Powys: The origins of the name
Language historians derive the name from Latin "pagenses" which meant roughly "dwellers in the countryside" ("pagus"); "pagus" also gives us the French word "pays" and ultimately the English word peasant. Some have interpreted this to mean either those people who dwelt in the open countryside as opposed to those in hill and valley countryside but it is more likely to indicate "dwellers in the city" ("civitas"). The city may be Viroconium (Roman Wroxeter ) or Deva (Roman Chester ) or perhaps both. The “dwellers in the countryside” were presumably British Celtic inhabitants of what is now northern Powys, western Shropshire and some adjoining areas. The inhabitants of Wroxeter and Chester were no doubt Romanized, in general Latin-speaking.
Use of terms such as "Powys Fadog" (named after Madog ap Gruffydd, died 1236) and "Powys Wenwynwyn" (named after Gwenwynwyn, died 1218) alias "Powys Ruffudd" (named after Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn, died 1286) shows that Powys remained a current geographical word in Wales throughout the 11th-13th centuries but there was a great deal of vagueness about its extent. Powys Fadog was centred on the Wrexham-Llangollen areas and Powys Wenwynwyn covered most of Montgomeryshire.
The name Powys survived the defeat of the Welsh princes in 1282-1283 largely because the dynasty of Powys Wenwynwyn supported the English king Edward I. The lords of Powys Wenwynwyn who had previously borne the title of lords of Cyfeiliog (the area around Machynlleth) gradually adopted the title of the lords of Powys after the war. The name also became attached to their main castle at Welshpool - known in medieval records as "La Pole" or "pool", later as "Castell Coch" or "Red Castle" - only during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The name is reckoned to have developed thus from Latin to Welsh: Pagenses > Pageses > Pozes' > Poieis' > Poyuis' > Po'wys > Pow'ys. [A.E.]
[Richard Morgan's notes]
Use of terms such as "Powys Fadog" (named after Madog ap Gruffydd, died 1236) and "Powys Wenwynwyn" (named after Gwenwynwyn, died 1218) alias "Powys Ruffudd" (named after Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn, died 1286) shows that Powys remained a current geographical word in Wales throughout the 11th-13th centuries but there was a great deal of vagueness about its extent. Powys Fadog was centred on the Wrexham-Llangollen areas and Powys Wenwynwyn covered most of Montgomeryshire.
The name Powys survived the defeat of the Welsh princes in 1282-1283 largely because the dynasty of Powys Wenwynwyn supported the English king Edward I. The lords of Powys Wenwynwyn who had previously borne the title of lords of Cyfeiliog (the area around Machynlleth) gradually adopted the title of the lords of Powys after the war. The name also became attached to their main castle at Welshpool - known in medieval records as "La Pole" or "pool", later as "Castell Coch" or "Red Castle" - only during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The name is reckoned to have developed thus from Latin to Welsh: Pagenses > Pageses > Pozes' > Poieis' > Poyuis' > Po'wys > Pow'ys. [A.E.]
[Richard Morgan's notes]
Presteigne: Church of St Andrew
It’s site near the crossing of the Lugg and the survival of pre-conquest masonry would seem to indicate an early medieval foundation for the church. How this anglo-saxon Christian establishment related to the local celtic church is not know. The parish was granted to St Guthlac’s Priory in 1145 and when the area fell under Mortimer control it was granted to the Augustinian abbey of Wigmore, the abbot there providing a priest in return for the tithes and revenues.
10th or 11th century masonry survives in the lower courses of the North Wall of the church. The main fabric of the church shows evidence of rebuilding and remodelling at various times from the early Norman lengthening of the nave to the Tudor panelled roof of the chancel.
An early 16th century Flemish tapestry of Christ entering Jerusalem has been restored in recent years.
[Haslam; Parker – History of Presteigne; Historic Churches Survey]
10th or 11th century masonry survives in the lower courses of the North Wall of the church. The main fabric of the church shows evidence of rebuilding and remodelling at various times from the early Norman lengthening of the nave to the Tudor panelled roof of the chancel.
An early 16th century Flemish tapestry of Christ entering Jerusalem has been restored in recent years.
[Haslam; Parker – History of Presteigne; Historic Churches Survey]
Presteigne: Coal Mining
Aaron Griffiths of Willey Lodge purchased Nash Wood and adjoining land around 1911. Walking his new lands he found pieces of coal on the surface and evidence of past diggings which he felt were old open cast workings. A trial shaft was dug and coal levels were reported to have been discovered and the Radnor Coal Syndicate established. Further exploration came to nothing and it was claimed that the coal was a relic from the days of limestone exploitation in the hills when coal was brought in for the lime kilns. It was claimed the coal was buried to prevent deterioration and this explained the surface deposits. This would not explain the underground seams which were said to have been discovered.
Aaron Griffiths died in 1913 and the impetus went out of the project. The Company was finally wound up in 1915.
[Keith Parker - History of Presteigne; Howse]
Aaron Griffiths died in 1913 and the impetus went out of the project. The Company was finally wound up in 1915.
[Keith Parker - History of Presteigne; Howse]
Presteigne: Fire of 1681
Area of Presteigne affected by the fire
The fire broke out on the night of September 12th, 1681, and it is believed that over sixty houses in the High Street and in St David's Street were completely destroyed. As far as is known only one of the inhabitants, a blind woman, died in the fire. The end of the summer would have been a time of even greater risk from fire, when timber roofs and walls would be dry and households would be lighting the first fires with the onset of the colder weather of the autumn.
As well as destroying so many houses, the 1681 fire also wiped out the "schoole and schoolehouse" which was the free grammar school founded by John Beddoes in 1565. The school, which lives on in the John Beddoes High School of today, was then situated in St David's Street, opposite the church.
An entry in the Burials Register for the parish of Topsham in Devon dated March 18th,1682, noted "Collected towards the Inhabitants of Presteigne in Wales who suffred by ffire. 11s. 5 1/2d".
[Parker: History of Presteigne; Howse]
As well as destroying so many houses, the 1681 fire also wiped out the "schoole and schoolehouse" which was the free grammar school founded by John Beddoes in 1565. The school, which lives on in the John Beddoes High School of today, was then situated in St David's Street, opposite the church.
An entry in the Burials Register for the parish of Topsham in Devon dated March 18th,1682, noted "Collected towards the Inhabitants of Presteigne in Wales who suffred by ffire. 11s. 5 1/2d".
[Parker: History of Presteigne; Howse]
Presteigne: Plague
By kind permission of Presteigne PCC
The parish registers of Presteigne (right) indicated with the letter "p" for “plague” those people being buried who had died during the epidemic of 1593. Similar visitations occurred in 1610 and 1636. Because the rat fleas which spread the epidemics hibernated in the winter, the plagues were at their very worst in the summer. At the peak of the epidemic in July 1593, twelve victims of the plague were buried at Presteigne in one day - a large number for a small town. (See right). About 50 deaths in per year was around the normal level at the time, but more than 380 died in 1593 and most of these deaths were due to the epidemic of that year. Presteigne gained an unwelcome reputation as a plague town at this time, and the outbreaks had a devastating effect on the local economy.
In the outbreak occurred in 1636 and the movement of the townspeople was restricted by the authorities in an attempt to limit the spread of the contagion, and the weekly market was stopped. This had an economic impact on the town with weavers leaving the area for good. It is possible that the cloth industry was one of the reasons for Presteigne having been affected more seriously than other towns, since the business involved frequent contacts with traders from many other areas, and the risk was therefore greater than with purely local markets.
[Keith Parker – History of Presteigne; Parish Registers]
In the outbreak occurred in 1636 and the movement of the townspeople was restricted by the authorities in an attempt to limit the spread of the contagion, and the weekly market was stopped. This had an economic impact on the town with weavers leaving the area for good. It is possible that the cloth industry was one of the reasons for Presteigne having been affected more seriously than other towns, since the business involved frequent contacts with traders from many other areas, and the risk was therefore greater than with purely local markets.
[Keith Parker – History of Presteigne; Parish Registers]
Presteigne: Prisoner of War camp
Opened in 1942 on the site of the present Clatterbrune housing estate. It was built to hold 1000 Italian POWs at first, and later, after the war was over, held about 750 Germans. The camp regime was not excessively harsh and became easier still with the cessation of hostilities. Prisoners worked on local farms and were allowed out of the camp on to the Warden for exercise and recreation. The prisoners had their own band and locals were regularly invited in for dances. Some POW's stayed in the area on their release (particularly those from East Germany). The camp was finally demolished in 1949, though some of the huts were bought by locals and used for other purposes.
[Keith Parker – History of Presteigne; Press cuttings]
[Keith Parker – History of Presteigne; Press cuttings]
Presteigne: Shire Hall
In 1542 Presteigne was chosen as a safe venue for the Court of the King’s Great Sessions and thus became the legal seat of Radnorshire for more than 400 years. By the early 1800’s Presteigne was thriving, having the status of county town as well as its long established legal role. It housed the Great Sessions (called Assizes after 1830) and the Quarter Sessions, where magistrates met to try minor offences and to carry out local government. By the early 19th century both the gaol and old Shire Hall were in a state of disrepair Presteigne The prison was the first building to be replaced, with a new building on the edge of the town. A new Shire Hall, Court of Justice and accommodation for the Judges was ordered in 1825, to be built on the site of the old gaol in Broad Street, Presteigne. The new building opened in 1829. The judges lodging were let out for other functions when the judge was not in residence and so were used for temperance lectures, brass band concerts and fancy dress balls, and was even used as the Officers Mess of the Radnor Militia in 1865.
Later history
By the end of the 19th century Llandrindod Wells, some twenty miles to the south west of Presteigne, had grown into a thriving spa resort. The newly formed County Council which resulted from the 1888 Local Government Act chose it in preference to Presteigne as its meeting place, and Llandrindod Wells then became the county town of Radnorshire. The major legal role of Presteigne in the county, however, continued until October 1970, when the Autumn Assizes were to be the last occasion on which judges sat in the Shire Hall. The lesser crimes were still dealt with by magistrates for a further 20 years. The building was converted to The Judges Lodging Museum in the 1990s.
[R/QS; Keith Parker – History of Presteigne]
[R/QS; Keith Parker – History of Presteigne]
Presteigne: Warden's Wake
Believed to originate from a 15th century re-grant of a market charter obtained along with the right to two livestock fairs by a Presteigne-born bishop of St David's. The dates of the June fair shifted over the year but settled upon 20th June in 1782. By the early nineteenth century it had become purely a pleasure fair and was known by the name of the Warden's Wake or Cherry Wake. Presteigne's biggest friendly society, the New Club founded in 1805, also held its Walk and annual celebrations on the day of the Wake further enhancing the jollity. By the mid nineteenth century the wake had grown to such an extent that it spilled out of its site on the Warden into the streets of the town. The revelry and riotous behaviour had reached such a pitch that trouble between revellers and the new Radnorshire Constabulary broke out in 1857. The growth of the nonconformist influence in the area and an increasingly strong line against drunkenness and disorder by the police led to a calmer Wake towards the end of the century with numbers declining because of the economic slump in rural areas.
[Keith Parker in Presteigne Parish Magazine]
[Keith Parker in Presteigne Parish Magazine]