Ellesmere is a market community near Oswestry in north Shropshire, England, noteworthy for its closeness to a number of prominent Meres. The community is located alongside Ellesmere (also known as 'the Mere'), among the biggest natural meres in England outside the Lake District as well as one of nine antarctic meres in the area. ('antarctic' indicates that the depression inhabited by the mere was the location of a block of ice that continued at the end of the last Glacial epoch). These meres are various from those in the Lake District in that they do not have a flow of water into them to maintain the degree. An artificial island in the Mere was constructed in 1812 from soil removed during the production of the yards at Ellesmere House. This was later on named Moscow Island, as Napoleon was forced to retreat from Moscow that year. The Mere has a site visitors' centre as well as is preferred with birdwatchers, many of whom see to see grey herons nesting. There are eight other meres close by: Blakemere, Colemere, Crosemere, Kettlemere, Newtonmere, Whitemere, Sweatmere as well as Hanmer Mere. The civil church which constitutes the town is Ellesmere Urban; the bordering church, covering a big backwoods, is Ellesmere Rural.