At the roundabout, turn left pass the entrance to the sheep market and continue until you signs for the Victoria Bowling Club - this is where the remains of Domen Castell are to be found.

Retrace your tracks and follow Severn St back to the bridge over the canal. (Shortcut: Continue under bridge 119 to the lock, cross over the canal and pass through the kissing gate to the museum.)

Domen Castell

Domen Castell is a motte and bailey castle dating from the 12th century and is thought to be built by Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, then ruler of Powys. It is thought that the castle was captured by the Anglo-Normans in 1190 and recaptured shortly afterwards by Gwenwynwyn.

The castle would have been the stronghold of the area before Powis Castle was established, and formed part of the 12th century town which lay to the east of the centre of modern Welshpool.

The main street ran north-west from Domen Castell, along the line of Mill Lane towards the site of Capel Llywelyn, an early church that stood to the south of Salop Road. A church survived on this site until Christmas morning 1659 when it was destroyed by a fire.

Nothing of this Norman town survives today but a map of 1629 suggests that some buildings survived here at least until that date. The Norman town was built on the site of Smithfield Market, which is one of the largest sheep markets in Europe.

The railway station was built in 1860 as the headquarters of Cambrian Railways, in an imposing French Renaissance style with local red brick and stone dressings. The Cambrian Railways opened the line from Oswestry to Welshpool in 1860 and shortly after, the line from Welshpool to Shrewsbury followed.