Pictured above: Rachael Chidlow and manager Jim Littler take a look at the plans for the historic building

History is set to repeat itself in a corner of Shrewsbury as a town hostelry dating back more than 300 years is restored to its former glory once again.

The Lion and Pheasant Hotel, which sits alongside the English Bridge at the bottom of Shrewsbury's Wyle Cop, closed its doors in January last year after the previous tenants let it fall into disrepair.

But owners, the Chidlow family of Uffington, refuse to give up on the historic building and are determined to see it open its doors once again later this year.

In 1961 the inn closed and was shut for the next 23 years. It remained empty until 1984 when it was reopened by the Mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Fred Jones. The new owners, Mr and Mrs Ernest and Dorothy Chidlow of Uffington, had spent around seven years converting the old inn into a first class hotel with exposed beams, restaurant, conference facilities and parking. Two local tradesmen Dave Powell and Ken Ayres carried out a great deal of the conversion work.

And the current conversion - which is being completed by local tradesman - will see the Lion and Pheasant open as a 21st century hotel but retaining the beauty of its historic roots.

Rachael Chidlow, an architect, currently lives in Ireland but is spending much of her time in Shrewsbury to ensure her family's vision for the hotel comes to fruition.

She said: "We had the choice, it could become derelict or we could bring it back to life and because of the family commitment we wanted to bring it back to life.

"We are completely refurbishing the whole building from top to bottom. There are 23 rooms which are all being decorated in a contemporary style, with en-suite bath and shower rooms, but which will retain the features of the historic building.

"We are using local tradesman to complete the project, just as my parents did in the 1980s and we are looking forward to bringing one of Shrewsbury's gems back into action.

"We hope to open the doors of the newly-refurbished hotel before Christmas."

Rachael's mother Dorothy is pleased that the current refurbishment will again be undertaken by the family.

She said: "It is getting a new lease of life. It is great because it is keeping it in the family, Rachael is carrying on with what her father did.

"When we did it up people didn't always want en-suite and now everybody wants en-suite and the rooms are better because of that.

"It is very important because it is one of the old buildings of Shrewsbury and the inn dates back to the 17th century. The last Cock fight was held here and the police came but they waited for the fight to finish because the Mayor was there."

The earliest records of the Lion and Pheasant are from letters, the first dated February 27th 1707, to be left "with Mr. Benbow at ye Lyon and Pheasant" and the second dated April 5th 1714, which was "to be left at ye Lyon and Pheasant on ye Wile Cop." 

The first official record of the inn does not appear until 1804. The inn is housed in a building with an early 18th century frontage but with a much earlier timber-framed section at the rear, which could date from the 16th century.