| Caersws | |
| Welsh: Caersŵs | |
The village church |
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Caersws
Caersws shown within Powys |
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| Population | 1,526 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | SO0392 |
| Community | Caersws |
| Principal area | Powys |
| Ceremonial county | Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Caersws |
| Postcode district | SY17 |
| Dialling code | 01650 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Montgomeryshire |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Powys | |
Caersws (Welsh: Caersŵs) (Welsh pronunciation: [kɑːɨrˈsuːs]) is a village and community sitting on the River Severn, at grid reference SO0392 4 miles (6.4 km) miles west of Newtown, Powys, and halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.
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The name Caersws means 'fort of Sws'. The prefix is the Welsh 'Caer' meaning fort and it has been suggested that Swswen was an ancient queen from Roman times.[1] The village is the location of two Roman forts of Roman Wales. These may be Mediomanum, 'the central fist' of the Ravenna Cosmography, although this is disputed.
Caersws has a railway station on the Cambrian Line from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury. The Welsh romantic poet John Ceiriog Hughes was stationmaster and Manager of the Van Railway from 1868 until his death in 1887. He is buried in the churchyard at Llanwnnog.
Llanwnnog Church in the community of Caersws is a single-chambered structure, variously considered to be of 13th century or 15th century date and restored in 1863. It contains the best example of a 15th century or 16th century rood screen and loft in Montgomeryshire, a medieval font bowl and one 17th century memorial.Church of St Gwynnog, Llanwnnog
Maesmawr Hall was built in the early 19th century.
The population was about 1,500 in 2006.[2]
Local newspapers the Shropshire Star, Cambrian News, and Daily Post are all available in the town's shops.
Downhill Mountain Biking has flourished in forestry at Henblas farm, to the north of the village, with a number of national races being held there. The current series - The Caersws Cup[3] - began in March 2009.
Welsh Premier League club Caersws F.C. are based in the village, and play their home matches at the Recreation Ground.
Caersws is home to current and past champions of a number of sporting disciplines, leading some to christen it the "Sporting Capital of Wales".[4]
Elvis Costello has for many years had seemingly strong links with the village, having upon interview listed Mid Wales as a favoured holiday destination.[5] However, in recent years tensions between the village and the ageing punk rocker have been building, primarily due to the lack of name checks in any of his most recent albums. In reply to the subsequent bitter vitriol targeted against Costello, a statement was released by his management in an attempt to defuse the situation. This was largely a failure, with a hotly contested stalemate remaining to this day.
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