ONE of Oswestry’s oldest buildings is now publicly owned for the first time, the town council has confirmed.

Oswestry Town Council has concluded the purchase of the iconic Grade I-listed Llwyd Mansion, in Cross Street, which has the same cultural status as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.

Oswestry town mayor, Councillor Olly Rose said the decision to buy the building, at a price believed to be around £75,000, is to ensure it remains one of the town’s best assets.

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She said: “The council has purchased this landmark building in order to safeguard it for future generations.

“The purchase is funded from monies allocated to the High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme.

“Over the coming months, we will carry out several surveys to fully ascertain the scope of repair works.

"Given the nature of some of the external repairs, some work will take place in the spring and therefore it will be some time before the building is ready to be fully occupied.

“We are hoping to open the building for public viewing and share updates on this exciting project.

“So little is known about the history of the property, and we look forward to discovering its story.

“We are grateful for the support of Shropshire Council and Historic England – a strong partnership approach will be critical to delivering a successful project.”

A council spokesman added that ‘poor repairs and neglect’ have left the building in a vulnerable condition and as a result, it is working with Shropshire Council and Historic England to create a repair package for the building.

They added: “Oswestry Town Council is carrying out further surveys in order to prioritise repairs and to enable the Council to apply for further funding to complete the works.

“These surveys will take time; however, the Council want to reassure the public that work is progressing to preserve this important building for the future.

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“Built in the mid-1400s Llwyd Mansion is a rare example of a timber-framed building that was split into at least four separate properties.

“The coat of arms located on the front of the building displays a two-headed eagle, which shows that Llwyd Mansion is linked to the Llwyd (Lloyd) family of Llanforda.

“Oswestry Town Council will be erecting hoardings as a safety measure, replacing the existing fencing and will keep the area clean and tidy.”