New Wilfred Owen mural for Shrewsbury Railway Station as plans given green light
A mural commemorating Wilfred Owen is to be installed at Shrewsbury Railway station after it was granted planning permission.
The artwork in honour of the local war poet will be on one of the brick arches on the left of the main entrance as you exit the station, under the walkway to Platform 3.
Former Shropshire Councillor Andrew Bannerman submitted the plans for the mural in April.
The idea was to bring together a consortium of local artists to create the feature in a brickwork arch at the Grade II-Listed station.
The former councillor said he hopes the artwork will attraction national and international attention.
Mr Bannerman said that the location is apt, given Owen's famous description of the goodbye he said before leaving for the Western Front.
Mr Bannerman said: “Between 1914 and 1918, hundreds of thousands of young British men left their families and their country to fight in the First World War.
"After a brief spell in training camp, the raw recruits would be packed off in trains, taking them to Dover, France and the Western Front.
“In ‘The Send Off’ the young Wilfred Owen brilliantly describes the experience of saying farewell at the local railway station, which was shared by so many families.”
Wilfred Owen’s father Tom worked on the railways and was based at Shrewsbury Railway Station.
Mr Bannerman said the mural will mark the centenary of the end of the First World War in November as well as 100 years since Wilfred Owen died one week before the war's end.
'Enhancing the historic environment'
In granting permission, Shropshire Council planning officer Karen Rolfe said the artwork would enhance the area.
She said: “The public artwork is intended to form part of the local First World War commemorative events as well as highlighting the 100th anniversary of Wilfred Owen’s death.
“The artwork will remain in place and is intended to provide an enhancement to the historic environment and amenity of the station forecourt as well as provide an educational opportunity for local residents and visitors to the town at this key location and main transportation facility within the town centre.”
Work on the mural is expected to begin imminently after permission was granted by the landlord, Network Rail, in February.
Killed in action
Owen is one of the county’s most famous sons and his work has been revered since his untimely death at the age of 25.
Born in Oswestry but brought up in Shrewsbury, Owen has been celebrated posthumously and his moving and evocative war poems are taught in schools across the country.
During his time in the trenches, he fell into a shell hole and suffered concussion, was blown up by a trench mortar and spent several days unconscious on an embankment lying amongst the remains of one of his fellow officers.
Soon afterwards, he was diagnosed as suffering from shell shock and sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh for treatment where he met fellow poet Siegfried Sassoon.
Owen returned to active service in France in July 1918 and at the end of August was back on the front line.
But he was killed in action during the crossing of the Sambre-Oise Canal on November 4 - exactly one week before the Armistice was signed.
Owen's mother received the telegram informing her of his death on Armistice Day, while Owen was promoted to Lieutenant the day after his death.
Events will be taking place nationally and internationally later this year to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War in November.
By Emily Lloyd, Local Democracy Reporter
