Roy and Betty's pilgrimage to a very special spot

The couple, who have been married for 66 years, duly made their pilgrimage back to the 16th century cottage in Shropshire, which was where Roy's parents lived back in 1946 and where Roy got down on one knee and asked Betty to marry him.

Only something had changed. The building was no longer in Holly Road in Little Dawley - instead it had been moved brick by brick a mile-and-a-half down the road to Blists Hill Victorian Town in Madeley, where it is now the attraction's estates office.

The building at 15/15a Holly Road was moved several years ago in its entirety due to its historical significance. It has previously played a key role in the area's history, when in the past it was a pub and it was also used as the venue for the collection of rents for the Earl of Craven.

Reminiscing about their post-war romance, Betty, now 87, said: "I worked in the post office in Dawley and Roy was in the navy and when he came back on a fortnight's leave he used to help deliver the post.

"So he asked me out and we went to the Royal cinema in Dawley and he put his arm around me.

"We used to go to the cottage to visit his mum and dad and that was where he got down on one knee and proposed in 1946.

"I said yes but my father didn't want me to marry him because he still had 12 years to do in the navy.

"We were 19 and at that time you had to have written permission from your father to get married until you were 21.

"We got engaged anyway and his first leave after we were 21 we got married.

"I borrowed a wedding dress from my aunt because clothes were on coupons then and my underwear was made of parachute silk.

"Ten days later he went overseas."

Roy was stationed in Malta where his wife later joined him and their daughter was born.

They also lived in Singapore and Nigeria before returning to Telford, where Roy worked at the Ever Ready factory.

"In the meantime our daughter got married, had a baby and moved to Canada," said Betty.

"Now she lives in America and we have three grandsons and one great grand daughter.

"They are all American citizens now and they come over to see us twice a year.

"Fortunately when we went to Blists Hill she happened to be here.

"The rain poured but we were delighted to be back in the cottage.

"It was quite disorientating and quite weird going back 66 years back to where it all started.

"It took us back to the past and we've done nothing but talk about it ever since.

"Everyone at Blists Hill was so kind to us and they arranged for us to have our photographs taken. It was such fun.

"We live in Oldfield Road in Dawley now, 200 yards from where I was actually born on Crown Street. So we've gone full circle."

She said her husband was in the process of publishing his life story.

Evidence suggests that the site the building originally occupied in Little Dawley was probably occupied in the early 16th century.

Little Dawley was a small arable community which grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution.

The Manor of Little Dawley is recorded in the Domesday Book as being held by Reynold, The Sheriff of Beret.

The township was bought and sold several times between 1086 and 1665 when it came into the hands of The First Earl of Craven.

In 1840 the then Earl of Craven signed a lease with Francis, Abraham and Alfred Darby to allow the latter to mining and mineral rights under his land.

In 1844 the building is recorded as "The Crown" at Little Dawley. John Barker was able to buy the property from the Earl of Craven in 1855.