Bronygarth

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Bronygarth is a small village in the Ceiriog Valley near Oswestry in Shropshire, England.

[edit] History

Bronygarth lies on Offa's Dyke, the massive earthwork, stretching from Chepstow in the south to Prestatyn in the north, which was constructed in the late 8th century by Offa, King of Mercia, as a boundary between Saxon Mercia and Celtic Wales. The section of the dyke between Castle Mill and Craignant remains well preserved. Although the dyke passed directly through Bronygarth, the area remained strongly Welsh in culture, customs and language. Settlements were mainly in the valley, along the banks of the River Ceiriog, but with a small number of farms extending higher up the mountainside.

Two Celtic carved stone heads were uncovered at Well Cottage in Bronygarth and are now on display at the British Museum.

The name Bronygarth appears in documents as far back as the 12th Century and translates into English as "Breast of the Hill" and is thought to have formed part of a hunting estate.

Bronygarth became part of the Traian in the Lordship of Oswestry which was associated with the Fitzalan dynasty for many centuries. In 1536, the Act of Union of England and Wales placed all of the Lordship of Oswestry within the county of Shropshire in England.

Throughout the Middle Ages the area was dominated by Chirk Castle and the Myddleton family.

Bronygarth was formerly part of the ancient Parish of St. Martin's. However, in 1870, the neighbouring townships of Weston Rhyn and Bronygarth were formed into the new Parish of Weston Rhyn.

The first school was built in Bronygarth in 1872. Opposite the school stood a toll house on the Bronygarth and Wern turnpike road, which connected to the main Cardiff to Chester highway at Pontfaen.

The area was highly dependent on agriculture but limestone was also quarried.