Shropshire Star

Writing's on the wall for one shopkeeper

The owner of a new interior and lifestyle shop in Shrewsbury has turned detective after uncovering a message dating back nearly 200 years in her new premises.

Published
Michelle Gilchrist in front of the fireplace where the message from 1825 was found at White Lotus Living

Michelle Gilchrist, who recently opened White Lotus Living on Wyle Cop, made the historic discovery while renovating the building for her new venture.

She was busy stripping wallpaper in preparation for painting the walls in one of the main rooms when she found the ghostly message.

Written on a wall next to a fireplace on the second floor of the building, the message read: ‘This room was papered July 4th 1825 by Timothy White, assisted by H Crump/Crield’.

It is unclear who owned the property at the time and Michelle is now urging anyone with information about the original decorators to get in touch.

She said: “We were stripping back the walls so we could paint and the last thing we expected to find was a note from 192 years ago!

“I guess they never expected someone in 2017 to find it either but I am really intrigued to learn more about Mr White and Mr Crump or Crield.

“We couldn’t make out the final surname but either is quite unusual. They may have family still living in Shrewsbury so if there’s anyone who has any information or thinks this might be a relative of theirs, I’d love to hear from them.”

The building now housing White Lotus Living was once the base for the Guild of Foresters and is still known as Foresters Hall.

More recently the white painted glass fronted building was home to the Finishing Touch shoe shop and before that Hunter’s, a china stockist.

Michelle added: “The building was probably originally a glorious family home. Its wide sash windows and fireplaces make it a great place to show off the living, dining and bedroom collections that we are selling.

“It’s really great to have joined the ranks of Shrewsbury’s great independent retail sector and I hope Mr White and his colleague would approve.”

Anyone with information can get in touch with White Lotus Living via the shop’s Facebook page or email info@whitelotusliving.co.uk.