Another of my walks on the Monarch's Way. This is the next stage.
Above, barn near Norton
We started at Kemberton, where the fugitive King Charles and local man Richard Penderel passed through on foot on their way towards the Severn, which they hoped to cross.
Kemberton is a sleepy Shropshire village
We turned left at this pub - the Wrekin in the distance.
This innocuous-looking field was actually the stickiest type of mud. Instead of pushing off with my back foot at each step, I had to pull it out of the clay!
We eventually reached Brick Kiln Lane - agreeing that the clay was just right for bricks. (Less so for walking)
One of the houses had a pig on the wall - complete with England Tee shirt and shades.
The next stage.
Then to Madeley, and these prefab houses, built temporarily after World War II but still beautifully cared for 70 years later.
St Michael's Church, built by Telford, with some cast iron tombs in the churchyard
The nearby Vicarage. Only two of these windows are real: the rest have been filled in, probably to escape the Window Tax. Seems a drastic measure.
We were looking for Upper House
...which was distinctly underwhelming...
...but next to it was this, a former barn with a green plaque: King Charles II hid in this barn 8th September 1651
The King and Richard Penderel hid while others scouted for a route across the River Severn, but it was heavily guarded and there were plenty of Parliamentary troops around, as they knew Charles was somewhere in the area. So, it was decided to go back to Boscobel, during the hours of darkness.
The Way carries on round the edge of Telford, though pleasant wooded areas
...though we were amazed by the colour of this brook - red from local ironstone
We got lost here, as we thought this was the Tar Tunnel on the map (it isn't).
And we thought this was the inclined plane which was next on our itinerary (it wasn't).
The real inclined plane is at this bridge (Monarch's Way sign clear on the signpost)
Up some steep steps...
...we caught sight of the rails on the way up
At the top, the Engine House
Boats were lowered down 63 metres here to a canal below.
We continued towards Sutton Maddock. This would once have been an attractive farmhouse, but you can clearly see the mud which made the next field agonising to walk across (on a good day, it would have been lovely walking!)
Sutton Maddock Church - standing in isolation. It looked wonderful, and with Sutton being an Anglo Saxon settlement, I thought this might be quite old (it isn't: it was rebuilt in the 19th century)
The final stretch of the walk - the clear path to Norton
Part of the Hundred House Hotel
It always amuses me to see "timbering" painted onto brick! (The end wall is genuine though)
The unusual former school building
The Hundred House was busy. It was Mothers' Day
And we were in Norton, where we had left our car.
A good walk, just over 9 miles. Some good historical sites on the way, and it means another section of the Monarch's way completed.
Today's walk. Best done with two cars as I couldn't find a suitable bus route. Leave one car in Norton and drive to Kemberton. From there follow the Monarch's Way (well-signposted) to Brockton and then round the streets in Sutton Hill, turning off to Madeley and the Royal Barn. Then back along the Silkin Way/Monarch's Way, by the Severn. Turn up past the Hay Inclined Plane then through woods back towards Brockton again (the King was heading back to Boscobel , which is why the route changes direction). It then turns towards Sutton Maddock Church and Hall and then to Norton.
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