Wednesday 12 March 2014

If I see a Shroppie Fly, with apologies to Dumbo.

Audlem must be one of the most visited villages on the system, not just by boaters but by the hoards who descend upon it on fine summer days. It's not surprising as it is an attractive place with a handy small supermarket, is that an oxymoron creeping in there?, butchers and a deli/bakers.

The parish church dominates the square with the old butter market nestling below.

In the middle of the square stands a memorial to Dr. Richard Baker Bellsye who was the local doctor for forty years until his death in 1877, he was obviously highly thought of.
There are a couple of interesting buildings that don't normally get much attention.

The old County Police Station in Cheshire Street, built in 1900 and now a private house and a bit further along,

the most imposing entrance to Audlem Cemetery, a monument to the Victorian obsession with death. It was built by the cheerful sounding Audlem Burial Board, I bet they were a real laugh down the pub.
But having completed our little bit of shopping, most importantly a few bottles of Shepherd and Neame's Spitfire ready for the last weekend of the Six Nations, we set off to sample the changes at

The Shroppie Fly. Originally a canal warehouse it became a pub in 1975. Recently it had fallen into disrepute and was closed for a while. It is now open again under new management.


The interior has been brightened up without spoiling the ambience.

The menu is all good old fashioned pub grub, Jill chose the Chicken Melt and I went for a steak, they were both excellent, as was the Timothy Taylor Landlord that came from the signature bar,

actually an old narrow boat but, regrettably, not a Shroppie Fly. It is in fact part of a wooden B.C.N. Joey boat. Not that it matters.
Fully replete we returned onboard for a postprandial snooze.
Moving on tomorrow, aiming to be at Coole Pilates for the weekend. On Saturday the "Do not disturb" sign goes out for the last three games.

If cousin Val, in Port Perry, Ontario happens to read this can you leave a comment? The old man gave me an email address for you but it doesn't appear to be correct.

Watch this space..........

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