Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Very showery. Visited John Hathaway, Mrs John Horsman, Ann Lines. Drove Bell, Cassie and Frank to Brailes.

Taught in Boys School this morning. Baptized F. Inns’s child this afternoon Phyllis Minnie. Miss M Dix was godmother.

Bessie and Daisy Thame came to see Rosa.

Mr and Mrs Elley came to enjoy some fruit in the garden this afternoon.

I went to Woodcote, near Shrewsbury on a visit to Rev W Wingate. Left Banbury at 12.17. Montagu went by same train to Shrewsbury, so we travelled together.

Wingate, with his horse and dog cart met me at the Railway Station. We drove out to Woodcote and dined. In the evening Mr and Mrs Wingate and self walked to the “Quarries”, a sort of public park and recreation ground quite worth seeing, the avenues of elms(?) being very fine. The town is gaily decorated for the Royal Agricultural Show which is opened here today.

Wingate drove me into Shrewsbury and we visited the R.A.S. show. Met Mr Woolgrove there. He said Miss Dix and Mr and Mrs Chapman were there, but I did not come across them. I saw Mr and Mrs Lee (formerly of Sandford) driving towards the show, but did not meet them as I should have wished.

Wingate drove me to Church Stretton – a very small country town at the foot of lofty hills. It has a great reputation for salubrity of climate and the walks over the hills in the neighbourhood are extremely pretty and interesting, whilst the views are perhaps as extensive, E. W. N. and S. as any that can be found in this part of the country. There is a good modern Hotel which I am bound to say, seemed to us, more interesting than all the rest put together, for it began to rain when we arrived and had not ceased when we left. But it ceased soon after we took the road back, and we had a very pleasant drive home.

Wingate drove me into Shrewsbury and we visited the chief places of interest, viz St Mary’s Church, St Chad’s Church, St Julian’s Church where we met with the Vicar, a very agreeable man who showed us in his church a palimpsest tombstone of the 12th century, and took us over the museum. Visited the old market, the new market, the Workman’s Hall and the Abbey Church. Observed the fine examples of Tudor Domestic Architecture of which the town possesses many good examples. Visited the old grammar school now being transformed into a public library and museum. The outside of the castle, an unimportant looking building, now used as a private residence. The Old Council house, and walked on the top of the old town wall. Afterwards drove out to Uffington.