Montgomery

Montgomery (Welsh: Trefaldwyn; meaning "The Town of Baldwin") is the historic county town of Montgomeryshire with a history that stretches back to Roman occupation. The 13th century Montgomery Castle dominates the skyline and a large Iron Age Hill Fort is located nearby.

Today's visitors are charmed by the Georgian Town square and market hall, St Nicholas Church and the story of the Robber's Grave and the rolling Mid Wales Marches countryside surrounding the town.The Offa's Dyke National Trail and the Welsh - Shropshire border and is located just one mile from the town.

Taste Montgomery is a local community initiative set up to promote and develop the strong links between the Montgomery's Award Winning food & drink producers, concentrated within just 6 miles of the Town Square. The Kerry Vale Vineyard is a small, family run vineyard situated just 3 miles south of the town.

Montgomery Castle was built to control an important ford over the nearby River Severn and replaced an earlier motte and bailey fortification at Hendomen, two miles away. An important supporter of King William I (the Conqueror), Roger de Montgomery, originally from Montgomery in the Pays d'Auge in Normandy, was given this part of the Welsh Marches by William and his name was given to the town surrounding the castle.

The castle also played a significant role in the Glyndwr uprising before it was damaged beyond repair by Parliamentary forces in the Civil War. The Castle remains a popular visitor attraction today, as does nearby Dolforwyn Castle.

A visit to the town should include The Old Bell Museum which provides a fantastic record of Montgomery's past with a permanent collection of artefacts and antiques, and the Robber's Grave located in the Churchyard. The Montgomeryshire County War Memorial commemorating fallen servicemen from Montgomeryshire County is located nearby on a hill overlooking the countryside.

Local History: The Treaty of Montgomery, 29th September 1267

The Treaty of Montgomery was signed by King Henry III of England and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Gwynedd on September 29,1267 at nearby Rhydwhyman Ford, Caerhowell, which was a key crossing point of the River Severn at the time.

The treaty recognised Llywelyn as the Prince of Wales, giving him territories in Wales and England and marks the first time that an English ruler had recognised the right of a Welsh prince to rule over Wales and gave Llywelyn Builth, Brecon and Gwerthrynion in Mid Wales and Whittington Castle, previously held by Llyweyn's grandfather in the 1220s. He also received an assurance that no castle would be built at Hawarden for 60 years by Robert of Mold, securing the north-eastern border of Wales.

The treaty allowed for the reinstatement of Llywelyn's brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, into Welsh society after his defection to England in the early 1260s.

Though the treaty required Llywelyn to pay homage to the King of England for the land, it was an acknowledgement of the power and authority of the prince. However, following the succession of Edward I as King of England in 1272, relations between England and Wales deteriorated and Edward declared war on Llywelyn in 1276.

The Treaty of Aberconwy of 1277 superseded the Treaty of Montgomery and severely curbed Llywelyn's power. In December 1282, 15 years after the original treaty, Llywelyn was killed in a surprise attack in Cilmeri, near Builth Wells.