‘It’s a shame to leave’ - Clare Balding visits Shrewsbury and Ironbridge as part of Channel 5’s Tales from the Riverbank

Balding's river adventure began on the longest river in the country – the Severn - that flows from a brook in the Welsh Cambrian mountains, along a course of 220 miles, all the way to Bristol and the shores of the Severn Estuary.

In the first episode, which aired on Thursday (February 13), Balding headed down to the heart of Shropshire, visiting the historic county town of Shrewsbury. 

Here, the Severn loops almost in a complete circle. Boarding the Sabrina Riverboat, Balding passed through many of Shrewsbury’s 600-listed buildings and old bridges.

She even caught a glimpse of St Chad’s Church, which she described as “extraordinary” and Shrewsbury School before heading down to the birthplace of Charles Darwin and learning how the riverside area where he grew up inspired him and his pioneering work, The Origin of the Species.

The journalist said: “What a great place to live and work. It’s a shame to leave.”

From Shrewsbury, Balding headed towards what she called “the modern wonder of the world” - Ironbridge. 

The TV show explored the spectacular cast iron bridge which is not only how the town earned its name but the first in the world.

But, as Balding finds, there are many other reasons tourists visit the town. Many are said to make the trip to try “world-famous hand-raised pork pies” from Eley’s of Ironbridge, which Balding tried on the show and said was “absolutely delicious”. 

Her next stop was Blists Hill, which has been providing visitors a wonderful insight into life by the River Severn in Victorian times. 

Getting into the spirit of things in a 1900s costume, Balding also enjoyed some classic Victorian sweets to get a full taste of Ironbridge.

Balding said: “[Ironbridge] is such a great place, because you’ve got the mixture of genuine ruins, from a brick and tile work, the canal that would have led down to the river and you’ve got the town set up to make you understand what it would have been like to live in 1900.”

The rest of the first episode follows Balding’s adventure down the river towards the city of Worcester and beyond. Catch Tales from the Riverbank with Clare Balding on Channel 5 for more information.