View source for Merionethshire

{{Short description|Historic county of Wales}}
{{Infobox historic subdivision|
| Name                   = Merionethshire
| native_name            = {{native name|cy|[[Meirionnydd]]}}
| HQ                     = [[Dolgellau]]
| Government             = Merionethshire County Council (1889–1974)
| Origin                 = 
| Status                 = [[Shire county]] under [[Justiciar of North Wales]] (1284–1536)<br />[[History of local government in Wales|Non-administrative county]] (1536–1889)<br />[[Administrative county]] (1889–1974)<br />[[Historic counties of Wales|Historic county]] (non-administrative)
| End                    = 
| Code                   = MER
| CodeName               = [[Chapman code]]
| Motto                  = Tra môr, tra Meirion <br />(While the sea lasts, so shall Meirionnydd)
| Divisions              = 
| DivisionsNames         = 
| DivisionsMap           = 
| Image                  = [[File:Flag of Merionethshire.svg|160px|Flag of Merioneth]]<br/> [[Flag of Merionethshire]] adopted in 2015
| Map                    = {{Switcher
| [[File:Wales Historic Counties map Merionethshire.svg|250px|Merionethshire shown within Wales]]
| Show location in Wales
| [[File:Merionethshire Brit Isles Sect 5.svg|250px|Merionethshire shown within England and Wales]]
| Show location in England and Wales
| [[File:Merionethshire - British Isles.svg|250px|Merionethshire shown within the United Kingdom]]
| Show location in the United Kingdom
}}
| Arms                   = [[Image:Merioneth arms.png|150px|]]<br>''Coat of arms of Merionethshire County Council''
| Civic                  = 
| PopulationFirst        = 35,315<ref name=census_1831>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/table_page.jsp?tab_id=GB1831ABS_M%5B1%5D&u_id=10001043&show=DB&min_c=11&max_c=15 1831 Census]</ref>
| PopulationFirstYear    = 1831
| AreaFirst              = {{convert|385291|acre|km2}}
| AreaFirstYear          = 1831
| DensityFirst           = 0.1/acre
| DensityFirstYear       = 1831
| PopulationSecond       = 45,565
| PopulationSecondYear   = 1911
| AreaSecond             = {{convert|422372|acre|km2}}
| AreaSecondYear         = 1911/1961
| DensitySecond          = 0.1/acre
| DensitySecondYear      = 1911
| PopulationLast         = 38,310
| PopulationLastYear     = 1961
| AreaLast               = 
| AreaLastYear           = 
| DensityLast            = 0.1/acre
| DensityLastYear        = 1961
| common_name            = Merionethshire
| year_start             = 1536
| year_end               = 1974
| event1                 = Council established
| date_event1            = 1889
| event_pre              = First established by [[Statute of Rhuddlan]]
| date_pre               = 1284
| s1                     = Gwynedd
| s2                     = Meirionnydd
| s3                     = Clwyd
| s4                     = Glyndŵr (district)
| status_text            = [[Historic counties of Wales|Historic county]]
}}
'''Merionethshire''', or '''Merioneth''' ({{langx|cy|[[Meirionnydd]]}} or ''{{lang|cy|Sir Feirionnydd}}''), was [[Historic counties of Wales|one of the thirteen counties of Wales]] that existed from 1536 until their abolition in 1974. It was located in the [[North West Wales|north-west]] of [[Wales]].

==Name==
'Merioneth' is an anglicisation of the Welsh placename ''Meirionnydd'' (for the geographical area) or ''Sir Feirionnydd'' (for the county), with a 'double' {{angbr|nn}}, but the variant with a single {{angbr|n}} is sometimes found in older works <ref>Double 'nn' for this placename is found in the title of a number of Welsh-language books, e.g. ''Crwydro Meirionnydd'', a companion to the area by [[T. I. Ellis]] (Llandybie, 1954), and the county atlas published by the old county council (''Atlas Merionnydd'', Y Bala, 1972).</ref><ref>For the single 'n' variant see, for example, [[Melville Richards]], ''Welsh Administrative and Territorial Units''. University of Wales Press, Cardiff (1969).</ref>

The name is derived from that of the earlier ''[[cantref]]'' of [[Meirionnydd]]. This supposedly took its name from Meirion, a grandson of [[Cunedda|Cunedda Wledig]], who was granted the lordship of the area.<ref name=morris3>Morris. A. (1913) ''Cambridge County Geographies: Merionethshire'', Cambridge University Press, p.3</ref>

==Geography==
Merionethshire was a maritime county, bounded to the north by [[Caernarfonshire]], to the east by [[Denbighshire (historic)|Denbighshire]], to the south by [[Montgomeryshire]] and [[Cardiganshire]], and to the west by [[Cardigan Bay]]. With a total area of 1,731&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (668 sq miles), it was one of the more sparsely populated counties in [[Great Britain]].

The Merioneth area remains one of the strongest [[Welsh language|Welsh-speaking]] parts of [[Wales]], although places like [[Barmouth]] and [[Tywyn]] are very anglicised. The coastline consisted alternately of cliffs and stretches of sand and the area generally was the most mountainous in Wales; a large part of the [[Snowdonia National Park]] had been within its boundaries. The highest point ([[List of counties of England and Wales in 1964 by highest point|county top]]) was [[Aran Fawddwy]] near the village of [[Dinas Mawddwy]] at 905&nbsp;m (2,970&nbsp;ft), which is also the southernmost mountain in Great Britain to exceed an altitude of 900 metres. However, the mountain of [[Cadair Idris]] 893&nbsp;m (2,929&nbsp;ft) to the south of [[Dolgellau]] was better known and hugely popular with hillwalkers. Other mountains include [[Arenig Fawr]] and the [[Rhinogydd]]. The chief rivers were the [[River Dwyryd|Dwyryd]], the [[Mawddach]], the [[Afon Dyfi|Dyfi]] and the [[River Dee, Wales|Dee]], while in the south the [[Afon Dulas|Dulas]] formed the county boundary. Waterfalls such as [[Pistyll Cain]] and small lakes were numerous, the largest being [[Bala Lake]] ({{convert|4|mi|km}} long and {{convert|1|mi|km}} broad).

==History==

The region which became Merionethshire previously constituted the [[Cantref]]s of [[Meirionydd]] and [[Penllyn (cantref)|Penllyn]], and the [[Commote]] of [[Ardudwy]]. Prior to the 10th century, Ardudwy formed part of the principality of [[Dunoding]], while Meirionydd and Penllyn were part of [[Powys]].

Welsh records from the end of this period, and later, treat Dunoding as a vassal of [[Gwynedd]], ruled by an ancient cadet branch of the same family. Nevertheless, according to [[John Edward Lloyd]], Dunoding had been independent of Gwynedd, at the time of [[Cadfan ap Iago]] (in the early 7th century), and before.

The [[Normans|Norman]] presence in England, after 1066, was the most significant factor which disrupted this pattern.

In 1067, the rulers of Gwynedd and Powys invaded England, in support of [[Eadric the Wild]], a leader of continued Saxon resistance against the Normans. When Northern England revolted against in 1080, the Normans responded by preemptively attacking, and then occupying Wales, to prevent any further Welsh assistance to the English. In 1094, the Welsh decided to revolt, but [[Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester|Hugh of Chester]], the nearest Norman magnate, successfully re-captured North Wales by the end of 1098 (with Norwegian assistance).

[[Gruffudd ap Cynan]], the heir to the principality of [[Gwynedd]], came to an accommodation with the Normans, who restored him to power in Gwynedd, excepting the [[Perfeddwlad]]. Once Hugh died (in 1101), Gruffudd made further representations to King [[Henry I of England|Henry I]], who in response granted Dunodin to Gruffudd, as well. Gruffudd's sons engaged in expansionist attacks on surrounding territory, taking Meirionydd from Powys in 1123, and annexing it to Gwynedd.

Following the death of [[Madog ap Maredudd]], the powerful ruler of Powys, and the death of his immediate heir, Madog's remaining sons divided Powys between them. Penllyn was the portion which went to [[Owain Brogyntyn]]. Owain was too weak, compared with his father, to resist Gwynedd's aggressive behaviour, and was forced to become a vassal of [[Owain Gwynedd]], the son of Gruffudd who now ruled Gwynedd; Penllyn, as a result, became a mere Cantref of Gwynedd.

Dunoding is naturally divided in the middle, by [[Tremadog Bay]] and the gorges and marshland of the [[Afon Glaslyn|Glaslyn river]]; Ardudwy is the portion south of that divide. In the early 13th century, [[Llywelyn Fawr]], Owain Gwynedd's grandson, established a distinct territorial unit comprising Ardudwy and Meirionydd (which is immediately south of Ardudwy), and gave it to his own son, [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr|Gruffydd]], as an [[appanage]]. In 1221, however, Gruffydd was stripped of these lands for ruling them too oppressively.

In 1245, Gruffydd's half-brother, [[Dafydd ap Llywelyn|Dafydd]], launched an attack against his uncle - King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] - eventually resulting in the loss of the [[Perfeddwlad]]. When Gruffydd's son, [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd|Llywelyn]], allied with the enemies of [[Edward I]] (Henry's son) and tried to recover the Perfeddwlad, Edward launched a huge invasion of Gwynedd, resulting in the death of Llywelyn in 1282.

Two years later, in 1284, King Edward issued the [[Statute of Rhuddlan]], terminating [[Gwynedd]]'s existence as a state. The former appanage of Ardudwy-Merionydd, together with Penllyn, which had been part of Gwynedd for less than 150 years, were converted into Merionethshire (taking the name from Meirionydd).

[[File:Montgomeri Merionidh Atlas.jpg|thumb|250px|Hand-drawn map of Montgomery and Merioneth by Christopher Saxton from 1578]]

Merioneth was an important part of the [[Slate industry in Wales|Welsh slate industry]] in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with major quarrying centres at [[Blaenau Ffestiniog]] in the north of the county and [[Corris]] in the south, with other large quarries at [[Abergynolwyn]], [[Aberllefenni]], [[Arthog]], and the [[Cwm Ebol quarry]] at [[Pennal]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|last=Wallenfeldt |first=Jeff |year=2015 |title=Merioneth |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Merioneth }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Nicholson |first=A. D. |year=1925 |chapter=Lancaster and North Wales Division: Merioneth |title=List of Mines in Great Britain and the Isle of Man |location=London |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |pages=224–227 |oclc=505198914 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cxVkNYRJ-SwC&pg=PA224 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Roberts |first=Dafydd |year=1982 |title=The Slate Quarrying Communities of Caernarfonshire and Merioneth, 1911-1939 |series=Thesis |location=Aberystwyth |publisher=University of Wales |pages=intra |oclc=896000630 }}</ref>

In 1947, ahead of his marriage to [[Elizabeth II|Princess Elizabeth]], [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten]] was created [[Earl of Merioneth]], as well as [[Duke of Edinburgh]] and [[Baron Greenwich]], by his father-in-law, [[King George VI]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38128|pages=5495–5496|date=21 November 1947}}</ref>

==Local government==
[[File:Dolgellau Magistrates' Court - geograph.org.uk - 2153071.jpg|thumb|[[County Hall, Dolgellau|County Hall]] in Dolgellau]]
{{See also|List of Sheriffs of Meirionnydd in the 15th century}}
An administrative county of Merioneth was created under the [[Local Government Act 1888]] on 1 April 1889. The [[Merionethshire County Council election, 1889|first election]] to the new authority was held in January 1889.<ref name="CN 25-1-89 Mer CC results">{{cite news|title=Merioneth County Council Elections|url=http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3311288/3311296/83|access-date=8 July 2015|newspaper=Cambrian News|date=25 January 1889|page=8}}</ref> The county council was originally based at [[County Hall, Dolgellau|County Hall]] in Smithfield Street in Dolgellau<ref>{{NHAW|desc=County Hall|num=5073|accessdate=6 October 2021}}</ref> before moving to modern facilities at Cae Penarlag in Dolgellau in 1953.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=43451|page=8301|date=2 October 1964}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dolgellau.wales/history/chronology.php|title=Chronology|publisher= Dolgellau|date=6 October 1964}}</ref> The county was abolished under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] on 1 April 1974.  The bulk formed the [[Meirionnydd]] district of [[Gwynedd]], with a small area in the north east, [[Edeirnion|Edeirnion Rural District]], becoming part of the [[Glyndŵr (district)|Glyndŵr]] district of [[Clwyd]].

Until 1974, Merionethshire was divided into [[civil parish]]es for the purpose of local government; these in large part equated to [[parish|ecclesiastical parishes]] (see the table below), most of which still exist as part of the Church in Wales.<ref>{{cite web|title=GENUKI: Merionethshire Parishes|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/MER/parishes|access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Hundred
!Parishes
|-
![[Ardudwy]]
|[[Llan Ffestiniog|Ffestiniog]] • [[Llanaber]] • [[Llanbedr]] • [[Llandanwg]] • Llanddwywe • [[Llandecwyn]] • [[Llanelltyd]] • [[Dyffryn Ardudwy|Llanenddwyn]] • [[Llanfair, Gwynedd|Llanfair]] • [[Llanfihangel-y-traethau]] • [[Llanfrothen]] • [[Maentwrog]] • [[Trawsfynydd]]
|-
![[Edeirnion|Edernion]]
|[[Betws Gwerfil Goch]]<sup>D</sup> • [[Corwen]]<sup>D</sup> • [[Gwyddelwern]]<sup>D</sup> • [[Gwyddelwern|Llanaelhaearn]]<sup>D</sup> • [[Llandrillo, Denbighshire|Llandrillo]]<sup>D</sup> • [[Llangar]]<sup>D</sup> • [[Llansanffraid Glyndyfrdwy|Llansantffraid Glyn Dyfrdwy]]<sup>D</sup>
|-
!Estimaner
|[[Llanfihangel-y-Pennant|Llanfihangel-y-pennant]] • [[Pennal]] • [[Tal-y-llyn, Gwynedd|Tal-y-llyn]] • [[Tywyn|Tywyn/Towyn]]
|-
!Penllyn
|[[Llandderfel]] • [[Llanfor]] • [[Llangywer|Llangywer/Llangower]] • [[Llanuwchllyn]] • [[Llanycil]]
|-
!Talybont
|[[Dolgellau|Dolgellau/Dolgelley]] • [[Llanegryn]] • [[Llanfachreth]] • [[Llangelynnin, Gwynedd|Llangelynnin]] (''[[Arthog]]'') • [[Llanymawddwy]] • [[Mallwyd]]
|}
Most of these parishes ended up in Gwynedd, but those marked D are in Denbighshire. Chapelries are listed in italics.

As a result of the [[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994]], which came into force on 1 April 1996, the Glyndŵr area was made a part of the new [[Denbighshire]] principal area, with the rest forming a new Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire principal area. The latter area was, however, renamed Gwynedd almost immediately.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/wales/wsi2002/20023274e.htm |title=The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Changes) Order 2002, Welsh Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 3274 (W.312) |access-date=2008-07-27 |year=2002 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information}}</ref>

==Main towns==
The main towns and villages were

* [[Dolgellau]] (former county town, and administrative centre)
* [[Aberdyfi]]
* [[Bala, Gwynedd|Bala]]
* [[Barmouth]]
* [[Blaenau Ffestiniog]]
* [[Corwen]]
* [[Ffestiniog]]
* [[Harlech]]
* [[Tywyn]]
== Places of special interest (with grid reference) ==

* [[Cadair Idris]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH711130}})
* [[Castell y Bere]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH667085}})
* [[Cymer Abbey]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH721195}})
* [[Harlech Castle]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH5731}})
* [[Portmeirion]] Italianate village ({{gbmappingsmall|SH589372}})
* [[Rhug]] Chapel ({{gbmappingsmall|SJ063439}})
* [[Snowdonia National Park]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH6823034305}})
* [[Tomen y Mur|Tomen-y-mur Roman Fort]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH7038}})

===Railways===
* [[Ffestiniog Railway]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH6946}})
* [[Corris Railway]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH7507}})
* [[Talyllyn Railway]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH5800}})
* [[Fairbourne Railway]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SH6112}})

==See also==
* [[Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire|List of Lord Lieutenants of Merioneth]]
* [[Custos Rotulorum of Merionethshire|List of Custodes Rotulorum of Merioneth]]
* [[Sheriff of Merionethshire|List of Sheriffs of Merioneth]]
* [[Merioneth (UK Parliament constituency)|List of MPs for Merioneth]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Bowen, E. G. & Gresham, C. A. (1967) ''History of Merioneth. Vol 1 From the earliest times to the age of the native princes''. Dolgellau: Merioneth Historical and Record Society 
*Beverley Smith, J. & L., eds. (2001) ''History of Merioneth. Vol. 2 The Middle Ages''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press


{{Historic Counties of Wales}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Merionethshire| ]]
[[Category:History of Gwynedd]]
[[Category:Historic counties of Wales]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1284]]