Montgomeryshire/ Sir Drefaldwyn

Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counselors, Roger de Montgomerie, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury.

Montgomeryshire constitutes the northern part of the principal area of Powys, according to the 2001 census its population was 59,474.

Montgomery is considered the county town, though the administrative functions were shared with Machynlleth. The borders of Montgomeryshire correspond roughly to the medieval kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn. It is also the birth place of Saint Richard Gwyn.

The principle communities of the old county are Berriew, Caersws, Forden, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Montgomery, Newtown, and Welshpool

The Assembly and Parliamentary seats are based on the historic County of Montgomeryshire and today is one of the UK's most rural and isolated constituencies. Since 1880 it can boast a strong history of Liberalism in its politicians, being represented in Parliament by Liberals and Liberal Democrats since 1880, with the sole exception of the 1979-1983 Parliament. The seat has been represented in the Welsh Assembly by Mick Bates, another Liberal Democrat since it's creation in 1999.

Montgomeryshire's Members of Parliament

1880 - 1894 Stuart Rende

1894 - 1906 Arthur Humphreys-Owen

1906 - 1929 David Davies

1929 - 1931 Clement Davies

1962 - 1979 Emlyn Hooson

1983 - 1997 Alex Carlile

1997 - Lembit Öpik