- C. R. Birch & Son -
It's Friday 4th April 2025 and my trip is at risk of unravelling before its begun when train crew shortages are affecting services between Birmingham and Shrewsbury. The Welsh trains are thankfully running normally so I'm soon scouting around Shropshire's county town looking for prime photographic finds, such as the C.R. Birch & Son hardware premises on Roushill - the company traded for 105 years before closing down in 2015. Elsewhere in Shrewsbury, I spy the timber-framed Rowley's House Museum as the historic residence of a wool merchant.
- The 64 at Market Drayton Bus Station -
Raven Meadows Bus Station is where I can catch the number 64 bus as operated by Arriva, providing an hourly link to Market Drayton with onward connections to Newcastle under Lyme and Hanley. Once you get up past Harlescott and the Battlefield Retail Parks it makes for a lovely ride, settling back and enjoying the rolling field views through Shawbury and Hodnet. One interesting kink takes us briefly along the A41 to visit the Buntingsdale Estate within Tern Hill military barracks, performing a reversing manoeuvre outside one of the hangars. The Stormy Petrel pub as was has been demolished, then the final approaches into Market Drayton give glimpses of the large Muller Dairy plant for yoghurt manufacturing.
- Rogers & Son Flour and Corn Mills -
I haven't set foot in this particular corner of Shropshire for the best part of twelve years, my only previous encounter being a Hub Marketing adventure back in June 2013. Cheshire Street gets my reacquaintance mission underway with the hulking presence of the Rogers & Son Mill building backing onto the Abbey Removals depot. The local Wetherspoons occupies a piece of cinematic history in the form of The Hippodrome, which entertained filmgoers between 1927 and 1966 before having a later life as a bingo hall and supermarket.
- The Buttercross -
Market Drayton was granted its Royal Charter by King Henry II in 1245 and has effectively held a weekly Wednesday market for centuries. There are many attractive architectural gems dotted around the town centre, including the Tudor House Hotel and the Buttercross - the latter being erected in 1824 as a covered area for the selling of dairy produce. Another standout is the Crown Inn pub which reputedly hosted Charles I during the English Civil War - if it's good enough for royalty it'll do just grand for my first pint of the day, a decent Marston's Pedigree with a whiff of the Burton Snatch about it.
- St Mary's Church -
Continuing to reclaim some bearings, I'm drawn towards St Mary's Parish Church where the graveyard is a riot of sprouting daffodils - I do love springtime when the flowers come into full bloom again. The church's surroundings offer attractive vistas out towards the River Tern, a watercourse which hugs the southern edges of the built up area, while I also detect mentions of gingerbread in that Market Drayton can trace its association with the spiced baked delicacy back as far as 1793 if not even earlier. I could be rather partial to a sweet treat right about now but instead I'll focus on finding the Shropshire Union Canal...
- Berrisford Aqueduct -
Stafford Street does the trick in taking me to the towpath, passing the Job Centre and Grove School in the process. I'll only be covering a very short section of the Shropshire Union today but the portion I've picked is certainly very intriguing, presenting a sunkissed stretch of visitor moorings to the south of Bridge 62. One curiosity is the Berrisford Aqueduct as engineered in sandstone by Thomas Telford and Alexander Easton circa 1830; it carries the cut above a quiet country lane close to Broomhall Grange. The steps alongside the structure are a little haphazard but I suppose they would be after years of being worn away by boaters' feet.
- Talbot Wharf -
Heading beyond Bridge 62 in the other direction reveals the rustic appeal of Talbot Wharf, albeit the namesake landmark Marston's pub that stood nearby is now a private home. Diesel pumps and boat repairs seem to be the order of the day here, flanked by corrugated tin shack warehouses as if time stood still. Calor Gas supplies and chandlery services are also part of the provision before I exit the canal at Betton Road by some sports pitches. Reckoning I'm due for more refreshment, I give the Salopian Star a whirl on account of its slightly shabby beamed charms. A trio of New Brew ales are on dispense so I happily partake of the 4.7% Plum Porter (highly drinkable) and the 5.5% New India; the beer is made on the edges of Newport.
- The Red Lion -
Pleased with that unexpected brush with Shropshire-made tipples, I can now stage an entirely anticipated meeting with more local brews. Historically hailing from Stone in Staffordshire, the reincarnated Joules Brewery have based themselves in Market Drayton since 2010 whereby the Red Lion is their taphouse. It is naturally incumbent upon me to investigate, especially given the prospect of sampling their Calcutta 1757 Pale Ale, while the Mouse Room offers a treasure hunt for fans of carved rodents. The adjacent Stags Head is being renovated as part of the Joules estate so it looks like I'll have a further excuse to return to Market Drayton before long; in the meantime the next 64 bus awaits. Cheers!
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