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Ye Olde Shrewsbury....
Sep. 25th, 2011 07:36 pmWell, it's early evening. Before I flake out with a cosy website (research for THAT job application!) I thought I'd share some pictures of the medieval and early modern buildings of Shrewsbury with you all.
I was inclined to think that the upstanding buildings went back as far as the 16th century, but there were actually one or two fifteenth century structures still surviving, and there's a chance that some of the 'later' buildings also have much earlier elements (I missed out another heritage award yesterday, for The Most Surprising And Unexpected Piece of Medieval Stuff, which went to the King's Head Pub....). According to our friendly guide, who took us on a guided tour of the town, the earlier buildings tend to have more ornate timber work, while the later ones are more austere and plain. The worked timbers themselves are worthy of a post in their own right - they represent the 'Shrewsbury' tradition or style, and are quite distinctive. This is where the standing building surveyor in me takes fright and hides in a dark corner - it's bad enough getting to grips with churches and castles, without adding vernacular architecture into the equation.
Here's an example of an 'earlier' building, with its ornate beams - this particular example was repaired in the late twentieth century, and some appropriate modern references (busts of Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine, and a legend mentioning the Poll Tax) added:-
Most of the lower timbers are, however, original.
The stark black and white paintwork is neither appropriate to the style, nor sympathetic to the building materials, I believe. Left to their own devices, the big beams take on a silvery patina through the centuries, a feature particularly evident below:-
What amazed me was the proliferation of these structures throughout the town, and beyond the town walls, in the vicinity of Shrewsbury Abbey. Some, like 'The Dun Cow' featured below, are clearly venerable:-
Others, like The Old Bush, shown here, are clever fakes. The 'timbers' are merely painted onto a building which is composed entirely of brick (with a neat Classical doorpiece, painted to match the general 'black and white' impression....). You'll note, though, that as brick buildings go, this is still comparatively ancient - I wouldn't be at all surprised if hidden away beneath this early 19th century facade, there are the remnants of a much, much earlier structure....
Ah, I could be photographing pictures of these things till the cows came home....
I was inclined to think that the upstanding buildings went back as far as the 16th century, but there were actually one or two fifteenth century structures still surviving, and there's a chance that some of the 'later' buildings also have much earlier elements (I missed out another heritage award yesterday, for The Most Surprising And Unexpected Piece of Medieval Stuff, which went to the King's Head Pub....). According to our friendly guide, who took us on a guided tour of the town, the earlier buildings tend to have more ornate timber work, while the later ones are more austere and plain. The worked timbers themselves are worthy of a post in their own right - they represent the 'Shrewsbury' tradition or style, and are quite distinctive. This is where the standing building surveyor in me takes fright and hides in a dark corner - it's bad enough getting to grips with churches and castles, without adding vernacular architecture into the equation.
Here's an example of an 'earlier' building, with its ornate beams - this particular example was repaired in the late twentieth century, and some appropriate modern references (busts of Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine, and a legend mentioning the Poll Tax) added:-
Most of the lower timbers are, however, original.
The stark black and white paintwork is neither appropriate to the style, nor sympathetic to the building materials, I believe. Left to their own devices, the big beams take on a silvery patina through the centuries, a feature particularly evident below:-
What amazed me was the proliferation of these structures throughout the town, and beyond the town walls, in the vicinity of Shrewsbury Abbey. Some, like 'The Dun Cow' featured below, are clearly venerable:-
Others, like The Old Bush, shown here, are clever fakes. The 'timbers' are merely painted onto a building which is composed entirely of brick (with a neat Classical doorpiece, painted to match the general 'black and white' impression....). You'll note, though, that as brick buildings go, this is still comparatively ancient - I wouldn't be at all surprised if hidden away beneath this early 19th century facade, there are the remnants of a much, much earlier structure....
Ah, I could be photographing pictures of these things till the cows came home....
