I have a querry which I'm hoping someone may know the answer to - when was the Old Bank Buildings on Bellstone built? Although it looks old, I'm guessing that it's actually more recent. Is it post-war construction?



I would appreciate help on this one! Thanks! :)

Have you got a copy of that 'Old and New Shrewsbury' book? I'm sure I remember in there that the Miller Evans building with the eagle on the parapet is about 1940s so I would guess that perhaps all that line is, PS?

Isn't Miller Evans on Barker Street? Not the same building then... the Old Bank Buildings is a single construction between the Exchange pub and the building which is now the Bellstone restaurant thing (which is listed).

Yes there are bits along that line that are genuinely old, especially at the bottom of Claremont Hill but a lot of new mock older buildings too.
My Dad has a book with photos of new and old Shrewsbury or perhaps it is called 'Then and Now', come think of it, published in the 1970s/80s, I believe.

It had the same view photos one side of the book and the other but one side taken contemporarily and one side of the past.

It was just a thought.

The Old Bank building looks similar to the Boots type pastiche on Pride Hill, but I could be wrong.

When I'm back in Shrewsbury this weekend I'll have a look around the Old Bank Buildings to see if there is a "Built in such n such by so n so" stone.

Just had word that it's 1930s. Which sounds about right.

re: Boots - yes, it is similar and another building in town which its similar to is the Heathgates pub.

the Bellstone Hall was knocked down in 1933/1934 and the old Bank and Morriss Hall were built on the site.

s.g.d.

Yes, buildings on that side of the road were knocked down so that Bellstone could be widened. One of the buildings was that of the National Provincial Bank and it was rebuilt as you see it now in 1935 (source: "The Changing Face of Shrewsbury" published by the Shrewsbury Chronicle & Shropshire Libraries in 1981)

Thanks guys. It's quite a nice building and I like the courtyard with the Bell Stone.

Did I hear correctly about a year ago that Morris Hall is to be sold/redeveloped?

I think the floor in the building became unsafe due to woodworm and a proper survey revealed numerous defects that needed to be addressed before it could be hired out again.