Published on Wednesday November 9th, 2022
Shropshire brims with unique market towns – but even with tough competition, Oswestry has a personality that’s hard to miss and impossible to forget.
It’s charming, friendly and full of character. It’s a little English and a little Welsh. And it has a richer history than most museums and a market that’s older than the mechanical clock.
Intrigued yet? You should be. Oswestry has scores of secrets to discover. Let’s take a whistle-stop tour through six of them.
Oswestry is a couple of miles from the Welsh border – but this hasn’t always been the case. In fact, the town has changed hands between England and Wales several times. Today, you can see evidence of its mixed heritage in its Welsh-language street names and its small (but proud) Welsh-speaking population.
That’s right – there’s also an Old Oswestry. This Iron Age hill fort was first occupied in the eighth century BC and is one of the best-preserved of its kind in Britain. Climb its steep, stepped slopes and you’ll enjoy panoramic views across Wales and Shropshire. You’ll find it just north of town.
Oswestry is a paradise for walkers. If you fancy a gentle stroll, why not follow the picturesque canal towpaths nearby? Or, if you’re ready for a challenge, you could tackle a section of Offa’s Dyke Path. This long-distance trail traces the full length of the Welsh border, from Prestatyn in the north all the way to Chepstow in the south.
Oswestry is a fairly peaceful place today – but things were very different hundreds of years ago. The town’s location at the border of two great nations once made it a hotspot for skirmishes. Today, you can see the footprints of its military heritage in the mighty castles nearby. Don’t miss National Trust properties, Chirk Castle and Powys, or the tiny moated castle at Whittington.
How tall? About 126 feet, since you ask. That’s the height of the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – an 18th-century engineering marvel built by local legend Thomas Telford. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular visitor attraction.
You’ll see more evidence of Oswestry’s industrial heritage throughout the area, from the local lime works to the town’s heritage railway, which still runs regular journeys by steam train.
Oswestry’s free Food and Drink Festival and the unique Hot Air Balloon Carnival bookend the town’s summer events calendar. But there’s always something going on, whether it’s live music in the pubs or a circus in the streets. Ready to be entertained? Visit Oswestry – you’ll always be welcome.
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