Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s advance across Europe had been slowed. French and German prisoners of war were placed on parole across the country, including rural Wales with Llanfyllin, Montgomery, Newtown and Welshpool becoming home to hundreds. Records of 300 prisoners being marched through Kerry toward Newtown Some were also imprisoned in Oswestry and Bishop’s Castle. A total of 148 had been stationed in Llanfyllin alone, many together in two large houses at Bachie Place and the Council House on the High Street. The hills of Llanfyllin. Picture: Geograph. The hills near Llanfyllin. Geograph. Records suggest the prisoners had been well treated and in some cases had come to relish life in rural Wales though others had complained of boredom and there had been several escapes.