Theosophy Wales, UK:- Pages About Wales. 13 Historical counties

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Wales is a Principality within the United Kingdom and has an eastern border with England. The land area is just over 8,000 square miles. Snowdon is the highest mountain at 3,650 feet. The coastline is almost 750 miles long. The population of Wales as at the 2001 census is 2,946,200.

Theosophy Wales is pleased to present

general pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

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The 13 Historical

Welsh Counties

The Thirteen Historical Welsh counties which

developed during the Middle age and existed until 1974

Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire,

Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire were established

by Act of Parliament of 1535 to the replace the

Marcher Lordships which were a colonial

occupation system. The other 7 counties had existed

since the 13^th century.

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Modern Gazetteer of the

Historical Welsh Counties

Anglesey

Known in Welsh as Sir Fôn. An island County separated from the mainland of Caernarfonshire by the Menai Straits to which it is connected by the

Menai Suspension Bridge.

The island is about 20 miles long, 26 miles broad. Area 176,630 acres. Population 68,000. It is the only county in Wales that is not mountainous, the highest point being Holyhead Hill (703ft). Its northern coast is rocky and a haven for nesting seabirds. Elsewhere the coast is gentler and dotted with shingle and sandy beaches. There are many antiquities. The main

rivers are the Braint and the Cefni.

The main towns are Holyhead, Llangefni, Amlwch and Menai Bridge. Holyhead is a ferry terminal for the Republic of Ireland.

The most important industries are agriculture and tourism.

Places of special interest:

Beaumaris Castle

Bryn Celli Ddu neolithic tomb

Din Lligwy iron age village

Lynnon Windmill, Llanddeusant

Plas Newydd gardens

St Seriol's Well

South Stacks RSPB bird reserve

Brecknockshire

Also known as Breconshire or, in Welsh, as Sir Frycheiniog. An inland County bounded N. by Radnorshire, E. by Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, S. by Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, and W. by Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire.

Area 475,224 acres. Population 56,000. The County is predominantly rural and

mountainous. The Black Mountains occupy the SE of the County, the Brecon Beacons the central region, Fforest Fawr the SW and Mynydd Eppynt the North. Most of the Brecon Beacons National Park lies within the County. The highest point is

Pen-y-Fan (2907 ft). The River Wye traces nearly the whole of the N. boundary, and the Usk flows in an easterly direction through the central valley. Of the many waterfalls in the County, Henrhyd Falls are particularly spectacular. The main towns are Brecon, Brynmawr, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Llanwrtyd Wells and Ystradgynlais.

The most important industries are agriculture, forestry and tourism.

Places of special interest:

Brecon Beacons Mountains Centre, Libanus

Brecknock Musuem, Brecon

Dan-yr-Ogof Caves, Glyntawe

Tretower Castle and Court

Y Gaer Roman Fort

Caernarfonshire

Also known as Carnarvonshire or, in Welsh, as Sir Gaernarfon. A maritime County bounded N. by the Irish Sea, E. by Denbighshire, S. by Cardigan

Bay and Merioneth, and W. by Caernarfon Bay and the Menai Straits, which separates it from Anglesey.

Area 361,156 acres. Population 128,000. The surface is mountaineous. A large part of the Snowdonia National Park lies in the County

including Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales (3560 ft). The Lleyn Peninsula is less mountaineous and contains many bays and sandy beaches.

Bardsey Island is a major site for nesting seabirds. The River Conwy runs north along the Easten

boundary.

Principal towns are Bangor, Betws-y-Coed, Caernarfon, Conwy, Porthmadog and Pwllheli. Sheep rearing and tourism are the main industries, the coast being much developed for the latter.

Places of special interest:

Bardsey Island

Caernarfon Castle

Conwy Castle

Cricceith Castle

Great Orme Tramway

Gwydir Castle, nr. Llanrwst

Penrhyn Castle

Swallow Falls, Betws-y-Coed

Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis

Ty Mawr Wybrnant

Cardiganshire

Known in Welsh as Ceredigion or Sir Aberteifi. A maritime County bounded W. by Cardigan Bay, N. by Merioneth, E. by Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Brecknockshire, and S. by Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Area 440,630 acres. Population 64,000. The Cambrian Mountains cover much of the E. of the County. In the S. and W. the surface is less elevated. The highest point is Plynlimmon at 2,486 feet at which five rivers have their source: the Severn, the

Wye, the Dulas, the Llyfnant and Rheidol, the last of which meets the Mynach in a 300-foot plunge at the Devil's Bridge chasm. The 50 miles of coastline has many sandy beaches.

The main towns are Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, New Quay, Newcastle Emlyn (partly in Carmarthenshire) and Tregaron.

The chief river is the Teifi which forms the border with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire for much of its length. Tourism and agriculture, chiefly hill farming, are the most important industries.

Places of special interest

Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth

Devil's Bridge

Strata Florda Abbey

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Carmarthenshire

Known in Welsh as Sir Gaerfyrddin. A maritime County bounded N. by Cardiganshire, E. by Brecknockshire and Glamorgan, S. by the Bristol Channel and W. by Pembrokeshire. The largest County in Wales. Area 587,816 acres.

Population 167,000.

The surface generally is upland and mountainous. Fforest Fawr and Black Mountain extend into the E. of the County and the Cambrian Mountains into the North. The S. coast contains many fishing villages and sandy beaches. The highest point is Carmarthen Fau (2,525 feet). Principal towns are

Ammanford, Burry Port, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llanelli, Llandeilo, and Llandovery. The main rivers are the Tywi, the Lougher (which forms the E. boundary with Glamorgan), and the Gwendraeth Fawr. The principal industries are

agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism.

Places of special interest:

Carreg Cennen Castle

Dolaucothi Gold Mines

Kidwelly Castle

Laugharne Castle

National Botanic Garden of Wales

Pembrey Country Park

Denbighshire

Known in Welsh as Sir Ddinbych. A maritime County bounded N. by the Irish Sea, E. by Flintshire, Cheshire and Shropshire, S. by Montgomeryshire and Merioneth, and W. by Caernarfonshire. Area 423,499 acres. Population

205,000. In the S. and W. of the County the mountains of the Clwydian Range rise from 1000 to 2500ft high. The E. of the County if hilly. There is some level ground along the coastal strip. The highest points are Moel Sych and Cader

Berwyn at 2,713 feet. Pistyll-y-Rhaeader is a spectacular 240 feet waterfall.

The chief rivers are the Clwyd and the Dee. The River Conwy runs north along the W. boundary. The main towns are Abergele, Denbigh, Colwyn Bay, Llangollen, Llanrwst, Ruthin and Wrexham. The most important industries are agriculture and

tourism.

Places of special interest:

Bodnant Gardens, Tal-y-Cafn

Chirk Castle

Denbigh Castle

Eliseg's Pillar

Plas Newydd, Llangollen

Valle Crucis Abbey

Flintshire

Known in Welsh as Sir y Fflint. A maritime County bounded N. by the Irish Sea, NE by the Dee estuary, E. by Cheshire and S. and SW. by Denbighshire. A large detached part (Maelor Saesneg) is bounded on the NW by Denbighshire, on the NE by Cheshire, and on the S. by Shropshire. There is a further small detached part around Marford. Flintshire is the smallest County in Wales. Total area 164,744 acres. Population 203,000. The coast along the Dee estuary is

heavily developed by industry and the N. coast much developed for tourism.

The Clwydian Mountains occupy much of the W. of the County. The highest point is Moel Fammau (1,820 feet). The chief towns are Bangor-is-y-coed, Buckley, Connah's Quay, Flint, Holywell, Mold, Prestatyn, Queensferry, Rhyl, Shotton and

St. Asaph. The main rivers are the Dee (the estuary of which forms much of the coast) and the Clwyd. The main industries are steelworking, agriculture and tourism.

Places of special interest:

Flint Castle

Hawarden Castle

Rhuddlan Castle

St. Asaph Cathedral

Sun Centre, Rhyl

Welsh Ewloe Castle

Wepre Country Park, Connah's Quay

Glamorgan

Known in Welsh as Morgannwg. A maritime County bounded N. by Brecknockshire, E. by Monmouthshire, S. by the Bristol Channel, and W. by Carmarthenshire and Carmarthen Bay. Area 518,863 acres. Population 1,220,000.

The highest point is at Craig-y-llyn (1,969 ft). Glamorgan is the most populous and industrialised County in Wales. The northern part of the County is a mountainous area, dissected by deep narrow valleys, with urbanisation typified by ribbon devlopment. Although the coal industry, which shaped these valleys and their communities, has now all but disappeared, this area remains heavily

populated with light industry and the service sector now providing the economic base.

The Vale of Glamorgan, a lowland area mainly comprising farmland and small villages stretches across most of the S. of the County from Porthcawl to Cardiff. Further W., beyond Swansea, lies the Gower penisula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The major rivers of Glamorgan include the Taff, the Ely, the Ogmore, the Dulais, the Rhymney (which forms the border with Monmouthshire) and the Lougher (which forms the border with Carmarthenshire).

The main towns include Aberdare, Barry, Bridgend, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash, Neath, Penarth, Pontypridd, Porthcawl, Port Talbot, Swansea. The County has a wide and diverse economic base including: public administration, agriculture, light industry, manufacturing,

service sector, tourism.

Places of special interest:

Aberdulais Falls

Barry Island pleasure beach

Caerphilly Castle

Cardiff Castle

Castell Coch, Tongwynlais

Ewenny Priory

Llandaff Cathedral

Dare Valley Country Park

Dunraven Park, Southerndown

Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans

National Museum of Wales, Cardiff

Old Beaupre Castle

Ogmore Castle

Oxwich Castle

Margam Country Park

Penscynor Wildlife Park, Cilfrew

Swansea Maritime and Industrial Museum Tinkinswood burial chamber

Weobley Castle

Merioneth

Known in Welsh as Meirionnydd. A maritime County bounded N. by Caernarfonshire, E. by Denbighshire, SE. and S. by Montgomeryshire and

Cardiganshire, and W. by Cardigan Bay. Area 427,810 acres. Population 39,000.

The coastline is alternatively cliffs and streches of sand and the County generally is the most mountainous in Wales. A large part of the Snowdonia National Park lies in the County. The greatest heights are Aran Mawddwy (2970ft)

and Cader Idris (2929 ft). The chief rivers are the Dwyryd, the Mawddach and the Dovey. Waterfalls and small lakes are numerous the largest being Bala Lake (4 miles long and 1 mile broad). The main towns are Bala, Barmouth, Blaenau

Ffestiniog, Corwen, Dolgellau, Ffestiniog and Tywyn. The main industries are agriculture and tourism.

Places of special interest:

Castell-y-Bere

Cymer Abbey

Ffestiniog railway

Harlech Castle

Portmeirion Mediterranean Style village

Rhug Chapel

Tomen-y-mur Roman Fort

Monmouthshire

Known in Welsh as Sir Fynwy. A maritime County bounded N. by Herefordshire and Brecknockshire, E. by Gloucestershire, S. by the Bristol channel and W. by Glamorgan. Area 341,688 acres. Population 474,000. The N. and NW. of the County is mountainous, the Black Mountains extend into the County.

The highest point is Chwarel-y-Fan (2,226 ft). The former coal mining valleys of the NW of the County remain heavily populated, although there is no longer a working pit in the County. Towards the seaboard the land is flatter and lowland

farming predominates. The main towns are Abergavenny, Abertillery, Blackwood, Blaenavon, Chepstow, Cwmbran, Ebbw Vale, Monmouth, Newport, Pontypool, Rhymney and Tredegar. The chief rivers are the Wye (much of which forms the border with England), the Usk and the Rhymney (which forms the border with Glamorgan). The

County has a diverse industrial base including agriculture, electronics, engineering, tourism and service industries.

Places of special interest:

Abergavenny Castle

Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenavon

Blaenavon Ironworks

Bryn Bach Country Park, Tredegar

Chepstow Castle

Caerleon Roman Ampitheatre, Baths and Garrison. A possible site of King Arthur’s Camelot.

Caerwent Roman Town

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran Raglan Castle

Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Sirhowy Valley Country Park

Tintern Abbey

White Castle

Montgomeryshire

Known in Welsh as Sir Drefaldwyn. An inland County, bounded N. by Denbighshire, E. and SE. by Shropshire, S. by Radnorshire, SW by

Cardiganshire and W. and NW. by Merioneth. Area 510,111 acres. Population 52,000. The County is almost wholly mountainous, although there are some fertile valleys on the Shropshire side. The highest point is Mole Sych (2,713 ft). The

principal rivers are the Severn and its affluent, the Dovey. Lake Vyrnwy is a reservoir supplying Liverpool. The main towns are Llanfyllin, Machynlleth, Montgomery, Newtown and Welshpool. The main industries are agriculture (mainly hill farming) and tourism.

Places of special interest:

Bryn Tail Lead Mine Buildings

Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth Dolforwyn Castle

Montgomery Castle

Powis Castle, Welshpool

Trefeglwys Tumuli

Pembrokeshire

Known in Welsh as Sir Benfro. A maritime County, washed by the sea on all sides except in the N. where it is bounded by Cardiganshire and in

the E. where it is bounded by Carmarthenshire. Area 395,151 acres. Population 112,000. The highest point is at Wadbury Hill (974 ft). The County looks out to sea on three sides, taking in 170 miles of magnificent coastline comprising

important seabird breeding sites and numerous bays and sandy beaches. Almost all

of the coast is included in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. In the N. are the Prescelly Mountains, a wide stretch of high moorland with many prehistoic monuments. Elsewhere the County is relatively flat, most of the land being used

for lowland farming. Oil tankers dock in the deep estuarine waters of Milford Haven.

The chief rivers are the Eastern Cleddau, the Western Cleddau and the Solva. The main towns are Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Narberth, Newport, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, St. David's and Tenby. The main industries are

tourism, agriculture and oil refining.

Places of special interest:

Bishop's Palace, Lamphey

Carew Castle

Carew Cross

Cilgerran Castle

Manorbier Castle

Oakwood Leisure Park, nr Narberth

Pembroke Castle, Birthplace of Henry Tudor later King HenryVII

Pentre Ifan burial chamber

St. David's Cathedral

Skomer Island

Skokholme Island

Radnorshire

Known in Welsh as Sir Faesyfed. An inland County, bounded N. by Montgomeryshire and Shropshire, E. by Herefordshire, S. and SW. by

Brecknockshire and W. by Cardiganshire. Areas 301,164 acres. Population 23,000.

In the E. and S. are some comparatively level tracts, including the Vale of Radnor, but most of the County is mountainous, with the Cambrian Mountains running through the W. of the County. The highest point is at Radnor Forest (2,166 ft). The Elan Valley contains several huge man-made reservoirs supplying water to Birmingham. The main rivers are the Wye, the Elan and the Ithon. The chief towns are Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Llanelwedd, New Radnor, Presteigne and Rhayader. The main industries are tourism and hill farming.

Places of special interest:

Abbey Cwmhir

Beguildy Tumuli

Broadheath House, Presteigne

Elan Valley Vistor's Centre

Offa's Dyke

The Rock Park, Llandrindod Wells

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