Oswestry railway mural is officially unveiled
A sign of the times has been unveiled in Oswestry town centre, taking shoppers and tourists back to Edwardian times.
The Great Expectations mural was revealed to the public at the Herbie Roberts Way just off the town's Bailey Street.
Painted by Chirk artist, Jim Heath, from a design by Anna Roberts, the mural depicts Oswestry in 1904, when the railway was thriving and the famous footballer after whom the alleyway was named, was just weeks away from being born.
The mural is the second to be commissioned by the Oswestry Footfall Group, which was set up to attract more shoppers into the town.
The first, close by in New Street, is of a locomotive from the Cambrian Railways.
The Railways feature heavily in the new wall paintings, all based around Oswestry railway station.
Steve Howarth, chairman of Footfall, said depicted waiting for a train and waiting for the birth of their son are John and Margaret Roberts.
Herbie Roberts went on to play football for Arsenal and win an England cap.
"We hope that very soon Herbie Roberts Way will have at last, a place name sign."
The mural also shows a poster publicising the arrival of the famous, Buffalo Bill for a show in Oswestry and a soldier from the nearby Park Hall army camp, buying a train ticket.
Artist, Jim Heath, said he had enjoyed painting the mural and had learned much about Oswestry's history.
In the 1960s Mr Heath made props for sci-fi movies, including creating the ejector seat for the Angels' Aircraft in the Captain Scarlet TV series.
Oswestry mayor, Councillor Chris Schofield said Football was to be commended for bringing art into the town centre.
