Montgomery's Tower

The modern building that now houses Montgomery's Tower stands on an historic site, close to the Welsh Bridge over the River Severn.

It was here that the Austin Friars (or Augustinians) established their religious house in the 13th century. Shrewsbury Friary dates from 1254-5 and the friars were called ‘the poor brethren of Coulon’. In 1298 Geoffrey Randolf gave them a plot of land outside the walls, near the postern of Rumboldsham.

In the early 14th century, the borough allowed friars to have a fortified postern gate in the town wall. The postern gate was situated in front of these premises, at the corner of Lower Claremont Bank and St Austin Friars. Later known as Montgomery’s Tower, the fortified gateway was still in existence in 1686 and was probably demolished in the early 18th century. In the early 19th century some ruins of the house were still standing. All these have since been pulled down. Some foundations were uncovered during the building of the Priory School.

Roger of Montgomery was a close friend and ally of King William (William the Conqueror), who relied on him to control the frontier between England and Wales. Montgomery built up a strong feudal enclave centred on his new castle of Shrewsbury, from where he advanced into Wales, installing military tenants in his new territory. Roger of Montgomery died in 1094, to be succeeded, briefly, by his second son Hugh, who was killed in the summer of 1098 by Viking insurgents.

It is now a Wetherspoon pub, bearing its original name.