Historic site set amid a sea of buttercups

Buttercups and hawthorn blossom - a perfect setting for Stokesay Castle, near Craven Arms.

Historic site set amid a sea of buttercups

I had a whole field of buttercups in front of me, but it still took half an hour to find the right composition.

On the left is the Church of St John the Baptist, built around 1150 as a chapel to Stokesay and probably expanded when the castle site developed in the 13th century.

It is a rare example of a church extensively rebuilt during the Puritan period following the Civil War, although some Norman elements still survive.

Among the church's most striking features is a gallery with space for musicians including a bass viol, flute and clarinet.

The musicians were replaced in about 1855 by a harmonium, and later still by the present organ.  

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2025
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A look back at our best images from 2023 Striking colours on Llangollen Canal A pink and blue sunrise over the Wrekin Beautiful autumn colours in the Dingle Magical morning on top of Caer Caradoc Autumn shades along the Llangollen Canal Morning mist and sunshine over Ludlow Harvest Moon lights up the Wrekin mast Mystical sunrise in the lovely Onny Valley Walking in the steps of A E Housman New page in the story of A Shropshire Lad Fresh chapter opens for Housman classic In the footsteps of the past on Adstone Hill Ethereal morning in the misty Stretton Hills New chapter begins for A Shropshire Lad New perspective from the Newport Canal A golden evening in the Redlake Valley Stiperstones pathway into the unknown Sea of white beneath Titterstone Clee Magical sunrise in the Stretton Hills Glorious evening sunshine on Linley Hill Dramatic light as sun comes up over Wrekin Historic site set amid a sea of buttercups Blue heaven in the Shropshire sunshine Green and gold in the Shropshire Hills Steaming through time across Shropshire Field of gold at Moreton Corbet Castle Ancient witness across the ages Dawn breaks over beautiful Ludlow Drift of gold at Acton Burnell Castle Brand new chapter for A Shropshire Lad Blossom and snow at Old St Chad's Wind and wild ponies on Brown Clee Carpet of white at Acton Scott church Feeding time in the Corvedale sunshine Flight of fancy in the sky over Shropshire Winter wonderland in the Redlake Valley A walk on the wild side in the Stretton Hills
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