Newtown
Newtown is the largest town in the county of Powys, Wales. It had a permanent resident population of 12783 in 2001, dropping to 11357 at the 2011 census. Newtown is approximately 8 miles (13 kilometres) from the Wales-England border, in the narrow valley of the river Severn which limits growth north and south of the town. Newtown is surrounded by small villages usually referenced as the Newtown region. The town grew most markedly in the 18th and 19th centuries around the textile and flannel market, which was further boosted by the conclusion of the Montgomeryshire Canal. In 1838, the town saw Wales' first Chartist demonstration. The town was designated as a 'new town' in 1967. It has actually seen a sizeable population growth as companies and people have settled, altering the rural market town character. Lying on the River Severn, within the historical perimeters of Montgomeryshire, the town is best recognised as the birth place of Robert Owen in 1771. His one-time house stood on what is now the site of the HSBC Bank. The Robert Owen Museum is over the road, filling the ground floor of the council offices. Built by Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones, the Pryce Jones Royal Welsh Warehouse continues to be the tallest building in Newtown. The two imposing structures housed the world's first mail order service depot. Bear Lanes, the town's major shopping centre, has a Tudor-style entryway. The building was in times past a hotel, The Bear, which adds to the centre's aesthetics today. Newtown is also the home of Theatr Hafren and of Oriel Davies, a main public gallery, which shows national and worldwide contemporary art and craft. Newtown hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1965. For all your home remodelings, be sure to identify respected experts in Newtown to make certain of quality.
