OSWESTRY

With its historic buildings, clear sense of community, close proximity to Wales, vibrant culture scene, and fascinating mix of history and grandeur, Oswestry is atown uniquely shaped by its location andheritage.

Almost surrounded by Wales, it sits comfortably in northwest Shropshire, which gives visitors the chancetodiscover exactly where Shropshiremeets Wales.

Friendly,historic and surprising –it’s atown of contraststhat remains popular with locals and the many who come for day trips.

Its history dates backtothe early part of the last millennia, when, in 1191, it was known as Oswaldestroe. The Middle English name derived from the Old English name, Oswald, and theword for tree –meaning the town was based on something like ‘the tree of aman called Oswald’. The Oswald mentioned is believed to have been King Oswald of Northumbria, who died in battle some years earlier,in641/642, in an area believed to be Oswestry

The name and association with King Oswald have prompted anumber of stories –many,no doubt, are fanciful. One legend suggests one of Oswald’s dismembered arms was carried to an ash tree by araven –hence, the tree of a man called Oswald. There are numerous others.

Whatever the truth, there is no arguing over the fact that Oswestry was much-contested and frequently foughtover during the Middle Ages. It still retains some Welsh-language place names, hinting at thebattles between the English and Welsh for the territory

Its castle was captured by Madog ap Maredudd during The Anarchy and Oswestry remained in Welsh hands until 1157, having been captured some eight years earlier.Later,once back in the hands of the English, Oswestry was recaptured by Welsh rebel leader Owain Glyndwr, during arebellion against King Henry IV in 1400. In one episode, it was burned and almost totally destroyed by the Welsh. In another,the castle was reduced to apile of rocks during theEnglish Civil War.

During Oswestry’s more recent history,Park Hall, amile east of the town, was taken over by the army during World WarI,in1915, and used as atraining camp and military hospital. That camp was burned down three years later, following an electrical fire.Duringthe Second World War, Oswestrywelcomed Canadian troops.

Given the town’s rich history,it’slittle wonder that it is filled with landmarks. Old Oswestry,for instance, is a 3,000-year-old settlement situated on the northern edge of the town. It is one of the most spectacular and best preserved Iron Age hill forts in Britain, with evidence of construction and occupation between 800BCand AD43.

Otherattractions in and around Oswestry include: Cae Glas Park, Shelf Bank, Wilfred Owen Green, Saint Oswald’s Well at Maserfield, Oswestry Castle, and the Cambrian Railway Museum located near the former railway station. Oswestry Guildhall, the meeting place of Oswestry Town Council, was completed in 1893.

Brogyntyn Hall, which belonged until recently to the Lords Harlech, lies just outside the town. Brogyntyn Park is five and ahalf acres of parkland occupying the southern slope of the Grade II listed Brogyntyn Estate. It was gifted to

Oswestry Town Council by the fourth Lord Harlech, William Ormsby-Gore, on 11 August 1952.

Oswestry’s history is also evidence in its historic, built environment. The Llangollen branch of theShropshire Union Canal runs from Ellesmere to Llangollen, and now provides arich source of leisure and enjoyment. The town’s railway station, which was closed in 1966 as aresult of the Beeching cuts, had been opened in 1840 to connect Whitchurch and Welshpool. The main building of the station remainsprominent and formerly housed the Cambrian Railways Company

Oswestry is afriendly and traditional market town that is well known for its lively street markets, independent shops and year-round events.Summer highlights are the unique Oswestry hot air balloon carnival and July’s free food and drink festival.

Sitting so closetothe Wales, Oswestry and the Borderlands have afascinating history.Visitors can follow atrailof ancient border castles from Powis to Chirk to Whittington or wonder at the town’s industrial heritage, afascinating mix of heritage railways, scenic canals and the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct –a Unesco World Heritage Site, which lies in the mid-distance.

UNESCO has described the site as ‘a masterpiece of creative genius’. The first 11 miles of theLlangollen Canal is an outstanding piece of industrial and engineering heritage comprising of embankments, tunnels, viaducts and aqueducts, including the stunning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct itself and 31 other listed structures. The whole length of the site has also been designated aScheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.The 18-arched stone and cast iron structure is for use by narrowboats and was completed in 1805 having taken ten years to design and build. It is 12 feet (3.7 metres) wide and is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. Afootpath runs alongside the watercourse on one side. The aqueduct was to have been akey part ofthe central section of the proposed Ellesmere Canal, an industrial waterway that would have created acommercial linkbetween the River Severn at Shrewsbury and the Port of Liverpool on the River Mersey Although alessexpensive construction course was surveyed further to the east, the westerly high-groundroute across the Vale of Llangollen was preferred because it would have taken the canal through the mineral-rich coalfields of NorthEast Wales.

With so many attractions, such a friendly atmosphere, and such arich and varied cultural life, it’s little wonder that Oswestry remains so popular.Visitors say it’s surprising how many things there are to do in Oswestry,and so many fantastic places to visit nearby.Oswestry and the Borderlands remain the perfect stop-off, near to the border between England and Wales.