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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 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) or Overton-on-Dee is a lovely village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It's also a "community," which is like a local area with its own council. This village used to be a special kind of town called a borough and had its own market.
Overton is located very close to the border between Wales and England. It sits on the edge of a steep slope, called an escarpment, that follows the path of the River Dee. That's why it's called Overton-on-Dee!
The Overton community includes the village itself, plus Lightwood Green and a few smaller areas like Knolton. In 2011, about 1,382 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring Overton's Location
Overton is about 7 miles (11 km) from Wrexham. It's also exactly 22 miles (35 km) from both Chester and Shrewsbury.
Nearby villages include Bangor-on-Dee and Penley. You can also find the small towns of Ellesmere and Ruabon not too far away.
A smaller area called Overton Bridge is a separate settlement to the west of the main village. It's located above the River Dee and its road bridge, which carries the A528 road across the river.
A Look Back at Overton's History
Overton wasn't mentioned in the famous Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England in 1086. However, it was first written about in 1195. Its name means "settlement on the bank [of the Dee]".
In the 12th century, a castle was built here by Madog ap Maredudd, a prince from a Welsh kingdom called Powys. Later, in 1279, the English king Edward I gave Overton the right to have a weekly market and a yearly fair. By 1292, it officially became a borough, and 56 people paid taxes there. It was known as a "market town."
One of the first times Overton appeared in history books was during a Welsh uprising in 1294-95. This revolt was led by Madog ap Llywelyn.
Overton is in an area that used to be a separate part of the old county of Flintshire. This area was known as Maelor Saesneg, which means "English Maelor." In 1536, during the time of King Henry VIII, it became part of Flintshire. Overton became the main town for this area, which was often called Flintshire Detached. It included villages like Bangor on Dee, Hanmer, and Worthenbury.
In 1974, Overton became part of a new county called Clwyd. Then, in 1996, it became part of the Wrexham County Borough, where it is today.
St Mary the Virgin Church and Its Ancient Yew Trees
The churchyard of St Mary the Virgin Church is a very important part of Overton. It's famous for its twenty-one incredibly old yew trees. These yew trees are so special that they are one of the traditional 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.
The oldest yew tree is thought to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old! This means it was growing long before the church was built. The oldest parts of the church are from the Norman period. In 1992, the village celebrated 700 years since King Edward I gave Overton its special Royal Charter. Even Elizabeth II, the Queen, visited and planted a new yew tree!
Interesting Buildings and Heritage
Overton has many beautiful buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Lots of these buildings are "listed," which means they are protected because they are historically or architecturally important. Even an old red telephone box in the village is listed! The center of the village is also a "Conservation Area," meaning its special character is preserved.
Many years ago, most of the village belonged to a large estate called Bryn-y-pys. In 1848, when the estate was sold, it included 4,300 acres (17 km2) and most of the houses and farms in the village. It was said that the estate had "Great Political Influence." This was because, before secret ballots, the person who owned the estate would be almost everyone's landlord, which meant they could easily get a seat in Parliament.
Other interesting buildings include the "Cocoa and Reading Rooms," built in 1890. This terracotta building 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
Overton has great places for sports like cricket, football, bowls, and tennis. It's also a fantastic starting point for walkers! The village is on the map of the Maelor Way, which is a 24-mile (38 km) long walking path. This path connects to other famous trails like Offa's Dyke Path and the Llangollen Canal.
Famous People from Overton
- St. Richard Gwyn (around 1537 – 1584) was a schoolteacher in Overton. He was also a Welsh poet and a Roman Catholic martyr. He was made a saint in 1970 by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
See also
In Spanish: Overton (Wrexham) para niños
