Why we should revere links to Wilfred Owen
I was excited to read in last week's Chronicle that our town's links with the great First World War poet Wilfred Owen are to be celebrated in a new short film by local historian Doctor Nigel Tinsley.
Yeah, we know Owen was born in Oswestry, but he and his family lived in Shrewsbury for several years and knew the town well.
So although we cannot, hand-on-heart, claim him as one of Shrewsbury's sons, I reckon we can at least share him with Oswestry.
Dr Tinsley is to explore the little-known aspects of the town's Edwardian history in the movie and said the time was right to commemorate the poet's connection with Shrewsbury.
He said: "With the centenary of the Great War only months away I think it's probably the right time for the town to give more attention to its most famous poet."
Well, absolutely.
The film is to feature well-known landmarks including the Statue of Hercules in The Quarry, St Julian's Church and Haughmond Hill – all favourite spots for Wilfred Owen.
The poet was born at Plas Wilmot in Oswestry in 1893, but his family moved to Shrewsbury in 1897 where they lived in Canon Street for three years. The family then moved to the Wirral before returning to Shrewsbury in 1910 – when they lived in Mahim, a three-storey house on the Monkmoor Road.
The house will feature in the new film, along with other sites including Shrewsbury Railway Station where Wilfred's father Tom Owen worked as line superintendent.
