Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Brecknockshire


This page summarises the local government organisation of Breconshire since 1889.

  • Brecknockshire County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
  • Brecknockshire had just one Municipal Borough dating from 1836: Brecknock (or Brecon) itself.
  • From 1894 there were also 4 Urban Districts: Brynmawr, Builth Wells, Hay, and Llanwrytd Wells UDCs. Urban Districts had similar powers to boroughs but lacked the powers to appoint mayors or aldermen.
  • Builth Wells was renamed Builth UDC in 1898.
  • There were also 6 Rural District Councils covering the areas outside the major towns. These were: Brecknock, Builth, Crickhowell, Hay, Vaynor & Penderyn, and Ystradgynlais RDCs. Most Rural Districts were initially based on the Poor Law Unions, with meetings held at the workhouse.
  • There was inconsistency over the spelling between Breconshire and Brecknockshire but in 1910 the county council formally agreed on Breconshire as the offical name.
  • In 1974 major reorganisation saw the boroughs, urban and rural districts abolished and Breconshire, along with Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, become part of a new county, Powys. This was a 2-tier administration with the three former counties becoming districts.
  • In 1996 there was further reorganisation as Powys became a unitary authority and the three districts were abolished. There were some boundary alterations, and Brynmawr was transferred to Blaenau Gwent.
  • For a list of our Breconshire maps go to the Breconshire page, or for the whole of Wales go to the Wales page
  • You can order maps direct from our On-line Mapshop.
    Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.
  • Alan Godfrey Maps, Prospect Business Park, Leadgate, Consett, DH8 7PW. Tel 01207 583388
    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 28 July 2018