A Bit of Detective Work

After a day in the ancient city of Chester, with its marvellously preserved walls; beautiful cathedral, once a Benedictine Abbey; and lively city centre, all set beside the River Dee, it's off to Shrewsbury and Ironbridge and then to Wales for a few days.

Shrewsbury is the setting for Ellis Peters novels about the fictitious monastic detective, Brother Cadfael. This unassuming but astute monk who tended the abbey herb garden, must have had one heck of a time keeping the garden ticking along while dashing off for prayers every few hours and ferreting out the perpetrators of the latest homicide in Shrewsbury.

Cycling around Shrewsbury is a pure joy as the riverside parks and gardens are extensive and beautiful.

Shrewsbury Abbey sits now on a small island of land roughly oval in shape and surrounded by busy roads just a few steps from the River Severn. A far cry from the extensive land holdings of the abbey in medieval times.

As with most monastic houses, little survived Henry VIII's demolition ball, but a section of the church was left in tact for local worship, and four Norman arches with their massive pillars survive from the 11th century, while the Norman tower incorporating the West Window is dated at about 1380.

I am delighted to find two stained glass windows made by contemporary glass artist, Jane Gray. One is St Winefride's window installed in 1992 and the other a window dedicated to St Benedict in recognition of this being a Benedictine Abbey. Incorporated in this window, down in the bottom corner, is a picture of a Brother Cadfael book!

Jane Gray was mentioned by Sandy Mackinnon in his entertaining book, 'The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow'. He was sailing a Mirror dinghy down the River Severn and was invited ashore for a spot of lunch by a gentleman sitting on the terrace of his house beside the river. His wife was away installing a stained glass window and as the gent was not very well, Sandy would have to fend for himself, which he did. Sandy was picturing the wife as some artsy craftsy sort who dabbled in a bit of stained glass. He had to revise that impression when her saw the spectacular work of this much revered and talented lady.

I mention to the guide how pleased I am to see the Jane Gray windows, and why. It turns out that this good gentleman is a close chum of the lady in question and is very interested in my story about Sandy's book. He takes notes so he can relay it to Jane. He tells me that a biography of Jane is soon be released and gives me his card so I can check for details.

Later in the day I'm busy taking photos of the spectacular sunken gardens and get into conversation with a retired couple from York. As we watch a little train of preschoolers all linked together walking around the garden, the wife says what a good idea that is, to keep track of them all. Her husband agrees wholeheartedly, 'Goodness knows, I like children', says he, 'but I couldn't eat a whole one'!