Editing Rhayader

{{short description|Town in Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{infobox UK place
| country                     = Wales
| welsh_name                  = Rhaeadr Gwy
| official_name               = Rhayader
| area_total_km2              = 137.31
| coordinates                 = {{coord|52.301|-3.511|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name           = Rhayader centre.jpg
| unitary_wales               = [[Powys]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = Powys
| constituency_westminster    = [[Brecon & Radnorshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Brecon & Radnorshire]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Brecon and Radnorshire (Senedd constituency)|Brecon and Radnorshire]]
| post_town                   = RHAYADER
| postcode_district           = LD6
| postcode_area               = LD
| dial_code                   = 01597
| os_grid_reference           = SN975685
| population                  = 2,088
| population_ref              = 
| module=  {{Collapsible list
| framestyle=border:none;text-align:center; padding:0; |title=Community map
|1=[[File:Wales Powys Community Rhayader map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
}}

'''Rhayader''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|eɪ|.|ə|d|ər}}; {{langx|cy|Rhaeadr Gwy}}; {{IPA|cy|ˈr̥əɪadar ˈɡʊi̯|pron}}) is a [[market town]] and [[community (Wales)|community]] in [[Powys]], Wales, within the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of [[Radnorshire]]. The town is {{convert|20|mi}} from the source of the [[River Wye]] on [[Plynlimon]], the highest point of the [[Cambrian Mountains]], and is located at the junction of the [[A470 road]] and the [[A44 road]] {{convert|13|mi}} north of [[Builth Wells]] and {{convert|30|mi}} east of [[Aberystwyth]].

The population was 2,088, with 55% of the community having some form of Welsh identity, according to the 2011 census.<ref>[http://www.powys-i.org.uk/documents/en/powys_i_stats/Census%202011/Key%20Statistics/Community%20Councils/KS_CCRAD25.pdf Powys County Council : Census 2011 : Rhayader Community] Retrieved 13 November 2010</ref><ref name="rhayader">{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11127899&c=rhayader&d=16&e=62&g=6491226&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1463431705212&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2529|publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk|title=rhayader identity|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref> The community is the largest in Wales by area, with {{cvt|137.31|sqkm}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/localarea?compare=W04000341|title=Custom report - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics|website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref> It includes the [[Elan Valley]].<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=W04000341|title=Rhayader Parish|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref>

Rhayader holds the record for the [[United Kingdom weather records|lowest-ever temperature recorded in Wales]], -23.3&nbsp;°C on 21 January 1940.

Jasper Fforde’s novels “Red Side Story” and “Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron” are located in a dystopian version of Rhayader called East Carmine.

== Etymology ==
The name, ''Rhayader'', is a partly-Anglicised form of its Welsh name, {{lang|cy|Y Rhaeadr}} ('the waterfall'),  or, to distinguish it from other places named after waterfalls, {{lang|cy|Rhaeadr Gwy}} ('waterfall [on the] Wye'). Strictly speaking, according to place-name spelling conventions in Welsh, the name of the town would be {{lang|cy|Rhaeadr-gwy}}, and the waterfall itself {{lang|cy|Rhaeadr Gwy}}, but it seems that this distinction is usually ignored.{{cn |date=March 2023 }}

In the Welsh of the area the name is {{lang|cy|Rheiad}}, as one would expect on the pattern of similar words in colloquial Welsh, {{IPA|cy|ˈr̥əɪad|pron}}.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://amgueddfa.cymru/casgliadau/storigwerin/?story=16 |title=Hen Ffrwcsod Ffair-rhos – Mary Thomas (1905-83)|publisher=Amgueddfa Cymru|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> That is, a final "r" is dropped after "d", as in {{lang|cy|aradr}} ('plough') > {{lang|cy|arad}}, {{lang|cy|Llangynidr}} ('church of Cynidr', a village in Breconshire) > {{lang|cy|Llangynid}}, {{lang|cy|Cadwaladr}} (a forename, 'battle-leader') > {{lang|cy|Cadwalad}}, {{lang|cy|'Dwalad}}.

Little remains of the [[waterfall]] itself, it having been destroyed in 1780 to make way for the bridge linking the town to {{lang|cy|[[Cwmdauddwr]]|italic=no}} and the [[Elan Valley Reservoirs|Elan Valley]], the Lakeland of Wales.

== History ==
[[File:Rhayader Hoard.jpg|thumbnail|left|upright=0.85|The Rhayader Hoard of [[Romano-British]] jewellery in the British Museum]]
Rhayader has long been a natural stopping point for travellers – the Romans had a stop-over camp in the [[Elan Valley]], [[monk]]s travelled between the [[abbey]]s of [[Strata Florida]] and [[Abbeycwmhir]] and [[Droving|drovers]] headed to the lucrative markets with their livestock.<ref name="rhayader.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.rhayader.co.uk/index.php/rhayader/aboutdetail/more_about_rhayader/ |title=About |publisher=Rhayader |access-date=24 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619001309/http://www.rhayader.co.uk/index.php/rhayader/aboutdetail/more_about_rhayader |archive-date=19 June 2013}}</ref> It was not until the 12th century that a documented history of the town began with the building of [[Rhayader Castle]] in 1177. Little remains today, with the exception of a dry [[moat]] that can be seen from Wauncapel Park.<ref name="rhayader.co.uk"/>

One of the oldest buildings in Rhayader is the [[Old Swan, Rhayader|Old Swan]], which stands on the corner of West and South Streets Rhayader. The original building was mentioned in 1676 as being one of the two inns in Rhayader at that date. Some changes were made in 1683, including the rebuilding of the three chimney stacks, and this date is carved into the old timbers inside the building.

In the 19th century, [[Turnpike trust|turnpike]] roads were only passable on payment of extortionate [[Toll road|tolls]], imposing additional burdens on already poor communities. This led to the [[Rebecca Riots]] across South and Mid Wales from 1839 to 1842, with no fewer than six of Rhayader's [[tollgate]]s being demolished with impunity by local farmers dressed as women. The actions of these "Rebeccaites" led to a Commission of Inquiry being set up, and most of Rebecca's grievances were righted two years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://history.powys.org.uk/school1/rhayader/origins.shtml|title=Victorian Rhayader: The Rebecca Riots: 1|website=history.powys.org.uk |access-date=9 July 2021}}</ref>

In the 1890s the rapidly expanding city of [[Birmingham]], {{convert|80|mi|km|abbr=off|-1}} east, viewed the nearby Elan Valley as the ideal source of clean, safe water. This was to change the face of Rhayader forever, bringing thousands of workers involved in building this massive complex of [[dam]]s and [[reservoir]]s to the area. A new [[railway]] was built connecting this huge area with the main network in Rhayader, and the construction of a new village to house the workers was built on the banks of the River Elan. Work started in 1894 and the scheme was officially opened in 1904 by [[King Edward VII]] and [[Queen Alexandra]].<ref name="rhayader.co.uk"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://history.powys.org.uk/school1/rhayader/elanmenu.shtml|title=Victorian Rhayader - Elan Valley dams menu|website=history.powys.org.uk |access-date=9 July 2021}}</ref>

The area around the town has several [[cairn]]s and [[standing stones]] dating from several thousand years BCE. An important hoard of gold jewellery dating from the 1st–2nd centuries AD was found nearby in 1899. Known as the Rhayader Hoard, it is now in the [[Romano-British]] collection of the [[British Museum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-13641567|title=Ancient gold jewellery returns to Rhayader Museum|work=BBC News |date=3 June 2011}}</ref><ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1900-1122-3 bracelet Museum number 1900,1122.3] ''www.britishmuseum.org'', accessed 9 July 2021</ref>

==Governance==
Rhayader is an electoral ward to [[Powys County Council]], electing one county councillor. {{As of|2022|post=,}} the incumbent is Cllr Angela Davies of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Council Elections 2022 - Radnorshire |url=https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/7163/County-Council-Elections-2022---Radnorshire |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Powys County Council |language=en-gb}}</ref>

Rhayader Town Council represents the town at the local level, with 14 town councillors elected from the Rhayader and {{lang|cy|[[Cwmdauddwr]]|italic=no}} community wards.<ref>[http://www.rhayader.co.uk/im-local/councillors Councillors], Rhayader.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2018.</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Jonathan Williams (antiquary)|Jonathan Williams]] (ca.1752 – 1829), clergyman, schoolmaster and antiquarian writer.
* [[Thomas Jones (minister)|Thomas Jones]] (1819–1882), Independent minister, known as the ''Welsh Poet-Preacher''
* [[John Evans (Saskatchewan politician)|John Evans]] (1867–1958), emigrated to Canada in 1890 and became a farmer and politician
* [[Mary Jones (actress)|Mary Jones]] (1896–1990), film actress.
*[[Robert Jermain Thomas]] (1840{{spnd}}disappeared 1866), [[Protestant]] missionary who served with the [[London Missionary Society]] in China and Korea

== Transport ==
[[File:Rhayader station with local Mid-Wales line train geograph-2540449-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|[[Rhayader railway station|Rhayader station]] with a local [[Mid-Wales Railway]] train, 1949]]

The [[Rhayader railway station|station]] on the [[Mid-Wales Railway]] line that served the town was closed on 31 December 1962. The nearest station is now {{convert|9|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} away, at [[Pen-y-Bont railway station|Pen-y-Bont railway station, Crossgates]] on the [[Heart of Wales line]], though connections are usually made at the more accessible [[Llandrindod railway station]], a similar distance away.

A bus service connects with outlying villages and neighbouring towns, with two-hourly daytime departures to [[Builth Wells]], [[Llandrindod Wells]], Aberystwyth and [[Newtown, Powys|Newtown]], with connections to [[Hereford]], [[Shrewsbury]] and [[Cardiff]].

Due to the volume of traffic generated by the convergence of two [[trunk road]]s — the [[A44 road|A44]] and the [[A470 road|A470]] — the construction of a [[bypass (road)|bypass]] to relieve congestion at the town centre [[road junction|crossroads]] has been an ongoing debate for many years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/2006/10/16/trade-fears-over-bypass |title=Trade fears over bypass |author=Mike Sivier |work=[[Shropshire Star]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525211853/http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2006/10/16/trade-fears-over-bypass/ |date=16 October 2006 |archive-date=25 May 2011 |access-date=24 April 2013}}</ref>

The town is also a popular [[cycling]] centre and is on Route 8 of the United Kingdom [[National Cycle Network]], known in Welsh as {{lang|cy|[[Lôn Las Cymru]]}}, 'Wales' green lane'.

== Amenities ==
Tourism and agriculture are the most important industries locally. Walkers and cyclists are drawn to Rhayader for the abundance of trails and [[Rights of way in England and Wales|bridleways]] surrounding the town, which is the gateway to a massive complex of reservoirs and dams (The [[Elan Valley Reservoirs|Elan Valley]]). This vast area is home to some of Britain's rarest wildlife and plants, including [[red kite]]s, along with magnificent feats of engineering.

There are a number of hotels, [[bed and breakfasts]] and campsites to accommodate the large number of visitors that travel to the area all year round.

Rhayader is also home to a community founded art and heritage complex which includes a museum and gallery,<ref>[http://carad.org.uk/about/organisation Rhayader Museum and Gallery] CARAD, 'The Organisation', accessed 24 January 2014</ref> a [[leisure centre]], numerous parks and all the amenities expected of a larger town. Potter [[Phil Rogers (potter)|Phil Rogers]] has his studio in Rhayader. There are an abundance of shops, cash facilities, restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets catering to both the local population and visitors to the area.

Rhayader is also renowned for being the town with the highest concentration of pubs and drinking establishments, [[per capita]], in the UK, with one to each 173 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7423077.stm|title=Town has pub for every 173 people|publisher=BBC |date=28 May 2008 | location=London}}</ref>

In nearby Nant-glas, across the river Wye from the village of [[Llanwrthwl]], the [[Living Willow Theatre]], an open-air theatre constructed of living willow trees, was opened in 2007.

== Sport ==
[[Rhayader Town F.C.]], despite previously having some success in the [[League of Wales]] - the top-tier of domestic [[Welsh football]] between 1997 and 2002, ceased to exist in the summer of 2006. The club has since reformed, and in its inaugural season gained promotion into the Spar [[Mid Wales League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countytimes.co.uk/sport/Rhayader-Town-secure-promotion-to.4041094.jp|title=Rhayader Town secure promotion to Spar|publisher=County Times |date=1 May 2008}}</ref> A subsequent promotion to the [[Cymru Alliance]] followed, but a finishing position of 15th saw the team relegated after just one season. The town's [[rugby union]] team play in the Cambrian Training Mid Wales League. There is also a [[cricket]] club and thriving local [[darts]], [[dominos]] and [[Pocket billiards|pool]] leagues.

The town is also well known by [[motocross]] fans. Every summer a series of events take place at the nearby Cwmythig Hill circuit, with many of Britain's top riders taking part. The race series regularly attracts over 5,000 spectators.

As part of the annual carnival celebrations, Rhayader also plays host to a number of World Championship events in lesser celebrated sports, including [[wheelbarrow race|wheelbarrow racing]] and [[rock-paper-scissors]].

== Development ==

Rhayader and its surrounding districts are supported by development organisation Rhayader 2000 Ltd, established in 1996 to revive Rhayader's economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2892475.stm |title=Skate talk for board children |work=BBC News |date=31 March 2003 |access-date=21 January 2018 }}</ref> Rhayader 2000 Ltd is a voluntary sector organisation representing a cross section of the local community. It builds links with [[Powys County Council]], Rhayader Town Council, local businesses and charitable and voluntary organisations.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Rhayader|position=right}}
* [http://www.rhayader.co.uk Rhayader Website]
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2742825 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Rhayader and surrounding area]
* [http://www.rhayadercarnival.co.uk Rhayader carnival website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130125073242/http://transition-rhayader.midwales.org.uk/ Transition Town Rhayader Website]

{{Powys}}
{{Powys wards}}

{{authority control}}
[[Category:Rhayader| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Powys]]
[[Category:Communities in Powys]]
[[Category:Wards of Powys]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wales]]