Hunger Hill Farm Campsite, nr Lilleshall

Very misty first thing this morning. Not too cold though. We got up and after our usual cooked breakfast, we had a nice walk down the lane. We had a nice cup of tea and packed up the caravan and left about 3:30.

Buildwas Abbey and Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford

A bit foggy this morning as we drove to Telford Toby Carvery for breakfast. By the time we moved on to Buildwas Abbey it was starting to brighten up a bit. The Cistercian Abbey of St Mary and St Chad was founded in 1135 by Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Coventry (1129–1148) as a Savignac monastery and was inhabited by a small community of monks from Furness Abbey. The stone from which it was built was quarried in the nearby settlement of Broseley.

The abbey's location near the border of Wales meant it was destined to have a turbulent history. Welsh Princes and their followers regularly raided the Abbey and on one occasion in 1406, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr, raiders from Powys even kidnapped the abbot. This however paled in comparison to an earlier event in 1342 where one of the Buildwas monks, Thomas Tong, murdered his abbot, managed to evade arrest, and then petitioned for re-instatement into the Cistercian order.   The abbey was closed in 1536 by the order of Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, whereupon the estate was granted to Edward Grey, 3rd Baron Grey of Powys. The abbot's house and infirmary were later incorporated into the building of a private house in the 17th century for the Acton Moseley family, although the remaining buildings are now in the care of English Heritage. They are open to the public, who can view the church which remains largely complete and unaltered since its original construction, although it is now without its roof. The remains are considered to be among some of the best preserved twelfth-century examples of a Cistercian church in Britain.

Then we moved on to the RAF Museum at Cosford. The Royal Air Force Museum is Britain’s only national museum dedicated wholly to aviation. With a world-class aircraft collection, integrated with special exhibitions, films, interactives, artwork, engines, missiles, photographs, uniforms, medals and research and education facilities, the Museum takes an innovative approach while keeping with tradition.  While offering an insight into aviation technology, it focuses on the people who made it possible – from daredevil early aviators, through wartime heroes, to the thousands of Service men and women whose contribution shaped the world we live in today.   The London site is situated on what cused to be RAF Hendon. It holds over 100 aircraft in five themed aircraft halls. The museum at Cosford, is acknowledged as one of the leading public attractions in the Midlands and displays over 70 aircraft. It is home to the National Cold War Exhibition which focuses on the Cold War story from a national, international and social/political angle, as well as cultural perspectives. Arrived back at the caravan about 4 pm. The sum was out by now but it was still a bit cool for sitting outside. Had an hour out in the awning before it started to cool a little and we went inside.

Ironbridge And Bedlam Furnaces

Bit of an overcast start to the day, although it wasn't cold. On the way out we had a ride up to the Farm Shop to pay the camping fees. £84 for 4 nights. Ted gave us a couple of pork chops to try. We also went for a look at the new piglets.

Had a ride into Telford Shopping Centre for a while before moving on to Ironbridge. Ironbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, England. It lies in the civil parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin. Ironbridge developed beside, and takes its name from, the famous Iron Bridge, a 30-metre (100 ft.) cast iron bridge that was built across the river in 1779. It was the first arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron, and was greatly celebrated after construction owing to its use of the new material.

By now the sun had come out and we had a nice ice cream near the bridge. Did a bit of shopping. Mad bought a couple of thimbles before a quick ride just down the road to the remains of the Bedlam Furnaces. The coke-fired blast furnaces were built in the 1750s alongside the River Severn, and we're still in use into the nineteenth century.  On the way back we called in at the Brewers Fayre for tea, before heading back to the caravan.

Lilleshall Abbey and Boscobell House

Still drizzling this morning. The sort that wets you through. Had a nice quick shower. Toilets were nice and clean, only one shower though, but had no trouble this morning. Mad cooked as our usual cooked breakfast which went down very nicely.

After breakfast we had a ride to Lilleshall Abbey, an English Heritage site, with a view to joining English Heritage. Unfortunately it turned out to be a free entry location with no facilities for joining. Now in ruins it was once an Augustinian abbey, later a Civil War stronghold, in a deeply rural setting. Much of the church survives, unusually viewable from gallery level, along with the lavishly sculpted processional door and other cloister buildings. 

We then decided to go to Boscobel House. It has been, at various times; a farmhouse, a hunting lodge, and a holiday home, but it is most famous for its role in the escape of Charles II after the battle of Worcester in 1651. In the grounds is the Royal Oak, where Charles II hid to escape the parliamentarians. It is believed to be a direct descendant of the tree he actually hid in. With the rain now set in we went back to the caravan for a relaxing evening.

Hunger Hill Farm Campsite, nr Lilleshall

Got off to a better start today. The sun was out nicely when we left so the shorts were on. We arrived at Hunger Hill Farm, near Telford, at around 5 pm after a 40 minute detour trying to avoid the M6 Toll Road.

Nice little certificated site. Just a field wiportakabin toilet block and Elsan disposal point and Farm shop selling home produced Beef and Pork and homemade burgers and sausages. There were a couple of camping pods on the far side of the field, and so far only 2 tents and 2 caravans. Site owner Ted came to meet us and said to pitch anywhere we liked.

We pitched against the hedge about 200 metres away from the toilet block. TV reception was very good. The sun had deserted us by now but it did stay dry whilst we pitched the awning. Mad had forgotten to get the bacon out of the freezer, so we had a quick Trip to Aldi, about 6 miles way. The had camping and caravanning gear on sale, so we bought a breathable groundsheet for the awning for £20. By now the heavens had opened and it seemed to rain all night. Had pizza and salad for tea and settled in for a little TV, wine and beer. The TV reception was exceptionally good.