LLANGOLLEN

"LLANGOLLEN, a parish and market town in the hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh, North Wales, 18 miles S.E. of Denbigh, and 184 from London. It is the terminus of the Llangollen Vale branch of the Great Western railway. It is situated in the Vale of Llangollen, or Glyndwrdwy, which extends about 8 miles under the mountains from the Eglwyseg rocks, which form the geological boundary of the North Wales coalfield, to the hanging woods of Wynnstay and the Waterloo Tower, erected to commemorate that event. The parish, which is of large extent, contains, besides the town of Llangollen, the chapelry of Trevor, and the townships of Llangollen Abbots, Fawr, Fechan, with 15 others. It is watered by the river Dee, "which brawls over its bed of rock, making perpetual loud music," and occasionally rises, as if swollen by heavy rains, even in the driest weather. This phenomenon is said to be occasioned by certain winds blowing over the surface of the lake Bala, which produces an extraordinary efflux of water into the river Dee. The river is here crossed by a singular bridge of four pointed arches, the two smallest being in the middle, built, as is said, before 1345, by John Trevor, Bishop of St. Asaph, and famed in story as one of the three wonders of North Wales. On the right bank stands the town of Llangollen, a pleasant little place of about 3,000 inhabitants. The streets are clean, and the houses in general small, but well arranged, presenting an air of general activity and prosperity. It is chiefly famed for its brewery, and hotels, the Hand and King's Head, both much frequented by tourists, who make this their centre before starting on the tour of North Wales. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the flannel trade, woollen mills, collieries, and limestone quarries. A townhall and a large market-hall are now in process of erection. At a short distance from the town, which is embosomed in hills, are two of the greatest engineering works of the day the viaduct of the Chester and Shrewsbury railway, which is 1,631 feet long, and the aqueduct of the Ellesmere canal, constructed by Talford in 1805, at a cost of £47,018. This gigantic work conveys the canal across the ravine of the Dee, here 2,600 feet wide, at the height of 126 feet. This is effected by an earthen embankment 1,500 feet long, excavated from the S. side of the valley, and connected with the opposite side by 18 light piers of sandstone, 121 feet high, supporting a cast-iron trough 1,007 feet long, through which the canal passes. Though inferior in grandeur to several railway bridges, this aqueduct is much admired as a work of modern art not surpassed by any similar structure of antiquity, exceeding both in height and the quantity of water conveyed any aqueduct built by the Romans. Other objects of interest in the vale are, Eliseg pillar, 8 feet high; the ruins of Vale Crucis Abbey; a tower near Crow Castle; Llandysilio Hall; Trevor Hall; Pengwern, an ancient seat of the Mostyn family, built in the 14th century; Plas-y-Pentre; and Plas Newydd, a small cottage ornée, at which dwelt the "maids of Llangollen," Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Ponsonby, who, influenced by a romantic attachment to each' other, came hither from Ireland in 1779, in the heyday of their youth and charms, and refusing the proffers of all suitors, dwelt together till their death, which took place respectively in 1829 and 1831, at very advanced ages. Llangollen is the head of a deanery in the archdeaconry and diocese of St. Asaph. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of St. Asaph, value £436, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to a saint with the extraordinary name of Collen-ap-Gwynog-ap-Clyddwg-ap-Cowrda-ap-Caradoc-Freichfras-ap-Llyr-Merini-ap-Einion-Ysth-ap-Cunedda-Wledig, and contains a good carved oak roof in the later perpendicular style, said to have been brought from the neighbouring abbey of Valle Crucis. It is now (1865) undergoing enlargement by the addition of a chancel and south aisle, at a cost of £2,500. There are also two district churches, viz: Pontfadog and Trevor, the livings of both which are perpetual curacies value respectively £150 and £87. There are six chapels for Dissenters, also several schools. The charities produce about £60 per annum. Sychnaint, or Sycharth, is said to have been the seat of Owain Glyndwr, and on a precipitous hill, which rises abruptly from the bank of the river to the height pf 910 feet, are the scanty remains of a castle called Castell Dinas Bran, a stronghold of the lords of Gale, which sustained an attack under Owain Glyndwr. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held on the last Friday in January, 17th March, 31st May, 21st August, and 22nd November, chiefly for horses, cattle, pigs, and cheese."

"BRYNIAU-BACH, a township in the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, in the county of Denbigh, North Wales, not far from Llangollen."

"CILCOCHWIN, a township in the parish of Llangollen, in the county of Denbigh, 18 miles S.E. of Denbigh."

"CROGEN-IDDON, (and Crogen y Ladies) townships in the parish of Llangollen, in the county of Denbigh, near Chirth Castle and the village of Llangollen.

"DINBREN, a township in the parish of Llangollen, in the county of Denbigh, near Llangollen."

"EGLYNOD-EAGLE, a township in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh, in the vicinity of the town of Llangollen."

"ERWALLO, a township in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh, a short distance from Llangollen."

"GLYN-TRAIAN, a division of the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh."

"HAVODGYNFAWR, a township in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh, 2 miles from Llangollen."

"LLANGOLLEN-TRAIAN, a division in the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh."

"NANTYGWRYD, a township in the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh, near Llangollen, and 18 miles S.E. of Denbigh. It is situated near the bridge over the river Dee, and at a short distance from the Ellesmere canal."

"PENGWERN, a township in the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh, 2 miles from Llangollen, and 19 S.E. of Denbigh. It is situated near the bridge over the river Dee. In the neighbourhood are traces of a ruined seat of the Trevors and Mostyns."

"PONTFADOG, a hamlet in the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh, 2 miles from Llangollen, and 19 S.E. of Denbigh. It is situated near the river Dee and the Ellesmere canal. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of St. Asaph, value £150, in the patronage of the Vicar of Llangollen."

"RHYSGOG, a township in the parish of Llangollen, hundred of Chirk, county Denbigh, 2 miles from Llangollen, and 19 S.E. of Denbigh. It is situated in the vale of the river Dee, and near the Ellesmere canal."

"TALYGARTH, a township in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh. It is situated near Llangollen."

"TREVOR and ISSA and UCHA, townships in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh, 3 miles N.E. of Llangollen, its post town. It is a station on the Ruabon and Llandrillo branch of the Great Western railway. The village is situated on the Ellesmere canal and the river Dee, under Castel Dinas Bran. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of St. Asaph, value £87."

"VALLE CRUCIS, (or Llan Egwest), a hamlet in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh, 3 miles N.W. of Llangollen. It has ruins of a Cistercian abbey, founded by Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor about the close of the 12th century.

"VIVOD, a township in the parish of Llangollen, county Denbigh, 1 mile from Llangollen. The house of correction is in this parish."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018