KNIGHTON, a parish and borough and market-town, in the hundred of KNIGHTON, county of RADNOR, SOUTH WALES, 91 miles (N. E.
by N.) from New Radnor, and 158 (W. N. W.) from London, containing 1259 inhabitants. The Welsh name of this place is Trey
y Clawdd, signifying " the town upon the dyke," and is derived from its situation on that stupendous rampart of earth
which Offa King of the Mercians raised as a line of separation between the territories of the Cambrian princes and his own
widely extended dominions. The town is beautifully situated on an eminence rising boldly from the southern bank of the
river Teme, and at the head of a deep vale sheltered on all sides by surrounding hills of lofty elevation, crowned with
timber of luxuriant growth, and commanding extensive and finely varied prospects over the surrounding country. The two
principal streets, which intersect each other at right angles, are regularly formed, and contain some well-built houses of
respectable appearance; and, owing to the declivity of their situation, they are constantly clean, adding much to the
neat appearance of the place, which is inhabited by many families of respectability. The parish has almost every where an
undulating surface; but the lands, notwithstanding the loftiness of their elevation in some parts, are mostly enclosed
and cultivated. There are neither manufactures nor trade carried on in the town, with the exception only of what arises
from its situation on a public thoroughfare, and for the supply of its inhabitants. The turnpike roads from Builth, in the
county of Brecknock, and from King-ton, in that of Hereford, through Presteign, after uniting within two miles and a half
to the south of this town, form the high road from those places, through Knighton, to Shrewsbury. An establishment for
dressing and dyeing the wool which the peasants spun in their own houses was formerly carried on, but, together with the
spinning, has been discontinued, it having been found cheaper to get the wool from Yorkshire. Flannels and whittles (a
Flemish term for shawls) are brought Dither from Newtown in Montgomeryshire. A large wool-stapling establishment formerly
existed, which failed in 1811; there is still a little business done in this branch of trade, but several large
warehouses, which were formerly used for it, have either been converted into dwelling-houses, or are al. together
unemployed. The market, which is on Thursday, is plentifully supplied with provisions, and is attended by dealers even
from Birmingham and its vicinity, who come hither to purchase meat, poultry, eggs, butter, cheese, &c. Fairs are held
annually on the Thursday before Easter, May 17th, October 2nd, the last Thursday in October, and the Thursday before
November 12th. The parish is divided into three parts, namely, the borough, the lordship of Farrington, and the township
of Cv:mgilla: the poor rates are collected separately for the borough, and jointly for Farrington and Curmgilla; and the
poor of the whole parish are maintained generally out of the common fund. The borough is extensive with the manor,
its common title being "The Manor and Borough of Knighton." It is under the superintendence of a bailiff, burgesses, and
constables: the bailiff is appointed annually at the court leet held for the manor, which belongs to the crown; his duty
extends to little more than collecting the chief-rents of the manor, and receiving in trust, as chief municipal officer,
the tolls of the market: the burgesses, are made by a presentation of a jury of burgesses, selected by the steward of the
manor. Knighton, together with Cnwelis, Kevenlleece, Rhaiadr, and (by the late act for amending the representation of the
people) Presteign, contributes, with the borough of Radnor, to send one representative to parliament: the right of
election was formerly in the burgesses at large, in number about thirty, nearly all of whom are resident, though some
doubt exists as to the title of all but three or four: it is now, by the late act, vested in the resident burgesses, if
duly qualified according to its provisions, and in every male person of full age, occupying either as owner or as tenant
under the same landlord, a house or other premises of the annual value of ten pounds and upwards, provided he be capable
of registering as the act directs: the number of tenements of this value is eighty-six. A court for the recovery of small
debts was anciently held here, once in three weeks, which, having been discontinued for several years, was revived eight
or nine years ago, but was again discontinued in 1830, in consequence of the death of the presiding officer. The petty
sessions for the hundred are held here; and Knighton has been made, by the late Reform Act, one of the polling-places in
the election of a knight for the shire. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Salop, and diocese of
Hereford, endowed with £ 600 private benefaction, £ 600 royal bounty, and £ 600 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage
of the Warden of the Hospital of Clun. The church, which is dedicated to St. Edward, and pleasantly situated on the bank
of the river Teme, is a comparatively modern edifice. A small school for the gratuitous instruction of poor children, to
which Mrs. Barnsley bequeathed £50, and Mr. Thomas Meyrick and Lieutenant-Colonel Winwood each gave a portion of land, is
supported partly by the income arising from these benefactions, and partly by subscription. There are six small almshouses
for the poor, the founder of which is unknown, and several charitable donations and bequests for distribution. Of an
ancient castle, which is said to have commanded the town, there are not the slightest vestiges, neither can the exact site
be accurately pointed out. There are two tumuli in the parish; and on the summit of a steep hill, about three miles from
the town, are the remains of a very extensive British camp. The average annual expenditure for the support of the poor is
£320.6.