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Home , Craven Arms, Hopesay, Sibdon Carwood

In 1884 she modelled a “Highland soil inches up the sides. Mrs Biggs had a Mountaineering Costume” at the long life and, although widowed by the International Heath Exhibition. It was First World War, I trust a fulfilled one. made of dark blue cloth with gaiters, She died aged 85 in 1962 and left in today’s War Walks knickerbockers and a skirt that reached money a million pounds. on the Home Front only to the knees. She was Hon. Sec. of Her grave is the left-hand one of the three. the Somerville Club for Women which I scrabbled away with fingers and nails promoted equality, irrespective of class like a mole. What I found was worth any and also a supporter of women’s suffrage. amount of damage to my hands “In loving Despite the healthy life-style she died at memory of my husband GW Biggs RE who Sibdon aged 60. 633 Victoria Crosses, died on active service abroad 1918” made by her family firm, were awarded The trail that began with the war memorial during the First World War. Four went to at Halford and the words TO THE GLORY men born in Madeley, Stanton OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY Lacy, Dudmaston and . OF MY HUSBAND WILLIAM GEORGE 7 To the right of this grave is a group of BIGGS ... was over. She was married for three identical graves ten and a widow for almost forty-five years. It’s easy to imagine why the vicar and his The vicar’s daughter who married a railway wife Anna Maria chose to be buried here fireman had remained true to the end. rather than in Ealing, to which they had What a dedication. retired. I permitted myself the reflection that father, mother and daughter must have enjoyed a delightful family life in this idyllic spot. The History Group has a remarkable shot of the family with their new, very posh, motor car. They Walk 10 look very happy. 8 Return the way you came On a subsequent visit I met the head : gardener of Sibdon – he told me that until he took over a few years ago, these The ‘companion’ walk, including the graves were engulfed by rhododendrons. Halford Lychgate War Memorial, can be Two Indomitable Women Clearing the graves meant life had one found on more delightful revelation ... these simple www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors. by Keith Pybus graves with the low borders are easily co.ukroute/war-walks-on-the-home- overgrown and, with the years, even the front-craven-arms/

Written by Keith Pybus. • Artwork by MA Creative Ltd VC medal photograph courtesy of the Shropshire Discover more about World War 1 in Regimental Museum, Castle Shropshire at: www.shropshireremembers.org.uk www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors. co.uk/walking/war-walks/. www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk Sibdon Carwood 1Start Look for another modest post with Henry Fleming Baxter, born in , Two Indomitable Women The walk begins at a point on waymark and a plank over the ditch. younger brother of the Lord of the Manor, SO 424 828 just before Head for the large tree which should was curate here until 1885, when he became Distance: 1 mile. the intersection with the Road – bring you close to the stile. Cross the Vicar of Sibdon with Halford (Patron Lord Grade: Easy this forms part of the . lane to two stiles on the opposite side. Windsor Clive). He continued in this office Terrain: Meadow paths and a surfaced Alternative Route Walking across these fields even in winter until sometime after 1901. By the 1911 driveway. census Henry had retired to 2 Grange For those who want a more strenuous is a rare treat, as the parkland trees are at their ‘architectural’ best without leaves. Park, Ealing. It is from this address that This expedition first began on the other walk: start from the lay-by at Wart Hill Hilda Mary, their daughter born 1876, side of Craven Arms with the War on Long Lane Craven Arms SO 401 3 The route continues half left until you married William George Biggs at All Saints Memorial Lychgate at Halford, grid ref 846 distance 3 miles but a demanding meet the kissing gate and the carriage Church, Ealing. SO 436 833. descent and ascent on the Shropshire drive of Sibdon Castle. The drive is Way over Hill along Oldfield 6 Go to the right round the church This quest was sparked off by this accompanied by a fine avenue of oaks. Wood following the Shropshire Way. Do not continue on the Shropshire Way untill you see the headstone pictured dedication “To the Glory of God and in Just before Sibdon Carwood take the but take the drive to your right through below. It is dedicated to the wife of the loving memory of my husband William right of way past Sibdon Castle Farm the white gates. Although this drive owner of Sibdon Castle. George Biggs and of the other dear lads ...” through a farm gate to an often-hidden is private the right-of-way follows its Maria Jane Baxter nee Hancock was born Some three years later this walk was waymark indicating a short path on your course. in 1847, the eldest daughter of Charles devised to reveal, like the best cliff- right to the churchyard of St Michael. The first building on your left is something Hancock a society jeweller. Shortly after hangers, how Miss Hilda Mary Baxter Resume at point 5 below. of a jig-saw. Both the ‘Venetian window’ Maria’s birth he opened a shop in New daughter of the vicar of Sibdon with From the outset we are introduced to and the former entrance have been Bond Street, : soon after he Halford came to marry a railway fireman the delights of Sibdon Castle estate. blocked. No wonder even the listing received the Royal Warrant. In 1856 the and how her love for him not only leapt The Flemings had money from their admits “Believed to have been built as a company was assigned the honour of the yawning class gap between them but sugar plantation in Antigua. The family dovecote.” Of brick and sandstone rubble designing and making the Victoria Cross proved inextinguishable. had lived there since at least 1744. Lord with a plain tile roof, it dates from the C17 to be made from a captured Sebastopol Lyttleton writes of the house being “built with C18 alterations. cannon. The company still produces the Wart Hill in a taste much superior to that of a 4 medal from the last vestiges of the cannon, Alternative Passing this lodge, on the left the Start mere country Squire.” Fleming and his which appropriately is kept under guard in LONG LANE wall supports a series of fruity treats: descendants had planted “all the hills a fig tree and some espaliered apples Shropshire at Donnington. about him with groves and clumps of and pears. The garden wall develops After her marriage to Herbert Fleming- trees that, together with an admirable pretensions. Baxter, the prospect seen from it, renders it a place couple moved which a monarch might envy.” It thinks it is a castle. Someone liked the battlements of the house so much; they from Sibdon to a Hopesay SHROPSHIRE Sibdon 2 The right-of-way runs along the 25-roomed house Hill Wood decided to continue the theme along this line of the hedgerow for three fields wall. When the owner died in 1905, in built for them in WA on your left (two and a half on

Hopesay Y Hampstead called LONG LANE today’s terms he left £13.6million. Common your right). Follow the waymarks 5 “The Towers.” through the farm gate on your After the topiary cock the right of 0 100 200 300 400 500 Maria campaigned N way turns towards the church. Please METRES left and at a for improving respect the privacy of the owners of slight angle the health of up the field. Sibdon Castle. The right-of-way bisects Oldfield New House women. It wasn’t CASTLE Farm Wood Castle There is a their lawn, but press on unafraid to the SHROPSHIREFarm Oakfield T healthy for CHURCH Sibdon Carwood Farm small ditch church of St Michael. It was built around WA women to squeeze Y running down the time of the major works on Sibdon SHROPSHIRE TLING STREE WA themselves into Castle View Castle in 1741 and the tower added Crown Copyright. WAY the centre. All rights reserved. START around 1800. rib-constricting corsets. 100049049.2016 CLUN ROAD B4368 CRAVEN ARMS >

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