MenuRadnorshire, Wales
Radnorshire (Sir Faesyfed) is a county in mid-Wales. The Cambrian Mountains run through the west of the county, rich in sheep grazing and a delight for wild-country enthusiasts. New Radnor, founded by Earl Harold Godwinsson, gives the county its name. It has impressive earthworks and a fallen castle. The nearby Radnor Forest is a place of moors, woods and rivers. The River Wye rises above Rhayader and marks Radnorshire’s southern border with Brecknockshire. Its eastern borders are with Herefordshire and Shropshire, where the picturesque rolling countryside around the town of Knighton is justly acclaimed. Its northern border is with Montgomeryshire. Presteigne, the county town, lies on the Herefordshire border. Llandrindod Wells has many ornate buildings dating from its the boom period as a spa town in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Portrait of Radnorshire
Type: Historic County
Alternative name(s): Sir Faesyfed
Lat, Long: 52.257635,-3.24972
Grid Reference: SO147628
Country: Wales
Explore Radnorshire on Wikishire
The magnificent Elan Valley ("Wales Lake District") occupies the far north-west of the county. The valley contains the Elan Valley Reservoirs and Elan Village, designed by architect Herbert Tudor Buckland, the only purpose-built Arts and Crafts "Model Village" in Wales.
The Elan Valley
The River Wye rises in Cardiganshire but flows down across the north-west of the county to Rhayader, the oldest town in mid-Wales, known to date from the 5th century. These upper stretches of the Wye are very picturesque. South of Rhayader the Wye becomes the border with Brecknockshire, flowing on to Newbridge-on-Wye, which grew around a stop off point for drovers since the Wye was safe to cross here. A few miles to the east of the Wye is the 19th-century spa town of Llandrindod Wells. The architecture of the town includes many buildings in ornate styles dating from the boom period of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
A little further south on the Wye is Llanelwedd, the site of the Royal Welsh Showground. To the south, close to the Wye lie the ruins of Aberedw Castle, the residence of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the final native Prince of Wales. The retreat to Aberedw was the last Llewelyn made before he was slain in battle at Builth Wells. The Wye then continues as the southern border with Brecknockshire to the point where Radnorshire, Brecknockshire and Herefordshire meet where the Wye meets the Dulas Brook near Hay-on-Wye (in Brecknockshire).
The ruins of Aberedw Castle
The Radnor Forest is a slightly isolated dome of hills in the middle of the county near the village of New Radnor, and includes the highest ground in the county. New Radnor was founded and named by Earl Harold Godwinsson (later King Harold II) at the conclusion of his campaign in Wales. It is a small market town with impressive earthworks and a fallen castle. Nearby is the spectacular Water-Break-its-Neck waterfall. Old Radnor is a tiny hamlet 5 miles to the south-east. St Stephen's is a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic church noted for its early organ and organ case, early stained glass, superb 15th-century rood screen and large pre-Norman font.
St Stephen's Church, Old Radnor
East of Radnor Forest, by the Herefordshire border, is the county town of Presteigne. The old Shire Hall is now an award-winning museum. The Church of St Andrew houses a 16th-century Flemish Tapestry.
Shire Hall, Presteigne
The north-east border with Shropshire runs along the Teme Valley with its picturesque rolling countryside. The small market town of Knighton sits on the Teme with a small part of the town across the river in Shropshire. Some of the best preserved remains of Offa's Dyke are around Knighton.
Fields flanked by Offa's Dyke, south of Knighton
The north of the county is very sparsely populated. Here, though, lie the ruins of Cwmhir Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1176 by Cadwallon ap Madog and closed at the dissolution.
Ruins of Cwmhir Abbey
The geographic territory of the county roughly corresponds with the Welsh territory of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren which fell under the control of the Marcher Lords at the end of the 11th Century. The county was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542 out of the cantrefs of Maelienydd and Elfael and the commotes of Gwrtheyrnion and Deuddwr. The county's main sources employment are tourism, hill farming and the public sector.
Portrait of Radnorshire
Type: Historic County
Alternative name(s): Sir Faesyfed
Lat, Long: 52.257635,-3.24972
Grid Reference: SO147628
Country: Wales
Explore Radnorshire on WikishireThe magnificent Elan Valley ("Wales Lake District") occupies the far north-west of the county. The valley contains the Elan Valley Reservoirs and Elan Village, designed by architect Herbert Tudor Buckland, the only purpose-built Arts and Crafts "Model Village" in Wales.
The Elan Valley
The River Wye rises in Cardiganshire but flows down across the north-west of the county to Rhayader, the oldest town in mid-Wales, known to date from the 5th century. These upper stretches of the Wye are very picturesque. South of Rhayader the Wye becomes the border with Brecknockshire, flowing on to Newbridge-on-Wye, which grew around a stop off point for drovers since the Wye was safe to cross here. A few miles to the east of the Wye is the 19th-century spa town of Llandrindod Wells. The architecture of the town includes many buildings in ornate styles dating from the boom period of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
A little further south on the Wye is Llanelwedd, the site of the Royal Welsh Showground. To the south, close to the Wye lie the ruins of Aberedw Castle, the residence of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the final native Prince of Wales. The retreat to Aberedw was the last Llewelyn made before he was slain in battle at Builth Wells. The Wye then continues as the southern border with Brecknockshire to the point where Radnorshire, Brecknockshire and Herefordshire meet where the Wye meets the Dulas Brook near Hay-on-Wye (in Brecknockshire).
The ruins of Aberedw Castle
The Radnor Forest is a slightly isolated dome of hills in the middle of the county near the village of New Radnor, and includes the highest ground in the county. New Radnor was founded and named by Earl Harold Godwinsson (later King Harold II) at the conclusion of his campaign in Wales. It is a small market town with impressive earthworks and a fallen castle. Nearby is the spectacular Water-Break-its-Neck waterfall. Old Radnor is a tiny hamlet 5 miles to the south-east. St Stephen's is a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic church noted for its early organ and organ case, early stained glass, superb 15th-century rood screen and large pre-Norman font.
St Stephen's Church, Old Radnor
East of Radnor Forest, by the Herefordshire border, is the county town of Presteigne. The old Shire Hall is now an award-winning museum. The Church of St Andrew houses a 16th-century Flemish Tapestry.
Shire Hall, Presteigne
The north-east border with Shropshire runs along the Teme Valley with its picturesque rolling countryside. The small market town of Knighton sits on the Teme with a small part of the town across the river in Shropshire. Some of the best preserved remains of Offa's Dyke are around Knighton.
Fields flanked by Offa's Dyke, south of Knighton
The north of the county is very sparsely populated. Here, though, lie the ruins of Cwmhir Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1176 by Cadwallon ap Madog and closed at the dissolution.
Ruins of Cwmhir Abbey
The geographic territory of the county roughly corresponds with the Welsh territory of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren which fell under the control of the Marcher Lords at the end of the 11th Century. The county was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542 out of the cantrefs of Maelienydd and Elfael and the commotes of Gwrtheyrnion and Deuddwr. The county's main sources employment are tourism, hill farming and the public sector.