There's a dark passage in Shrewsbury that's only 22 inches wide; St Mary's Shut. It's one of a maze of almost 30 such alleys throughout this charming town full of quirkiness and character and a fabulous variety of cuisine.
I mention the food scene because it has been known for people to get stuck in this shut. So, when faced with a bit of a squeeze, I'm very glad that I had forgone the second helping of the appropriately named Lemon Yum in Csons in Milk Street despite the powerful cravings. So, beware – there are all manner of gastronomic temptations like this lurking on every corner.
Shrewsbury is a town where an ostentatious display of wealth hits us as soon as we step off the bus from the campsite near The Square. Spectacular Owen's Mansion and Ireland's Mansion each try to outdo the other in all their late sixteenth century show of splendour with, I feel, Owens Mansion just having the edge over its near neighbour. This was, after all, the mansion of a man who was so extravagantly rich that he placed wooden statues of
