Ruyton-XI-Towns

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Ruyton-XI-Towns (pronounced Rye-ton eleven towns), formally Ruyton of the Eleven Towns or simply Ruyton, is a large village in Shropshire, England. It has a population of around 1,500 people and lies on the River Perry. Nearby is the large village of Baschurch and to the north the smaller village of Wykey. grid reference SJ393221

The village acquired its unusual name in the twelfth century when a castle was built, and it became the major manor of eleven local townships. The Roman numeral for eleven is included in its name. Some of the eleven ancient townships, mostly situated to the north and west of Ruyton, still survive as hamlets today. The eleven were Coton, Eardiston, Felton, Haughton, Rednal, Ruyton, Shelvock, Shotatton, Sutton, Tedsmore and Wykey.

Lying in the Welsh Marches, the castle was destroyed in 1202, rebuilt by 1313 and destroyed again by Owain Glyndŵr. In 1308, an attempt was made to refound the town as New Ruyton. It was awarded a charter which briefly gave it the same status as the County of Bristol, but as raiding continued, it declined and lost most of its rights.

Notable buildings in the village include its parish church, part of which dates from the 1130s, and the gardens of Brownhill House.

The Preparatory school Packwood Haugh is in the village.

The village lies in the Borough of Oswestry.