Day a famous guest checked in

On this day 173 years ago the most famous visitor to The Lion Hotel checked in to stay in Shrewsbury for probably the first time.

Charles Dickens wrote in his 1838 Journal that on Wednesday, October 31 that year he and his wife Catherine had travelled through Birmingham and Wolverhampton on his way to The Lion.

In the evening, the couple attended the Shrewsbury Theatre to see A Roland for an Oliver before leaving the next day to go on to Llangollen.

Dickens is known to have visited Shrewsbury on a number of occasions, and it is probable that he stayed at The Lion on at least two more occasions.

When he visited there he had two rooms, a bedroom upstairs and a lounge below complete with desk, both of which can still be seen today, complete with plaque.

He definitely stayed there on August 12, 1858, with his friend and illustrator, Hablot K Browne, otherwise know as Phiz because Dickens wrote to one of his daughters: “We have the strangest little rooms, the ceilings of which I can touch with my hand. The windows bulge out over the street as if they were little stern windows of a ship. And a door opens out of the sitting room on to a little open gallery with plants in it where one leans over a queer old rail.”

Charles John Huffam Dickens, who was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, moved to London when he was three.

His first job was at Warrens Blacking Warehouse where he was pasting labels on shoe polish.

But when he was 15 he joined the law office of Ellis and Blackmore, attorneys, of Holborn Court, Gray’s Inn, as a junior clerk, before becoming a freelance journalist concentrating on court and later political reporting.

His first stories were serialised in magazines, and rather than wait until he had finished the whole story, Dickens often wrote the episodes week by week and his first novel, the Pickwick Papers, was completed this way in March 1836.

He learnt to leave the end of each part on a cliff-hanger so the public would look forward to the next instalment.

A month later on April 2, 1836, Dickens married Catherine Tomson Hogarth (1816-1879), pictured below, the daughter of George Hogarth, editor of the Evening Chronicle, and they went on to have ten children.

By the time Charles arrived in Shrewsbury he and Catherine had already had two children.

The author had also already written Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist in 1837 and was well on the way to finishing Nicholas Nickleby which he worked on from 1838-39.

There’s more about Dickens’ visit to Shrewsbury in Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel. To buy a copy for the special Christmas price of £6 including postage email John@jbutterworth.plus.com.

Anniversary of the birth of a great musician

On this day 229 years ago one of the greatest musicians was born in Genoa, Italy, on October 27, 1782.

Nicolo Paganini was taught by his father Antonio to play the mandolin at the age of five before he took up the violin when he was seven.

When the French invaded northern Italy in March 1796 Paganini, pictured below, and his father moved to Livorno where he played in a number of concerts before he was appointed the first violin of the Republic of Lucca.

Apparently his fame as a violinist was matched only by his reputation as a gambler and womanizer.

When Lucca was annexed by Napoleonic France in 1805, the region was ceded to Napoleon’s sister, Elisa Baciocchi.

Paganini became a violinist for the Baciocchi court, giving private lessons to her husband Felice and he moved with the court to Florence.

His reputation increased after his concert at La Scala in Milan in 1813. But he didn’t start touring Europe until August 1828 when he went to Vienna and then stopped off at every major European city in Germany, Poland, and Bohemia until February, 1831.

Shrewsbury pulled off an amazing PR coup when they persuaded Signor Paganini to call into Shrewsbury in 1833 on his way to St Petersburg in Russia.

The only details we know are from a concert programme, pictured below, which still hangs in the Lion Hotel reception today.

It says: “Under distinguished patronage, Signor Paganini respectfully announces to the Nobility and Gentry of Shrewsbury that he will give a Grand Vocal and Instrumental Concert at the Lion Ballroom on Thursday evening, August the 15th, being positively the only time he can possibly have the honour of appearing before them previous to his departure for the Court of St Petersburg on which occasion he has engaged those highly  celebrated Vocalists, Miss Wells and Miss Watson, likewise Mr Watson, composer to the Theatres Royal, English Opera House and Covent Gardens, and member of the Royal Academy of Music who will preside at the Piano Forte. Tickets 2/6d each (12.5p today) may be had at Mr Eddoes, Corn Market, Shrewsbury. The concert will commence precisely at 8 o’ clock.”

He astounded a packed ballroom at The Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury, with techniques that included harmonies and near impossible fingerings and bowings.

His Caprice No. 24 in A Minor, Op. 1, is among his best compositions, a work that has inspired many top composers.

In September 1834, Paganini ended his concert career and returned to Genoa. He died on May 27, 1840, and his tomb, pictured below, can be seen today in Parma.

Incidentally, the Shrewsbury Summer Season re-enacted the Paganini concert on Friday, August 15, 2008, at The Lion to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the event.

Organised by Maggie Love, then the Arts Development Officer at Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, the concert attracted a sell-out audience at the hotel as violin virtuoso Madeleine Easton, helped by musicians Claire Surman and Gary Cooper, played the exact violin pieces performed by Paganini in 1833.

There are more details about the concert and the ballroom in Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel.

To buy a signed copy contact John@jbutterworth.plus.com.

Old picture of Percy Thrower unearthed in Scotland

It is amazing where you see connections to Shrewsbury and The Lion Hotel.

I was reading my Mum’s National Trust for Scotland magazine when I came across this picture of Percy Thrower, pictured below.

Percy Thrower was Shrewsbury’s Parks Superintendent from 1946-74 and his responsibilities included the famous Dingle in the centre of the town’s Quarry.

He has been described as Britain’s first celebrity gardener appearing on Blue Peter, the BBC Gardening Club in 1956 and then the BBC Gardeners’ World from 1969-76.

The Lion Hotel honoured him by naming one of their bedrooms after him and guests today can still stay in the Thrower Room.

Of the picture the National Trust for Scotland magazine said: “The director’s collar-length hair, flared cords and suede boots date this charming picture to around 1970, though the star of the show, gardening hero Percy Thrower, clearly has no truck with such fads.

“Resplendent in neat cardigan, tie and shiny shoes, he is examining a bed of alchemilla at Crathes Castle at Banchory, Aberdeenshire, during the filming of an episode of Gardeners’ World.

“Oddly, his garb now looks far less dated than that of his colleague, and certainly less so than the heavy BBC camera that towers above him, or even the slimline Super 8 camera also being used to record the event.

“The team would have been welcomed to Crathes by the then head gardener Douglas MacDonald, who died in August this year aged 93 and worked in the castle garden for very nearly 50 years, retiring in 1985.

“The shot is taken in late summer, looking north towards the castle from the Camel Garden, so called because of its distinctive hump.

“Today’s head gardener, Chris Wardle, said: ‘It’s a lovely picture and an interesting one because that area has since been completely remodelled. Even the castle itself looks different – those down pipes have gone. But most of the plants shown, such as hemerocallis, philadelphus, astilbe and alstroemeria, can still be seen at Crathes.’ 

“Over the years, the garden has hosted visits from a procession of well-known broadcasters.

“Alan Titchmarsh, Gloria Hunniford, Chris Beardshaw and Roy Lancaster are just some of those ho have enthused to the nation from among the iconic Crathes yew hedge.”

To find out more about Crathes Castle go to www.nts.org.uk/Property/Crathes-Castle-Garden-Estate/

There’s more about Percy Thrower and the other rooms in Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury. To buy a signed copy email John@jbutterworth.plus.com 

Successful meeting in Shrewsbury

It was good to meet up with some old friends when I went to talk to the Shrewsbury Business Chamber last Thursday about The Lion Hotel book at the impressive new Shrewsbury Town stadium.

This organisation, whose logo is pictured below, has been continually representing business in the Shrewsbury area since 1903 and has a dedicated Executive Committee which meets monthly to discuss all issues affecting business in the area.

As well as the chance for members to network at the monthly meetings where there are regular guest speakers the Shrewsbury Chamber also acts as a lobbying group.

The Executive Committee has members representing many aspects of commerce including manufacturing, retailing, building, banking and the town council. 

For more details go to www.shrewsburybusiness.com/

It was a successful meeting as I managed to sell some copies of my book.

I am pictured below with Shrewsbury Business Chamber secretary Val Povall.

Why I will be watching The X Factor tonight

I shall be doing something I have never done before on a Saturday night – I shall be watching The X Factor tonight.

The reason is I actually made it on to the new McDonald’s advert which is being shown during the advertisement breaks of the popular ITV programme, which starts at 8pm.

You may remember that I wrote in a previous blog that Severn Casting sent me to Huddersfield for one day to be an extra on the food giant’s latest advert.

It was a fascinating break from marketing and selling my two books, Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel and God's Secret Listener published by Lion Hudson of Oxford.

The film crew spent four days filming in and around Brook Street in the West Yorkshire town – for just a one-minute advert.

We were paired off as couples and I spent most of the day inside McDonald’s with my ‘wife’, Megan James, whose claim to fame was that she was Nora Batty’s stand-in on the TV series Last of the Summer Wine.

Megan is pictured below with the make-up artist (right) preparing her for filming.

Much to my surprise I actually made the advertisement and not the cutting floor. Sadly, my scene with Nora Batty’s stand-in was cut.

If you are Strictly Come Dancing fan and won’t be turning over to ITV you can still see my two seconds of fame on YouTube.

I am right at the end of the advert appropriately reading a paper with my back to the actor as he sings On The Street Where You Live  from My Fair Lady before he eats his Big Mac.

To see the advert go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJzDW8hudeo

Joy as Shrewsbury video for BBC is finished

I was delighted to receive an email from freelance journalist Richard Vobes today to say that he has finished his video about Shrewsbury which includes an interview with me about The Lion Hotel book.

The film-maker has produced a video about the town as part of a web series called The Bald Explorer, which he is submitting to the BBC. He has already made the first episode about Lewes in East Sussex.

Richard also interviewed the hotel owner, Howard Astbury, asking him about the famous guests who have stayed there including Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Benjamin Disraeli, Niccolo Paganini and in modern times The Beatles, Morecambe and Wise and Cliff Richard.

Richard Vobes (pictured below), who is an entertainer, actor, independent film maker and Internet broadcaster, said in his latest blog about the Shrewsbury film: “What do you do when it's all over? Stand back and wait for the applause I suppose! Well, that's a bit premature I hear you say and of course you would be right.

 “The thing about these documentaries is, that although they are very light and should in theory appeal to a broad spectrum of viewer, quite a bit of research does go into the subject matter.

“This episode is very different from the previous one on Lewes and I dare say the next will be as much again in the 'moved on' stakes as this. I do mean different rather than better. I know exactly what has gone into each programme so I am not able to judge whether one rises above the other. To be honest they shouldn't. It’s all work in progress.

“You simply can't just throw these films together on the basis of a few paragraphs from Wikipedia, or at least you shouldn't. I certainly don't expect anyone to remember any of the facts I might spew out, but if I can keep a few people entertained for the 30 minutes that it is on for then I have done my job.”  

Of his visit to Shrewsbury he said: The town is such a fascinating place and steeped in history. One particular focal point is naturally the busy coaching inn, The Lion Hotel, at the top of the curiously named street, Wyle Cop.

“Luckily for me some one has already done all the necessary research I could ever want and more. John Butterworth, ex-editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle (12 years), has just published a wonderful account of the life of the county town's premier hotel, formerly known as the Red Lion, but now renamed simply as The Lion.”

To see Richard’s film go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWf2K55Igfc

Talking of The Lion Hotel book I shall be meeting up with a number of friends when I return to Shrewsbury tonight to talk to members of Shrewsbury Business Chamber at the very impressive new Shrewsbury Town stadium.

I am really looking forward to the visit and will report back on how it went in another blog.

4,500-mile trip to honour school founder

Having thoroughly enjoyed writing and researching the book on The Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury the question is what to do next.

One story I would love to tell is that of a local hotel, The Crown in Stone, which has a fascinating history.

I thought I knew many of its tales but I stumbled across a fascinating fact when I met a group of Guyanese in town at the weekend.

Four former pupils of Queen’s College, Georgetown, had travelled more than 4,500 miles from their home in the Caribbean to Stone to honour the founder of their school, Bishop William Austin, who was born at The Crown on November 7, 1807.

William’s pregnant mother was taken ill when travelling by stagecoach in 1807 from Scotland to Bath, so his parents decided to stop over at what was then known as The Crown Inn.

They stayed there for a few days until they were well enough to continue their journey to Bath.

When William grew up he entered the priesthood eventually becoming the Bishop of the then British Guiana, where in 1844 he founded the all-boys Queen’s College and later the Bishop’s High School for Girls. In 1966 the British colony became Guyana after independence.

The school’s old boys association, the Alumni Association, has branches all over the world and arranges a reunion every two years. This year it was in London where 30 of them travelled to Kensington.

Four of them caught the train to Stone last Saturday to see the birthplace of their school founder. They had lunch at The Crown, met the Stone Town Mayor, Cllr June Price, in the council chamber and also visited St Michael and St Wulfad’s Church which included a trip up the tower.

Pictured below clockwise from front left at the lunch in The Crown are Terence Blackman; Dennis Abbott, Reader at St Michael and St Wulfad’s Church; Christopher Chunnilall; Roderick Westmaas; Neville Burke and Philip Leason, town councillor and chairman of Stone Historical and Civic Society.

“Queen’s College is the best school in the Caribbean,” said one of the visitors, Christopher Chunnilall, “and it was fascinating coming to Stone to see where our founder was born.”

The group were particularly interested in a picture hanging in The Crown of a stagecoach that brought William’s parents to Stone.

Records show that William visited The Crown again in 1831 to see where he was born on his way to his wedding to his cousin, Eliza Piercy Henderson.

Apparently the Bishop took great delight in telling everyone he was born in an inn – just like his Lord and master.

Anniversary of a sad 14-day sale at hotel

This weekend was the anniversary of an incredible but very sad sale at The Lion Hotel.

Exactly 232 years ago the Shrewsbury inn, pictured below, held an auction which lasted an amazing 14 days.

The reason was that the owner of the hotel, solicitor John Ashby, who was Mayor of Shrewsbury and town clerk from 1767 until his death 12 years later, had died in debt.

On Friday, October 8, 1779, a grand sale was held of all the owner’s goods, including a ‘considerable’ cellar, to help pay off his bills.

A magnificent sales catalogue, printed by the Shrewsbury firm of Eddowes, provides a detailed picture of a well-stocked inn and survives in the Chancery Masters’ Exhibits, giving the names of purchasers and prices paid.

The sales catalogue gave an insight into The Lion, which listed kitchens, servants’ hall and quarters, parlours, larders, callers and butler’s pantry plus 10 chambers, five lodging rooms, three dining rooms, the Assembly Room, card and coffee rooms adjoining and two bars. There was even a small fire engine kept in the garden.

The town and country gentry enjoyed the social occasion and the rich pickings from the sale, which raised £1,508 from furnishings and £376 from the sale of Ashby’s extensive library, but that was nowhere near enough to pay off the debts.

According to the London Gazette, £9, 222 was then realised by the sale of Ashby’s personal estate.

But more money was needed so Ashby’s manor at Yockleton was sold for £12,000 and The Lion and some of the adjoining premises including Sycamore House, the octagonal building at the rear of the hotel which Ashby had left in his will to his wife and which can still be seen today, were sold for £1,000 to Shrewsbury stationer John Bishop.

Local historian Rev Hugh Owen, who had been minister of St Julian’s since 1791 and who had the inn in his parish, said: “As long as Mr Ashby lived, The Lion was esteemed one of the most comfortable as well as most handsome large inns in England.

He said that when Mr Ashby died there were “involved circumstances” from the “expense he had incurred in the building and management of this inn, with a general, liberal, elegant and hospitable manner of life.”

There’s more about John Ashby’s story in Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury. To buy a signed copy for £5 plus postage email John@jbutterworth.plus.com 

I'm set to appear on The X Factor

I am set to appear on The X Factor – now there’s a headline I never thought I would write about myself.

Let me explain. Last Thursday Severn Casting sent me to Huddersfield for the day to be an extra on food giant McDonald’s latest advert which will be shown within the next few weeks during the breaks on the popular Saturday night ITV entertainment programme.

It was a fascinating day off from marketing and selling my two books, Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel and God’s Secret Listener.

The film crew (pictured below) spent four days filming in and around Brook Street in the West Yorkshire town – for just a one-minute advert.

McDonald’s marketing manager Steve Hill said "We looked at various places to film the advert, but we picked Huddersfield for the architecture and the backdrop of the hills."

It was an early start as I had to be there at 7.15am and didn’t finish until 6pm, but it was interesting seeing the film crew and the one professional actor in action.

We had to bring three changes of clothing for the wardrobe manager to decide what she wanted us to wear for the filming.

I had to smile when I heard about one young lady extra who packed her car with 16 small cases full of clothes only to be told she was fine as she was.

We were paired off as couples and I spent most of the day inside McDonald’s with my ‘wife’, Megan James, pictured below, whose claim to fame was that she was Nora Batty’s stand-in on the TV series Last of the Summer Wine.

With free food and drink and hearing about Megan’s career and meeting the other extras it was a fun day – and I got paid for it.

I just hope that I make The X Factor – and not the cutting floor.