wales
anglesey
brecknockshire
caernarfonshire
carmarthenshire
cardiganshire
denbighshire
flintshire
glamorgan
merioneth
monmouthshire
montgomeryshire
pembrokeshire
radnorshire
 

Counties of Great Britain, Montgomeryshire

  • Montgomeryshire/Sir Drefaldwyn (Montgomery, Newtown, Welshpool, Machynlleth, Llanidloes)

In prehistoric times important trade routes ran east-west along the course of the upper River Severn in eastern Montgomeryshire, and consequently that area has many hill forts dating from the Iron Age. The Roman occupation of the region was similarly centred in the east and was military n nature.

Offa's Dyke, the earthwork built in the 8th century by the Mercian kings to demarcate their kingdom from Wales to the west, runs north-south along the eastern border of Montgomeryshire. In the eastern part of Powys a string of Norman castles was built, including Powis Castle near Welshpool and one at the town of Montgomery.

The area was under the rule of the marcher lordships (local rulers in Wales who were partly independent of the English crown) until 1536, when King Henry VIII created the county of Montgomeryshire and thus brought the area fully under the administration of the crown.

From the 15th century the county was known for its manufacture of wool flannels and for its lead mining. The huge Powis Castle mansion, located outside Welshpool, is one of the best-known castles in Wales

Counties Wales Anglesey, Brecknockshire, Caernarfonshire Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire Flintshire, Glamorgan, Merioneth Monmouthshire, Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, Radnorshire


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