My mother, Stella Straughan, the author of Kingsland, Shrewsbury: a short history, died in Bath on 21 October 2022, aged 83.
Stella first met my father, Donald Straughan, when she was working in a library in London in the late 1950s. She was an aesthete, who had a lifelong passion for books, art, antiques, gardening and all the riches of nature. Mum was very much a woman of the 20th century and the digital age held little appeal for her.
Mum only lived in Shrewsbury for just over a decade (1984–95), but she loved the town and spent many happy hours browsing in the second-hand bookshops and the antiques market. She and Dad made many new friends in the area, including Eileen Fenwick, who had lived next door at Ebor House (31 Kennedy Road) since the 1960s.
The house at 29 Kennedy Road (also known as at St. Milburga’s) was Mum’s pride and joy. She had a real gift for creating a home – a beautiful, comfortable and safe space where everyone received a warm welcome.
We very much hope that those who share Mum’s love of local history, Victorian architecture and interiors, and the suburb of Kingsland will continue to enjoy using this site.
Susannah Straughan, 22 October 2022
In memoriam: Stella Straughan (née Streek), born 28 February 1939, London; died 21 October 2022, Bath.
Kingsland, Shrewsbury 