MONTGOMERY TO WELSH POOL* «9 



than one eaftle, This was anciently called Pool 

 Cq/i/e, from its vicinity to Pool ; and Qajiell Cocby 

 the Red Caftle, from the hue of its ftone. Its 

 name of Powis Caftle, which is more modern, it 

 feems to have obtained from its having been the 

 principal place in that divifion of Wales called Powif- 

 land. 



. The principality of Wales was anciently divided 

 into North Wales, South Wales, and Pow'i/Jand* 

 This was a tract of land v/hich once extended, in 

 a ftraight line, from the Eroxton hills in Chelhire, 

 fouthwards to Shrewfbury; from thence through 

 the eaftern limits of Montgomerylhire, including all 

 that county, part of Radnorfhire, and Brecknock- 

 fliire; then turning northward, it comprehended 

 part of Merioneth (hire, the whole of Denbighfliire, 

 except the l^ordfhips of Denbigh and Ruthin j and 

 from thence it went towards the fouth-eait, and in- 

 cluded Molefdale, Hopedale, and Maelor, in Flint- 

 fliire *. 



This particular part of Powilland was obtained 

 from the Welih by Henry I., who, about the year 

 JUG, gave it to Cadwgan ap Bleddyn ap Cynvyn^ 

 a Welfhman, who had rendered himfelf eminen*. by 

 jhis fervices and bravery. He began to ereO: a caftle 

 here with an intention of maldng this the place of 

 his refidence, but before the work was finifhed, he 

 was murdered by one of his relations f. The caftle 



* Pennant, i. 212. f PoweJ, 170. 



appears 



