Blists Hill

On Sunday, we didn't get out until midday as we were once again being lazy. The weather was supposed to be hit and miss so we went to Blists Hill where we could get indoors quickly if needed. Blists Hill is a Victorian town near the Iron Bridge Gorge. I have been there when I was younger but I don't remember a much of it.

Matt and Clare

 At the start there is a bank where you can change modern money into Victorian money. All the shops accept the money and have their prices in new and old currency. The conversion is:
1 farthing (1/4 pence) = 10p
1d = 1 penny = 40p
sixpence = 1.20 modern pounds
1 shilling = 12d = 4.80 modern pounds
1 crown = 5 shillings = 24 modern pounds
1 sovereign = 1 pound = 96 modern pounds

10 pounds of old money

 We went into a lot of the shops (often to escape rain).

Bike shop

Brushes anyone?

Enormous container of golden syrup!

Grocery store

Rocking horse

Victorian Doctors office

In the candle markers.

We didn't get chance to check out the pub. Though their advertising was interesting.

Arsenic in your beer?

Lunch was at the fish and chip shop. I could only eat the chips but they were very good. They are cooked the old fashion way, in beef dripping which sounds gross (and not for vegetarians) but they were really nice though I doubt they were very healthy.

Fish and chips.

 We also HAD to go to the sweet shop. It isn't as good as Teddy Grays in Bewdley (which I am planning on visiting before I leave). It was opened by my great-great-Uncle though no longer in the family. :-( Still we all got a few bags from Blists Hill. Aniseed balls, mint imperials, Kali, and fruit pips! Yummy!

Sweet shop.

There are some Victorian houses which were interesting. The proper house was nice but had one of the creepiest picture I have ever seen on the wall. The squatters cottage had 2 small rooms and there were 9 people registered as living there! I couldn't do it!

Proper house

Creepy Queen Vic.

Bedroom in the squatter cottage.

This completely freaked Matt out!

Also to escape rain, we went on the train into the clay mine. It was a little odd as the acting on the film was awful. But got us out of the rain for a while.

Matt and El on the train

Clare looking cold 

Heading into the clay mine

 We had to stop at the tea rooms for a cuppa before we left, mostly to warm up a bit.

Matt pouring the tea and not looking impressed.

And I got to take a few artistic photos! :-)

I recommend Blists Hill for anyone in the area, young or old. There wasn't as much on as normal due to the time of year and weather but it was still fun.

Back at Matt and Els, I got my birthday cake!

I couldn't eat it but it was a lovely thought. I brought a piece of GF cake from Bridgnorth the day before which I had while they eat my birthday cake. They said it was horrible but I somehow don't believe them! :-)

We spent the rest of the evening making fajitas and playing Uno.