New Radnor
Encyclopedia
New Radnor is a village
in Powys
, mid Wales
. It was the original county town
of Radnorshire
. The population today is around 400, a higher than normal proportion of which are pensioners.
, and has been said to have been built to replace Old Radnor
, and it was a planned medieval town, with streets laid out in a grid pattern. It was linked to other settlements nearby and regionally such as Builth, Presteigne
and Kington Castle
and later Huntington Castle
near Gladestry
.
http://www.castlewales.com/radnor.html mound of a Norman
motte
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/680407.
New Radnor castle was originally called Trefaesyfed and was once a considerable fortress and a significant border castle in the Welsh Marches
and played its part in the turmoil, violence and barbarity of the early medieval period typical of such a site.
The first castle at New Radnor may have been built by William Fitz Osbern
earl of Hereford
. Certainly he held the land by the time of his death in 1071 and the layout of the powerful castle suggests that it was built by a man of great influence. Soon after 1086 New Radnor was granted to Philip de Braose
. It may have been at this time that ten minor castle
s were built nearby to strengthen the Norman hold on the district.
New Radnor Castle was seized by the sons of Einion Clud of Elfael
. Einion o'r Porth and Rhys ap Gruffydd
of Deheubarth entertained Baldwin of Exeter
, Archbishop of Canterbury
and Giraldus Cambrensis
here in 1188 during their famour tour of Wales. Einion was killed by his brother in 1191 and in 1195 the Amazonian Matilda de St Valery was probably responsible for retaking the castle for her husband William de Braose
. As a result the previous overlord, Rhys ap Gruffydd, returned and sacked the castle before winning the battle of Radnor against Roger Mortimer
and Hugh de Say.
Rhys died in 1197 and by 1200 William de Braose was back at Radnor Castle. In 1208 King John
took the castle from the rebellious de Braose, only to lose it in 1215 to Giles de Braose
, Bishop of Hereford
. In August 1216 King John and Gwallter Clud, the brother of Einion o'r Porth, burned the castle in revenge.
After the death of the last Braose of Radnor the castle was taken into royal custody, but was destroyed by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in 1231. In 1233 it was illegally rebuilt by Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
and then passed to the young Roger Mortimer
of Wigmore Castle
. In 1264 Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
, allied with Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
took and again destroyed the castle. In all the castle had changed hands twelve times in only eighty years! On four of these occasions the castle was said to have been 'destroyed'. New Radnor is obviously the most unlucky castle in Wales! In maturity the castle proved much more sedate.
was said to have been attacked and destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr
and his forces during his rebellion of 1400 to 1412. Owain's forces allegedly attacked it in either 1401 or 1403, capturing the garrison of sixty men inside, whom he then hanged from the curtain walls over the battlements, then beheaded and buried nearby. Human bones were accidentally disturbed during excavations for church rebuilding in 1843 and as they were excavated it was noted that the skulls were piled separately to the skeletons. They were unceremoniously piled in a mass grave.
It has since been proved that this story of the castle's fall and the massacre of the garrison in 1403 is a much later legend that has no basis in fact.
had regained the castle, garrisoned it with a new force of thirty men-at-arms and one hundred and fifty archers, under the command of Richard, Lord Grey. This force was more suitable for the defence of the castle and posed a deterrent to another attack.
Radnor castle then gently fell into decay, by 1538 only one tower remained habitable and that was used as the county prison.
The castle was in the care of the Earls of Pembroke in the reign of James I
and then passed to Lord Powis.
During the English Civil War
the castle was visited by Charles in 1642 but after a siege
was captured and dismantled by Parliamentary forces to prevent it becoming a Royalist stronghold again, a process known as slighting
.
The earthworks consist of a large mound or motte, protected to the north by a double ditch, probably built by the earl of Cornwall in 1233. Beyond this is a large bailey with the foundations of a rectangular building within it.
The town is still surrounded by considerable remains of the town walls which are especially visible to the south-west. The layout of the town within the walls might suggest that New Radnor started life as a Roman town or Saxon burgh.
had its own Court. The honour later passed to Presteigne
. The old Town Hall is still in the village today. The town used to have its own regular markets, including a livestock market held once a week throughout the year. But this is no longer the case.
The parliamentary seat of Radnor was sometimes involved in turbulent local politics, as in 1693 when two rival families the Lewis's (Whigs) and the Harley's (Tories) met on the High Street in New Radnor and drew sword
s, such was the bad blood between them. One man involved, later Sir Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
, becoming MP, three times Speaker of the House of Commons
and also Chancellor of the Exchequer
in 1710 and later Lord High Treasurer, and very nearly Prime Minister
. But he was to be dismissed by the Queen, imprisoned in The Tower
in 1715. He died in 1724 and is buried in Brampton Bryan
.
(1806–1863). Sir George was the son of Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis of Harpton Court near New Radnor. The family owned large estates and were powerful men both sides of the border. Sir George became a lawyer and went on to become the MP for Herefordshire. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer
, Home Secretary
and Secretary of State for War
. In the last decade the monument has fallen into a state of disrepair and has had to be sealed off from the general public. But in September 2001 the local authorities agreed to pay out on renovation work for the monument.
As of February 2009, the monument is again fenced off and awaiting repair, and has been for more than two years. There seems to be some doubt as to which body is responsible for its upkeep.
making, picture framing and holiday homes, bed & breakfast establishments and tourism in general.
There is also a huge quarry nearby which employs local people. The stone locally is known for being extremely
hard.
from Kington
, with ambitions to extend a cross-Wales railway line to Aberystwyth
. Developing a small station 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) from the town, the plans never came to fruition, only allowing services on the Great Western Railway
to both Leominster
and onwards to London Paddington. The station closed to passengers in 1951, and freight in 1961.
, church, community centre or village hall
, the war memorial and a primary school - currently teaching approx 80 pupils. Some years ago it narrowly missed out on the award for Best Kept village in Wales .
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, mid Wales
Mid Wales
Mid Wales is the name given to the central region of Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the National Assembly for Wales covered the counties of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionydd. A similar definition is used by the BBC...
. It was the original county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
. The population today is around 400, a higher than normal proportion of which are pensioners.
Medieval planned layout
The village lies by the Radnor ForestRadnor Forest
Radnor Forest is a rock dome in Mid Wales, and a forest only in the mediæval sense of an unenclosed area used for hunting . The highest point is Great Rhos or Rhos Fawr, a broad featureless plateau which reaches , and a similar plateau adjoining to the east, Black Mixen is the only Nuttall to...
, and has been said to have been built to replace Old Radnor
Old Radnor
Old Radnor is a tiny town in Radnorshire , Wales.-Notes:...
, and it was a planned medieval town, with streets laid out in a grid pattern. It was linked to other settlements nearby and regionally such as Builth, Presteigne
Presteigne
Presteigne is a town and community in Powys, Wales. It was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, and is in the Diocese of Hereford...
and Kington Castle
Kington Castle
Kington Castle stood in the medieval market town of Kington in Herefordshire, England .- Welsh Marches Border Castle :The castle was sited to the north west of the present town of Kington above the Back Brook. Around the end of the 11th century William Rufus granted the estates in and around...
and later Huntington Castle
Huntington Castle
Huntington Castle was situated in the village of Huntingdon in Herefordshire, England, 2½ miles south-west of Kington .- Natural Site :The castle is sited on a commanding position on the modern day England Wales border in what was the Welsh Marches in Norman and medieval times...
near Gladestry
Gladestry
Gladestry is a small village and community in Powys, Mid Wales, close to the border with England at the end of the Hergest Ridge.In the 2001 census the population of the community was 419.- Amenities :...
.
The castle
Attractions in the town include a significant castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
http://www.castlewales.com/radnor.html mound of a Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/680407.
New Radnor castle was originally called Trefaesyfed and was once a considerable fortress and a significant border castle in the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
and played its part in the turmoil, violence and barbarity of the early medieval period typical of such a site.
The first castle at New Radnor may have been built by William Fitz Osbern
William Fitz Osbern
William Fitz Osbern may refer to:* William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford , Norman magnate and friend of William the Conqueror* William Fitz Osbern , leader of popular revolt in London 1196...
earl of Hereford
Earl of Hereford
The title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. See also Duke of Hereford, Viscount Hereford. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for.-Earls of Hereford, First Creation :*Swegen Godwinson...
. Certainly he held the land by the time of his death in 1071 and the layout of the powerful castle suggests that it was built by a man of great influence. Soon after 1086 New Radnor was granted to Philip de Braose
Philip de Braose
Philip de Braose, 2nd Lord of Bramber was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and Marcher Lord.-Early career:His father, William de Braose had participated in the victory at the Battle of Hastings in support of William the Conqueror. He had been rewarded with a barony and lands in Sussex and the Welsh Marches...
. It may have been at this time that ten minor castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s were built nearby to strengthen the Norman hold on the district.
Welsh attacks
In the aftermath of the battle of DingestowDingestow
Dingestow is a village in Monmouthshire, Wales.-Location:Dingestow is located three miles south of Monmouth and approximately the same distance north east from Raglan in rural Monmouthshire.-History and amenities:...
New Radnor Castle was seized by the sons of Einion Clud of Elfael
Elfael
Elfael was one of a number of Welsh kingdoms occupying the region between the River Wye and river Severn, known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, in the early Middle Ages. Later in the Middle Ages it became a cantref. After the Laws in Wales Act of 1535, it became part of the new county of Radnorshire. ...
. Einion o'r Porth and Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
of Deheubarth entertained Baldwin of Exeter
Baldwin of Exeter
Baldwin of Forde was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1185 and 1190. Son of a clergyman, he studied both canon law and theology at Bologna and was tutor to Pope Eugene III's nephew before returning to England to serve successive bishops of Exeter...
, Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
and Giraldus Cambrensis
Giraldus Cambrensis
Gerald of Wales , also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, archdeacon of Brecon, was a medieval clergyman and chronicler of his times...
here in 1188 during their famour tour of Wales. Einion was killed by his brother in 1191 and in 1195 the Amazonian Matilda de St Valery was probably responsible for retaking the castle for her husband William de Braose
William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber
William de Braose, , 4th Lord of Bramber , court favourite of King John of England, at the peak of his power, was also Lord of Gower, Abergavenny, Brecknock, Builth, Radnor, Kington, Limerick, Glamorgan, Skenfrith, Briouze in Normandy, Grosmont, and White Castle.-Lineage:William was the most...
. As a result the previous overlord, Rhys ap Gruffydd, returned and sacked the castle before winning the battle of Radnor against Roger Mortimer
Roger Mortimer
Roger Mortimer was the name of several Marcher lords:* Roger Mortimer of Wigmore , married Isabel de Ferriers and became Lord of Maelienydd...
and Hugh de Say.
Rhys died in 1197 and by 1200 William de Braose was back at Radnor Castle. In 1208 King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
took the castle from the rebellious de Braose, only to lose it in 1215 to Giles de Braose
Giles de Braose
Giles de Braose was Bishop of Hereford from 1200 to 1215.-Early life:Giles was the second son of William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber. His father was a landholder on the Welsh Marches, who gained the favour of King John of England in the early years of John's reign. Giles' mother was Maud of St...
, Bishop of Hereford
Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
. In August 1216 King John and Gwallter Clud, the brother of Einion o'r Porth, burned the castle in revenge.
After the death of the last Braose of Radnor the castle was taken into royal custody, but was destroyed by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in 1231. In 1233 it was illegally rebuilt by Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Richard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King...
and then passed to the young Roger Mortimer
Roger Mortimer
Roger Mortimer was the name of several Marcher lords:* Roger Mortimer of Wigmore , married Isabel de Ferriers and became Lord of Maelienydd...
of Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle is a ruined castle which is barely visible from the village of Wigmore in the northwest region of Herefordshire, England.- History :...
. In 1264 Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd may refer to:*Llywelyn the Last *Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan...
, allied with Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
took and again destroyed the castle. In all the castle had changed hands twelve times in only eighty years! On four of these occasions the castle was said to have been 'destroyed'. New Radnor is obviously the most unlucky castle in Wales! In maturity the castle proved much more sedate.
Owain Glyndŵr
The castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was said to have been attacked and destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
and his forces during his rebellion of 1400 to 1412. Owain's forces allegedly attacked it in either 1401 or 1403, capturing the garrison of sixty men inside, whom he then hanged from the curtain walls over the battlements, then beheaded and buried nearby. Human bones were accidentally disturbed during excavations for church rebuilding in 1843 and as they were excavated it was noted that the skulls were piled separately to the skeletons. They were unceremoniously piled in a mass grave.
It has since been proved that this story of the castle's fall and the massacre of the garrison in 1403 is a much later legend that has no basis in fact.
Later history
By 1405 King Henry IV of EnglandHenry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
had regained the castle, garrisoned it with a new force of thirty men-at-arms and one hundred and fifty archers, under the command of Richard, Lord Grey. This force was more suitable for the defence of the castle and posed a deterrent to another attack.
Radnor castle then gently fell into decay, by 1538 only one tower remained habitable and that was used as the county prison.
The castle was in the care of the Earls of Pembroke in the reign of James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and then passed to Lord Powis.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
the castle was visited by Charles in 1642 but after a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
was captured and dismantled by Parliamentary forces to prevent it becoming a Royalist stronghold again, a process known as slighting
Slighting
A slighting is the deliberate destruction, partial or complete, of a fortification without opposition. During the English Civil War this was to render it unusable as a fort.-Middle Ages:...
.
The medieval castle and town remains
The castle was described as being nearly square with massive square towers at three corners and two smaller round towers covering the town. There were still walls standing in 1840 but today only the earthworks remain. The rest of the stonework must have been utilised as a ready supply of cut stone and was depleted by the local people for their homes and farms and some became buried, emerging in digging in the 19th Century.The earthworks consist of a large mound or motte, protected to the north by a double ditch, probably built by the earl of Cornwall in 1233. Beyond this is a large bailey with the foundations of a rectangular building within it.
The town is still surrounded by considerable remains of the town walls which are especially visible to the south-west. The layout of the town within the walls might suggest that New Radnor started life as a Roman town or Saxon burgh.
Administrative centre & market town
New Radnor when it was the county townCounty town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
had its own Court. The honour later passed to Presteigne
Presteigne
Presteigne is a town and community in Powys, Wales. It was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, and is in the Diocese of Hereford...
. The old Town Hall is still in the village today. The town used to have its own regular markets, including a livestock market held once a week throughout the year. But this is no longer the case.
The parliamentary seat of Radnor was sometimes involved in turbulent local politics, as in 1693 when two rival families the Lewis's (Whigs) and the Harley's (Tories) met on the High Street in New Radnor and drew sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
s, such was the bad blood between them. One man involved, later Sir Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer KG was a British politician and statesman of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He began his career as a Whig, before defecting to a new Tory Ministry. Between 1711 and 1714 he served as First Lord of the Treasury, effectively Queen...
, becoming MP, three times Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
and also Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
in 1710 and later Lord High Treasurer, and very nearly Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. But he was to be dismissed by the Queen, imprisoned in The Tower
The Tower
-Architecture:*The Tower of London, a castle in London, England, started in 1078*The Tower , a building in United Arab Emirates, built in 2002*The Tower , an office tower in Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
in 1715. He died in 1724 and is buried in Brampton Bryan
Brampton Bryan
Brampton Bryan is a small village and civil parish situated in north Herefordshire, England close to the Shropshire and Welsh borders.Brampton Bryan lies mid-way between Leintwardine and Knighton on the A4113 road. The village has had a complex history and its buildings reflect this...
.
New Radnor monument
There is a large monument in the village http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/678817 which is a Grade II listed structure and stands at approximately 77 ft tall. The monument was built in memory of Sir George Cornewall LewisGeorge Cornewall Lewis
Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Baronet PC was a British statesman and man of letters.-Family:He was born in London, the son of Thomas Frankland Lewis of Harpton Court, Radnorshire and his wife Harriet Cornewall...
(1806–1863). Sir George was the son of Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis of Harpton Court near New Radnor. The family owned large estates and were powerful men both sides of the border. Sir George became a lawyer and went on to become the MP for Herefordshire. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
and Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
. In the last decade the monument has fallen into a state of disrepair and has had to be sealed off from the general public. But in September 2001 the local authorities agreed to pay out on renovation work for the monument.
As of February 2009, the monument is again fenced off and awaiting repair, and has been for more than two years. There seems to be some doubt as to which body is responsible for its upkeep.
Rural area & tourism
New Radnor's main sources of income and jobs and employment opportunities are still from farming and agriculture and today there are new smaller businesses such as ciderCider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
making, picture framing and holiday homes, bed & breakfast establishments and tourism in general.
There is also a huge quarry nearby which employs local people. The stone locally is known for being extremely
hard.
Transport
The Kington and Eardisley Railway developed an extension to the Leominster and Kington RailwayLeominster and Kington Railway
Leominster and Kington Railway was one of four branches which served the Welsh Marches border town of Kington, Herefordshire.Opened in August 1857, its peak was during World War II, when it served two US Army hospitals...
from Kington
Kington, Herefordshire
Kington is a market town and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,597.-Location:Kington is near the Wales-England border and, despite being on the western side of Offa's Dyke, has been English for over a thousand years. The town is in the...
, with ambitions to extend a cross-Wales railway line to Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. Developing a small station 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) from the town, the plans never came to fruition, only allowing services on the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
to both Leominster
Leominster railway station
Leominster railway station lies on the Welsh Marches Line serving the Herefordshire town of Leominster in England.Leominster has 2 Platforms for North and South bound trains respectively.-History:...
and onwards to London Paddington. The station closed to passengers in 1951, and freight in 1961.
Village amenities & public houses
New Radnor has only one pub - The Radnor Arms. The Eagle public house has been closed for some time. The village Post Office http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/38330 closed in 2008. There is a chapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, church, community centre or village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
, the war memorial and a primary school - currently teaching approx 80 pupils. Some years ago it narrowly missed out on the award for Best Kept village in Wales .