Tong Priory in Shropshire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

College Field

The Story of Tong

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, May 19, 2026

1. College Field Marker

Inscription. College Field is named after the College which was built at the same time as the church in the early 15th century but dissolved by Henry VIII in the mid 16th century. The field was enclosed in the late 18th century by the owner of Tong Castle, George Durant. The boundary wall alongside the road and around the church was probably constructed using stone from the ruins of the old College building.

The magnificent church dedicated to St Bartholomew was built between 1410 and 1430 and has remained almost unaltered to the present day. Permission to build the church was granted by Henry IV, with most of the construction taking place during the reign of Henry V.

During the Civil War in 1643 a small garrison of Parliamentarian soldiers occupied the church and was kept under siege by Royalist cannon dug in on the site of the present road. Cannon and musket ball damage can be seen on the north wall of the building around the blocked up door as well as inside.

The army of Charles I marched along the road in 1644 and noted that all the windows of the church were broken. Charles II passed twice along Hubbal Lane close to the

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village during his escape after the Battle of Worcester. He later hid in the famous oak tree at Boscobel nearby.

The entrance to the College passed across the field and curved around the west end of the churchyard. A 13th century Infirmary (later an Almshouse) stood on the far side of the field and one wall is still standing. On the higher ground nearer to the road stood a school. An artist's impression of the 1739 layout shows these buildings relative to the church.

From the earliest days the church and the village were inextricably linked to Tong Castle. The first castle was built at the end of the 11th century. It became the Elizabethan castle under the ownership of the Vernon family. It was then remodelled in the 18th century by George Durant (with a lake inspired by Capability Brown) and finally demolished in 1954 because it was unsafe. The site is now under the M54.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 52° 39.851′ N, 2° 18.232′ W. Marker is in Tong Priory, England, in Shropshire.

St Bartholomew's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, May 19, 2026

2. St Bartholomew's Church

It is on Newport Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Newport Road, Tong Priory, England TF11 8PW, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands.

It is also on the British Marches.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Infirmary Ruins (within shouting distance of this marker); Albrighton, home of the English Rose (within shouting distance of this marker); St Bartholomew's Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Story of Tong (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Albrighton, home of the English Rose (approx. 3.4 kilometers away).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.