17 January 2010

Llandrinio Dreaming












The crossing at Llandrinio was the first stone bridge built between the source of the Severn and Shrewsbury, in 1775, and is a Grade I listed ancient monument. Built in pink sandstone, it has a pair of concrete blocks at either end, designed to impede enemy military progress, a relic of the Second World War. But today the road beyond is flooded and passable only in the largest of four-wheel drives and in articulated lorries.

The Powysland Internal Drainage Board constructed the flood protection wall and bund on the northern side of the river. The wall is of stone-faced concrete and apparently continues a good twelve feet below ground. Mighty glad must be Stuart and Freda Connell, whose house is behind the wall and, today, below the level of the river. In their yard is a twin axle Airstream trailer.













The couple  have a fantastic collection of motoring and caravanning memorabilia and, wonderfully, a second American trailer, this one a Silver Streak Clipper; a Humber, and a Pontiac Straight Eight. Stuart has had a series of classics over the years, starting with a MG TA, and has owned a couple of Citroën H vans in the past.

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