Weston Rhyn is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies between the towns of Chirk, in Wales, and Oswestry, in England.
The civil parish, which also includes Bronygarth, Pentre-Newydd and a number of small hamlets, had a total population of 2,668 at the 2001 census,[1] rising to 2,850 at the 2011 Census.[2]
Etymology
Tun or ton means a settlement or hamlet, the origin of the name 'Rhyn' appears to start from the Welsh names for Rome and Roman (as a person), Rhufain and Rhufon, leading to Rhun or/and Rhyn' as "the proper name of a man" and Rhyon as a soldier.[3]
History
In 1086 Weston Rhyn was recorded as Westune in the Domesday Book. Listed as a small settlement, it was within the hundred of Merset and the county of Shropshire.[4]
Originally the townships of Weston Rhyn and Bronygarth were in the Parish of St. Martins. In 1870 they were formed into a separate ecclesiastical district known as “the Lodge” (the inn still bears its name), and then in 1898 into the civil parish of Weston Rhyn.
Transport, facilities
The village is on the Shrewsbury to Chester railway line, but has no station. Its former station of Preesgweene (later known as Weston Rhyn) closed in 1960. The nearest stations today are Chirk and Gobowen. Train services are provided by Transport for Wales. The village lies to the west of the A5 trunk road.
It is surrounded by beautiful countryside, the Welsh hills and Offa's Dyke to the west, and the River Ceiriog to the north. Originally a mining village, the pits have long since closed. Despite this, the village has in recent years expanded, with people working locally or commuting as far as Chester, Shrewsbury, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester.
Weston Rhyn has two churches (Quinta Independent Evangelical Church and St John's Church of England), two pubs, Chinese takeaway/chip shop, village hall, primary school, Sunday School and general store. Close to Weston Rhyn is the Quinta Christian Centre, a conference centre and home to the missionary organisation Operation Mobilisation.
