Day Five: May 19 – Sir Edward Littleton, Chief Justice of the Marcher Courts, died 1622

We breakfast with Rosemary and Michael and Michael brings out his model for the exhibit of his work at Winterthur, opening in November.  He has each painting “hung” on the wall of his miniature of the Winterthur Fellows Gallery!

We meet Colin and depart for Shrewsbury…is it Shrewsbury or Shrowsbury?

Colin has in mind that we will visit Tintern Abbey today just over the line in Wales on the Wye River. So off we go crossing the Severn River Bridge. Neither Tom nor I had thought to include it in our trip but we are stunned by its beauty! Impossibly high stone walls, a floor of soft very green grass but no roof or windows! It was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks but was dissolved on orders of Henry VIII, the serial monogamist, in 1536.

Colin talks to himself…about traffic…his accent is fairly pronounced and Tom has a hard time understanding…so I translate. Colin is a little hard of hearing also and can’t understand Tom…so I translate…Colin has a Garmin GPS which he calls Miss Adventure…he talks to her also…he can kick up his heels and do a jig…which he does on occasion…but not when he is driving…and he can sing…which he does on occasion…

We didn’t have definite plans for the balance of the drive to Shrewsbury. Colin has suggested Stokesay Castle but we have also thought about Ludlow Castle. Stokesay is an 18^th century structure and we decide that is too recent…I can’t believe I am saying that! Such a time snob. Ludlow it is.

Somewhere along the line Ole Edward Littleton (Tom's long gone ancestor) raises his ugly head…hum the tune to Jaws as you read this…Colin quickly becomes as obsessed as Tom about finding Edward’s final resting place. Tom has been there but isn’t sure where he saw Edward’s effigy in a church in or near Shrewsbury.  Dah, duhn, dah, duhn, duhn…

 We tour Ludlow. 1086, stone, impressive! Tom asks the ticket seller about Edward Littleton…she has no knowledge but certain they will know in Shrewsbury…Colin has been working on finding a TIF (tourist information center). The nice young woman in the TIF goes on the Internet and finds an Edward Littleton buried in St. Mary’s Church. Hmmmmmm…this seems too easy but off we go.

 Well, Shrewsbury is a lot like Reading with no straight streets and all one way. Miss Adventure is useless and Colin’s muttering gets louder and more pronounced. I decide to start navigating. Next left turn! Get in the right lane! Turn right! No! Your other right! We practically run up the walk to St. Mary’s! Dah, duhn, dah, duhn…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! He is not there…nor is he at the Abbey.

We call it a day and check in to the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.