Montgomeryshire

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For other uses, see Montgomeryshire (disambiguation).
Montgomeryshire
Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn

Ancient extent of Montgomeryshire
Area
 - 1831 483,323 acres (1,955.94 km2)
Population
 - 1831 66,482[1]
Density
 - 1831 0.1/acre
History
 - Succeeded by Powys
Chapman code MGY
Government Montgomeryshire County Council (1889–1974)
Montgomeryshire District Council (1974–1996)
 - HQ Montgomery

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 its county town, Montgomery, which in turn is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counsellors, Roger de Montgomerie, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury.

Montgomeryshire today constitutes the northern part of the principal area of Powys. The population of Montgomeryshire was 59,474 according to the 2001 census,[2] with a low population density of 30 people per square km.

History

Montgomeryshire is the birthplace of Saint Richard Gwyn; it is where the Treaty of Montgomery was signed on 29 September 1267.

In terms of historic counties, Montgomeryshire is bounded to the north by Denbighshire, to the east and south east by Shropshire (an English county), to the south by Radnorshire, to the south west by Cardiganshire and to the west and north west 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. The borders of Montgomeryshire correspond roughly to the medieval kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn.

Local government

From 1889 to 1974 the county became an administrative county with a county council. Montgomery, the traditional county town, held the assizes and became the meeting place of the new County Council.[3] However, the administration continued to be based at Welshpool,[4] which prior to the reforms had been regarded as the county town.[5]

Local government reforms in 1974 combined the administrative areas of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire together to form a new administrative Powys county. Montgomeryshire became a district of Powys, with its administrative headquarters in Newtown (and not Montgomery). Further local government reform in 1996 abolished district councils in Wales, making Powys a unitary authority. The Montgomeryshire area continues to have an administrative/political function as one of the three committee areas used by Powys Council, along with the other two historic counties (Radnorshire and Breconshire). These three areas are often referred to by the County Council as "shires".

The few communities that were added to northern Powys in 1996 (which come within the historic boundaries of Denbighshire) now form part of the modern-day Montgomeryshire area.

Electoral representation

Montgomeryshire is a UK Parliament constituency and a Welsh Assembly constituency.

Geography

The shire is almost wholly mountainous, although there are some fertile valleys in the east. The highest point is Cadair Berwyn at 830 metres (2,720 ft). Its main rivers are the River Severn (which flows east into Shropshire) and the River Dyfi (which flows west into the Irish Sea). Lake Vyrnwy is a reservoir supplying Liverpool.

The main towns are Machynlleth, Llanidloes, Montgomery, Newtown and Welshpool. The main industries are agriculture (mainly hill farming) and tourism, though there is also some forestry and light manufacturing. The population density is highest near the border with England and along the Severn valley. The county is closely linked to Shropshire, with many essential services for Montgomeryshire residents being located in the more densely populated town of Shrewsbury, such as acute health services at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The county flower of Montgomeryshire is Spergula arvensis (also called "corn spurrey"). The shire forms a vice-county for wildlife recording.

Places of special interest

See also

References

  1. ↑ Vision of Britain – 1831 Census
  2. ↑ http://www.powys-i.org.uk/documents/en/powys_i_stats/Census%202001/Key%20Statistics/Shires/KS_M.pdf
  3. ↑ Wynford Vaughan-Thomas and Alun Llewelyn, The Shell Guide to Wales (Michael Joseph, London, 1974) p. 339
  4. ↑ Vaughan-Thomas and Llewelyn, p. 339
  5. ↑ National Gazetteer of Wales, 1868.

Coordinates: 52°35′N 3°30′W / 52.583°N 3.500°W / 52.583; -3.500

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