POOL, or WELSIIPOOL, Montgomeryshire, a market-town, and municipal and parliamentary borough, in the parish of Pool, and con lointly with MONTGOMERY the seat of a Poor-Law Union, is sitnated in a hollow near the left bank of the river Severn, in 52' 39' N. let., 3* 8' W. long., 10 miles N. from Montgomery, and 171 miles N.W. by W. from London. The population of the parliamentary borough of Welshpool in 1951 was 4434; of the municipal borough, 6564. The borough is governed by 4 aldermen and 12 councillors, one of whom is mayor, and is contributory to the Montgomery district of boroughs in returning one member to the Imperial Parliament. The living is a vicarage In the archdeaconry of Montgomery and diocese of St. Asaph.
Welshpool (to called to distinguish it from the town of Poole in Dorsetshire) derives its name from a pool or lake called Liam Du, near which it is situated. Cadwgan, a powerful chieftain of the district of Powys, built a ensile here in 1109, which was dismantled in 1223 by the l'rinee of North Wales. It was afterwards restored, and received its present name of Powys Cootie.
The town is watered by two brooks, which flow into the Severn •, it is partially paved and lighted with gas. It consists of two parts, Pool Town and Welsh Town. The town- and county-hall has a space
beneath for a corn-market. The church, which is spacious, was rebuilt, with the exception of the chancel and the tower, in the latter half of the last century, and has been since enlarged. A new church of Anglo-Norman character, erected by subscription, is on high ground close to Powys Park. Independents, Baptists, and other Dissenters have places of worship, and there are National schools and a savings bank. Some flannel la manufactured. Monday is the weekly market day fa; provisions ; the market for Welsh flannels is held on alternate Mondays. Seven faire are held in the course of the year. The maizes and a county court are held in WelahpooL The Severn is navigable for barges to within a mile of the town. The Montgomeryshire Canal passes on the eastern side.
Powys Castle, the seat of the Clive family, stands on a rocky elevation in a spacious and well-wooded park, on the south side of Welshpool town. It has of late years been to a considerable extent improved and its different parts made to harmonise. In a gallery, 117 feet long by 90 feet broad, is a collection of about 70 paintings by the first masters.