War poet Wilfred Owen's birthplace is given listed status
The birthplace of Shropshire war poet Wilfred Owen has been designated a listed building by English Heritage.
Plas Wilmot in Oswestry, built as a family home in 1829, is now Grade II-listed, putting strict rules on how the building can be repaired or altered.
Those who have campaigned for the listing hope that the news will stop the building of seven new homes in the Plas Wilmot orchards.
Mr Owen was born at Plas Wilmot in 1893. He went on to become one of the greatest voices of the First World War, through his poems and his letters and died in battle on the Western Front in 1918, just days before peace was declared.
His birthplace in Weston Lane in Oswestry is owned by the Park family from the south of England.
Earlier this year the family was granted planning permission for a development of seven homes within the large orchard at Plas Wilmot, a scheme which it says will leave the house and its immediate curtilage untouched.
Today the family said it wished to make no comment about the listing.
The planning application was objected to by several individuals and organisations including Oswestry Civic Society and the Wilfred Owen Association.
Rachel Williams, from English Heritage, said: "We have now considered all the representations made and completed our assessment of the building. Having considered our recommendation, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add Plas Wilmot to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The building is now listed at Grade II."
