Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Kidderminster
Q2. Stanley Baldwin
N.B. for question 2, Stanley Baldwin was also known as 'First Earl Baldwin of Bewdley'
The initial clues seem to place us in the town of Kidderminster, in the county of Worcestershire, probably on the Severn Valley Railway, which according to some of the reference sources I checked, does appear to be sixteen miles long (originally forty) and was opened for business c 1862. A civil servant who invented the lickable adhesive postage stamp was according to some of his biographies, Rowland Hill. Rowland Hill was born on the 3rd of December c 1795, at 96 Blackwell Street, in Kidderminster. The Servern Valley Railway crosses the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal, which some sources claim, is forty six miles long.
A prime minister who observed that "a lot of hard-faced men appeared to have done well out of the war", is probably Stanley Baldwin. Some of his biographies claim that he was born at Lower Park House, Bewdley, on the 3rd of August c 1867. The heritage railway does pass this town but the Eastender questions why it would take fifteen minutes to get there from Kidderminster.
The Severn Valley Railway is carried across the river Severn by the Victoria Bridge, a cast iron structure which seems to have been built by Sir John Fowler (born c1817). The railway terminates in the town of Bridgnorth. I couldn't find any references to a house with an art collection east of there but did find a house about three miles north east, called Davenport Hall and this appears to have been designed by Francis Smith of Warwick (born c 1672). There is also a house called Farmcote Hall about the right distance to the east of Bridgnorth but again couldn't find anything about it having an art collection.The railway line passes close to a sewage work as it approaches Bridgnorth.
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
The house stated as lying to the east of the railway may be Dudmaston Hall. Some sources describe it as a 17th century country house in Queen Anne style, built by Sir Thomas Wolryche (1672-1701). It is, apparently, reported to contain a superb art collection.
ReplyDeleteI think the art gallery and stately home is Dudmaston Hall which has an extensive art and sculpture gallery. See Wiki
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudmaston_Hall
The house noted for its art collection is Dudmaston Hall, to his east as he consults the map on his way to the line's end at Bridgnorth and 3 miles (southeast) from "that point" (i.e. Bridgnorth)
ReplyDelete>>> The heritage railway does pass this town but the Eastender questions why it would take fifteen minutes to get there from Kidderminster.
ReplyDeleteMaximum 25mph speed restriction
>>> I couldn't find any references to a house with an art collection east of there but did find a house about three miles north east, called Davenport Hall...
The clue's confusing. He's undoubtedly talking about Dudmaston Hall, "a 17th century country house in Queen Anne style, built by Sir Thomas Wolryche (1672-1701) and filled with a superb art collection". But it's three miles south-east of Bridgnorth, not east.
Flonska, David, Etch and Ron, many thanks for solving the Queen Anne Style house problem.....
ReplyDeleteI have found the architect of Dudmaston Hall(noted for its art collection) was Francis Smith of Warwick who was born in 1672.
ReplyDelete