What is Newtown, Powys?
[[File:Newtown, Wales.jpg|thumb|'''''Newtown, Wales (Powys)''''']] {{infobox UK place |country = Wales |official_name= Newtown |welsh_name = Y Drenewydd | population = 11,357 | population_ref = (2011 census) |unitary_wales= [[Powys]] |lieutenancy_wales= [[Powys]] |region= Montgomeryshire | map_alt = Map of Powys, with a red dot showing the position of Newtown | coordinates = {{coord|52.51|-3.31|display=inline,title}} | label_position = top |constituency_westminster= [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] |post_town= NEWTOWN |postcode_district = SY16 |postcode_area= SY |dial_code= 01686 |os_grid_reference= |london_distance= |static_image= Bear_Lanes_shopping_centre_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1275031.jpg |static_image_caption= Bear Lanes Shopping Centre, Newtown }} [[File:The Lion Hotel. - geograph.org.uk - 1293127.jpg|thumb|410x410px|The Lion Hotel, Located in Newtown]] '''Newtown''' ([[Welsh language|Welsh]]: '''Y Drenewydd''') is a [[town]] in the county of [[Powys]], [[Wales]]. Its population of 11,357 makes it the largest town in Powys. It lies on the [[River Severn]] in the historic county of [[Montgomeryshire]]. Newtown is about 8 miles (13 km) from the border with [[England]]. Newtown consists of numerous housing estates such as Trehafren, Treowen, Barnfields, Canal road, Ffordd Croesawdy, Vaynor, Maesyrhandir, Garth Owen, Milford road and so on. One of the more populated areas in Newtown is Barnfields, home to nearly 4,950. At the end of the 13th century, [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] commissioned [[Roger de Montgomery]] to construct a centre for the hamlet of '''Llanfair-yng-Nghedewain''' near a [[River Severn]] ford below the Long Bridge and close to the church of St Mary in [[Bettws Cedewain]] gave Newtown its original Welsh name. The town grew in the 18th and 19th centuries around the [[Textiles|textile]] and [[flannel]] industry, accompanied by the completion of the [[Montgomeryshire Canal]]. In [[1838]], the town saw [[Wales]]'s first [[