Many visitors to Llanidloes are interested in learning more about their ancestors, exploring their family trees and finding out more about the history of the area. If you are one of them we have provided the following contact details which we hope you find useful.
Many thanks to Cynthia Mills from Montgomeryshire family History Society for supplying us with this information.
Local and Family Research Resources (Montgomeryshire and North Radnorshire area)
Public Reference Resources
Powys County Council Archive Office
County Hall
Cefnllys Lane
Llandrindod Wells
Powys
LD1 5LG
Here you will find:
Parish registers, Census 1841-1901, Tithe records, Public records (Court,
Coroners, Inland Revenue etc.), Official records (Councils, Constabulary,
Schools, Poor Law, Highways etc.), Non-conformist records,
Deposited records, (business, estate, societies) etc. Essential to book well ahead
Catalogues online. Website displays digital history and useful starting points for
family and house history. Research service available.
Newtown Area Library
Park Lane
Newtown
Powys
SY16 1EJ
Here you will find:
Extensive local history collection; Census returns 1841-1901 (advisable to book ahead)
Trade directories (on fiche) 1822-1936, some local newspapers from 1869,
some local history journals Ask for Branch Librarian
National Library of Wales
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3BU
Opening Times:
Apr Sept: Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sun: 1.30pm 5.00pm
(Also Mon & Tues in August)
Sat & Bank Holiday: 10.30am 5.00pm
Open at other times by arrangement (Tel: 01686 668813)
Robert Owen Museum
The Cross
Broad Street
Newtown
SY16 2BB
Listings of other local and civic societies and museums in the county of Montgomeryshire are given in Hanes Maldwyn (bulletin of Montgomeryshire local & history societies, published at Newtown Area Public Library.
Arwystli Society
Contact: Christina Edwardes 01597 870292
Dyfi Valley Heritage
Secretary: Margaret Crellon 01654 702138
Guilsfield Local History Society
Contact: Peter Barton 01938 590456
Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society
Secretary: Mrs Monica Woosnam, 24 Dysart Terrace, Canal Road, Newtown, Powys SY16 2JL e-mail: monica.woosnam@btinternet.com Tel: 01686 627916
Librarian: Mr Phillip B Evans
Library Room in Newtown open Tues. & Thurs. 9.30am-4.30pm ( telephone to confirm) Tel: 01686 627076
Publications Sales: Mr & Mrs F Shirley, Maesteg, Blackbridge Lane, Llandinam, Powys SY17 5DJ Tel: 01938 553977
Newtown Area Library: Local Studies
Contact: Margaret Stacey 01686 626934 newadmin@powys.gov.uk
Newtown Civic Society
Contact: Noelyne Hammond 01686 626982
Newtown Local History Group
Secretary: Ann Owen 01686 627477
Oswestry & Border History & Archaeology Group
Secretary: Mrs G Winter 01691 654358
Powys County Archive Office
Contact: Catherine Richards 01597 826086 archives@powys.gov.uk
Powys Family History Society (Montgomeryshire Group)
Powys Family History Society www.rootsweb.com/~wlspfhs
General Secretary: Ann Roberts, 38 Christchurch Court, Park Crescent, Llandrindod Wells LD1 6AB
Publications Sales: Mrs Chrys Bonds, The Gables, Astley Abbotts, Bridgnorth, Salop WV16 4SJ e-mail: chrys.bonds@btinternet.com
Some reference and background publications relative to the area
(The Great Oak Bookshop, Llanidloes, is always ready to advise on availability, Tel: 01686 412959, www.greatoakbooks.co.uk). Please note that the following is not an extensive list.
'Welsh Family History - A Guide to Research', ed. By John Rowlands et al
A handbook of 20 specialised articles dealing with aspects of family history research which differ in Wales from those in other areas.
2nd ed. 1998 ISBN 1 86006 065X
'Second Stages in Researching Welsh Ancestry', ed. John & Sheila Rowlands
A handbook of a further 22 specialised articles giving further guidance in researching Welsh family history.
1999
ISBN 86006 0668
'Wales after 1536 a Guide' by Donald Gregory
An outline of major religious, political, educational, economic and other issues facing the Welsh people from the Act of Union with England, through to the mid 19th Century.
1995 ISBN 0 86381318 6
'The Crisis of Community Montgomeryshire 1680-1815' by Melvin Humphreys
Deals with the great changes confronting Welsh society in the 18th Century examined through the experience of the people of Montgomeryshire.
1996 ISBN 0 7083 1315 9
'The Historical Atlas of Montgomeryshire', ed. By David Jenkins
A series of articles covering some 40 aspects of Welsh development from prehistoric times to the 1990's, accompanied by illustrative maps showing relative locations.
1999 ISBN 0 950 3613 72
'A Welsh Countryside Revisited' by Alwyn D Rees
A detailed social study and analysis of family life in Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, a rural North Montgomeryshire parish, in the late 1930's.
Enlarged edition 2003. ISBN 0 9541139 18
'Llanidloes Town and Parish an Illustrated Account' by E Ronald Morris
A photographic survey dating from the 1850's, preceded by an introduction relating to the main historical events in the story of this ancient town.
2nd edition 2003.
Things Go Quicker Than They Used To, compiled by Susan Brachi
(reminisences of early 20th century life in and around Llanidloes)
2004 Cambrian Printers, Aberystwyth
'Radnorshire a Historical Guide' by Donald Gregory
Radnorshire presented as Wales in microcosm prehistoric to modern times.
1995 ISBN 0 86381 284 8
Two Valleys, by Maldwyn Rees
(autobiography, dating from 1918, describing typical farming life in the area of the Clywedog valley before its flooding to create the Dam)
1996 St Idloes Press, Llanidloes
Llandinam A Glimpse of the Past, written and compiled by Jeremy Pryce
(evocative reminiscences and illustrative material covering the past two centuries ) 2002 ISBN 0 9544082 0 9
Llanbrynmair in the Twentieth Century, comp. by Llanbrynmair Local History Group
(extensive bilingual Welsh/English local history directory)
2005 ISBN 0 990506 840 1
Caeheulon and the Parish of Penegoes the diary of a Welsh farmhouse, by Wendy Morgan
(detailed archive material to 1901 for family and house historians researching Penegoes, Aberhosan and Dylife)
2003 ISBN 0 954 21176 6
A Pictorial History of Machynlleth, by David Wyn Davies
(dating from late C18: places, personalities, events and customs bilingual Welsh/English, well indexed)
Machylleth Civic Society 1st ed. 1996 ISBN 0 900439 83 1
A Welsh Countryside Revisited, by Alwyn D Rees
(a detailed social study and analysis of family life in Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, a rural North Montgomeryshire
parish, in the late 1930s)
enlarged ed. 2003 ISBN 0 9541139 18
Llanfyllin Portrait of an Age, compiled by Llanfyllin & District Civic Society
(pictorial and thematic arecord1880-1920 a period of economic and social growth in this frontier town)
Welshpool Printing Group 1st ed. 2002
Good Men and True The lives and Tales of the Shepherds of mid Wales, by Erwyn Howells
(personal reminiscences with much authentic atmosphere)
2005 ISBN 09551736 0 X
The family history societies publish transcriptions of local records in the form of printed booklets, michrofiche or on CD.
3 Long Bridge Street
