Did you or a family member work at Pryce Jones?

Residents with connections to one of Newtown’s most significant industrial pioneers are being invited to take part in a special community event this week.

A “Pryce Jones Sharing Memories” day will be held on Wednesday, March 25, from 10am to 3pm at the Royal Welsh Warehouse building at Newtown College’s Fashion and Textile Academy.

The event is being organised by Heritage Hub for Mid Wales (HH4MW) in partnership with the Newtown Local History Group and the college, as part of efforts to digitally preserve the town’s industrial heritage.

Families and former workers connected to Pryce Jones’ businesses, including the Royal Welsh Warehouse, associated factories and laundry operations, are being encouraged to attend and share their stories.

Organisers say the aim is to capture personal memories, photographs and historical material that can be preserved through the National Library of Wales’ “People’s Collection Wales” digital archive.

The project also links to a wider initiative with students at the Fashion and Textile Academy, who are exploring Pryce Jones’ legacy and its influence on modern design and industry.

Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Newtown’s history.

Born in 1834, he transformed a local drapery business into what is often described as the world’s first mail order company, using the expanding railway network to deliver goods across Britain and internationally.

Operating from the Royal Welsh Warehouse in Newtown, his business supplied customers as far afield as Europe, America and Australia, with notable clients said to include Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale.

At its peak, the enterprise employed hundreds of people locally, helping to establish Newtown as a centre for the textile and flannel trade during the 19th century.

The Royal Welsh Warehouse itself remains one of the town’s most recognisable historic buildings, standing as a reminder of Newtown’s industrial past and global connections.

Organisers of Wednesday’s event say that while Pryce Jones’ business achievements are well documented, there is still a need to capture the personal experiences of those whose families were part of that story.

By collecting these memories, the project aims to ensure that the social and human history behind the business is not lost.

The drop-in session is open to anyone with a connection to the Pryce Jones businesses or an interest in Newtown’s heritage.

No booking is required, and attendees can visit at any point during the day.