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CAERWYS

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

In 1868, the parish of Caerwys contained the following places:

"CAERWYS, a parish in the hundred of Rhuddlan, in the county of Flint, North Wales, 5 miles to the E. of St. Asaph. Holywell is its post town. It was anciently a place of some importance, and received from Henry III. a charter of incorporation, and the grant of a market and fairs. From the Roman remains found in the vicinity it is supposed to have been a Roman station. The town was, however, chiefly celebrated for the Eisteddvodau, assemblies in which the most distinguished of the bards and minstrels competed, in poetry and music, for prizes. One of the most celebrated of these congresses was that held in May, 1568, under a commission from Queen Elizabeth. A small silver harp was the usual prize assigned to the best harper. Another important Eisteddvod was held here in 1798, at which prizes were awarded to Robert Dhu o' Nantglyn, and T. Edwards o'r Nant, for poems; to Robert Foulkes, as best vocalist; and to W. Jones, as chief harper. Caerwys is now a small village, and has little trade. Woollen cloth is manufactured on a small scale. Limestone, lead, and iron ores exist in the neighbourhood, but are not worked. The borough is nominally governed by two bailiffs, appointed at the court-leet of the manor, now held by Lord Mostyn, and contributes with Flint and seven other boroughs to return one member to the imperial parliament. There are remains of the old townhall and the gaol. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of St. Asaph, value £425, in the patronage of the Bishop of Llandaff. The church is dedicated to St. Michael. There are chapels belonging to the Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, and a National school. The parochial charities are worth £3 a year. The living was held by John Lloyd, the antiquary, a friend of Pennant. The market has long been disused. Fairs for cattle, horses, sheep, &c., are held here on the first Tuesday after the 13th January, the 5th March, the last Monday in April, Trinity Thursday, the first Tuesday after the 7th July, the 29th August, the 5th November, and the second Tuesday in December. These are the largest and most important fairs in Flintshire."

"BRYNGWYN ISA and UCHA, townships in the parish of Caerwys, hundred of Rhuddlan, in the county of Flint, North Wales, 6 miles to the S.E. of St. Asaph."

"TREFEDWYN, a township in the parish of Caerwys, county Flint, 4 miles S.W. of Holywell."

"TRERDRE, a township in the parish of Caerwys, county Flint, 3 miles S.W. of Holywell."

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