Y Drenewydd | Newtown

Newtown, known in Welsh as 'Y Drenewydd', is the largest town in Powys (pop.13,000) and is situated on the banks of the River Severn. Founded as a market town at the end of the 13th century, a weekly local market is still held in the town every Tuesday.

Newtown boasts a rich industrial heritage and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. There are a number of museums and galleries to visit in the town includingThe Robert Owen Museum, Newtown Textile Museum, WH Smith Museum and the Oriel Davis Gallery are all situated in the centre of town. On the outskirts of the town is The Hafren theatre, NPTC College and local sports facilities. Newtown provides the ideal base to explore the Severn Valley countryside. Nearby there are nature reserves, Montgomery Canal, the Severn Way, Dolforwyn Castle and Gregynog Hall & Gardens.

Exciting new projects are underway in the town for local families and visitors to enjoy, this includes a Mountain Bike Trail and a BMX Pump Track within walking distance from the town center and popular river walks. Along this route there is also going to be constructed a brand new town center premier playpark for 0-14 year olds.

LOCAL HISTORY
Despite its 13th century origins, Newtown came to prominence in the 19th century when the Montgomeryshire Canal supplied the transport for the blossoming textile industry. Later in the 19th century Newtown would also give birth to the world's first mail-order store; the Pryce-Jones building is still the tallest in the town. Amongst Pryce-Jones' customers were Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale. It is believed that the parcel post in Britain was started as a result of a suggestion made by Pryce Jones to the Postmaster General.

The town’s connection with the textile industry was revived in the 20th century when businesswoman Laura Ashley established her home furnishing and clothing company in the area.

The town is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Robert Owen in 1771. Known as Britain's first Socialist, he was born over a saddler's shop in Broad Street, Newtown. At the age of ten he began work in the town's flourishing textiles industry, and worked his way up. He became a self-made man, eventually running and owning some of the largest textile factories in Britain. Robert Owen is recognised for having sowed the seeds of socialism long before Karl Marx.

The epitaph on Robert Owen's gravestone in the churchyard of the abandoned St Mary's Church in Newtown sums up his philosophy:
"It is the one great and universal interest of the human race to be cordially united and to aid each other to the full extent of their capacities"