The Official Newtown Website

A Walk around Newtown

The walk described will take you about two hours - allow an extra hour if you decide to climb the Bryn Bank.

We begin at Sarah Brisco's Town Clock, which rises above Barclay's Bank at the junction of Broad Street and Severn Street. Note the Free Library building on the opposite corner, designed by the architect Frank Shayler of Shrewsbury and built in 1902. Here you will find the Robert Owen Museum and the Town Council Reading Room, both of which are open to the public, and above, the Town Council Offices.

Cross the road towards the Midland Bank, which was built on the site of Robert Owen's birthplace, and walk down High Street. W.H.Smiths, on the right hand side, has been preserved as an interesting example of an early 20th century shop, and has a small museum on the first floor. On the south side of High Street is the Market Hall which you may wish to explore if it is Tuesday, Friday or Saturday when the market is open. Walk along High Street and cross the road by the pedestrian crossing into the park which surrounds the Town Hall, a pleasant Georgian style building which stands on the site of Newtown Hall, home of the Pryce family.

Continue round to the left of the Town Hall, pausing to explore the motte and bailey which in medieval times guarded the southern approaches to the town. Arriving in Park Street turn right, noting the large office block, Ladywell House, which houses the Welsh Development Agency, and which was built on the site of one of Newtown's most crowded districts. A number of early 19th century houses still survive in Park Street: note the doors of the houses with their ornamental porticoes - a characteristic feature of Newtown cottages.

At the end of Park Street pass the County Library, which has an excellent local history collection. The library was rebuilt in 1989 after a fire. Turn right into Park Lane, past Ladywell Green Infants' School and the Newtown Headquarters of the Dyfed-Powys Police, then take the right fork on the footpath which leads to the river past the Scout Hut. Stroll along the river bank back towards the town, perhaps making a detour over the suspension bridge into Dolerw Park, a green and pleasant space with some fine trees and open westerly views. The stone Gorsedd Circle looks as though it has stood in the park near the river for centuries, but in fact it was constructed for the National Eisteddfod (which was held in Newtown in 1965) and only later moved to its present position.

The riverside path skirts the town's main car park and leads to the Longbridge emerging by the Regent Centre which was formerly the town's Flannel Exchange, built in 1832. Viewed from the south side it is still possible to see what a fine early 19th century building it once was. The path continues to the Gravel Car Park.

Turn north over the Longbridge, noting the Catholic Church on the right hand north bank - converted from an old flannel mill (and pub) in 1947 - and the Crescent Presbyterian Church on the left. On reaching the roundabout known as The Crescent, turn right into Commercial Street. You are now in Penygloddfa, in the heart of the old flannel weaving quarter of town. Note the three and four storey terraces where weaving shops and warehouses were built over the mill-workers' and weavers' tiny cottages. Two of the largest warehouses are now converted into flats, but one of the terraces has been converted into a Textile Museum.

Turn left up Bryn Street past more typical 19th century houses. A climb to the top of Bryn Street will lead you to Bryn Gardens and the steep path up to the Bryn Bank, from where spectacular views of the surrounding countryside may be obtained, with the town neatly laid out below you.

Coming down to earth again, leave the path from the Bryn Bank, turn right into Crescent Gardens and left into Crescent Street, from where you can descend directly to the Crescent with the Longbridge ahead of you.

Cross the River Severn by Longbridge into Broad Street - pausing to enjoy the views both up and downstream - and continue past the Elephant and Castle Hotel and the Black Boy Inn. Take the next turning on the left down Old Church Street (partly pedestrianised) which will lead you past the Old Rectory to the remains of the old parish church St Mary's with its square 13th century tower. Note the gates, which were presented by the children of Robert Owen in 1858. In the pretty churchyard garden you will find the grave of Robert Owen, and on a nearby wall a plaque commemorating one of the leading Montgomeryshire Chartists, Thomas Powell. Inside the church ruins is the mausoleum of the Pryce family of Newtown Hall. The Church Tower and Gardens underwent major renovations in 2000.

Stroll through the garden until you emerge onto the river bank once more, and follow the river downstream for a while, past the Ha' penny Bridge which until recently was regularly swept away by the winter floods. When you reach the Gravel Car Park, note the rare Black Poplar tree - famous for having once stood on the opposite bank of the Severn, before the course of the river was altered as part of the flood prevention scheme. Then turn left for a few yards to note Newtown's Cenotaph at the junction with New Road.

A short diversion westwards along New Road will bring you to St David's Parish Church, across the road from the Baptists Church with its imposing neo-Classical facade. If you're still feeling energetic, you could also walk up the footpath to the left of St David's Church which will bring you to the railway station and the Royal Welsh Warehouse, an impressive Victorian building of red brick (now a department store), from where flannel goods were sent all over the world in the 19th century. Many of the destinations are recorded for posterity on the facade of the building - your children may enjoy noting where they are.

The statue of Robert Owen Retrace your steps across New Road and back to Shortbridge Street, past the Post Office. In the triangular green at the junction of Shortbridge Street and Gas Street stands a fine statue of Robert Owen which was erected in 1956. Note also the bronze relief mounted on the wall behind him. The Robert Owen Gardens underwent major renovations in 1999.

A replica of the statue has recently been made; this now stands outside the headquarters of the Co-operative Bank in Manchester.

Take the path up Gas Street - to the right of the Robert Owen statue as you stand facing it - past the row of restored 16th century cottages known as The Bank - and round the corner into Severn Square. Beyond Severn Square an attractive development known as St Mary's Close has been built on the site of the old tannery which has now moved to new premises on the Pool Road. Bear left through Severn Square into Severn Street which will bring you back to the Town Clock once more.

One last item of interest to note is the plaque on the wall below the Severn Street side of the Town Clock, in memory of Geraint Goodwin (1903 - 1941) a novelist who has been called the D H Lawrence of Mid Wales. He was the author of 'Heyday in the Blood' and many other stories set in Newtown and its surroundings, and his works are well worth seeking out if you are interested in understanding more of the history of this very individual small town.