'Maggie Humphry's Shropshire'
Soon after moving to Shropshire, I began to work on a book of scenes and features across the county. It led to my spending a couple or three years' of devoted driving around, searching for ideas, along with many hours of drawing out there in the lovely county. It filled my time, and generated a mountain of enthusiasm for me.
The book was highly successful - Anna Dreda (Wenlock Books) thought it was "the Shropshire book of the decade". Of course, quite a few of the sights and buildings have changed their character since I drew them beween 2002 and 2004.
Sadly, too, some of the people that pop up in the pictures have passed away.
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Acton Scott working farm museum
As Captain stands quietly, the Dawkins scratch in the farmyard, and country sounds rise from barns, dairy, and meadow - a step back in time.
OS reference SO 458.896
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Asterley - the Windmill
The stern west wind, with the chill of winter in its threads, stirred the sails, tugged at my paper and bit through my padded coat. Then delightfully tossed the first swallow of spring over my head.
OS reference SJ 373.076
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Astley Abbotts (near Bridgnorth) - The Old Lavender Farm
Picked in her summer garden and carefully sewn into tiny muslin bags with a satin ribbon, my grandmother's lavender scented the drawers of my childhood.
The farm's now long gone, following the death of the dear lady that tended it for so many years.
OS reference SO 706.964
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Aston Munslow in Corvedale - The Swan Pub
"There's not a straight line in it" said the landlord as he sat down on the bank watching me and looking at his property.
OS reference SO 513.867
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Beambridge in Corvedale - Temple Farm Dovecot
I learnt to swim with eyes open in the murky seas of Cornwall. Here now, like living under water, these grey buildings and grey winter skies. Suddenly a shoal of white doves swims by.
OS reference SO 529.883
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Benthall - St Bartholomew's Church
Another place of haunting atmosphere. Native honey bees were nesting in the vicinity and occupied the sundial at one time.
The scrapping badgers left tufts of hair, wet by the morning dew.
OS reference SJ 658.026
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Bridgnorth - Cliff Railway
Originally built for Low Town workers, the Cliff Railway still thrills both young and old, and many a friend and family of mine is given 'the treat'.
OS reference SO 728.929
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Bridgnorth - Daniel's Mill
Tumbling down a narrow wooded valley the stream has worked this wonderful iron wheel for 300 years. Willow trees drip into the pool and swallows skim across the glassy surface.
OS reference SO 718.917
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Burford, Lockyer's Farm
The vanes turn idly in the breeze. No smell of drying hops hangs in the air now. Yet behind in the orchard the apple trees still drown with white blossom in spring and in the autumn bow their branches down with heavy fruit.
At July 2015, original still available - see drawings page.
OS reference SO 585.685
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Cheyney Longville, Castle Farm
This exciting mediaeval building has seen a host of golden harvets packed into its wooden wall. The staddlestones are six feet high down the slope, but a foot is not far for a rat to jump.
The Onny Trail at Cheyney Longville is internationally important for geology.
OS reference SO 416.847
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Clunbury, Dutch Cottage
Formerly the 'Pig & Whistle' and before that the 'Raven' public house, Dutch Cottage was displaying a dazzling new haircut when I went to draw it.
A straw deer (the thatcher's symbol) lies across the roof ridge on the far side, sprouting real stag horns.
OS reference SO 371.806
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Ironbridge Gorge - The Iron Bridge
Yes, I really did sit here in the snow ... in a sleeping bag with my feet on a hot water bottle! When snow flurries came, I put my board upside down on my head to keep the drawing dry.
OS reference SO 673.034
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Ironbridge - The Cooling Towers
The red sky against the chimneys echoes the famous oil painting by Philip James de Lotherbourg of Coalbrookdale in all its industrial glory. Wonderful roaring colours singing in the skies.
The towers are now at rest, the power-station having been decommissioned by Eon in 2015. No more steam: no more blasts of black smoke. One wonders for how long the wonderful beasts themselves will be allowed to stand. Ironbridge, Shropshire, and Britain will lose something of inestimable power from the functional, vernacular architecture of the area if they go.
OS reference SO 658.036
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Much Wenlock - The Guildhall
This can be found about four miles from my own home in Broseley. Wenlock is much more "rural" than Broseley of course, its history being based on agriculture rather than early industrialism. Its buildings and styles are totally different too, and it tends to draw many more tourists and visitors.
This is truly a stunning building where there still are regular markets.
OS reference SO 624.999
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Shrewsbury - The Gatehouse
A quiet corner off the bustle of Castle Street where squirrels scamper across the rooftops from one secret garden to the next.
OS reference SJ 494.127
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Telford - Stirchley Hall
Those who know Telford well can show you the gems of medieval architecture hiding in the old villages of which the new town is made. Built in 1653, Stirchley Hall is one such historic building. The old cart has found a resting place, adding character and bringing to mind "Cider with Rosie" in the hay meadows before trundling home to fill the barns. Hay still grows in the fields here, where grass snakes continue to hunt the frogs.
OS reference SJ 698.067
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Wyke, near Much Wenlock - Wyke Farm
Silver moon bathing barns in silver light and silver owls hunt silently.
OS reference SJ 648.020
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