Bridgnorth, in south-east Shropshire, has few loggerheads that we could find, but this one is prominent and central. It’s on the frontage of 21 High Street, the site of the old National Provincial Bank building (1905), which is now owned by Nat West.
Presumably, banks wanted to display loggerheads as a sign of their commitment to the locality.
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This plaque, now on display in Shrewsbury Castle Military Museum, was a gift from The Admiralty to Atcham Rural Council in 1943. Atcham is a village in Shropshire not far from Shrewsbury.
The council was one of those to ‘adopt’ a ship during the Second World War: adoption meant a number of things, from knitting socks for the sailors to financial aid. Curiously, it must have been very soon after this presentation (perhaps?) that HMS Shropshire was gifted to the Royal Australian Navy, as it was in late 1943.
Interestingly, this is another example of a single loggerhead; and another instance of the tongue being depicted in a 'disc', not lolling, shape. The shape - presumably - is a protruding tongue which is then folded over. Is that right? Does anyone know the true interpretation?
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There are surprisingly few loggerheads souvenir items available on general sale, even in Shrewsbury, and almost no novelty ones.
So this loggerheads inspired Easter egg is in fact a one-off, especially created - as a welcome surprise - for a loggerheads fan.
And he was delighted with it!
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It's quite unsual to see a coloured firemark, as on this house in Meole Brace, a village near Shrewsbury. This probably means the item has been acquired as a curio and then painted.
Such firemarks (numbered plaques issued by local fire insurance companies) are now regarded as antiques.
However, the colours are spot on - gold/amber for the leopards' heads, and blue for the background - so, truly Salopian loggerheads!
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Recently, the University Of Chester established an outpost in Shrewsbury. Although the number of students here is small, it is growing.
Naturally, the arms of the new establishment had to include loggerheads.
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These loggerheads are to be found well outside Shropshire, in some stained-glass at Holy Name Church in Oxton near Liverpool. Yet the Shrewsbury connection is very strong.
Oxton is inside the Roman Catholic diocese of Shrewsbury (which covers a huge area).
The section of glass you see here surmounts a window dedicated to St Winefride, the patron saint of Shrewsbury.
And the stained-glass piece itself was actually made by Margaret Agnes Rope, probably the finest artist ever to have been born in Shropshire.
It all connects!
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This loggerheads design is the standard one for Shrewsbury Borough Council (as was) in the 1930s - flaring fur, very red tongues, staring slightly to their left.
You'll find it on the 'execution plaque' at the top of Pride Hill in the centre of Shrewsbury.
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