Overton-on-Dee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Overton
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 The main street of Overton-on-Dee |
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 Map of the community. |
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 Overton
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| Population | 1,382 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SJ372417 |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WREXHAM |
| Postcode district | LL13 |
| Dialling code | 01978 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Overton (which is Owrtyn in Welsh) is a lovely village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It is also known as Overton-on-Dee. The village sits near the border between Wales and England. It is on the edge of a hill that follows the River Dee. This is how Overton-on-Dee got its name!
The area around Overton, called a "community," includes the village of Lightwood Green. It also has smaller places like Knolton. In 2011, about 1,382 people lived in this community.
Contents
Exploring Overton's Location
Overton is about 7 miles (11 km) from Wrexham. It is also exactly 22 miles (35 km) from both Chester and Shrewsbury. Nearby villages include Bangor-on-Dee and Penley. The small towns of Ellesmere and Ruabon are also close by.
A smaller settlement called Overton Bridge is west of the main village. It is located above the River Dee. A road bridge, the A528 road, crosses the river there.
A Look at Overton's Past
Overton was first mentioned in records in 1195. Its name means "settlement on the bank of the Dee River." A castle was built here in the 1100s by Madog ap Maredudd. He was a prince from the area called Powys.
Royal Charters and Early Life
In 1279, the English king Edward I gave Overton the right to hold a weekly market. It also got permission for an annual fair. By 1292, Overton became a "borough" (a town with special rights) by royal charter. At that time, 56 people paid taxes there. Overton was also one of the first places attacked during a Welsh revolt in 1294-95. This revolt was led by Madog ap Llywelyn.
Overton's Unique Location
Overton was once part of a special area of Flintshire county. This area was called Maelor Saesneg, which means "English Maelor." In 1536, during the time of Henry VIII, it became part of Flintshire. It formed a "Hundred" (a type of old district) called Maelor.
Even though it was part of Flintshire, Overton was in a detached area. It was surrounded by other counties like Cheshire and Shropshire. Overton became the main town for this area, often called Flintshire Detached.
Modern Changes
Overton remained a detached part of Flintshire until 1974. From 1974 to 1996, it was part of the county of Clwyd. Today, Overton is part of the Wrexham County Borough.
St Mary the Virgin Church and Its Yew Trees
The churchyard of St Mary the Virgin is a key part of the village. It is famous for its twenty-one very old yew trees. These yew trees are traditionally one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. They are even mentioned in an old rhyme:
- Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple,
- Snowdon's mountain without its people,
- Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells,
- Llangollen bridge, and Gresford bells.
Some of these yew trees are very old, perhaps 1,500 to 2,000 years old! The oldest tree was there long before the church was built. In 1992, the village celebrated 700 years since King Edward I gave Overton its Royal Charter. Elizabeth II visited the village and planted a new yew tree herself!
Buildings and Village Heritage
Overton has many beautiful buildings from the 1700s and 1800s. Many of these are "listed buildings." This means they are important because of their history or special design. Even the old red telephone box in the village is listed! The center of the village is also a "Conservation Area." This helps protect its special look and feel.
A long time ago, most of the village was owned by the Bryn-y-pys Estate. This large estate included many houses and farms.
You can find several interesting buildings in Overton. There's the "Cocoa and Reading Rooms," built in 1890. It was made to encourage people to avoid alcohol and is now the village library. There are also old "almshouses" (homes for poor people) and a Victorian village pump.
Fun Things to Do in Overton
The village has places for many sports. You can play cricket, football, bowls, and tennis. Overton is also a great place for walkers. It is on the map of the Maelor Way. This is a 24-mile (38 km) long walking path. The Maelor Way connects to other famous paths like Offa's Dyke Path and the Sandstone Trail. It also links to the Llangollen Canal and the Marches Way.
Famous People from Overton
- St. Richard Gwyn (around 1537 – 1584) was a schoolmaster in Overton. He wrote Welsh poetry and was a Roman Catholic martyr. He was made a saint in 1970. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
See also
In Spanish: Overton (Wrexham) para niños
