HERITAGE HUB 4 MID WALES

  Sharing the Mid Wales Pioneers Legacies around the World

The Welsh Dragon

 Sharing the Mid Wales Pioneers Legacies 
around the World

HERITAGE HUB 4 MID WALES

The Welsh Dragon

MID WALES PIONEERS
The Future of their Past

The Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales aims to collaborate with communities and cultural heritage custodians, to co-create digital heritage and cultural heritage tourism to inform, educate and share our Cultural heritage globally.

The Severn Valley of Mid Wales for centuries has been home to humble diverse farming communities constantly adapting to environmental and economic challenges to cultivate new ideas and natural resources for homes and businesses nationally and internationally. 
Their Severn Valley streams and rivers have flowed and driven many water mills and woolen mills. In the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Newtown Y Drenewydd, Montgomeryshire, became the industrial textile hub of Wales.
Montgomeryshire, Mid Wales over the last 250 years has been the birthplace to significant Pioneers, Business & Social Entrepreneurs and major Philanthropists who in the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries had laid the foundation for the regeneration of Wales.  

MID WALES PIONEERS
The Future of Their Past

The Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales aims to collaborate with communities and cultural heritage custodians, to co-create digital heritage and cultural heritage tourism to inform, educate and share our Cultural heritage globally.

The Severn Valley of Mid Wales for centuries has been home to humble diverse farming communities constantly adapting to environmental and economic challenges to cultivate new ideas and natural resources for homes and businesses nationally and internationally. 
Their Severn Valley streams and rivers have flowed and driven many water mills and woolen mills. In the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Newtown Y Drenewydd, Montgomeryshire, became the industrial textile hub of Wales.
Montgomeryshire, Mid Wales over the last 250 years has been the birthplace to significant Pioneers, Business & Social Entrepreneurs and major Philanthropists who in the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries had laid the foundation for the regeneration of Wales. 
Our Aim

The Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales aims to build a reputation as a trusted co-operative enterprise by cooperation and collaboration with Cultural Heritage custodians uniting to make sustainable impact in communities

Our Aim

The Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales aims to build a reputation as a trusted co-operative enterprise by cooperation and collaboration with Cultural Heritage custodians uniting to make sustainable impact in communities

Empower Communities

Empower communities and young people’s creative ability through education and to inspire them to contribute positively to strengthen their sense of belonging 

Digital Archive

By digital recording of archives and memories help communities forge their own unique identity which can cultivate a sense of pride and wellbeing

Global Pioneers

The HH4MW will drive and help deliver digital transformation enabling access and promotion of these significant Welsh Pioneers around the world and re-linking with these Pioneers Heritage trails globally.

Cultural Heritage

In the 20th Century, it has been claimed culture ceased to be the objective of tourism and that tourism is now culture. Cultural Heritage attractions, people, places and events play an important role in tourism at all levels, from the global highlights of world culture to the attractions that underpin local identities.

Marketing Tool

Culture and Heritage has been rediscovered as an important marketing tool to attract those travellers with special interests in Cultural Legacies of People & Places, Business, Sports, Music and Arts.

Heritage Interpretation

Heritage interpretation is an educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative new media, rather than simply to communicate factual information.

Our latest blog posts

Read our latest news and posts about the pioneers and their legacy

Laura Ashley Cultural Heritage

By info • July 23, 2023
Free entry 'Laura Ashley Cultural Heritage' Exhibition Newtown Library 1st August - 31st August 2023

Heritage Hub 'For the Love of Laura Ashley' Exhibition at Machynlleth Powys

By info • June 24, 2023
'For the Love of Laura Ashley ' Exhibition at MOMA Tabernacle Machynlleth Powys 24th June - 6th September 2023

Laura Ashley Heritage Quilt Exhibition March 2023

By info • June 2, 2023
Laura Ashley Heritage Quilt Exhibition March 2023

Our latest blog posts

Read our latest news and posts about the pioneers and their legacy

Laura Ashley Cultural Heritage

By info • July 23, 2023
Free entry 'Laura Ashley Cultural Heritage' Exhibition Newtown Library 1st August - 31st August 2023

Heritage Hub 'For the Love of Laura Ashley' Exhibition at Machynlleth Powys

By info • June 24, 2023
'For the Love of Laura Ashley ' Exhibition at MOMA Tabernacle Machynlleth Powys 24th June - 6th September 2023

Laura Ashley Heritage Quilt Exhibition March 2023

By info • June 2, 2023
Laura Ashley Heritage Quilt Exhibition March 2023

Our Pioneers

These Pioneers became internationally known for being innovative global engineers, textile manufacturers, designers, retailers of modern day e-commerce inventors, social reformers who invested in their workforce and local communities, co-creating a new fabric of society.

Robert Owen said, “Instead of communities working for the World, they should work for themselves, and keep their own hands the fruit of their labour and commerce should be an exchange for surplus wealth, and not a necessity of existence.” 

ROBERT OWEN  (1771-1858)
Pioneer of Social Reforms and Education

“above all the first object of society is to train and educate the rising generations”

Robert Owen was described as the “Prince of the Cotton Spinners”, and creative utopian social reformer. Who from a humble farming and textile community of Newtown which had developed the first benefit society in the Uk in 1762. 

Robert Owen went on to Champion & Pioneer infant education, better working and living conditions for all.

Owen excelled at school an avid reader, reading at least one book a day. He also excelled in sports, dance and music. His teacher made a request to Owen’s father to become his assistant at the age of 7. He left school and became a draper shop apprentice at 9 years old a few doors away from his home to the Tilsey’s and Mr Moore. He had asked his mother if he could move to his older brother William in London she agreed when he became 10years old. Robert Owen moved to London briefly and soon became a draper apprentice to Mr McGuffog who treated him like a son and moved on to Stamford Lincolnshire, then on to Manchester. It was through his experience from working in the cotton mills Owen put in to practice his belief that the environment ascertained the moral values and habits of the population could be changed by better working and living conditions as well as providing education for infants. Robert Owen was convinced by his own early life in Newtown he had discovered the secret of social regeneration.

For more information about Robert Owen do visit the Robert Owen Museum Website: http://www.robertowenmuseum.co.uk/
Robert Owen
Robert Owen's Birthplace in Newtown, Powys
Robert Owen's Gravestone Newtown, Powys

ROBERT OWEN  (1771-1858)
Pioneer of Social Reforms and Education

“above all the first object of society is to train and educate the rising generations”

Robert Owen was described as the “Prince of the Cotton Spinners”, and creative utopian social reformer. Who from a humble farming and textile community of Newtown which had developed the first benefit society in the Uk in 1762. 

Robert Owen went on to Champion & Pioneer infant education, better working and living conditions for all.

Owen excelled at school an avid reader, reading at least one book a day. He also excelled in sports, dance and music. His teacher made a request to Owen’s father to become his assistant at the age of 7. He left school and became a draper shop apprentice at 9 years old a few doors away from his home to the Tilsey’s and Mr Moore. He had asked his mother if he could move to his older brother William in London she agreed when he became 10years old. Robert Owen moved to London briefly and soon became a draper apprentice to Mr McGuffog who treated him like a son and moved on to Stamford Lincolnshire, then on to Manchester. It was through his experience from working in the cotton mills Owen put in to practice his belief that the environment ascertained the moral values and habits of the population could be changed by better working and living conditions as well as providing education for infants. Robert Owen was convinced by his own early life in Newtown he had discovered the secret of social regeneration.

For more information about Robert Owen do visit the Robert Owen Museum Website: http://www.robertowenmuseum.co.uk/

ROBERT OWEN  (1771-1858)
Pioneer of Social Reforms and Education

“above all the first object of society is to train and educate the rising generations”

Robert Owen was described as the “Prince of the Cotton Spinners”, and creative utopian social reformer. Who from a humble farming and textile community of Newtown which had developed the first benefit society in the Uk in 1762. 

Robert Owen went on to Champion & Pioneer infant education, better working and living conditions for all.

Owen excelled at school an avid reader, reading at least one book a day. He also excelled in sports, dance and music. His teacher made a request to Owen’s father to become his assistant at the age of 7. He left school and became a draper shop apprentice at 9 years old a few doors away from his home to the Tilsey’s and Mr Moore. He had asked his mother if he could move to his older brother William in London she agreed when he became 10years old. Robert Owen moved to London briefly and soon became a draper apprentice to Mr McGuffog who treated him like a son and moved on to Stamford Lincolnshire, then on to Manchester. It was through his experience from working in the cotton mills Owen put in to practice his belief that the environment ascertained the moral values and habits of the population could be changed by better working and living conditions as well as providing education for infants. Robert Owen was convinced by his own early life in Newtown he had discovered the secret of social regeneration.

For more information about Robert Owen do visit the Robert Owen Museum Website: http://www.robertowenmuseum.co.uk/

DAVID DAVIES (1818-1890)
One of the Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution

“Whatever your hand findeth to do, do it with all of your might”

David Davies was responsible for laying 145 miles for the local railway lines in Wales. Davies then became interested in the coal industry and struck Black Gold in the upper Rhondda Valley which he named Ocean Coal Company. Davies became one of the Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution and is regarded as Wales first Millionaire Tycoon. 

David Davies was born in Llandinam in a rural farming community. Educated in the local village school until 11 years of age. He then worked for his father as farmhand and a saw mill becoming known as top sawyer. At the age of 26 he bought his own 150 acre estate and as this suffered flooding he overcame this with constructing drainage systems. Montgomeryshire county surveyor Thomas Penson was very impressed by David Davies and invited him to help construct the first iron bridge in Llandinam Montgomeryshire. He pioneered rail networks and became Chairman of Cambrian Rail, opening the railway link between Llanidloes to Newtown in 1859. 
David Davies
David Davies built Broneirion in Llandinam in 1865
David Davies Statue at Llandinam

DAVID DAVIES (1818-1890)
One of the Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution

“Whatever your hand findeth to do, do it with all of your might”

David Davies was responsible for laying 145 miles for the local railway lines in Wales. Davies then became interested in the coal industry and struck Black Gold in the upper Rhondda Valley which he named Ocean Coal Company. Davies became one of the Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution and is regarded as Wales first Millionaire Tycoon. 

David Davies was born in Llandinam in a rural farming community. Educated in the local village school until 11 years of age. He then worked for his father as farmhand and a saw mill becoming known as top sawyer. At the age of 26 he bought his own 150 acre estate and as this suffered flooding he overcame this with constructing drainage systems. Montgomeryshire county surveyor Thomas Penson was very impressed by David Davies and invited him to help construct the first iron bridge in Llandinam Montgomeryshire. He pioneered rail networks and became Chairman of Cambrian Rail, opening the railway link between Llanidloes to Newtown in 1859. 

SIR PRYCE PRYCE-JONES  (1834-1920)
Pioneer of the first international mail order business.

“He's a man of the people of his hometown, his name became a trademark of Newtown, it's welsh woollen fabrics kept traveling abroad in thousands of parcels by road, rail and sea around the globe. ”

His loyal and royal customers included Queen Victoria who knighted him in 1887 for his services to commerce.

Pryce Jones was born in Llanllwchaiarn Newtown in 1934, he became an apprentice to Mr Davies Drapers shop in Broad Street. Becoming manager and through procuring local supplies he soon gained the ambition to open his own drapers shop in Broad Street in 1859. When he married his sweetheart Eleanor they lived above the shop.

It was on the 3rd October 1859 he posted his first flannel swatches by penny post to his loyal customers, realising the potential of targeting his customers outside of Newtown.
After attending exhibitions both in the UK, Europe and Internationally he built a reputation internationally serving Royal Households around the British Empire.
Twenty years later on the 3rd October 1879 he opened the Pryce Jones Royal Welsh Warehouse next to Newtown Railway Station which was instrumental in delivering his international retail and modern mail order home shopping business worldwide.
Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones
The Pryce Jones building in 1830's-1840's
The Pryce Jones building in 2017 by Russ Edwards

SIR PRYCE PRYCE-JONES  (1834-1920)
Pioneer of the first international mail order business.

“He's a man of the people of his hometown, his name became a trademark of Newtown, it's welsh woollen fabrics kept traveling abroad in thousands of parcels by road, rail and sea around the globe. ”

His loyal and royal customers included Queen Victoria who knighted him in 1897 for his services to commerce.

Pryce Jones was born in Llanllwchaiarn Newtown in 1934, he became an apprentice to Mr Davies Drapers shop in Broad Street. Becoming manager and through procuring local supplies he soon gained the ambition to open his own drapers shop in Broad Street in 1859. When he married his sweetheart Eleanor they lived above the shop.

It was on the 3rd October 1859 he posted his first flannel swatches by penny post to his loyal customers, realising the potential of targeting his customers outside of Newtown.
After attending exhibitions both in the UK, Europe and Internationally he built a reputation internationally serving Royal Households around the British Empire.
Twenty years later on the 3rd October 1879 he opened the Pryce Jones Royal Welsh Warehouse next to Newtown Railway Station which was instrumental in delivering his international retail and modern mail order home shopping business worldwide.

LAURA ASHLEY 
(1925- 1985)
Pioneered a Welsh Cottage Textile and Fashion Industry, into a Global Brand. 

LAURA ASHLEY (1925- 1985)
Pioneered a Welsh Cottage Textile and Fashion Industry, into a Global Brand. 

“we simply want to make what our customers want”

She believed this success was entirely due to the hard work and dedication of her co-workers in the heart of a Montgomeryshire Farming Community.

Laura met and married Bernard in 1949, Laura worked for the Women’s Institute in the Craft department and it was visiting a V&A exhibition she had this vision to print textiles which began on a press Bernard had created to screen print tea towels and headscarves.
Laura Ashley and Bernard relocated their kitchen tabletop business to Machynlleth in 1960 under their original business name of Ashley Mountney. They bought a terraced house and Laura set up home office and shop in 1961.
Bernard then moved his textile printers from Kent to Tybrith in Carno and with the local farming community they co-created a new fabric of society in a very rural part of Montgomeryshire Mid Wales where this phenomenal family and community became a global success.
Laura died in 1985 and Bernard died in 2009, both are buried in Carno, St. John's Baptist Churchyard. 

Click on the video by G. Pollen below, to find out more about Laura Ashley...
Laura & Bernard Ashley
The Laura Ashley Factory in Carno

LAURA ASHLEY (1925-1985)
Pioneered a Welsh Cottage Textile and Fashion Industry, into a Global Brand. 

“we simply want to make what our customers want”

She believed this success was entirely due to the hard work and dedication of her co-workers in the heart of a Montgomeryshire Farming Community.

Laura met and married Bernard in 1949, Laura worked for the Women’s Institute in the Craft department and it was visiting a V&A exhibition she had this vision to print textiles which began on a press Bernard had created to screen print tea towels and headscarves.
Laura Ashley and Bernard relocated their kitchen tabletop business to Machynlleth in 1960 under their original business name of Ashley Mountney. They bought a terraced house and Laura set up home office and shop in 1961.
Bernard then moved his textile printers from Kent to Tybrith in Carno and with the local farming community they co-created a new fabric of society in a very rural part of Montgomeryshire Mid Wales where this phenomenal family and community became a global success.
Laura died in 1985 and Bernard died in 2009, both are buried in Carno, St. John's Baptist Churchyard. 

Click on the video by G. Pollen below, to find out more about Laura Ashley...

What people are talking about...

Read our latest updates
Click to find out how Russell George, our Montgomeryshire Welsh Conservative Assembly Member feels about this project.
Read our latest updates
Click to find out how NEWTOWN Town Council will back moves by enthusiasts to have statues of "Powys Pioneers" placed on the bypass roundabouts.
Read our latest updates
Click to find out how Russell George, our Montgomeryshire Welsh Conservative Assembly Member feels about this project.
Click to find out how NEWTOWN Town Council will back moves by enthusiasts to have statues of "Powys Pioneers" placed on the bypass roundabouts.
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