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A Brief History of
Oswestry School
 The Fifteenth Century saw in Europe a broadening of man's physical and mental horizons, when old concepts and established beliefs were being put to the test by Renaissance man. Education, under the care of the Church then itself being questioned by a broad range of critics was going through a seachange, with the expansion of science and trade bringing about increased secularization. Such was the historical setting for the founding of Oswestry School by David Holbache and his wife Gwenhwyfor Holbache lived locally at Dudleston and was Crown Pleader for Wales under Henry IV as well as being MP for Shrewsbury
The free Grammar School (free from the Church rather than free from fees!) was sited next to St Oswald s Parish Church and can claim to be the second oldest secular foundation in England (after Winchester). Trusteeship remained with the local Oswestry Corporation until 1643, from which date the Bishop of St Asaph took over full responsibility. Numerous distinguished servants of State, the Church and Armed Forces brought renown to the School, but its fortunes fluctuated somewhat during the 18th Century. However, the Revd Dr James Donne; Headmaster (1796 1832), revived matters and brought a golden age to the School Another notable name followed when the young WA Spooner became a pupil; later Warden of New College, his legacy of Spoonerisms continues to give delight. A contemporary of his, was the renowned adventurer, Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby (1857 1862)
On the games field the School has always been proud of its record. Perhaps the most famous of its footballers was Robert Topham (1882 1887) who scored the winning goal for Wolverhampton in the 1893 Cup Final and later played for England.
An attempt, under the 1902 Education Act, to have Oswestry School subsumed into the State System was vigorously and successfully thwarted by Mr. ).J.Lloyd Williams (Headmaster 1892 1909), under whom the School again flourished. Under Mr. Williamson (Headmaster 1920 1958) the School purchased the old Cottage Hospital in Welsh Walls (to become Holbache Boarding House) and the freehold of the playing fields, the battleground of Maesyllan where King Oswald met his fate.
Since then there has been a remarkable and enviable period of expansion and development, including in 1971, the admission, throughout the School, of girls. In 1960 the Junior School was opened at The Quarry, with a dozen pupils! At its height numbering in excess of 180 pupils, it was integrated into the main school in 1996, Bellan House (the most recent addition) educates children up to the age of nine. In 1974 Mr. Frank Cerstenberg became Headmaster and yet another period of expansion in both the fabric and | standard of the School followed. This process was continued by his successors, Mr. lan Templeton and Mr. John Light. Record results in Public Examinations bear testimony to the academic quality of both pupils and teaching I and the growing list of Oxbridge entrants is further evidence of this Outside the classroom, too, there is an unprecedented range of activities: numerous clubs and societies, opportunities for foreign travel and adventure and a wide and successful spread of sporting activities The School continues to flourish under Mr. Paul Smith, who was appointed Headmaster in 1995
Piece Written By Colin Chapman