King Arthur: A Shropshire Lad?

When it comes to King Arthur and his Knights, it's hard to separate fact from fiction - and in fact, it's unclear whether any such person existed in history or if he is an entirely fictional creation.

However, one of the best claims to King Arthur's legendary crown comes from ancient Shropshire. Owain Ddantgwyn was a fierce warrior known for driving out the Anglo-Saxons when they invaded his lands (just like King Arthur).

In battle, he was known as The Bear - or 'Arth', in Old English.

His father's battle name, on the other hand, was 'Terrible Headed Dragon' - or Uthr Pen Dragon in Old English. It just so happens that Arthur's father is known as Uther Pendragon in the famous myth.

Some even believe that Virconium, the Roman city that became the town of Wroxeter, may be the inspiration behind Camelot - partly thanks to archaeological evidence of a grand palace still n use around 500 AD, shortly after Owain's reign.