Ellesmere, Shropshire

Ellesmere
Population	3,223
OS grid reference	SJ398349
District	North Shropshire
Shire county	Shropshire
Region	West Midlands
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	North Shropshire

Ellesmere is a small market town near Oswestry in Shropshire, England.

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 (a Mere is fed by natural springs whereas a lake is fed by streams or small rivers). A local legend is that a ghostly white lady can be seen wandering around the mere.

The mere contains an artificial island, constructed in 1812 from the soil dug out to make the gardens at Ellesmere House. It was later named Moscow Island, as Napoleon's defeat in Russia also took place in that year. The mere has a visitors' centre and is popular with birdwatchers, many of whom visit to see Grey Herons nesting.

There was a tannery located on the edge of the mere in, what is now known as The Cremorne Gardens. These gardens were given to the people of Ellesmere by Lord Brownlow.

The surrounding area of Ellesmere contains eight other meres and those include Blakemere, Colemere, Crosemere, Kettlemere, Newtonmere, Whitemere, Sweatmere & Hanmer Mere.

The civil parish which constitutes the town is Ellesmere Urban - see also Ellesmere Rural. It lies in North Shropshire district.

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.

The A495 and A528 roads cross at Ellesmere.

The town lies on a branch of the Llangollen Canal, which eventually links it to Ellesmere Port, named after the town. Originally known as the Ellesmere Canal, Thomas Telford was responsible for the overall direction of the construction process, a project that took twelve years, from 1793 to 1805.During its construction, he 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.

The town itself has two schools. The Ellesmere Primary School is a primary and nursery school for boys and girls aged 4-11. The Lakelands School offers compulsory education for those in the 11-16 age range. Both are mixed schools of Non Denominational religion.There are several other schools nearby serving the wider community, such as Welshampton Church of England school which recently scored amongst the highest in the country in OFSTED reports in all categories.

A short way outside the town is Ellesmere College, a public school founded in 1884 for the sons of the middle classes and now a co-educational boarding school.

Also just outside Ellesmere on the Trading Estate is Lakeside Coaches new depot. They are the largest coach company in North Shropshire, North East Wales and South Cheshire and have recentley invested a large sum of money in 2 brand new 56 plate touring coaches. These both have full airconditioning and a dvd player. One is also to an executive specification which includes a drinks machine, fridge and toilet as well as a continental door.

Ellesmere people

• Alf Strange the writer is from the nearby hamlet of Welsh Frankton.
• 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.

Ellesmere Castle

Ellesmere Castle was an 11 century Motte-and-bailey castle built by Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury at Castlefields overlooking the Mere.

See also

• Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses NNR
• Ellesmere Canal
• Earl of Ellesmere

External links

• Shropshire Tourism The official tourism website for Shropshire
• Local website
• Ellesmere Photos
• Lakelands School
• Ellesmere College
• Ellesmere Rangers Football Club
• Castles of Britain
• Ellesmere castle
• BBC panoramic view of mere
• Birch Hill Caravan Club Certificated Location for touring caravans in Ellesmere