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Shropshire The Ultimate Annual County Guide Glansevern Hall Gardens Issue 17 - 2019 Historic Buildings | Festivals Gardens | Museums | Tourist Attractions www.countysignpost.co.uk ConTenTs 6 4 10 Page 2 Historic Buildings Page 6 14 18 Gardens & Outdoors Page 10 Festivals & Shows Page 34 20 36 Attractions & Museums Welcome to the 2019 edition of shropshire s n signpost, your indispensable guide to the best e d r a tourist attractions and days out the county has to G l l offer. a H n r e We hope that you find our guide, a pleasure to v e s read, both interesting and informative, and that n a l you will take it away with you, to use again and G e g again. a m i r e v We offer a taster of the visitor attractions and o C events within the County, for both locals and countysignpost.co.uk those who wish to visit from afar. All material in this magazine is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of printing. County Signpost Ltd does not accept any responsibility for errors Published by: County signpost Ltd or inaccuracies which slipped through. Copyright County Signpost Ltd 2018. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the editor: Adam Davison written permission of the publisher. WHITTInGTon CAsTLe and Craft Fairs to Outdoor Theatre Productions – visit the website for a full list of events. Costumed Guides are available (if pre-booked) for groups of 8 people or more. The tours offer visitors the chance to see into some of the locked rooms and hear stories of the Castle’s fascinating history. The castle is steeped in historical tales of bitter warfare, treachery, death, myths, legends and of course many ghosts and strange happenings. It is said that “The Holy Grail” was once hidden here as well as a cursed chest which is opened would bring death. The Castle is also connected to some very famous historic figures like Dick Whittington once Lord Mayor of London and Shropshire’s very own Robin Hood – Fulk FitzWarine 111. The FitzWarine family acquired Whittington Castle and in the late 12th Century Fulk FitzWarine 111 was outlawed by King John. The Castle is available for Civil Ceremonies, Knight and Princess Birthday Parties as well as A fairy tale Castle, ivy clad ruined walls, medieval Paranormal Investigations, Group tours and moat and a twin towered gatehouse entrance are School groups. The Castle has a Membership the iconic features of Whittington Castle near scheme and welcomes new members and those Oswestry in Shropshire. This Castle which was who wish to help at the Castle as volunteers. The the first community run Castle in the country, Castle is now completely self funded. was re launched in 2007 after a huge restoration project and it has been drawing visitors from far and wide since. Tel 01691 662500 The Castle makes the ideal group outing it has a [email protected] tearoom serving sandwiches, cakes and www.whittingtoncastle.co.uk refreshments and the specialty The Castle Cream Tea. The Castle has a well-stocked second hand Castle Grounds open All Year bookshop area and sells souvenirs and gifts. A bridge gives access to the inner bailey area and Free entrance tower and the moat has been extended and the pavilion replaced to give view of the landscape £1 to park via Pay and Display machine which was once a medieval garden. Disabled toilets are available. Throughout the year there Tearoom/gift shop and second hand book are many events from Historic Medieval Re- shop open all year enactments, Living History days as well as Plant Wednesday to sunday 10-4pm 4 countysignpost.co.uk events for 2019 April 7th April Fools Car Show April 19th Planthunters Fair April 21st - 22nd Easter Egg Trail April 27th - 28th Napoleonic Re-enactment & Living History Weekend May 26th Much Ado about Nothing – Festival Players. Outdoor Shakespeare. July 27th - 28th Multi Period Event – our largest event of the year. From Medieval to World War II – living history encampments plus demonstrations throughout the days. August 26th Whittington Village Vintage Fete October 25th - 30th Whittington Castle Ghost Tours 5 CHILLInGTon HALL Chillington Hall is a hidden gem on the Chillington Hall offers guided tours of this Staffordshire/Shropshire borders between the magnificent house and our knowledgeable villages of Brewood and Codsall. The guides will give you an in-depth history of this enchanting 18th century Georgian house, is a family home, its ancestors and contents. product of two differing Georgian styles. The South side built in 1724 by Francis Smith of The Hall is also available for private group tours Warwick, has rooms of an intimate size and has been also been used for birthday contrasted with those built on a far grander scale celebrations, charity events and classical music by Sir John Soane some sixty years later. The concerts. Although Chillington Hall is a grand Saloon, typical of Soane design, features a house it retains an intimate charm which makes soaring ceiling topped by a great lantern with it an ideal setting for entertaining. beautiful plasterwork incorporating the family coat of arms and motto. Telephone 01902 850236 www.chillingtonhall.co.uk The parkland, landscaped by Capability Brown, WV8 1Re incorporates the magnificent lake and its architectural follies. It is accessed from a drive which runs alongside a manmade canal designed to give the impression of walking along a river bank. A short walk from the Hall, through the arboretum, you will find the Chillington Model Farm. Its octagonal dovecote forms the centrepiece of an 18th century service courtyard including stables, barns, pig sties and acorn roasting house. 6 countysignpost.co.uk WHITTInGTon CAsTLe The Ideal family Day out - Nr Oswestry Glansevern HPoattlinl gG shaedr dCaefén as nd estate shop Tel 01691 662500 E-Mail [email protected] www.glansevern.co.uk www.whittingtoncastle.co.uk 01686 640644 Castle Grounds open All Year nr Welshpool sY21 8AH Free Entrance A 12 acre, year round, plantsman’s paradise. Gold Award winner in the staffordshire 2018 Tourism Awards ‘Best small visitor attraction’ Waterfall, Glass house, plant sales, Gift shop and Tearoom. Groups welcome. [email protected] Tel 01630 647237 TF9 4EU 7 osWesTRY oswestry Award Winning Markets - open every Wednesday, Friday and saturday Markets in Oswestry date back some 800 years and remain one of the town’s biggest attractions, drawing visitors from far and wide.. The Indoor Market is open each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and Outdoor Markets are held every Wednesday and Saturday. The market has now been extended into the street which has had a really positive effect on both the market and the town ! The local Artisan Market is also held on the last Friday of each month. Oswestry Markets received a great accolade in being awarded the Best Local Council Market for 2013 by the National Association of British Market Authorities. This acknowledged the huge investment that the Council has made in the Indoor Market in terms of facilities and promotion. 8 countysignpost.co.uk Oswestry was also category winners in the 2017 Heart Of England competition and are included in the national Britain in Bloom event for 2018. Go to www.oswestry-tc.gov.uk for further details on Oswestry’s markets. Whether you come for the weekly markets or to browse the interesting mix of small independent shops, a warm welcome is sure to make your visit quite special. Balloon Carnival st oswalds Church Cambrian Train Discover the industrial heritage with a visit to the Cambrian Heritage Railway or own Museums. Or follow the Wilfred Owen Trail to find more about the famous war poet’s childhood in Oswestry. To really get to know Oswestry, make the Towns Tourist Information Centre the first stop on your day out. You will find it in the Oswestry Visitor and Exhibition Centre through the churchyard. Go to www.oswestry-welshborders.org.uk or contact 01691 662753 for further details on our lovely town. Signpost - page 9 GLAnseVeRn HALL GARDens The Potting shed Café and goddess bowls as well as Garden Quiches and home cooked pork pie ploughmans, with hot estate shop specials on chilly days. Our famous cream teas and fabulous bakes are always available and the The family owned historical Georgian II* Greek fireside is up for grabs on grey days. revival house is romantically positioned on the banks of the River Severn. Discover 45 acres of magical gardens and parkland, which include the original walled garden with rooms, an 1840 Grotto, a spectacular 30 foot wisteria fountain walk and a 5 acre lake. Easy strolling in shady woodland or the secluded bird hide on stilts over looking the river, we have a wide variety of peaceful and beautiful areas to discover. NB we are also dog and family friendly. We host many WI and garden clubs to Glansevern Hall and can tailor private evening suppers, day time visits and also have conference and meeting facilities. The licensed award winning Potting Shed Café, set in the spectacular courtyard, offers a seasonal menu inspired by our walled garden produce. We look after meat eaters, veggies and vegans and gluten free. Soups and artisan bread, green 10 countysignpost.co.uk The brand new Estate Shop offers a selection of quality plants, artisan goods, rugs, lamps, chocolate and Monty’s beers. Please see website for forthcoming events, and courses coming to Glansevern Hall this year. Tulip festival mid April Dahlia days in mid late summer Farmers Markets & Pop-up Restaurants Book your own stately home and organize your wedding in the fairytale garden setting.