View source for Machynlleth

{{Short description|Market town in Powys, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Machynlleth
| static_image_name = Central Machynlleth, June 2016.jpg
| static_image_caption = Machynlleth Clock Tower
| coordinates = {{coord|52.591|-3.849|display=inline,title}}
| population = 2,235
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011]])<ref name=uc2011/>
| os_grid_reference = SH745005
| community_wales = Machynlleth<ref>{{cite web |title=Machynlleth Town Council Website |url=http://www.machynlleth-tc.gov.uk/ |website = Machynlleth Town Council |access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref>
| unitary_wales = [[Powys]]
| lieutenancy_wales = Powys
| country = Wales
| post_town = MACHYNLLETH
| postcode_area = SY
| postcode_district = SY20
| dial_code = 01654
| constituency_westminster = [[Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Montgomeryshire (Assembly constituency)|Montgomeryshire]]
| type = Market town
| module=  {{Collapsible list
| framestyle=border:none;text-align:center; padding:0; |title=Community map
|1=[[File:Wales Powys Community Machynlleth map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
}}
'''Machynlleth''' ({{IPA|cy|maˈχənɬɛθ|pron|Machynlleth.ogg}}) is a [[market town]], [[community (Wales)|community]] and [[electoral ward]] in [[Powys]], [[Wales]] and within the historic boundaries of [[Montgomeryshire]]. It is in the [[River Dyfi|Dyfi Valley]] at the intersection of the [[A487 road|A487]] and the [[A489 road|A489]] roads.  At the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]] it had a population of 2,147,<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish Headcounts: Powys |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790565 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |access-date=24 December 2012 }}</ref> rising to 2,235 in 2011.<ref name=uc2011>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/machynlleth-w05000330#sthash.f8wuGy5z.dpbs |title=Machynlleth 2011 |access-date=8 January 2018 |archive-date=8 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175558/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/machynlleth-w05000330#sthash.f8wuGy5z.dpbs |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is sometimes referred to [[colloquialism|colloquially]] as ''Mach''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9581124/Machynlleth-the-small-market-town-where-April-Jones-was-abducted.html |title=Machynlleth: the small market town where April Jones was abducted |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=30 April 2013 }}</ref>

Machynlleth was the seat of [[Owain Glyndŵr]]'s Welsh Parliament in 1404,<ref name="autogenerated527">''The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales''. [[John Davies (historian)|John Davies]], [[Nigel Jenkins]], Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg527 {{ISBN|978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref> and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official recognition as a capital. It applied for [[list of cities in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 2000 and 2002, but was unsuccessful. It is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Belleville, Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1972 |title=Sister Cities By State And By Countries In Other Nations As Of June, 1972 |url=https://utdr.utoledo.edu/islandora/object/utoledo%3A1628 |publisher=Town Affiliation Association of the United States |via=[[University of Toledo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=David |date=2021-08-15 |title=How the birthplace of techno came to be twinned with a Welsh market town |url=https://nation.cymru/culture/how-the-birthplace-of-techno-came-to-be-twinned-with-a-welsh-market-town/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |work=[[Nation.Cymru]]}}</ref>

Machynlleth hosted the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales|National Eisteddfod]] in 1937 and 1981.

== Toponymy ==
The origin of the name Machynlleth derives from {{lang|cy|maes}} [field, plain] and {{lang|cy|[[Cynllaith]]}}.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=A. D.|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=9780198527589|location=Oxford|pages=}}</ref> The ending 's' of {{lang|cy|maes}} is the cause of the 'c' of {{lang|cy|Cynllaith}} becoming 'ch': {{lang|cy|maes cynllaith > machynlleth}} reflecting a standard phonological development in Welsh.

== History ==
There is a long history of human activity in the Machynlleth area. In the late 1990s, [[radiocarbon dating]] showed that [[copper]] was being mined in the [[Early Bronze Age]] ({{circa}} 2,750 years ago), within {{convert|1|mi}} of the town centre.

The [[Roman Empire|Romans]] settled in the area; they built a [[Castra|fort]] at Cefn Caer, near [[Pennal]], {{convert|2.5|mi|0}} west of Machynlleth, and are reputed to have had two look-out posts above the town at {{lang|cy|Bryn-y-gog}} and {{lang|cy|Wylfa}}, and another fort, called Maglona, at Machynlleth.<ref name="Jones2009">{{cite book|author=Evan Jones|title=A Portrait of Machynlleth and Its Surroundings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oduum2r12x8C&pg=PA1|year=2009|publisher=Coch Y Bonddu Books|isbn=978-1-904784-24-1|page=1}}</ref> One of the earliest written references to Machynlleth is the [[Royal charter]] granted in 1291 by [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] to [[Owen de la Pole]], Lord of Powys. This gave him the right to hold "a [[market (place)|market]]<ref name="autogenerated527" /> at Machynlleth every Wednesday for ever and two fairs every year". The Wednesday market is still a busy and popular day in Machynlleth 700 years later.

[[Royal House, Machynlleth|The Royal House]], which stands on the corner of the '''{{lang|cy|Garsiwn}}''', is another of the [[Middle Ages|mediaeval]] houses that can still be seen today. According to local tradition, [[Dafydd Gam]], a Welsh ally of the English kings, was imprisoned here from 1404 to 1412 for attempting to assassinate [[Owain Glyndŵr]]. After his release by Glyndŵr, ransomed Gam fought alongside [[Henry V of England|Henry V]] at the [[Battle of Agincourt]] and is named amongst the dead in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]''. The name Royal House undoubtedly refers to the tradition that [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] stayed at the house in 1643.{{citation needed|reason=undoubtedly|date=April 2020}}

The weekly market and biannual fair thrived, and in 1613 drew complaints from other towns whose trading in cloth was being severely affected. A document dated 1632{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} shows that animals for sale came from all over [[Merionethshire]], [[Montgomeryshire]], [[Ceredigion|Cardiganshire]], [[Carmarthenshire]] and [[Denbighshire]], and prospective buyers came from [[Flintshire]], [[Radnorshire]], [[Brecknockshire]], [[Herefordshire]] and [[Shropshire]], in addition to the above.

[[File:Dyfi Bridge, Machynlleth, June 2016.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dyfi Bridge]]]]

The [[Dyfi Bridge]] ({{langx|cy|Pont ar Ddyfi}}) was first mentioned in 1533, by Geoffrey Hughes, "Citizen and Merchant taylour of London" who left {{nowrap|[[£sd|£6 13s 4d]]}} (ten [[mark (currency)#England and Scotland|marks]]) "towards making of a bridge at the toune of Mathanlleth". By 1601 "Dovey bridge in the [[Hundred (county division)|Hundred]] of Mochunleth" was reported to be insufficient, and the current one was built in 1805 for £250. Fenton describes it in 1809 as "A noble erection of five large arches. The piers are narrow and over each cut-water is a pilaster, a common feature of the 18th century".{{cite quote|date=August 2017}}

[[File:DV405 no.106 Machynlleth.png|thumb|Machynlleth, {{circa}} 1830]]

[[Rowland Pugh]] was the Lord of Meirionedd,<ref>{{cite book |title=Archaeologia Cambrensis |last=Skinner |first=John |publisher=Cambrian Archaeological Association |date=1878}}</ref> and lived at [[Mathafarn]] about two miles east of Machynlleth. Pugh supported the [[Cavalier|Royalist]] side in the [[English Civil War]]. On 2 November 1644, [[Thomas Myddelton (younger)|Sir Thomas Myddleton]] of [[Chirk Castle]] was marching on Machynlleth with a force of the [[Roundhead|Parliamentarian]] army, when he was ambushed by a force organised by Pugh. In retaliation for the attack, Myddleton burned down Mathafarn on 29 November 1644, along with a number of houses in Machynlleth.<ref>{{cite book |title=Caeheulon and the Parish of Penegoes |first=Wendy |last=Morgan |publisher=Coch-y-Bonddu Books |location=Machynlleth |date=2003 |isbn=9780954211769 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zi7V0e-7yZ4C&q=mathafarn+-eithaf&pg=PA11}}</ref>

[[Laura Ashley]]'s first shop was opened in Machynlleth (at 35 Maengwyn Street) in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Laura Ashley 30 years on: Memories of the girl from Dowlais|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-34290383|website = BBC News|date=29 September 2015|access-date = 28 January 2016|first = Nicola|last = Bryan}}</ref>

The [[murder of April Jones|disappearance of April Jones]] in October 2012 received a large amount of coverage in the UK media.

=== {{lang|cy|Plas Machynlleth}}, the Londonderry family and the Clock Tower ===
[[File:Clock tower, Machynlleth NLW3363564.jpg|thumb|Machynlleth Clock Tower, circa 1885]]
[[File:Y Plas, Machynlleth.jpg|thumb|Y Plas, Machynlleth]]
In 1846 Mary Cornelia, the daughter of a local landowner [[Sir John Edwards, 1st Baronet, of Garth|Sir John Edwards]] married [[George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry|Viscount Seaham]], the second son of the [[Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry|third Marquess of Londonderry]] and they set up home at [[Plas Machynlleth]]. Seaham became Earl Vane on the death of his father and the fifth Marquess on the death of [[Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry|his half-brother]].

To celebrate the 21st birthday of the Seahams’ eldest son, [[Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry|Viscount Castlereagh]], the townspeople paid for the clock tower which stands at the town's main road intersection. Erected on the site of the old town hall, it has become the symbol of the town. The foundation stone was laid on 15 July 1874 amid great festivities. The clock tower, designed by [[Henry Kennedy (architect)|Henry Kennedy]] of Bangor and now a [[Grade II listed]] monument, cost £800; the townspeople raised £1,000, of which the remainder was spent planting trees along nearby streets.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-66090235 |title=Twitter: The town clock that only chimes on social media |website=BBC News Wales |date=8 July 2023 }}</ref> Meanwhile, a new town hall was erected on the east side of Penrallt Street in 1872; after becoming unsafe, it was demolished in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=site-of-town-hall-machynlleth  |title=Site of Town Hall|publisher=History Points|access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref>

Another son, [[Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest]], was the last member of the family to live at the Plas and was killed in the [[Abermule train collision]] on the [[Cambrian Railways]], of which he was a director.

The house was given to the townspeople in December 1948 under the stewardship of the then Machynlleth Urban District Council.

====Celtica====
Various local government re-organisations saw responsibility for the Plas pass first to Montgomeryshire District Council, who in 1995 converted it into the [[Celtica (visitor centre)|Celtica visitor centre]]. Celtica interpreted the history and culture of the Celts with a walk-through audio-visual exhibition housed in a purpose-built addition to the house. The £3 million attraction was part-funded by the [[European Union]]. The centre had a high-profile in the Welsh media, with opera singer [[Bryn Terfel]] officially opening the attraction in October 1995.

[[Powys County Council]] took over Celtica and the house when it was formed as a [[unitary authority]] in 1997. The centre was successful in attracting tourists, school groups and conferences for a number of years; however initial predictions of visitor numbers proved to be too ambitious, and the council was unwilling to prolong its subsidy. With little scope for alternative investment, Celtica closed in March 2006, and the house stood empty while Powys County Council sought to relinquish responsibility for it in line with their policy of selling many of their publicly owned buildings.

On 1 April 2008, in a move thought to be unprecedented for a community council of its size, Machynlleth Town Council took ownership of the Plas and its parkland and facilities. It has reopened the restaurant by leasing it to a local licensee, and the 1st and 2nd floors of the main building are rented out as office space. Medium-sized meeting rooms and conference space are also offered for hire.

== Transport ==
[[Machynlleth railway station]] was built by the [[Newtown and Machynlleth Railway]]; it provides services to [[Aberystwyth railway station|Aberystwyth]] and the [[Cambria]]n coast to the west, and [[Newtown railway station (Wales)|Newtown]] and [[Shrewsbury railway station|Shrewsbury]] to the east. Services are operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=May 2023 |access-date=20 July 2023 |url= https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables |quote=}}</ref>

The town is home to the signalling centre that controls the [[European Rail Traffic Management System]] (ERTMS) on the [[Cambrian Line]]. The system went into full operational use in March 2011.

From 1859 to 1948, the town was served by the [[narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] [[Corris Railway]], which brought slate from the quarries around [[Corris]] and [[Aberllefenni]] for onward despatch to the markets. The railway's original station, {{stnlnk|Machynlleth Town}} was on Brickfield Street, and operated from about 1860 to about 1874. It was replaced by a [[Machynlleth railway station (Corris Railway)|new station]], opened in 1874, next to the mainline station.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Corris Railway Stations at Machynlleth Before Steam |journal=[[Narrow Gauge and Industrial Railway Modelling Review]] |last1=MRFS |first2=Dan |last2=Quine |author-link2=Dan Quine |publisher=RCL Publications |issue=139 |date=July 2024}}</ref> A new station building was built in 1905, and can still be seen alongside the road approaching the town from the north.

Machynlleth is served by two [[TrawsCymru]] long-distance bus routes. The T2 connects the town with [[Bangor, Gwynedd|Bangor]] to the north and continues to Aberystwyth, where connections can be made to South Wales. There is also the T12 which runs to [[Wrexham]], via Newtown; this is branded as ''TrawsCymru Connect''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Machynlleth Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=20 July 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/Machynlleth |quote=}}</ref>

== Welsh language ==
Machynlleth retains its linguistic tradition, with [[Welsh language|Welsh]] spoken alongside [[English language|English]]. The 2011 [[Census]] indicated that 67% of the population have some knowledge of Welsh, with 39% able to read, write and speak the language.<ref>2001 Census Neighbourhood Statistics: Machynlleth</ref>

== Owain Glyndŵr ==
{{See also|Owain Glyndŵr's Parliament House, Machynlleth}}
[[File:Owain Glyndwr's parliament - geograph.org.uk - 379309.jpg|thumb|The building said to be Owain Glyndŵr's 1404 Parliament House]]

Machynlleth has a special role in Welsh history because of its connection with [[Owain Glyndŵr]], a [[Prince of Wales]] who rebelled against the English during the reign of [[Henry IV of England|King Henry IV]]. Owain was crowned Prince of Wales in 1404 near the Parliament House, which is one of three mediaeval houses in town, in the presence of leaders from [[Scotland]], [[France]] and [[Spain]], and he held his own Parliament in the town. He held his last parliament in the nearby village of [[Pennal]], by the [[St Peter ad Vincula, Pennal|Church of St Peter ad Vincula]]. It is thought that after the rebellion floundered, Owain went into hiding in the area around Machynlleth.

== Tourism and other economic activities==
[[File:Machynlleth sign on Pen yr Allt - geograph.org.uk - 4935982.jpg|thumb|Machynlleth's "[[Hollywood Sign]]" was constructed in 2005 to celebrate a local film festival.<ref name="BBC-2005-Tinseltown">{{cite web |author1=<!-- not stated --> |title=Tinseltown meets mid Wales town |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/4373256.stm |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=2025-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122095617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4373256.stm |archive-date=2023-01-22 |language=en |date=2005-10-25 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:Inside the music tent at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival - geograph.org.uk - 4935997.jpg|thumb|Performance at the 2016 comedy festival]]
[[Tourism]] is the primary employment sector with a range of activity based attractions (for example several [[mountain biking]] trails) as well as the visitor centre at the [[Centre for Alternative Technology]]. Agriculture continues to play a significant part in the make-up of the town and surrounding area.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

The town has a market on Wednesdays which includes traditional Welsh, Spanish and French food stalls.

The town has hosted the [[Machynlleth Comedy Festival]] annually since May 2010, featuring comedians such as [[Jon Richardson]], [[Pappy's]], [[Josie Long]], [[Stewart Lee]] and [[Richard Herring]]. The festival dominates the town for a weekend, with events running over three days in nine venues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Machynlleth Comedy Festival home page |url=http://machcomedyfest.co.uk/ | access-date=2 May 2014 }}</ref>

Machynlleth lies on [[Glyndŵr's Way]] and the [[Dyfi Valley Way]], two [[Long-distance trail|long-distance footpaths]].

==MoMA Wales==
Machynlleth is the home of the [[MOMA, Wales|Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Wales]]. It originated in 1986 as [[The Tabernacle, Machynlleth|Y Tabernacl]], a centre of performing arts in an old chapel, a private initiative by former journalist Andrew Lambert. In 1994 this was expanded with a new complex of art galleries, a recording studio and a language laboratory.<ref name="elusive 216">{{Citation|last1=Rowan |first1=Eric |last2=Stewart |first2=Carolyn |title=An Elusive Tradition: Art and Society in Wales 1870 – 1950 |chapter=Conclusions |pages=216–7 |publisher=[[University of Wales Press]] |year=2002 |place=Cardiff |isbn=0-7083-1769-3 }}</ref> Lambert had previously tried to convert the town's old railway station into a hotel and museum, employing international architect [[Richard Rogers]].<ref name="elusive 216" />

MoMA Wales hosts the annual [[Machynlleth Festival]], as well as its own annual open exhibition of art.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Whitfield |first1=Paul |last2=Le Nevez |first2=Catherine |last3=Stewart |first3=Carolyn |title=The Rough Guide to Wales |page=285 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=opqb0w3_lwAC&pg=PA285 |publisher=[[Rough Guides]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-405389815 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222162747/https://books.google.com/books?id=opqb0w3_lwAC&pg=PA285 |archive-date=22 December 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Environment==
Machynlleth is the home of Ecodyfi, a locally controlled organisation that was set up to foster and support a greener community and economy in the Dyfi Valley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=127314&headline=If%20it%E2%80%99s%20broken,%20fix%20it!&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2019|title=If it's broken, fix it!|website=Cambrian News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

The [[Centre for Alternative Technology]] is based in a disused quarry three miles from Machynlleth.

In December 2019 Machynlleth council was the first in Wales to declare a [[Climate emergency declaration|climate emergency]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48126677|title=UK Parliament declares climate emergency|date=2019-05-01|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-04|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/uk-becomes-first-country-to-declare-a-climate-emergency-116428|title=UK becomes first country to declare a 'climate emergency'|last=Turney|first=Chris|website=The Conversation|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/its-the-climate-emergency-stupid|title=It's the climate emergency, stupid|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5581615/uk-declares-climate-emergency/|title=The U.K. Has Officially Declared a 'Climate Emergency'|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

==Governance==
There are two tiers of local government covering Machynlleth:
*Machynlleth Town Council at [[Community (Wales)|community]] (town) level. The town council is based at Y Plas and has twelve councillors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=http://www.machynlleth-tc.gov.uk/ContactUs.aspx |website=Machynlleth Town Council |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Rachel Flint |url=http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=114684&headline=Mayor%20and%20new%20Machynlleth%20council%20take%20a%20bow&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017 |title=Mayor and new Machynlleth council take a bow |work=Cambrian News |date=1 June 2017 |access-date=21 January 2018 }}</ref> In 2019, the town council became the first in Wales to formally support [[Welsh independence]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gedge |first1=Anthony |title=Machynlleth first town to back Welsh independence |url=http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=128991&headline=Machynlleth%20first%20town%20to%20back%20Welsh%20independence&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2019 |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>
*[[Powys County Council]] at [[Principal areas of Wales|county]] level. The ward elects a county councillor. The current county councillor, Michael Williams, was unopposed again at the [[2017 Powys County Council election|May 2017 election]], but won a contested election in 2022. He had been elected unopposed since first winning the seat in 1980. He had also sat on the Machynlleth Town Council since 1974.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rachel Flint |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-39751858 |title=Uncontested council election seats 'mockery of democracy' |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2017 |access-date=21 January 2018 }}</ref>

In both the [[Senedd]] and the [[UK House of Commons]], Machynlleth sits within the Montgomeryshire constituency, whose MS and MP are Conservatives [[Russell George (Welsh politician)|Russell George]] and [[Craig Williams (British politician)|Craig Williams]] respectively.

===Administrative history===
Machynlleth was an [[ancient parish]] in the historic county of [[Montgomeryshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Machynlleth Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10240748 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> When elected parish and district councils were established in 1894, the parish was made an [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1895 |page=270 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqAaAQAAIAAJ&pg=270 |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> The Machynlleth Urban District was abolished in 1974, with its area instead becoming a community. District-level functions passed to [[District of Montgomeryshire|Montgomery District Council]], which in turn was abolished in 1996 and its functions passed to Powys County Council.<ref>[[Local Government Act 1972]]</ref><ref>[[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994]]</ref>

== Sport ==
Machynlleth Town Football Club, founded in 1885, plays in the [[Spar (retailer)|Spar]] [[Welsh football league system#Second and lower tier leagues (North Wales)|Mid-Wales district league]] and the reserve team is in the Cambrian Tyres Division 2 Amateur football league. The Machynlleth Rugby Club plays in the [[WRU Division Two North|North Wales Division 2]].

[[File:Owain Glyndŵr portrait.png|thumb|140px|portrait of [[Owain Glyndŵr]]]]
[[File:The 6th Marquess of Londonderry as viceroy of Ireland.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry|The 6th Marquess of Londonderry]], as viceroy of Ireland]]
[[File:EdwardMorganLewis.png|thumb|140px|[[Edward M. Lewis]], 1922]]

== Notable people ==
* [[Owain Glyndŵr]], ({{circa}} 1349 or 1359 – {{circa}} 1416), Welsh ruler and Prince of Wales, crowned locally in 1404.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Glendower, Owen | volume= 12 |last1= Kingsford |first1= Charles Lethbridge |author1-link= Charles Lethbridge Kingsford | pages = 120&ndash;121 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Hywel Swrdwal]], ({{floruit}} 1430–1475), Welsh language poet 
* [[David Griffiths (missionary)|David Griffiths]], (1792–1863), missionary and Bible translator in Madagascar, lived locally from 1858
* [[Henry Rogers (congregationalist)|Henry Rogers]], (1806–1877), nonconformist minister and man of letters, died locally.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Rogers, Henry | volume= 23 | page = 455 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Wickham]] (1810–1890), English cricketer, died locally
* [[John Evans (British Columbia politician)|John Evans]] (1816–1879), miner and political figure in [[British Columbia]], born and educated locally
* [[George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry]] (1821–1884), aristocrat, businessman, diplomat and politician, lived at [[Plas Machynlleth]]
* [[Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry]] (1852–1915), politician, landowner and benefactor, lived at [[Plas Machynlleth]]
* [[Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest]] (1862–1921), director of [[Cambrian Railways]], lived at [[Plas Machynlleth]], died at the [[Abermule train collision]].
* [[Dick Atkin, Baron Atkin]] (1867–1944), lawyer and judge, local [[Justice of the peace|JP]]
* [[Edward M. Lewis]], (1872–1936), professor of English literature in the US & baseball player 
* [[Berta Ruck]]  (1878–1978), Welsh writer who grew up nearby.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.machynlleth.info/machpeople.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616055704/http://www.machynlleth.info/machpeople.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 June 2016|title=machynlleth people|website=www.machynlleth.info|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Williams Phillips|Sir Thomas Williams Phillips]] (1883–1966), senior Civil Servant, educated at Machynlleth County School
* [[William David Davies]], (1897–1969), Presbyterian minister and writer on theology, lived locally
* [[Philip Baxter|Sir John Philip Baxter]] (1905–1989), chemical engineer.
* [[Syd Thomas]] (1919–2012) a Welsh professional football winger.
* [[Laura Ashley]] (1925–1985), opened her first shop locally at 35 Maengwyn Street in 1961
* [[Emrys James]], (1928–1989), Welsh Shakespearean actor
* [[Geraint Lloyd Owen]] (born 1941), Welsh-language poet and teacher, taught locally
* [[Meri Wells]] (born 1946), ceramic sculptor, lives and works nearby
* [[Gareth Glyn]], (born 1951), Welsh composer and radio broadcaster
* [[David Russell Hulme]], (born 1951), Welsh conductor and musicologist
* [[Annie Morgan Suganami]] (born 1952), Welsh artist and musician, lives and works locally
* [[Gwynn ap Gwilym]], (1955–2016), Welsh language poet, novelist, editor and translator, raised locally
* [[George Monbiot]] (born 1963), English writer, lived locally for a number of years and still has a house and family there
* [[Led Zeppelin]] (formed in London in 1968), rock band members [[Jimmy Page]] and [[Robert Plant]] commenced writing the album [[Led Zeppelin III]] at nearby [[Bron-Yr-Aur]] cottage
* [[Nicky Arscott]] (born 1983), local artist and arts educator
* [[Murder of April Jones|April Jones]] (2007–2012), child murder victim

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category|Machynlleth}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Machynlleth}}
* [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=3&b=5939296&c=machynlleth&d=14&g=415501&i=1001x1003&m=0&r=1&s=1204902665385&enc=1&domainId=15 2001 Census Neighbourhood Statistics: Machynlleth]
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3104793 Photos of Machynlleth and surrounding area on Geograph]
* [http://www.ecodyfi.org.uk/gettinghere.htm The Eco Dyfi website]

{{Heritage rail start}}
{{rail line |previous=Terminus |route=[[Corris Railway]] |next=[[Ffridd Gate railway station|Ffridd Gate]] |col=000000 }}
{{s-rail |title=National Rail }}
{{s-rail-national |next=Dovey Junction |previous=Caersws |toc=Transport for Wales |route=Cambrian Line }}
{{s-end}}

{{Powys}}
{{Powys wards}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Machynlleth| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Powys]]
[[Category:Communities in Powys]]
[[Category:Wards of Powys]]