The Slate
28 August 2017
Tal-y-Bont
SH 60502 70834; 53.21618°N, 4.09061°W
Formerly the Abbeyfield Hotel, the establishment reopened in June 2017 following a major refurbishment undertaken by its new owners Ben and Kelly Hardy.
Pontio
27 August 2017
Deiniol Road, Bangor
SH 57929 72174; 53.22753°N, 4.12972°W
Rhug Estate
26 August 2017
Rhug, Corwen, Denbighshire
SJ 05302 43642; 52.98171°N, 3.41193°W
Rhug Estate in Denbighshire, which covers some 5,000 hectares, is the main estate of Robert Vaughan Wynn (b 1949), 8th Baron Newborough. The organic farm extends over around half of the area of the estate, and features a farm shop, the Bison Grill restaurant and the On the Hoof takeaway. The farm started wholesaling in 2004 and its organic produce is exported internationally and is supplied to establishments such as the Ritz and the Dorchester in London and the seven-star Burj Al Arab in Dubai. An unexpected sight in the fields of North Wales, the farm’s herd of bison has become something of a tourist attraction.
Visitor Centre (converted Stables)
26 August 2017
Ditherington, Shrewsbury
SJ 49855 13826; 52.71974°N, 2.74382°W
Ditherington Flax Mill Maltings was previously featured here in GeoTopoi in December 2011. Since then there have various changes at the site, the most significant being the opening in November 2015 in the converted offices and stables of a Visitor Centre. The opening of the centre is the first phase of a restoration project undertaken by a partnership between Historic England, Friends of Flaxmill Maltings and Shropshire Council. The second phase, which will result in a mixed-use redevelopment of the historic buildings, is proceeding thanks to the subvention of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Other changes include the demolition of various later structures on the site, such as the massive concrete silos built in the 1950s and 60s (North Silo and South Silo). Public access is currently limited to the Visitor Centre and a small area to the rear of the mill buildings.
Ditherington Flax Mill Maltings (GeoTopoi, 2011);
Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings (Historic England)
Standing guard…
26 August 2017
Chirk, Wrexham Country Borough
SJ 26890 38042; 52.93476°N, 3.08920°W
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
24 August 2017
Frankwell, Shrewsbury
SJ 48906 12832; 52.71071°N, 2.75772°W
Theatre Severn was designed by architects Austin-Smith:Lord and built by Wilmot Dixon. Construction began in November 2006 and the theatre was officially opened in March 2009.
St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury
24 August 2017
St Chad’s Terrace, Shrewsbury
SJ 48816 12422; 52.70702°N, 2.75899°W
The Church of England’s St Chad’s Church opened on 19 August 1792 and has recently celebrated its 225th birthday. The present building, designed by Scottish architect George Steuart (1730-1806), repaced the earlier 13th century chruch dedicated to St Chad.
St Chad’s is a Grade 1 listed building.
Additional trivia: Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was baptised in St Chad’s on November 15th 1809.
