page_title: Gobowen
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Gobowen / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Hospital at Park Hall.
context_page_description: Gobowen is a village in Shropshire, England, about 3 miles north of Oswestry. The population according to the 2011 census was 3,270.
context_section_description: The village was previously called Bryn-y-Castell ("Hill of the Castle" in English) after the Norman motte castle adjacent to the Preeshenlle United Reformed Church, the eastern edge of the site was cut into when the church was built. Alongside this monument there is a section of the 8th century Wat's Dyke.
  The name changed to Gobowen, this name is believed to originate from Gob (a pillow) and Owen (Owain Glyndŵr) who was believed to have rested his weary head here. However, this name may also originate from a man named Owen who started mining there, and the old Welsh word for mine is 'gob' hence Gobowen (Owen's mine).
  The mines were filled in by hand during the Second World War by displaced persons and prisoners of war, who were housed in a camp which is now called Bank Top Industrial Estate in the nearby village of St Martins.
  The population of Gobowen, however, grew up around the railway. The mainline route between Chester and Shrewsbury was diverted through Gobowen after permission was denied to route the railway through the local historic town of Oswestry. Gobowen railway station is a Grade II listed building.
  The village's main primary school was opened in 1907 with local educational provision previously being offered at the school hall attached to Preeshenlle United Reform Church.
caption: Hospital at Park Hall
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