Oswestry Heritage Comics

Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Oswestry Heritage Comics aimed to increase community interest, engagement and participation in Oswestry’s heritage. Working with Archaeologist and Comic Illustrator John Swogger, the project published 52 weekly comic strips in the Oswestry Advertizer, each looking at a different part of Oswestry’s rich and varied heritage. It also held comic workshops for young people, adult courses on research techniques and talks in partnership with local heritage groups and Heritage Open Days.

An exhibition of 30 of the comics went on display at Qube in spring 2018. Printed on a larger scale, on aluminium, they are now available to tour. A range of literature and merchandise was created to help promote the project and its research. A town trail map and booklet was produced to guide local people and visitors to sites in and around the Oswestry. Five of the comic strips were made into postcards and imagery from all the comics were made into pin badges.

To mark the end of the project a hardback Comic Anthology was produced and is now on sale at Qube and Booka bookshop following a launch event. Feedback from Heritage Lottery Fund was very strong and they are now using the Anthologies as an example of how heritage can be promoted.

Take a look at the full collection of comics below….

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