urposes of comprehensive record, many of these acrid, but not
unamusing, incidents might be decently left buried in oblivion. Happily,
however, even the battle of the Oswestry and Newtown Railway was not
eternal. The day dawned on which it was gleefully acclaimed that the
directors had at length "caught the spirit of promptitude from the
committee" and before long "it might be expected to see hundreds of
navvies engaged in cutting up the earth." Storm clouds might re-gather
later, as we shall see, but for the time being peace was restored.

Differences as to policy and even as to the site of the sod cutting were
sufficiently composed by the summer of 1857 to admit of a start being
made with the work of construction, and on Tuesday, August 4th, the
initial ceremony, performed by Lady Williams Wynn, took place, in a field
on the east side and adjoining the bowling green at Welshpool. The spot
bears no mark to-day, as it might well do, but it may be mentioned that
it is between the rails on the down line, as you enter Welshpool station
from Buttington, just opposite the signal box. There were, needless to
say, great public rejoicings. The long delay in getting to the actual
stage of operations gave additional zest to the popular acclaim when that
point had, at last, been really reached, and the proceedings were of the
most effective and striking character. Crowds flocked in from all sides.
Montgomery shared fully in the popular acclamation, and only Oswestry,
among the interested towns, stood somewhat aloof. The question of
"priority," apparently, still rankled, and "some misunderstanding" spoilt
the effect of what was intended to be a general business holiday. "Only
two or three shops were closed, while the others remained open as usual,"
and some of the more prominent Oswestry shareholders were conspicuous by
their absence at the ceremony, at which no reference was made to the
expediting influence of the "committee of investigation."

[Picture: Sod cutting ceremony of the Oswestry and Newtown Railway, at
Welshpool, on August 4th, 1857]

But in Welshpool the streets were bright with bunting. At noon shops
were closed in order that everyone might participate in the ceremonial.
Bells pealed from the Church tower; cannon, "captured at Seringapatam by
the great Lord Clive" were fired from Powys Castle, and a committee,
headed by the Mayor (Mr. Owen, grandfather of Mr. Robert Owen of Broad
Str