RADNORSHIRE, an inland county of \Vales, bounded north by Montgomery, north-east by Shropshire, east by Hereford, south and south-west by Breconshire and north-west by Cardigan. Its area is 301,164 ac., and it is consequently the smallest of the six south Wales counties. Pop. (1931) 21,314. The county is a highland region grading eastwards to the plain of the Severn. The western section is formed of Ordovician rocks which are succeeded eastwards by the Llandovery, Wenlock and Ludlow beds of the Silurian. This region forms part of the central Wales plateau with a general level of about 1,000 feet. To the east of the L.M.S. mid-Wales line that cuts the county diagonally from south-west to north-east the grits and shales of the lower Palaeozoic rocks are over-lain by the Old Red Sandstone which culminates in the rugged mass of Radnor forest (2,166 feet). The railway follows the lower Ithon valley (a tributary of the Wye) from near Builth Road to Llanbadarn Fawr. The Wye forms the south-west bound ary of the county between Newbridge and Three Cocks, and di vides Radnor forest from the Epynt mountains of Breconshire. Between Llandrindod and Builth is a disturbed area of Ordovician strata with masses of andesitic and diabasic igneous rocks. The region has also saline, sulphurous and chalybeate springs. East of New Radnor in the eastern section of the county an inlier of Wenlock rocks is surrounded by Ludlow beds; while at Old Radnor a ridge of very ancient rocks appears. The eastern half of the county is characterized by the number of river valleys that open out to the English plain and consequently offer important ways into the county from the East. In the north the Teme opens out to Knighton and Ludlow and forms the northern boundary of the county for a part of its course. The Lugg flows eastward past Presteign, and the Arrow past Kington, while the vale of Wye leads down to Hereford.
cially in the north of the county of tumuli of uncertain date. Evi dences of Bronze age and Megalithic cultures are almost entirely absent. There are, however, a few good examples of hill-top camps, especially at Burfa, and Castle Ring in the parish of Evenjobb. The Roman interests in the region seem to have cen tred on Castell Collen a focus of ways among the hills and on the road running due north from Brecon to Caersws. The post Roman centuries were naturally times of difficulty in this region and the outstanding memorial of the time is the remains of Offa's Dyke that traversed the county. The best preserved sections are in the hilly districts west of Knighton and Presteign. Church dedications show the influence of the Celtic Saint movements of these centuries. Towards the close of the 9th century Maesyfed was absorbed into the middle kingdom of Powys, and in the loth century it was included in the realm of Elystan Glodrudd, prince of Fferlys, or Feryllwg, who ruled over all land lying between the Wye and Severn. In the reign of William I., the Normans began to penetrate into Maesyfed, where, according to Domes day, the king already laid claim to Radenoure, or Radnor, in the lordship of Melenith (Moelynaidd), which was subsequently be stowed on the Mortimer family. The Domesday records are of interest in that they show evidences of cultural penetrations along the valley ways from the east. (English place-names west of Offa's Dyke, etc.) Influences from the plain have long been a feature of the social, religious and political life of the county. Later, the Norman invaders forced their way up the Wye valley, the de Breos family, lords of Elvel (Elfael), building fortresses at Painscastle and at Colwyn or Maud's Castle. The Wye valley long formed one of the debatable districts between Welsh and Normans. After the annexation of Wales by Edward I., the dis trict of Maesyfed remained under the jurisdiction of the Lords Marchers, represented by the families of Mortimer and Todeney.