Shropshire Council has been recognised for its restoration of the Cambrian Railway building in Oswestry, winning a National Railway Heritage Award for the work.

The project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Shropshire Council, was carried out by local conservation specialists Phillips and Curry Ltd between July 2024 and May 2025. Craftsmen focused on repairing and restoring the building’s exterior, replacing dangerous asbestos tiles with Welsh slate, and repainting windows and doors in the traditional Cambrian Railway colours. In addition, nesting boxes for swifts and bat roosting tiles were installed along the roof.

Originally opened in 1866, the Grade II-listed building once served as both Oswestry’s railway station and the headquarters of the Cambrian Railway. After the station closed in 1966, the building went through multiple uses and years of neglect, suffering storm damage in 2022 before Shropshire Council took possession in early 2023. The ground floor is currently leased to Cambrian Heritage Railways, a local railway charity.

Roger Evans, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance, said:

“This is brilliant news for the council, for Oswestry and for Shropshire, and is a real credit to the council’s Property Services Group (PSG) who managed this project, and to the conservation experts from Phillips and Curry. My thanks and congratulations go to all involved. This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs will ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations. Shropshire Council took possession of this historic building, to help secure a viable long term use for it. We’re committed to maintaining the heritage and integrity of this important site 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.”

The financial backing for the project came through Shropshire Council’s Property Services Group, which secured £765,250 in funding from the UKSPF (Community and Place) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).

Duncan Kerr, Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry South, added:

“This is an iconic and symbolic building for Oswestry and the standard of the external renovation is remarkable, but it is still a long journey back to finding a sustainable and vibrant use for this building. It wasn’t that long ago that it housed several start-up business and a great cafe, along with a ticket hall for the Cambrian railway; let’s hope we can use the success and publicity generated by the works to date to complete the course so this heritage asset can inspire and serve residents and visitors alike for the next century.”

The award was presented at a ceremony in London on 3 December 2025, highlighting the success of the council and local craftsmen in preserving an important piece of the region’s railway heritage.

Image: Shropshire Council