Refreshed loggerheads

 

The pub-sign on the famous Loggerheads Inn in Shrewsbury was definitely in need of a spruce-up – and what better time to have it done than during the loggerheads’ 600th anniversary year?

So, for a few weeks this year, the pub was sign-less, while the renovation took place. 
But now, all is well, and the sign is back – all shiny and refreshed!

For those who don’t know, the pub goes back to the 17th century and was originally called The Shrewsbury Arms.  However, as the arms of Shrewsbury are better known by their nickname “the loggerheads”, the regulars started to call it by that nickname – and the moniker stuck.

A new book has now been published to celebrate 600 years of the loggerheads - click here to find out more.

+

To comment on this post, just use the Comments field down this page or email us direct.

To get an email alert into your inbox every time we make a new post (about once a week), just click 'Subscribe & Follow' (at the top of the column to the right on this page) and just fill in the form

Paint the town... gold & blue!

 

A very ordinary structure, a bridge support, once in concrete grey, has recently been painted in gold-and-blue, the colour of the loggerheads and - by extension - the town of Shrewsbury. 
It’s not clear if the work is in celebration of the loggerheads’ 600th birthday, but – let’s assume it is!

Unlike the similar Meole Brace paintwork, this activity has not been carried out by the town council.  This is the work of a maverick local character, John Edwards, aka ‘The Sign Guy’.  

John started off as a kind of community champion, setting himself to clean the town’s street-signs, making them look new again.  Quickly, he’s moved on from there; and he now does paint-jobs covering up ugly graffiti on public walls. It’s all voluntary, and even the materials are donated (usually).  The council love him for it, naturally.

This particular painting effort can be seen on the supports of the Frankwell pedestrian bridge in Shrewsbury which crosses the River Severn to the town’s new Guildhall. 

Incidentally, both sides of the bridge-support are painted in exactly the same way, with the other side facing the river.  So… if by nothing else, any boats passing by, seeing the colours on the bridge, will know they are in Shrewsbury….!

For more about the history of the gold-and-blue colouring of the arms of Shrewsbury (aka the ‘loggerheads’), click here 

 

A new book has been published to celebrate 600 years of the loggerheads - click here to find out more.

+

To comment on this post, just use the Comments field down this page or email us direct.

To get an email alert into your inbox every time we make a new post (about once a week), just click 'Subscribe & Follow' (at the top of the column to the right on this page) and just fill in the form

Bright and beautiful loggerheads

  

There have been a flurry of loggerheads renovations/restorations during 2025.  It’s probably coincidence, but maybe also an unconscious tribute to the emblem in this, the loggerheads' 600th year. Perhaps.
(See also: Pub-Sign Refresher and Coleham School updates).

Among these renovations is the complete refurbishment of the famous grade 2-listed Quarry Park gates. They were commissioned by the Shropshire Horticultural Society in 1881.
The main gates were even taken off site to get their makeover, which restored them to their pristine condition and also ensures their future. The park’s similarly designed side-gates were also restored.

The loggerheads are the main decoration on the structure, as the Horticultural Society seemed very fond of them.  (See Magnificent Gates)
It’s a bit of a puzzle however why the society ordered some of the loggerheads on the gates to be painted in blue only (see pic below).  The emblem should really be: gold faces, blue background.  Odd.

The gates are now back to their brilliant and vibrant best, and Shrewsbury Town Council should be congratulated on driving the project forward.

A new book has now been published to celebrate 600 years of the loggerheads - click here to find out more.

+

To comment on this post, just use the Comments field down this page or email us direct.

To get an email alert into your inbox every time we make a new post (about once a week), just click 'Subscribe & Follow' (at the top of the column to the right on this page) and just fill in the form