Gobowen
Encyclopedia
Gobowen is a large village in Shropshire
, England
, of population 3,927 (according to the 2001 census).
) who was believed to have rested his weary head there. However, this name may also originate from a man named Owen who starting mining there, and the old Welsh word for mine is 'gob' hence Gobowen (Owen's mine).
The mines were filled in during the Second World War
by displaced persons and prisoners of war by hand, and were in a camp at the nearby village of St.Martins, which is now called Bank Top Industrial Estate.
The population of Gobowen, however, grew up around the railway. The mainline route between Chester and Shrewsbury was diverted through Gobowen after permission was denied to route the railway through the local historic town of Oswestry. The village's main primary school was opened in 1907 with local educational provision previously being offered at the school hall attached to Preeshenlle Church. The Anglican church of All Saints was consecrated and opened in 1928.
which provides residential further education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college also operates a Garden Centre,Young Farmers shop, selling produce grown at the college,coffee shop and restaurant. (http://www.derwen.ac.uk/visitors/youngs-farm-shop.html)
The village is well served by a railway station, superstore, post office, sandwich bar, library, hairdressers, Gobowen Pharmarcy, nursing homes, primary school,sure start and play group and NHS dentist. There are three churches, Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed. Approximately 20 organisations offer many activities in which to participate. Local tourist attractions include Park Hall Countryside Experience, Chirk Castle Whittington Castle and close to Shropshire Union Canal.
and Holyhead
. The village has regular bus
links with Oswestry
, St Martins, Ellesmere and Wrexham.
There is a railway station
served by Arriva Trains Wales
with regular trains connecting to Wrexham, Chester, Shrewsbury, Holyhead and the North Wales Coast, Cardiff and Birmingham.
. In 1919 funds and premises became available and the hospital transferred to Park Hall into the hospital section of a former army camp. Much progress has been made since that time both with vast new buildings and pioneer medical treatments. The hospital, through the quality of service and care offered by a dedicated team of staff, is a centre of excellence with an international reputation.
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, of population 3,927 (according to the 2001 census).
History
The village was previously called Bryn-y-Castell, but the name in time changed to Gobowen. The name Gobowen is believed to originate from Gob (a pillow) and Owen (Owain GlyndŵrOwain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
) who was believed to have rested his weary head there. However, this name may also originate from a man named Owen who starting mining there, and the old Welsh word for mine is 'gob' hence Gobowen (Owen's mine).
The mines were filled in during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by displaced persons and prisoners of war by hand, and were in a camp at the nearby village of St.Martins, which is now called Bank Top Industrial Estate.
The population of Gobowen, however, grew up around the railway. The mainline route between Chester and Shrewsbury was diverted through Gobowen after permission was denied to route the railway through the local historic town of Oswestry. The village's main primary school was opened in 1907 with local educational provision previously being offered at the school hall attached to Preeshenlle Church. The Anglican church of All Saints was consecrated and opened in 1928.
All Saints Church
The Foundation Stone for All Saints' Church was laid in 1926 and the memorial to this event can be found on the east end of the building. The Church was built as a daughter church to St. Barnabas' Hengoed and remained as such until Hengoed Church was made redundant in 1981, at which point All Saints became the parish church for Hengoed with Gobowen. The parish of Hengoed with Gobowen was originally in the diocese of St. Asaph but transferred to the diocese of Lichfield when the Church in Wales disestablished. All Saints was officially opened in 1928 and its vicar was Revd George Owen Browne, the first of nine vicars to date who have served the parish. Others have included: Bertram Russell, Arthur Cecil Roberts, Glyn Owen Jones, John Michael Allen, Paul Wilkinson, Michael John Withey, Christopher John Groocock and Adrian Richard Bailey (the current vicar). The church was extended variously throughout its history including the extension of the West End, the addition of a second vestry (to the rear) and a bell tower. In 1979, the building was devastated by fire and services continued during that period in the hall next to the Church. It re-opened in 1981 with a brand new commissioned stained glass window to the East End, a donated window depicting the nativity in the West End, and various pieces of furniture donated from churches elsewhere.Amenities and attractions
The village is also home to the world famous Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and Peter Pan Nursery. Also within the village is the Derwen CollegeDerwen College
Derwen College is a Further Education College situated in Oswestry in Shropshire in the United Kingdom which provides residential further education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college also operates a Young's Farm shop, selling produce grown at the college....
which provides residential further education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college also operates a Garden Centre,Young Farmers shop, selling produce grown at the college,coffee shop and restaurant. (http://www.derwen.ac.uk/visitors/youngs-farm-shop.html)
The village is well served by a railway station, superstore, post office, sandwich bar, library, hairdressers, Gobowen Pharmarcy, nursing homes, primary school,sure start and play group and NHS dentist. There are three churches, Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed. Approximately 20 organisations offer many activities in which to participate. Local tourist attractions include Park Hall Countryside Experience, Chirk Castle Whittington Castle and close to Shropshire Union Canal.
Transport
Gobowen lies on the A5 Road between LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
. The village has regular bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
links with Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, St Martins, Ellesmere and Wrexham.
There is a railway station
Gobowen railway station
Gobowen railway station is a railway station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line serving the village of Gobowen in Shropshire, England. It is the nearest station to the town of Oswestry., train services run on two routes;...
served by Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
with regular trains connecting to Wrexham, Chester, Shrewsbury, Holyhead and the North Wales Coast, Cardiff and Birmingham.
Orthopaedic hospital
On the doorstep is the world famous Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, which has its origins in a convalescent home for disabled children established in 1900 at Baschurch by Agnes (later Dame Agnes) HuntAgnes Hunt
Dame Agnes Gwendoline Hunt DBE RRC is generally recognised as the first orthopaedic nurse.She was born at Boreatton Park, Baschurch, a village in west Shropshire, England, and was disabled from osteomyelitis of the hip that she suffered from as a child following septicaemia...
. In 1919 funds and premises became available and the hospital transferred to Park Hall into the hospital section of a former army camp. Much progress has been made since that time both with vast new buildings and pioneer medical treatments. The hospital, through the quality of service and care offered by a dedicated team of staff, is a centre of excellence with an international reputation.