CRICKHOWELL, market town, Breconshire, Wales, in the south-east of the county on the left bank of the Usk guarding the northern exit of the road into the county between the Brecon Beacons and the Black mountains. Pop. rural dist. (1931) 7,157. The town is said to derive its name from Crfig Hywel, an early fortress north-north-east of the town. The mediaeval castle, of which only a tower remains, probably dates from the Norman intrusion. Although tradition regards the manor of Crickhowell as a borough by prescription there are no records of its ever having possessed any municipal institutions. The region is wholly agricultural and although in touch with the Newport and Brecon canal, the little market town is off the main railway routes. In recent years (1918-28) communications have been much im proved by the extended use of motor traffic.