Call me old fashioned but I love a map! So I was thrilled when Shropshire Archives were selling off surplus maps last year and I was able to purchase 3 local 1:2500 second edition maps from 1903. The original surveys were done in 1882-3 and revised in 1901.
Finally I have had the maps framed and they are hanging along the stairs, although I don't think I'd win any przes for my picture hanging skills - the spacing leaves a lot to be desired. After protracted debate and discussion I've opted to leave the wall hanging in place as the logistics of raising it are too challenging for Mr B&B!
The one at the top of the stairs features Neen Savage hamlet in the bottom corner but also shows many of our fields at Stepple and Catherton. As was common practice in the 70s and 80s many of the hedges have been removed and the current fields are much larger. An activity for the future perhaps, is to match field names to the numbers.
The second map as you travel down the stairs shows Broom(e) Park at the top centre and Cleobury Mortimer in the bottom right. The map shows the location of the town Workhouse, now the site of the Glen Caravan Park. It is fascinating to see how much the town has changed and grown. The main outlines of the house and buildings at Broome Park haven't changed and the map shows the original entrance to the right of the plot with the carriage circle at the front, I still feel a pang that we landscaped this out but the garden is much better as lawn instead of tarmac!
The third map at the bottom of the stairs, shows Curdale Farm, the original family farm and nerve centre of the farming operation at the centre top. This again shows much of the land we farm and Mr B&B did quip that he should have coloured in the family empire before the maps were framed!!!
