or POOL, a parliamentary and municipal borough of N. Wales, in the county and 10 miles N. of Montgomery, near the left bank of the Severn, 171 miles N.W. by W. of London. It derives its name from a lake called Llyn Du, in the vicinity; and is called Welsh to distinguish it from Poole in Dorsetshire. It stands partly on the slope and partly at the foot of a declivity leading to Powis Castle a little to the S. of the town; and it is traversed by two rivulets flowing into the Severn. There is one main street running E. and W., with others diverging from it; and the houses are for the most part regularly built of brick. About the middle of the principal street stands the town and county hall, a modern building with a corn market beneath. The parish church is a large but no way remarkable edifice, in the pointed style, with a lofty square tower. Another church has recently been erected in an elevated position, and the town has also places of worship for Independents, Methodists, Baptists, and other sects. Education is provided for by National and free schools; and there are several charitable establishments. The chief manufacture here is that of flannel, for which Welshpool was once the chief seat in N. Wales; and there are also malt-houses and tanneries. Weekly markets and annual fairs are held; and traffic is facilitated by the Severn, which is navigable for barges nearly as far as Welshpool. The borough is governed by four aldermen, and twelve councillors, of whom one is mayor; and along with Montgomery, Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, and Newtown, it returns one member to the House of Commons. Pop. (1851) of the parliamentary borough, 4434; of the municipal borough, 6564.