Happy loggerheads anniversary

It's the 600th anniversary of the loggerheads this year.  They first appeared in history on the Shrewsbury Common Seal, which is dated 1425.

So... here's a birthday card! Liz Mellor, a self-confessed Proud Salopian artist, created this rather lovely tribute to the loggerheads.

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Golden loggerheads

Following on from the last post, here's another piece by Edwin Cole. His descendant Garen Ewing passed on this photo to me - thank you to him!
The piece is a Battle of Shrewsbury memorial coin - made in 1903, designed by the then mayor Herbert Southam, and actually illustrated by Edwin Cole - to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Shrewsbury.  A number were made, some in gold.

Obviously, the loggerheads, as the symbol of Shrewsbury, were included on the medal, among other heraldic devices.

Interestingly, the newspaper report of the time described Cole as an heraldic artist, not a watercolourist (which I thought he was more famous as).

In theory, one should still be able to see a copy of this coin.
One of the ones made of gold, says a contemporary newspaper report, was placed into one of the links in the town Mayor's chain of office.

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Edwin Cole's glass

 
A very very good friend spotted this rather lovely piece of decorated glass on sale at an arts shop in Shrewsbury. Thank you to her!
It’s been attributed to Edwin Cole, who was born in the town in 1860.
Cole is much better known for his watercolours, so this is a rare find. Which probably explains why it’s quite expensive …!

It’s difficult to tell if this was a commission from the municipality (for an office) or from a private patron (for their home).  Does anyone know?

You’ll find it at Number Sixty One.

(PS if you too have spotted a loggerheads, please let us know!)

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University heads

 

You feel as these three could really bite if they wanted to; their whiskers are sharp enough too!

You’ll find them overhead as you mount the stairs inside the entrance to the new University of Shrewsbury. This work is clearly an homage to the loggerheads themselves, as there is no sign that they derive from a heraldic device. The sculptor has given them a bronze colour as well, rather than the traditional gold/amber.

The university took over the Guildhall complex from the old Shrewsbury Council when it was set up just a few years ago, so the trio might have been left behind by the departing councillors. Or was it a new addition – a gesture of allegiance by the university to its home-to-be?

It would be interesting to know – please contact us if you have the knowledge.

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Dodo on box

 
The public relations company working to boost Shrewsbury, ‘Shrewsbury BID’, has been busy this summer commissioning artists to paint the town's telecom cabinets.  The artworks give a very colourful look to the environment.
As they seem to be on a general wildlife theme, I had rather hoped a loggerhead-leopard might be included – but sadly no.
This bird here is an (extinct) dodo, reminding us of how many species are now no longer with us.

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Leopards. Definitely!

 
You may need to squint a bit - but in this picture you can see a leopard (with spots!) inside a pink-ish template of the shape of the county of Shropshire. This piece of pavement-artwork is just outside the offices of Shropshire Archives in Shrewsbury.

There has been debate over the centuries as to whether the loggerheads that are emblematic of the town are lions or leopards.  It looks like the Archives think they are definitely leopards. 

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