Westbury, Shropshire

Roman During the Roman settlement of Britain, it was an outpost of Wroxeter. The present Shrewsbury to Westbury road is thought to follow the alignment of a Roman road from Wroxeter to forts at Forden Gaer and Caersws. In about 1848, a piece of lead was found with markings of the name of the Roman Emperor Aurelian. Middle Ages During the early Middle Ages, the Rea Valley was of strategic importance in the defence of the Welsh Marches west of Shrewsbury as the main route from Montgomery to Shrewsbury came through the village. Frontier guards are said to have been killed at Westbury in 1053 when Ernui held the manor. About from Westbury lie the scant ruins of Caus Castle. Built in the late 11th century originally, it was used as a border stronghold. File:Westbury, Shropshire. Males aged 20 and over in 9 occupational categories..png|thumb|none|600px|Pie chart showing males aged 20 & over, in 9 occupational categories in 1831. There were no manufacturing jobs in 1831; Several coal and lead mines were being worked near Shrewsbury and Westbury at the former time. Many collieries were closed by 1921, with the last closing in 1941. ==Amenities==

The village has a Marstons pub called The Lion, a medical practice surgery and a cemetery on Hinwood Road. St Mary's Church of England-aided primary school closed in 2017, merging in a federation with Worthen and Hope into the Long Mountain School at Worthen. ==Transport==

Westbury is situated on the B4386 road which links Shrewsbury and Montgomery. The village was served by Westbury station on the Cambrian Line between 1862 and 1960. The line remains operational. ==Notable people==

• The native Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Great (1173-1240) is believed to have spent part of his childhood at Caus Castle in the parish after his widowed mother Marared remarried into the Corbet family. • Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford (1501-1563), died at Caus Castle. • Sir Thomas Higgons (c1624-1691), politician and diplomat, was son of a Rector of Westbury. • Elhanan Bicknell (1788-1861), London art collector, lived at Caus for a year to learn farming. • William Cureton (1808-1864), Orientalist, was born and died at Westbury. • John Edmund Severne (1826-1899), Conservative politician, lived at Wallop Hall in Westbury parish, buried in Westbury Churchyard. • John Doogan (1853-1940), Victoria Cross recipient, was living at Cause Mountain in Westbury parish in 1911. • Sir Smith Child, 2nd Baronet (1880-1958), Conservative politician and former army officer, lived at Whitton Hall in the parish and is buried in Westbury Churchyard. ==See also==