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Shropshire September 2013
Day 3 A day off looking around Shrewsbury

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Shrewsbury is a very interesting place, so much so that a few of us decided to spend one of our days looking around
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In the quarry, now a park. All the lime trees were replanted by the famous Percy Thrower!
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Over the river is the famous Shrewsbury school, responsible for Michael Palin's education, and oh yes, in another building, Charles Darwin and Judge Jefferies
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The statue of Hercules was moved in 1851 with his back to the Quarry so as not to offend womenfolk. He assumed his present position in 1881, and no offence appears to be given nowadays.
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Some of the many lime trees
Some of the many floral displays in the town, here by the river Severn
We make for the Tourist Information Office
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And then go our separate ways - look out M&S
Some of us pop in several churches
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Before meeting up for a saxophone recital in the old Abbey
There is a tour of the historic town in the afternoon - highly recommended
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Modern art
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If you stand in the right place the three arms appear to come together as a Saxon helmet
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Here we learn more about the Darwin Gate, a sculpture created by the artists Renn & Thacker and opened to the public in 2004. The sculpture is made of cast glass, copper, bronze, stainless steel and stone and is made up of three columns surmounted by metal sculptures. The design of the sculpture combines the form of a Saxon helmet with a Norman window and was inspired by features of St Mary's Church which was attended by Charles Darwin as a boy. The sculpture makes use of the "parallax phenomenon" as it appears as a single solid structure when seen from a certain angle.
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Everywhere you look is history
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What are Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine doing up there? Also the date 1990 and the words Poll Tax?
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They are to be found if you look up above the Costa shop. All renovations to timber buildings are inscribed with the date of the work.
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Shrewsbury is often used as a filming location, recently for "A Christmas Carol"
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Butchers' Row - spot the hooks to hang the meat on, still there!
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The backs of buildings had much plainer timber - none painted you notice, which is better for the wood.
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We reach the entrance to the 16th century Council House, the residence of the Lord President of the Marches of Wales
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And here is the statue of Charles Darwin (not as a schoolboy, but outside his old school buildings)
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And now converted into the public library
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top Photos and captions from Mike