History of the Archives

The majority of the Council’s older archives were at one time stored in Oswestry Library, which until 1959 was based in the town’s municipal buildings, the Guildhall. Others, and more recent records, were in the Powis Hall. In 1985-9, all the archives were brought together in the Guildhall. The Town Council took the decision to keep all the records in Oswestry and to apply for it to become a recognised place of deposit. An air-conditioned strong room was installed, search room facilities were provided for in the public rooms, a conservation programme was set up and a part-time archivist appointed to catalogue the archives. The Guildhall was appointed a place of deposit in 1989 under the Public Records Act 1958.

In 1999, following a successful application for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Guildhall was renovated for Council and community use. An additional room was equipped for storage of archives and improved search room facilities were provided. The catalogue of the archives was published to mark the re-opening of the building.

In 2010 the archive strongrooms were refurbished to increase the storage capacity and to update the equipment that regulates the carefully controlled environment needed to store documents.

The Collection

The collection contains:

Records of the unreformed Borough of Oswestry (1324-1835)
Records of the reformed Borough of Oswestry (1835-1967)
Records of the Rural Borough of Oswestry (1967-1974).
The oldest document, a grant by the Earl of Arundel of two shops to the Burgesses of Oswestry, is dated 1324. However, most of the collection dates from 1674. The collection contains public records such as Quarter Sessions and records of the Court of Record. It also contains a small collection of local photographs and maps.

The collection can be searched using the catalogue.

Collection in Context

The collection contains the Oswestry Borough charters, which set out the rights and privileges enjoyed by the Burgesses. The first charter was granted in 1262 by John Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel. This was followed by later royal charters granted by Richard II (1398), Henry IV (1407), and James I (1617). The final royal charter was granted by Charles II (1673) following a petition by the Lord, Bailiffs and Burgesses of Oswestry.

The charter remained in force until 1835 when local government was reorganised under the Corporations Act of 1835. Under this Act the administration of Town affairs was placed in the hands of the Mayor, six Aldermen and eighteen Councillors. Whereas under the charters the Common Councilmen had been elected by the Common Council itself, the Councillors were now elected by the ratepayers of the Town. The Mayor and Aldermen continued to be elected by the Council. The Town Clerk was appointed by the Council, as is the case today.

The new style Council was a major force in developments in Oswestry for the next 130 years. Health and housing, water and electricity, the fire brigade, allotments, markets, parks, street works were all under its administration. Some of these responsibilities were eventually lost in subsequent legislative changes.

In 1967 a reorganisation of local government in Shropshire resulted in the creation of the Rural Borough of Oswestry. Some of the functions of the old Borough Council were transferred to Oswestry Rural District Council, leaving the Rural Borough Council to operate in much the same way as a traditional parish council, but retaining responsibility for markets, car parks, parks (until 1972) and open spaces in the Town.

In the major reorganisation of local government in 1974 the Rural Borough Council became the Town Council, with sixteen instead of eighteen Councillors from 1975.

In 1999, following a successful application for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund the Guildhall was renovated for Council and community use. An additional room was equipped for storage of archives, and improved searchroom facilities were provided. The catalogue of the archives was published to mark the re-opening of the building.

In 2005-6 the first Town Council Archivist, Eileen Simpson, retired. Shropshire Archives was appointed to provide the services of a part-time Archivist, Kerry Evans, to attend the archives on a regular basis. Additional advice is also provided by the Shropshire Archives’ conservation, outreach and reprographics departments.