Wednesday 13 May 2026 saw the official unveiling of the plaque awarded to Shropshire Council for the impressive restoration work on the station at Oswestry.
The unveiling was of the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award that had been awarded to Shropshire Council for the restoration of the exterior of the Oswestry station building at the award ceremony in London on 3 December 2025.
The building now houses the Cambrian Heritage Railways group which is working to preserve the remaining section of the former Cambrian Railways route through the town.
On a bright but windy day, interspersed with showers, a party of trustees – Andy Savage (Chair and Trustee), Tim Hedley-Jones (Sponsorship Manager and Trustee [RHT]), Robert Hayward (Awards Manager & Trustee), Malcolm Wood (Awards Manager and Trustee), Steve Oates (Trustee [HRA]) and Keith Jipps (designate Trustee) – from the Awards assembled for the unveiling.
The party was welcomed by Peter Gilbertson (Project Manager, Shropshire Council) together with volunteers from the Cambrian Heritage Railways group.
Ahead of the unveiling, Peter Gilbertson gave a very informative guided tour to the NRHA party explaining the excellent and, at times, complex work which had been carried out as part of the restoration of the building.
Other members of the Shropshire Council team present were Councillor James Owen, Portfolio Holder Housing and Leisure, and Mathew Green, Clerk of Works for the project, with the plaque being unveiled by Councillor Duncan Borrowman (Chair, Shropshire Council) together with Andy Savage, after which group photos were taken before the attendees retired to the building for refreshments before departing.
The unveiled plaque on the façade of Oswestry station with, on the left, Councillor Duncan Borrowman, Chair of Shropshire Council, and Andy Savage, Chairman of the National Railway Heritage Awards. Peter Gilbertson/Shropshire Council
The restored station at Oswestry, once the headquarters of the Cambrian Railways and now the home of the preserved Cambrian Heritage Railways. The extensive work on the building included replacement of 300 ornamental corbels, new soffits with swift boxes, and re-roofing with over 8,000 Ffestiniog slates. The project won Shropshire Council the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award at the 2025 National Railway Heritage Awards. Peter Gilbertson/Shropshire Council