The Tourist's Guide through the Country of Caernarvon: containing a short sketch of its History, Antiquities, &c.Williams, P. B. (Peter Bailey)
History
The Tourist's Guide through the Country of Caernarvon: containing a short sketch of its History, Antiquities, &c.
Williams, P. B. (Peter Bailey)
Caernarvonshire (Wales) -- Description and travel
fit for a retreat from the knowledge of mankind, or more apt to inspire
one with full hopes of security from any pursuit.—Embosomed in a lofty
mountain, on two sides bounded by stony steeps, on which no vegetables
appear, but the blasted heath and stunted gorse; the third side exhibits
a most tremendous front of black precipice, with the loftiest peak of the
mountain _Eifl_ soaring above, and the only opening to this secluded spot
is towards the sea, a northern aspect; the Glenn is tenanted by a few
families, who raise oats, and keep a few cattle, sheep, and goats. Just
above the sea is a high and verdant mount, natural, but the top and sides
fortified by art; on this might have been the residence of the
unfortunate Prince, of which time has destroyed every other vestige.
Till the beginning of the last century, a _tumulus_ of stone within, and
externally covered with turf, was to be seen here; it was known by the
name of _Bedd Gwrtheyrn_, tradition having regularly delivered down the
report of this having been the place of his interment. The inhabitants
of the Parish dug into the _Carn_, and found in it a stone Coffin,
containing the bones of a tall man. This gives a degree of credibility
to the tradition, especially as no other bones were found with it, no
other _tumuli_ on the spot; a proof at least of respect to the rank of
the person; and that the place was deserted after the death of the Royal
Fugitive, about the year 465. Craig y Llam, near this place, is a
tremendous lofty precipice, impending over the sea, and frequented in the
summer season by numerous flocks of migratory birds, where their nests
are ranged in regular tiers, on the ledges of this singular rock, in the
same manner as at Gogarth, near Conway before-mentioned; underneath is a
curious cave, accessible only by water, and visited in fine weather by
different parties of pleasure, who bring their provisions along with
them, and dine in the recesses of the Cliff.
From hence we descend again to the road, pass by Pistill, a little
Chapel, annexed to Edern, and soon arrive at NEVIN, a small Town, and
Contributory Borough to Carnarvon; this place was bestowed on _Nigel de
Lohareyn_, by the Black Prince, in the twelfth year of his Principality,
and made a free borough, was allowed a Guild Mercatory with every
privilege attendant on other free Boroughs, and all the liberties and
Customs granted heretofore to that of Newborough, in Anglesey. He also
gave it a grant of two Fairs, annually, and a Market on a Sunday, to
which the Inhabitants of the Commot of Dinlleyn, were obliged to resort.
Here Edward the First, in 1284, held his triumph on the conquest of
Wales, and perhaps to conciliate the affections of his new subjects, in
imitation of our Hero Arthur, held a round table, and celebrated it with
dance and tournament,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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