The Centre is set within the parish Churchyard. Formerly called Holbache House, it was originally the second oldest grammar school founded in 1407. The Rev W.D Spooner was educated here.
History of the Building
David Holbache founded his Free School in 1401. It is believed that this building was the original with some of the structure dating from that time. It is the second oldest Grammar school in the country after Winchester.
Holbache was a pioneer in education as grammar schools were a new idea. Boys were taught Classics, especially Latin, diplomacy, English grammar and basic Mathematics. Archery would have been taught as it was required by law that all men be proficient in the longbow.
The first trustees are recorded in a document dated 1404 but by 1557 these duties were transferred to others which included the local vicar. In 1634 it is recorded that their work was unsatisfactory and all responsibilities were transferred to the Bishop of St Asaph.
The first recorded headmaster was Reynolds ( 1537). In 1577 Queen Elizabeth took an interest by granting " of her Mercy forty shillings yearly towards the maytenance of the said Schoole"
During the Civil war Oswestry was a Royalist town. It was taken by the Parliamentarians and the headmaster was dismissed. In a letter held in the town Archives and signed by Oliver Cromwell it seems that the decision was political as the headmaster was re-instated during the Restoration in 1661.
1745-1755 Rev Gorowy Owen, a famous Welsh poet was headmaster
1772 Rev Charles Tisdale from Wrexham became head bringing most of his boarders with him.
The numbers now outgrew the building so the school moved to its present site .
By 1781 the building was used as a workhouse and by 1808 it was sold and used as a laundry. Then it became dwellings until 1950's.
By the late 1970's the building had fallen into disrepair but was bought and restored being used as a museum.
later the lease was bought by the Town Council and used, as it is now, as the Oswestry Visitor and Exhibition Centre.
Exhibitions
January 12th -30th
Tracey Swain-evocative landscape photography
Rachael Montgomery- art jewellery in beautiful coloured glass
February 2nd- 27th
Martin Portlock- prizewinning photography
Kelsang Khonchog- thought provoking work -'Dusk till dawn'
Martin Williamson- works referring to a perssonal journey
Lisa Ostrer- funky, colourful,representational pieces
March 2nd- 27th
Texartel- an exhibition of work from a group of textile artists
Ray Pearson- silk screen prints
Jan Jeapes- mixed subject photography
April -30th March - 1st May
Martin Portlock- prizewinning photography
Ashleigh & Dan Pierpoint- macro photographic studies of insects & flowers+ landscape pieces
May 4th May -29th May
John F Smout -semi absttact landscape paintings
Blue Bridge artists - group exhibition
June 2nd June - 26th June
Anthea Landon - prints & textile art
Phillippa Hughes- glowing glass sketches
Robert Lawton- limited palette stilllife compositions ( 1st prize winner in Pru Barron competition)
July 29th June- 31st July
Josh Bowe- colourful nudes in pastel & paint
Ken Taylor- accomplished miniaturist. Animal & rural studies in gouache on slate.
Mirage Glass- stained glass boxes, mirrors, clocks, window hangings and jewellery
Michael Allen- collages ( 2nd prize winner-Pru Barron Competition)
August 3rd - 28th August
Anne Easthope- Flower, hedge & landscape paintings in acrylic
Mirage Glass- stained glass boxes, mirrors, clocks, window hangings & jewellery
Entries for the Oswestry & Shropshire Open Art Competition on display.
Come and vote for your favourite
September 1st- 30th September
Shropshire scribes- examples of calligraphic work
Peter Davies - new sculptures
October 28th September- 30th October
Gerald Dewsbury - detailed, slightly surreal landscapes
Karen Junor- pretty pottery
Corwen Creative Arts- a group showing sculpture, mosaic pieces, paintings, prints 7 textile arts
November 2nd - 27th November
Alan Taylor- beautiful rural scenes
Elfyn Jones/ Geraint Dodd- two different artists showing figurative abstract & landscape paintings
Christmas Craft Shop - local crafts & produce
December 30th November- 2nd January 2011
Ian Wright- seascape & lighthouse photography from the Welsh coast & Anglesey
Christmas Craft Shop
Entertainment from local school children and handbell ringers.
(see programme)
Oswestry Visitor & Exhibition Centre
2 Church Terrace,
Oswestry, SY11 2TE.
Tel: 01691 662753
Email: escape@oswestry-welshborders.org.uk
