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Published: June 12th 2017
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Woolly says – with dark clouds overhead and the wind slicing through the trees I had endeavoured to find something inside for us to do for the day, coming across the Museum of Transport and the Cambrian Railway in nearby Oswestry on the world wide web. I primed the sat nav and sat back for a quick drive…..well it would have been quick if a certain driver hadn’t needed to drive twice round the town first before finally parking miles away, I huffed and sighed in exasperation before demanding to be carried. My small companion seemed to be at cross trunks and having ignored his rude comments at other drivers and the stream of sighs as we circumnavigated round Oswestry for the second time it wasn’t going well. Woolly says – Having finally convinced Jo that by carrying me we would get to the museum far more quickly we set off. Cambrian Railways once owned 230 miles (370 km) of track over a large area of mid-Wales, through an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904. Taken over by Great Western the line ceased to operate in the 50’s and was turned into a museum in the 90’s, during my research I had struggled to find out about opening times but with my paws firmly crossed I was hopeful that I would gain access.
I was wrong! Having admired the rusting boiler and a rather grubby diesel tender parked outside, we turned towards the museum itself, I could hear his cries of despair before reaching the sign that told us that it wasn’t open on a Monday! Woolly says – having kicked the door as hard as I could on the off chance that it might be open I limped over to Jo admitting defeat for my plans. It appeared that she had a ‘trick up her sleeve’ although I couldn’t see how much would actually fit up her sleeve in the first place, let alone a whole set of magic tricks! I followed her through the small market town. The origins of the town are uncertain although the towns market dates back to 1190. The name Oswestry is thought to be a corruption of 'Oswald's Tree' and the legend that Oswald the Christian King of Northumbria fought a great battle against the pagan King of Mercia. Oswald was defeated and killed in the battle. The King, as a warning to others who might challenge his rule, dismembered Oswald's body and hung his limbs on the branches of a tree, hence the name 'Oswalds Tree'. Now surely if there was a king around there must be a castle!!!!
There was and that’s exactly where we were heading. Woolly says – Steep steps upwards led us to a fence with a gate in it, I gazed round looking for turrets and fortifications but they appeared to be sadly lacking, in fact the only thing in evidence were two small pieces of wall and one slightly larger, confused I trotted over to Jo to see if she could explain. Dating to around 1086, the castle L’oeuvre was recorded in William I’s Domesday Book as being built by Rainald, Sheriff of Shropshire. Following the Norman conquest, the region was granted to Roger de Montgomerie by William I, Rainald is attributed as having built the first castle. By 1270 the castle’s walls embraced the town. In the 14th Century Owain Glyndwr attempted to establish himself as the rightful Prince of Wales and throughout this period the town became recognised as a strategic trading point. Following the Civil War the castle were rendered uninhabitable as part of a campaign to quash further resistance and it was reduced to a simple collection of stones.
Woolly says – So I climbed for miles for a bunch of stones! I tutted loudly and started the long descent down. The Civic hall was rather grand but not open to visitors and several tiny streets held Tudor buildings but the majority of the town was now filled with shops, pubs and cafes offering lunch….hmmmm now there’s an idea! An hour later and rather a lot of mayonnaise removal from fur, I suggested that we have a look at the hill fort in the hopes of rescuing the day. Woolly says – A FORT!!!! Now she tells me, having driven back through the town, missed the turning and driven through the town once more we finally turned off onto a …housing estate, I wasn’t convinced that we would find an Iron Age fort in anyone’s driveway. Having turned again and again the houses were behind us and a small lane led us through the green countryside to a car park. Having checked that Jo had a supply of snacks for me and that she had locked everything up I slipped under the gate and set off into the bracken. A sign informed me that
‘Old Oswestry was built and occupied during the Iron Age (800 BC to AD 43) and is one of the best-preserved hillforts in Britain. During this period Britain was divided into numerous tribal territories, and the hillfort was probably a stronghold and principal settlement for one of these. A fine example of a ‘multi-vallate’ or multiple rampart hillfort, it is one of a dense band of hillforts in eastern Wales and the Marches. It remained in use for almost 1,000 years’ I gazed around me and could only see more bracken, ferns and the odd foxglove covering the surrounding landscape with a few dips in places, the fort was no more, I sighed, today wasn’t going well. I think his expectations of finding a fully preserved fort were a little ambitious but I had to agree other than a pleasant walk and a chance for him to play hide and seek in the undergrowth there was little to see. With the clouds gathering above us and the first drops of rain starting to fall I found him trying to hide under a buttercup and suggested heading back to base and a film.
Woolly says – I could see her point and as a particularly nasty drop of water assaulted my trunk I considered the appeal of Ice Age and popcorn….no contest really!
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Dark clouds and slicing winds
Looks like you made the best of a challenging weather day.