Article by Marie Hussey, Secretary of Kerry Local History Group:
"Kerry Local History Group consists of a small group of people who live in, or close to, the village of Kerry, near Newtown, Powys. The main aims of the group are to promote the study of the history of the area, to educate the public in such history, and also to secure the preservation of features of historic interest in the area. We meet in the function room at the Herbert Arms Hotel, Kerry.
The Kerry Local History Group has been in existence since February 2002 and was started by the Chairman Richard Sims after he had moved into one of the older and more historic buildings in the village, The Old Schoolhouse. He became interested in researching the history of the Schoolhouse, and that interest was extended to include the history of the village.
During the winter months, the group meets at 8.00 pm on the second Monday of the month, usually with a speaker talking on a subject of local interest. Some of the talks are on the history of the village itself, while others are of more general interest. Membership of the group is available at £5.00, with a charge of £1.00 at each meeting.
In the summer walks and visits to places of interest are planned. These include energetic walks such as up Snowdon and Aran Fawddwy, while others are to places such as the old county Town of Montgomery, or the Judges Lodging at Presteigne.
The programme of talks for Winter 2005 will be arranged in September. The main highlight so far has centred on the discovery at Newtown High School of a large number of photographic plates dating from around 1900, and taken by the last of the Kerry village squires, Mr J B Willams of Dolforgan Hall Estate.
A number of the plates are of the farmhouses and other buildings which made up the Dolforgan Estate, and also of other local properties, and considerable interest has been shown in identifying the properties.
It is hoped that sometime in the future, sufficient research of the history of Kerry will enable the group to publish its findings. Also it is planned to obtain some oral records of events from the older inhabitants.
The meetings are advertised on the village notice board and in the recently formed village newsletter, the 'Kerry News', and in the local paper, the County Times. It is hoped to have an article printed in the monthly newsletter, which is also published on the Kerry news website .
New members are always welcome, and most meetings and outings are open to non-members."
Anyone interested in finding out more about the group's activities can contact Richard on Tel: 01686 670100, or email kerryhistory@sky.com"
Photos from Kerry History Group trip to Aran FawddwyNewtown Mini Site
your comments
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We try to publish as many comments as we can but unfortunately, due to the volume of comments we receive every day, we cannot guarantee that all comments submitted will be published
Lynne Keever from Shrewsbury
I am looking for information about my gr gr grandfather who was born in Kerry circa 1821, his name was william Gwilt. an ag laborour. He married Sarah Jones from Rorrington Shropshire. On the 1841 census he was living in Westbury. I would be interested in any information tracing the Gwilt family, especially William's family.
Thu Sep 3 10:04:46 2009
Elizabeth Kerry
Hello from Australia. I have researched my Kerry line to Montgomeryshire and have a chart naming Kerry families descended from Elystan Glodrudd, "Founder of the 4th Royal Tribe of Wales". Is there a group or genealogist familiar with these families or one who could carry out research for me? I have much information on the Kerrys back to the 1700s but would like to venture further back if possible. Thank you. Elizabeth.
Sun Jun 21 21:51:56 2009
Gael Quinn from Australia
I am looking for details on Richard Hamer and his family of Kerry. Richard married Elizabeth Jones. Any help much appreciated
Thu Jun 11 10:50:43 2009
Lynnette Gael Quinn from Perth, Western Australia
I am looking for details about the Hamer family of Kerry. I am especially interested in Mary Hamer, born 1836, Kerry. Mary married George Cunningham at Lancashire in 1858. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tue May 12 14:36:29 2009
Annette Grey. Crewe
can any one help trace the history and names of the prisoners of war 1918 at kerry?
Wed Nov 19 09:41:20 2008
Colin Sheady from Connah;s Quay Flints
Hello I hope you can help me I have been researching my family tree and have managed to get back to a Michael Sheady who was born in Kerry Montgomeryshire in 1843 according to the 1881 census He was a Blacksmith by trade Irish decent I always presumed that he was born in Kerry Ireland but now realise that I have been making a mistake . He moved to Wolverhampton and married an Elizabeth Turley could she be from Kery ? Can you help me ?
Sun Sep 28 18:13:26 2008
David Evans from Llanwnog
I am 52 , returning to mid wales after many years away. I recall my grandmother Lucy Jones and still recall my mother Joan telling stories about living in Kerry with her brother Glyn. Mum was born in 1926 and still lives in Newtown with father Bert Evans who used to play football for the town, in the 50's. I would like to know more about tracing back some family history, can you help?
Mon Oct 22 08:07:05 2007
Liz Carmichael, Canada
I've been researching my Benbow ancestors from Kerry and reading your web site I see that you meet at the Herbert Arms. One of my ggg uncles, William Benbow, was innkeeper at the Herbert Arms in the 1861 census, would this be the same Herbert Arms as you meet in?
Wed Feb 7 09:42:18 2007
Bryan Rendell, Chepstow, Mon.
During the period 1957 - 60 I was a schoolmaster at Brynllywarch Res. School.
I was told by the then Headmaster that the Leyland family owned the house and estate.
Being very keen on local history I would have joined such a group as yours, had it been in existance then.
Best regards on your good work.
I had many pleasant nights in the Herbert Arms.
Fri Nov 3 09:44:00 2006
Are you a member of a local history group in Mid Wales? Get in touch and we'll add the details to the site.
