Rows of loggerheads

 

As you might guess, 'Inroads To Shrewsbury' a poetry collection by Nigel Sustins, is all about the town. One stand-out aspect of the book is that, on each and every page, the graphic at the bottom is a row of eight sets of loggerheads - as you can see in the image above.
Loggerheads are the symbol of the town of Shrewsbury

There is even a poem concentrating on one particular ‘loggerhead’.  In Shrewsbury Museum there is a crude stone carving dating back to medieval times, formerly displayed in the garden of a nineteenth century local antiquarian, and now in Shrewsbury Museum.  It definitely shows some sort of beast and probably came from an old church building, so there is a claim that it is a sort of proto-loggerhead.  (However, that does seem to stretch credulity).  
To it Mr Sustins has dedicated a poem.

 Mr Sustins is clearly a fan of Shrewsbury loggerheads!

(The 'Inroads To Shrewsbury' poetry collection by Nigel Sustins is published by Marchland Books and is on sale through Waterstones)

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

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Pengwern tales

 

Although there are a couple of very good antiquarian book-stores in Shrewsbury (such as Second Chapter) and a very good chain, the only independent bookshop in the town selling new books is Pengwern, in Fish Street.  It sells a range of titles, with a special section of history books by local authors too, including ‘The Mysteries Of The Loggerheads’.

Susan Caroline, who runs Pengwern, named her establishment after the obscure pre-medieval city inhabited by the ancient Britons.  

According to the 12th century historian, Gerald of Wales, Shrewsbury was the site of Pengwern; its palace was located where the Old St Chad’s Church is now. 
This story was carried on right into the nineteenth century, being repeated by the town chronicler Henry Pidgeon.

Sadly, the story cannot be evidenced. There is no convincing proof as to where Pengwern really was.

But it is remembered at least - in the name of a bookshop on a cobbled road in Shrewsbury.
 

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

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