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Letter of the week: Signs of decline

New Statesman·New Statesman·26 days ago
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Photo via Allan Cash Picture Library/ Alamy Hurrah for Tom McTague’s discovery of Britain’s best-kept secret, Shropshire. For nigh on 30 years, our family has regularly rented self-catering apartments at Walcot Hall, owners of the Powis Arms. As well as trudging up to Bury Ditches, perhaps the editor, as a fellow zythophile, also walked to Bishop’s Castle to visit Britain’s oldest licensed brewery, the Three Tuns. Its pub used to offer a wide selection of their beers on draught. Sadly, on our visit a year ago, the pub (having been sold) had only one Three Tuns ale on draught, but an array of “popular keg beers”. This, and other changes in Bishop’s Castle, are perhaps indicative of the decline in small British towns. Its remaining local butcher, Pugh’s, has been up for sale for a few years. Maybe it’s no surprise that in 2016 “Vote Leave” signs became part of the scenery. One such sign at the gate by the Powis Arms was a dubious “welcome” sign for our daughter’s wedding at Walcott.…

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