Welshpool facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Welshpool Welsh: Y Trallwng
Town
Welshpool Town Hall
Welshpool
Area	24.23 sq mi (62.8 km2)
Population	6,764 (Estimate)
• Density	279/sq mi (108/km2)
Annual Population Change	0.16%
OS grid reference	SJ225075
• Cardiff	81 mi (130 km) South
Principal area	Powys
Ceremonial county	Powys
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WELSHPOOL
Postcode district	SY21
Dialling code	01938
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr
Welsh Assembly	Montgomeryshire
List of places UK Wales Powys 52°39′35″N 3°08′50″W / 52.65966°N 3.14725°W / 52.65966; -3.14725

Welshpool (Welsh: Y Trallwng) is a market town and community located in Powys, Wales. It used to be part of the historic county of Montgomeryshire. The town is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the border between Wales and England. It sits low down near the River Severn. The community of Welshpool, which includes areas like Cloddiau and Pool Quay, had a population of 6,664 people in 2011. The town itself had 5,948 residents. You can see many buildings in the Georgian architecture style here. Powis Castle is also nearby, just north of the town.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Welshpool

The Welsh name for the town is Y Trallwng. This name means "the marshy or sinking land." In English, the town was first called Pool. But in 1835, its name was changed to Welshpool. This was done to make sure people didn't confuse it with the town of Poole in Dorset, England.

A Look Back: Welshpool's History

A golden chalice seen in Welshpool Church in 1794.

It is believed that St Cynfelin founded two churches in Welshpool. These were St Mary's and St Cynfelin's. He built them during a time called the Age of the Saints in the 5th and 6th centuries.

The area around Welshpool was once part of a medieval land division. It was known as the commote of Ystrad Marchell. This was within the larger area of Ystlyg in the Kingdom of Powys.

The Long Mountain stands behind much of Welshpool. It used to be a strong natural defense. Fortresses were built there when the town was just a swampy marsh.

Welshpool was briefly the main town for Powys Wenwynwyn. This was the southern part of Powys. Its prince had to leave his traditional home in Mathrafal in 1212. This happened because of the prince of Gwynedd. But with help from the English king, the Wenwynwyn family got their lands back. Later, in 1284, the family made their power stronger. They turned Powys Wenwynwyn into a marcher lordship. This meant it was a special area with its own rules. The heir to this area, Owain, called himself Owen de la Pole, named after the town.

In 1400, the town was badly damaged. This happened during the rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr. He was fighting against the English king Henry IV. Today, a long walking path called Glyndŵr's Way ends in Pont Howell Park in Welshpool. This path is 135 miles long.

In 1411, Adam of Usk was the priest at St Mary's Church.

How Many People Live Here? Welshpool's Population

The number of people living in Welshpool has increased since 2001.

Nearby Villages

• Gungrog

Old Buildings: Historic Places in Welshpool

St Mary's Church in Welshpool.

The Cockpit building in Welshpool.

St Mary's Church is a very important historic building. It is a Grade I listed building. The first church was built around 1250. You can still see parts of this old church in the lower walls of the tower. The main part of the church was rebuilt in the 1500s. The whole building was repaired a lot in 1871. The ceiling in the front part of the church, built in the 1400s, might have come from Strata Marcella Abbey. This abbey was about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away. A stone in the churchyard is said to have been part of the abbot's special chair. There is also a memorial inside the church for Bishop William Morgan. He translated the Bible into Welsh and was a vicar here from 1575 to 1579.

The Mermaid Inn, at 28 High Street, was probably a merchant's house in the early 1500s. It was built on a long, narrow piece of land. The building is made of timber frames. It has a long storage area or wing at the back. The front of the building was changed around 1890 by architect Frank Shayler. Old pictures show it used to have a thatched roof. The timber frames on the outside were not visible back then.

There is an eight-sided brick building called the Cockpit in New Street. It was built in the early 1700s. People used it for cockfighting until this activity became illegal in 1849. As of 2015, this building is used by the town's Women's Institute. Welshpool Town Hall was finished in 1874 and is also a Grade II listed building.

Getting Around: Transport in Welshpool

Welshpool railway station is on the Cambrian Line. Trains here are run by Transport for Wales. Welshpool is also where the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway starts. This is a narrow-gauge heritage railway that tourists enjoy. Its last stop is at Raven Square. This light railway used to go through the town to the main train station. But now, Raven Square, on the west side of town, is its starting point.

There are also bus services that connect Welshpool to nearby towns and villages. Most of these are run by Tanat Valley Coaches. For example, the X75 service goes to Shrewsbury in the east and Newtown and Llanidloes in the southwest. The D71 service goes to Oswestry. There is also a local bus service within the town. The Montgomery Canal, which is not used much anymore, also runs through Welshpool. South of the town is Welshpool Airport, also known as the Mid Wales Airport. Three main roads pass through Welshpool: the A458, A483, and the A490.

How Welshpool Makes Money: The Economy

The main ways people make money in Welshpool are through farming and local industries. The Smithfield Livestock Market is the biggest one-day sheep market in Europe. Market days are on Mondays.

The town's industrial areas have many different small businesses. These range from making metal products to producing food. Because Welshpool is a smaller town, it doesn't have as many big chain stores. Many people prefer to shop in bigger nearby towns like Shrewsbury. However, Welshpool is still an important center for the farming areas around it. The town is also home to the main offices of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust.

Learning in Welshpool: Education

Welshpool has several schools for younger children. These include Ardwyn Nursery and Infants School, Oldford Nursery and Infants School, and Gungrog Nursery and Infants School. There is also Maes-y-dre Primary School. Welshpool High School is a secondary school. It teaches students from ages 11 to 18. It provides a good standard of education for its students.

Fun and Games: Sport in Welshpool

Welshpool has a football club called Welshpool Town F.C.. It also has a rugby union club called Welshpool Rugby Football Club. The town also has clubs for hockey and cricket. The Montgomeryshire Marauders Rugby League Club is also based in Welshpool. This is where most of their home games are played.

Famous Faces: Notable People from Welshpool

William Boyd Dawkins, a famous geologist.

• William Morgan (1545-1604): He translated the Bible into Welsh. He was a vicar in Welshpool from 1575 to 1579. Later, he became a Bishop.
• Sampson Lloyd (1664–1724): He was an iron maker in early Birmingham. He started the Lloyd family of Birmingham.
• Lieutenant-General Sir Percy Egerton Herbert (1822–1876): Born in Powis Castle, he was an Army officer and politician.
• Sir William Boyd Dawkins (1837–1929): Born near Welshpool, he was a famous geologist and archaeologist.
• William Rupert Davies (1879–1967): A Canadian Senator, politician, and newspaper publisher. He was born in Welshpool.
• William Herbert Waring (1885–1918): He received the Victoria Cross for bravery in World War I.
• Roderick Urwick Sayce (1890–1970): A social anthropologist and geographer.
• Ann Mercy Hunt (1938–2014): A medical researcher and campaigner. She helped start the Tuberous Sclerosis Association.
• Glyn Davies (born 1944): A former politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Montgomeryshire from 2010 to 2019.
• Craig Williams (born 1985): A politician and MP for Cardiff North (2015-2017) and for Montgomeryshire (from 2019). He also served as a PPS to the Prime Minister.

Sporting Figures

• Jack Roscamp (1901–1939): A footballer, known for playing with Blackburn Rovers.
• George Bennett (1913–1970): Born near Welshpool, he was a rugby union and professional rugby league player with 383 games.
• Ian Hutchinson (born 1964): A county cricketer for Middlesex and Shropshire.

Gallery

• 

  Mermaid Inn, Welshpool

• 

  Troops in Welshpool during Montgomeryshire War Weapons Week, 1941

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  Welshpool, 1794

See also

In Spanish: Welshpool para niños