Maredudd ap Bleddyn Madog ap Maredudd Owain Cyfeiliog
30-656: Mathrafal near Welshpool , in Powys , Mid Wales , was the seat of the Kings and Princes of Powys probably from the 9th century until its destruction in 1213 by Prince Llywelyn the Great . On the banks of the River Banwy , just above its confluence with the river Vyrnwy , about 5 km (3 miles) NE of Llanfair Caereinion and 10 km (6 miles) NW of Welshpool on the A495 at its junction with
60-505: A failed plot to murder Prince Llywelyn in collusion with his rival's brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd . His forces, commanded by his son Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn , mobilised during the Welsh War of 1282–1283 with those of John Le Strange and Hugh le Despenser and it was their soldiers who ambushed and killed the last native Prince of Wales near Builth in 1282. Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn (alias Owen de la Pole) allegedly surrendered
90-539: A stone in the churchyard is said to have been part of the abbot's throne. A memorial in the church commemorates Bishop William Morgan , translator of the Bible into Welsh, who was the vicar from 1575 to 1579. The Mermaid Inn, 28 High Street, was very probably an early 16th-century merchant's house, placed on a burgage plot between the High Street and Alfred Jones Court. The timber-framed building has long storehouse or wing to
120-591: Is a Grade II listed building. Welshpool railway station is on the Cambrian Line and is served by Transport for Wales . The town is also the starting point of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway , a narrow-gauge heritage railway popular with tourists, with its terminus station at Raven Square . The light railway once ran through the town to the Cambrian Line railway station, but today Raven Square, located on
150-689: Is the Welsh language name of the town. It means "the marshy or sinking land". In English it was initially known as Pool but its name was changed to Welshpool in 1835 to distinguish it from the English town of Poole in Dorset. St Cynfelin is reputed to be the founder of two churches in the town, St Mary's and St Cynfelin's, during the Age of the Saints in the 5th and 6th centuries. The parish of Welshpool roughly coincides with
180-467: Is the home of Ardwyn Nursery and Infants School, Oldford Nursery and Infants School, Gungrog Nursery and Infants School, Maes-y-dre Primary School. Welshpool High School is a secondary school which teaches a range of pupils from ages 11–18 and has a good standard of education throughout Key Stage 3 and 4 and GCSE studies. Welshpool has a football club ( Welshpool Town F.C. ) and a rugby union club ( Welshpool Rugby Football Club ). The football club
210-531: The county of Montgomeryshire . The town is four miles (six kilometres) from the Wales–England border and low-lying on the River Severn . The community, which also includes Cloddiau and Pool Quay , has a population of 6,664 (as of the 2011 United Kingdom census ), with the town having 5,948. There are many examples of Georgian architecture within the town. Powis Castle is located to the north. Y Trallwng
240-505: The priest at the church St Mary's was Adam of Usk . The population of Welshpool has risen since 2001. St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed building . The original church dated from about 1250, there are remains of this church in the lower courses of the church tower. The nave was rebuilt in the 16th century, and the whole building was substantially restored in 1871. The 15th century chancel ceiling may have come from Strata Marcella Abbey, about five miles (eight kilometres) away, and
270-614: The B4389. The site known today as "Mathrafal Castle" is a 90 m by 80 m compound defended by a bank and outer ditch on three sides, the fourth side being the river. Little remains of the original walls. Mathrafal is the original capital of the Kingdom of Powys , in the cantref of Caereinion . After the division of Powys in 1160 it became the capital of the southern portion which eventually became known as Powys Wenwynwyn . This structure probably replaced an earlier hill fort, about 1 km away to
300-698: The NW, which dates from around 656 at the time of the fall of the neighbouring Kingdom of Pengwern , or perhaps as early as 520 when the capital of Powys was moved from the old Roman city of Viroconium Cornoviorum ( Wroxeter ). The 35m by 25m by 5m high motte of Mathrafal Castle dates from around the end of the 12th century and was probably built either by Owain Cyfeiliog (circa 1170) or Robert de Vieuxpont on behalf of King John in 1212. Prince Gwenwynwyn ab Owain of Powys moved his capital from Mathrafal to Welshpool (Y Trallwng) in 1212. Later in 1212, Robert de Vieuxpont
330-637: The Normanised surname "de la Pole" instead of Welsh patronymics. The name derives from Pool (now called Welshpool ), his principal town. After the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284 all of the other old princely titles in Wales also ceased to exist; and henceforth, except the Kingdom of Scotland after 1344, the English Crown did not recognise the title of "prince" or "king" in any native dynasty other than their own. However,
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#1732851367309360-464: The death of Llywelyn and when he was invested with the lordships of Arwystli , Cyfeiliog , Mawddwy , Caereinion , Ystrad Marchell and Upper Mochnant by Henry III. At some time before this, he married Hawise, daughter of John Le Strange , Lord of Knockin Castle . He transferred his allegiance back to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1263 before returning to England's protection again after 1276, following
390-590: The heir to the former principality, called himself Owen de la Pole , after the town. The town was devastated by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr (heir to Powys Fadog - North Powys) in 1400 at the start of his rebellion against the English king Henry IV . Today, the waymarked, 135-mile long-distance footpath and National Trail , Glyndŵr's Way , ends in Pont Howell Park, alongside the Montgomery Canal . In 1411
420-500: The high Middle Ages. The realm was the southern portion of the former princely state of Powys which split following the death of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys in 1160: the northern portion (Maelor) went to Gruffydd Maelor and eventually became known as Powys Fadog ; while the southern portion ( Cyfeiliog ) going to Owain Cyfeiliog and becoming known, eventually, as Powys Wenwynwyn after Prince Gwenwynwyn ab Owain , its second ruler. Powys Wenwynwyn and Gwynedd became bitter rivals in
450-493: The lordship of Mawddwy , comprising that parish and most of Mallwyd . When Griffith de la Pole died without heirs in 1309, the lordship was then inherited (according to English law) by his sister Hawise "Gadarn" ("Hawise the Strong", often simply referred to as "The Lady of Powis"), rather than to the male heirs (as prescribed by Welsh law). She died in 1349 and on the death of her husband John Charleton, 1st Baron Cherleton in 1353,
480-581: The lordship passed to their children and thence out of native Welsh hands. His heiresses were: The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 abolished the feudal rights of the Lords of Powis and saw the territory of the Lordship of Powis almost entirely incorporated within the new county of Montgomeryshire . However, the lordship continued to exist as a great landed estate. The estate then descended to successive holders of
510-399: The medieval commote of Ystrad Marchell in the cantref of Ystlyg in the Kingdom of Powys . The Long Mountain , which plays as a backdrop to most of Welshpool, once served as the ultimate grounds for defence for fortresses in the times when the town was just a swampy marsh. Welshpool served briefly as the capital of Powys Wenwynwyn or South Powys after its prince was forced to flee
540-566: The name and tenure of the free baronage of England, by resigning together with his heirs to the Lord the King and the Crown of England the princely name and coronet") The date should be accepted with reserve because Owen did not succeed his father in possession until 1286: it is possible that Owen was acting on behalf of his father, who was by then an old man. From about that time, the former princely family began using
570-521: The principality continued as a marcher lordship . The ruling family of Powys survived in the children and remoter descendants of Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn , henceforth known as the de la Pole family, who lived in the newly built Powis Castle . In 1293 Owen de la Pole died and was succeeded by his son Griffith de la Pole. Owen also had several brothers, whom he enfeoffed as his feudal tenants with lordships within his lordship. However, none of them left children except William de la Pole (of Mawddwy) , who had
600-664: The principality of Powys to Edward I at the Parliament held in Shrewsbury in 1283 (Dafydd ap Gruffudd, his rival in Powys Fadog was tried at the same Parliament, he was deposed for fighting on the wrong side and executed for treason against Edward ). In return for surrendering the principality, he received it again from the king as a free Baron of England " sub nomine et tenura liberi Baronagii Angliæ, resignando Domino Regi heredibus suis et Coronæ Angliæ nomen et circulum principatus. " ("Under
630-422: The rear. The frontage was remodelled c. 1890, by Frank H. Shayler , architect, of Shrewsbury. Early illustrations of the building show that prior to this it had a thatched roof and that the timbering was not exposed. There is a passage to side with heavy box-framing in square panels, with brick infill exposed in side elevation and in rear wing. The frontage was exposed by Shayler to show decorative timber work on
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#1732851367309660-692: The south of the town is Welshpool Airport which is also known as the Mid Wales Airport. Three major trunk roads pass through Welshpool: the A458 , A483 and the A490 . The local economy is primarily based upon agriculture and local industry. The Smithfield Livestock Market is the largest one-day sheep market in Europe. Market days are on Mondays. The town's industrial estates are home to numerous different types of small industry, ranging from metal to food production. Due to
690-559: The town's small size and population the attraction of high street stores and stores that cut keys is limited, meaning that many of the residents prefer to shop in neighbouring towns like Shrewsbury . However Welshpool remains an important hub serving its agricultural hinterland. The town is home to the headquarters of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . The town
720-528: The traditional Welsh royal site at Mathrafal in 1212, by the prince of Gwynedd ; assistance from the English crown (enemies of the Gwynedd prince) restored the Wenwynwyn dynasty to their lands. Further disputes with Gwynedd again brought in the English; in 1284, the family strengthened their hold on Powys Wenwynwyn by converting it into a marcher lordship (via surrender and re-grant ) - the Lordship of Powys. Owain,
750-517: The upper storey. An Inn by the 19th century when it was owned by a family named Sparrow. There is an octagonal brick cockpit in New Street, which was built in the early 18th century and was in continual use for cockfighting until the practice was outlawed by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1849 . As of 2015 , it is the home of the town's Women's Institute . Welshpool Town Hall , which was completed in 1874,
780-496: The western edge of the town, is the eastern terminus of the line. A small network of bus services link surrounding towns and villages, mainly operated by Tanat Valley Coaches . Notable is service No X75, serving Shrewsbury to the east and Newtown and Llanidloes to the south west, also service No D71 to Oswestry via Guilsfield and Llanymynech . In addition there is a local town service operated by Owen's Coaches. The semi-disused Montgomery Canal also runs through Welshpool. To
810-410: The years that followed, with the former frequently allying itself with England to further its aims of weakening the latter. Gwenwynwyn seized the cantref of Arwystli in 1197, when he was aligned with England. Following the marriage of Llywelyn the Great and Joan of England in 1208, warfare broke out once more between Gwenwynwyn and Llywelyn. In 1212 Gwenwynwyn's ancient royal seat at Mathrafal
840-566: Was besieged in the castle by the coalition forces of Gwenwynwyn and Llywelyn the Great , he was rescued by King John. The castle was destroyed and never rebuilt. Excavations by the University of York around 1991 found an iron and bronze figurine of St Gwynllyw (or Woolos the Warrior) in a cavity in a window base. Welshpool Welshpool ( Welsh : Y Trallwng ) is a market town and community in Powys , Wales , historically in
870-494: Was destroyed and he was evicted from his territories. He changed allegiance again and was restored to his realm in 1215, making a new capital at Welshpool . In 1216 he was defeated in battle with the forces of Llywelyn and fled to England, where he died shortly afterwards. He was succeeded by his son. Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn spent his youth in England, maintained by King Henry III of England . He did not return to Wales until 1241 after
900-466: Was jointly managed for a period in the late 2010s by Chris Roberts and Neil Pryce but with little success. The town also has hockey and cricket clubs. The Montgomeryshire Marauders Rugby League Club are also nominally based in Welshpool, as this is where the majority of their home fixtures take place. Powys Wenwynwyn Powys Wenwynwyn or Powys Cyfeiliog was a Welsh kingdom which existed during
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