Railways: Van Railway Co. (1870-1923)
The railway at Van village
The Van Railway Co. was registered in June 1870, to build a line 6.5 miles long from Caersws on the Cambrian Railways to serve the Van lead mines. The works were constructed under powers of the Railways Construction Facilities Act of 1864 and the line Opened for freight on 14 August 1871. A passenger service operated on the line between 1 December 1873 until 1879.
The lead mines which had been highly productive and employed hundreds of men, ceased production in the 1890s and the railway closed in 1893. The Cambrian Railways requiring ballast from the area, agreed to work the line using Van locomotives and reopened the railway in the summer of 1896, the mines started work again and continued until about 1920. Thereafter the railway saw little traffic but remained open until 2 November 1940. The Van Railway Co. was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1923. [G.S.]
[P.E. Baughan - A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II]
The lead mines which had been highly productive and employed hundreds of men, ceased production in the 1890s and the railway closed in 1893. The Cambrian Railways requiring ballast from the area, agreed to work the line using Van locomotives and reopened the railway in the summer of 1896, the mines started work again and continued until about 1920. Thereafter the railway saw little traffic but remained open until 2 November 1940. The Van Railway Co. was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1923. [G.S.]
[P.E. Baughan - A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II]
Railways: Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Co. (1899-1922)
The railway at Church St, Welshpool
There had been numerous proposals for railways to connect Welshpool with Llanfair Caereinion since the 1860s both for standard and narrow gauge lines. The main problem was obtaining access to the Cambrian Railways station in Welshpool, since the only feasible route avoiding the town lay in full view of Powis Castle, and so the Earl of Powis would always object although he supported a railway in principle. Some railway promoters looked to the Meiford Valley as a solution, projecting lines from Ardleen on the Cambrian north of Welshpool.
The provisions of the Light Railway Act of 1896 meant that rural lines could now be built more cheaply. At this time the people of Llanfair were supporting a standard gauge line to Ardleen, but the Welshpool people wanted the line to start there and be a narrow gauge line of 2ft 6ins. Eventually the Welshpool scheme was adopted and the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Order was confirmed on 8 September 1899. Access to the Cambrian Station was via back streets in Welshpool thus satisfying the Earl of Powis.
The Cambrian Railways agreed to construct and work the line using stock provided by the W&LLR, the line was opened to goods traffic on 9 March and to passengers on 6 April 1903. The W&LLR was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921. The line closed in 1956 but reopened as a result of local pressure but without the lines running through the streets and down to the town’s main station, these lines being incompatible with modern motor traffic.
[P.E. Baughan - A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II; County Archives M/QS]
The provisions of the Light Railway Act of 1896 meant that rural lines could now be built more cheaply. At this time the people of Llanfair were supporting a standard gauge line to Ardleen, but the Welshpool people wanted the line to start there and be a narrow gauge line of 2ft 6ins. Eventually the Welshpool scheme was adopted and the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Order was confirmed on 8 September 1899. Access to the Cambrian Station was via back streets in Welshpool thus satisfying the Earl of Powis.
The Cambrian Railways agreed to construct and work the line using stock provided by the W&LLR, the line was opened to goods traffic on 9 March and to passengers on 6 April 1903. The W&LLR was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921. The line closed in 1956 but reopened as a result of local pressure but without the lines running through the streets and down to the town’s main station, these lines being incompatible with modern motor traffic.
[P.E. Baughan - A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II; County Archives M/QS]
Read, John (fl.1695)
Thought to be of the Read family which has its origins in Laugharne in Carmarthenshire. He was a successful man of business and collected property in various parishes in Montgomeryshire as well as in Shrewsbury. He is described as of Llanerfyl and of Llandinam. He was appointed Clerk of the Peace for Montgomeryshire (1673-1679) and Recorder of Chirbury by Lord Herbert for whom he acted as agent for his properties in Montgomeryshire and Ireland. He was appointed Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1695, and Sheriff of Radnorshire in 1702. He became owner of Llandinam Hall although seems to have preferred living at Penrhyddlan. He was succeeded by his son Bagot Read, also of the legal profession, who rose to become High Steward of Montgomery.
[Stephens; MC 64]
[Stephens; MC 64]
The Reade family of Radnorshire
The Reade family were one of those Eastern Radnorshire families which dominated public life in the county during the first century of its existence from the Act of Union in 1536. These eastern parishes had richer soils and a kinder climate and were closer to the English cities. They were thus naturally attractive to the English gentry of neighbouring counties who wishes to establish estates in Wales. Property qualifications ensured that only the landowning gentry could hold public office, hence the early dominance of these eastern families.
John Reade of the Inner Temple, London purchased the Mansion House together with land and other properties in Presteigne from the from the Bradshaw Family in 1619. This grand house in St Davids Street is probably the house later known as the Great House and now the Manor House. The transaction represents a down-turn in the prosperity and influence of the Bradshaw family who were compelled to leave their home for the more modest Crosse House (now the Radnorshire Arms) and the introduction of new blood among the local gentry. The Reade family of London were successful tradesmen who had probably looked to Radnorshire as the cheapest means of establishing an estate and landowning status. They owned property around Llanbister but it was the removal to Presteigne of John Reade which marked their commitment to public life in the county. John’s wife was called Benet (a shortened form of Benedicta) and may have been of the Lloyd family of Boultibrooke. By 1620 Reade was a Justice of the Peace for the county and in 1621 he was Sheriff. By 1624 John Reade died and his infant son of the same name became a ward of the Crown.
In 1647 this young son was recorded as serving on local committee appointed by parliament and this probably represents an indication of parliamentary sympathies in the turmoil of the Civil War. Like his father this Reade also died a young man in 1650 or soon after of causes unknown. His widow remarried and his daughter later inherited the Reade property and married a Thomas Browne of Montgomeryshire, before dying herself in 1672. With her the line ended.
[The Papers of R.Oliver at CAO]
John Reade of the Inner Temple, London purchased the Mansion House together with land and other properties in Presteigne from the from the Bradshaw Family in 1619. This grand house in St Davids Street is probably the house later known as the Great House and now the Manor House. The transaction represents a down-turn in the prosperity and influence of the Bradshaw family who were compelled to leave their home for the more modest Crosse House (now the Radnorshire Arms) and the introduction of new blood among the local gentry. The Reade family of London were successful tradesmen who had probably looked to Radnorshire as the cheapest means of establishing an estate and landowning status. They owned property around Llanbister but it was the removal to Presteigne of John Reade which marked their commitment to public life in the county. John’s wife was called Benet (a shortened form of Benedicta) and may have been of the Lloyd family of Boultibrooke. By 1620 Reade was a Justice of the Peace for the county and in 1621 he was Sheriff. By 1624 John Reade died and his infant son of the same name became a ward of the Crown.
In 1647 this young son was recorded as serving on local committee appointed by parliament and this probably represents an indication of parliamentary sympathies in the turmoil of the Civil War. Like his father this Reade also died a young man in 1650 or soon after of causes unknown. His widow remarried and his daughter later inherited the Reade property and married a Thomas Browne of Montgomeryshire, before dying herself in 1672. With her the line ended.
[The Papers of R.Oliver at CAO]
Rees, Hugh (c.1756)
Tried at the Montgomeryshire Great Sessions 1757 for stealing a gelding (value £4) belonging to Henry Morris in the parish of Machynlleth on 30 December 1756. Found guilty (sentence not recorded). No execution date set.
[Mossop]
[Mossop]