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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.