The Old Post Office.

Address	1Milk Street Shrewsbury
County	Shropshire
Telephone	01743 236019
Website	www.oldpostofficepub.com
Real Ales	Yes
Beers	Marstons Pedigree Banks Traditional Carlsberg Stella Fosters Guiness + Extra Cold
Offers	Happy Hour Mon- Fri 6pm-7pm Selected Lines
Facilities	Live Music, Outside Seating
Accomodation	7 Guest Rooms offering Single ,Double/Twin and Family Rooms available. Rates include Bed & Breakfast & VAT
Recommendation	A grade 11 listed Tudor building offering a warm welcome and fully refurbished accommodation that retains its essntial character and charm.

The Old Post Office is the last of five public houses that were licensed for trade in Milk Street. The others were the Angel, the Beehive, the Mug House and the Sun Tavern. The Old Post Office was first recorded in 1804 and has kept the same name throughout its history. The name has nothing to do with the Royal Mail but refers to a posting house for horse drawn coaches and as late as 1900 there was stabling for thirteen horses in its extensive yard. For most of the 19th century it was the head quarters for several carriers carts and in 1886 wagons to Lyth Hill, Condover, Ryton and Wheathall, left the inn on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The hotel is housed in a building up a passageway to the rear of Proude's Mansion, parts of which date back to 1467. The inn itself is thought to date from the end of the 16th century.

In 1886 the landlord of the inn was John Parry who was also a maltster and hop merchant who ran his business from a building on the corner of Mill Road in Abbey Foregate. In 1900 the inn was owned by S.W. Soames and consisted of twenty rooms, six of which were for public use. In one of the rooms was a billiard table for the use of the customers. The landlord in 1897 was Austen Skinner who was taken to court on 22nd April that year for refusing to allow a constable on duty on to his licensed premises. He was found guilty, had his license endorsed and was fined five pounds plus nine shillings costs. Skinner left shortly afterwards and was followed in quick succession by Thomas Cornes in 1897, Silvester Williams in 1898 and George Andrews in 1901.

The best-known and most respected landlord in the 20th century was Sam Powell who took charge in 1937 and remained there until his retirement in August 1965. Over the years he brightened up the entrance to the inn with baskets and tubs of flowers that won him many prizes in the Town of Flowers competition. In 1947 he was elected as Councillor for the Castle and Stone Ward and in 1959 he became an Alderman of the Council.

As well as being a local councillor, he was also very heavily involved in local sport. During the 1930s he was the trainer and masseur for Shrewsbury Town Football Club. He also helped local athletes prepare for inter county tournaments, ran a boxing club, coached a group of weight lifters and trained a gymnastics team who entertained large crowds around the Midlands at carnivals and other social gatherings. During his long stay at the Old Post Office the inn took on a strong sporting theme with the walls hung with photographs of local athletes, footballers and sportsmen from the past.