KNOCKIN ON THE DOOR OF STAFFORDSHIRE, THEN A DIVERSION TO CHESHIRE

We start off in Shropshire, having just left Oswestry. First stop is a place called Knockin Heath, where Vagg's Coaches had their depot. Some old vehicles were rotting away in the yard.

However, there were several modern vehicles of interest.

Moving on to the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway, where Gazelle is see at Kinnerley Junction in 1926. A HC Casserley photo. (The map here will explain where we are).

Moving on to a better known railway and this is Baschurch station on the ex GWR Shrewsbury to Chester line. Here's the station in 1962 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

The signal box here was still in use in 2006.

On a different line was Yorton station. Here could be found the Railway Inn, now sadly shut.

To the north is the small town of Wem. The ex LNWR signal box here in 1986.

Wem Brewery made some fine ales, but Greenall Whitley shut it down. This photo from 1979.

When I visited the Red Lion at Cheswardine in 2010, it was home to the Lion's Tale Brewery.

As promised, we enter Staffordshire for a brief visit. Beside the Shropshire Union Canal is the lovely Anchor Inn at High Offley.

Not far away, the Cock Inn at Woodseaves.

One can reach the large village of Eccleshall by regular Arriva bus.

Eccleshall was home to the, now closed, Slater's Brewery.

The best place to try Slater's beer was the George Hotel in the village. It's now called the Little George.

A quick look at the West Coast Main Line at Madeley Junction (Staffordshire), where E3112 is seen in 1971.

To the NW, in Cheshire, is Nantwich, which has a station on the Shrewsbury to Crewe railway line (Creative Commons License).

A former LMS signal box here in 2001.

Shrewbridge Road railway crossing in Nantwich.

Churche's Mansion, one of the few buildings in Nantwich to survive the fire of 1583 (Creative Commons License).

The Parish Church of St. Mary (Creative Commons License).

Midland Red North ran bus services into Nantwich. These are now operated by Arriva.

Independent buses have included Devaway and D&G Group.

Beer time! The Wilbraham Arms is a former John Smiths pub..

No Robinsons to be had at the Rifleman - it's closed.

The Globe in Nantwich, off the town centre, once had its own brewery (Woodlands Brewing). The pub now has a good selection of beers from other sources.

Back in the heart of the town, we find a great boozer, the Black Lion.

The Crown Hotel has some decent beer too.

We finish this post at the Vine Inn, now a Hyde's tied house.

Next time, a tour of rural Cheshire.






 

OSWESTRY

Oswestry - a smallish Shropshire town. It was once the headquarters of the Cambrian Railway, absorbed into the Great Western in 1923. Here are a few scenes from the loco shed here in GWR times.

 

The shed survived into the 1960s.

By 1977, just one line passed through what remained of Oswestry station.

A preservation society had taken over part of the yard.

A coach of Parish Coaches, from Morda, is picking up passengers outside the old station.

Vagg's, of Knockinh Heath, NAW 662P approaches the old station, passing a Border Ales pub, the Railway Inn. The pub survives, but no cask beer.

Hampson's Coaches ran a town services using this ancient ex London AEC Regal IV RF type.

Hampson's had their depot in Oswestry and operated to other villages in Shropshire.

Other independents in Oswestry included Owen's Coaches, Bryn Melyn Motor Services and Tanat Valley.

Of course, Crosville was the dominant operator in the town.

Crosville became Crosville Wales/Cymru.

Midland Red North were to be found in Oswestry in 1992.

Here's a postcard view of the Guildhall, one of the important buildings in the town.

Another postcard - the Wynnstay Arms. Real ale and a bed for the night here.

There's the inevitable Wetherspoons - the Wilfred Owen.

The Fox, a former Marston's house, is now in the capable hands of Joules.

The Oak Inn is a fine historic pub and a good place to conclude this post.

Next time, well head vaguely east.