The Old Bell Museum
Tucked away in the historic market town of Montgomery, The Old Bell Museum offers a fascinating journey through the history of one of Wales’s most picturesque county towns. The museum is housed in a characterful 16th-century building that has served many purposes over the centuries, including an inn, butcher’s shop, and temperance hotel before being transformed into a museum by the Montgomery Civic Society. The building itself is one of the museum’s greatest attractions. Visitors can admire its traditional half-timbered construction and explore rooms that reveal how historic buildings were designed and altered over the centuries. A specially restored area explains the various construction techniques used in the house, providing a unique glimpse into local architectural history. Inside, eleven exhibition rooms tell the story of Montgomery and the surrounding area. Among the highlights are displays dedicated to the town’s medieval and Norman castles, featuring detailed scale models and archaeological discoveries that help bring these vanished strongholds back to life.
Montgomery Wales
The Old Bell Museum is a charming local history museum housed in a beautifully converted 16th-century timber-framed inn. Originally built as a public house called The Bell, the Grade II listed building has been meticulously restored by the Montgomery Civic Society to preserve both its architectural charm and the town's rich heritage. The museum is located at Arthur Street, Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6RA, Wales, United Kingdom. It stands right in the centre of the historic Georgian town, just a short stroll from the central town square. Because of its setting in Montgomery, visiting The Old Bell Museum places you within easy reach of several remarkable historic sites. Sitting high on the crag directly above the museum are the impressive stone ruins of Montgomery Castle, offering sweeping views of the border country. Right in town, you can also visit the historic 13th-century Church of St Nicholas. A short drive north brings you to the grand red-brick fortress and famous terraced gardens of Powis Castle, as well as the Powysland Museum and the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway in Welshpool. Heading west toward Newtown opens up access to the Robert Owen Museum and the Newtown Textile Museum.
Castle