            |
This thriving small rural market town, with a population of just over 2,000, is built at the edge of the River Dyfi's flood-plain, between the river's mountain source above Llanymawddwy and its estuary at Aberdyfi. Permission by charter for a weekly Wednesday market (still flourishing today) was granted in 1291 by the English king, Edward I, formalising Machynlleth's status as trading centre of an area that reflects the physical catchment of the Dyfi. Nowadays strongly bilingual, the town is famous for the rebellious leader Owain Glyndwr's crowning as prince of a secessionist Wales in 1404 and for his holding of a parliament here.
The economic landscape. Local iron smelting used coppiced oak woodland as a renewable fuel resource, and there was significant trade in tanbark into more recent times. People spun the native wool and wove woollen cloth. Vessels of shallow draft could reach upriver to within 2½m. or so of Machynlleth, and slate and lead from the hinterland were exported. |
 The natural background - relic oak woodland
|
