Welshampton

infobox UK place
country= England
latitude= 52.910351
longitude= -2.840652
official_name= Welshampton
population= 839 (2001 Census)
shire_district= North Shropshire
shire_county= Shropshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= North Shropshire
post_town= ELLESMERE
postcode_district= SY12
postcode_area= SY
dial_code= 01948 Welshampton is a small village located on the A495 road in Shropshire, England, near to the town of Ellesmere. It is adjacent to the villages of Lyneal and Colemere which comprise part of the so-called 'North Shropshire Lake District', all of which is within walking distance of Welshampton. At the 2001 Census, the Welshampton and Lyneal civil parish had a population of 839,citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=798936&c=welshampton&d=16&e=15&g=482041&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1210090081709&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|title=2001 Census: Welshampton & Lyneal (Civil Parish)|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=6 May|accessyear=2008] with a total population of 3,896 for the Ellesmere and Welshampton Ward. [citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5943615&c=welshampton&d=14&e=16&g=482028&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1210089882774&enc=1|title=2001 Census: Ellesmere & Welshampton (Ward)|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=6 May|accessyear=2008]

History

According to an article written by Christopher Jobson, in a recently published (August 2008) edition of "Mere News", the original village was known as 'Hampton' and had been in the barony of lestrange from Knockin since the fourteenth century. It came into the estates of the Earls of Derby by marriage in the early 15th century. The original site was a high & flat hill overlooking a lowland area known as Bradenheath. The oldest known reference with the 'Welsh' prefix is 1587 which mentions two members of local families, the Kynaston's and Hanmer's.

An African prince, Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue, who died in Welshampton in 1863, is buried at St Michael & All Angels Church. [citeweb|url=http://www.cockshuttchurch.org.uk/welshampton.html|title=St Michael & All Angels Church, Welshampton|accessdate=25 January|accessyear=2008] The church is reputedly designed by George Gilbert Scott.

On 11 June 1897 there was a serious railway accident at Welshampton in which 11 people were killed following a derailment. [citeweb|url=http://www.ingenious.org.uk/see/Transport/Railways/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID=%7BCF6D7A3E-D7B3-CDE5-95BD-0169DB57DA1F%7D&s=S1&viewby=images&|title=Railway accident, 1897|publisher=Ingenious|accessdate=6 May|accessyear=2008] [citeweb|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=67|title=Accident at Welshampton on 11th June 1897|work=The Railways Archive|accessdate=25 January|accessyear=2008] The line has since been taken up.

Education

In 2006, Welshampton Church of England Primary School received the highest Ofsted awards in every single category for a primary school in the UK, describing it as "outstanding". [citeweb|url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=123510&inspectionNumber=292693&providerCategoryID=4096&fileName=\school\123\s5_123510_20061019.xml|title=Welshampton Church of England Primary School, 2006 Inspection|work=Ofsted|accessdate=6 May|accessyear=2008]

Notable people

*Walter Nugent Monck, theatre director, was born here.
* Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue, an African prince, died here
* Lieutenant Colonel John Lloyd Dickin formerly of Loppington who built Lyneal Lodge

Festival of Fire

This event has been staged each year since 2002 where the people of Welshampton design and build a "themed" bonfire. The event is usually held before November 5th, the traditional Guy Fawkes or "Bonfire night", as it is not associated with the traditional festival.

ee also

*List of rail accidents in the United Kingdom

References

External links

* [http://www.welshampton.org.uk/ Welshampton Featival of Fire]