History of Llangollen and Its Vicinity: Including a Circuit of About Seven MilesSimpson, W. T. (Wilfrid Tord)
History
History of Llangollen and Its Vicinity: Including a Circuit of About Seven Miles
Simpson, W. T. (Wilfrid Tord)
Llangollen (Wales)
This small market town is on the border of North Wales, and is situated
in that part of the county of Denbigh which adjoins Shropshire. It is on
the south {2a} bank of the river Dee, and the mail road from London to
Holyhead passes through the town. The distance from London to Llangollen
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 which is near at hand, in
rough-casting or plastering the fronts. The difference of the appearance
of the buildings thus finished is so advantageous that it is to be hoped
the plan will be generally adopted. {2b}
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
inhabitants may at this time (A.D. 1827) be fairly estimated at 1500, and
habitations in proportion. {3a} 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 Saturday, and five {3b} fairs in the year,
viz. on the last Friday in January, the 17th of March, the 31st of May,
the 21st of August, and on the 22nd 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 Holyhead, which passes through Llangollen
every afternoon at five o’clock, {3c}; 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.
{3d} There are also waggon conveyances, through Wrexham, to Chester;
{3e} and boats on a collateral branch of the Ellesmere Canal, which start
at stated periods for Liverpool, &c.
There are twelve {4} licensed inns and public houses in this little town,
all of them very respectable; and whether it is owing to superior
management, or to the excellence of the water, which is the most pure
imaginable, and flows abundantly in every part of the town, the ale
brewed in Llangollen is in great and deserved repute all over the
kingdom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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