Newtown, Powys, Mid Wales

Newtown, known in Welsh as Y Drenewydd, lies on the River Severn. It was founded in the thirteenth century and flourished in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries around the textile and flannel industry, indeed, it was known as the 'Leeds of Wales'. It received a further boost during that time with the arrival of the Mongomeryshire Canal./

Newtown is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Robert Owen in 1771. Known as Britain's first Socialist, Robert Owen (1771-1858) was born over a saddler's shop in Broad Street. At the age of ten he began work in the town's flourishing textiles industry, and became a self-made man, eventually running and owning some of the largest textile factories in Britain. His former house is now a museum.

For further information on Newtown, Powys please click on the following links:

http://tourism.powys.gov.uk/newtown.php

http://www.newtown.org.uk