Pontesbury
Encyclopedia
Pontesbury is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire
and is approximately eight miles southwest of the county town of Shrewsbury
. The village of Minsterley
is just over a mile further southwest. The A488 road
runs through the village, on its way from Shrewsbury to Bishop's Castle
. The Rea Brook
flows close by to the north with the village itself nestling on the northern edge of the Shropshire Hills AONB
.
The village is home of a comprehensive school, named after the local novelist Mary Webb
, which serves most of the surrounding villages for pupils age 11-16.
The village has a long mining history, once linked to Snailbeach
and Hanwood
via the Minsterley branch line
and the Snailbeach District Railways
, it supplied local industry with coal, lead, iron and stone. Although the railway tracks are no longer there you can still walk the route it took where some stations and sidings remain.
Pontesbury is one of the largest villages in Shropshire and so is host to a wide range of local services including independent local shops selling local produce. In the centre of the village sits St George's parish church, the origins of which can be traced to about 1250 AD but due to the sites circular graveyard shape may indicate a much more ancient site of Anglo Saxon or even Celtic origin. The church itself however was largely restored
in the 19th century. For a village, population c 3,500, it is large, and has a very active and lively congregation. Pontesbury is a rural community and extends a warm welcome to all visitors. St George's is open to all during daylight hours, but is closed at night.
Nearby is Earls Hill, which is the site of an Iron Age
hillfort built around 600 B.C. and making it a Scheduled Ancient Monument
and also designated an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) for its wildlife value. It was Shropshire Wildlife Trust
's first nature reserve in 1964. Earls Hill is PreCambrian in origin, being formed approximately
650 Million years ago as a result of volcanic activity along the Pontesford - Linley fault.
(1881–1927), author of 'Precious Bane', 'The Golden Arrow' and 'Gone to Earth' lived at Pontesbury for a time, along with other villages in Shropshire
. A local legend involves a search for gold, in the form of a golden arrow, which takes place every Palm Sunday
, on top of Earls Hill. It inspired Mary Webb's book.
Pontesbury was also visited by D. H. Lawrence
and later appeared in his novel St Mawr
.
Pontesbury currently has 3 cricket teams with the 1sts in Shropshire Cricket League Division 1 the 2nds in Division 3 and the 3rds in Division 7.
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...
and is approximately eight miles southwest of the county town of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. The village of Minsterley
Minsterley
Minsterley is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It is home to a large dairy operated by Uniq foods.The dairy currently employs nearly 500 people...
is just over a mile further southwest. The A488 road
A488 road
The A488 is a route on the British highway network that runs from Penybont, near Llandrindod Wells, in Wales, to Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in England. Near Shrewsbury the A488 has a junction with the A5 trunk road...
runs through the village, on its way from Shrewsbury to Bishop's Castle
Bishop's Castle
Bishop's Castle is a small market town in Shropshire, England, and formerly its smallest borough. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,630. Bishop's Castle is east of the Wales-England border, about north-west of Ludlow and about south-west of Shrewsbury. To the south is Clun...
. The Rea Brook
Rea Brook
The name Rea Brook can refer to either of two brooks in Shropshire, England.One of the brooks, which eventually becomes the River Rea, is in southern Shropshire. It is to the east of Brown Clee Hill....
flows close by to the north with the village itself nestling on the northern edge of the Shropshire Hills AONB
Shropshire Hills AONB
The Shropshire Hills area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , in the English county of Shropshire, close to its border with Wales. Designated in 1958 , the area encompasses of land primarily in south-west Shropshire...
.
The village is home of a comprehensive school, named after the local novelist Mary Webb
Mary Webb
Mary Webb , was an English romantic novelist and poet of the early 20th century, whose work is set chiefly in the Shropshire countryside and among Shropshire characters and people which she knew. Her novels have been successfully dramatized, most notably the film Gone to Earth in 1950 by Michael...
, which serves most of the surrounding villages for pupils age 11-16.
The village has a long mining history, once linked to Snailbeach
Snailbeach
Snailbeach is a village in Shropshire, England, located near Shrewsbury at . The village was formerly home to a large lead mine.-Early history:A village was built for workers at the local lead mine - Snailbeach Mine, which reputedly dates back to Roman times...
and Hanwood
Hanwood
Hanwood is a large village in Shropshire, England.It is located SW of Shrewsbury town centre, on the A488 road. The A5 is only a mile away. The Cambrian Line runs through the village but there is no longer a station here...
via the Minsterley branch line
Minsterley branch line
The Minsterley branch line was a standard gauge railway line that ran from Cruckmeole Junction, where the Shrewsbury to Welshpool line runs, near Hanwood, to the villages of Pontesbury and then Minsterley...
and the Snailbeach District Railways
Snailbeach District Railways
Snailbeach District Railways was a British narrow gauge railway in Shropshire. It was built to carry lead ore from mines in the Stiperstones to Pontesbury where the ore was transshipped to the Great Western Railway's Minsterley branch line. Coal from the Pontesford coal mines travelled in the...
, it supplied local industry with coal, lead, iron and stone. Although the railway tracks are no longer there you can still walk the route it took where some stations and sidings remain.
Pontesbury is one of the largest villages in Shropshire and so is host to a wide range of local services including independent local shops selling local produce. In the centre of the village sits St George's parish church, the origins of which can be traced to about 1250 AD but due to the sites circular graveyard shape may indicate a much more ancient site of Anglo Saxon or even Celtic origin. The church itself however was largely restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in the 19th century. For a village, population c 3,500, it is large, and has a very active and lively congregation. Pontesbury is a rural community and extends a warm welcome to all visitors. St George's is open to all during daylight hours, but is closed at night.
Nearby is Earls Hill, which is the site of an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hillfort built around 600 B.C. and making it a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Ancient monument
An ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest. In the United Kingdom it is a legal term, differing from the American term National Monument in being far more numerous and always man-made...
and also designated an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) for its wildlife value. It was Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
The Shropshire Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the geographic county of Shropshire, England.-Nature reserves:The trust cares for, or is associated with, 42 nature reserves in the county:...
's first nature reserve in 1964. Earls Hill is PreCambrian in origin, being formed approximately
Geology of Shropshire
Shropshire's Geology is very diverse and most rock types found in the British Isles can be found in the county too. There is also a large amount of mineral wealth, including lead, coal and iron in the county, which perhaps helped the area develop the first industry of the industrial revolution, in...
650 Million years ago as a result of volcanic activity along the Pontesford - Linley fault.
Famous residents
Mary WebbMary Webb
Mary Webb , was an English romantic novelist and poet of the early 20th century, whose work is set chiefly in the Shropshire countryside and among Shropshire characters and people which she knew. Her novels have been successfully dramatized, most notably the film Gone to Earth in 1950 by Michael...
(1881–1927), author of 'Precious Bane', 'The Golden Arrow' and 'Gone to Earth' lived at Pontesbury for a time, along with other villages in Shropshire
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...
. A local legend involves a search for gold, in the form of a golden arrow, which takes place every Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
, on top of Earls Hill. It inspired Mary Webb's book.
Pontesbury was also visited by D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
and later appeared in his novel St Mawr
St Mawr
St Mawr is a short novel written by D. H. Lawrence. It was first published in 1925.The heroine of the story, Lou Witt, abandons her sterile marriage and a brittle, cynical post-First World War England. Her sense of alienation is associated with her encounter with a high-spirited stallion, the St...
.
Pontesbury currently has 3 cricket teams with the 1sts in Shropshire Cricket League Division 1 the 2nds in Division 3 and the 3rds in Division 7.
External links
- Parish information
- Mary Webb
- The Pontesbury darts and domino league
- Gallery of Pontesbury pictures
- photos of Pontesbury and surrounding area on geograph
See also
- Snailbeach District RailwaysSnailbeach District RailwaysSnailbeach District Railways was a British narrow gauge railway in Shropshire. It was built to carry lead ore from mines in the Stiperstones to Pontesbury where the ore was transshipped to the Great Western Railway's Minsterley branch line. Coal from the Pontesford coal mines travelled in the...
- PontesfordPontesfordPontesford is a small village in Shropshire, England.It is located on the A488 outside the large village of Pontesbury.It approximates to the northern extremity of the Pontesford-Linley geological fault, which trends approximately 11 miles to Linley near Bishops Castle...