- Bridgnorth Town Hall -
The bright blue skies provide a perfect invitation for photographic action as I begin the day in Bridgnorth. Alighting off the number 9 bus in Low Town, I have a wander along Bernard's Hill (spotting the Hare & Hounds) through to Lodge Lane, an estate served by a Co-op store, St James's Church Hall and St Mary's Bluecoat Primary School. High Town then provides a dash of history thanks to the fabulous Town Hall, an oak-framed structure atop stone stilts which provides a distinctive market place focal point.
- Holy Trinity, Coalbrookdale -
Resuming my number 9 journey, the bus is subject to a diversion involving Morville (notable for the Acton Arms and a pretty parish church) and the edges of Much Wenlock before burrowing into Broseley. Back on the normal line of the route, I hop off at Coalbrookdale for a closer look at Holy Trinity. This church dates mainly from the 1850s having been endowed by Abraham Darby IV, hence it had strong links to the famous ironworks nearby and still commands enviable views overlooking the Gorge.
- Closed Crown -
No duck-spotting just yet as I have a couple of closed pubs to add to my archive. I say closed though I'm not sure if the White Horse has fully ceased trading; its location near the Junction of Church Road and Lincoln Hill requires a fair climb up from the village, a hike to put off all but the most determined drinkers. Hodge Bower is where I find the Crown as was, now resembling a building site although the pub's rather handsome facade can still be seen behind the hoardings.
- Peace Duck -
The morning has all but disappeared so I'd better get quacking! To Bedlam Furnaces I thus go, delighted to confirm that Peace Duck has been happily restored following an unfortunate vandalism incident. The psychedelic design references the Flower Power movement with swirls and 'Love' slogans that form a colourful contrast to the historic brickwork backdrop. The furnaces themselves are a riverside remnant of the Madeley Wood Company, preserved by the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust with a new protective canopy installed last year.
- Paddlington -
It's a warm day so I refresh myself with some strawberry cider courtesy of the Coracle micropub (plus some Eley's of Ironbridge pork scratchings as an extra treat) then continue the duck hunt. The Lloyds is home to the burnished golden hues of Once Upon a Fairytale framed by the mighty Jackfield Bridge before the Severn Valley Way footpath beckons. Here I meet a certain Paddlington, inspired by Michael Bond's lovable bear complete with the essential marmalade sandwich.
- C-Ellie-Brate -
Further along the former railway track I find C-Ellie-Brate (a party duck with balloons and a rainbow beak), then last but not least is Mawster Peaquack at Lloyds Head boasting peacock plumage beside the old level crossing gates. All ten ducks have therefore been accounted for and the trail has been a lot of fun so I hope the project raises plenty of charity funds. The ducks will soon move to Southwater in Telford Town Centre for a few weeks prior to being auctioned off.
- Wenlock Priory -
The afternoon is yet young and a glance at the bus timetable suggests the 18 is due, ideal timing for an impromptu visit to Much Wenlock (via Broseley Wood and Benthall, testing the tree deflectors to the limit). The town's beguiling timeless quality stems from the presence of several medieval buildings, chief amongst which are Holy Trinity Church and the 16th century Guildhall. The ruins of Wenlock Priory look particularly photogenic in the bright azure, the Cluniac order having established their priory on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon monastery.
- St Owen's Well -
Much Wenlock has its fair share of tempting taverns with the Gaskell Arms Hotel being especially conspicuous on the main A458 Bridgnorth - Shrewsbury road. I've had my eye on this old coaching inn for a number of years so a pint is a must, Sunshine from the Bewdley Brewery drinking like nectar in the idyllic beer garden. A mention too for the Talbot on High Street (some nice Hop Shed Sebright Gold here), plus I stumble across St Owen's Well on Queen Street as an example of an ancient spring.
- The Shakespeare -
The 436 is charged with returning me to Bridgnorth where I can investigate two pubs which have latterly changed brewery ownership - the Golden Lion (now Holden's) and the Shakespeare (taken on by Joule's). Both establishments appear to be in fine fettle so long may they prosper, and together they set me up well for a memorable ride on the 114 to Shifnal. This is a proper wiggler of a route that covers several small villages (Worfield, Stableford, Ackleton, Badger and Beckbury), negotiating extremely narrow lanes collecting stray bits of vegetation in the process. Shifnal brings the curtain down with a hint of carnival preparations and that's that, a thoroughly quacking adventure!
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