Ellesmere, Shropshire
| Ellesmere | |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,223 |
| OS grid reference | SJ398349 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ELLESMERE |
| Postcode district | SY12 |
| Dialling code | 01691 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Shropshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Ellesmere is a small market town near Oswestry in Shropshire, England, notable for its proximity to a number of prominent lakes, the Meres.
History
Ellesmere Castle was an 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle built either by Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury or his son Roger the Poitevin at Castlefields overlooking the Mere. It no longer exists, and the top of the rise on which it stood is now a bowling green commanding a fine view.
There was a tannery located on the edge of the mere, in what is now known as Cremorne Gardens. These gardens were given to the people of Ellesmere by Lord Brownlow.
The former Marcher Lordship of Ellesmere was annexed to Shropshire and the Hundred of Pymhill by section 11 of the Laws in Wales Act 1535.
Geography
The town is located by the side of 'The Mere', the largest natural lake in England outside the Lake District and one of nine glacial Meres in the area. ('Glacial' means that the depression occupied by the mere was the location of a block of ice that persisted at the end of the last Ice Age.)
An artificial island in the Mere was constructed in 1812 from soil dug out during the making of the gardens at Ellesmere House. This was later named Moscow Island, as Napoleon was forced to withdraw from Moscow that year. The mere has a visitors' centre and is popular with birdwatchers, many of whom visit to see Grey Herons nesting. There are eight other meres nearby: Blakemere, Colemere, Crosemere, Kettlemere, Newtonmere, Whitemere, Sweatmere & Hanmer Mere.
The civil parish which constitutes the town is Ellesmere Urban - see also the parish of Ellesmere Rural. It lies in North Shropshire district.
Infrastructure
The A495 and A528 roads cross at Ellesmere. The latter runs 15 miles south-south-east from Ellesmere to the county town, Shrewsbury.
The town lies on a spur of the Llangollen Canal, which eventually terminates in Froncysyllte, Wales. It was originally known as the Ellesmere Canal. Thomas Telford was overall director of its construction. Work lasted from 1793 to 1805 with the aim of reaching Ellesmere Port, but never got that far due to costs. During its construction Telford lived in a house next to the canal in Ellesmere, which still stands today.
Ellesmere's most notable building is Ellesmere Old Town Hall, built in 1833.
Education
The town has two schools. Ellesmere Primary School is a primary and nursery school for boys and girls aged 4-11. The Lakelands School provides State-paid education for boys and girls in the 11-16 age range (for whom schooling is compulsory). Several other nearby schools serve the wider community, such as Welshampton Church of England school, which recently scored among the highest in the country in OFSTED reports in all categories.
A short distance outside the town is Ellesmere College, a public (i.e., private) boarding school founded in 1884 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard for sons of the middle classes. It is now a fully co-educational school catering for pupils from 7-18.
Sport in the Town
Ellesmere has always had a successful sporting tradition. This includes the Cricket Club, which after a number of years in the doldrums is on the rise with a successful first eleven which came runner up in the Shropshire Cricket League Division 4 in 2006 and were Division 3 champions in 2007. The club also has a thriving junior section, and coaching sessions take place on a Tuesday evening from 6.00-8.00pm throughout the cricket season, run by the club's own ECB qualified coaches and in compliance with child protection regulations. The club has entered under-11 and under-13 teams in the junior league. There are also plans to run a second eleven in the 2008 season. The external link below gives further information.
Ellesmere people
- The family of Charles de Gaulle lived in the nearby village of Dudleston Heath (Criftins) during World War 2.
- Sir Francis Kynaston the poet - was born in the town.
- Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury - castle builder
- Thomas Telford - lived in Ellesmere during construction of Llangollen Canal
- Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere - Poet & patron of the arts
- Joan, Princess of Wales, illegitimate daughter of King John of England, was married to Llywelyn the Great and given Ellesmere as a wedding gift.
- Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd was given the manor of Ellesmere and Hales by King Henry II of England in 1177.
- Eglantyne Jebb - British social reformer and founder of Save the Children