66 ENTRANCE TO WELCH POOL," 1810. OLD pictures not only please the eye with their artistic qualities; they are also witnesses to a past which has, more or less, disappeared from the scene, and so help to recall features of which there may be no other memorial. But pictures, like writing, have their romance, and it is sometimes not easy to recognise the originals for the 'picturesqueness' of the artistic accompaniments. The picture of "The Entrance into Welch Pool" is a case in point. It was done in sepia, and one-third larger than the accompanying reproduction, and bears the record that it was "designed, etch'd and published Sep. 1st, 1810, by Rich Sass, No. 4, King Street, St. James's Square." It is taken from the left bank of the Lledan brook, a little above the bridge, west-north-west of the church gates, and represents a condition which was then old and dilapidated, and most of which has been since then changed.-Its title, the "Entrance" into the town, reminds us further how greatly the town has grown in that direction. The bridge in the foreground, with its three pointed arches, has given way to a more humdrum but more serviceable structure, with one round brick arch; and the quaint old building has been superseded by a red brick house, occupied by Mr. David Jones, tailor; but the gabled house, beyond and adjoining, still remains. The artist probably thought that so imposing a bridge deserved suitable accessories: so he introduced a boat and boatmen! Alas, for the departed glories of the Lledan! It reminds us of the amusing story of the painting of "Pistyll Rhaiadr" at Chirk Castle. A critic, standing by the finished picture, remarked that there should be some sheep represented to make it complete : Sheep, sheep, sheeps; ah!" remarked the artist, a foreigner; and forthwith proceeded to supply the omission by introducing a sea at the foot of the waterfall, and sailing upon it a number of ships.' When we pass on to the church-tower in the background, we are a little puzzled how the perspective was obtained. Now, of course, it is impossible to test it, as the view is cut off by intervening buildings; but, all the same, it is difficult to realise it. At the same time the general features are correct enough. The embattled parapet, the low steeple, and the outline of the windows; except that the present window of the vestry room is represented as reaching to the ground and forming a west doorway; and the clock is placed on the northern side to face "the Entrance to Welch Pool." With all due allowance for artistic license, the people of "Welch Pool" will be glad to have the view of one of the many quaint old timber dwellings, that, like the "Cock Inn" and the cottages in High Street, formerly gave the town an air of oldworld character. MON OMERYSHIRE COLLECTIONS. CONTENTS OF VOL. XXXI. Powysland Club and Montgomeryshire Collections Council and Officers of the Powysland Club and the Museum vii viii xi xii XX xxi xxxi Xxxii i. History of the Parish of Llandysilio. By Thomas Pryce, Pentre Heilyn Introduction Description of the Parish 1 1 4 iv. A History of the Parish of Guilsfield (Cegidva). By T. Simpson Jones, M.A., and Robert Owen 53 57 65 By the Rev. Elias Owen, 115 (Continued) 204 129 Obituary Notice.-The Rev. Elias Owen, M.A., F.S.A. The Myddeltons of Chirk Castle 184 189 199 - 201 - 207 i. History of the Parish of Llandysilio. By Thomas Pryce, Pentre Heilyn-continued Curates Parish Clerk Churchwardens Terriers 209 209 215 217 221 - 289 ii. Pryce (Newtown Hall) Correspondence-continued iii. On the Identification of the Site of " Buttingtune," of the Saxon Chronicle, Anno 894. By Charles W. Dymond, F.S.A. Obituary Notice : Stephen W. Williams, F.R. I.B. A., F.S.I., F.S.A. "Entrance to Welch Pool," 1810 337 347 351 Guilsfield, St. Aelhaiarn's Church before its Restoration, 1875 - 126 21 Ground Plans, 1830, 1833, 1868 26 35 Plan of Brynmawr Encampment Stephen W. Williams, F.R.I.B.A., F.S.I., F.S.A. 163 166 183 201 351 284 347 POWYS-LAND CLUB. MONTGOMERYSHIRE COLLECTIONS. THE POWYS-LAND CLUB was established in 1867, "for the collecting and printing (for the use of its members), of the Historical, Ecclesiastical, Genealogical, Topographical and Literary Remains of Montgomeryshire." And during the thirty-three years of its existence it has issued thirty-one annual volumes of the Collections, one extra volume of Montgomeryshire Pedigrees by L. Dwnn, and 352 pages of Montgomeryshire Records, now in progress. Besides a rare collection of Parochial Histories, twenty-four in number, the volumes abound in articles on the Botany, Geology, Physiography, and Natural History of the County; so that while providing those who are most interested in their own neighbourhood with the story of its ancient and modern life, historical, social and physical, they supply the more general student with abundant material for study and comparison. The wealth of this material will be realised better if we enumerate more in detail the extent and variety of its character. Thus we have articles on the Abbies of Strata Marcella, Strata Florida, Cwmhir, Cridia and Valle Crucis, and the Nunnery of Llanllugan. Battles of the Breiddin, Buttington, Carno, Pengwern, Rhydygroes. British Camps and Earthworks innumerable. Castles of Carreghova, Dolforwyn, Mathraval, Montgomery, Powis. Enclosure of Common Lands in the County. Family History. The Herberts, Pryce of Newtown, &c., &c. Folklore of the County. Histories and Pedigrees of nearly 200 families, existing or extinct. Lordships of Mawddwy, Mechain, Penllyn, Powis. Manors of Bausley, Cyfeiliog, Deuddwr, Arwystli, Talerddig. Miscellanea Historica, illustrating the history of the County. Moated Mounds of the Valley of the Severn. Parochial Histories of Darowen, Forden, Garthbeibio, Guilsfield, |