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 Account 
 
 OF 
 
 'ANGOLLE.f 
 
 AND 
 
 U 1/icmttg, 
 8s. 6& 
 

SOME ACCOUNT 
 
 LLANGOLLEN 
 
 its Vicinity; 
 
 INCLUDING A 
 
 CIRCUIT OF ABOUT SEVEN MILES. 
 
 Befcicatefc, &g #er mission, 
 
 TO THE RIGHT HON. LADY ELEANOR BUTLER, AND 
 MISS PONSONBY. 
 
 BY W. T. SIMPSON. 
 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 G. B. WHITTAKER, AVE MARIA LANI 
 T. AND W. WOOD, BIRMINGHAM; 
 
 AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 1827. 
 

TO THE 
 RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 LADY ELEANOR BUTLER, 
 
 AND TO 
 
 MISS PONSONBY, 
 
 THIS ACCOUNT OF 
 
 mmqolUn anfc tt* Vitinitu 
 
 IS, BY PERMISSION, 
 
 v 
 
 MOST HUMBLY DEDICATED. 
 BY THEIR MUCH OBLIGED SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 X ORTUITOUS circumstances having occa- 
 sioned me to become an inhabitant of Llan- 
 gollen, I was charmed with the beauty of its 
 situation; and the political importance in 
 which this neighbourhood was formerly held 
 prompted me to collect a few notices of its 
 local history, which I was advised by some 
 of my friends to publish. The conde- 
 scending politeness of the Ladies of Plas 
 Newydd, in permitting me to dedicate my 
 Work to them, encouraged me to proceed; 
 and I now venture to present my little Book 
 to the Public, earnestly hoping that its defects 
 will not be found such as to render it deserving 
 of severe criticism, and that it will prove 
 generally useful. 
 
 W. T. S. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 ^ Page 
 
 Aqueduct of Pontcysyiite 62 
 
 Authorities 195 
 
 Berwyn Mountains 47 
 
 Brynkinallt 33 
 
 Castell Dinas Bran 84 
 
 Chirk Castle 23 
 
 Village 30 
 
 Clawdd Offa, or Offa's Dyke 11, 19 
 
 Conclusion 193 
 
 Dee, River 137 
 
 Glyn Dyfrdwy 145 
 
 La Crucis, or Pillar of Eliseg 129 
 
 Llangollen Town 1 
 
 Church 178 
 
 Bridge 143 
 
 Vicarage 77 
 
 Llantysilio . . 110 
 
 Llys Pengwern 78 
 
 Plas Newydd 188 
 
 Ruabon, or Rhiwabon 12 
 
 Subscribers 197 
 
 Trevor Hall 72 
 
 Valle Crucis Abbey 113 
 
 Wynnstay 14 
 
&I*tt0OUttl 
 
 ITS VICINITY. 
 
 " Here let me still with simple Nature live, 
 My lowly field -flowers on her altar lay; 
 
 Enjoy the blessings that she meant to give, 
 And calmly pass my inoffensive day." 
 
 The attraction of North Wales, by 
 its romantic scenery, the antiquity 
 of its language, and the well authen- 
 ticated records of its desperate 
 struggle for independence, renders 
 every part of the Principality inte- 
 resting, and perhaps none more so 
 than the beautifully picturesque 
 town and neighbourhood of Llangol- 
 len, which have deservedly excited 
 
2 LLANGOLLEN. 
 
 the attention and admiration of a 
 vast number of strangers and anti- 
 quarians. Nor have the expectations 
 of its numerous visitors been disap- 
 pointed; for, though the Alps may 
 raise their towering summits to a 
 greater height — may embosom in 
 their dark recesses more ample lakes, 
 and give rise to more magnificent 
 rivers — yet even they cannot present 
 a more pleasing variety of scenery, or 
 more picturesque views, than those 
 with which Llangollen is surrounded. 
 
 This small market town is on the 
 border of North Wales, and is situ- 
 ated in that part of the county of 
 Denbigh which adjoins Shropshire. 
 It is on the south* bank of the river 
 Dee, and the mail road from London 
 to Holyhead passes through the town. 
 
 * The north side of the river is called "Trevor Ucha," 
 i. e. " Upper Trevor" 
 
LLANGOLLEN. 3 
 
 The distance from London to Llan- 
 gollen is about one hundred and 
 ninety miles, and from the latter 
 place to Holyhead seventy-seven 
 miles. 
 
 The town consists of one long 
 badly paved street, and a short cross 
 one, together with some courts and 
 alleys, called squares, but which at 
 present ill deserve an appellation 
 generally conveying to the mind an 
 idea of neatness, if not of superiority, 
 as they are for the most part formed 
 with obscure mean-looking houses, 
 built of the dark-coloured silicious 
 stone procured from the rocky bed 
 of the river, and from the surrounding 
 hills. The houses are seldom more 
 than two stories high, and have a 
 very sombre appearance, except 
 where the owners have had the good 
 taste to avail themselves of the lime 
 
 b 2 
 
4 LLANGOLLEN. 
 
 which is near at hand, in rough-cast- 
 ing or plastering the fronts. The 
 difference of the appearance of the 
 buildings thus finished is so advan- 
 tageous that it is to be hoped the plan 
 will be generally adopted. 
 
 Increase of population has here 
 the effect which is usually attributed 
 to it, viz. a manifest improvement in 
 the town. The last census states 
 the number of houses at 289, and of 
 the population at 1287; but the inha- 
 bitants may at this time (A.D. 1827) 
 be fairly estimated at 1500, and ha- 
 bitations in proportion. Among the 
 newly-erected houses are some very 
 neat buildings, at which private 
 lodgings may be obtained, with every 
 requisite accommodation. 
 
 Llangollen has a market on Satur- 
 day, and five fairs in the year, viz. 
 
LLANGOLLEN. O 
 
 on the last Friday in January, the 
 17th of March, the 31st of May, the 
 21st of August, and on the 22d of 
 November; at which, horses, horned 
 cattle, pigs, butter, cheese, &c. are 
 sold. A market house once stood 
 where the Hand Gardens now are, 
 and is a convenience much wanted. 
 Besides the London Mail to Holy- 
 head, which passes through Llangol- 
 len every afternoon at five o'clock, 
 and leaves the letter bags, which it 
 takes up again about eight o'clock 
 every morning, there are regular stage 
 coaches passing to and from London 
 and Holyhead every day. Light 
 vans, for the conveyance of luggage, 
 &c. pass twice a week from Salop. 
 There are also waggon conveyances, 
 through Wrexham, to Chester; and 
 boats on a collateral branch of the 
 Ellesmere Canal, which start at 
 stated periods for Liverpool, &c. 
 
6 LLANGOLLEN, 
 
 There are twelve licensed inns 
 and public houses in this little town, 
 all of them very respectable; and 
 whether it is owing to superior ma- 
 nagement, or to the excellence of the 
 water, which is the most pure ima- 
 ginable, and flows abundantly in 
 every part of the tow r n, the ale brewed 
 in Llangollen is in great and deserved 
 repute all over the kingdom. 
 
 Two principal inns and hotels, 
 adorn the town — the Hand inn, which 
 is in the centre, near the church; 
 and the King's Head, at the west end, 
 near the bridge. The excellent ac- 
 commodations afforded in both of 
 them are not surpassed ; they are un- 
 der the best regulations, and abound 
 with elegance and convenience. 
 Post carriages and horses are kept 
 at both houses, and the harp resounds 
 in their halls. The Viceroys of the 
 
LLANGOLLEN. 7 
 
 sister kingdom, as well as the no- 
 bility, seem to regard Llangollen as 
 a favourite resting-place, in passing 
 from one country to the other. 
 
 Mountains and hills enclose the 
 town on every side. On the south, 
 the Berwyn Mountains raise their 
 lofty heads. On the north, Castell 
 Dinas Bran, vulgarly called Crow 
 Castle, seated on its conical summit, 
 frowns over the town in ruined gran- 
 deur, and is backed with the vast 
 and wonderful range of lime-stone, 
 which forms a ridge stratum super 
 stratum, and is called the Eglwyseg 
 Rocks. A portion of these rocks, 
 with the little tumulus-like hill of 
 Pen y Coed, forms the eastern barrier. 
 On the west, the lofty Gerant*, or 
 
 * The Welch have a great readiness in attaching 
 names to record ocurrences : thus, the Gerant, which is 
 a part of the Berwyn Mountains, is called by them Moel 
 
8 LLANGOLLEN. 
 
 Moel y Barbwr, with the Bwlch 
 Coedd Herddyn, and other distant 
 mountains, close the scene. 
 
 The sacred Dee, which here foams 
 along its rocky bed, is crossed by a 
 stone bridge at the western extremity 
 of the town; the church stands in 
 the centre; and at the east end is 
 Plas Newydd, the residence of the 
 two highly respected ladies* whom 
 Miss Seward has recorded in song. 
 
 Having thus given a brief sketch 
 of Llangollen, embosomed as it is in 
 a vale where all the beauties of nature 
 seem to concentre, I shall proceed 
 to retrace and fill up the outline of 
 the picture, by classing under the 
 
 y Barbwr, i. e. Barber Hill, and obtained this appellation 
 from the circumstance of a barber, who was an associate 
 of a desperate gang of ruffians, having been hanged on 
 the summit, for the murder of his wife in the last century. 
 
LLANGOLLEN. y 
 
 name of each remarkable place its 
 description, and the particulars of 
 its history, quoting from and referring 
 to authorities as I proceed; but as, 
 from the varied scenery and the ro- 
 mantic views with which this neigh- 
 bourhood abounds, an attempt to do 
 justice to its several beauties would 
 be vain, I shall abstain from endea- 
 vouring fully to describe what re- 
 quires a more nervous hand than 
 mine to paint ; leaving to the reader's 
 taste full scope to select the scenes 
 most congenial to his disposition, 
 assuring him, that whether the dreary 
 waste, over whose vast plains sterility 
 and barrenness hold eternal sway; 
 or the luxuriance of verdant meads 
 and shady groves — the sombre haunts 
 of secluded retirement; or the soul- 
 inspiring gaiety of nature in her 
 most lightsome mood — be most in 
 unison with his frame of mind, here 
 
 b 3 
 
10 LLANGOLLEN. 
 
 may be found solace for the melan- 
 choly, amusement for the gay, exer- 
 cise for the naturalist, and food for 
 the antiquarian and philosopher. 
 
 As a commencement of my pro- 
 posed tour, I shall now beg my reader 
 to accompany me on the north side 
 of the Dee, to Clawdd Offa, or Offa's 
 Dyke, the ancient boundary of this 
 part of the Principality. 
 
4£!«t»feto #$fl** 
 
 "The best concerted schemes men lay for fame 
 Die fast away." 
 
 u O lamentable sight ! at once 
 
 The labours of whole ages lumber down, 
 A hideous and misshapen mass of ruin/' 
 
 Offa was the eleventh King of 
 Mercia, and succeeded Ethelbald, 
 A.D. 757. He was born deaf, lame, 
 
 and blind. About the year 776*, he 
 caused a deep ditch and rampire to 
 be made across the country, to curb 
 the incursions of the Welch, begin- 
 ning at the waters of the Dee, at 
 Basingwerke Abbey, in Flintshire, to 
 the river Wye, in Herefordshire |; 
 or, as some say, to the Severn sea. 
 
 * Welch Chron. p. 3. 
 
 t Camden's Britan. p. 623. 
 
12 RUABON. 
 
 Like the famous wall of China, it is 
 carried over rivers, rocks, valleys, 
 and mountains, and extends nearly 
 one hundred miles*. I intend to 
 commence my excursion with this 
 ancient Dyke, and pursue it as far as 
 is consistent with my plan. It runs 
 through the parish of Ruabon, which 
 is on the west side. 
 
 ftuafiott, or Mfntoaftott, 
 
 Is a neat pleasant village, about six 
 miles east of Llangollen. It is sur- 
 rounded by mines of coal, ironstone, 
 &c. with which the neighbourhood 
 abounds. One of the recently formed 
 joint stock companies, denominated 
 the British Iron Company, is said to 
 have expended on two works in this 
 neighbourhood £134,952 1. There 
 
 * Warrington, p. 102. 
 t Cort's Letter. 
 
RUABON. 13 
 
 are also other large ironworks, &c. 
 within about two miles of the town. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. 
 Mary, and is a very respectable an- 
 cient structure. It has an excellent 
 organ, and a pretty font of white mar- 
 ble, both given by the late Sir W. W. 
 Wynn, Bart, who has left behind him 
 a character for beneficence that has 
 been rarely if ever equalled. This is 
 the burial-place of the highly respec- 
 ted family of Wynnstay ; and in the 
 church are some ancient monumental 
 remembrances, as well as some more 
 recently erected ones, of Sir W. W. 
 Wynn's ancestors, well worthy in- 
 spection. Dr. Powel, from whose 
 celebrated translation of the Chroni- 
 cle of Caradoc of Lhancarvan I 
 have obtained much information, 
 was Vicar of Ruabon in 1571, and was 
 buried here. The monumental re- 
 
14 WYNNSTAY. 
 
 cords of Sir W. W. Wynn's family 
 are highly panegyrical ; but I cannot 
 in this small work give copies of the 
 epitaphs, and to record the good 
 deeds of this excellent family would 
 fill a folio. 
 
 Adjoining the town of Ruabon, a 
 road passes into the park, and to the 
 mansion, of 
 
 The hereditary estate of the ancient 
 and honourable family of Sir Watkyn 
 Williams Wynn, Bart. A porter re- 
 sides at a small house on the left side 
 of the entrance to the park, who 
 admits all strangers requesting it. 
 A beautiful road leads to the mansion, 
 and large herds of deer exhibit their 
 graceful forms and agility among the 
 surrounding trees. OfFa's Dyke runs 
 through the grounds, which are df 
 
WYNNSTAY. 15 
 
 very great extent, well wooded, 
 tastefully laid out, and kept in nice 
 order. The house is very extensive, 
 and the stables also capacious. The 
 premises have acquired their present 
 magnitude by various additions made 
 at different times by the possessors. 
 
 In the eleventh century it was 
 the residence of Madog GryfFydd 
 Mailor*, Lord of Bromfield, and of 
 Dinas Bran, near Llangollen. It was 
 then called Wattstay, from another 
 old dyke still visible, named Watt's 
 Dyke; and the space between that 
 and OfFa's Dyke was a sort of neutral 
 territory, on which the Welch and 
 Saxons used to traffic with each 
 other |. When the noble family of 
 the Wynns became its possessors, 
 
 * Camb. Itin, p. 342. 
 t Pennant, vol. 1, p. 275. 
 
16 WYNNSTAY. 
 
 the original name was changed to 
 Wynnstay. The house is replete 
 with elegance and convenience, and 
 is the seat of hospitality as unbounded 
 as the benevolence of its owner's 
 heart. Under the auspices of the 
 late and present noble possessors, 
 both the edifice and grounds have 
 nearly attained the ne plus ultra of 
 perfection; yet at this time a vast 
 addition is making to the magnitude 
 of the park, by changing the direction 
 of the road to Oswestry. In short, 
 Wynnstay is one of the most beauti- 
 ful seats, not only in Wales, but even 
 in the United Kingdom. 
 
 In the park stands a fluted free- 
 stone column, erected to the memory 
 of the late Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart, 
 by his mother, who survived him. 
 The elevation, after a design by 
 Wyatt, is about one hundred feet, 
 
WYNNSTAY. 17 
 
 and is surmounted by a bronze urn. 
 The base also is of bronze, decorated 
 with eagles and oak leaves, and bears 
 this inscription: — 
 
 u Filio optimo, mater, eheu ! superstes." 
 
 Which may be thus translated: — 
 
 " A surviving mother, alas! to the best of sons." 
 
 A spiral staircase runs within the 
 pillar to the top, from whence is a 
 fine view of the park and grounds. 
 
 There are other recently erected 
 decorative buildings on the domain; 
 one of which, called Waterloo Tower, 
 and built to commemorate the glori- 
 ous victory obtained at Waterloo by 
 the Duke of Wellington, commands 
 a very extensive prospect : on it a flag 
 is always displayed when Sir Wat- 
 kyn is at Wynnstay. Another tower 
 is built on a most beautiful spot on 
 
18 WYNNSTAY. 
 
 the bank of the Dee, called Nant y 
 Bellan, i.e. the Dale of the Martin; 
 and was erected, as I learn from the 
 Oration in the Ellesmere Report, 
 p. 24, to the memory of those ancient 
 Britons who fell in quelling a dan- 
 gerous rebellion in a neighbouring 
 island, now more closely united to 
 us. Near this place a boat is kept 
 for the purpose of crossing the 
 river. 
 
 From the old house a road is con- 
 tinued on the rampire of OfFa's Dyke 
 for nearly two miles, and bears the 
 whimsical title of Llwybr y Cath, 
 i.e. Cat's Path, although it is wide 
 enough for two carriages to pass 
 abreast, The ardent and inquisitive 
 traveller will find in the interesting 
 domain of Wynnstay much to exa- 
 mine, much to amuse, and much to 
 admire. 
 
offa's dyke. 19 
 
 Returning through the park to the 
 high road, I crossed the Dee over a 
 recently erected iron bridge; and 
 entering the parish of Chirk, I soon 
 regained Ofta's Dyke, the peculiar 
 features of which plainly distinguish 
 it. The Dyke crosses the road to 
 London about two hundred yards to 
 the west of Whitehurst's new toll 
 gate, and about four miles and a half 
 from Llangollen. Pursuing the line 
 of the Dyke towards Chirk Castle, 
 I found in it a number of large and 
 long grey stones, mossed over, and 
 lying confusedly at the bottom. 
 They are very remarkable, as there 
 are no quarries in the neighbourhood, 
 from which such stones could be 
 procured ; and as they all lay in one 
 spot, I conjecture that they have 
 been used to mark the graves of the 
 slain in the year 1 165, when Henry II. 
 made his first expedition against 
 
20 offa's dyke. 
 
 North Wales, by way of the Berwyn 
 Mountains i — "He assembled a large 
 army at Oswelt Tree, and detached 
 a number of men to try the passes 
 into Wales. There was a narrow 
 way through the Dyke, near Castell 
 Crogen, now Chirk Castle; they 
 were set upon by a party of Welch- 
 men, as they would have passed this 
 strait, and many of them were there 
 slain, and buried in that ditch ; where 
 (says my Author) their graves are 
 now (i.e. 1697) to be seen*." 
 
 The place was called Adwy'r 
 Beddau, i.e. Pass of the Graves. 
 There is a field or two near the place 
 still called Tir a Beddau, i.e. Land, 
 or Field of the Dead. I visited this 
 place, and found the field under cul- 
 tivation; and it is possible that the 
 
 * Wynne's Caradoc, p. 223. 
 
offa's dyke. 21 
 
 stones may have been removed out 
 of the way of the plough, to the 
 place where they now lie. On examin- 
 ing an old survey of Chirk Lordship, 
 I found two or three parcels of land 
 lying contiguous to each other, and on 
 each side of the Dyke, at this place, 
 bearing the same name, Tir y Beddau. 
 
 From this field of the dead I bent 
 my way along the Dyke, through 
 bramble, bush, and brier, to the no 
 small disturbance of its numerous 
 inhabitants, the nimble squirrels, the 
 rabbits, and the pheasants, springing 
 before me every thirty or forty yards. 
 At length I arrived at the brink of a 
 sheet of water called the pool, on 
 which numbers of wild ducks, coots, 
 and other aquatic birds were dis- 
 porting. The ditch and rampire 
 continued through the middle of that 
 pool, and the rampire is still trace- 
 
22 offa's dyke. 
 
 able from the boat house on the op- 
 posite side; and running along the 
 ley in front of Chirk Castle to a wood 
 yard on the west side of it, it again 
 deepens, and assumes its form. As 
 it approaches the Ceiriog river, which 
 skirts the south side of the park, it 
 appears indeed a barrier. I took the 
 depth a little from the farm or wood 
 yard, and found it about fifty feet, a 
 little farther on sixty feet, and near its 
 termination at Pont Melin y Castell, 
 or the Castle Mill, it is about eighty 
 feet. At this point there is a bridge 
 over the river, up whose banks, at 
 about half a mile distance, is a farm 
 still retaining the name of Crogen 
 Isaf, or Lower Crogen. 
 
 In the bank of limestone rock be- 
 low the bridge, and on the side of the 
 river, is a cavern or subterraneous pas- 
 sage, of unknown extent, and which I 
 
CHIRK CASTLE. 23 
 
 have not had opportunity to explore. 
 Above Crogen Isaf, and near a bridge 
 of very capacious span across the 
 Ceiriog, called Pont Madoc, a pow- 
 der mill was about to be erected ; but 
 when the work was nearly completed, 
 the projector became unable to pro- 
 ceed, and it was discontinued. 
 
 Thinking it best not to break the 
 narrative of my progress along the 
 ancient Dyke, by which I passed so 
 near to the venerable Castle of Chirk, 
 I have hitherto purposely omitted an 
 account of that celebrated mansion. 
 I shall now, however, return to it. 
 
 Writ arastt** 
 
 This noble and ancient pile was 
 built on the site of Castell Crogen, 
 about the year 1011. I must here 
 hazard a conjecture concerning this 
 
24 CHIRK CASTLE. 
 
 Castle. I am of opinion that the old 
 Castle of Crogen was then enlarged 
 and repaired, not entirely rebuilt; 
 as John Myddleton, who communi- 
 cated a paper to the Society of An- 
 tiquarians on the subject, says it was 
 begun A. D. 1011, and was finished 
 in 1013, which makes it only about 
 two years, probably too short a 
 period for the total re-erection of so 
 large an edifice. 
 
 The building is square, and is 
 flanked by four massive bastions or 
 rounders, one at each corner. There 
 is a fifth in the centre of the froftt, 
 of the same dimensions as the others. 
 The length of the front is about two 
 hundred and fifty feet; the square 
 court or quadrangle within the walls 
 is about one hundred and sixty-five 
 feet, by one hundred. The grand 
 entrance is under a lofty arched 
 
CHIRK CASTLE. 25 
 
 gateway; the side entrance is by a 
 double flight of stone stairs, through 
 a postern and colonnade, into the 
 quadrangle. I measured the walls 
 of the north-west bastion, and found 
 them more than fourteen feet thick, 
 and all apparently of solid masonry. 
 The whole of this extensive and 
 ponderous building is of hewn stone. 
 
 On the west side of the quadrangle 
 is the door of the dungeon, which in 
 feudal times has been the melancholy 
 abode of many hapless victims, who 
 fell under their Lord's displeasure. 
 There is at the entrance a case or 
 hollow in the thickness of the wall, 
 for a portcullis; and there are two 
 places of confinement, one below the 
 other. The first is not formed so far 
 below the surface of the earth as 
 totally to exclude the light of day; 
 it being admitted obliquely from 
 
26 CHIRK CASTLE. 
 
 above. There is also a fire-place; 
 so that it is probable this might be a 
 prison for less serious crimes, or for 
 delinquents of noble quality. The 
 deep dungeon is far below the first, 
 the descent to it being by forty-two 
 steps; and is said to be as deep as 
 the walls are high. It is small and 
 circular, and about twelve or fourteen 
 yards in circumference. The iron 
 doors are now taken away, and one 
 of oak is substituted, which bears 
 upon it numberless notches, not, like 
 those of Sterne's captive, made to 
 mark the days of misery, but the 
 number of horns of strong ale drank 
 at one sitting by a party assembled 
 in this place to drink to the health of 
 the Lord of the Castle. It is a record 
 of the strength of their heads, if not 
 of their attachment to their Lord. 
 High up in the wall are two iron 
 hooks, fixed to support a large 
 
CHIRK CASTLE. 27 
 
 cheese, which was formerly kept 
 here for the entertainment of those 
 who chose to visit this gloomy place. 
 The sides of the dungeon are partly 
 formed of the rock on which the 
 Castle is founded, as is also the floor. 
 
 Returning to the light of the sun, 
 on the adjoining south side of the 
 quadrangle is the servants' hall, in 
 which are deposited various ancient 
 and family relics. The walls are hung 
 round with boar spears, pikes, and 
 halberts ; arquebuses, matchlocks, 
 and other old fire-arms; saddles, 
 spurs, and various pieces of armour; 
 enormous and curious spoils of the 
 chace, &c. 
 
 Among a variety of deer antlers, 
 is the head of a stag, of which the 
 following curious story is told: — 
 A young woman, crossing the Black 
 
 c2 
 
28 CHIRK CASTLE. 
 
 Park at the early dawn of morning, 
 was assailed by this furious animal. 
 Her cries for assistance were heard 
 by one of the numerous retainers of 
 the Castle, whose dwelling was nigh, 
 and he promptly ran to her aid. 
 The stag, no way intimidated, made 
 fiercely at the man, and literally gored 
 him to death. The Black Park is 
 now converted into an extensive 
 colliery. 
 
 Opposite to the servants' hall is 
 the main entrance into the Castle 
 from the quadrangle. In the large 
 and lofty entrance hall are some fine 
 paintings, and a superb billiard table. 
 The grand stairs front the entrance, 
 and lead to the stately apartments of 
 the Castle, which have been lately 
 renovated in a superior style of ele- 
 gance by Mrs. Biddulph, the present 
 inheritor. A saloon, a gallery, and 
 
CHIRK CASTLE. 29 
 
 a drawing-room, in particular, are 
 beautifully finished, and banish from 
 the mind the idea of a gloomy Castle, 
 which its exterior seems to promise. 
 
 The rooms are enriched with some 
 good paintings; and in the saloon 
 are some finely executed portraits of 
 the family. In this room there is 
 a cabinet of most exquisite work- 
 manship. The views from the dif- 
 ferent windows are inexpressibly 
 beautiful, and are said to embrace a 
 prospect extending into seventeen 
 counties. 
 
 In the civil wars this Castle was 
 besieged by Cromwell's adherents, 
 and one of its sides, with three of its 
 towers, overthrown. It is mentioned 
 as a prodigious exertion of labour, 
 and in which no cost was spared, 
 that the wing was rebuilt in one year, 
 
30 CHIRK. 
 
 at the expense of eighty thousand 
 pounds; which I think strengthens 
 my idea of the present Castle being 
 only an enlargement and repair of 
 the more ancient Castell Crogen. 
 
 About a mile and a half from the 
 Castle, stands the pleasant little 
 village of 
 
 It is an example of simple neatness 
 and good taste. The cottages are 
 built in the Swiss style, with singular 
 rustic elegance, and have the appear- 
 ance of comfort and quiet. The 
 inhabitants are mainly indebted for 
 the beauty of their rustic cottages to 
 the Countess Dungannon of Bryn- 
 kinallt, and for the uniformity and 
 useful convenience of water in every 
 house, which is conveyed by leaden 
 pipes, to the exertions and influence 
 
CHIRK. 31 
 
 of Mrs. Myddelton Biddulph, the 
 owner of the Castle, and the elder 
 branch of the much-respected family 
 of the Myddeltons. She is Lady of 
 the Manor of Chirk, and has built 
 and endowed a school for the educa- 
 tion of the village children. Her 
 exertions to promote the comfort 
 and interest of her tenantry are 
 worthy imitation. 
 
 Near the church, and now enclosed 
 in a garden, stands an artificial 
 mount, which Mr. Pennant conjec- 
 tures to be coeval with Offa's Dyke*. 
 A similar one stood on the opposite 
 side, where now the road runs. 
 These mounts were probably Saxon 
 stations, and curbs to the Welch, to 
 prevent them from violating the line of 
 demarcation which OfFa had formed 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 282. 
 
32 CHIRK. 
 
 The church is a capacious old 
 structure, dedicated to St. Mary, and 
 was formerly an impropriation be- 
 longinging to the Abbey of Valle 
 Crucis. It has a tower steeple, con- 
 taining six bells. All the east side 
 of the church wall within is nearly 
 covered with marble monuments of 
 the Chirk Castle family. A bust of 
 Sir Thomas Myddelton, and another 
 of his Lady, are well executed. 
 There are also many other re- 
 markable memento mori's within the 
 church, well worth the attention of 
 those who love to muse on 
 
 " Names once famed, now dubious or forgot, 
 
 And buried midst the wreck of things which were." 
 
 I believe there are not standing 
 within the same compass of ground 
 in the kingdom of Great Britain, 
 three mansions so eminently deserv- 
 ing admiration for magnificence, 
 
BRYNK1NALLT. 33 
 
 grandeur, and beauty, as Wynnstay, 
 Chirk Castle, and Brynkinallt ; the 
 latter of which I shall now proceed 
 to describe. 
 
 iSrpnfctitalit 
 
 Is about one mile from the village of 
 Chirk, and is the ancient seat of the 
 noble family of the Trevors, as I find 
 in an authentic genealogical table, of 
 which the following is a short ex- 
 tract : — ' ' In the reign of King Richard 
 II. there was a noble peer, by name 
 Geofry Lord Trevor, and also John 
 Trevor, Bishop of St. Asaph, and 
 Chancellor of Chester. He continued 
 in the bishoprick to the sixth year of 
 King Henry IV. And in the reign 
 of King Henry VI. (1421) lived two 
 brothers descended of this honoura- 
 ble family, namely, John and Richard. 
 John, the eldest brother, was seated 
 at Brynkinallt. He married Agnes, 
 
 c 3 
 
34 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 daughter and heiress of Peter Cham- 
 bre, of Fool, Esq. by whom he had 
 issue five sons, who laid the foun- 
 dation of many noble branches. 
 Robert, the eldest, succeeded his 
 father at Brynkinallt. He married 
 Catherine, daughter and heiress of 
 Llewellen Ap Howel De Mould, and 
 had issue. From Edward, the second 
 son, by Amy, daughter of James 
 Ryffin, Esq. descended Mark Trevor, 
 from whom descended the Viscount 
 Dungannon in Ireland." From him 
 the nobleman who at present inherits 
 the title, and the residence of Bryn- 
 kinallt, is a lineal descendant; and 
 under his auspices, aided by the ex- 
 quisite taste of his Countess, this 
 superb edifice has attained the acme 
 of beauty. 
 
 To rush at once into this charming 
 labyrinth of delight would fill the 
 
BRYNKINALLT 35 
 
 mind with confusion; and the be- 
 holder would be at a loss in what 
 direction to commence his observa- 
 tions, where every part claims his 
 admiration. I therefore beg my 
 readers will accompany me about two 
 miles on the Oswestry road, to Bryn 
 y Gwyla Lodge, a beautiful triumphal 
 arch-like entrance into Bryn y Gwyla 
 Park, through which a new road is 
 now forming to Brynkinallt. This 
 part of the domain is in Shropshire ; 
 the interesting stream of the Ceriog 
 dividing Shropshire from Denbigh- 
 shire at this place. 
 
 As you proceed towards the river, 
 whose sides are charmingly clothed 
 with forest trees, and whose banks 
 are fringed with shrubs to the water 
 edge, the eye is caught by some of 
 the pinnacles of Brynkinallt, and by 
 the blue smoke arising from the 
 
36 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 mansion, which seems playfully to 
 linger among the lofty summits of 
 the luxuriant trees that adorn it. 
 Proceeding on the highest road, 
 called the Green Drive, which runs 
 along the top of the Hanging Wood, 
 whose majestic and venerable timber 
 seems to continue the luxuriant line 
 of wavy branches to the very mansion, 
 through one of the natural vistas 
 which here and there present them- 
 selves, Brynkinallt bursts upon the 
 sight in all its beauty, embosomed 
 in the softened and variously tinted 
 foliage of the plantations which 
 surround it. From this spot the 
 most interesting and picturesque 
 view of the place is obtained; and I 
 believe it is the point from whence 
 an artist of some celebrity has de- 
 signed a picture of the mansion. 
 
 At the termination of this drive 
 
ERYNKINALLT. 37 
 
 the murmuring Ceriog is crossed by 
 an ornamental stone bridge, at the 
 foot of which, on the bank of the 
 river, stands a simple rustic cottage, 
 richly clothed with ivy, and formed 
 of unhewn pebble stones. At this 
 lodge is kept a key of the bridge gate ; 
 and a bell attached to the gate 
 procures attendance. Crossing the 
 bridge into Denbighshire, the elegant 
 taste of the inheritor of the place 
 begins to display itself. New beau- 
 ties appear at every step, as you 
 approach the house; pheasants feed 
 in numbers on the smooth verdant 
 lawn before the windows, and seem 
 to give an earnest of the quiet and 
 security of the domain. 
 
 This beautiful place is thus men- 
 tioned by Mr. Pennant: — ''From 
 Chirk (he says) I made an excursion 
 to Brynkinallt, about a mile below 
 
38 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 the village: this had been the seat of 
 the Trevors. The house is of brick, 
 built in in 1619*." Nor can I find 
 more attention bestowed on this 
 charming place by any of the nu- 
 merous tourists who have given an 
 account of their excursions to the 
 public ; and I am at a loss to account 
 why this, the most unique and beauti- 
 ful spot in the neighbourhood, should 
 thus long have escaped attention. 
 
 The house is undoubtedly the work 
 of Inigo Jones, and was built on the 
 site of a former mansion of brick, 
 either in the latter part of the reign 
 of Queen Elizabeth, or early in the 
 reign of James I. The additions 
 made by the present worthy possessor 
 are ornamental and useful, and are 
 formed so judiciously, and so strictly 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 293. 
 
BRYNKINALLT. 39 
 
 in character with the old part, as not 
 to be distinguished from the original 
 design. I should call the style demi- 
 gothic; it is now cased over with 
 mastic or Roman cement, and has 
 all the appearance of well hewn 
 stone; and some think it will have 
 equal durability. 
 
 The house is formed with a noble 
 mansion-like centre, decorated with 
 minarets and pinnacles, and flanked 
 by two low retiring wings, making 
 altogether a very beautiful and orna- 
 mental front. The grand entrance is 
 through a conservatory and viranda, 
 elegantly decorated with choice 
 flowers and exotic plants. Over the 
 inner entrance door are the arms of 
 the Marquis of Wellesley, Viceroy 
 of Ireland, emblazoned upon glass, 
 occupying the whole width of the 
 doorway, and bearing an inscription, 
 
40 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 likewise painted on the glass, signi- 
 fying that the Marquis presented this 
 painted glass as a mark of his esteem 
 to his dear friend and relation, Lord 
 Viscount Dungannon. The execution 
 is good, and does great credit to the 
 Irish artist. 
 
 Advancing a few steps into the 
 interior, the eye is arrested by the 
 brilliancy of the scene which breaks 
 upon the sight. Immediately in front, 
 through the spacious hall, is a grand 
 flight of stairs, terminated by a richly 
 stained glass window, and leading to 
 a gallery that surrounds the hall, and 
 which is decorated with the busts of 
 much distinguished and eminent 
 persons, as the King, the Duke of 
 York, the Duke of Wellington, &c. 
 Up the passage to the left hand, the 
 view is bounded by the superb dining 
 room ; and on the right it terminates 
 
BRYNKINALLT. 41 
 
 in a charming conservatory, through 
 which is a way to the pleasure 
 grounds and gardens. From the 
 dining room on the extreme left, to 
 the conservatory on the right, it is 
 about one hundred and sixty feet. 
 
 To particularize or to give an 
 adequate idea of the superb and very 
 tasteful decorations of every room in 
 this elegant mansion is far beyond 
 my power of description; and there- 
 fore I dare not make the attempt. 
 Suffice it to say, that every nook 
 seems decorated by the hand of taste, 
 guided by the most correct judgment; 
 all is elegantly superb, and chastely 
 grand. In some of the windows is 
 much old painted glass, particularly 
 in the library, where there are some 
 very excellent specimens. 
 
 Here is also a valuable collection 
 
42 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 of china; and in one of the rooms 
 are some beautiful vases of that 
 fragile material. 
 
 The mansion is adorned through- 
 out with valuable pictures by the old 
 masters, some of which his Lordship 
 selected in Italy. There is a land- 
 scape near the fire-place, in the same 
 room where the china vases stand, 
 painted by Claude Lorraine, which 
 is a most beautiful production of that 
 great master. In short, 
 
 M Whatever in this worldly state 
 Is sweet and pleasing unto living sense, 
 Or that may daintiest fantasie aggrate, 
 Is poured forth with plentiful dispense, 
 And made there to abound with lavish affluence." 
 
 Spencer. 
 
 The beauty and elegance abound- 
 ing in this place must be seen to be 
 justly appreciated; and the urbanity 
 and gentlemanly condescension of 
 the noble owner, in affording me the 
 
BRYNKINALLT. 43 
 
 means of gratifying my inquiries and 
 curiosity, will never be effaced from 
 my memory. 
 
 In the adjoining shrubbery is an 
 ornamental building called the china 
 room, fitted up (it would be super- 
 fluous to say elegantly) by Lady 
 Dungannon. Within the room are 
 deposited the most valuable and 
 beautiful specimens of old china. 
 The walls are covered with plates, 
 dishes, &c. in many various figures 
 and forms. There is a fire-place in 
 the room, and a small portable col- 
 lection of books for the amusement 
 of a passing hour. In a room 
 adjoining is an assemblage of cream- 
 coloured pottery, in its greatest 
 variety; and behind all, is a cool, 
 well arranged dairy. 
 
 To some, and to ladies in parti- 
 
44 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 cular, the examination of the china 
 room will afford the highest gratifi- 
 cation. For myself, I must confess, 
 the exquisite specimens of art I had 
 just been viewing in the mansion so 
 entirely engrossed my mind, that I 
 could not look on these later mor- 
 ceaus with the attention they merited. 
 
 I have before stated that the river 
 Ceriog runs through part of the 
 domain; and it is made to contribute 
 much to its beauty. It passes through 
 a deep and thickly wooded dingle, 
 and a rural and shady walk winds 
 along the glen to another entrance 
 lodge, about half a mile from Chirk. 
 The way is enlivened by game 
 springing before you at every step, 
 and rousing the attention from that 
 soothing melancholy which the um- 
 brageous solemnity of the walk is 
 calculated to inspire. 
 
BRYNKINALLT. 45 
 
 There are four lodges, or gates of 
 entrance into the domain, inhabited 
 by some of his Lordship's depend- 
 ents. They are all built in an orna- 
 mental and romantic style ; but about 
 them, though so varied in design, 
 there are no disjointed or distorted 
 features to offend the most fastidious. 
 
 " And that which all fair work doth much aggrace, 
 The art which wrought it all appeareth in no place." 
 
 Spencer. 
 
 Brynkinallt, as well as Chirk, is 
 on the English side of Offa's Dyke, 
 to which I shall now return on my 
 way to the Berwyn Mountains ; ob- 
 serving by the bye, that although 
 this part of the country is called 
 Wales, yet that OfFa's Dyke, made 
 in the year 776, cut it off from the 
 Principality, and John of Salisbury, 
 in his Polycraticon, writeth thus*: — - 
 
 * Camden, p. 623. 
 
46 BRYNKINALLT. 
 
 "Harold ordained a law, that what 
 Welchman soever should be found 
 with a weapon on this side the limit 
 which he had set them (that is to 
 say, Offa's Dyke), he should have 
 his right hand cut off by the King's 
 officers." So, as Harold II. reigned 
 nearly three hundred years after the 
 Dyke was cut, it is plain, by this 
 law, that it continued to be consi- 
 dered the line of demarcation at that 
 time; and even to this day the bell 
 of vassalage, the curfew, is rung every 
 night at Chirk, that is, on the English 
 side the Dyke; but is never heard at 
 Llangollen, which is on the Welch 
 side. This goes far to prove that 
 William's English laws reached 
 Chirk, and no farther. Leaving the 
 Dyke, I now return to the Berwyn 
 Mountains. 
 
MOUNTAINS. 
 
 " Clouds rest on the hills : spirits fly, and travellers 
 fear. 
 
 " Where are our chiefs of old? Where our Kings of 
 mighty name? The fields of their battle are silent: 
 scarce their mossy tombs remain." 
 
 Returning towards Llangollen by 
 the old road near Chirk Castle, called 
 Oswestry way, the Berwyn Mountains 
 begin to raise their lofty summits*. 
 These Mountains occupy the eastern 
 side of Merionethshire, and branch 
 into the counties of Denbigh and 
 Montgomery Their southern boun- 
 dary is the river Tannant; their 
 
 * Cambr. Trav. Guide, p. 127. 
 
48 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 northern the Dee. Their length from 
 north to south is about sixteen miles ; 
 their breadth from east to west vary- 
 ing from five to ten miles*. Their 
 highest tops are Cader Fronwen, or 
 the Whitebreast, and Cader Ferwyn. 
 On the summit of the former a large 
 quantity of stones, collected from a 
 distance, and brought here with much 
 labour and difficulty, are cast round 
 a stone pillar, marking the burial- 
 place of some chief, whose very name 
 is now forgotten. 
 
 These Mountains, as I have before 
 said, form the southern side of the 
 vale of Llangollen; and forming a 
 frontier barrier for this part of North 
 Wales, they have been the scene of 
 many a bloody contest, and on these 
 hills the hardy sons of Cambria have 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 2, p. 77. 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 49 
 
 successfully opposed the encroaching 
 armies of their Saxon neighbours. I 
 trust my readers will excuse me if 1 
 relate one of the most interesting 
 events of that kind which took place 
 on this part of the Berwyn Mountains, 
 and within my prescribed limits. 
 
 Henry II. King of England, being 
 exasperated by the repeated preda- 
 tory incursions of the Welch*, and 
 by the advantage they took of rava- 
 ging the English territories in his 
 frequent absence, and finding that 
 no treaties could bind them, resolved 
 on his return from Normandy to lead 
 an army against Wales ; and having 
 assembled a strong body of veteran 
 troops, selected from all parts of his 
 very extensive dominions in Nor- 
 mandy, Flanders, Anjou, Gascoine, 
 
 * Warrington, p. S25. 
 
 D 
 
50 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 and England*, and hearing of some 
 daring inroads made by the North 
 Wales men, he early in the year 1165, 
 put himself at the head of this chosen 
 army, and set forward for North 
 Wales, resolving to destroy without 
 mercy every living thing he could 
 meet with. Having advanced to 
 Croes Oswalt, now Oswestry, he 
 encamped there, and sent forward a 
 body of men to try the passes of the 
 Dyke and Ceriog, who being met 
 near Castell Crogen, as has been 
 before stated, were there defeated, 
 and buried in the Dyke. 
 
 It is probable that the victorious 
 Welchmen were a party detached 
 from the Welch army; for Owen 
 Gwynedd, then Prince of Wales, hav- 
 ing heard of the great preparations 
 made by the King, had very prudently 
 
 * Wynne, p. 190, 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 51 
 
 confederated all the power of the 
 country, and had assembled his forces 
 at Corwen, a very strong country in 
 Edernion, and there awaited the 
 King's approach. He had with him, 
 besides his brother Cadwalader, and 
 all the power of North Whales, Prince 
 Rhys, with those of South Wales, 
 OwenCyfeeliog and Madog Meredith, 
 with the strength of Powis; in short, 
 all the forces the Welch could 
 muster*. 
 
 The King, finding the Welch so 
 strong, and knowing their fickleness, 
 stayed some time at Oswestry, in ex- 
 pectation that a confederacy so 
 hastily formed would as suddenly 
 dissolve; but finding them firm and 
 determined in their adherence, and 
 that his enemies were so near, he 
 became desirous to bring on an en- 
 
 * Warrington, p. 326. 
 
 D 2 
 
52 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 gagement. He therefore moved 
 towards the Dyke with his whole 
 army, and pushed on a party to the 
 Ceriog river, which washes the foot 
 of the Berwyn; giving orders that 
 the banks should be cleared of the 
 woods, which at that time formed a 
 complete jungle, to prevent his troops 
 falling into the ambuscade of the 
 enemy. 
 
 It would seem the Welch had taken 
 the precaution to guard the passes 
 of the river; for the King in person, 
 in an attempt to get possession of a 
 bridge, experienced one of those 
 hair- breadth escapes which some- 
 times decide the fate of kingdoms*: 
 — A Welch archer, having marked 
 the personal exertions of the King, 
 and fired with the hope of freeing his 
 country, chose a place of conceal- 
 
 * Wynne, p. 191. 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 53 
 
 ment, from whence, watching his 
 opportunity, he discharged an arrow 
 with such deadly aim, that it must 
 inevitably have slain the King, had 
 not Hubert De St. Clair, Constable 
 of Colchester, who was in close at- 
 tendance, and whose name is deserv- 
 edly recorded for his devotion to his 
 monarch, seeing the danger, rushed 
 into the course of the fatal shaft, and 
 received it in his heart; thus termi- 
 nating his attachment with his life. 
 
 Whilst Henry was thus employing 
 his forces in clearing the banks of 
 the Ceriog, a party of Welchmen, 
 relying on their knowledge of the 
 country, and prompted by patriotic 
 zeal, attempted to surprise his van- 
 guard, consisting chiefly of pikemen, 
 and the flower of the King's army. 
 This brought on a very bloody 
 engagement, although not general, 
 
54 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 which cost the lives of many brave 
 men on both sides; but the attack 
 having been commenced without any 
 preconcerted plan, and merely from 
 a sudden ebullition of desperate 
 daring, Henry's veterans were vic- 
 torious, and making good the passage 
 of the river, advanced up the Berwyn. 
 
 In the mean time, the Welch 
 Princes had advanced with their 
 army from Cor wen, and had taken a 
 strong position on the frontier ridge. 
 A fieldwork and entrenchment are 
 still visible on the Mountain, over 
 Llangollen, and was probably the 
 station of part of the Welch forces, 
 under Owen Gwynedd and his 
 allies. Henry, finding his formidable 
 enemy thus advantageously posted 
 on the crown of the hill, did not deem 
 it prudent to attack him in this posi- 
 tion, and therefore encamped his 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 55 
 
 forces on the lower part of the 
 Mountain*. 
 
 In this manner the two armies lay 
 menacing each other; the Welch 
 carefully improving every opportunity 
 of annoyance, and from their lofty 
 and advantageous situation watching 
 every movement of the King's forces. 
 Henry used every means in his 
 power to induce them to quit their 
 camp, and attack him, but in vain: 
 while the Welch, by means of their ir- 
 regular adherents, cut off all supplies 
 from the English, and reduced them 
 to the greatest straits and distress; 
 added to which, the rain now fell 
 in torrents, and pouring down the 
 sides of the Mountain, rendered the 
 English station so soft and slippery 
 that they were obliged to retreat, 
 with great loss in men, horses, and 
 
 * Warrington, p. 327. 
 
56 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 warlike stores, leaving the Welch 
 masters of the field. 
 
 The Welchmen, as might natu- 
 rally be expected, exultingly cele- 
 brated this triumph; while Henry, 
 baffled and disgraced, and with all 
 his threats unperformed, gave way to 
 rage, and added savage cruelty to his 
 disgrace. He at this time held as 
 hostages Rhys and Cadwallhon, the 
 two sons of Owen Gwynedd; and 
 also Cynric and Meredith, the two 
 sons of Rhys Ap GryfFydh, of South 
 Wales; as likewise the sons and 
 daughters of other Welch Lords*. 
 In the savage fierceness of his rage, 
 he ordered the eyes of these innocent 
 victims to be pulled out, and the 
 ears of the young gentlewomen to be 
 stuffed. 
 
 * Warrington, p. 328. Hoilins's Chron. p. 73. 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 57 
 
 From this digression, for which, 
 as pointing out the places where 
 these historical facts happened, I 
 hope my readers will pardon me, I 
 now return to the Oswestry old way, 
 which runs near Chirk Castle. 
 
 Not more than sixty years ago, 
 this used to be the public high road 
 to Oswestry, although the capacious 
 and excellent road which now skirts 
 the Mountains' base would almost 
 induce one to think it impossible. 
 A very respectable and old inhabit- 
 ant of Llangollen informs me, that 
 before the road was altered and 
 improved, some of the family from 
 Chirk Castle vised to visit Llangollen 
 once a year in the family coach. On 
 the appointed day, which was ge- 
 nerally known beforehand, all the 
 inhabitants were on the alert; and 
 no sooner was the rumble of the 
 
58 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 ponderous wheels heard on the 
 stones, than young and old, sick and 
 lame, poured out of their dwellings 
 to see the wonderful phenomenon; 
 and during the few hours of its stay 
 in the town, it attracted as much 
 attention as a show of wild beasts at 
 a country fair. On its return to the 
 Castle, the young men of the village 
 contended for the honour of assisting 
 it to get up the hill again; and this 
 was the only vehicle of the kind seen 
 once a year in Llangollen, where now 
 the most splendid and elegant car- 
 riages, from the gig to the state- 
 coach, roll along, amid these stupen- 
 dous rocks and mountains, upon 
 roads as smooth, as level, and as 
 good, as any in the kingdom. 
 
 The Oswestry old way is not now 
 much frequented, but it continues 
 from Chirk Castle along the top of 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 59 
 
 the Mountain. Many roads intersect 
 it, but the old road is very distin- 
 guishable. By the side of the way, 
 rise two copious springs, called 
 Ffynnon Arthur. 
 
 From the eminence the view is 
 most extensively delightful, and am- 
 ply repays the trouble and fatigue of 
 the walk up the Mountain. The 
 curious Aqueduct of Pontcysyllte 
 forms a very pleasing and prominent 
 feature in the foreground of the 
 landscape. 
 
 As you approach the descent on 
 the side of the hill, the stone pedestal 
 of a cross or pillar stands among the 
 gorse on the left hand side of the 
 road, but the shaft is not to be found. 
 Trees, planted three in a clump, 
 mark the road at short distances, and 
 lead to the cultivated and inhabited 
 
60 BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 
 
 part of the declivity*. Proceeding to 
 the extreme foot of the Mountain, 
 on the junction of the Oswestry road 
 stood, until these few months, ano- 
 ther stone pillar, or cross t, called 
 Croes y Beddau; and upon it was 
 rudely cut ''Oswestry Way." This 
 inscription is of more recent execu- 
 tion than the pillar, although it is 
 also very antique. 
 
 I conjecture these stones were 
 erected as land-marks, and guides to 
 the traveller. An ancient way from 
 this point proceeded to the river 
 Dee, which was then crossed by a 
 
 * These trees were planted immediately after the 
 great election for the boroughs of Holt, Ruthin, and 
 Denbigh, in which Mr. Myddelton was chosen, to mark 
 the way to the Castle of Chirk, for the convenience of 
 his constituents coming to share its hospitalities. 
 
 t The ancient pillar and its pedestal now lie by the 
 side of the road, near a place called Pen y Bedau, 
 about a quarter of a mile from the toll-gate at the east 
 end of the town. 
 
BERWYN MOUNTAINS. 61 
 
 wooden bridge. On the north side 
 of the river, nearly opposite the place 
 where the wooden bridge stood, was 
 another similar pillar, called Croes 
 Gwen Hwyfr. It stood on the road 
 to Wrexham, and has been removed 
 only a few years. From Croes Gwen 
 Hwyfr, an old road proceeds to 
 Castell Dinas Bran, by the Llanddyn, 
 once the residence of the Owens of 
 Porkington, but now converted into 
 a farm-house. Through that farm 
 the^ road passed in a zigzag direction 
 to Castell Dinas Bran, and the old 
 road is still traceable, although in 
 some places quite lost. 
 
 Before I attempt to give an account 
 of the ancient castle, I must beg my 
 reader's attendance to the Aqueduct, 
 which claimed notice in the view 
 from the top of the Berwyn Moun- 
 tains. 
 
®ft* §UHMto**t< 
 
 u Telford, who o'er the vale of Cambrian Dee, 
 Aloft in air, at giddy height upborne, 
 Carried his navigable road, and hung 
 High o'er Menai's Straits the bending bridge : 
 Structures of more ambitious enterprise 
 Than minstrels, in the age of old romance, 
 To their own Merlin's magic lore ascribed." 
 
 The Aqueduct of Pontcysylte is so 
 called from a bridge of three arches 
 over the river Dee, and situated a 
 little higher up the river. This is 
 the most stupendous work of the 
 kind in the kingdom. It was de- 
 signed and executed by and under 
 the inspection of that British Archi- 
 medes, Mr. Thomas Telford, to 
 carry a stream of water for the 
 supply of the Ellesmere Canal; to 
 the proprietors of which, in the year 
 1804, Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart, in the 
 most liberal manner made an impor- 
 
AQUEDUCT. 63 
 
 tant donation of the waters of Bala 
 pool, as far as wanted ; and to obtain 
 that essential advantage the Aque- 
 duct was projected*. The level of 
 the canal is taken at a place in the 
 river a little below the church of 
 Lantysilto, and about two miles on 
 the west of Llangollen. 
 
 The bank of the canal forms a 
 charming promenade of about six 
 miles from its junction with the Dee 
 to the Aqueduct, abounding with 
 interesting and picturesque scenery. 
 Here and there snug little white 
 cottages, peeping from among the 
 surrounding trees, decorate and em- 
 bellish the sides and recesses of 
 some of the eminences; while the 
 tops are dotted with the little moun- 
 
 * Hunt's Letter to the Earl of Bridgewater, in the 
 Ellesmere Report. 
 
64 AQUEDUCT. 
 
 tain sheep, scarcely distinguishable 
 from the white stones that are 
 scattered upon their summits. The 
 banks of the canal are ornamented 
 with trees, and embellished with 
 bridges, &c. 
 
 This Aqueduct, the most extraor- 
 dinary structure of its kind in the 
 world, was begun on the twenty-fifth 
 day of July, 1795, and was finished 
 on the twenty-sixth day of November, 
 1805; having been ten years and five 
 months in building. It is one 
 thousand and seven feet in length, 
 and one hundred and twenty-six feet 
 eight inches in height from the surface 
 of the flat rock on the south side of 
 the river Dee, to the top of the iron 
 side plates of the water way; and 
 there are nineteen arches of forty-five 
 feet span each. The piers, eighteen 
 
AQUEDUCT. 65 
 
 in number, are constructed of square 
 masonry, and the arches and water 
 way are composed of cast-iron. 
 
 At the south end of the Aqueduct 
 there is an embankment of earth, 
 fifteen hundred feet in length, and 
 seventy-five feet high. The water 
 way is eleven feet ten inches broad, 
 and five feet three inches deep. 
 There is a broad towing-path on the 
 east side, guarded by a strong iron 
 palisade, running the whole length 
 of the Aqueduct; from the north 
 end of which the canal is continued 
 for a distance of about three hundred 
 vards, and there terminates in an 
 extensive basin, which affords a 
 double wharfage, with iron railways. 
 
 I have heard of only one fatal 
 accident occurring during the pro- 
 gress of this arduous undertaking; 
 
66 AQUEDUCT. 
 
 when a poor labourer employed on 
 the work fell from the top of one of 
 the piers, and was dashed to pieces 
 on the rock below. His suffering 
 was of short duration, as the tremen- 
 dous height from which he fell 
 caused instant dissolution. 
 
 The Aqueduct crosses the en- 
 trance of the vale of Llangollen from 
 north to south, and the walks under 
 and about it are really charming. 
 The view along the beautiful vale of 
 the Dee from the top, in the centre 
 of the towing-path, is delightful, and 
 to look down tremendous; and the 
 river, 
 
 " That on the unnumber'd pebbles idly chafes, 
 Cannot J>e heard so high." 
 
 Indeed, it requires a steady head, 
 and a stout heart, to walk over the 
 Aqueduct, especially when the wind 
 is high. 
 
AQUEDUCT. 67 
 
 On the twenty- sixth day of No- 
 vember, 1805, the canal was opened 
 in the following manner, as described 
 by one of the acting Committee. 
 He says* — " In going over the 
 Aqueduct and returning, the sensa- 
 tions varied. As the procession of 
 boats advanced towards the noble 
 structure now first commencing its 
 public utility, the complete sense of 
 security in which we floated one 
 hundred and twenty-six feet above 
 the river Dee, and a just acknow- 
 ledgment to Mr. Telford, to whom it 
 was deservedly a proud day, and 
 who had most happily arranged the 
 whole of our accommodation, as 
 well as constructed the wonderful 
 edifice that supported us, naturally 
 united. 
 
 * Hunt's Lqtter to the Earl of Bridgewater, p. 7. 
 
68 
 
 AQUEDUCT. 
 
 "On our arrival at the eastern 
 bank, we entered the canal port. 
 Lady Bridgewater, the ladies of 
 Colonel Kynaston Powell, and 
 William Lloyd Ashton, Esq. and 
 some others, as connected with the 
 Committee, now attended Lady 
 Eleanor Butler, Lady W. W. Wynn 
 and her family, the Hon. Miss Pon- 
 sonby, Miss Ormsby, and many 
 other respectable visitors, to a re- 
 past which had been provided ; soon 
 after which an Oration was delivered. 
 
 " On a signal being given, the can- 
 non, which had been advantageously 
 posted on the platform below the 
 rocks, and nearly on a level with the 
 Aqueduct, fired a royal salute. The 
 guns were manned by the Artillery 
 Company, and were some of those 
 brought from the capture of Sering- 
 
AQUEDUCT. 69 
 
 apatam, now belonging to the 
 Shropshire Volunteers, whose skill 
 and martial appearance added much 
 to the brilliancy of the day: they 
 saluted the Committee on their 
 passage and return with fifteen 
 rounds each. After the repast and 
 Oration, the whole company pre- 
 pared to return. 
 
 "The procession of boats was as 
 follows: — In the first and second 
 boats, the Committee; in the third, 
 the band of the Shropshire Volun- 
 teers, in full uniform; the fourth 
 was occupied by the engineers, the 
 occupiers of mines and founderies, 
 &c. with their families. I was in- 
 vited to take my passage with them, 
 having been engaged when the Com- 
 mittee set out, and could from this 
 boat, as a centre, better judge of the 
 whole. The fifth and sixth boats 
 
70 AQUEDUCT. 
 
 closed the procession, gaily orna- 
 mented with flags, and loaded with 
 the first commercial product of coal 
 that had ever passed over the valley 
 on this noble bridge of union. The 
 carriages, which conveyed the rest of 
 the company, formed a curved and 
 continued line over the bridge of the 
 Dee (Pontcysyllte) and on both its 
 banks. 
 
 "The evening was calm, and the 
 favourite tunes of ' God save the 
 King 9 and 'Rule JBritannia' floated 
 in the air, amongst the echoes of the 
 vale. Many (probably more than 
 eight thousand) people were sta- 
 tioned all around us, from the tops 
 of the mountains to the banks of the 
 Dee, and were cheering and exulting, 
 with intervals of silent astonishment. 
 All within sight or hearing were 
 expressing their sense of the general 
 
AQUEDUCT. 71 
 
 happiness. The whole valley of 
 Llangollen might be said to laugh 
 and sing." 
 
 The following inscription is on the 
 Aqueduct upon the side of the pier 
 next to the south side of the river: — 
 
 The Nobility and Gentry of 
 
 The adjacent Counties, 
 
 Having united their Efforts with 
 
 The great commercial Interests of this Country, 
 
 In creating an intercourse and union between 
 
 ENGLAND AND NORTH WALES, 
 
 By a navigable communication of the three Rivers, 
 
 Severn, Dee, and Mersey, 
 
 For the mutual benefit of Agriculture and Trade, 
 
 Caused the first Stone of this Aqueduct of 
 
 PONTCYSYLLTE 
 
 To be laid on the 25th day of July, 1795, 
 
 When Richard Myddelton, of Chirk, Esq. M.P. 
 
 One of the original patrons of the 
 
 ELLESMERE CANAL, 
 
 Was Lord of this Manor, 
 
 And in the reign of our Sovereign 
 
 GEORGE THE THIRD; 
 
 When the Equity of the Laws and 
 
 The security of Property 
 
 Promoted the general Welfare of the Nation; 
 
 While the Arts and Sciences flourished 
 
 By his Patronage, and 
 The Conduct of civil Life was improved 
 By his Example. - 
 
?2 TREVOR HALL. 
 
 Returning from this stupendous 
 work of human ingenuity and exer- 
 tion, towards the Castell Dinas Bran, 
 
 A large brick mansion, presents 
 itself. It is situated on a rising 
 ground, on the north side of the 
 Wrexham road; and was once the 
 residence of John Trevor, Bishop of 
 St. Asaph, who in the year 1346 
 caused a stone bridge to be built 
 over the Dee, at Llangollen, which 
 is accounted one of the wonders of 
 Wales. 
 
 Mr. Pennant says* " Trevor Hall 
 passed into the family of the Lloyds, 
 and has continued in that family to 
 the present time." The last pos- 
 sessor was a lady of the name of 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 294. 
 
TREVOR HALL. 73 
 
 Thomas, deceased in the last year, 
 and leaving a son to inherit, although 
 at present he does not occupy the 
 premises. The house is roomy and 
 substantial, and is pleasantly situ- 
 ated; but has no pretensions to 
 elegance or beauty. Near the house 
 is a church, or rather chapel, of ease, 
 enjoying Queen Anne's bounty, in 
 which English service is performed 
 on the first Sunday in every month. 
 
 In a rocky cliff in the neighbour- 
 hood of the Hall, is a cavern of some 
 extent, in which I was informed 
 there were to be found the petrified 
 bones of wolves, foxes, and other 
 wild animals. Resolving to ascertain 
 the fact, I explored the place, but, 
 whatever there may have been, I 
 could not discover the vestiges of 
 any such relics. I brought away 
 some specimens of stalactites, of 
 
 * L 
 
74 TREVOR HALL. 
 
 curious forms and various incrusta- 
 tions, with which the roof of the 
 cavern abounds, and which may by 
 some have been mistaken for petrified 
 bony substances. This craggy ridge 
 seems to be the commencement of 
 that wonderful range of limestone 
 called the Eglwyseg Rocks. 
 
 Near to the river is the ancient 
 house of Plas yn Pentre, now inha- 
 bited by Mr. Edward Jones; and 
 between Trevor Hall and the Dee is 
 one of the most beautifully clear 
 springs of cold water imaginable. 
 It is called Ffynnon Yryrog, and is 
 in very great repute as a bath for the 
 cure of rheumatic affections; and if 
 Saint Collen with a long name* had 
 thought proper to have bestowed his 
 benediction, it might perhaps have 
 
 * See " Llangollen Church", in this book. 
 
TREVOR HALL. 75 
 
 rivalled its prototype at Holywell. 
 Its issue is very abundant, and its 
 coldness exceeds belief: persons 
 bathing cannot continue in the water 
 a minute. Many wonderful accounts 
 are told of its efficacy in chronic 
 disorders. In its passage to the Dee, 
 it formerly turned a water mill, now 
 in ruins. The spring rises in a field 
 belonging to Plas yn Pentre. 
 
 On the road side, between Trevor 
 Hall and Bron Heulog, is a small 
 farm house, called Plas Eva or Evan. 
 I notice it only as marking the spot 
 where formerly was a cemetery, re- 
 taining the appellation of Mynwent y 
 Quacer, or Quaker's Burying Ground. 
 It is on the south side of the house; 
 and in cutting the canal, the earth 
 from the excavation was thrown upon 
 the old graves and the inscribed 
 stones that lay upon the surface. 
 
 e 2 
 
76 TREVOR HALL. 
 
 Opposite the north side of the 
 same house, a few years ago, as some 
 labourers were working in the lime- 
 stone rock, they discovered a pot, 
 filled with gold coin. The men, 
 afraid of losing their booty, kept the 
 affair secret, and deputed one of 
 their party to dispose of the treasure 
 at Chester, as old gold. A rumour 
 of the circumstance having got afloat, 
 an inquiry was instituted; but the 
 secret was so well kept on all hands, 
 that only one piece, which a labourer 
 had kept as a curiosity, with a part 
 of the earthen vessel that contained 
 them, were recovered, both of which 
 I am informed are now in the posses- 
 sion of Lady Clive. The name, date, 
 or nominal value of the coin, I cannot 
 ascertain; but a person who saw one 
 of the pieces describes it as being 
 about the sizeof a half crown,and very 
 thin, with an impression on each side. 
 
THE VICARAGE. 77 
 
 About a mile nearer to the Castle, 
 stands a recently erected mansion, 
 called Bron Heulog. It is only re- 
 markable for the narrowness of its 
 windows and the nakedness of its 
 appearance. Nearing the town on 
 the bank of the river, 
 
 A neat pretty edifice, claims notice. 
 It was built a few years ago, under 
 the direction of the present vicar, 
 the Rev. R. W. Eyton, who resides 
 here, and is in the commission of the 
 peace. In both capacities he does 
 honour to the country in which he 
 lives, as an able conscientious mi- 
 nister, and an impartial and upright 
 magistrate. 
 
 Having thus given an account of 
 some of the most remarkable features 
 of the country within my limits on 
 
78 LLYS PENGWERN. 
 
 the north side of the river, and 
 
 on the east end of the town, I beg 
 
 my readers to cross the river with 
 
 me to Pengwern Hall, situated on the 
 
 south of the Dee, with which I shall 
 
 conclude my account of residences 
 
 on the east of the town, as it is not 
 
 in my plan to notice the many pretty 
 
 snug and pleasant looking retreats 
 
 with which the delightful landscape 
 
 is studded, the beauty and comfort 
 
 of which the traveller of taste will 
 
 not fail fully to appreciate. Nor 
 
 have I much to say of 
 
 nigs \%en$wem; 
 
 For mouldering time hath sw r ept away 
 much of its grandeur and its form. 
 
 Llys, i.e. Palace or Prince's Court, 
 of Pengwern, is situated at the foot 
 of Pen y Coed, a tumulus-like hill on 
 the east side of Llangollen, in a well 
 
LLYS PENGWERN. 79 
 
 cultivated and fruitful valley, formed 
 between, or rather of, the bases of 
 Pen y Coed, and the Berwyn. Little 
 remains of the old house. There are 
 two vaulted rooms (the use of which 
 I cannot conjecture) standing at the 
 end of the present house; and they 
 are, I think, part of the old palace. 
 The roofs are formed with nine stone 
 ribs, which support a stone floor; 
 for the rooms are one above the 
 other, and the little light admitted is 
 through narrow loop-hole windows. 
 There is no vault or cellar beneath 
 them. The site is extensive, and 
 many old pointed gothic windows 
 appear about the dilapidated walls. 
 
 The place is now in the occupation 
 of a very respectable farmer. Sir 
 Thomas Mostyn, Bart, is the propri- 
 etor, in whose family it has been a 
 great many years. I find that 
 
80 LLYS PENGWEKN. 
 
 " Tudor Trevor*, who in the British 
 genealogies is reckoned to be lineally 
 descended from Vortigern, that un- 
 fortunate King of the Britons, who 
 first invited the Saxons over into his 
 country, married Gwladdis (some 
 call her Angharad), daughter of 
 Howell Dda, King of all Wales, by 
 whom he had issue three sons ; from 
 the eldest of whom, Llwydocca, this 
 family of Mostyn is descended in a 
 direct male line. Tudor Trevor lived 
 about A.D. 924, and his usual resi- 
 dence was at Llys Pengwern, in 
 Chirkland, in Denbighsire; which 
 site, and lands about it (though the 
 house has been long destroyed), is in 
 the possesion of the family to this 
 day." 
 
 There is a stone which seems to have 
 
 * English Baronetage, vol, 2, p. 114, printed 1727. 
 
LLYS PENGWERN. 81 
 
 belonged to the old Llys, wrought 
 up in the door- way, with an inscrip- 
 tion which I cannot decipher. The 
 design seems a rude figure of a sword, 
 with an obtuse point, and the letters 
 cut in relief on the blade. They are 
 many of them unlike the characters 
 I have seen, although some of them 
 bear a strong resemblance to the 
 Roman, and some few to the Saxon. 
 The hilt of the sword, on which 
 was the beginning of the inscription, 
 is wanting. This is the only inscribed 
 stone I could discover on the pre- 
 mises, although I was civilly assisted 
 in my researches by the occupier of 
 the house. From the appearance of 
 many of the windows, &c. I should 
 almost suppose it the remains of a 
 religious sanctuary. 
 
 Returning to the north side of the 
 Dee, I must notice a small factory, 
 
 e 3 
 
82 LLYS PENGWERN. 
 
 where cotton is spun and manu- 
 factured into cloth by machinery. 
 It was erected by a Mr. Turner. 
 The main wheel is worked by a 
 partial diversion of the river. It has 
 also a claim upon the Ellesmere 
 Canal for a supply of water, and 
 affords employment for many of the 
 inhabitants. The builder and his 
 partner unfortunately proving in- 
 solvent, the concern was for a while 
 stopped, and the factory stood unoc- 
 cupied about five years. It is now 
 carried on by a very respectable 
 firm from Manchester, and is a great 
 benefit to the town. The factory was 
 destroyed by fire in 1814, but being 
 fully insured it was soon rebuilt. By 
 means of an outlet from the mill dam, 
 a great quantity of fine trout and 
 salmon are caught here in the season. 
 
 I shall now proceed to give some 
 
LLYS PENGWERN. 83 
 
 account of Castell Dinas Bran, to 
 which I had before conducted my 
 readers by the ancient road from the 
 Berwyn Mountains and Castell 
 Crogen, or Chick Castle. 
 
DINAS BRAN. 
 
 "Desolate is the dwelling of Morna: silence is in the 
 house of her fathers. The voice of the people is heard 
 no more. The stream of Cultha is removed from its 
 place by the fall of its walls. Raise the song of mourning, 
 O bards !" 
 
 The Castell Dinas Bran, vulgarly 
 called Crow Castle, is one of the 
 primitive Welch Castles. I shall 
 not bewilder myself or my readers, 
 by seeking for the origin of its name, 
 which so many learned men have 
 sought in vain; all their researches 
 ending in conjecture: nor can I find 
 any account to be relied upon, when 
 or by whom it was erected. 
 
 The Castle stands, as hath before 
 been shown, immediately above and 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 85 
 
 on the north side of Llangollen, 
 on a conical mountain, about six 
 hundred yards above the level of the 
 river Dee*; and is built on the 
 summit of the hill, which probably 
 was leveled to procure materials, as 
 the building occupies the whole flat. 
 It seems to have been about one 
 hundred yards in length, by fifty 
 yards wide. The present remains 
 are almost without form: they are 
 built of the silicious stone of the 
 mountain, set in a coarse mortar or 
 grout, which is grown as hard as the 
 stone itself. There are here and 
 there scattered remains of hewn 
 stone for facings, &c. some vestiges 
 of a small round tower and a vaulted 
 passage, and also a very limpid 
 stream, now almost choked with 
 ruins. 
 
 * CooJke's Brit. Trav. p. 111. 
 
86 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 A room has been built within these 
 few years, for the shelter and conve- 
 nience of visitors to the Castle; the 
 key of which may be obtained at a 
 little white cottage half way up the 
 hill, inhabited by a very civil woman 
 of the name of Parry, who conducts 
 the visitants, and provides them with 
 tea if required. 
 
 The Castle is conjectured to have 
 been built by the Britons before the 
 Roman invasion; and was probably 
 the residence of Eliseg in the year 
 600*. In the absence of all authentic 
 accounts, I present my readers with 
 a free translation of what I conceive 
 to be a legendary tale, hoping it will 
 at least amuse. 
 
 I find in the fragment of an old 
 
 * Pennant, vol, 1, p, 401. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 87 
 
 Welch book (from which the title- 
 page is lost), obligingly lent to me 
 by Mr, Edward Morris, of Rhiscog, 
 to whom I am indebted for much 
 valuable information, the following 
 account of the building of Castell 
 Dinas Bran: — 
 
 "The Duke of Difnal, or Cornwall, 
 having conquered all his enemies, 
 was crowned King, and reigned in 
 peace forty years, leaving at his 
 death his kingdom to his two sons, 
 who were twins ; Beli was the first- 
 born, Bran was the youngest. They 
 began to reign Anno Mundi 3600, 
 but contentions soon arising between 
 them, they appealed to arms, and 
 called their friends and adherents 
 to the field; and, notwithstanding 
 the persuasions and remonstrances 
 of the chiefs and great men of the 
 
88 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 country, a day was appointed for the 
 decision of their claims by arms. 
 
 "In the meanwhile, their mother, 
 the old Queen Corwena, obtained an 
 interview with her sons in her own 
 apartments; when, placing herself 
 between them, she fell on her knees, 
 her grey hair disheveled, and her 
 bosom bare, and thus addressed 
 them: — 'O! my dear sons, look on 
 your mother, and for her sake forbear 
 to shed the blood of your friends; 
 remember, it is the Queen who 
 solicits you to peace and unity; and 
 remember also that the blood of 
 those brave men who fall in this 
 quarrel will cry for vengeance, and a 
 life for a life, and a tooth for a tooth, 
 will be required. Consider, you 
 once lived together in peace upon 
 this bosom, and now this great 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 89 
 
 kingdom is too small for you. For 
 God's sake, and as you value my 
 blessing, cast away this fierce wrath ; 
 be not more cruel than the wolves of 
 your forests, and the bears of your 
 woods. See how my tears fall upon 
 those breasts where you were wont 
 to be cherished together. Do not 
 let me go to my dark house in sorrow. 
 Throw down your arms, and embrace 
 each other as brothers, that God 
 may bless the end of your days with 
 peace and prosperity, and crown 
 your wives and your children with 
 comfort and joy. Amen.' 
 
 "The two brothers were so affected 
 by this address from their mother, 
 that they both assisted to raise her 
 from her knees, and intreated her 
 blessing. They then embraced, and 
 drinking to their mother and to each 
 other, dismissed their armies. Beli 
 
90 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 went to New Troy*, and Bran took 
 up his residence at a strong fortress, 
 which he had built near Llan-collenf , 
 and called Dinas Bran, after his own 
 name. 
 
 "The Queen, returning to the 
 portion of land which had been given 
 to her as a jointure, there built a 
 small town, which she named after 
 herself, Corwen." 
 
 The following seems to be another 
 version of the same story ; and as the 
 Brut from which it is taken is by the 
 learned translator supposed to be the 
 real Book of GildasJ, I hope the 
 antiquity and rarity of the account 
 
 * London, so called by Camden and the Brut. 
 
 t See Llangollen Church, dedicated to St. Collen. 
 
 $ See the Brut, or Chronicle of the Kings of Britain , 
 in vol. 1 of Collectanea Cambrica, by the Rev. P. 
 Roberts, A.M. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 91 
 
 will be a sufficient excuse to my 
 general readers : — 
 
 "Beli and Bran were the sons of 
 Dyfnwal, and began to reign 667 
 years before Christ*. A violent 
 struggle arose for the sovereignty of 
 the kingdom, which ended in it being 
 divided between them: however, in 
 process of time, ambition again 
 prompted the two brothers to collect 
 their respective forces, in order to 
 obtain supremacy ; but when the two 
 armies were about to engage, their 
 mother, the old Queen Torwen, or 
 Tarevin, rushed between the lines, 
 and hastening to her son Bran, who 
 had long been absent from her, she 
 tenderly embraced him, and with 
 many sighs and tears intreated him 
 to be reconciled to his brother Beli. 
 
 * Chron. of the Kings of Britain, p. 49. 
 
92 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 Her intreaties so wrought upon Bran 
 that he turned all his thoughts to 
 peace, and laying aside his helmet, 
 he went unarmed to meet his brother. 
 A reconciliation then took place, 
 the forces on each side throwing 
 down their arms, and approving the 
 peace; and both parties went toge- 
 ther to London, at that time called 
 Troia Newdd*. 
 
 As Eliseg's Pillar has given a 
 name to a fertile valley, to a township, 
 and to the wonderful and stupendous 
 Egwlseg Rocks, and which they all 
 retain to this day, I presume to ask, 
 is it not as reasonable to suppose, 
 since we find it recorded that there 
 was a British King of the name of 
 Bran, that the name of the Castle I 
 
 * Brut, p. 30. Camden. Gildas wrote A.D. 560} 
 Geoffrey of Monmouth, 1070. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 93 
 
 am describing should have been de- 
 rived from him, rather than from a 
 paltry stream bearing the name of 
 Bran, or from an insignificant bird; 
 for Bran in the Welch language 
 signifies Crow. Might not, also, the 
 streamlet of the Bran take its name 
 from the city of Bran? for I find 
 in Richards's Welch Dictionary, 
 " Dinas" English "City;" therefore, 
 "Castell Dinas Bran" i.e. "The 
 Castle of the City of Ttran;" "Din" 
 "a fortified city or mount" as Din- 
 brin, which adjoins the Castle Hill. 
 Should these hints, which with all 
 deference I venture to suggest, invite 
 others to a deeper and more suc- 
 cessful research, I shall be happy; 
 and I sincerely wish some one may 
 prosecute further inquiry, furnished 
 with more ample materials, and 
 endowed with a superior degree of 
 antiquarian knowledge. 
 
94 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 Leaving apocryphal accounts, I 
 find that Madog Ap Gryffydd Mae- 
 lor, who founded the Abbey Crucis 
 A.D. 1200, and who was by his mo- 
 ther's side the grandson of Gwen 
 Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, 
 resided at Castell Dinas Bran*. He 
 inherited Powis Madoc, and was 
 Lord of the second Bromfeild and 
 Mochnant Is Rhauadert- 
 
 In the year 1209, Madog, forgetting 
 his duty to his country and to his 
 prince, led his vassals and adherents 
 to join the English army under King 
 John, then lying at Oswestry J 
 (Wynne says at Chester §); where he 
 had assembled a great force, and 
 with his usual violence and passion 
 had resolved to execute the severest 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 395. t Warrington, p. 345. 
 t Warrington, p, 359. § Wynne, p. 229. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 95 
 
 vengeance on the inhabitants of 
 North Wales, and not to suffer a 
 person to remain alive in the country. 
 But such resolves are sooner made 
 than executed; and Llewellyn, 
 Prince of Wales, no sooner heard of 
 these mighty preparations, and of 
 the disaffection of some of his own 
 countrymen, particularly of the Lord 
 of Dinas Bran, than he issued his 
 orders to his subjects in the counties 
 of Denbigh and Flint, to remove all 
 their cattle and moveable substance 
 for a season, to the mountains of 
 Snowdon; by which means, and by 
 getting into the rear of the King's 
 army, now advanced as far as the 
 Castle of Teganwy, he so straitened 
 and harassed the English forces, that, 
 after eating their horses, and being 
 reduced to the greatest extremity, 
 they were obliged to retrace their 
 steps at that time in disgrace, and 
 
96 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 breathing revenge, which the King 
 in some measure executed the next 
 year*. But as I mean to confine 
 myself to the history of the Lords of 
 Dinas Bran, I will not deviate from 
 my plan, by noticing matter which 
 may be deemed extraneous. 
 
 When John by his maladministra- 
 tion had quarrelled with his great 
 Barons, and thrown England into 
 confusion, the vaccillating Madog, 
 Lord of Dinas Bran, again swore 
 fealty to his lawful Prince, Llewellyn, 
 who politically overlooked his disaf- 
 fection, and accepted his submission. 
 This and some other accession of 
 force enabled the Welch Prince 
 successfully to assail the English, 
 from whom he took all the castles 
 the King had garrisoned, and most 
 
 * Wynne, p. 230. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 97 
 
 cruelly and unjustly put to death all 
 their defenders in cold blood. This 
 happened A.D. 1213*. The re- 
 mainder of the time of this factious 
 man, Madog, was occupied in rapine, 
 war, and slaughter; and he closed 
 his turbulent life in Castell Dinas 
 Bran, and was buried at his Abbey 
 of Llan Egwest, or Valle Crucis, 
 A.D. 1236|, leaving his son Lord of 
 Powis Fadog, Lord of Dinas Bran, 
 and all his other signiorities. 
 
 Gryffydd Ap Madog, like his 
 father, partook of the character of 
 the times, and was fickle and turbu- 
 lent. His father, Madog Ap Gryffydd 
 Maelor, had generally resided at 
 Wattstay, now Wynnstay; but 
 Gryffydd Ap Madog made the 
 
 * Warrington, p, 363. 
 t Wynne p. 257. Warrington, p. 398. 
 
 F 
 
98 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 Castell Dinas Bran his chief resi- 
 dence, and it is probable that his 
 confidence in this almost inaccessible 
 retreat might strengthen and encou- 
 rage him in his waywardness. 
 
 I find him joining Prince Edward, 
 the son of Henry III. then King of 
 England, with all his forces, in the 
 year 1257; and his disaffection is 
 thus stigmatized by the old writers*: — 
 "But Gryffydd Ap Madog Maelor, 
 Lord of Dinas Bran, a person of 
 notorious reputation for injustice 
 and oppression, basely forsook the 
 Welch, his countrymen, and with all 
 his forces went over to the Earl of 
 Chester|. 
 
 The following year, Llewellyn the 
 
 * Wynne, p. 273. 
 t Wynne, p. 274, 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 99 
 
 Prince, returning from an expedition 
 into South Wales, met the Earl, and 
 forced him to retreat with great 
 precipitation, leaving the possessions 
 of his unnatural allies at the mercy 
 of the conqueror, who now resolved 
 to be revenged on that ungrateful 
 fugitive, the Lord of Dinas Bran. 
 He therefore passed through Brom- 
 feild, and miserably laid waste the 
 whole country, and obliged GryfFydd 
 to keep close in his Castle of Dinas 
 Bran, which, being situated on the 
 summit of a very steep hill, seemed 
 impregnable to all the daring efforts 
 that could be used against it*. 
 
 King Henry, being now much 
 incensed against the Welch Prince 
 Llewellyn, on account of the obsti- 
 nate resistance he experienced, and 
 
 * Wynne, p. 180. 
 
 F 2 
 
100 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 having drawn together the whole 
 
 strength of England, even from St. 
 
 Michael's Mount, in Cornwall, to the 
 
 river Tweed, marched with his son 
 
 Edward in great rage to North 
 
 Wales, and without any opposition 
 
 advanced as far as Teganwy; but 
 
 Llewellyn having taken precaution, 
 
 as was the practice of the Welch in 
 
 cases of invasion, to have all manner 
 
 of provision and forage carried over 
 
 the river, and having secured the 
 
 strait and narrow passages whereby 
 
 the English might advance into the 
 
 country, the King's troops were in a 
 
 short time so mortally harassed and 
 
 fatigued, that they were obliged to 
 
 return to England in haste, and with 
 
 great loss. 
 
 Gryffydd Ap Madog, finding King 
 Henry unable to protect his estate, 
 submitted to his rightful Prince; 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 101 
 
 and Llewellyn then passed to Powis, 
 and banished Gryffydd Ap Gwen- 
 wynwyn, who had also joined the 
 English, and took all the lands in 
 the country of Powis into his own 
 hands. 
 
 Llewellyn, who was a politic prince, 
 received the submission of the Lord 
 of Dinas Bran, because he knew that 
 inaccessible fortress could not be 
 forced from him, and that it would 
 not be safe to have an avowed enemy, 
 with so strong a refuge for his dis- 
 affected subjects, in the rear of his 
 operations; otherwise Gryffydd Ap 
 Madog had merited banishment as 
 much as his namesake of Powisland : 
 nay, Gryffydd, Lord of Dinas Bran, 
 married an English lady*, Emma, 
 daughter of Lord Audley, whose 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 216. 
 
102 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 father did much mischief and hurt to 
 theWelch, by bringing from Germany 
 a body of horsemen, who, by the un- 
 common size of their horses, and 
 their unusual manner of fighting, 
 terrified and easily defeated the 
 Welchmen at the first; but when 
 they had become more familiarized 
 with their mode, they took their 
 revenge upon them, even on Lord 
 Audley's own land*. 
 
 All the nobility of Wales had 
 solemnly sworn to defend their 
 country till death against the invasion 
 of the English, and not to relinquish 
 or forsake one another; and the 
 return of GryfFydd Ap Madog to his 
 allegiance diffused through every 
 breast the hope of better daysf. 
 
 * Wynne, p. 275. 
 t Warrington, p. 440. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 103 
 
 From this time to the day of his 
 death, I do not find that he again 
 deserted his Prince, but attached 
 himself to the fortunes of his coun- 
 try, although fears of the resentment 
 of his countrymen for his former 
 conduct made him keep close to his 
 Castle of Dinas Bran, where he died 
 m 1270*, and was buried by the side 
 of his father in the Abbey Church of 
 Valle Crucis ; leaving his country in 
 the enjoyment of freedom and peace; 
 the Welch having, by innate bravery 
 and constancy, aided by the fast- 
 nesses of their country, and the good 
 policy of their Prince, freed them- 
 selves for a time from the thraldom 
 of their potent enemy. 
 
 Mr. Pennant gives a different ac- 
 count of his end|. He says that 
 
 * Warrington, p. 458, 
 t Pennant, vol. 1, p. 216. 
 
104 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 " his wife Emma, having alienated 
 his affection from his own country, 
 made him an instrument of its sub- 
 jection, and of the destruction of his 
 own family; for, as he took part 
 with Henry III. and Edward I. 
 against his natural Prince, the re- 
 sentment of his countrymen was 
 excited against him, and he was 
 obliged to shelter himself from their 
 rage in his Castle of Dinas Bran, 
 where probably shame and grief put 
 an end to his life." 
 
 Be that as it may, Gryffydd Ap 
 Madog, by his wife Emma, daughter 
 of John, Lord Audley, left issue 
 four sons, viz. Madog, Llewellyn, 
 Gryffydd, and Owen*. Madog, the 
 eldest, became Lord of Dinas Bran 
 &c. He died, it is supposed, not 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 217. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 105 
 
 long after his father, leaving two 
 sons to inherit his property*. The 
 eldest, called Madog, had, by his 
 father's will, Bromfeild and Yale, the 
 Castell Dinas Bran, &c; the second 
 son, Llewellyn, the Lordship of 
 Chirk, &c. It should seem these 
 children were not of age when their 
 father died; for Edward I. King of 
 England, took on him to appoint 
 guardians to them both, and com- 
 mitted Madog, the elder, to the care 
 of John, Earl of Warren, one of his 
 favorites; and Llewellyn he in- 
 trusted to Roger Mortimer, son of 
 Lord Mortimer, of Wigmoref. 
 These men well understood the 
 nature of the appointment; and it is 
 probable that Edward had maturely 
 weighed in his mind the potency of 
 
 * Wynne, p. 181. 
 
 t Pennant, vol. 1, p. 217. 
 
 f3 
 
106 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 their enmity, who could be such 
 powerful friends, and having then 
 but recently subjugated the country, 
 he might wish out of his way two 
 scions of a stock which had proved 
 so stubborn and so valiant. It was 
 well known that Warren and Mor- 
 timer had rid themselves of their 
 respective charges, and had pos- 
 sessed themselves of their estates, 
 which they were suffered to enjoy 
 without an inquiry being instituted 
 respecting them, or about the disap- 
 pearance of their wards; but the 
 manner of the murder of these two 
 unfortunate children has but lately 
 been discovered, in a manuscript in 
 the Bodleian Library*. The guar- 
 dian of the two boys caused them 
 to be drowned under Holt Bridge; 
 and no doubt from hence arose the 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1. p. 217. 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 107 
 
 origin of a fable which was long cur- 
 rent in the country, of two fairies 
 having been drowned in that place. 
 
 From the Earls of Warren the 
 Castell Dinas Bran passed to the 
 Arundel* and other families. In 
 1390, Myfanuy Fechan, a descendant 
 of the house of Tudor, resided there, 
 and was celebrated for her beauty in 
 a long ode by Howel Ap Einion 
 Lygliw, a celebrated bard of that 
 time. The Castle was probably 
 then held under the Earls of Arun- 
 del. It is now the property of Mrs. 
 Myddelton Biddulph, of Chirk Cas- 
 tle. The period of its destruction 
 is as completely unknown as the 
 time of its foundation. Eagles and 
 hawks in abundance used to breed, 
 
 * Camden's Brit, p. 304. 
 
108 CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 
 
 as some now do, in the neighbouring 
 rocky ridge of the Eglwyseg, and 
 
 u Along the narrow valley you might see 
 
 The wild deer sporting on the meadow ground, 
 And here and there a solitary tree, 
 
 Or mossy stone, or rock with woodbine crown'd. 
 Oft did the cliffs reverberate the sound 
 
 Of parted fragments tumbling from on high, 
 And from the summit of that craggy mound 
 
 The perching eagle oft was heard to cry, 
 Or on resounding wing to shoot athwart the sky." 
 
 The view from the Castle is not 
 so extensive as might be expected 
 from its elevation, being bounded, 
 except towards the east, by more 
 lofty mountains; yet the scenery is 
 most truly grand and magnificent. 
 According to the plan laid down in 
 the beginning of this work, I leave 
 my readers to their own observations ; 
 only informing them that the house 
 which makes a distinguished figure 
 to the westward is Dinbrin Hall, the 
 residence of Richard Jones, Esq- 
 
CASTELL DINAS BRAN. 109 
 
 Descending on the west side of 
 the hill, and proceeding on the old 
 way to the Abbey Crucis, stands 
 a neat house, called the Twr, i.e. 
 Tower, which I conjecture, for I can 
 obtain no written document on the 
 subject, to have been a look-out or 
 watch-tower belonging to the Castle ; 
 especially as it is placed on the side 
 most easy of access. Some additions 
 have been made to the Tower, and 
 it is now a comfortable farm-house, 
 inhabited by a very respectable lady, 
 of the name of Price. It has been a 
 square building, built of hewn stone, 
 as evinced by the massive walls 
 which now surround the old part 
 converted into a parlour, and by an 
 old spiral stone stair at the back of 
 the room. 
 
 The old way from the Castle to 
 the Abbey has been much intersected 
 
110 JLLANTYSILIO. 
 
 and crossed, especially by the branch 
 of the Ellesmere Canal, and by roads 
 made to recently erected retreats 
 and farms ; among which I must not, 
 however, reckon the road to 
 
 mantgatito, 
 
 Which is a place of great antiquity. 
 It belonged of old time to the an- 
 cient family of the Cuppers of the 
 North*, so called even in the time 
 of King Henry II.; and by the mar- 
 riage of a daughter of that family 
 with a Mr. Jones, of Llanbothian, in 
 Montgomeryshire, it became the 
 heritage of the late possessor of that 
 name, and is now inhabited by Ma- 
 jor Harrison, who resides in the 
 Hall, a large brick building, bearing 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 324. A gentleman who knows 
 the fact says, however, that it came to the Cuppers 
 recently, through an intermarriage with a Miss Davies ; 
 and that Mr, Pennant was wrong informed. 
 
LLANTYSILIO. Ill 
 
 a strong affinity to Trevor Hall in 
 antiquity of erection. It is situated 
 in a pleasant valley, watered by the 
 river Dee, over which it enjoys a 
 fine prospect. 
 
 The Church of Llantysilio is dedi- 
 cated to a Welch saint, from whom 
 the township takes its name. He 
 was Prince of Powis, and was called 
 St. Tysilio. It is a neat little edi- 
 fice, with a very pleasant church- 
 yard, and contains nothing very 
 ancient in the monumental way; but 
 there are around it many very ve- 
 nerable yew trees, with their wide 
 spreading sombre foliage. I had 
 the curiosity to measure one, and 
 found it above twenty feet in girth. 
 The inside of the Church is, like its 
 neighbour at Llangollen, indebted 
 for some of its decorations to the 
 Abbey Crucis, which seems after its 
 
112 LLANTYSILIO. 
 
 dissolution to have been considered 
 as lawful plunder; and this circum- 
 stance in some measure accounts for 
 its so speedy dilapidation. English 
 service is performed in the Church 
 of Llantysilio on the third Sunday 
 in every month. 
 
ABBEY. 
 
 " How many hearts have here grown cold, 
 
 That sleep these mouldering stones among ! 
 How many beads have here been told! 
 
 How many matins here been sung ! 
 But here no more soft music floats, 
 
 No holy anthems chanted now ; 
 All hush'd, except the ring-dove's notes, 
 
 Low murmuring from yon beachen bough. n 
 
 The Abbey of Llan Egwest, or 
 Valle Crucis, so called from a very 
 ancient inscribed pillar or cross, the 
 mutilated remains of which stand in 
 an adjacent field, and will next come 
 under consideration, was built and 
 founded by Madog Ap Gryffydd 
 Maelor, Lord of Dinas Bran, as 
 before related under the head of 
 Dinas Bran, 
 
114 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 This Abbey was built ^in the year 
 of our Lord 1200, was dedicated to 
 the Virgin Mary, and belonged to a 
 community of Cistercian Monks, an 
 order founded in France in the year 
 1098. The remains of the Abbey 
 Church are the most picturesque and 
 entire part. It was built in the form 
 of a cross, which was contrary to the 
 form in common use before the 
 twelfth century*. 
 
 This proves that Madog availed 
 himself of the aid of skilful workmen, 
 and it is probable that the fraternity 
 called Free Masons were employed, 
 as they were incorporated about this 
 time, and were the chief undertakers 
 of such works. Their government 
 was regular, and they were wont to 
 make an encampment of huts. A 
 
 * Whittington on Gothic Architecture. Dr. Milner's 
 History of Winchester. 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 115 
 
 surveyor governed in chief; every 
 tenth man being called a warden, 
 and overlooking nine. They ranged 
 from one country to another, as they 
 found churches to be built*. 
 
 The Church is built in different 
 styles of architecture. The east end 
 seems the most ancient, and the 
 three lancet-like arched windows 
 have a very peculiar effect. It is 
 situated at the foot of a lofty hill, 
 called Fron Fawr, and a little stream 
 runs at the back of the Abbey, 
 skirting its gardens, and turning a 
 corn-mill in its passage to the Dee. 
 The view from the high bank beyond 
 the rivulet (which is crossed by a 
 rustic plank bridge) of the east end 
 of the Church and Abbey, is particu- 
 larly beautiful. 
 
 * Sir Christopher Wren's Parentalia. 
 
116 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 On its front or west side rise the 
 Berwyn Mountains ; on the east, the 
 Fron Fawr; and the whole is so en- 
 veloped in beautiful foliage that it is 
 perhaps one of the most enchantingly 
 secluded places in the kingdom. 
 The west front of the Church affords 
 some admirable specimens of ancient 
 gothic architecture. The grand 
 entrance has been through the orna- 
 mented pointed arch gateway at the 
 west end; over which is a fine gothic 
 window, consisting of three lancet- 
 shaped arches, surmounted by a 
 circular or rose window, of eight 
 divisions; but it is too lofty to admit 
 of close inspection, as is also 
 the following mutilated inscription, 
 which is above it: — 
 
 AD. . . .ADAM. . . .DMS fecit hoc opus. Pace beata 
 quiescat. Amen. 
 MD.... 
 
 The rest of the last line is oblite- 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 117 
 
 rated. The following translation 
 may not be unacceptable : — 
 
 AD. . . . ADAM DMS built (or rebuilt) this work. 
 
 May he rest in happy peace. Amen. 
 
 MD.... 
 
 The letters MD seem to have been 
 meant as part of the date marking 
 the time when the Church was re- 
 paired, and go far to prove the little 
 veneration shown to this once elegant 
 structure by the neighbouring people, 
 and that its dilapidation was unu- 
 sually rapid. Now, we will suppose 
 that the inscription MD means 
 1500, and allow that it was then 
 in complete repair, and that it was 
 one of the first Abbeys dissolved, 
 say in 1538; for I do not read that 
 Henry VIII. began his reformation 
 among the religious houses before 
 that time; I find in Camden's 
 Britannia, speaking of this place, the 
 following passage: — "Save onely a 
 
118 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 little Abbay, now wholly decaied, 
 but standing most richly and plea- 
 santly in a vale, which among the 
 woody hils cutteth itself overthwart 
 in manner of a crosse, whereupon it 
 was called in Latin Vallis Cruris, 
 that is, the Vale of the Crosse, and 
 in British, Lhane Gwest*." 
 
 Camden's great work, Britannia, 
 was published in 1586; and from 
 these facts 1 draw my conclusion 
 that it was ransacked and destroyed 
 soon after its dissolution, as I suppose 
 it was — 
 
 In complete repair, A.D. 1500; 
 
 Dissolved by order of Henry VIII. 
 A.D. 1538|; 
 
 * Camden's Britan. p. 677. 
 
 t These dates may have been some years later* In 
 a MS. obligingly lent to me, it is stated, " Dissolved by 
 statute of Henry VIII. 1561, at which time it was rated 
 in the King's Books at 214/. 3s. 3d.:" so that it was 
 wholly decayed, as Camden has it, in twenty-five years. 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 119 
 
 Wholly decayed, as by Camden, 
 1586*. 
 
 Of the magnificence of this ancient 
 Monastery no adequate description 
 can now be given, and scarcely an 
 idea formed of what it has been. 
 The body and nave of the Church 
 are disfigured, and nearly choked up 
 with masses of ruins, and large and 
 luxuriant forest trees, among which 
 the ash and sycamore are most pre- 
 dominant. The length of the Church 
 is about one hundred and eighty feet; 
 the width I can only guess at, as the 
 north side is wholly gone. An 
 author before me says the nave was 
 thirty-one feet broad, and the side 
 aisle thirteen feet. 
 
 * This is the year in which Camden's Latin Edition 
 appeared ; consequently, this survey must have been 
 made before. 
 
120 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 In the north transept are the 
 remains of a chapel, said by some to 
 have contained the tomb of the 
 founder. In a wall in the cloister 
 stands a double benetoir, or vessel 
 for holy water. The cloister is small 
 and gloomy, whose 
 
 " Storied windows, richly dight, 
 Have shed a dim religious light." 
 
 The solemnity of the place, and 
 the stillness that reigns, aided by 
 the subdued light of the moon, and 
 by a vivid fancy, may conjure up 
 strange ideas, and 
 
 il Still may imagination's ardent eye 
 In the tall grove the sage's form espy ; 
 See him intent with sacred zeal to plan 
 Some moral lesson for ungrateful man." 
 
 The part of the Abbey now re- 
 maining is inhabited by a farmer, 
 who will show the premises on proper 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 121 
 
 application. There is a Saxon or 
 semicircular arched gateway in the 
 farm-yard, adjoining a very curious 
 gothic window, well worthy attention. 
 The dormitory or sleeping cells were 
 formerly entered by stone stairs 
 from the outside, which have been 
 removed within the last two years. 
 The floor of the dormitory is sup- 
 ported by low massive pillars; and 
 the arches which spring from their 
 capitals form vaulted rooms, in which 
 the family reside. There are many 
 beautiful features in this interesting 
 ruin, to amply repay the attention of 
 the curious, and the research of the 
 antiquarian. The front seems to 
 have been extensive, and before it 
 gurgles up a very pure spring of 
 water. The Abbot's apartments 
 were contiguous to the church, and 
 there opened from one of them a 
 small space, where he might stand, 
 
 G 
 
122 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 and hear the holy services performed 
 below. 
 
 The venerable ruin is lessened by 
 every succeeding tenant, and some 
 of the recently erected buildings 
 exhibit stones with mutilated devices 
 and inscriptions worked up in the 
 walls. In one of the farmer's bed- 
 chambers a stone forms part of a 
 chimney-piece, which is carved with 
 running foliage, and contains this 
 imperfect inscription: — 
 
 "Hie j ace t Arvrvet." 
 
 This is the only remain of any 
 tomb discovered. In digging a few 
 months ago in the farm-yard, to 
 make a drain, at a short distance 
 from the surface were dug up the 
 remains of eleven men, in a very small 
 compass of ground, which goes far 
 to prove that this was the common 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 123 
 
 cemetery of the Abbey; and also a 
 wedge-like stone, having carved on 
 its front a hand, holding a vine or 
 olive branch, bearing fruit. The 
 stone is now at Plas Newydd. 
 
 I have in my account of Castell 
 Dinas Bran recorded that Madog Ap 
 Gryffydd Maelor was buried in this 
 Abbey, A.D. 1236; and his son, 
 Gryffydd Ap Madog Maelor, Lord 
 of Dinas Bran, A.D. 1270. 
 
 Having thus given the best account 
 I can of the present state of this once 
 noble Abbey, I now proceed to state 
 what I can collect from authentic 
 sources of its Abbots and its endow- 
 ments. 
 
 Reyner, Bishop of St. Asaph, who 
 died in 1224, bestowed on this Abbey 
 half the tithes of Wrexham. Abra- 
 
 G 2 
 
124 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 ham, his brother, succeeded him in 
 the Bishoprick in 1227, and gave the 
 remaining half*. 
 
 Howel Ap Ednyfed, successor to 
 Abraham, gave to it the Church of 
 Llangollen f. The monks also ob- 
 tained, besides these endowments, 
 the patronage of several other livings, 
 as Wrexham, Ruabon, Chirk, Llan- 
 sanfraid, and Llandegla. 
 
 The freemen of Llangollen made 
 a grant in part of the river near their 
 town of a fishery to the monks of 
 Valle Crucis; and, for want of a seal 
 of their own, affixed the seal of the 
 founder of the Abbey to the grant J. 
 
 The landed endowments were, in 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1. t Pennant, vol. 1, p. 395. 
 % Pennant, vol. I, p. 397. 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 125 
 
 the year 1291, near the Abbey, a 
 grange, with three ploughlands*, a 
 mill, and other conveniences, pro- 
 bably the donations of the founder 
 Madog; the granges of Bodhange, 
 Tregam, Rudryn, and Baketon. I 
 have no means of ascertaining who 
 were the donors of the farms, but I 
 find they had also the dairy farm of 
 Nante; the grange of Nostroyz, 
 Convenet, and Grennychamt; ako 
 the grange of Wyrcessam, consisting 
 of one ploughland and some pasture, 
 with thirty cows, valued in those days 
 at only thirty shillings. 
 
 All these estates were vested in 
 the Abbot for the time being, and 
 formed no inconsiderable revenue; 
 but the title of the monks to several 
 of the livings was disputed by a sue- 
 
 * A ploughland is nearly one hundred acres. 
 
126 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 ceeding Bishop of St. Asaph, called 
 Y Brawd Du O Nannau, or the 
 Black Brother of Nanny, who ob- 
 tained a decision in his favour. The 
 third of the tithes of Bryn Eglwys, 
 or Egwestl, was, however, allotted to 
 them, in lieu of the patronage of 
 Llandegla. 
 
 The monks had also a dispute 
 with the freemen of Llangollen 
 respecting the fishery, the former 
 having erected works on the river, 
 whereby they caught more fish than 
 the Llangollen folks thought came 
 to their share, or than abstemious 
 monks could require. However, 
 the affair was referred to the Prince 
 of Wales, and the fishery was con- 
 firmed to the Abbey in 1234. 
 
 I will now lay before my readers a 
 short account of some of the Abbots. 
 
VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 127 
 
 Dafydd Ap Ivan Jorwerth is highly 
 celebrated by a bard in the year 
 1480, who says of him, and of his suc- 
 cessor, Ivan, or John, that they lived 
 in great splendour, that they had 
 four courses every day served on 
 bright silver dishes, and they drank 
 claret, &c. He also commends the 
 piety of the house, and says that he 
 was so happy as to be blessed by 
 Abbot John, who had three of his 
 fingers covered with rings- The last 
 Abbot was John Heme, who received 
 an annuity of 23?. per annum on his 
 surrender. In 1553 this annuity, and 
 others to some of the surviving 
 monks, to the amount of 10/. 13s. 4cL 
 were the whole of the remaining 
 charges*. 
 
 This is said to be the first Abbey 
 that was dissolved in Wales, and it 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 398. 
 
128 VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY. 
 
 remained in the crown until the ninth 
 of James I. who then granted it to 
 Edward Wotton, created Lord 
 Wotton. In 1654, Margaret Wotton 
 was in possession. She was a re- 
 cusant, and Cromwell then put it 
 under sequestration to Edward Da- 
 vies, the Cneifwr Gl&s of Eglwyseg. 
 
 The last possessor, Mrs. Thomas, 
 of Trevor Hall, built a kind of 
 summer-house at the back of the 
 Abbey, adjoining to a pond abound- 
 ing with trout. Here was a charming 
 field for the display of taste ; but, as 
 in the hut at the top of Dinas Bran, 
 the opportunity has been lost. 
 
 Leaving the Abbey, let us now 
 proceed through the adjoining 
 meadow to the Pillar of Eliseg, from 
 which the valley takes its name. 
 
OR 
 
 THE PILLAR OF ELISEG. 
 
 - a The time draws on 
 
 When not a single spot of burial earth, 
 Whether on land, or in the spacious sea, 
 But must give back its long committed dust 
 Inviolate. " 
 
 The Pillar of Eliseg is supposed to 
 be one of the oldest inscribed British 
 columns now existing, and is erected 
 in a field about three furlongs from 
 the Abbey, standing in a delightful 
 valley, to which it gives the name of 
 Valle Crucis, or the Vale of the 
 Cross. The spot on which it stands 
 is a gentle elevation, and is called 
 Llwyn y Groes, i.e. the Grove of the 
 Cross. The pillar was twelve feet 
 
 G 3 
 
130 LA CRUCIS. 
 
 high, and inscribed all round with 
 letters. It stood in its place until 
 some of Cromwell's fanatical soldiers 
 overthrew and broke it. 
 
 The pillar remained cast down 
 many years, until Trevor Lloyd, Esq. 
 of Trevor Hall, reared its mutilated 
 remains again into its base, which 
 had not been removed, and placed 
 upon it this Latin inscription: — 
 
 QUOD HUJUS VETERIS MONUMENTI 
 
 SUPEREST 
 
 DIU EX OCULIS REMOTUM 
 
 ET NEGLECTUM 
 
 TANDEM RESTITUIT 
 
 T. LLOYD 
 TREVOR HALL 
 
 MDCCLXXIX. 
 
 Translated as follows : — 
 
 "T. LLOYD, of Trevor Hall, at length, in the year 
 1779, restored what remains of this ancient Monument, 
 which had been a long time removed from sight, and 
 neglected/' 
 
LA CRUCIS. 131 
 
 The Cross, or Pillar, for it seems 
 never to have had the form of a 
 Cross, is now little more than eight 
 feet high. The old inscription, 
 which time has rendered illegible, 
 has been carefully copied by that 
 great antiquarian, Mr. Edward 
 Llwyd*, and informs us nearly of 
 the time of its erection, as under: — 
 
 "Concenn filius Cateli.. Cateli t filius Brochmail 
 Brochmail filius Eliseg..Eliseg filius Cnoillaine 
 Concenn itaque pronepos Eliseg edificavit hunc 
 Lapidem proavo suo Eliseg." 
 
 Of which the following seems to be 
 an exact translation : — 
 
 "Concenn, the son of Cateli ; Cateli the son of Brochmail; 
 Brochmail, the son of Eliseg ; Eliseg,theson of Cnoillaine; 
 Concenn, therefore the great-grandson of Eliseg, erected 
 this stone to his great-grandfather Eliseg." 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 399. 
 
 t Although Pennant spells the second Cateli with two 
 letters of t, yet it has been published by others with 
 only one; and as the name in both instances refers to 
 the same person, I have adopted the latter course. 
 
132 LA CRUC1S. 
 
 The characters resemble one of 
 the alphabets in use about the sixth 
 century, at which time this sepulchral 
 pillar was erected. Concenn and 
 Eliseg probably resided at Castell 
 Dinas Bran; and a township adja- 
 cent bears the name of Eglwyseg, as 
 well as the stupendous and pictu- 
 resque mass of rocks that range 
 along the vale, called the Eglwyseg 
 Rocks, from Eliseg. Brochmail, 
 another of the persons mentioned, 
 deserted the protection of the Monks 
 of Bangor at the battle of West 
 Chester, when twelve hundred of 
 those unfortunate unarmed religious 
 were cut to pieces by the forces of 
 Athelfrid or Edilfred, King of 
 Northumberland, A.D. 607*. 
 
 Brochmail, whom I suppose to be 
 
 * Warrington, p. 87, 
 
LA CRUC1S. 133 
 
 the same the Latins called Broch- 
 mailus,was a great prince in that part 
 of Britain called Powisland, which 
 was then very extensive, stretching 
 from the Severn to the Dee in a right 
 line, from the end of Broxon Hills to 
 Salop, and comprehending all the 
 country between the Wye and 
 Severn. He resided at Pengwern 
 Powis, now Shrewsbury*, in a house 
 situated where the College of St. 
 Chad now stands. He was a great 
 friend and favourer of the Monks of 
 Bangor, and took part with them 
 against the Saxons, instigated by 
 Augustine the Monk to prosecute 
 them with fire and sword, because 
 they would not agree to the forms 
 and ceremonies of the Church of 
 Rome, and forsake their own esta- 
 blished customs f. 
 
 * Camden, p. 595. 
 t Wynne, p. 23. 
 
134 LA CRUCIS. 
 
 I was so fortunate as to meet with 
 two persons who assisted in opening 
 the tumulus before the pillar was 
 re-erected; and they gave me the 
 following account: — On digging be- 
 low the flat pedestal in which the 
 base of the Pillar had been inserted, 
 they came to a layer of pebble 
 stones; and after having removed 
 them, to a large flat slab, on which 
 it seems the body had been laid, as 
 they now found the remains of it, 
 guarded round with large flat blue 
 stones, and covered at top with the 
 same; the whole forming a sort of 
 stone box or coffin. The bones 
 were entire, and of very large di- 
 mensions. The skull and teeth, 
 which were very white and perfect, 
 were particularly sound. My in- 
 formants said they believed the skull 
 was sent to Trevor Hall, but it was 
 returned, and again deposited, with 
 
LA CRUCIS. 135 
 
 the rest of the bones, in its former 
 sepulchre. By this it should seem 
 that Eliseg was not an old man 
 when he was buried here, and it is 
 wonderful that greater decomposi- 
 tion had not taken place in twelve 
 hundred years. 
 
 One of the persons who assisted 
 at the exhumation is now a very old 
 man, and was huntsman to Mr. 
 Lloyd when the tumulus was opened. 
 He says there was a large piece of 
 silver coin found in the coffin, which 
 was kept; but that the skull was 
 gilded to preserve it, and was then 
 again deposited with its kindred 
 bones. I asked if the bones were 
 sound; and he answered (I give his 
 own words), "O, no, sir; they broke 
 like gingerbread." 
 
 I have now reached the limits I 
 
136 LA CRUCIS. 
 
 prescribed for myself on the north 
 side of the Dee, and trust I have 
 noticed every thing most worthy of 
 attention. 1 purpose next to give a 
 short account of the rivet-, and pass- 
 ing Llangollen Bridge, continue my 
 route to Glyndyfrdwy and Sycharth, 
 once the residence of Owen Glyndwr. 
 
®9* i£tl>#r &$ti 
 
 u On scenes like these the eye delights to dwell, 
 Here loud cascades, and there the silent dell; 
 The lofty mountains, bleak and barren, rise, 
 And spread their ample bosoms to the skies ; 
 While still the rushing river rolls along, 
 The theme of many a humble shepherd's song, 
 And as it rolls, the trout, in speckled pride, 
 Springs playful in the smooth translucent tide." 
 
 The river Dee forms a beautiful 
 and interesting feature in all the 
 most picturesque views around 
 Llangollen. Passing from Glyndy- 
 frdwy down the river, it successively 
 assumes the appearance of the 
 brawling brook over beds of pebbles ; 
 the deep tranquil character of the 
 gliding lake, reflecting on its pure 
 bosom the woods and mountains 
 that surround it; the rushing cascade 
 
138 THE RIVER DEE. 
 
 or rapids, over beds of rocks, or 
 through chasms of stone. 
 
 "The current that with gentle murmur glides, 
 
 Opposed by rocks impatiently doth rage ; 
 
 But when his fair course is not hindered, 
 
 He makes sweet music with the enamelled stones, 
 
 Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge 
 
 He overtaketh in his pilgrimage ; 
 
 And so by many winding nooks he strays 
 
 With willing sport to the wild ocean." 
 
 It rises a few miles beyond Bala, 
 a town about twenty miles from 
 Llangollen, on the west, and runs 
 through a pool now called Bala pool, 
 some say without mingling its 
 stream*. There is no river in England 
 which has been so much celebrated 
 by our poets for its sanctity as the 
 Dee; and Camden describes it as 
 "riseingon the east sideof Merion- 
 ethshire, and forthwith passeth entire 
 and whole through Lhintegid, in 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 2, p. 80. 
 
THE RIVER DEE. 139 
 
 English, Pimble Meare, or Plenlin 
 Meare*, a lake spreding far in length 
 and bredth ; and so runneth out of it 
 with as great a streame as it entred 
 in ; for neither shal a man see in the 
 Dee the fishes called guiniad, which 
 are peculiar to the Meare, nor yet 
 salmons in the Meare, which never- 
 thelesse are commonly taken in the 
 river f." 
 
 The mazy windings of the Dee, 
 embellished as its banks are with 
 the fresh green shrubs and plants 
 which flourish there in great luxuri- 
 ance, afford a very delightful walk, 
 independent of the great amusement 
 to anglers for which this river has 
 ever been so famous. The trout are 
 as fine as any in the kingdom, and 
 
 * Bala Pool. 
 
 t Camden's Brit. p. 666. 
 
140 THE RIVER DEE. 
 
 are very plentiful. Many men ob- 
 tain a livelihood during the season, 
 by fishing in this beautiful river, 
 which they contrive to manage in 
 their little coracles, a large kind of 
 round basket, covered with skins or 
 tarpawling, and with a board across 
 the centre for a seat. It is amusing 
 to see them waft themselves where 
 they please, with a little paddle in 
 one hand, and a fly-rod in the other, 
 fishing every corner of the deep 
 pool; and when tired, rowing to 
 land, throwing their boats on their 
 shoulders, and walking with them to 
 another deep pool, where they again 
 commence operations. 
 
 Salmon come up the river to 
 spawn; and although so many do 
 not reach Llangollen as in former 
 times, owing to the new inventions 
 erected on the river to entrap them 
 
THE RIVER DEE. 141 
 
 in their way from the sea, yet many 
 of them overcome all impediments, 
 and reach their usual haunts. I saw 
 last summer, at the season when the 
 salmon fray, or fry, seek their way to 
 the sea from the river where they 
 have been bred, large shoals of these 
 fish, and at one time more than forty 
 fishing rods successfully employed 
 in a small space of water near the 
 water-mill just above the bridge. 
 This fishery continued in great ac- 
 tivity for many days; the bait used 
 being a common ground-worm, or a 
 straw-worm, here called corbet. 
 A little fresh in the river at length 
 came, of which the fish took advan- 
 tage, and proceeded on their way, 
 after having lost some thousands of 
 their numbers at Llangollen. 
 
 The otter is found in this river, 
 and, owing to the many fastnesses, 
 
142 THE RIVER DEE. 
 
 can seldom be destroyed. There 
 are also numerous and various aqua- 
 tic birds. The rock-ousel, the 
 kingfisher, the sand-piper, the crane, 
 and a duck-like bird, with black 
 and white plumeage, which the 
 inhabitants term a cormorant, are 
 very common. 
 
 About a mile above the bridge is 
 a deep chasm in the rocky bed, 
 through which the whole river, when 
 not swollen, rushes. It is six yards 
 across, and bears the name of Llam 
 Y Lleidr, i.e. Thief's Leap, from 
 the circumstance of a robber, who 
 was pursued closely, having pos- 
 sessed sufficient agility to clear this 
 space, while his unfortunate pursuer 
 fell short, and was engulphed in the 
 roaring torrent, narrowly escaping 
 the loss of life, as well as of property. 
 There is another chasm nearer the 
 
THE BRIDGE. 143 
 
 bridge, still deeper and narrower, 
 called the Cow's Leap. 
 
 The river runs over a bed of dark- 
 coloured silicious rock, which is 
 sometimes got by the inhabitants for 
 the use of building. The bed of the 
 river is consequently very uneven, 
 which causes it to foam and rush 
 very impetuously along. 
 
 Wbe Brttrge 
 
 Is a plain gothic structure at the 
 west end of Llangollen, and consists 
 of four irregularly formed pointed 
 arches, with projecting angular but- 
 tresses. The bridge was built across 
 the Dee by John Trevor, Bishop of 
 St. Asaph, and Chancellor of 
 Chester, A.D. 1346, and was ac- 
 counted one of the wonders of Wales. 
 The arches are of various dimensions. 
 
144 THE BRIDGE. 
 
 but the only wonder I can discover 
 seems to be the foundation, which is 
 laid upon the rock that forms the bed 
 of the river, and is fastened thereto 
 with iron clamps. The bridge is 
 built of hewn stone, and is, like 
 most other old bridges, very narrow 
 and ill-paved. 
 
 Many wonderful tales are related 
 of the sudden rise of this river, and 
 it certainly is a very inconstant 
 stream; but I cannot conceive it 
 possible that the water should ever 
 have risen, as reported, so high as 
 the base of the parapet. There is 
 another little bridge called the Chain 
 Bridge, about two miles up the river. 
 
 I will now cross the bridge to the 
 south side of the river. 
 
IKItttt 9&tVh1»& 
 
 " They lookM a manly, generous generation, 
 Beards, shoulders, eyebrows, broad and square and 
 thick ; 
 
 Their accents firm, and loud in conversation ; 
 Their eyes and gestures eager, sharp, and quick." 
 
 About five miles west of Llangollen, 
 upon the road to Corwen, and on 
 the south side of the Dee, the way 
 being enriched by such varied and 
 enchanting scenery as will amply 
 repay the traveller of taste for the 
 fatigue of the excursion, is Glyn 
 Dyfrdwy, once the property and 
 residence of that famous chieftain 
 Owen Glyndwr, whose birth Shak- 
 speare says marked him extraordi- 
 nary. I will, however, here give a 
 short account of his life, which I 
 
 H 
 
146 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 trust will prove entertaining to many 
 of my readers, and plainly show that 
 "he was not in the roll of common 
 men." 
 
 Owen Ap GryfFydd Fychan, better 
 known by the name of Owen Glyn- 
 dwr*, was descended from a younger 
 son of GryfFydd Ap Madog, Lord of 
 Powis Bromfeild, and of Dinas Bran. 
 He received his education in one of 
 the inns of court, and became a 
 barrister-at-law. 
 
 It seems that about the year of 
 our Lord 1395, he came into great 
 favour with King Richard II. who 
 made him his scutifer, or shield- 
 bearer|; and Owen was with the 
 King when he was surrendered to 
 
 * Wynne, p. 315. 
 t Wynne, p. 320. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 147 
 
 Henry, Duke of Lancaster, together 
 with the Castle of Flint*. 
 
 Betwixt Owen and Reginald, Lord 
 Grey, of Ruthin, there arose a fierce 
 dispute, about a common lying 
 between the Lordship of Ruthin and 
 Glyndyfrdwy, and belonging to 
 Owen, who now assumed the name 
 of Glyndwr; and who was held in 
 great respect by his countrymen, 
 having artfully induced them to 
 believe that he could "call spirits 
 from the vasty deep." Reginald 
 was at first conquered, and Owen 
 possessed the disputed land; but 
 after the deposal and murder of 
 King Richard in Pomfret Castle 
 apd Henry had mounted the throne t> 
 the scene was changed; as Henry 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 327. 
 
 t Wynne, p. 315. 
 
 H 2 
 
148 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 aided Lord Grey, who with his own 
 vassals, and assisted by some of the 
 King's forces, again dispossessed 
 Owen of the land. Several severe 
 encounters took place between the 
 rival chieftains; and although Regi- 
 nald's adherents were more nume- 
 rous, the wily lawyer was more 
 fertile in expedients. 
 
 Owen, being apprised of an attack 
 intended to be made upon him by 
 Lord Grey, here practised a suc- 
 cessful ruse de guerre. He erected 
 a number of stakes in a bottom still 
 called Dol Benig*, and having clad 
 them in jackets and Welch caps, so 
 alarmed Reginald by their appear- 
 ance that he gave up the expedition. 
 
 * About seven miles from Llangollen, and not far from 
 Glyndyfrdwy, on the Corwen road, there is a meadow 
 ealled " D6l Benig" or Head Meadow, where this 
 scheme was practised. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 149 
 
 At length Owen's good fortune 
 and perseverance brought his enemy 
 into his power*. Having artfully 
 drawn Reginald from his strong hold 
 of Ruthin, he caused his horses to 
 be shod backwards, which induced 
 Reginald to advance, supposing he 
 was pursuing a flying enemy, when 
 he fell into an ambuscade, and 
 was suddenly surrounded by Owen's 
 forces, and made prisoner. Owen 
 then marched to Ruthin, burnt the 
 castle, destroyed the town, and 
 despoiled the country |. 
 
 Prior to this success, Owen had 
 laid his complaints before the King's 
 Parliament, and John Trevor, Bishop 
 of St. Asaph, and Chancellor of 
 Chester, seeing that no attention 
 was paid to his petition, after a long 
 
 * Canib. Trav. Guide, p. 324. 
 t Wynne, p. 316. 
 
150 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 delay, ventured to expostulate with 
 the Lords, and to caution them that 
 they did not, by slighting or neg- 
 lecting Owen's complaint, provoke 
 the Welch to insurrection. The 
 reply of the Lords was full of 
 contempt, saying, "They did not 
 fear those rascally bare-footed 
 people*. It was subsequent to this 
 time that Glyndwr, finding his suit 
 neglected, resolved to endeavour to 
 redress his own wrongs, which ter- 
 minated in the capture of Reginald, 
 as before related 
 
 This signal success drew to Owen 
 many of his countrymen from all 
 parts of the principality, who urged 
 him on, asserting that the period 
 was now arrived in which the 
 prophecies of Merlin would be 
 
 * Wynne, p. 316. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 151 
 
 fulfilled; and that he was the man 
 through whose valour the lost honour 
 and liberties of their native country 
 were to be recovered. 
 
 Owen Glyndwr, smarting with 
 resentment, and impelled by his 
 ambition, suffered himself to be 
 persuaded to undertake the emanci- 
 pation of the principality ; and in the 
 mean time kept Reginald Lord Grey 
 a close prisoner; demanding ten 
 thousand marks for his ransom; six 
 thousand to be paid on the feast of 
 St. Martin, in the fourth year of the 
 King's reign, and Reginald to deliver 
 up his eldest son, with other persons 
 of quality, as hostages for the due 
 performance*. 
 
 The King, at the humble suit of 
 
 * Wynne, p. 316. 
 
152 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 Lord Grey (he finding no other means 
 for his enlargement), appointed 
 a council to treat with Glyndwr, who 
 stoutly refusing to recede from his 
 terms, they agreed to give him the 
 sum demanded. It is also said that 
 Owen obliged Reginald to marry 
 one of his daughters*. 
 
 Owen, being thus amply provided 
 with money, and joined by numbers 
 of his countrymen, now flew at higher 
 game, and boldly attacked the Earl 
 of March, who met him with a nu- 
 merous body of Herefordshire men. 
 They came to close action, when the 
 Welchmen under Owen proved vic- 
 torious, and the Earl of March was 
 taken prisoner, some accounts say 
 by Owen himself in single combat f. 
 With his freedom he lost above a 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 331. 
 t Wynne, p. 317. 
 
GLYN DYFRYDWY. 153 
 
 thousand men, who were most sa- 
 vagely abused after they were dead. 
 
 Edmund, Earl of March, whom 
 Owen Glyndwr now held in thral- 
 dom, was next in blood to Richard II. 
 and therefore it was not displeasing 
 to King Henry that he should be 
 thus kept out of the way : nay, Cam- 
 den says — " He (Edmund) stood 
 greatly suspected to Henrie the 
 Fourth, who had usurped the king- 
 dome; and by him was first exposed 
 unto danger, insomuch as he was 
 taken by Owen Glyndwr, arebell*." 
 King Henry, therefore, as might be 
 supposed, turned a deaf ear to every 
 solicitation made on the Earl's 
 behalf. 
 
 Now it was that Glyndwr, flushed 
 
 * CamdeD, p. 625. 
 
 H 3 
 
154 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 with success, resolved to assume the 
 title of Prince of Wales ; and treating 
 the King as a usurper of the crown, 
 and simply as Duke of Lancaster, 
 he caused himself to be proclaimed 
 throughout the Principality. The 
 better to grace the matter, he 
 feigned himself descended in the 
 female line from Llewellyn Ap 
 Gruffydh, the last Prince. 
 
 His ambition now knew no 
 bounds; and, by virtue of his new 
 title, he summoned a parliament at 
 Machynlleth, in Montgomeryshire, 
 whither all the nobility and gentry 
 of Wales resorted. He kept his 
 court at Sychnant, about seven miles 
 from Llangollen, on the road to 
 Corwen. It is now distinguished 
 by a grove of firs, situated in a beau- 
 fully fertile country, and overlooking 
 the Dee. A few scattered stones 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 155 
 
 are all that remain to mark the 
 site where the palace of Owen 
 Glyndwr once stood, which his bard, 
 Iolo Goch, sung was as large as 
 Westminster Abbey*. 
 
 About the middle of August, 1402, 
 Henry, finding the power of Owen 
 Glyndwr increasing, and the turbu- 
 lence of the Welch breaking all 
 bounds, resolved to crush their re- 
 bellion, and putting himself at the 
 head of a powerful army, marched 
 into Wales. But the very elements 
 seemed to fight against him, the 
 weather proving so extraordinarily 
 inclement that the King was obliged 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 328. Iolo Goch says — " Owen's 
 Palace had a gate -house: was surrounded with a moat; 
 had nine halls, furnished with the wardrobes of his 
 retainers ; had a house adjoining, built of wood, and 
 covered with tiles, designed for his guests. The office 
 of porter was useless ; locks and bolts were unknown ; 
 and no one could be hungry or dry at Sycharth." So 
 Mr. Pennant spells it. 
 
156 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 to make a precipitate retreat, with- 
 out accomplishing his intentions*. 
 The people attributed the dreadful 
 tempests which at that season oc- 
 curred to the magic power of Owen, 
 who found it his interest to encou- 
 rage their credulity. 
 
 Edward Mortimer, perceiving the 
 King had no intention of opening 
 his prison doors, and Glyndwr 
 treating him with increased gentle- 
 ness and respect, fell into the scheme 
 this artful and politic man had 
 devised. Owen Glyndwrf was 
 married to Margaret, the only 
 daughter of Sir David Hanmer, of 
 Hanmer, in Flintshire (who was one 
 of the Justices of the King's Bench, 
 and was knighted by King Richard 
 
 * Wynne, p. 317. Pennant, vol. 1, p. 355. 
 t English Baronetage, vol. 1, p. 167. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 157 
 
 II.) by whom he had many children; 
 and at this time three of his daugh- 
 ters were unmarried, on one of 
 whom the captive Earl cast an eye 
 of affection. Glyndwr at once saw 
 the advantage of this predilection, 
 and proposed to league with him 
 against the King, and to cement 
 this union by the marriage of his 
 daughter to the Earl. 
 
 To strengthen this league, and 
 make the proposed insurrection 
 irresistible, the Earls of Worcester 
 and Northumberland, two of the 
 most powerful Nobles in England, 
 together with the Scottish Chief 
 Douglas, and Northumberland's 
 valiant son Henry Percy, better 
 known by the name of Hotspur, were 
 invited to join their standards; and 
 these rebellious Lords met at the 
 house of Dafyd Daron, the Arch- 
 
158 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 deacon of Bangor*, and there signed 
 an indenture, sealing it with their 
 own seals, to bind themselves to 
 assemble their forces, and join in 
 putting down the King, and for 
 dividing the kingdom, vainly relying 
 upon a foolish prediction of Merlin, 
 in which the King was depicted as 
 an execrable moldwarp, and Glyn- 
 dwr and his colleagues as the wolf, 
 the lion, and the dragon, that were 
 to pull the moldwarp downf. 
 
 This treaty, made with so much 
 secrecy, and executed in the re- 
 cesses of Glyndwr's dominions, was 
 soon communicated to King Henry. 
 Sir David Gam, so called because 
 he had a crooked eye, or squinted, 
 or, as some say, had but one eye, 
 
 * Wynne, p. 317. 
 
 t Wynne, p. 318. Pennant, vol. 1, p. 321. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 159 
 
 was a strong and faithful partizan of 
 the Duke of Lancaster, now King 
 Henry IV. and consequently the 
 inveterate enemy of Owen Glyndwr, 
 now Prince of Wales, at whose 
 Parliament he attended, together 
 with the chief of the Welch nobles 
 and gentry, but with very different 
 intentions ; he having determined to 
 put an end to Glyndwr's rebellion 
 with his life*. 
 
 David Gam was the son of Llew- 
 ellyn Ap Howel Vaughn, a gentleman 
 of Brecknock. His scheme and 
 his purpose were, however, unfor- 
 tunately for him, discovered and 
 frustrated, and he was immediately 
 secured, and ordered by Owen for 
 execution! ; but many of his greatest 
 
 * Wynne, p. 320. 
 
 t Pennant, vol. 1, p. 3G0. 
 
160 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 friends and adherents pleading for 
 Gam's life, Owen thought it politic 
 then to stifle his resentment, and to 
 grant him both life and liberty, on 
 his solemnly promising to continue 
 in future true and faithfully loyal to 
 Glyndwr. 
 
 The promises of men in those 
 days were frequently regarded only 
 so long as it suited their interests or 
 convenience. Such was the case 
 with David Gam, who no sooner 
 found himself among his own friends, 
 and in his own country, than he 
 began to assail and annoy all the 
 favourers and adherents of Glyndwr, 
 who being soon apprised of the 
 practices against him, and of the use 
 Sir David made of his liberty, 
 marched with all expedition at the 
 head of a small body of his re- 
 tainers, intending to make him pri- 
 
GLYN DYFRYDWY. 161 
 
 soner*; but Sir David had the good 
 fortune to elude his vigilance, and 
 escaped into England, where he lived 
 for the most part at court, not daring 
 to visit his native country until after 
 the death of Owen Glyndwr. 
 
 Having thus missed his prey, 
 Owen set no bounds to his resent- 
 ment. He burnt Gam's house to 
 the ground, wasted his substance, 
 despoiled his tenants and friends, 
 and by the rigor of his proceedings 
 so estranged the hearts of all, and 
 created so many enemies, that it was 
 reasonable to expect that through 
 Sir David's means, or some of his 
 emissaries, the King would have 
 information of what was plotting 
 against him in Wales. 
 
 * Wynne, p. 321. 
 
162 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 Henry at this time, fortunately, 
 had a small army assembled for 
 another purpose; and no sooner 
 was he apprised of this conspiracy 
 against him, than, placing himself at 
 the head of his troops, he marched 
 them for Wales, to attack the confe- 
 derates before they had time to 
 conjoin their forces*. Owen had 
 not collected all his strength!, and 
 the Earl of Northumberland, who 
 was considered generalissimo, being 
 seized with a sudden illness, and 
 confined to his bed at Berwick-upon- 
 Tweed, the King found the rebels 
 under the command of Hotspur at 
 Shrewsbury. 
 
 The insurgent chiefs, seeing a 
 battle inevitable, and knowing that 
 
 * Rapin's England. t Pennant. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 163 
 
 Glyndwr, with his hardy Welchmen, 
 was in full march to join them (in 
 fact, he reached Oswestry at the 
 head of 12,000 men on the very day 
 the battle was fought), to gain time 
 proposed a conference, and drew up 
 a list of grievances to be redressed; 
 but the matter ended in mutual re- 
 crimination, and both sides prepared 
 for battle. The numbers were nearly 
 equal, about 12,000 on each side, 
 and the two armies were inflamed 
 by the most dreadful animosity. 
 
 The battle began with the most 
 determined courage. The King 
 was seen every where animating his 
 troops in the post of danger, and he 
 was most nobly seconded by his son, 
 afterwards the renowned Henry V. 
 the conqueror of France. On the 
 other side the chieftains fought like 
 men accustomed to the bloody bu- 
 
164 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 siness of war; and the battle was 
 fierce, obstinate, and doubtful ; when 
 the daring Hotspur, supporting the 
 high character which he had pur- 
 chased by so many victories, and 
 seeking a personal encounter with 
 the King, fell by an unknown hand. 
 
 The loss of their gallant leader 
 
 was the loss of the battle. The 
 
 fortune of the King prevailed; and 
 
 although on that day no less than 
 
 two thousand six hundred gentlemen, 
 
 and six thousand common men were 
 
 slain, this victory served to confirm 
 
 Henry on his usurped throne, 
 
 humbled the great Barons, and 
 
 restored peace to England. Had 
 
 Owen Glyndwr at this juncture 
 
 pressed forward from Oswestry, 
 
 where it has been before said he was 
 
 lying with a fresh army, and as 
 
 numerous as the English were before 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 165 
 
 they had sustained so severe a loss, 
 he might have changed the aspect 
 of affairs; but at this distance of 
 time a proper judgment cannot be 
 formed. Some historians blame him 
 for his precipitate retreat into Wales, 
 whither he was followed by a part of 
 the English army, under young 
 Henry, who made himself master of 
 the Castle of Aberystwith, which 
 Owen afterwards recaptured. 
 
 After this time Owen's fortunes 
 appeared to decline*, and the fatal 
 battle of Husk, fought on the 15th 
 of March, in which Glyndwr's son 
 was taken, and more than fifteen 
 hundred of his men slain, seems to 
 have sealed his doom. But Glyndwr, 
 although reduced, was not subdued, 
 and he continued a predatory and 
 
 * Wynne, p. 319. 
 
166 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 harassing warfare, most annoying 
 and destructive; sometimes making 
 a sudden eruption into the marches, 
 and sometimes into the heart of the 
 country ; for now, the Welch having 
 submitted to the King, and being 
 reconciled, Glyndwr considered his 
 countrymen his enemies. His skill 
 in devices, together with his local 
 knowledge of the country, kept the 
 Principality in a dreadful state of 
 fear and fermentation ; and although 
 he eluded every effort made to en- 
 trap him, yet his turbulent spirit 
 drew upon his country the vengeance 
 of the King, in the most severe laws 
 that were ever enacted against a 
 civilised people*. 
 
 * Wynne, p. 319. These rebellious practices of 
 Glyndwr so exasperated King Henry against the Welch 
 people, that he enacted laws which in effect took away 
 all their liberties. They were rendered incapable of 
 purchasing any lands, or of being elected Members of 
 any county or borough; or of undertaking any office 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 167 
 
 Owen Glyndwr, once Prince of 
 Wales, was now reduced to hide 
 himself in the caves and fastnesses 
 of the country, to avoid the pursuit 
 of his enemies. He was concealed 
 and supported for some time by 
 Ednyfed Ap Aron, in a cave near 
 the sea-side, at Llangelynin, in Me- 
 rionethshire, still called Ogof 
 Owain*. The danger past, he again 
 
 civil or military in any town incorporate. No English- 
 man could be convicted of any crime against a Welchman, 
 but by an English judge and jury. An Englishman, by 
 marrying a Welch woman, was deprived of all his privi- 
 leges as an English subject. No Welchman could possess 
 any castle or place of defence, or be supplied with 
 victuals or armour, without a warrant from the King 
 or from his Common Council. And further it was en- 
 acted that no Welchman should be capable of under- 
 taking the office of Justice, Chamberlain, Sheriff, or 
 other place of trust, in any part of Wales; notwith- 
 standing any patent or license heretofore given to the 
 contrary. With other rigorous and unjust laws, forbid- 
 ding any Welchman from bringing up his children to 
 learning, or binding them to any trade or occupation. 
 Henry V. at his succession repealed these abominable 
 laws. 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 371. 
 
168 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 blazed forth in the destruction of a 
 territory he had once aspired to 
 govern; sometimes a fugitive, en- 
 during hunger, thirst, and every 
 privation; at others revelling as a 
 conqueror, on the spoils of his 
 countrymen and former friends. At 
 last his depredations became so 
 general and so indiscriminate that 
 he feared every one, and became as 
 "a wild man, and his hand was 
 against every man, and every man's 
 hand was against him." Being thus 
 driven by his fears from society, he 
 fled to the most solitary places, and 
 at length died for lack of suste- 
 nance*. 
 
 Thus ignobly perished Owen Ap 
 Gryffydd Fychan, commonly known 
 by the name of Owen Glyndwr — a 
 
 * Hollinshead. Wynne, p. 319. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 169 
 
 man who, from trifling causes, had 
 conceived more determined hostility 
 against the English, and had con- 
 ducted that hostility with more con- 
 summate skill, than any other general 
 the Welch had ever produced. In 
 his early career he was uniformly 
 victorious : he was proclaimed 
 Prince of Wales with the sanction 
 of the chief men of the country, 
 made alliances with princes, and 
 exercised his authority with becom- 
 ing dignity ; but now — 
 
 " Mighty victor, mighty Lord, 
 Low on his funeral couch he lies : 
 
 No pitying heart, no eye t' afford 
 A tear to grace his obsequies." 
 
 Owen Glyndwr was one of those 
 fierymeteors which Providence some- 
 times permits to visit the earth, for 
 the instruction of mankind, and to 
 show us the vanity of all sublunary 
 things: astonishing the world with 
 
170 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 their splendour, they blaze for a 
 short time; and as suddenly decline, 
 and sink into obscurity. Such, in 
 our own horizon, have been Glyndwr 
 and Cromwell, and in later times 
 Bonaparte. Their course was bril- 
 liant, but short; and as their great- 
 ness grew, so did their suspicions 
 and their fears; until, at last, life 
 itself became burdensome, and the 
 end of their career was clouded by 
 disappointment, misery, and de- 
 spair. 
 
 But Owen Glyndwr had more 
 legitimate reasons to plead than 
 either of his compeers. Deprived 
 of a part of his patrimony by power, 
 and unable to obtain redress by law, 
 he took the law into his own hands, 
 and had recourse to force. Success 
 produced ambition, which proved 
 his overthrow. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 171 
 
 Owen was bold, wary, and re- 
 vengeful: he set no bounds to his 
 resentment. He made a smoking 
 ruin of the dwelling of his country- 
 man, Sir David Gam, and thereby 
 made him an implacable enemy. 
 He was the cause of the loss of one 
 hundred thousand lives*, and of the 
 destruction of immense property. 
 Many houses and other buildings 
 were burnt and destroyed by him; 
 among which I find enumerated the 
 Castle of Ruthin, the Cathedral of 
 St- Asaph, the Cathedral of Bangor, 
 the Bishop's Palace, &c. at LlandafF, 
 the towns of Leominster and Old 
 Radnor, besides the house of Sir 
 David Gam, &c. 
 
 It will be right to notice that Mr. 
 Pennant gives the following account 
 
 * Cambr. Trav. Guide, p. 324. 
 
 i 2 
 
172 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 of the death of Owen Glyndwr; but 
 as he states there is nothing confir- 
 matory of Owen's interment at 
 Monnington, I have thought it right 
 to adhere to the older authorities : — 
 " He matched his daughters," says 
 Mr. Pennant, "into considerable 
 families : his eldest, Isabel, to Adam 
 Ap Iorwerth Ddu; his second, 
 Elizabeth, or as some say, Alicia, 
 to Sir John Scudamore, of Ewyas, 
 and Home Lacy, in Herefordshire ; 
 Jane he forced upon Lord Grey De 
 Ruthin; and his youngest daughter, 
 Margaret, to Roger Monnington, of 
 Monnington, in Herefordshire, at 
 whose house some accounts say he 
 died, and was buried in the church- 
 yard there*." 
 
 The prison where Owen confined 
 
 * PennaDt, vol. 1, p. 331. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 173 
 
 his captives, and of which some 
 remains may still be seen, was near 
 the church at Llansanfraid Glyndy- 
 frdwy; and the place is still called 
 Carchardy Owen Glyndwr. He 
 is said to have died in the sixty-first 
 year of his age. 
 
 I trust it will be deemed a par- 
 donable digression, if I now give the 
 sequel of the military career of that 
 loyal and truly brave Welchman, 
 Sir David Gam. I have before re- 
 counted that Glyndwr forced him to 
 fly for protection to the court of 
 England, where he continued in 
 favour with King Henry IV. until 
 the death of that monarch. I then 
 find him accompanying his son, King 
 Henry V. on his expedition into 
 France, in the year of our Lord 1415, 
 at the head and in the command of 
 a numerous body of stout and valiant 
 
174 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 Welchmen, who on all occasions 
 distinguished themselves by their 
 courage and conduct*. 
 
 To Sir David Gam was assigned 
 the important office of reconnoitring 
 the French army, on the approach of 
 the famous battle of Agincourt. 
 Finding the French nearly ten times 
 more numerous than the English 
 army, he replied to the King's ques- 
 tion as to the enemy's strength — 
 "An't please you, my Liege, they 
 are enough to be killed, enough to 
 run away, and enough to be taken 
 prisoners." The King was well 
 pleased with such an answer from a 
 man of Sir David's valour. 
 
 In the battle which followed, and 
 which was fought on the 25th of 
 
 * Wynne, p. 322. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 175 
 
 October, 1415, the King alighted 
 from his horse to head his footmen, 
 and to encourage them to resist the 
 charge of the second line of the 
 French army, then advancing; when 
 eighteen French cavaliers, who had 
 bound themselves by an oath to kill 
 King Henry, or perish, rushed upon 
 him in a body, and one of them with 
 a blow of his battle-axe so stunned 
 the King that he would have fallen 
 an easy victim, had not Sir David 
 Gam, with his son-in-law, Roger 
 Vaughn, and his kinsman, Walter 
 Llwyd, of Brecknock, seasonably 
 sprung to his rescue. They slew 
 fourteen of the assailants, and deli- 
 vered the King, when they fell at 
 his feet, covered with wounds. In 
 the heat of the battle, Henry was 
 separated from his brave defenders ; 
 but being soon afterwards informed 
 that their wounds were mortal, he 
 
176 GLYN DYFRDWY. 
 
 immediately repaired to the spot 
 where Sir David and his faithful 
 companions lay; and, as the only 
 recompense in his power then to 
 bestow, he knighted them all three 
 upon the field, where they soon after 
 died*. 
 
 Thus ended the life of Sir David 
 Gam; but the remembrance of his 
 loyalty, and the fame of his valour, 
 will live, and perpetuate his memory. 
 
 c * So sleep the brave, who sink to rest, 
 By all their country's wishes bless'd. 
 When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, 
 Returns to deck their hallow'd mould, 
 She there shall dress a sweeter sod 
 Than Fancy's feet have ever trod. 
 By fairy hands their knell is rung, 
 By forms unseen their dirge is sung. 
 There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey, 
 To bless the turf that wraps their clay ; 
 And Freedom shall awhile repair, 
 To dwell a weeping hermit there." 
 
 * Wynne, p. 322. 
 
GLYN DYFRDWY. 177 
 
 It is conjectured that Shakspeare 
 took Sir David as a specimen, when 
 he wrote the character of Captain 
 Fluellen, in Henry V. 
 
 Returning towards Llangollen 
 from Glyndyfrdwy, along a beautiful 
 level road, made at the expense of 
 Government, with the Berwyn 
 Mountains rising abruptly on the 
 right hand, and the murmuring Dee 
 pursuing its devious course on the 
 left, I pass a small brook, which 
 divides the counties of Merioneth 
 and Denbigh. A pillar on the top 
 of the mountain above is for the same 
 purpose. The views over the Dee 
 are incomparably charming. 
 
LLANGOLLEN 
 
 Ciwu?$§L 
 
 w Hail, ancient edifice ; thine aisle along, 
 In contemplation wrapt, now let me stray ; 
 
 And stealing from the idly busy throng, 
 Devoutly meditate the moral lay." 
 
 Llangollen Church, which stands 
 in the middle of the town, is a low 
 gothic structure; and the south side 
 appears the most ancient part of the 
 edifice. At the east end, on the 
 outside wall, are two knees, which 
 seem to have been intended as the 
 spring of an arch, for an enlargement 
 of the building. The roof is slated, 
 and there is a tower steeple at the 
 west end, containing four bells and 
 a clock, with quarter chimes. 
 
LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 179 
 
 The Church is dedicated to Saint 
 Collen Ap Gwynnawg, Ap Clydawg, 
 Ap Cowdra, Ap Caradog Freichfras, 
 Ap Lleyr Merim, Ap Einion Yrth, 
 Ap Cunedda Wledig, by Ethni 
 Wyddeles, daughter of Matholwch, 
 Lord of Cwl, in the kingdom of 
 Ireland*; which saint was buried 
 here. In the Church was formerly 
 a recumbent figure in alabaster, 
 vulgarly called Saint Collen. The 
 unshapely remains of this monument 
 are still to be seen in the belfry, 
 where it has been thrown. 
 
 The roof of the Church is sup- 
 ported with three massive stone 
 octagon Doric pillars, of great anti- 
 quity, and two heavy abutments. 
 The roof itself is very curiously 
 enriched with carved compartments, 
 
 * Pennant, vol. 1, p. 296. 
 
180 LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 
 
 in old oak, supported by figures of 
 angels, in various attitudes, also of 
 solid oak. These figures and the 
 roof I suspect to be spoils of the 
 Abbey Crucis, to which the Church 
 of Llangollen was incumbent. The 
 transom beams that support the 
 roof are indented with tracery; and 
 on the north side of the beam over 
 the north aisle, is the following very 
 curious inscription cut in old letter. 
 It is so lofty that it can scarcely be 
 made out distinctly, but I have 
 taken some pains to give it cor- 
 rectly :■ — 
 
 " Y nav i ti mair vydd barod bob awr" 
 
 Which may be thus translated: — 
 
 a Heaven for thee, Mary, will be open every hour." 
 
 I have little doubt that this beam, 
 as well as the other decorations of 
 the roof of the Church, was brought 
 
LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 181 
 
 from Llan Egwest, which it will be 
 recollected was dedicated to the 
 Virgin Mary. 
 
 There is a beautiful half-length 
 of our Saviour in the window over 
 the altar, painted upon glass by 
 Eginton, of Birmingham, with this 
 inscription under it: — 
 
 " Nid fy Ewyllys i ond yr eiddo ti a wneler." 
 S. Luc pen 22 ver 42. 
 
 " Not my will, but thine be done." 
 
 I believe there are no other Welch 
 inscriptions in the Church, among 
 the many grave stones, tablets, &c. 
 which abound; and yet service is 
 performed in no other language, 
 except on the second sabbath in 
 every month, and on Good Friday. 
 There are many English families 
 now resident in Llangollen and its 
 neighbourhood; and to those that 
 
182 LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 
 
 are seriously disposed this is a 
 great privation. 
 
 The Church is well served by the 
 very worthy and pious Vicar, who 
 resides at the Vicarage; yet, not- 
 withstanding, there are four dissent- 
 ing congregations in the town, viz. 
 Wesleyan Methodists, Whitfield or 
 Calvinistic Methodists, Indepen- 
 dents, and Baptists. 
 
 In the church-yard is a school, 
 under which is a vestry-room, 
 bearing this inscription : — " This 
 school -house was built at the ex- 
 pense of the parishioners, having 
 obtained the ordinary license, with 
 consent of the Rev. R. Price, vicar, 
 1773." 
 
 The customs of the orthodox 
 Welch Church are similar to those 
 
LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 183 
 
 in England, except in the following, 
 viz. that of bedecking the graves of 
 the dead with shrubs and flowers; 
 of singing before the corpse to the 
 church; and the very annoying 
 one of ringing a passing bell in the 
 following manner: — On the day 
 prior to the funeral the bells are 
 tolled in a very quick succession of 
 strokes; that is to say, twelve quick 
 strokes on the first bell, and after a 
 short pause, twelve on the second; 
 and so on once round, the number of 
 strokes on each bell, denoting the 
 condition of the deceased. Thus, 
 twelve strokes on each bell denote 
 the death of a married master of a 
 family; eleven strokes the mother or 
 mistress of a family ; ten strokes an 
 unmarried or young man; nine a 
 young woman unmarried ; six a boy ; 
 and five a girl. Then begins an 
 incessant monotonous toll of the 
 
184 LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 
 
 great bell, in minute time, which 
 generally continues all that day until 
 eight o'clock at night : it commences 
 again at eight o'clock on the follow- 
 ing morning, and does not cease until 
 eight o'clock at night, except during 
 the time of interment. The visage 
 at the burial is also novel to an 
 English observer. When the service 
 in the church is concluded, the offi- 
 ciating minister goes to the steps of 
 the altar, whereon a sort of wooden 
 plate is previously placed; and the 
 attendants and friends of the de- 
 ceased immediately proceed to 
 deposit money thereon in his pre- 
 sence, which is instead of dues. 
 When the corpse is consigned to the 
 earth,the clerk receives the donations 
 of the people that are around the 
 grave, upon the spade with which 
 he is throwing the earth upon the 
 coffin; and this is his share of the fees. 
 
LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 185 
 
 There is also an old and curious 
 custom observed at Christmas, called 
 Plygan, or Pylgain, that is, " the 
 time of night when the cock croweth ; 
 the morning twilight." — On the 
 morning of Christmas Day, the bells 
 are rung as is usual to assemble to 
 church, about four o'clock; and on 
 their ringing about six o'clock, most 
 of the parishioners assemble, some 
 bringing candles, and the church is 
 also lighted up. After the prayers 
 (morning service for the day) are 
 read, the congregation continue, and 
 the minister also, hearing original 
 carols in the Welch language, on 
 our Saviour's nativity. This time 
 and custom were formerly much 
 more seriously observed, when men 
 believed 
 
 u That ever 'gainst that season comes 
 Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, 
 The bird of dawning singeth all night long; 
 And then they say no spirit walks abroad ; 
 
186 LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 
 
 The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike ; 
 No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm ; 
 So hallowed and so gracious is the time." 
 
 Except two or three marble 
 monuments in the Church, there are 
 no other remarkable objects; but in 
 the church-yard are many very neat 
 and handsome freestone tombs. 
 Some of those recently erected are 
 in the sarcophagus form, and are 
 very nicely executed. 
 
 Nearly opposite the south door of 
 the Church stands a triangular gothic 
 column of freestone, surrounded by 
 a light iron railing, erected over the 
 grave of a highly respected domestic 
 of the Right Hon. Lady E. Butler, 
 and the Hon. Miss Ponsonby. The 
 pillar is executed in good taste, and 
 on one of the three facades are the 
 following lines, doing much honour 
 to the heart as well as to the head 
 of the composer: — 
 
LLANGOLLEN CHURCH. 187 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 Mrs. Mary Carol, 
 
 Deceased the 22d of November, 1809, 
 
 This Monument is erected, 
 
 By Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, 
 
 Of Plas Newydd, in this Parish. 
 
 Released from earth, and all its transient woes, 
 She whose remains beneath this stone repose, 
 Steadfast in faith, resign 'd her parting breath, 
 LookM up with Christian zeal, and smiled in death ; 
 Patient, industrious, faithful, gen'rous, kind, 
 Her conduct left the proudest far behind ; 
 Her virtues dignified her humble birth, 
 And raised her mind beyond this sordid earth. 
 Attachment, sacred bond of grateful breasts, 
 Extinguish'd but with life this tomb attests, 
 Rear'd by two friends, who will her loss bemoan, 
 Till with her ashes here shall rest their own. 
 
 The poor of Llangollen have 
 much reason to pray that period 
 may be far distant; for the benevo- 
 lence of these retired ladies is ex- 
 tensive and discriminate; and it 
 may justly be said there is not a 
 poor deserving object in this little 
 town, who does not participate in 
 their bounty. I shall conclude with 
 a brief notice of their residence. 
 
pjujs &tto$tto< 
 
 "'Tis pleasant through the loopholes of retreat 
 To peep at the great world — to see the stir 
 Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd." 
 
 Plas Newydd, situated at the east 
 end of the town of Llangollen, has 
 long been the residence of two 
 eminently distinguished ladies, the 
 Right Hon. Lady Eleanor Butler 
 and the Hon. Miss Ponsonby, who 
 came to Llangollen, and after a time 
 purchased the domain, and planted 
 and decorated the grounds. It has 
 attained its present beauty under 
 their own superintendance. 
 
 Many years have elapsed since 
 these ladies withdrew from the 
 world, to which, from their rank and 
 
PLAS NEWYDD. 189 
 
 accomplishments, they would have 
 been distinguished ornaments, and 
 secluded themselves in this beautiful 
 retreat, where they have uniformly 
 been the benefactresses of the poor, 
 the encouragers of the industrious, 
 and the friends of all in their neigh- 
 bourhood. The peculiar taste and 
 beauty with which these noble and 
 highly distinguished ladies have 
 decorated and adorned both the 
 exterior and the interior of their 
 far-famed retreat, excites universal 
 admiration from the first characters 
 and families, who are continually 
 visiting them. 
 
 A palisade, ornamented with an- 
 tique and grotesque figures, carved 
 in oak, encloses the front, before 
 which a profusion of the choicest 
 flowers and shrubs is tastefully 
 arranged. The entrance and the 
 
190 PLAS NEWYDD. 
 
 windows, which are formed after 
 the manner of ancient religious 
 houses, are decorated with carving 
 in the same material. The en- 
 trance-door is unique, and a great 
 curiosity, being beautifully orna- 
 mented with well polished carved 
 figures; the whole of which are 
 of black oak, and kept particularly 
 bright, giving the retreat a very 
 uncommon appearance. The en- 
 trance-hall, stairs, and passages, are 
 chastely in character; and the win- 
 dows are ornamented with painted 
 glass in the most appropriate man- 
 ner. 
 
 The gardens, in which nature and 
 art are judiciously united, are ex- 
 tensive, and display much taste. 
 The thick and umbrageous foliage of 
 the lofty forest trees, that occupy a 
 part of the lawn and gardens, is 
 
PLAS NEWYDD. 191 
 
 the safe asylum of numerous birds, 
 which in this calm seclusion revel 
 unmolested. A pair of beautiful 
 wood- owls have found a safe and 
 quiet shelter in the trunk of an old 
 ivy- covered tree; and on a lawn a 
 little further, is erected a pretty 
 moss- covered alcove, furnished with 
 a few well- selected books: it is 
 nearly in the centre of the garden, 
 and is open in front. The confidence 
 of the birds is shown by some of 
 them every year building their nests 
 in this recess: indeed, these airy 
 inhabitants appear to be quite tame 
 and familiarized by the kindness of 
 their amiable protectors. I believe 
 the birds have much the larger 
 portion of the produce of these 
 beautiful gardens, as none of them 
 are suffered to be molested. 
 
 Through the lower part of the 
 
192 PLAS NEWYDD. 
 
 shrubbery, a brook, called Cyflymen, 
 i.e. Speedy, murmurs o'er its pebbly 
 bed, and is crossed by a rustic 
 bridge, which leads to a bank covered 
 with lichens, and furnished with 
 appropriate seats, near which rises a 
 pure fountain, whose waters are as 
 clear as the crystal glasses which 
 ornament its margin: in short, the 
 beauty of the scenery, aided by a 
 little enthusiam, might inspire the 
 idea that 
 
 u Here in cool grot and mossy cell, 
 The rural fays and fairies dwell: 
 Though rarely seen by mortal eye, 
 When the pale moon, ascending high, 
 Darts through yon limes her quiv'ring beams, 
 They frisk it near these crystal streams." 
 
 The carved stone brought from 
 the Abbey Cruris, and mentioned as 
 being dug up at the time the bodies 
 were discovered, stands near the 
 entrance. 
 
CONCLUSION. 193 
 
 I have thus completed the circuit 
 I proposed at the commencement of 
 my labours. To hope the attainment 
 of perfection in a work of this nature 
 ■would with justice be deemed 
 presumptuous; but 1 trust any 
 inaccuracy will be treated with 
 lenity, and that due allowance will 
 be made for the disadvantage under 
 which verbal information is at all 
 times collected by a person who 
 does not understand the native 
 language. Thus far I can with truth 
 say, that, from a desire to combine 
 correctness with intelligence, I have 
 in no <:ase given that on hearsay, 
 which might be readily ascertained 
 by ocular demonstration. 
 
 With regard to the quotations 
 which I have thought proper to in- 
 troduce, I must here again draw 
 
 K 
 
194 CONCLUSION. 
 
 upon the kind indulgence of my 
 readers. Not having an extensive 
 library at my command, I have 
 sometimes been obliged to quote 
 from memory. This will also, in 
 some degree, account for omissions 
 of which I may in places be deemed 
 guilty. 
 
 I will now take leave of my 
 friends, assuring them that, if I have 
 not done all I might for their infor- 
 mation and amusement, it must be 
 attributed to any other cause rather 
 than a want of desire and endeavour 
 on my part. It would, indeed, be 
 unpardonable in me to deserve 
 such an imputation, after having 
 received so many marks of attention 
 from friends whom I have had occa- 
 sion more than once to consult in 
 the progress of my researches, and 
 
CONCLUSION. 195 
 
 being furnished with information 
 from quarters where I had not the 
 least claim. 
 
 AUTHORITIES 
 
 REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK. 
 
 The Brut, or Chronicle of the Kings of Britain, contained 
 in Collectanea Cambrica,vo\. 1, by the Rev. P. Roberts, 
 A.M. This title was taken from the Book of Basing- 
 werke Abbey; which work the learned author has 
 translated and collated with Brut Tyssillio, the Welch 
 copy of the Chronicle Grvffudd ab Authur ; Collations 
 of the Brut in the Archialogy ; Geoffrey of Monmouth's 
 Translation of the Brut ; the Wynnstay MS. and the 
 M.S. Chronicle of Mr. Jones, of Gelly Lyfde. These 
 books are supposed by Mr. Roberts to contain the 
 genuine epistle of Gildas, published A.D, 560. 
 
 Camden* s Britannia, Philemon Holland's translation, 
 A.D. 1610. 
 
 Caradoe of Lhancarvan's History of Wales, first published 
 A.D. 1150, translated by Dr. Powel, and augmented 
 and improved by the Rev. W. Wynne, A.M. from 
 whose octavo edition, published A.D. 1697, the quota- 
 tions are made. 
 
 K 2 
 
196 AUTHORITIES. 
 
 History of Wales, by the Rev. William Warrington, 
 quarto edition. 
 
 Pennant's Tour in Wales, two vols, quarto, 1784. 
 
 Report to the General Assembly of the Ellesmere Canal 
 Proprietors. 
 
 The English Baronets, three vols. A. D. 1727. 
 
 Caikbrian Itinerary, tyc. 
 
LIST 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 & 
 
 A V ONMORE, Lord Viscount, four copies 
 Adams, Mr. George, Ruthin 
 Allen, Joshua, Esq. Wenffrwd 
 Andrews, Mr. Wrexham 
 
 Androse, Miss 
 
 M. 
 
 Butler, the Right Hon. Lady Eleanor, and 
 
 Miss Ponsonby, twelve copies 
 Besborough, the Earl of 
 Babbington, Miss, Oswestry, two copies 
 Babbington, Mr. Thomas, Oswestry 
 Bains, the Rev. E. A.M. Llanderfel 
 Barlow, Mr. Thomas, Oswestry 
 Bickerton, Mr. William, Oswestry 
 Bill, Mr. Richard, Oswestry 
 Bland, John T. Esq. Ireland, two copies 
 Bowen, Mr. John, Dinbryn 
 
198 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Boycot, Miss, London, three copies 
 Bradshaw, Miss 
 
 Bradshaw, Mr. George, jun. Oswestry 
 Brelisford, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 Bridgman, Captain, R.N. Knocking 
 Bridden, Mr. William, Chirk 
 Burbidge, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 Butterys, Miss, Chirk 
 
 Carbery, Lord, three copies 
 Cartwright, Mr. John, Shrewsbury 
 Chambey, Mr. Robert, British Iron Co. 
 Clarke, Mr. Francis, Corwen 
 Cooper, Mr. George, Oswestry 
 Coward, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 
 Dungannon, Lord Viscount, ten copies 
 Duncannon, Viscountess 
 Davies, the Rev. I. M. Chester 
 Davies, Mr. David, Ruabon 
 Davies, Mr. Edward, Chirk 
 Davies, Mr. Edward, Oswestry 
 Davies, Mr. Edward, Llangollen 
 Davies, Mr. William, Plas Issa 
 Dickens, John, Esq. New Hall, two copies 
 Dicken, Mr. J. Cefnwern 
 Dicken, Mr. Halton 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 199 
 
 Edwards, Mrs. Llangollen 
 
 Edwards, Mr. Edward, Pengwern Hall, two 
 
 copies 
 Edwards, Mr. Edward, solicitor, Wrexham, 
 
 two copies 
 Edwards, Mr. William, Llanrwst 
 Edwards, Mr. Richard, Liverpool 
 Edwards, Mr. David, Oswestry 
 Edwards, Mr. J. bookseller, Oswestry, three 
 
 copies 
 Edwards, Mr. Edward, Pontcysyllte 
 Edwards, Edward, Esq. Oswestry 
 Edwards, Mr. Robert, Rhisgog 
 Edwards, Mr. John, surgeon, Oswestry 
 Evan, Mr. William, Liverpool, two copies 
 Evans, Mr. Chester, six copies 
 Evans, Mr. Robert, Llangollen 
 Evans, Mr. John, Llangollen, three copies 
 Evans, Mr. Edward, Bryn Howell 
 Evans, Mr. Edward, Dinbryn 
 Evans, Mr. David, Pentre 
 
 Farewell, Mrs. Chirk Castle 
 Foulkes, Mrs. Eliza, Oswestry 
 Foulkes, Mr. Chirk 
 
 <&♦ 
 
 Gardiner, Mr. James, Llangollen, four copies 
 
200 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Gething, Mr. Zopher 
 
 Gisborne, Mr. W. Hartley, Manchester, jfoe 
 
 copies 
 Glover, Mr. John, Royton 
 Godfrey, Mr. Englefield Green 
 Griffiths, the Rev. T. A.M. Llangollen 
 
 m* 
 
 Hutchinson, Lady 
 
 Hales, Mr. Oswestry 
 
 Harrison, Major, Llantysilio Hall, two copies 
 
 Harrison, Captain, Rhyd y Murn 
 
 Haycock, Mr. E. Priory, Shrewsbury 
 
 Hey ward, Mrs. Richard, London, three copies 
 
 Howell, Mr. Samuel, Chirk 
 
 Hughes, the Rev. D. A.M. 
 
 Hughes, Mr. Deputy Registrar of Bangor 
 
 Hughes, Mr. Edward, Pentre Felen 
 
 Hughes, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 
 Hughes, Mr. John, jun. London 
 
 Hughes, Mr. Henry, Oswestry 
 
 Hughes, Mr. Hugh, Halton 
 
 Humphries, Mr. John, Wrexham 
 
 J- 
 
 Jackson, Mr. Grove House, Wrexham, two 
 
 copies 
 Jackson, Mrs. Oswestry 
 Jebb, R. Esq. Chirk, two copies 
 Johnson, Mr. Hand Inn, Chirk 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 201 
 
 Jones, Hugh, Esq. London, six copies 
 
 Jones, Richard, Esq. Binbryn Hall 
 
 Jones, Lewis, Esq. Oswestry 
 
 Jones, John, Esq. Oswestry 
 
 Jones, Mr. Robert, solicitor, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. Richard, post-master, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, the Rev. Mr. Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. Hugh, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. David, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. John Maesmor, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. Thomas, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. watchmaker, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. William, Chirk 
 
 Jones, Master W. Vestris 
 
 Jones, Master Robert Albion 
 
 Jones, Mr. John, Oswestry 
 
 Jones, Mr. Edward, Wern Issaf 
 
 Jones, the Rev. J. Ruabon 
 
 Jones, Mr. Evan, New House 
 
 Jones, Mr. Richard, Dolgelly 
 
 Jones, Mr. John, Red Lion, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. John, Glyndyfrdwy 
 
 Jones, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 
 Jones, Mr. William, Trevor 
 
 Jones, Mr. Edward, Llangollen 
 
 It. 
 
 Kenyon, the Hon. Thomas 
 
202 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Kendrick, Mr. John, Gobowen 
 Knight, Mr. James, Oswestry 
 
 3L 
 
 Lethbridge, Lieut.-Gen. Shrewsbury, two 
 
 copies 
 Lloyd, Godfrey, Esq. Llangollen Fechan, two 
 
 copies 
 Laing, Mr. Oswestry, Jive copies 
 Lever, Mr. Chirk 
 Lewis, Mr. Thomas, Brook House 
 Lloyd, Richard, Esq. Rhagatt, two copies 
 Lloyd, Mr. R. King's Head Hotel, Llangollen, 
 
 two copies 
 Lloyd, Mr. Thomas, Chirk Green 
 Lloyd, Mr. William, Chirk 
 Lolly, Miss 
 
 Lucas, Mr. Francis, Oswestry 
 Lucas, Mr. James, Staffordshire 
 
 IB. 
 
 Martindale, Mr. Nicholas, Liverpool 
 
 Mason, Mr. Liverpool 
 
 Maxwell, Major 
 
 Maxwell, Mrs. Major 
 
 Maxwell, Miss 
 
 Maxwell, Miss Eliza G. 
 
 Maxwell, Miss Anna Maria Sophia 
 
 M'Nure, Mr. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 203 
 
 Minshall, Mr. W. Llanddyn Hall 
 Morris, Mr. Edward, Rhisgog, two copies 
 Morris, Mr. Charles, Wrexham 
 Morris, Mr. David, Chirk 
 Morgan, Mr. Thomas, Llangollen 
 Moxon, Mr. John, Manchester 
 
 wr. 
 
 Newcome, the Rev. Richard, Warden of 
 
 Ruthin 
 Nicholas, Mr. W. Pentre Hobbin 
 Noel, Mrs. Edward, four copies 
 
 #♦ 
 
 Ormonde, the Marquess of 
 
 Ormonde, the Marchioness of 
 
 Ossory, the Earl of 
 
 Ormonde and Ossory, the Countess of 
 
 Owen, Mr. surgeon, Llangollen, four copies 
 
 Owen, Mr. G. D. wine merchant, Oswestry, 
 
 two copies 
 Owen, Mr. William, Chirk 
 Owen, Mr. Edward, Halton 
 
 Ponsonby, the Right Hon. Lady Barbara 
 Parry, Mr. Evan, Llangollen 
 Parry, Mr. Richard, Pontcysyllte 
 Parry, Mr. John, Trevor, two copies 
 
204 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Perry, S. Esq. London 
 
 Peters, Miss, Glyn Allyn 
 
 Phillips, Mr. Joseph, Hand Hotel, Llangollen, 
 
 four copies 
 Pierce, Mr. Wolverhampton 
 Povis, Mr. London 
 Povey, Mr. Penvin y Pandy 
 Powell, Mr. Richard, Oswestry 
 Powell, Mr. Thomas, St. Martin's 
 Powell, John Richard, Esq. Presgwern 
 Price, Mr. Edward, Llangollen 
 Price, Mr. William, Oswestry 
 Price, Dr. Llangollen, three copies 
 Pugh, Mr. Eagles, Llangollen 
 
 u. 
 
 Richards, Mr. Mardol, Shrewsbury 
 
 Richards, Mr. S. Chirk 
 
 Richardson, Mrs. Manchester 
 
 Roberts, Mr. Peter, Oswestry 
 
 Roberts, Miss Harriet, Chirk 
 
 Roberts, Mr. land-surveyor, Wern Lodge, 
 
 two copies 
 Roberts, Mr. Factory, Llangollen, two copies 
 Roberts, Mr. confectioner, Oswestry 
 Roberts, Mr. Samuel, Oswestry 
 Roberts, Mr. John, Llangollen 
 Rodgers, Mr. Thomas, Oswestry 
 Royd, Miss, Bath 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 205 
 
 & 
 
 Stackpole, William Wentworth, Esq. six 
 
 copies 
 Stewart, the Hon. Mrs. Killyman Castle, 
 
 Ireland 
 Savage, John, M.D. 
 Scoltock, Mr. Shrews bury, four copies 
 Shebbeare, Capt. R.N. Cottage, Llangollen, 
 
 two copies 
 Sniffer, Mr. Thomas, Denbigh 
 Simpson, Mr. T. Wolverhampton, twelve copies 
 Smale, Mr. Oswestry, two copies 
 Smith, Mrs. Maria, Chirk 
 Smith, Mr. Thomas, Chirk 
 Spencer, Charles, Esq. Worcester, two copies 
 Stanton, Mr. Robert, Oswestry 
 
 Taylor, the Hon. General 
 
 Talwrn, Mr. 
 
 Taylor, Mrs. Isaac, Shiffnal 
 
 Thomas, Mr. David, Oswestry 
 
 Thompson, Mr. excise officer, Wrexham 
 
 Thompstone, Mr. S. Manchester, two copies 
 
 Titley, Mr. Chester 
 
 Tomkies, Mr. T. Oswestry 
 
 Tompkins, Mr. Lion Inn, Shrewsbury, tivo 
 
 copies 
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