Oswestry, like many other Shropshire towns, has a system of passages in the town centre which are used by shoppers and residents to move about freely.

After some have recently been shut by over-zealous business owners, their Town Council has stepped in. I would love this to happen in Shrewsbury, as a couple of our shuts need protecting or improving, but we don't have a town council. And our Civic Society is a joke.

From the Shropshire Star:

Plea to save town alleys

Fears that Oswestry could lose ancient alleyways linking town centre streets have led to a plea to turn at least one into a public right of way.

Hundreds of shoppers and workers use the passageways to move through the heart of the town every day and two have recently been transformed to make them more attractive.

But the recent closure of two other alleyways has set alarm bells ringing.

Now Oswestry Town Council has stepped in.

The council’s markets and car parks committee last night agreed to write to Shropshire County Council asking it to take steps to create a public right of way along the alley that runs between the Wilkinson’s store and the former Littlewoods building.

Clothing retailer Peacocks recently moved into the store and is currently refurbishing the building.

It put gates up at each entrance to the alleyway, preventing public access.

Councillor Owen Jones, who proposed the town council take action over the alleyway, said public rights of way could be declared even if the land was not in public ownership.

I've often wondered about 'shuts' in other towns, having come across equivalent passages through or between buildings in many places where the medieval street plan survives - for instance, central Oxford has got a full range of 'shuts', from meandering Caernarvon Lane style paths to narrow Bank Passage style passages. There are some nice examples in Ludlow, Stow-on-the-Wold and Dudley that I know of (spot the Midlander!) but I am sure they must be more widespread. Does anywhere profess to support its shuts as a tourist attraction as much as Shrewsbury?

Two of the greatest "shut cities" are York and the City of London - both look after their shuts and they are well used. In York for example, the shuts not only have street name signs, but each has a short history at the entrance too. The City, despite being the world's financial capital and centre of the London metropolis, has not lost any of its passages. When the Great Fire of 1666 occured, the old routes were kept to exactly.

Back to Shropshire and the towns of Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock have some good examples of shuts.

Update on Oswestry's situation:

http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=44493

does anyone know if this shut has been re-opened?

s.g.d.

Yes I think it has.

I thought Oswestry had been shut for years !! (jke)

Did it ever open? :P

Sorry I had to type it !

I like Oswestry,as a child I used to catch the Vaggs coach there on a Wednesday in the school holidays.

Always sat at the back for a longer ride.
Got off in Leg Street,straight into the National milk bar,milkshake for me and a Kenco frothy coffee for me nan,I can still see and hear the chrome steamer.
Passed the cinema into Cross Street and traipsed around the shops then onto the market.
Always got a toy for being good and then a bag of chips for dinner,I used to run up to the top of the castle mound and eat them up there overlooking the crowds below.
To catch the bus home we had to stand outside a greengrocers for what seemed like hours,happy days

s.g.d.