure it will suit you and you will get to know it intimately — and with luck, so will I.
Thanks, Marilyn. Lots to find out here 🙂
Now when was it that I walked down that High Street, and up again? I remember it well but somebody has definitely upped the anti when it comes to ellies. Mick says about 2014? I have no idea. I’m just very glad that you’re settling comfortably into the landscape. Bring on that Fair!
Hello Jo. I remember your photos of BC, especially the house with champagne bubbles up the wall, cos I’d photographed it too. I reckon it was more like 2016-17-ish, but I could be wrong. And yes, the ele proliferation seems a fairly recent phenomenon.
🤗🐘🐘🐘🩷
What a great description of your new home town!
Hello, Cora. Lovely to hear from you.
Welcome home, Tish. I love the murals and public art.
Hello, Thom. Many thanks for the welcome. The murals are fun aren’t they. A town with a sense of humour.
Glad to hear all went well with the move. Of course I love all the elephants, especially the one standing on his hind legs to be fed 🐘🐘 I’m looking forward to learning more about Bishop’s Castle as you settle in and discover things. I’m sure I must have gone there as a child when visiting my grandmother in Shrewsbury, as the name seems very familiar, but I have no recollection of it at all!
I’ll be more than happy to fill you in Bishop’s Castle wise, Sarah.
Thanks so much for including the maps. Your new location seems lovely, and you will discover new things. I love the elephants and their backstory!
Glad you liked the maps, Jennie.
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Thank you for the maps! Just by Clun. What a name, Clun! What an adventure and must feel good to settle in as the year winds down. Funny you get your elephants, as if a tie back to Africa in some sense. I love all the photos and feel I’m there with you and Graham! Savor every moment. And thanks for sharing, it’s a lovely tale.
And so fine to have along, in spirit at least, Bill. And yes it is good to feel we have landed somewhere at last. It’s so quiet here, and our garden is full of sun all day long (when it’s out, that is).
As for Clun (which is a lovely little town too) there’s a line from A.E Housman’s A Shropshire Lad, no 50, ‘Clunton and Clunbury, Clungunford and Clun, Are the quietest places Under the sun’
Thought you’d like all those cluns. All near us too.
There is also a tangible if mysterious Africa connection. There’s a grave to an unknown African (died 1801) in the churchyard.
Quietest under the sun? Love that! Pithy and nice. We could use more of that.
Welcome to Tsavo-upon-Shropshire…
Love it, Brieuc!
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I’d have been sad to leave the jitties too. And I’ve been a huge fan of Under Milk Wood since I was a child, and was once in a production as Mae Rose Cottage “I’m fast. I’m a bad lot. God will strike me dead. I’m seventeen. I’ll go to hell. You just wait, I’ll sin til I blow up!” 😂
Alison
Love that quote, Alison. Many thanks for the reprise. And you playing such a naughty girl! I was listening to the Richard Burton narration on YouTube recently. A brilliant rendition.
I should confess that I missed some of the details of your six month detour, Tish, but delighted to hear you’ve landed on your feet again. On a side note, my sister had her honeymoon in Bishops Castle and (disrespectful of the regular customs) she invited her best friends along. I stayed too, and on the second day, bored by their slow tour around the shops in the town centre, I slipped away for a bit of quiet time. When I got back to the house they were all having a big discussion about moving up to Sheffield to rejoin her friends (who had both moved there separately) and yours truly. And that’s exactly what happened a year later!
Nice to think you know these parts too, James. The town is pretty sleepy by day, though I gather the live-music pub scene is pretty lively by night. It’s lost a few shops in recent times, but still has a regular cattle market. Good heavens!
Amazing and seems a most interesting area Tish! I was intrigued by the elephant art everywhere. The strong feeling coming from being in an historical town are able to make life interesting and your descriptions are wonderful.
Many thanks, Agnes. A little town with lots to discover. As you say, a long history inspiring the present (sometimes rather quirkily.)
So enjoyable, and reading about is too.