Montgomeryshire

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For other uses, see Montgomeryshire (disambiguation).

Ancient county of Montgomery
Geography

Area: (1891)	510,111 (2,064 km²)
Rank:	Ranked 3rd
Administration
County town:	Montgomery
Chapman code:	MGY

Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn) is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counselors, Roger de Montgomerie, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury.

Montgomeryshire constitutes the northern part of the principal area of Powys (except a few communities added to Powys in 1996 that are within the historic boundaries of Denbighshire). The population of this Montgomeryshire area committee in Powys was 59,461 according to the 2001 census. [1]

Montgomery is considered the county town, though the administrative functions were shared with Machynlleth.

The borders of Montgomeryshire correspond roughly to the medieval kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn. It is also the birth place of Saint Richard Gwyn.

[edit] History

The county is bounded to the north by Denbighshire, to the east and southeast by Shropshire, to the south by Radnorshire, to the southwest by Cardiganshire and to the west and northwest by Merionethshire. It was formed under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542. Its cantrefi included:

Cyfeiliog
Arwystli
Mawddwy
Mochnant
Deuddwy
Ystrad Marchell
Gorddwr

It also included the Lordships of Cydewain and Mechain

[edit] Geography

The area is almost wholly mountainous, although there are some fertile valleys on the Shropshire side. The highest point is Moel Sych at 2,712 ft (827 m). Its main rivers are the River Severn and the River Dyfi. Lake Vyrnwy is a reservoir supplying Liverpool.

The main towns are Llanfyllin, Machynlleth, Montgomery, Newtown and Welshpool. The main industries are agriculture (mainly hill farming) and tourism.

Places of special interest: