IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Barker Street, SHREWSBURY, SY1 1QJ

First recorded as the Slipper in the 18th century it became the Old Slipper in the 19th. For most of the 20th century it was part of the M&B empire, before being acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley (Banks's) who themselves rebranded it several times (Jackson's, Merchant Stores, Rowley's etc). It morphed into the Source Vodka Bar before refurbishment in 2017 turned it into Alberts Shed. Image

Sign for Alberts Shed Image

Nos.3-7 are visible here, nos. 3 and 4 both being estate agents.

The timber framed house dates from the late 1500's, although parts of it could be earlier. Behind it is Rowley’s Mansion, built in 1618 and one of the earliest brick houses in Shrewsbury. Amazingly, or perhaps not, in the 1960's there was talk of flattening this building for extra car parking spaces. Anyway both survived and can be appreciated today. Though Shrewsbury's traffic plan doesn't seem to be the most cohesive I've seen in an historic town. Which means far too many cars and lorries use the central streets all day.

A large Elizabethan house in the centre of Shrewsbury, with 21st century cars parked very close to it.

A late sixteenth-century house, which with Rowley's Mansion of 1618 (behind) is Grade II* listed. For list entry see https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1254524

Built for a draper and brewer, William Rowley, mostly early C17th, but, together with the Mansion which adjoins to the north (Image]), much restored in 1932. Grade II* listed. Since 1936 the House (never actually used as a domestic building) and the Mansion have hosted a museum.

William Rowley was a prosperous draper and brewer based in the timber-framed house on the right during the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1619 he built the adjoining mansion, the first brick residence in Shrewsbury. It now houses the museum and tourist information centre.