Home > Historical Heritage Tours > Kingdom of the Dragon and Lion > < Day 4 ….. Day 6 >
Stokesay Castle - Benjamin Williams Leader, R.A. (1831-1923)
After breakfast we will begin the day by exploring Bridgenorth. The town is unusual for consisting of two separate halves: ‘High Town’ perched on a sandstone hill a hundred feet above ‘Low Town’ which is situated on the banks of the River Severn.
These two halves are joined by seven ancient flights of steps up the sandstone cliffs and the steep old Cartway, along which goods were once hauled up to the market place in High Town. Instead of climbing the steps we will take a ride on the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, the oldest and steepest inland funicular railway in England. The town has retained many of its fine 17th and 18th century timbered and red-brick buildings, the most interesting being the old town hall in the High Street which was built on a sandstone-arched base that straddles the road. Bridgnorth Castle was largely destroyed during the Civil War 
but part of the keep has survived. The Parliamentarian’s unsuccessful attempt to blow up the fortification left it leaning at an alarming angle, even greater than the Tower of Pisa. The castle grounds are now a park and there are magnificent views along the Severn Valley from Castle Walk. King Charles I declared that the view from here to be ‘The finest in all my kingdom’ and the passage of time has not diminished such a claim.
Later in the morning we take a ride on the Severn Valley Steam railway to the Georgian town of Bewdley in the neighbouring county of Worcestershire. The railway follows the valley on a 16 mile (26km) journey on one of the most scenic train journeys in England and really captures the thrill and romance of traveling by steam train. The steam train journey ends at Bewdley which has a large number of fine historic buildings and its attractive river frontage includes a bridge over the River Severn designed by the great Victorian engineer Thomas Telford. After lunch in Bewdley we will journey back into Shropshire to visit the Acton Scott working Farm museum. This Historic Working Farm
offers a fascinating insight into rural life at the turn of the 19th century with demonstrations of period skills and visits from the Wheelwright, Farrier and Blacksmith as well as some of the rare breeds of livestock such as Tamworth pigs, Longhorn and Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Brecon Buff Geese, Norfolk Black Turkeys and Aylesbury Ducks, all providing a fascinating picture of life as it would have been on a Victorian country estate.
The last stop of the day will be at nearby Stokesay Castle which is without doubt is one of England’s best preserved fortified manor houses. Stokesay’s Great Hall is unchanged since the days of baronial feasts, and the house has hardly altered since 1291. The north tower displays an original medieval tiled roof and remains of wall painting, while the south tower, with fine views from its roof, contains a panelled solar chamber added in the 17th century. Its dominating feature is a fireplace with richly carved overmantel, still bearing clear traces of gold, pink, red, green and white painting. Across the courtyard stands the truly delightful Jacobean gatehouse, an elaborate example of the regional style of lavishly showy timber-framing, with charming carvings of Adam and Eve.
Day 5 Highlights:
- Bridgenorth
- Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
- Severn Valley Steam Railway
- Bewdley
- Acton Scott Working Farm Museum
- Stokesay Castle
- Ludlow