Walk 4 Neuadd Hendidley

1

This walk starts under the Town Clock at the junction of Broad St, High St and Severn St, the area known as ‘The Cross’. The building was erected by Sarah Brisco, a descendent of the Pryce family of Newtown Hall, to mark Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1897. Robert Owen was the founder of the Co-operative Movement, and Newtown’s most famous son. The Museum is in the Council offices facing you and the memorial rooms are in the HSBC opposite.

Walk down Broad St and cross the River Severn via Longbridge passing an attractive old building, Pont Hafren, which houses a registered mental health charity, www.ponthafren.org.uk/

2

At the roundabout, turn left along Milford Road, passing Plas Dolerw on your left at the entrance to Dolerw Park. Plas Dolerw was the former home of Pryce Pryce-Jones, who brought the world mail-order shopping.

Further along is the old Friends Meeting House. The walls along the road at the beginning of the walk contain decorative panels of over-fired bricks. Look out also for the dragon on the ridge of Mayfield Lodge on your right, along with other fine examples of decorative tiled brickwork.

Walk along Milford Road until you see a road, Milford Common (SO 098915), rising at an angle to the right. 

3

Walk up Milford Common taking the centre road at a junction passing the house Hillside on your left. At the top of the hill is the drive to a house, Melrose, marked by a fingerpost at the bottom. Go up the drive, pass a waymark post, through the pedestrian gate (SO 095914) to the left of the house and into the field.

Walk across the field, steadily diverging from the left hand hedge, then as you come round the contour of the small hill, you will see a waymark ahead of you by the stream (SO 093915). Cross the stream at any convenient place (if it looks too steep try further along to the right for an easier crossing).

4

From the waymark on the other side, climb the hill and go through the gate to the right of the hedge. Walk straight along the next field following the fenced hedge on your left. This brings you to Neuadd Hendidley Farm (The OS map calls it Nyodd Hendidley Farm.) Pass the farm buildings on your left and go through the second gate (SO 091917) into the farmyard. There may be a dog or two here but they (and the farmer) are friendly. Head towards the old red brick barn and pass through another gate on the right down a short drive to the road.

5

This is Beehive Lane. Turn left downhill, and after a short distance, pass a couple of houses, drives and a lane on your right (ignore this). 25 metres past Beehive Cottage there is a stile with fingerpost (SO 088914) up the bank on your left. 

6

Go over the stile and cross the field going straight ahead towards a large ash tree, down through a pedestrian gate on the bank of another stream. Cross the stream following the fence on your right until you reach a clear track at the top (SO 090913) where you go through an old gateway. Follow the track around to the left along the stand of beech trees. Keep on the track and look for a round waymark post on the right. Follow the waymark posts downhill to a pedestrian gate in a fence, followed by a pedestrian gate in the hedgerow. From the pedestrian gate, walk downhill towards a waymark post and you will see a further waymark post and a narrow pedestrian gate to the right of black and white cottage. Once through the pedestrian gate, cross the track to go over the stile (SO 093913) on to the public road. Turn left to go back towards Newtown.

7

After passing Milford Common road on the left, turn right a little further along into Dolerw Park Drive (SO 102917), a new housing estate. (The road sign faces the other way). Go straight down Dolerw Park Drive and enter Dolerw Park through a metal gate between two houses. The Park formed the grounds of Plas Dolerw, the former home of the Pryce-Jones family.

8

Follow the tarmac path that brings you to the footbridge over the Severn. Cross over and passing the Hafan yr Afon Centre (with cafe), walk towards the single storey modern building, the Oriel Davies Gallery. The art gallery, which hosts touring exhibitions, commemorates the Davies sisters who were collectors and benefactors. There is a café and bookshop. (Open Mon – Sat 10 – 5, admission free.) www.orieldavies.org The red brick building with the white columns ahead is the old Town Hall, now County Council offices.

Pass the gallery, cross the road (Back Lane) ahead and walk down High Street to end the walk back at the Town Clock.