Divisions for L'ecletriastical and Legal Purposes.—The eastern side of Radnorshire is iu the diocese of Hereford, and the western iu that of St. David's. Tho county is in the South %Vales circuit. Tho aeaizes are held at • Presteigue; county courts at Presteigne and Rhayader. One member of parliament is returned for the county, and one for New Radnor and its contributory boroughs. By tho l'oor-Law Commissioners the county is divided into three unions, Knighton, Presteigne, and Rhayader. These unions comprise 46 parishes and townships, with an area of 223,558 acres, and a popula tion in 1851 of 19,769.
History, Anliquities, etc.—Radnorthive originally formed part of the territory inhabited by the Silures, and, after its subjugation and ulti mate abandonment by the Romans, was included in one of the petty principalities into which Wales was divided. In the reign of Henry VIII. Radnor was formed into a county.
There is a Roman station at Own, on the right bank of the river Ithon, about two miles north-west from Llandrindod. The camp is square, and covers an area of about four acres. Radnorshire being a border county, the remains of British encampments are numerous. Offa's the boundary formed by Offa botwecu his kingdom of Mercia and the territories of the Welsh princes, enters Radnorshire on the north at Knighton ; running south the dyke enters Hereford shire at Berea Bank, a steep hill on the right of the turnpike-road between Preateigne and New Radnor. There were several castles in this county, but their remains are very imperfect. One tower of Aber
Faiw Castle remain.. It is situated close to the ronnuitio village of Aber Ede, near the junction of the Edw with the Wye, about three miles below the town of BuIlth. This castle belonged to Llewellyn app Griffyth, and was that prince** last retreat. Ho was here killed. The doll of the Edw has ever since been called Cwm Llewellyn, or Llewellyn*. Dingle.
TIN only monastic, establishment In Itednorshire seems to have been that of Abbey Cam Ilir. It is romantically situated in a narrow valley surrounded by high hills, 5 miles east by north from Ithayader. It was founded about 1143. The only remains of the edifice are part of the exterior walls and the foundation of the pillars which supported the arches. Some of the columns and arches of the abbey were removed to Llanidloes, and are now iu the church of that place. The ancient feat and rereen at Newtown were also taken from Abbey Cwm Rdigioui Worship and Jnstructios.—Acoording to the Returns of the Census of 1951, it appears that in the Registration County of Radnor, including a population of 31,425, there were then 139 places of worship, of which 59 belonged to the Church of England, 50 to three bodies of Methodists, 17 to Baptists, and 11 to Independ ent& The total number of sittings provided was 22,802. 'rho number of day-schools was 83, of which 34 were public schools, with 1731 scholars, and 49 were private schools, with 699 scholars. Of Sunday schools there were 51, with 2519 scholars. There was an evening school for adults, with 9 scholars.