Oswestry & Border History & Archaeology Group

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OBHAG - Oswestry & Border History & Archaeology Group


Oswestry & Border History & Archaeology Group or OBHAG is an active and friendly group which focuses on the rich heritage of our area. We cover a broad range of archaeological and historical topics and we are linked with the Oswestry Castle Research Project.

OBHAG was founded in the 1970s by enthusiastic volunteers working with Professor Barri Jones who was excavating the Roman Fort near Weston Rhyn.

Today we have around one hundred members, with more joining each year. Any member can apply to our Project Fund for a small grant to support their research.

To discover more about past and current activities and projects follow the various links on this site. - http://obhag.org.uk/

Meetings with talks are held at 7.30 pm on the second Friday of the month at the Methodist Church Hall, Oswestry and are open to non members. In the early summer there are two evening visits to local places of interest and in July there is a full day trip with an expert guide; recent venues include Lichfield, Wigmore Castle and Leominster Priory, Mellor Mill, Stockport (industrial archaeology of the cotton industry) and Rhuddlan Castle.

Full details of how to join OBHAG are given on the membership application form or simply come along to one of the talks where you will be warmly welcomed.

OBHAG Projects

The Rhyn Park Excavation

Wroxeter Hinterland Project: Working with others and the County Archaeology Service in further excavation of an Iron Age rampart on Llanymynech Hill.

The Morda Valley Research Project: Three years of research produced a comprehensive report with topics which included local field and place names, details of Offa's Dyke within the area, the mills formerly operating in the Morda Valley, and the small 'Oswestry Coalfield' which was worked from about 1750 to 1891 together with its associated local transport system. Many of the sites associated with this once thriving coal mining industry in and around Trefonen and the Morda Valley were formally recorded and the group received an Oswestry Hills Community Grant of £2,000 for the preservation of the top of a coalmine shaft at Trefonen.

The Old Oswestry Landscape and Archaeology Project (OOLAP). This project aimed to increase understanding of the landscape surrounding one of the most impressive Iron Age hillforts in Britain and ran for seven years. OBHAG worked in conjunction with the Oswestry Borough Council and others, successfully applied for Big Lottery funding and produced a celebratory Iron Age Festival. In addition a series of seven annual one day seminars held at the Marches School covering the archaeology and history of the Northern Marches from earliest times up to the Norman Conquest attracted capacity audiences and speakers of national renown. The seminar reports are still in demand and there are plans create a digitised resource.

The Lle Hanes exhibition at the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Meifod in 2015

Heritage Open Days. For the past five years OBHAG members have worked closely with The Oswestry Heritage Forum in delivering a programme of events recognised nationally as a model of good practice and again attracting Big Lottery funding

Oswestry Castle Research Project. With the aim of carrying out an extensive archaeology study of Oswestry's castle this is exciting project is led by OBHAG member Roger Cooper, and is affiliated to OBHAG.

The Victoria County History of Shropshire. We are currently exploring ways in which OBHAG members can become involved.

If you have an idea for a project or would like to take an active part in the group please let us know we need new blood!



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