Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire
Historical Description
Llanidloes, a small market-town, a municipal borough, a contributory parliamentary borough, and a parish in Montgomeryshire. The town stands on the river Severn, at the influx of the Clywedog, and on the Cambrian railway, amid an almost complete circle of hills, 13 miles E of the summit of Plynlimmon, 19 SE of Machynlleth, 19 SW of Montgomery, and 208 by rail from London. It comprises two principal streets crossing each other at right angles, and several other streets; was formerly built mainly of timber-framed houses, but has undergone much improvement by reconstruction with better houses and by modern extension; presents an agreeable and prosperous appearance; is a resort of tourists, both for the sake of the surrounding scenery in general and for the ascent of Plynlimmon; and has a head post office (R.S.O.), a railway station, and two bridges across the Severn. One of the bridges over the Severn is a handsome stone structure with three arches. ' The town-hall is a massive building in the old frame-work style. The church is dedicated to St Idloe, was rebuilt about 1600, retains the tower of a previous edifice, is one of the most beautiful and unique churches in Wales, has pier-capitals ornamented with carved palm leaves, has also a carved oak roof, the hammer-beams of which are exquisitely terminated on each side with seventeen winged figures holding shields, and is said to have got these decorations from the monastery of Abbey-cwm-Hir. There are Congregational, Baptist, Calvinistic Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels, and also public rooms, a market-hall, a police station, two banks, and a working-men's institute and library. A weekly market is held on Saturday; a fair for horses, cattle, &c., is held on the Saturday before the last Tuesday of every month; a great sheep fair on the first Friday in October; and horse fairs in March and October. The manufacture of flannel is carried on; and some trade exists in connection with corn and spinning mills, and with large lead mines. The town was chartered in the time of Edward III. by the lords of Powys, and received a charter from Henry VIII. It is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors, and unites with Montgomery, Machynlleth, Llanfyllin, Newtown, and Welshpool in sending a member to Parliament. It is a seat of petty sessions and county courts. Population, 2574.
The parish is cut into two divisions, lower and upper, a part of each of which is within the borough, and it includes the townships of Brithdir, Croesllwybir, Glynhafren, Hen-gynwithfach, Manleth, Treflyn, Ystradynod, and Cillmachallt. Acreage, 16,312; population, 3794. Some fine scenery and charming views are within the parish, and a lake of about 100 acres, called Llyu Ebyr, abounding with trout, perch, and pike, is on high ground overlooking the vale of Tarannon, about 3 miles N of the town. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Bangor; net value, £226 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Bangor.
Administration
The following is a list of the administrative units in which this place was either wholly or partly included.
| Registration district | Newtown | 1837 - 1974 |
Any dates in this table should be used as a guide only.
Land and Property
The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Montgomeryshire is available to browse.
Newspapers and Periodicals
The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following newspapers online: