Pigs wear gold & blue

 

There is tenuous evidence pointing to a high-level connection in the Middle Ages between Hereford and Shrewsbury. However, the evidence is circumstantial, nothing solid so far.  
(If anyone knows different, would they please email us?).

One pointer is the blue & gold/amber colouring which is seen in various heraldry of the two towns.  Admittedly, it’s not a colour combination that’s unique to these two towns, but it underwrites the supposed connection.  
The loggerheads emblem always comes in blue & gold/amber colouring, as does the symbol of Hereford Cathedral. 

One example of the colour pairing in Hereford is these pigs – which wear livery of blue and yellow bends. They are seen on the tomb of John Swinfield (died 1311) in Hereford Cathedral.

 

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

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Not a cathedral

 

Lovers of Shrewsbury history are looking forward to a talk which is due to take place this March (2026).  It will concern itself with the continuing story of why Shrewsbury Abbey has never been granted cathedral status.  It is an odd state of affairs - because, really, a town of Shrewsbury’s ancient reputation and situation would normally be considered right in line for a CofE cathedral.
In fact, there is a famous story (which admittedly, has never really been properly authenticated) that Henry VIII did consider granting cathedral status to the town – but the leading citizens turned the offer down!  This story, and its outcome, are recounted in the new book ‘The Mysteries Of The Shrewsbury Loggerheads’.  

However, the talk this March looks at another time when cathedral status was being seriously considered for Shrewsbury – the 1920s.  So, if you want to know why this move came to nothing… well, you’ll have to get a ticket for the talk! For all details about the talk and how to get a free entry ticket - click here.

If you do go along, you'll probably see a number of venerable loggerheads-sets dotted about the building - the Abbey's copy of the 1425 Shrewsbury Seal is just one of them.

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

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