Brewood

Brewood (pronounced "Brood") is a village full of elegant buildings and suprising corners. The fine parish church of St. Mary & St. Chad reflects the fact that, despite being the first Bishop of Lichfield, St. Chad loved the tranquillity of the village and died there in A.D.672, whilst the local Giffard family's strong Catholicism is reflected in Augustus Pugin's 19th. Century Church of St. Mary. With their fine effigies and windows, both will reward those who take time to visit them. Although the Shropshire Canal brought prosperity, the fact that the railways and main roads bypass it has allowed Brewood to remain unspoilt and keep the atmosphere of times gone by. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Brewood was important enough to gain a Royal Charter in 1121, enabling it to hold a market. Nearby is Boscobel House where Charles II hid in an oak tree after losing the Battle of Worcester in 1649. Local people, especially the Giffard family from nearby Chillington Hall, assisted in his concealment and escape. Colonel William Carless, who played a critical part in this episode, is buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard. Both Boscobel and Chillington are well worth a visit after your Trailing. The photograph of Speedwell Castle, in the very centre of Brewood, gives just a taste of the beautiful buildings that you will encounter.


One and a half hours is ample for completing this walking Spy Trail; it is approximately 1.5 miles long. As there are two flights of steps on the route, it is not suited to wheelchairs, but can be negotiated with a pushchair. Parking is free, while there are a number of places to stop for refreshments en route.