- Arrival at Wellington -
The 10:25 Shrewsbury stopper train from Wolverhampton gets things underway as we discuss recent happenings in the Rugby World Cup and the lack of northern hemisphere involvement in the semi finals. We reach Wellington as the clock strikes eleven and alight to a prolonged musical medley from the bells of All Saints Church. Wellington Station has been a personal favourite of mine since my first photographic visit here back in 2004, and I certainly relish capturing the GWR architecture on camera again today.
- The Charlton Arms -
As an old Shropshire market town Wellington offers plenty in the way of character and interest as we enjoy a stroll around. Along with the church, landmark features include the Charlton Arms Hotel (a sadly disused former coaching inn building), Edbgaston House and Market Square while among the local hostelries are the Dun Cow, White Lion and the Raven.
- Cricket Club from afar -
Leaving the town centre behind for a while, we follow Haygate Road out in search of the local cricket ground. The Haygate pub and Bowring Park are encountered on route before we spot the Orleton Park base of Wellington Cricket Club looking attractively autumnal in the shadow of The Wrekin - Stephen remembers umpiring here a good few years ago.
- Turnpike Turpin -
Next up we have Holyhead Road where Nick adopts the guise of 'Turnpike Turpin' with reference to the route's historical significance in forming an important link between Holyhead and London. A mileage marker seems a suitable location to try and extract some tolls, although neither myself or Stephen were forthcoming in paying for our passage.
- At home in The Wickets -
Just a little further and we find our first pub port of call, the Wickets Inn on the corner of Wrekin Road. A welcome half of Thwaites' Wainwright Ale goes down nicely for myself and Nick while Stephen takes the opportunity to recover from a bout of cramp by seeking out the healing properties of lemonade and blackcurrant.
- A Royal Route? -
With Mr B restored to some kind of fitness, we proceed with a further Holyhead Road stretch to encounter the Cock Hotel and the Railway in quick succession. Neither establishment is open on a Wednesday lunchtime but there's still entertainment to be had from a local sidestreet name, no doubt so titled as to make our very own royal feel most welcome.
- The William Withering -
Returning to Wellington town centre, we call into the William Withering Wetherspoons for our next spot of refreshment. An autumn real ale festival is underway here (and indeed at Wetherspoons pubs across the country) so we select respective tasters of Minagof Smoked Porter and Oakham's Owl & Pussycat Ale. As for William Withering, he was an eighteenth-century physician who was born in the town and first prescribed the medical use of digitalis (an active compound extracted from foxglove leaves).
- The Sausage Shot -
No Chip Foundation outing is complete without lunch, so today's comes courtesy of the Silver Fish takeaway on Tan Bank. Chips procured we commandeer a bench on Walker Street by the Civic Centre and tuck in, Stephen offering a variation on the customary chip photo pose by showcasing a selected sausage.
- Cappuccino Contentment -
Our third and final Wellington pub is the Pheasant on Market Street, which serves as the base for the Wrekin Brewing Company (effectively the Ironbridge Brewery renamed and relocated). There are Titanic tipples to tempt us here, Nick clutching a Cappuccino while I availed myself of some excellent Blackberry Gold. As if the ale alone wasn't memorable enough, the Pheasant secured its place in Chip Foundation legend when Stephen received a seminal phone call offering him a job which he duly accepted.
- A Harp Hurrah -
News such as that needs to be celebrated so we break our homeward journey with an hour-long stay in Albrighton. The village is home to four pubs of which the Harp Hotel tickles our fancy, this being part of the Hop Back Brewery's tied estate albeit somewhat distant from their Salisbury headquarters. Dark Drake is the ale sampled as we sit in a wicker settee corner furnished with white leather cushions.
- The Great Western -
All good things come to an end and this particular outing concludes with a visit to the Great Western, a firm Chip Foundation favourite down by Wolverhampton's old Low Level station. Here we are joined by Ken who brings news of bowling victory as we toast Stephen's employment success. Cheers!
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