In March/April 2019, I got to go sightseeing in the West Midlands, UK while visiting my British cousins. My American cousin, Cheryl, came with me and it was her first time meeting them. It is always so rewarding bringing family together! My hobby of genealogy has allowed me to meet and connect many cousins!
Eyam and Bakewell
After a relaxing evening with our cousins, the next day we accomplished quite a lot! First we drove to the plague village of Eyam in the Peak District in Derbyshire. During the Black Death in the mid-1600’s, this village was infected due to a piece of cloth brought up by a trader from London. To protect the surrounding countryside, this village quarantined itself. It was an incredible act of selflessness on the part of these people from the deadly contagion! Between September 1665 and November 1666, around 260 villagers lost their lives to the disease. In the end, just a little over 80 people from Eyam survived. It is a fascinating piece of history and located in a beautiful area of England!
While we were driving, a most remarkable thing happened! We were driving through the beautiful countryside, and a HUGE herd of all white deer crossed the road in front of us! There had to be about 40 of them! They were beautiful, but I was so stunned and in-the-moment that I didn’t even THINK to take a picture or video. I really wish I would have because it was STUNNING!
After Eyam, we drove to Bakewell, also in the Peak District. The town is along the River Wye and is famous for its tarts. Bakewell is quaint and lovely. The shops are so cool and there are so many pubs and restaurants! We enjoyed lunch there at The Wheatsheaf. The fish was ENORMOUS, and the Tomato, Basil and Goat Cheese Tart was delicious! A highlight of the visit were the swans–I’ve always loved swans, they are such majestic creatures but can be fiercely protective and territorial.
Moseley Old Hall
The following day we visited Moseley Old Hall, where King Charles II was hidden for part of the English Civil War before he could be smuggled out of the country to France. The history fascinated me! We even got to see the “priest hole” where the king would have to hide if the house was subject to search by Cromwell’s men (it was illegal then to practice Catholicism, ergo why the house had a “priest hole”). In the yard we saw a beautiful peacock–unfortunately, he would not open his tail for us, but he is stunning to look at any way!
The Crooked House
On the way back from Old Moseley Hall, we visited one of the most surprising buildings I’ve ever seen–The Crooked House. This pub, located between Telford and Dudley, became lopsided due to mining subsidence in the 19th century. One side of the building is now approximately 4 feet lower than the other! The structure was condemned in the 1940s and scheduled for demolition, but the owners of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries purchased it and capitalized on the uniqueness of the building. They made is safe using buttresses and girders but were able to maintain its lopsided appearance. The leaning walls also give rise to some pretty neat optical illusions where glasses slowly slide across “level” tables and a marble will appear to roll UP hill. This pub is not easy to find–it is at the end of a small side road, so you need to know it is there in order to find it!
Monkland Cheese Dairy and Ludlow
On our third full day in the West Midlands, we packed in a lot of activity! First we visited David’s 93-year-old mother–she is a delightful woman whose mind is sharp as a tack! After that, we drove westward and visited the Monkland Cheese Dairy. Being a cheese-lover, I was in heaven! On the tour, we learned how cheese is made the old-fashioned way! This was fascinating! Afterward, we enjoyed a bite to eat with Linda’s sister Margaret, her daughter Karen, and Karen’s son Warwick. A new generation of cousins!
From the cheese factory we drove further up into the hills to visit the charming town of Ludlow. I had been there last year, but it was Cheryl’s first time. Our visit was brief, so we didn’t go to the ruins of the castle this time, but you can review last year’s visit here. The castle and town played an integral role in defending medieval England from the “savage” Welshmen.
That evening we spent some time with David’s sister, Susan, and her husband, Neil. They were such an interesting and entertaining couple and their home was beautiful! It was an enjoyable evening filled with fun and engaging conversation!
