SHREWSBURY CASTLE RESTORED

Evening Star, Issue 19196, 12 March 1926, Page 8

SHREWSBURY CASTLE RESTORED

OPENING AS TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER Shrewsbury Castle, an imposing structure commanding Iho ancient town, lias been converted into a council chamber after iis presentation to the town by the Shropshire Horticultural Society, and it was opened recently by Lord Barnard, its former owner, the present president of the Horticultural Society. The spot was fortified before Norman times, and soon after tho Conquest Roger Dp. Montgomery, itie first Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, built a castle there, the sole remains of which are now the handsome round-arched entrance gateway to tho grounds and a portion of embattled wall. The present structure mostly dates from the time of Edward who, after, settling once and for all the trouble with the native Welsh, extended Shrewsbury’s fortifications. Ho built the castle on the plan of two drum towers connected by an embattled curtain, and a great ball, and it is to that condition that, so far as possible, the council lias restored it, doing away with tho extensive and somewhat depressing alterations made in tho eighteenth century in converting it into a gloomy residence. Tiie great hall has been appropriately furnished for use as a. meetingplace for the borough council. The castle had had a chequered, history. J.t lias been twice a Royal iortress and twice a civic possession, and now has

passer! for the ihird lime possession of the corporation. '1 ho gift was in ado Irv f ho Horticultural Society, greatly helped by laird Barnard, to eelcbraie its jubilee in and it. lias also given considerable assistance iu furnishing it. At the opening ceremony the mayor (Cr R. I). Bromley) said, whereas the castle was used in the past to keep the Welsh out, it might now tic a. means of bringing them to Shrewsbury. He hoped the Welsh national organisations which so often met. in Shrewsbury would make use of it, and if a Welsh Parliament came into existence they would welcome that, too. _ Lord Barnard, in declaring I lie castle open, said in these days, when progress was often allied with vandalism, ancient buildings were ol ten uprooted in the cause of utility. It was a great thing to have been able to secure such a fine example of an Edwardian castle for the use of the public in perpetuity. He congratulated the council on the taste and skill displayed in the reslora-