Museums, archives and heritage in Montgomeryshire

Montgomeryshire, inland county of North Wales, bounded N. by Denbighshire, E. and SE. by Shropshire, S. by Radnorshire, SW. by Cardiganshire, and W. and NW. by Merioneth; greatest length, 37 miles; greatest breadth, 30 miles; area, 495,089 acres, population 65,718. Montgomeryshire is almost wholly mountainous and bare, but on the Shropshire side there are some fertile and beautiful valleys. The principal rivers are the Severn (with its affluents the Vyrnwy, Tanat, and Rhiw) and the Dovey. Excellent harvests of wheat, oats, barley, &c., are gathered in the valleys; but in the higher districts the soil is poor, consisting mostly of moorland and sheep-walks. A superior breed of sheep is raised, also the fine description of Welsh ponies known as ‘Merlins’. The principal mineral product is slate. Welsh flannel is the staple manufacture. Montgomeryshire contains 9 hundreds, 68 parishes, with parts of 3 others, the Montgomery Boroughs, and the municipal boroughs of Llanidloes and Welshpool. It is in the dioceses of Bangor, Hereford, and St Asaph.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Brynmawr & District Museum

First Floor, Carnegie Building, Market Street

Brynmawr NP23 4AJ

01495 313900

goo.gl/fKhkPh

Brynmawr Museum boasts many items of the unique Brynmawr Furniture, made solely at the Brynmawr Furniture Factory. The various artefacts donated by the community reflect the social and industrial history of Brynmawr and its surrounding areas.

Llanfyllin Workhouse

The Workhouse

Llanfyllin SY22 5LD

01691 649062

www.llanfyllinworkhouse.org

Llanfyllin Workhouse is owned and run by the community for the community as an arts and education centre. The Workhouse History Group is carrying out research into the history of the building and of the Llanfyllin Poor Law Union. Historical exhibitions have been held and it is planned to develop further educational resources and ultimately a Workhouse History Centre.

Llanidloes Museum

Town Hall, Great Oak Street

Llanidloes SY18 6BN

01686 413777

www.llanidloes.com/llanidloes_museum

A local museum consisting of three themes – the social and industrial history of the town and surrounding area during the past 300 years; the museum’s Victorian collection displayed in two recreated areas of a kitchen and a parlour; and the exhibition ‘If you go down to the woods..”, which looks at the importance of trees and man’s influence on the forests of Britain including the nearby Hafren Forest.

Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society

24 Dysart Terrace, Canal Road

Newtown SY16 2JL

01686 627916

www.montgomeryshiregs.org.uk

The Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society was founded in 1994 to provide a forum for people with family history interests in the historical county of Montgomeryshire and its borders.

Newtown Textile Museum

5-7 Commercial Street

Newtown SY16 2BL

01686 622024

goo.gl/U6gHzg

The Textile Museum is situated at 5-7 Commercial Street in Newtown.The building is a fine example of a typical early 19th century weaving shop. It consists of two floors of back-to-back cottages.

Old Bell Museum

Arthur Street

Montgomery SY15 6RH

01686 668313

www.oldbellmuseum.org.uk

The Old Bell, a 16th century inn, has been converted into a local history museum by Montgomery Civic Society. Eleven rooms house displays illustrating the long social and civic history of the ancient County Town of Montgomeryshire.

Old Parliament House & Owain Glyndwr Centre

Old Parliament House

Machynlleth SY20 8EE

01654 702932

www.canolfanglyndwr.org

The low, stone built 16th century townhouse known as Old Parliament House on a site in Machynlleth traditionally associated with Owain Glyndŵr. The adjoining timber framed building on the right was built as the Owain Glyndŵr Institute in 1911 by Lord Davies of Llandinam.

Powis Castle & Garden – National Trust

Powis Castle

Welshpool SY21 8RF

01938 551920

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle

A magnificent collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries reflects the changing needs and ambitions of the Herbert and Clive families. A superb collection of treasures from India is displayed in the Clive Museum.

Powysland Museum

The Canal Wharf

Welshpool SY21 7AQ

01938 554656

goo.gl/OaeEcA

Powysland Museum is a local museum with three permanent galleries depicting the archaeology and social history of the old county of Montgomeryshire. The museum also has a temporary exhibition gallery with changing exhibition throughout the year.

Robert Owen Museum

The Cross, Broad Street

Newtown SY16 2BB

01686 623340

robert-owen-museum.org.uk

The museum tells the remarkable story of social reformer Robert Owen, born in Newtown (Powys) in 1771. A village boy who hobnobbed with royalty, and created the New Lanark mill community in Scotland.

Collections: The museum is intriguingly laid out in a domestic style, which suits the large numbers of pictures on display. Portraits of Robert Owen and prints of New Lanark are strongly represented.