Hitler in Bridgnorth

Photo by Sabine J Hutchinson
http://www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk

The Shropshire Star reported the other day that the Severn Valley Railway has introduced some regulations to cover its 1940s weekend because someone turned up in a previous year dressed as Adolf Hitler. The Severn Valley line runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth.

This reminded me of a Daily Telegraph report from 2005:

The headquarters of Nazi Britain after Adolf Hitler's planned invasion was identified yesterday as a quiet market town in Shropshire.

At first glance, Bridgnorth may not be the most obvious choice as the Führer's base for establishing his brave new world, but secret documents strongly suggest that that is what he had in mind ...

Experts believe that Hitler picked the town because it lies inland away from the urbanised West Midlands, was geographically in the middle of England and had an air base nearby.

Richard Westwood-Brookes, the documents expert for the auctioneers Mullock Madeley, said: "My jaw dropped when I saw the papers."

He said that some were from 1941, casting doubt on the popular belief that Hitler abandoned all plans to invade the country after the Battle of Britain the previous year.

On a happier note, you can find some photographs from the Severn Valley Railway event on the Star's website. And you can visit the railway's website too.