Radnorshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Area: (1891) | 301,164 (1,218 km²) |
| Rank: | Ranked 11th |
| Administration | |
| County town: | New Radnor |
| Chapman code: | RAD |
Radnorshire (Welsh: Sir Faesyfed) is one of thirteen historic counties and former administrative counties of Wales. It comprises the central part of Powys, and from 1974 to 1996 constituted the district of Radnor in Powys.
According to the 2001 census, the shire had a population of 24,805. [1] It is bounded to the north by Montgomeryshire and Shropshire, to the east by Herefordshire, to the south by Brecknockshire and to the west by Cardiganshire (Ceredigion). The county was formed from the two cantrefs of Maelienydd and Elfael, by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542. New Radnor is considered the county town, although it historically shared administrative functions with Rhayader. Radnor County Council and later the District Council were based instead at Llandrindod Wells.
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[edit] Geography
Area 301,164 acres (1,219 km²). In the east and south are some comparatively level tracts, including the Vale of Radnor, but most of the county is mountainous, with the Cambrian Mountains running through the west of the county. The highest point is at Radnor Forest, 2,166 ft (660 m). The Elan Valley contains several huge man-made reservoirs supplying water to Birmingham. The main rivers are the Wye, The River Teme, the Elan and the Ithon.
The chief towns are Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Llanelwedd, New Radnor, Presteigne and Rhayader. The main industries are tourism and hill farming. It is said that sheep out number people in Radnorshire by 50:1, giving it a sheep population of over 1,000,000.
[edit] History
Radnorshire is a poor county and has been an historical backwater but occasionally has drifted to the forefront of history. Most notably, the Battle of Bryn Glas fought on June 22, 1402.
The county's poverty was remarked upon thus in the 17th century by an anonymous visitor:
| “ | Poor Radnorsheer, poor Radnorsheer, Never a park, and never a deer, |
” |
[edit] Sources
The leading texts on Radnorshire history are:
- David Gregory (1994). Radnorshire. ISBN 0863812848. (Amazon)
- Keith Parker (2000). Radnorshire from Civil War to Restoration. ISBN 1873827865. (Amazon)
[edit] Places of special interest
- Abbey Cwmhir aka Abbeycwmhir (SO0571);
- Beguildy Tumuli (SO176767);
- Broadheath House, Presteigne (SO3363);
- Elan Valley Visitor's Centre (SN927646);
- The Pales (SO138641);
- Offa's Dyke (SO2763, SO2872);
- The Rock Park, Llandrindod Wells (SO052609).
[edit] Principal towns
- Knighton
- Llandrindod Wells
- Presteigne
- Rhayader
- New Radnor
- Old Radnor
[edit] Radnorshire diaspora
Radnorshire emigrants employed the name of the county in the USA
- Radnor Lake State Park
- Radnor Township, Pennsylvania. Part of the Welsh Tract first settled in 1663-1665 by a group of 40 Quakers from Radnorshire[2]
[edit] External links
Counties which originate prior to 1889
Anglesey • Brecknockshire • Caernarfonshire • Cardiganshire • Carmarthenshire • Denbighshire • Flintshire • Glamorganshire • Merionethshire • Monmouthshire • Montgomeryshire • Pembrokeshire • Radnorshire
