Secret Oswestry - Local History

Secret Oswestry

The Shropshire town of Oswestry, lying close to the Welsh border, has long been a significant town on the border and its history reveals its mixed Welsh and English heritage. At one time part of the Welsh kingdom of Powys, Oswestry s history stretches back into the Bronze Age and it is the site of one of the best preserved hill forts in Britain.

In this book author John Idris-Jones reveals the hidden history of Oswestry and its surrounding villages. From its connections to the legendary figure of King Arthur, and the site of the battle between the competing Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria and which King Oswald died and its name derived, to the Norman takeover of the area and the later revolt by its Owain Glyndwr, Oswestry has been fought over for centuries. It also developed as a prosperous market town serving the community in the area and later is famed as the birthplace of World War 1 poet Wilfrid Owen Oswestry.

This fascinating account of secret Oswestry and its history is fully illustrated with photography and will appeal to all those with an interest in this ancient town.