Newtown (Powys)
Newtown (Welsh Y Drenewydd ) is the largest city in the Welsh county of Powys, or in the traditional county of Montgomeryshire. It was founded in 1280 and situated on the River Severn, 24 km south-west of Welshpool. Newtown is known as the birthplace of the great social reformer Robert Owen, who was also buried here. On his life and his work, the Robert Owen Memorial Museum recalls.
History
Newtown was originally a small settlement at the old church of St. Mary in cantref of Cedewain, the remains of which can still be seen on the banks of the Severn below the Long Bridge. The village, which was called at the time Llanfair yng Nghedewain, was granted market rights on January 16, 1279. To this end, King Edward I had the Norman Baron Roger de Montgomery granted permission in force until today, every Tuesday deter market in " Newentowne ". Probably replaced the new market of the city one, which took place outside the walls of Dolforwyn Castle, to the English 1277 located halfway between Newtown and Montgomery castle conquered in the fight against Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.
From the 16th century developed in Newtown weaving of wool and wool trade. Based on the in the winter months on the farms operated hand weaving, the town was finally in the 18th and 19th century, the historic center of the wool and Flanellindustrie in Wales. The number of inhabitants, the invention of the loom by Edmond Cartwright This was associated with a significant expansion so grew 1801-1841 under 1000 to over 4500. In 1785 but made the early cottage industry to an end. Only the richly appointed Textile Museum on Commercial Street to remind of this period of great prosperity.
In 1838 Newtown experienced the first Chartist demonstration in Wales.
Urban Development
In an effort to create additional employment opportunities and reduce the rural exodus, Newtown was the second stadtbiografisch to the New Towns scoring village in Wales in 1967.
The in the 1970s gradual operational urban development has resulted in the cityscape to a mixture of old and new. For example, the coming of the 16th century town hall was demolished and replaced by a building in the Georgian style. Among the new structures also include a County Central Library, a police center and residential and commercial areas. Enterprises of light industry were settled in order to strengthen the traditionally dominated by textile mills and sawmills economy. The largest employer in the region is Control Techniques Ltd., subsidiary of the American EMERSON Group. Control Techniques is a manufacturer of components for the electric drive technology and is one of the leading companies in this industry.
Attractions
In the southwest of the city are the remains of a Norman Motte (Castle). In addition, the meeting house is seen in the Owain Glyndwr in 1404 had called together the last Welsh Parliament in Dolgellau; the building had been broken and rebuilt in 1885 in Newtown in a park again.
Famous people
- Robert Owen (1771-1858), entrepreneur and early socialist
- George Latham (1881-1939), international footballer and coach
- Sian Lloyd (born 1958 ), TV presenter
- Lembit Öpik (born 1965 ), politician ( Liberal Democrats )
Twin Cities
- France Les Herbiers, Pays de la Loire