Shrewsbury’s medieval history will be on show this weekend, as the doors open for visitors at Town Walls Tower for the first time this year on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June.

Visitors are invited to take the rare opportunity to step behind the door that hundreds of local people walk past every day and visit the last surviving watch tower on Shrewsbury’s medieval town walls.

Only open six days per year, this tower was probably added to the town walls in the reign of Henry IV (s.1399 – d.1413). After becoming a home, it was given to the National Trust in 1930 by Miss Rachel Humphreys, who lived in the handsome 18th Century town house opposite, Swan Hill Court.

Helen Rowse, Engagement and Conservation Officer, is looking forward to revealing the secrets of the tower. “We’re only able to open Town Walls Tower six days a year, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for visitors to come and find out about the vital role that the town’s fortifications played and the transformation of the tower into a very small residence in the 1860s.”

Town Walls Tower is located close to the historic town centre along the town walls. There is a steep staircase to the top floor of the tower, and no dedicated parking or toilet facilities.

Entry is free for National Trust members. For non-members admission charges apply, adults £2 and children £1 – please note that there is no card payment facility.

The Town Walls Tower will be open from 11am – 3pm (last admission 2.40pm), due to the small size of the building, entry is by tour only and places may be limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Town Walls Tower is also open on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August and Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.