Introduction to Presteigne by Greg Stevenson

The ancient town of Presteigne stands right on the Welsh border. And I mean right on the border … take two steps across the River Lugg and you're in England. But I’m pleased to say that you’ll find all the best buildings here on the Welsh side of the divide!

Presteigne is a sleepy little place today that most people miss because of the bypass, but this used to be the county town for Radnorshire and is one of the most charming towns on the borders.

It has an interesting position – we’re on the eastern side of Offa’s Dyke here, as it was captured by the Mercians from the Welsh. It has flipped between the English and Welsh many times… but by the Tudor period things had settled down.

And there is some wonderful Tudor architecture to be seen here today – in fact Preteigne has more dates Tudor buildings than any other in Wales.

Later developments are due in part to the town being on the main coaching route from London to Aberystwyth via Gloucester.

What I love about Llanandras is its hotpotch of medieval streets and buildings that began to be replaced by the formal classical townscape of the Georgian period. We have a snapshot of how we moved from the old world to the new!

In many ways what we have here is the perfect town for describing the typical history of the Welsh town.

Moreover, the townspeople are keen to preserve what they have. I haven’t seen a single plastic window in the entire town. And you’d have to look hard to find an ugly building. This town is pretty, and it knows it!