Bishop’s Castle

The House on Crutches, Bishop’s Castle — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

England’s Smallest Town

Bishop’s Castle is one of the smallest market towns in England, with a population of around 1,600, and has an entirely disproportionate character: independent shops, multiple award-winning breweries, a medieval street layout with outstanding vernacular architecture, and a position in the southern Shropshire hills that gives it a landscape setting of considerable drama. It is 20 miles south of Oswestry via the B4385 and A488, approximately 35 minutes by car.

The Breweries

Bishop’s Castle is nationally known for its brewing heritage. The Three Tuns on Salop Street is one of the oldest continuously licensed breweries in Britain, with records suggesting brewing on the site since approximately 1642 and an existing Victorian tower brewery that operates to this day. The Three Tuns pub dispenses its own beers — the Clerics Cure, XXX, and seasonal ales — from the atmospheric Victorian bar, and the brewery tower can be seen and occasionally visited. The combination of genuine historical brewery and excellent pub is unique.

The Six Bells Brewery, also in the town, produces a range of well-regarded ales including Big Nev, Cloud Nine, and Ow Do. The brewery pub is on Church Street. Between the Two Tuns and the Six Bells, Bishop’s Castle has more brewing character per head of population than almost anywhere else in England.

The Town

The main street climbs uphill from the market area at the bottom toward the castle remains at the top, passing through a sequence of 17th and 18th-century buildings of considerable charm. The House on Crutches is a remarkable 17th-century timber-framed building elevated on wooden posts — the ground floor entirely open, the upper floors jettied and gabled. It now houses a small local museum open in season. The Town Hall (1765) is a modest but fine piece of provincial Georgian civic architecture.

The castle that gives the town its name is a minor ruin — a few earthworks and fragments of masonry on the hill above the town, freely accessible. The views from the castle earthworks across the Shropshire hills are the main reward. The castle itself was never a major fortification and was ruinous by the Tudor period.

Walking from Bishop’s Castle

The town is a good walking base for the southern Shropshire hills. The Shropshire Way long-distance footpath passes through Bishop’s Castle, and local circular routes on the surrounding hills provide good half-day and full-day walking. The Offa’s Dyke Path is accessible to the west, and the Kerry Ridgeway — an ancient ridgeway route — is walkable to the south. The combination of town, brewery, and surrounding hill walking makes Bishop’s Castle an excellent full-day excursion from Oswestry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Bishop's Castle from Oswestry?

Bishop's Castle is approximately 20 miles south of Oswestry via the B4385 and A488 — about 35 minutes by car.

What is the Three Tuns brewery in Bishop's Castle?

The Three Tuns is one of the oldest continuously licensed breweries in Britain, with brewing records dating to around 1642. The Victorian tower brewery still operates, and the adjacent pub serves the brewery's own ales — Clerics Cure, XXX, and seasonal beers.

Is Bishop's Castle worth visiting from Oswestry?

Yes. Bishop's Castle combines two excellent breweries, medieval streets, the House on Crutches museum, and good walking in the Shropshire hills. It is one of the most characterful small towns in England and makes an excellent half-day or full-day excursion.

Are there walking routes near Bishop's Castle?

Yes. The Shropshire Way passes through the town. The Kerry Ridgeway, the Offa's Dyke Path, and the surrounding Shropshire hills provide good circular and linear walking from the town centre.