Oswestry's history to be told in a comic
There are probably very few towns in the country with their heritage serialised in a comic.
But the market town of Oswestry can now make this unusual claim as its 3,000-year-old history is getting a colourful retelling.
In a year-long project called Oswestry Heritage Comics, archaeologist and illustrator John Swogger is exploring the town’s past in a series of 52 comic strips being published weekly online and in print.
He is teaming up with community group Oswestry Heritage Gateway to capture people’s memories of Oswestry as inspiration for the comic strips. These will also feature in an exhibition at the end of the project, which has attracted Heritage Lottery funding and is being facilitated by Qube.
Mr Swogger said: “Heritage is all about how people connect to the past. Oswestry’s heritage is about how we, today, connect to people, places and things that have been part of the town in days gone by. The comics are a way of showing those connections.
“The stories, anecdotes and memories of today are part of the heritage of the next generation. It would be a real shame if these were forgotten or lost.
“I’m looking forward to picking one or two of the stories from the roadshow to feature in upcoming Oswestry Heritage Comics. It will be great to see some of these stories in print and it is a great way of showing how fascinating and diverse the town’s community heritage is.”
The project launch will be one of the attractions of Oswestry’s Heritage Open Days running from September 7 to 10.
Mr Swogger and his team will be at the Bailey Head market from 10am to 3pm on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. “We’re interested in capturing people’s living memories, local knowledge and anecdotes passed down through families, which are seldom written down and all too easily lost,” the artist added.
“It could be a photograph, drawing, item of clothing, event programme or newspaper cutting, anything that provides a talking point about times gone by in Oswestry.”
In the coming months the roadshow will be visiting groups and venues in the area on the hunt for more historical nuggets within the community.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the roadshow at Heritage Open Days or when it tours should contact 01691 652918 or email ohgateway@gmail.com
