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ON THE BORDER
A new book which delves into the colourful and fascinating history of the border villages of Llanymynech and Pant has just been published.
Written by Carreghofa playwright and author Neil Rhodes, On The Border is a well-illustrated pocket-sized guide that transports the reader back to a time when this was once a fiercely fought over territory, and later an extraordinary network of communications - tramways, canals, railways - serving a thriving industrial community.
Straddling the border between England and Wales and dominated by the exposed limestone rocks of Llanymynech Hill, Llanymynech itself has been compared in years gone by to some of the picturesque villages of Switzerland - and with good reason.
In his foreword to the book, Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik says: "Like the hills themselves, there is treasure in this book and the exploration from page to page will take you to places and people who forged this place and spoke for their generations."
On The Border covers two millennia, starting from before the Romans and moving on through the dark ages and medieval times to cover such events as Caractacus's last stand and the building of Offa’s Dyke. But where it really steps up a gear is when it reaches the Victorian era - a time of huge growth, wealth, development - and danger. We meet intriguing local characters such as Oswestry draper Thomas Savin who went on to become a wealthy railway and quarrying magnate, until his grand ideas eventually proved his undoing.
Towards the end of the book are stories and folklore from the area - tales of underground tunnels beneath the Red Lion pub and a ghostly fiddler!
It ends with three well mapped walks to guide you to some of the area's places of special interest, bringing vividly to life the places and events just read about.
On The Border is available now, costing just £7.99, from various outlets in Oswestry, including the Heritage Centre and Mile End Tourist Information Centre, or in Llanymynech at the Village Hall. You can also buy a copy by emailing nr@neilrhodes.co.uk or buy it here with PayPal  Buy the book here, with PayPal - just click the button to be taken to the PayPal site
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