Church Stretton

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Ethel May Tantrum

My husband's Grandmother, Ethel May Tantrum, was born in Craven Arms in 1885, but by 1891 was living in Elms Cottage, Little Stretton. In 1910, she married Harold Ezard and in 1924 she died at White Birches Cottage, Little Stretton. Their son, Harold, was born in Little Stretton, but we are not sure where (possibly White Birches Cottage?) and we would love to hear from anyone who could help us find out more about the Tantrums and the Ezards of Little Stretton.

We recently visited Little Stretton, by chance, with some friends and found it a fascinating place and plan to return in the future.
A memory of Little Stretton contributed by Judith Ezard

Mary Ann Shuker

My great grandmother, Mary Ann Shuker came to Manchester from Chirbury in service as a maid.  She married my great grandfather, Ernest Edward Chorlton and they must have returned to Chirbury to be married because the family bible states they married at Chirbury Church on 22nd December 1888.  I always thought she came from Wem - but this is quite a way away (for those days).  I would love to find out more about her - I will travel to Chirbury and search the graveyards for her mother and father.  What a life change for her to travel to Manchester!  The address she came to is Stanley House, Oxford Road, Manchester (I would imagine a cotton baron's home).  She must have ...read more here
A memory of Chirbury contributed by pam Lennon

Artists

Groups of artists would visit in summer and stay at The Feathers Hotel.  After breakfast they would choose their locations, some at the church, some at the castle, others would be in the middle of Broad Street.  They would set up their stools and easels and stay there all day (except for lunch of course!). There was very little traffic in 1955. One wonderful afternoon, I was invited to join them and I was able to draw the mud & wattle buildings with charcoal.  At the age of 13, it was a great honour to be included in this wonderful group of people.

Does anyone remember Miss Grayfoot?  She was head-mistress of Ludlow Girls Grammar School during the fifties.  She ...read more here
A memory of Ludlow contributed by Charlotte Gatling

Dinham Weir

The Ludlow weirs were navigation Flash Lock weirs until the railways came to the Teme valley. Sailing Trows from the Severn worked up the river with wheat for the mills from Gloucester returning with flour for the villages and iron bar from Downton for blacksmiths downstream. An 1820's painting shows the old Dinham Bridge with four square rigged trows unloading at Dinham Mill now Mr Underwoods lovely restaurant and other trows at the opposite bank and under full sail up to the Downton Gorge.
A memory of Ludlow contributed by Max Sinclair