Pub Archaeology at Ackleton
For the first time on the West Midlands Way, public transport dictates a modification to the route. 50 years ago, our intrepid twosome of Ron Leek and Eric Jones ended this stage at Tong. A village with a population of 240, that has "no Post Office, no shop and no bus service".
A minor modification, albeit involving the best part of 2 miles of lane walking, sees me end at Shifnal.
First, I have to get there and I am a little bit excited by this route. It takes me to places previously unexplored.
Worfield was the first - and what a quaint little hamlet it is. Like the place that time forgot. The shopkeeper sits on a deckchair on the street outside. The approach is made after crossing the River Worfe. Ron and Eric's guidebook shows an impressive waterwheel, which has sadly collapsed into the river.
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| A blog from 2011 shows it still standing |
Once through the grounds of Davenport House, its into the village, where I was too early for the still functioning pub.
Worfield is a picturesque village in Shropshire, nestled along the River Worfe, known for its historic charm and connections to literary and architectural heritage. P. G. Wodehouse, the famed comic novelist, had family ties to the village—his parents were married in St. Peter’s Church, and he spent part of his early childhood at nearby Stableford. Just outside the village lies Davenport House, a grand Georgian country mansion built in 1727 by architect Francis Smith of Warwick. The house, now a popular wedding and events venue, stands as a fine example of early 18th-century English baroque architecture.
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| Dog and Davenport - for another day |
Agricultural walking until the OS Maps shows two Big Blue Cups of Joy at Ackleton. I never for a second expected them both to still operational, but to lose both seems rather cruel.
The Folly (or Folley) Arms on the main road is long gone. Reported first closed in 2014 and now two cottages. Whatpub telling the story of how the name changed between the two spellings until at one point it was Folly on one side of the sign and Folley on the other.
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| Both cottages for sale suggesting a recent renovation |
At the end of the village is a far more healthy looking pub, the Red Cow. I am slowly trying to tick off all the Holdens Tied pubs and this was actually saved in my Google Maps. It was 11:40am when I arrived and I thought long and hard about waiting the 20 minutes for the legitimate tick.
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| Potential Bonus - 18th-century, Grade II Listed, yet dead |
Mobile coverage was sketchy but thankfully, I managed to hitch onto some free WiFi to determine that this, too, is a dead pub. It looks like a Covid Casualty, with the last post on their Facebook page, a heartfelt monologue, the type of which that I am reading far too often these days. With a twist, The Red Cow were bemoaning a lack of staff, rather than punters.
Badger, with its sandstone caves and dingly dells and Beckbury are next up. Will I strike lucky on the next Big Blue Cup of Joy? The answer is kind of. The 1800s coaching house once known as the Seven Stars has been rebranded as a "Pie and Smokehouse" restaurant". Not that I am normally one to mock anything with a Pie in the title, it all looked a little Miller and Carter. Still, the local rambling group were gathered outside, arguing about who's round it was, so I nipped in first. Too warm to trust the Brakspear Cask, a pint that never sets the juices flowing, I decided on a first time for a long time Kronenbourg 1664.
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| Holy Smokey Cow - an open pub |
It transpired that the walking group were not the Ramblers but a "South Shropshire Wellness" group. From brief discussions, it appears that "Wellness" can be achieved through fresh air, moderate exercise, ordering puddings with custard when the mercury is in the mid 20s and drinking beer. I think they are onto something more than that woman who was married to the fella from Coldplay. She just peddles perfume to make your fufu smell nice.
Refreshment completed - it was time for me to make my detour and head directly North, through Ryton and picking up the lanes to take me to the train station and Shifnal.
This is a town I have recently discovered on foot, so in the interests of something new, I ignored the Good Beer Guide Pubs and test out the Jaspers Arms for a post-walk pint. Typically, its possibly the best pub in town. A free house with pump clips of former glories nailed to the ceilings. Many, many Chesterfields, including a rarely seen double seater that wasn't a sofa. A lovely patio, overlooking the railway viaduct. Most importantly, a very chatty bar-lady, who ensured the conversation flowed between disparate groups of punters.
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| Three GBG Ticks, but Mappiman says this is the best in town. |
Walk Details
Distance - 12.5 Miles
Geocaches - 0
