Ellesmere
Ellesmere is situated in the county of Shropshire in the West Midlands of England. The town lies towards the north of the county. One of the best known sights in the town is the Mere which is a type of glacial lake. This is held to be one of the biggest natural lakes in the country and is one of nine different Meres in the surrounding Shropshire area.
As with much of Shropshire, Ellesmere played an important part in the border skirmishes between the Welsh and the English in historical terms. The 11th century Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomerie, was, for example, probably the motivating force behind the building of a motte and bailey castle in the town to protect the inhabitants living on what is essentially a border with Wales.
By the 1100s Ellesmere was ruled by William Peverel under the aegis of Henry I. A few years later the area was taken by Madog ap Maredudd of Powys before coming back under the control of the English throne of Henry II in later years. Towards the end of the 12th century Henry gave the area to Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd, a local landowner who was married to Henry’s half-sister. Ellesmere was then given to various nobles before Henry III won it back in the late 13th century. In the 1500s the area of Ellesmere was made part of Shropshire.
Nature lovers visiting Ellesmere will enjoy a visit to the Mere in general terms but should also check out the island (Moscow Island) that stands in the lake. This is a haven for birds. The Old Town Hall which was constructed in the 1830s is also worth a visit. The Town Hall was constructed by the Duchess of Bridgewater and the cellars beneath the building are architecturally interesting. Visitors can take a look at the cellars which can be accessed by the restaurant that is now on site.
The town also holds a Festival/Boat Rally which usually takes place in the autumn. Ellesmere has a strong canal connection with the Bridgewater Canal and the Bridgewater family that can be seen in various places around the town. The main shopping area in the town is also interesting. There are a lot of independent shops here, some of which have been run by the same families for generations. The town’s market runs on Tuesdays in the Market Hall - Ellesmere’s market itself dates back to the 1220s.
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