View source for Welshpool

{{Short description|Town in Powys, Wales}}

{{Other uses}}
{{hatnote group|
{{redirect|Trallwng|district of Pontypridd|Trallwn}}
{{redirect|Y Trallwng|the other Powys village with the same Welsh name|Trallong}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Welshpool
| welsh_name = Y Trallwng 
| static_image_name           = Welshpool Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 541059.jpg
| static_image_caption        = [[Welshpool Town Hall]]
| coordinates = {{coord|52.65966|-3.14725|display=inline,title}}
| country = Wales
| unitary_wales               = [[Powys]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = [[Powys]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Montgomeryshire (Senedd constituency)|Montgomeryshire]]
| constituency_westminster    = 
[[Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr]]
| post_town                   = WELSHPOOL
| postcode_area               = SY
| postcode_district           = SY21
| dial_code                   = 01938
| os_grid_reference           = SJ225075
| area_total_sq_mi = 24.23
| area_total_km2 = 39
| population                  = 6764
| population_ref              = (Estimate)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Town population 2011 |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/powys/W38000114__welshpool/a=7&b=11130273&c=Welshpool&d=16&e=62&g=6491282&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1447588074325&enc=1 |access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref>
| statistic_title = Annual Population Change
| statistic = 0.16%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population Change 2022|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/powys/W38000114__welshpool/a=7&b=11130273&c=Welshpool&d=16&e=62&g=6491282&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1447588074325&enc=1 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref>
| cardiff_distance_mi = 81
| cardiff_distance_km = 130
| cardiff_direction = South
| type = Town
| module=  {{Collapsible list
| framestyle=border:none;text-align:center; padding:0; |title=Community map
|1=[[File:Wales Powys Community Welshpool map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
}}

'''Welshpool''' ({{langx|cy|Y Trallwng}} {{audio|LL-Q9309 (cym)-Jason.nlw-Y Trallwng.wav|}}) is a market town and [[Community (Wales)|community]] in [[Powys]], [[Wales]], historically in the [[Historic counties of Wales|county]] of [[Montgomeryshire]]. The town is {{convert|4|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} from the [[Wales–England border]] and low-lying on the [[River Severn]]. The community, which also includes Cloddiau and [[Pool Quay]], has a population of 6,664 (as of the [[2011 United Kingdom census]]), with the town having 5,948. There are many examples of [[Georgian architecture]] within the town. [[Powis Castle]] is located to the north.

==Toponym==
''Y Trallwng'' is the [[Welsh language]] name of the town. It means "the marshy or sinking land". In [[English language|English]] it was initially known as '''Pool''' but its name was changed to Welshpool in 1835 to distinguish it from the English town of [[Poole]] in Dorset.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=John |editor1-last=Davies|editor1-link=John Davies (historian)|editor2-first=Nigel |editor2-last=Jenkins | editor2-link=Nigel Jenkins| editor3-first=Baines |editor3-last=Menna|editor4-first=Peredur I. |editor4-last=Lynch|title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales |year=2008 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff|page=944 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref> 

==History==
[[File:Golden chalice in Welch Pool Church, 1794.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A golden chalice as seen in Welshpool Church, 1794]]
St Cynfelin is reputed to be the founder of two churches in the town, St Mary's and St Cynfelin's, during the [[Age of the Saints]] in the 5th and 6th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Settlement Survey - Montgomeryshire - Welshpool|url=http://www.cpat.org.uk/ycom/mont/welshpool.pdf|publisher=CPAT}}</ref><ref name="CPAT - St Mary - Welshpool">{{cite web|title=Montgomeryshire Churches Survey - Church of St Mary, Welshpool|url=https://cpat.org.uk/Archive/churches/montgom/16973.htm|website=CPAT}}</ref>

The parish of Welshpool roughly coincides with the medieval [[commote]] of [[Ystrad Marchell]] in the [[cantref]] of [[Ystlyg]] in the [[Kingdom of Powys]].

The [[Long Mountain (Powys)|Long Mountain]], which plays as a backdrop to most of Welshpool, once served as the ultimate grounds for defence for fortresses in the times when the town was just a swampy marsh.

Welshpool served briefly as the capital of [[Powys Wenwynwyn]] or South Powys after its prince was forced to flee the traditional Welsh royal site at [[Mathrafal]] in 1212, by the prince of [[Gwynedd]]; assistance from the English crown (enemies of the Gwynedd prince) restored the Wenwynwyn dynasty to their lands. Further disputes with Gwynedd again brought in the English; in 1284, the family strengthened their hold on Powys Wenwynwyn by converting it into a [[marcher lordship]] (via ''surrender and re-grant'') - the Lordship of Powys. Owain, the heir to the former principality, called himself [[Owen de la Pole]], after the town.

The town was devastated by the forces of [[Owain Glyndŵr]] (heir to [[Powys Fadog]] - North Powys) in 1400 at the start of his rebellion against the English king [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]]. Today, the waymarked, 135-mile [[long-distance footpath]] and [[National Trail]], [[Glyndŵr's Way]], ends in Pont Howell Park, alongside the [[Montgomery Canal]].

In 1411 the [[priest]] at the church St Mary's was [[Adam of Usk]].

==Population==

The [[population]] of Welshpool has risen since 2001.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 
|-
! Date !! Population
|-
| 2001 || 5,539
|-
| 2011 || 5,948
|-
| 2021 || 5,940
|}

===Villages===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Gungrog]]

==Historic buildings==
[[File:Y Trallwng Welshpool 02 Stryd yr Eglwys.JPG|thumb|left|upright|St Mary's Church, Welshpool]]
[[File:Welshpool Cockpit - geograph.org.uk - 178087.jpg|thumb|Welshpool Cockpit]] 
[[St Mary's Church, Welshpool|St Mary's Church]] is a Grade I [[listed building]]. The original church dated from about 1250,  there are remains of this church in the lower courses of the church tower. The nave was rebuilt in the 16th century, and the whole building was substantially restored in 1871. The 15th century chancel ceiling may have come from [[Strata Marcella]] Abbey, about {{convert|5|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} away, and a stone in the churchyard is said to have been part of the abbot's throne. A memorial in the church commemorates [[William Morgan (Bible translator)|Bishop William Morgan]], translator of the Bible into Welsh, who was the vicar from 1575 to 1579.<ref name="St Marys Welshpool">{{cite web|title=The Parish of Welshpool/About the church|url=http://parish.churchinwales.org.uk/a193/|publisher=The Church in Wales}}</ref>

The Mermaid Inn, 28 High Street, was very probably an early 16th-century merchant's house, placed on a [[burgage]] plot between the High Street and Alfred Jones Court. The timber-framed building has long storehouse or wing to the rear. The frontage was remodelled {{circa}} 1890, by [[Frank Shayler|Frank H. Shayler]], architect, of Shrewsbury. Early illustrations of the building show that prior to this it had a thatched roof and that the timbering was not exposed. There is a passage to side with heavy box-framing in square panels, with brick infill exposed in side elevation and in rear wing. The frontage was exposed by Shayler to show decorative timber work on the upper storey. An Inn by the 19th century when it was owned by a family named Sparrow.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Changing Face of Welshpool | publisher=Powysland Club | year=1998 | location=Welshpool | pages=22 | isbn=0947805346 | first1=Ion | last1=Trant | first2=R. M. Wynne | last2=Griffiths}}</ref>

There is an octagonal brick cockpit in New Street, which was built in the early 18th century and was in continual use for [[cockfighting]] until the practice was outlawed by the [[Cruelty to Animals Act 1849]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://historicwales.gov.uk/files/pdf-listed-building.php?ids=24154&lang=ENG | title=Historic Wales Report | work=Historic Wales | access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref> {{as of|2015}}, it is the home of the town's [[Women's Institute]]. [[Welshpool Town Hall]], which was completed in 1874, is a Grade II listed building.<ref>{{NHAW|desc=Town Hall|num=14930|access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref>

==Governance==
There are two tiers of local government covering Welshpool, at [[Community (Wales)|community]] (town) and [[Local government in Wales|county]] level: Welshpool Town Council and [[Powys County Council]].<ref name=TownCouncil>{{cite web |title=Welshpool Town Council |url=https://www.welshpooltowncouncil.gov.uk/ |access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref>

The Town Council has 15 elected members serving five-year terms, and employs a staff of about 13.<ref name=TownCouncil/> It deals with a wide range of green spaces and public facilities, and as a representative voice for Welshpool. The Council Chair or Town Mayor, elected by the councillors, has been Councillor Phil Owen since May 2024.

The community is represented on [[Powys County Council]] by three county councillors, each representing a ward: [[Welshpool Llanerchyddol]], [[Welshpool Gungrog]] and [[Welshpool Castle]].<ref name=CouncilMembers>{{Cite web|url=https://powys.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |title=Cyngor Sir Powys County Council - Your Councillors |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Cyngor Sir Powys County Council}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Welshpool railway station]] is on the [[Cambrian Line]] and is served by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]]. The town is also the starting point of the [[Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway]], a narrow-gauge [[heritage railway]] popular with tourists, with its terminus station at [[Welshpool Raven Square railway station|Raven Square]]. The light railway once ran through the town to the Cambrian Line railway station, but today Raven Square, located on the western edge of the town, is the eastern terminus of the line.

A small network of bus services link surrounding towns and villages, mainly operated by [[Tanat Valley Coaches]]. Notable is service No X75, serving [[Shrewsbury]] to the east and [[Newtown, Powys|Newtown]] and [[Llanidloes]] to the south west, also service No D71 to [[Oswestry]] via Guilsfield and [[Llanymynech]]. In addition there is a local town service operated by Owen's Coaches. The semi-disused [[Montgomery Canal]] also runs through Welshpool. To the south of the town is [[Welshpool Airport]] which is also known as the Mid Wales Airport.  Three major trunk roads pass through Welshpool: the [[A458 road|A458]], [[A483 road|A483]] and the [[A490 road|A490]].

==Economy==
The local economy is primarily based upon agriculture and local industry. The Smithfield Livestock Market is the largest one-day sheep market in Europe. Market days are on Mondays.

The town's industrial estates are home to numerous different types of small industry, ranging from metal to food production. Due to the town's small size and population the attraction of high street stores and stores that cut keys is limited, meaning that many of the residents prefer to shop in neighbouring towns like [[Shrewsbury]]. However Welshpool remains an important hub serving its agricultural hinterland. The town is home to the headquarters of the [[Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust]] and the [[Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust]].

==Education==
The town is the home of Ardwyn Nursery and Infants School, Oldford Nursery and Infants School, Gungrog Nursery and Infants School, Maes-y-dre Primary School. [[Welshpool High School]] is a [[secondary school]] which teaches a range of pupils from ages 11–18 and has a good<ref>{{Cite web|title=A report on Welshpool High School|url=https://www.estyn.gov.wales/sites/www.estyn.gov.wales/files/documents/Welshpool%20High%20School.pdf|date=February 2017|website=Estyn}}</ref> standard of education throughout Key Stage 3 and 4 and [[GCSE]] studies.

==Sport==
Welshpool has a [[Association football|football]] club ([[Welshpool Town F.C.]]) and a [[rugby union]] club ([[Welshpool RFC|Welshpool Rugby Football Club]]). The football club was jointly managed for a period in the late 2010s by Chris Roberts and Neil Pryce but with little success. The town also has [[field hockey|hockey]] and [[cricket]] clubs. The Montgomeryshire Marauders Rugby League Club are also nominally based in Welshpool, as this is where the majority of their home fixtures take place.

==Notable people==
[[File:William Boyd Dawkins late.jpg|thumb|140px|[[William Boyd Dawkins]]]]
*[[William Morgan (Bible translator)|William Morgan]] (1545-1604), Bible translator, Vicar of Welshpool 1575–79, became [[Bishop of St Asaph]] in 1601
*[[Sampson Lloyd (iron manufacturer)|Sampson Lloyd]] (1664–1724), iron manufacturer in early Birmingham, founder of the [[Lloyd family of Birmingham]]
*[[Percy Egerton Herbert|Lieutenant-General Sir Percy Egerton Herbert]] (1822 in Powis Castle – 1876), Army officer and politician.
*Sir [[William Boyd Dawkins]] (1837 in Buttington – 1929), geologist and archaeologist.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Dawkins, William Boyd | volume= 7 | page = 873 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Rupert Davies (politician)|William Rupert Davies]] (1879-1967), Canadian [[Senate of Canada|Senator]], politician, newspaper publisher, born at Welshpool,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://canadian-writers.athabascau.ca/english/writers/rdavies.php|title = Robertson Davies}}</ref> later returned to Wales and lived latterly at [[Leighton Hall, Powys|Leighton Hall]].
*[[William Herbert Waring]]  (1885-1918), [[Victoria Cross]] recipient in World War I.
*[[Roderick Urwick Sayce]]  (1890–1970), social anthropologist and geographer
*[[Ann Mercy Hunt]]  (1938–2014), medical researcher and campaigner; co-founded the [[Tuberous Sclerosis Association]]
*[[Glyn Davies (politician)|Glyn Davies]] (born 1944), a former politician and MP for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] from 2010 to 2019.
*[[Michael Jones (Welsh-French musician)|Michael Jones]] (born 28 January 1952), is a Welsh-French singer, guitarist, and songwriter who lives in [[France]].
*[[Craig Williams (British politician)|Craig Williams]] (born 1985), politician, MP for [[Cardiff North (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff North]], 2015 to 2017 and for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] from 2019. [[Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister|PPS to PM]].

=== Sport ===
*[[Jack Roscamp]] (1901-1939). footballer notably for [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], was a publican in his latter years when he kept The Boot Inn in the town.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Mike|title=Meadow Maestros & Misfits|year=2008|publisher=Janet Beasley, Shrewsbury|page=16|isbn=978-0-9548099-2-8}}</ref>
*[[George Bennett (rugby)|George Bennett]] (1913 in Forden – 1970), a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer with 383 caps
*[[Ian Hutchinson (cricketer)|Ian Hutchinson]] (born 1964), county cricketer for [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] and [[Shropshire County Cricket Club|Shropshire]]. 27 first class caps

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Mermaid Inn, Welshpool.jpg|Mermaid Inn, Welshpool
File:Montgomeryshire War Weapons Week (1511246) 1.jpg|Troops in Welshpool during Montgomeryshire War Weapons Week, 1941
File:Welch Pool, 1794.jpg|Welshpool, 1794
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Welshpool}}
{{portal|Wales}}
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3715153 Photos of Welshpool and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk]
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Welshpool |volume= 28|page=516|short=1}}
*[[Welshpool Seven Stars Halt railway station]] Welshpool's Seven Stars Halt.
{{Powys}}
{{River Severn towns}}
{{Severn from source to Llandrinio}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Welshpool| ]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Severn]]
[[Category:Towns in Powys]]
[[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]]
[[Category:Communities in Powys]]