Volunteers needed to help exhibition on Oswestry architect Thomas Penson

Oswestry Town Museum and Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust are collaborating on an exhibition about Thomas Penson and his buildings.

The museum and the trust are looking for volunteers who could help with researching and designing the exhibition, as well as material that might be included.

John Hainsworth, of the preservation trust, said: “Few of Thomas Penson’s papers or drawings seem to have survived and no portrait of him is known to exist.

“Good quality photographs of his buildings are needed too. The organisers would like to find out more about his pioneering work with moulded terracotta bricks, possibly produced around Morda or Trefonen and used in several of his churches.”

Thomas Penson of Oswestry was an architect and engineer who left his mark all along the Welsh border.

In the first half of the 19th century he built many bridges that are still used by main road traffic today.

He was also responsible for churches, country houses, markets or workhouses in Wrexham, Llanymynech, Welshpool, Newtown and Berriew among others.

Penson became Mayor of Oswestry in 1840 and built the National School, later The Walls Restaurant, as well as the old Powis Market.

His father had been an engineer and bridge builder and two of his sons were also notable architects.

It will be staged in association with the project to restore the Master’s House at Llanfyllin.The exhibition is planned to open in 2020 and to be shown at the Museum and later at other venues along the border.

Anyone interested is invited to a meeting at Oswestry Town Museum on Friday, March 15 at 10am.

They can also contact museum director Mark Hignett on 01691 680241 or John Hainsworth 01691 860549.

Some of Penson’s buildings are open to the public.

Christ Church,Welshpool is open on Fridays between 12-3pm and on the first Sunday in the month from 1-4pm, Llanfyllin’s Union Workhouse with its History Centre is open daily from 10am-5pm.