Some Account of Llangollen and Its Vicinity: Including a Circuit of About Seven MilesSimpson, W. T. (Wilfrid Tord)
History
Some Account of Llangollen and Its Vicinity: Including a Circuit of About Seven Miles
Simpson, W. T. (Wilfrid Tord)
Llangollen (Wales)
The place is now in the occupation of a very respectable farmer. Sir
Thomas Mostyn, Bart. is the proprietor, in whose family it has been a
great many years. I find that “Tudor Trevor, {80} who in the British
genealogies is reckoned to be lineally descended from Vortigern, that
unfortunate 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 residence
was at Llys Pengwern, in Chirkland, in Denbighshire; 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 belonged to the old Llys, wrought up
in the door-way, with an inscription 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 premises, 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,
where cotton is spun and manufactured 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 insolvent, the concern was
for a while stopped, and the factory stood unoccupied 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 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 Chirk Castle.
Castell
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!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account