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Tours > Wales > Presteigne
Presteigne (Press Teen)
Presteigne was the county town of the old border county of RadnorIn the old county of Radnor, and like Knighton, is very much English in character and language. Its Jacobean and Georgian houses are considered architectural delights, never failing to please the visitor. In the Radnorshire Arms, a priest hole hid a clergyman for over two years. In the parish church, a 17th century carillon, now beyond repair, is said to be the only one of its kind in the entire British Isles. The churchyard contains the grave of Mary Morgan, hanged in 1890 at the age of 17 for murdering her illegitimate child with a penknife given to her by the father, a well-known local official who sat on the jury that indicted her. A pardon from the king arrived too late.
In the Judge's drawing room in Shire Hall a jury box contained the names of 24 jurors out of whom 12 were drawn through a hole in the lid. To prevent tampering, the hole is only wide enough for three fingers. The Carmelite Convent in Presteigne has a reputation for its friendliness: the Mother Superior is not appointed, but elected by the nuns, serving for three years.
In August each year, the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts is a six-day celebration, featuring internationally-known musicians and soloists, and a composer in residence.
Next Stop: Newtown
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