Plaque unveiled at Cambrian Railway building following national awards success

A plaque has been unveiled at the Cambrian Railway building in Oswestry after Shropshire Council’s work to restore the building won a National Railway Heritage Award (NHRA) in December last year.

The project won the BAMM Nuttal Partnership Award.

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Shropshire Council, the restoration work was carried out by craftsmen from local building conservation specialists Phillips and Curry Ltd from July 2024 to May 2025.

Work included fixing and restoring the building’s exterior to prevent falling masonry, removing dangerous asbestos tiles and replacing them with Welsh slate, and giving windows and doors a fresh coat of Cambrian Railway colours.

The work also included installing nesting boxes for swifts under the eaves as well as bat roosting tiles along the roof.

Councillor Borrowman with some of the NRHA trustees and Cambrian Heritage Railways volunteers.

The plaque recognising the award win was unveiled on Wednesday (13 April) by Cllr Duncan Borrowman, Chairman of Shropshire Council, and Andy Savage MBE, Chairman of the National Railway Heritage Awards. Also present were Councillor James Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for housing and culture, trustees of the NRHA and volunteers from the Cambrian Heritage Railways.

Councillor Borrowman said:

“This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs will ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations.

“Winning the award was fantastic for the council, for Oswestry and for Shropshire, and a real credit to the council’s Property Services Group (PSG) who managed this project, and to the conservation experts from Phillips and Curry. I’m delighted that a plaque is now in place to recognise this award.

“Shropshire Council took possession of this historic building, to help secure a viable long term use for it and we look forward to finding a suitable use for it so that it can continue to serve the community for many years to come.”

When shortlisting the building for an award in October one judge said:

“The restoration of the Cambrian Station Oswestry is easily the best scheme that I have been privileged to assess during my four year ‘judging career’. It is an outstanding major project and should win in its category, with a commendation for other its performance in other award categories! The result achieved on a very limited budget of £1million is truly amazing and should be publicised widely.

“I very much hope that phases 3 and 4 will lead to a much greater use of this building, notably, by the first floor becoming highly desirable living accommodation and the ground floor being used by the heritage railway and a restaurant or similar commercial enterprise. This building deserves to live and shine.”

And a second judge commented:

“Oswestry was a railway town and can be proud to have had this landmark building restored and in use. Shropshire Council has saved this building for the benefit of future generations and have collaborated with the incumbents to ensure its continued use and benefit to the community and tourists alike. The project was delivered in a short period of time and was delivered to a modest budget. Significant efforts were made to work with local firms and artisans and the building remains a striking visual benefit to Oswestry.

“The volume of work delivered was significant and a number of unexpected challenges were overcome, without risking the access to the project fund for the work. Well done on an excellent outcome which has protected a real treasure.”