The Recreation Ground car park in Ruyton-XI-Towns, Shropshire

Image: © Jeremy Bolwell Taken: 29 Dec 2023

A free public car park in this lovely little town. My first visit to this bizarrely named place. Oh! How many times have I seen a road sign for it, and bemusedly mulled its name over in my head, wondering what it could be (is it really eleven towns? Is it therefore a massive conurbation that I have neglected to be aware of? Is it bigger than Telford, a new town? Why eleven? Why Roman numerals? Why does no-one ever mention it? Why does nobody go there and return buzzing with high praise? Why do I not know a person who lives there? Does it really exist? Why does everyone I ask seem to know even less than me? And so on ...) I have lived in Shropshire since March 2004. In nearly 20 years I have never had cause to come here. I have , as I say, driven past many, many times. I have been to Baschurch several times, to Bomere Heath also a few times. I even have friends in both places. I have sung in a choir at the church at Leaton. I have been almost everywhere in the large county, but this area seems to have had a force-field around it - until now! I have even put visiting Ruyton-XI-Towns on a list, a kind of bucket list, of places I must go in Shropshire. Maybe today my knowledge, love for, awareness of and appreciation of the county will be nearing completion? Though I must admit, I have yet to visit Albrighton and Shifnal! I intend to rectify that too. They are on the same list. Watch this space!

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