In 2018 we visited Ironbridge, site of the eponymous iron structure. Unfortunately at that time the bridge was being refurbished and swathed in plastic. Last year on our way further south from Gladstone’s Library at Hawarden we returned. Lo and behold the bridge was revealed in all its splendour. A delightful sight.

The iron bridge at Ironbridge (Ironbridge War Memorial to right; see first link above):-

Closer view:-

Reverse view of bridge:-

River Severn from the iron bridge (looking east):-

(Looking west):-

Ironbridge village from the iron bridge:-

River Severn to west:-

River Severn looking to bridge from west:-

Sadly earlier this year the River Severn rose – not for the first time – and overwhelmed the temporary flood barriers that had been erected in an effort to prevent damage.

When I posted about Gladstone’s Library, here, here and here, I knew there were some photos I hadn’t featured but I obviously hadn’t saved them in the same file.

Well, now I have found them. In another file in the same folder.

From upper window:-

I liked these small windows on the gable roofs. (For some reason they reminded me of Russiin roofs in the film of Doctor Zhivago):-

Stairwell (photo a bit over-exposed):-

Stairwell and landing window from upper floor:-

Hawarden War Memorial stands at the junction of the B 5125 and the A 550 (Gladstone Way) hard by Gladstone’s Library.

It is in the form of a stone column with crucifix in a recess towards the apex:-

Closer view:-

Dedication, “To the praise of God and the glorious memory of the men of Hawarden who gave their lives for their country in the cause of righteousness and freedom AD 1914-1919. Their name liveth for evermore.” Click photo to zoom in on lower dedication:-

The names for the dead of the Great War are mostly on stone panels behind the memorial. Left side:-

Right side:-

Further names are inscribed below the dedication panels:-

More Great War names on left side pillar, World War 2 names beyond:-

Names for 1939-1945, left side:-

Another name (on the extreme left of the Memorial):-

Right hand pillar, World War 2 names beyond:-

Names for 1939-1945, right side:-

Across Gladstone Way there is a Great War 100^th Anniversary Commemoration. The perspex silhouette represents a dead soldier:-

Hawarden, where Gladstone’s Library is situated (see posts in the past week) and where Gladstone and his wife lived, is a village in Flintshire, North Wales.

Main street:-

Gates to Hawarden Castle:-

Hawarden Post Office and side street. I got a flicker of deja vu at the road sign pointing to Queensferry. For a moment I thought I was back in Fife:-

Over the road from the Post Office and near to the gates above lies the Gladstone Memorial Fountain, erected by locals to commemorate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of William Ewart Gladstone and his wife, Catherine:-

The upper inscriptions on the three sides read in total, “Drink ye the water of life.”

The grounds of Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden, are dominated by a huge statue of the man.

Statue of William Ewart Gladstone with Gladstone’s Library building behind:-

Showing figures:-

Reverse of Gladstone Statue. Inscribed 1809-1898:-

We were told Gladstone read about 300 books a year. They know this because he made notes on them.

That’s almost one a day! Substantial books too. And he managed all that while he was Prime Minister.

There are books on lots of subjects in the Reading Room of Gladstone’s Library which also contains his cabinet, housing objects he held in special regard.

Gladstone’s Cabinet, Reading Room upper floor railings and windows:-

From right hand side + windows and upper floor of Reading Room:-

Contents of Gladstone’s Cabinet:-

Ceiling of Reading Room:-

Lower floor, with view of upper gallery:-

Stairs to upper floor:-

Gladstone’s Cabinet from upper floor of Reading Room (plus a beardie bloke reading a periodical):-

Lower Floor from upper floor:-

Upper floor and part of vaulted ceiling:-

Upper floor:-

Upper floor bookshelves. (The library has its own idiosyncratic cataloguing system – devised by Gladstone as I recall):-

This is accessed through the Reading Room which will feature in tomorrow’s post.

Intended now for quiet reflection the Wisdom Room contains books on non-Christian Religions.

The library parts of Gladstone’s Library are reminiscent of Walter Scott’s home at Abbotsford but a bit grander. The larger of the two is the Theology Room, which, as its name suggests, mainly houses Gladstone’s collection of books on theology and religion.

Book racks, windows and gallery:-

The ceiling is impressive but the photo is badly focused, I’m afraid:-

Gallery support, complete with carving:-

View to part of gallery:-

A selection of periodicals on display:-

Last September we made a trip down south, mainly for the good lady finally to see Rye in East Sussex.

However, our first stop was at Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales. Yes, it was William Ewart Gladstone‘s Library (his second in fact, his first was a tin tabernacle on the same site) but it also now doubles as a hotel and meeting/conference site.

Stitch of main building frontage:-

Ground floor corridor to Gladstone Room:-

On the wall of the Gladstone Room was a photograph of the original tin tabernacle library:-

Gladstone Room:-

The other end of the corridor leads to the Theology Room where Gladstone’s books on Theology are kept:-