To MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, CHESTER AND MONTGOMERYSHIRE, the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Co. from their wharf, Water lane, three times a week
To THE POTTERIES, the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Co. three times a week—Pickford & Co. agents
To SHREWSBURY, the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Co. three times & week
OLDBURY SEE Worcestershire.OSWESTRY,
WITH THE VILLAGES OF WHITTINGTON, MORDA AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
Oswestry is a borough corporate, market town and parish, having separate jurisdiction, locally in the hundred of its name; 171 miles N.W. from London, 18 N.W. from Shrewsbury. 16 N. from Welchpool, 15 S. from Wrexham, and 12 S.E. from Llangollen. It lies on the main road from London to Holyhead, upon higher ground than any other town in Shropshire: the country around is delightfully varied with hill, dale, wood, and water—exhibiting some remarkable rich and picturesque scenery. Oswestry is of great antiquity, and its present appellation, which is a corruption of Oswaldstree, was derived from the name of St. Oswald, King of Northumberland, who was defeated and slain here by Penda, King of Mercia, A.D. 642. Subsequently, when the great Offa constructed the barrier still known by his name, Oswestry stood between it and Watt’s dyke, which ran parallel to the former, at the distance of two miles: it was thus rendered a border town, and hence became frequently the scene of contest, first between the Saxons and the Britons, and afterwards between the latter and the Normans. In 1212, under its Lord Fitz-Alan, it was taken and burnt by King John, also by the Welch prince, Llewellyn, in 1233. During this period it was encircled by a strong wall, which had four gates, fronting the four cardinal points: some traces of the former may still be seen, but the gates were entirely demolished about the year 1783. Of the castle, which stood on a lofty artificial mount at the west side of the town, only a few fragments now remain; these, however, are sufficient to indicate its primitive strength, and consequent importance, as a station of defence. It may be said of Oswestry that it ranks as the birth-place of the Stuart race of Kings. Walter Fitz-Alan, founder of Paisley monastery, whose descendants took the name of Stewart, from their office of high ‘Stewards,’ of Scotland, was born here and flourished in the reigns of Stephen, and Henry II. A great part of the town was destroyed by casual fires which occurred in 1542, 1544 and 1567. Oswestry has been much improved since the year 1810, when an act was obtained for widening, paving and lighting the streets, which gave an impulse to the spirit of building. In 1825 gas was introduced; and the ancient structures of timber and brick have given place to respectable modern edifices. Additional improvements have since taken place, and large and commodious market-places have been erected for the sale of butter, cheese, poultry and butchers meat, for which the locality is well adapted, possessing railway communication to all parts, by means of a branch to the town from the Shrewsbury and Chester line, and having an extensive Welsh agricultural district at its back. The corn market is situate in Bailey-square, and is a plain building, with a high clock turret, and the roof is partly covered with glass. A beautiful field of two and a half acres, situated near the very centre of the town, is appropriated as a ‘Smithfield’ for the cattle fairs. A neat theatre is generally opened in the autumn. The races have been discontinued for the last three years.
The first charter of incorporation was granted to the inhabitants by William Fitz-Alan, in the reign of Henry II; the first royal charter was conferred by Richard II, and a subsequent one by Charles II—under the last mentioned the town was governed until the operation of the Municipal Reform Act (passed in 1835), since when, the corporate body has consisted of a mayor, six aldermen and eighteen councillors, with two serjeant-at-mace, and the other usual assistant officers: the borough under the same act, was divided into two wards, and provided with a commission of the peace. Petty sessions for the hundred are held, on the last Thursday in every month, before the magistrates; and a county court, under the new acts is held monthly, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50. The Earl of Powis is lord of the manor. Oswestry is a polling station at the election of members to represent the northern division of the county. The sale of Welch flannel, and of cotton goods, which was formerly carried on here to a great extent, has entirely disappeared: at present the chief business of the place is malting. There are many corn mills in the vicinity, where is also coal; and upon the Morda stream is a manufactory for paper. Two iron and brass foundries give employment to a large number of persons. There are four excellent inns in the town—they are admirably conducted commercial and family houses.
The parish church of Saint Oswald (or St. Mary), originally the conventual church of the ancient monastery, was greatly damaged during the commotions of 1616 and 1664; at which latter period the tower was taken down by the royalists, this structure was enlarged and beautified in 1807, and since that period it has undergone great improvements. The church contains many very handsome tablets and monumental inscriptions. On the north side of the church yard is a pleasant walk, overshadowed with a double row of lime trees, and terminated by an alcove. The living of Oswestry is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the Earl Powis; the present incumbent is the Rev. Thomas Salwey. The other places of worship under the establishment are Saint Martin’s, and Trinity chapels, with one at Trefonen and another at Hengoed. There are several chapels for dissenters, of which a list is appended. The free grammar school here, was founded about the time of Henry IV, by Davy Holbeck, who endowed it; and it has been further enriched by subsequent subscriptions: the school is free to all the sons of parishioners, for instruction in English and classical literature. A letter is still in existence, in the hand-writing of Oliver Cromwell, resting the appointment of master of this school in the corporation of Oswestry—how such appointment has lapsed from the corporation is not ascertained. The other principal charities comprise a school, conducted upon the national plan, one on that of the British and Foreign School Society, a house of industry, and a valuable dispensary, carried on partly by the self-supporting system, and partly by contributions. There is an association for the prevention of crime and the prosecution of felons. It is remarked in ‘Tymm’s Topography,’ that, in 1797, died John Lloyd, attorney, at Oswestry, the original institutor of societies for the prosecution of felons—of which that at Oswestry was the first. This neighbourhood is remarkable for its great respectability; and to the number of genteel and opulent families that have residences in it, may in a great measure, be ascribed the prosperity of the town itself. The ‘Oswestry Advertiser’ newspaper, is published every Wednesday, and is worthy of support for the local information which it contains. The News Room is at the Court House, Bailey square. The markets are held on Wednesday and Saturday; the former is a good one for grain and other produce; the latter is for butcher’s meat, as well as other commodities of domestic consumption. Cattle fairs are held on the first Wednesday of every month. The parish (which comprises several townships) contained in 1841, 8,843 inhabitants, and by the returns for 1851, 8,796. The population of the township is 4,817.
Whittington is a parish, in the hundred of Oswestry—the village, two miles and a half north-east from the town of that name, is chiefly to be noticed for the remains of a castle, anciently belonging to the Fitz-Warrens. The ruins consist of one large tower, with traces of four others, and the exterior gateway, now occupied by a farmer. A station belonging to the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company is in this parish. A church belonging to the establishment, a chapel for Independents, and a national school are in the village. The parish contained in 1841, 1,953 inhabitants, and in 1851, 1,927,
POST OFFICE, Willow Street, Oswestry, Sarah Babington, Post Mistress.—Letters from London and all other parts of England, North and South Wales, Scotland and Ireland arrive every morning at six and half-past four in the afternoon, and are despatched at half-past six and nine in the evening, and on Sundays at half-past six and half-past seven in the evening.—Letters from Llanfyllin, Llansaintffraid, Llanymynech, Llandrinio, Llanrhaiadr, Llanyblodwell, Llansilin, Whittington and Kinnerley arrive every evening at seven, and are despatched at seven in the morning.
Money Order Office open from nine in the morning until six in the evening.