Woolly says – The carer was grumpy, she had already told me off for stepping on my Lego dinosaurs and for finishing the milk and we hadn’t even got into the car, the day didn’t bode well. I plastered my most appealing look onto my face and sat quietly as we navigated down the first of the lanes. As we reached our first turning words that I never thought I would hear came out of her mouth, ‘I’m not sure I have the energy to do this today Wooll’s’, this was worse than I thought, was she ill, had she finally succumbed to the dreaded virus? I looked up at her and grinned in what I hoped was an encouraging look and waited for developments.

I wasn’t so much grumpy as exhausted, I’d been working incredibly long hours in very high temperatures in a place that is half glassed with no air con, the Brits do love a heatwave in essence but our buildings are not designed for anything that goes above the 30’s and we had been hitting that day after day. To add to the problem my small companion had his constipated face on which could only mean problems. I considered the option of just turning back and having a lazy day but shopping needed to be done so we might as well press on with fingers crossed that the traffic would be kind, I pressed the accelerator and gritted my teeth.

Woolly says – With a large sigh erupting it appeared that the day was going to happen and crossed my paws that nothing would deter our progress. I decided that it might be a good idea to fill Jo in a little more on our destination to take her mind off her tiredness and having scrabbled through my papers proudly started my spiel.

• 

• 

Moreton Corbet Castle is an English Heritage property located 8 miles northeast of Shrewsbury. It is a Grade I listed building and I was looking forward to seeing how the ruins from two different eras: a medieval stronghold and the Elizabethan period worked together.

As we pulled onto the parking, I could see the tall walls of what had once been the manor house built onto the original castle in the 16^th century.

• 

• 

• 

Huge empty windows looked over the stark landscape with fine detailing around them.

It is thought that there has been a fortified structure here since 1086 and the castle gateway that we passed through was built around 1216 although the sign above it was for the 1500’s.

• 

• 

• 

In February 1216 William Marshall stormed Moreton Corbet castle on behalf of King John of England against Bartholomew Toret. At this time the castle was known as Moreton Toret Castle. In 1235 Bartholomew died and Richard de Corbet, his son-in-law, inherited the castle and changed its name to Moreton Corbet. The remains of this era were small with the gatehouse and the kitchen area being left.

It was strange to stand on brickwork from so long ago looking at much more modern ruins from the later construction.

• 

• 

• 

• 

In the 16th century, Robert Corbet who was heavily influenced by the classical architecture overseas that he had seen in his role as a diplomat, set about building a new mansion. Unfortunately, he died of the plague in 1583. After his death, his two brothers and successors, Richard and Vincent Corbet, carried on with the building of the new manor, and a fine job they had made of it. With huge fireplaces and large windows, it must have been a very grand affair.

As we wandered into what had once been the great hall and into the dining chambers I could almost here the tinkle of a harpsichord and see the lords and ladies dancing as the sun set across the fields.

• 

• 

• 

We headed through one of the nicely decorated doorways and inspected the exterior which had carvings on every corner and post, a fine example of the Elizabethan times. Satisfied with our find we headed back to the car and onto our next port of call.

Four miles away was Haughmond Abbey a ruined 12th-century Augustinian Abbey, as we arrived in the car park it didn’t seem to be particularly large but that thought changed as soon as we entered the site. The abbey roots go back to the 11th century when a small religious community was established here. Around 1135 the community was founded as a house of Augustinian canons under the patronage of William Fitzalan of Clun, and finally, in 1155 it became a full-fledged abbey.

It was lovely with huge arched window frames and doorways it had an elegance about it.

We navigated around the exterior finding ourselves at the remains of the church, the first church at Haughmond was built around 1150. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, the abbey eventually passed to the ownership of the Barker family, who tore down the church and converted the east range and southern cloister into a mansion. The mansion was destroyed in the Civil War.

• 

• 

• 

We stood taking in the view over the abbeys remains, it was easy to see how the layout would have been and it must have looked most impressive.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The 12^th century chapter house was in remarkable condition with the most amazing wooden ceiling and sculptures at the door. As I read information board, I chuckled out loud as one of the carvings was of St Augustinian of Hippo,

I wondered where Hippo was and if he was a direct descendant of the rather lovely creatures with large noses that like swimming and bathing.

• 

• 

• 

An immense fireplace marked where the kitchens had once been which given its size must have keep all of the monks very toasty in the cold winter months.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Abbot’s Hall was huge and could have seated hundreds, I tried to imagine the stained-glass windows in place and the way the light would have danced off the walls and floors. A curved window had beautiful detailing on it and as Jo stood poised to take a last shot of the building the heavens opened and a deluge of rain covered us.

A short dash to the car to escape the nasty wet stuff saw my carer in much better spirits and having flashed me a big grin she suggested a late lunch on the way back, an offer that would be churlish to refuse.