Part 22

Tan-yr-Allt, the seat of the late W. A. Madock, Esq., is a spacious modern mansion of elegant design, situated on a rock overlooking the town. Morfa Lodge, and Tuhwnt-i’r-Bwlch, erected also by that gentleman, are handsome villas in the immediate vicinity of the town. Captain Parry, R.N. of Llwyn-on, Denbighshire, has also a seat called Aberdunant, between this place and Beddgelert.

With a view to promote the commercial interests of the town which he had founded, Mr. Madock, in 1821, obtained an act of parliament for improving the navigation of this part of the bay on which it is situated, and thus rendered it accessible to vessels of three hundred tons burden: commodious quays and wharfs were also constructed.

The last improvement carried into effect was the erection of Port Madoc, about one mile from the town, where many good houses have been built. The principal exports are slates, from the Ffestiniog quarries, and copper ore, which is brought from the neighbouring mines. The chief imports are timber, coal, and lime. A rail-road also runs to this place from the quarries and mines in the neighbourhood. The road from Tremadoc to Beddgelert commands to great advantage the scenery of the Merionethshire side of the Traeth, and affords a delightful ride to Pont Aberglaslyn and its vicinity.

WELSHPOOL, (_Montgomeryshire_.)

Llanfair 8 London 171 Montgomery 8 Newtown 14 Oswestry 16 Shrewsbury 18

This town is called Welsh, to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Dorsetshire, and Pool, from its proximity to a piece of water called Llyn-du Pool, now within the inclosure of Powys park. The town, which Leland describes as being in the reign of Henry the Eighth, “the best market in Powys,” still retains that character, in addition to which it may justly be regarded as the modern capital of the county, and, with the parish, contains 4626 inhabitants. The town has a cheerful and prepossessing appearance. The flannel manufacture is carried on here, but upon a less scale than at Llanidloes or Newtown. A considerable trade is carried on in malt, and there are likewise several large tanneries. Welshpool is made contributory with Llanidloes, Llanfyllyn, Machynlleth, Montgomery, and Newtown, in returning a member to parliament. The assizes for the county are held here. The town-hall is a commodious building of brick, in the centre of the principal street.

The church, with the exception of the chancel and the tower, was rebuilt in 1774. It is in the early style of English architecture, with a lofty square embattled tower, and its interior accommodation was enlarged by the addition of galleries in 1824. Amongst the communion plate, there is a chalice of fine gold, holding one quart, and valued at £170; engraved on it is a Latin inscription, stating it to have been presented to the church of Pool, by Thomas Davies, Governor-general of the English colonies on the western coast of Africa, in gratitude for the preservation of his life during his residence in that unhealthy clime.

Powys Castle,

the seat of the Earl of Powys, is a stately but irregular pile of building, venerable for its antiquity: it is pleasantly situated in a well-wooded park, at the distance of a mile from the town, on the right of the road leading to Montgomery, and occupies a commanding site on a ridge of rocks overlooking a vast extent of richly diversified country, the greater part of which was formerly subject to its lord. The views from its extensive and richly wooded park are remarkably interesting and beautiful.

Angling Stations.

_Distances from Welshpool_. _Miles_. Berriew, on the confluence of the Rhiw and Severn 5 Llandysylio, on the Vyrnwy 8 Llandrinio 9 Llanvyllin, the Abel, Cain, and Vyrnwy 12

WREXHAM, (_Denbighshire_.)

Chester 12 Llangollen 11½ Oswestry 6 Ruthin 16

Wrexham is a large and well-built town, whose population, including the parish, was returned in 1841 at 12,981 inhabitants. From its extent and importance, it has sometimes been denominated the metropolis of North Wales. The town is pleasantly situated at the junction of the Shrewsbury. Welshpool, Oswestry, and Chester roads, and in the centre of the mining and manufacturing districts of the eastern part of Denbighshire. Races are annually held early in October, on a course a little north-west of the town, on the right of the road to Mold. Wrexham is one of the principal stations on the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway.

No particular branch of trade or manufacture is carried on in the town; but the parish, which is about twelve miles in length, abounds with mineral wealth, and extensive works of various kinds are carried on in different parts of it. The principal inns are the Wynnstay Arms and the Lion. Markets are held on Thursday and Saturday, the former being the chief market day. There are several fairs held annually for cattle; but the principal one is that which commences on the 23d of March, and continues for fourteen days. For the accommodation of the various dealers attending it, five extensive areas are fitted up with shops and booths. A new and handsome market-hall has also been lately built, and cheese fairs established. Wrexham is contributory with Denbigh, Holt, and Ruthin, in the return of a parliamentary representative.

The church, dedicated to St. Giles, is a spacious and noble Gothic structure, deservedly regarded as one of the finest ecclesiastical edifices in the Principality. It was erected in the year 1472, the tower not being finished till 1506, as appears by a date on the building. The exterior is elaborately embellished with sculpture; and the tower, which is very lofty and highly enriched, consists of several successive stages, panelled throughout, and decorated with numerous statues of saints in canopied niches: from its elevation, and the light open-work turrets by which it is crowned at the angles, it forms a conspicuous and interesting object in the surrounding landscape. It has a remarkably fine carved roof: and a noble altar-piece, designed by Mr. Jones of Chester, and worked in stone by Mr. Blayney of that city; the east window being filled with beautifully stained glass by Mr. Evans, of Shrewsbury.

In the chancel is an altar-tomb, on which is a recumbent effigy of Dr. Bellot, successively Bishop of Bangor and Chester, who died in 1596, and was there interred. Nearly opposite to this tomb is an interesting monument, by Roubilliac, to the memory of Mrs. Mary Myddelton, of Chirk Castle, representing a female rising from the tomb in all the freshness of youth and beauty, at the sound of the last trumpet which is to summon the dead to judgment. At the corner of the aisle is also a monument by Roubilliac, to the Rev. Thomas Myddelton and Arabella his wife; and there are monuments to Wm. Lloyd, Esq. and his son, the Fitzhughs, the Pulestons, the Longuevilles, Sir Foster and Lady Cunliffe, and other families in the neighbourhood..

About a mile from Wrexham, on the right of the road leading to Chester, is Acton Park, the residence of Sir R. H. Cunliffe, Bart., a spacious mansion, delightfully situated in extensive grounds, richly diversified with picturesque and romantic scenery, and commanding pleasing views of the town and adjacent country. Acton was the birth-place of the notorious Judge Jeffreys, who obtained so bad an eminence in the reign of James the Second.

INDEX.

PAGE. Aber 1 Aberdaron 5 Aberdovey 6 Aberffraw 7 Abergele 8 Aberystwyth 13 Acton Park 206 Amlwch 22 Bala 24 Bangor (Caernarvonshire) 28 Bangor Is-y-coed 52 Bardsey Island 6 Barmouth 53 Baron Hill 58 Basingwerk Abbey 133 Beaumaris 55 Beaumaris Bay 60 Beddgelert 63 Bettws-y-Coed 69 Buckley Mountain 122 Cader Idris 70 Caergwrle 73 Caernarvon 73 Caerwys 80 Capel Curig 82 Castell Dinas Brân 151 Cerig-y-Druidion 88 Cerniogau Mawr 89 Ceunant Mawr 139 Chester 89 (See also Introduction.) Chirk 89 Clynog 92 Conway 93 Corwen 99 Cricaeth 100 Devil’s Bridge 18 Dee River 27 Denbigh 101 Diganwy 97 Dinas Mowddwy 105 Dinorwic 105 Diserth 105 Dolbadarn 138 Dolgelley 106 Dolwyddelan Castle 83 Downing 134 Ewloe Castle 122 Ffestiniog 110 Flint 112 Golden Grove 136 Gorphwysfa 140 Gresford 115 Gwydir 162 Gwytherin 163 Gyrn 136 Hanmer 116 Harlech 117 Havod 18 Hawarden 119 Holt 124 Holyhead 124 Holywell 128 Hope 73 Kymmer Abbey 108 Lake Ogwen 84 Llanasa 135 Llanberis 137 Llanddulas 11 Llandegai 141 Llandudno 142 Llanedwen 143 Llanelian 143 Llanerch-y-medd 144 Llanervul 144 Llanfair (Anglesea) 146 Llanfair (Montgomerysh.) 147 Llanfyllyn 148 Llangefni 148 Llangollen 149 Llangynog 155 Llanhaiarn 155 Llanidan 156 Llanidloes 157 Llanrhaiadr 159 Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant 160 Llanrwst 160 Llanvaes Abbey 60 Llyn Idwal 85 Machynlleth 164 Maen-twrog 166 Maes Garmon 170 Mallwyd 168 Menai Bridge 33 Menai Railway Bridge 38 Moel Fammau 171 Moel Siabod 83 Mold 168 Mona Inn 172 Montgomery 172 Mostyn Hall 135 Nannau Park 109 Nant Ffrancon 84 Nevyn 173 Newborough 174 Newmarket 174 Newtown 176 Northop 177 Offa’s Dyke 170 Ogwen Bank 44 Oswestry 177 Overton 178 Penmaen Mawr 178 Penmaen Priory 60 Penmorfa 179 Penmynydd 180 Penrhyn Castle 40 Pentraeth 59 Pentre Voelas 180 Pillar of Eliseg 152 Pistyll Rhaiadr 160 Plâs Newydd 150 Plâs Newydd (Anglesea) 180 Plinlimmon 158 Pont Aberglaslyn 68 Pont Cysylltau 152 Pont-y-Glyn 181 Powys Castle 205 Puffin Island 61 Pwllheli 182 Rhaiadr-y-Wennol 84 Rhuddlan 183 Rhyl 185 Ruabon 186 Ruthin 188 Slate Quarries, near Bangor 42 Snowdon 193 St. Asaph 191 St. George 12 Talacre 136 Tal-y-llyn 199 Tan-y-Bwlch 166 The Tower (Mold) 171 Towyn 200 Traws-fynydd 202 Trefriw 163 Tremadoc 202 Vale Crucis Abbey 151 Vale of Clwyd 190 Welshpool 204 Wrexham 205 Wynnstay 187

MAP.

[The book contains a large map which unfortunately is too big to scan entire. It’s provided here as four parts.—DP.]

North-West Wales (top)

[Picture: North-West Wales, top]

North-East Wales (top)

[Picture: North-East Wales, top]

North-West Wales (bottom)

[Picture: North-West Wales, bottom]

North-East Wales (bottom)

[Picture: North-East Wales, bottom]

FOOTNOTES.

{0} The largest stone arch before known is Vielle Briode, which crosses the river Allien, in France, whose span is 183 feet, being 17 feet less than the Chester bridge. It was erected in 1454, by Grenier.

{8} From _Aber_, rivulet—_Gele_, woody, secluded; a name very characteristic of the place, as the rivulet running through it issues out of deep wood ravines above the town.

{10} The silurian rocks to the west of Abergele, have recently been brought under the notice of the Geological Society by Mr. J. E. Bowmall. That gentleman, in an able paper presented to the society, states that his attention was first directed to these strata by the Rev. J. Price, of Llysfaen. They occur immediately south of the narrow belt of carboniferous limestone which skirts the coast from the Great Ormeshead to the point of Ayr, and the estuary of the Dee. The section described by Mr. Bowmall presents the following series of beds in descending order, many of the fossils discovered in them being identified with those found in the Ludlow formation of Shropshire:—1. Carboniferous limestone. 2. Light coloured loam enclosing rounded pebbles of greenish, slightly micaceous sandstone with shells. 3. Bed of the same sandstone. 4. Red marl of considerable thickness, with imbedded angular and waterworn pebbles, and numerous fossils. 5. Arenaceous conglomerate, consisting partly of the pebbles of the underlying limestone. 6. Thin beds of compact reddish limestone, sometimes very arenaceous, and containing a few fossils. 7. Blue clay. 8. Blue clay slate, occasionally enclosing layers of organic remains, and forming the geological base of the country.

{12} There is a tradition current in this neighbourhood, that Oliver Cromwell was concealed at Kinmel, when Carter (his general) lived there; and there is a spur of extraordinary dimensions still hung in the above church, which is called Oliver Cromwell’s spur.

{73} Called by the Welsh, ESTYN.

{76} So called from the circumstance of Eleanor (daughter of Ferdinand the Third) the consort of Edward, who was brought, through the inclemency of a hard winter, to bear a prince for the Welsh,—having first entered the castle through this gate. At this time the castle was entirely insulated, on one side by artificial means: the moat was destroyed by being filled up two or three centuries ago, which somewhat detracts from our estimate of its former impregnable character.

‘Edward had annexed Wales to the kingdom of England, but the Welsh were displeased with this usurpation, and determined to yield no obedience to any prince but of their own nation and language. Edward thought of an expedient for cozening them. He ordered Eleanor, in the depth of winter, out of England to Caernarvon Castle, there to lie in. Edward then summoned all the barons and chief persons throughout Wales to meet him at Rhuddlan, to consult about the welfare of their country. He told the Welsh nobility that they had often wished for a prince of their own country, who might rule over them. They promised to allow of such an appointment, and to obey such a personage. Edward then mentioned _his own son Edward_, recently born, maintaining the terms of the engagement to have been strictly complied with, for his son was born in Wales, could speak no English, and his character irreproachable. Though born in 1284, it was not before he had reached his 16th year that Prince Edward received the reluctant fealty of his deluded subjects. The eldest sons of the English monarchs have subsequently been styled Prince of Wales, and, independently of birth, been created so by letters patent.’—_Nicholson_.

{87} Dunawt was the son of Nefydd Hardd, one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales: to him Prince Owen Gwynedd had intrusted his son to be fostered, according to the usual custom.

{102a} The common Welsh name is Eglwys-wen, and the translation is a vulgarism.

{102b} Richard Myddelton was the father of Sir Hugh Myddelton, who brought the new river to London.

{130} Sych, i.e. _dry_, and nant, a _hollow_, a _brook_.

{140} The term _Cromlech_, used to signify a Druidical altar, cannot be property attached to this stone: it being quite improbable that it ever was used to such purpose; but the continued action of the elements has placed it as it is.

{146} There being several parishes of this name in the Principality, this is distinguished by the adjunction of Mathavarneithav.