Creiddin,
a commot or hundred of Caernarvonshire, situated upon the side of the
river opposite to Conway, and forming a considerable promontory into the
Irish Sea. After crossing the river, and proceeding along the shore for
about half a mile, the first object of attraction is
Diganwy,
or Dinas Gonwy (or the Fort on the Conway), called by the common people,
“Y Faer dre,” and by the English, Gannoc. The ruins of the ancient
castle are situated on the summit of two small hills, near the shore. At
a short distance is a circular watch-tower, said to have been built some
time in the latter part of the seventeenth century.
Mr. Bingley next crossed the flat, and under the S.W. side of Llandudno
rock, passed the shell of a large mansion, which some centuries ago was a
palace belonging to the Bishop of Bangor; thence along the steep and
slippery sides of the elevated down of Llandudno, for about two miles to
the end of the promontory. Here the rocks are for the most part
perpendicular, of amazing height. Many rare plants are found in this
district.
About a mile from the N. E. side of the promontory is Llandudno church;
and at a short distance is Eglwys Rhôs, celebrated as the last refuge of
Maelgwyn Gwynedd, who fled hither to avoid the _vâd velen_ (or yellow
fever) which raged over a great part of Europe.
Not far distant is GLODDAETH, one of the seats of the Hon. E. M. Ll.
Mostyn, built by his ancestor, Sir Roger Mostyn, Bart. in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth. The walks of Gloddaeth are remarkably beautiful. The
house was famed for its library of ancient manuscripts, chiefly Welsh,
which has been removed to Mostyn Hall. At the distance of a mile is
BODYSGALLEN, the seat of Miss Mostyn. It is a place of great antiquity;
the situation is commanding, and finely shaded by venerable woods.
Archbishop Williams, a native of Conway, who succeeded the illustrious
Lord Bacon in the office of Lord High Chancellor of England, died at
Gloddaeth, A.D. 1650.
Another excursion made by Mr. Bingley was up the vale of Conway, leading
on the road to Llanrwst. Having passed the village of Gyffin, he found
the vale of Conway to afford many very interesting prospects. CAER RHUN
(the Fort of Rhun) lies at the distance of five miles. It is a charming
little village, on the western bank of the river, surrounded with wood.
To this site has generally been assigned the ancient Roman Conovium. In
the summer of 1801, the late Rev. H. D. Griffith had many apartments
cleared, where were discovered several broken vases, dishes, &c. From
the road, near the bridge, called Pont Porthlwyd, about eight miles from
Conway, high up the mountain on the left, is a waterfall of very
considerable height, called in the neighbourhood Rhaiadr Mawr (the great
waterfall.) Mr. Bingley ascended along a winding path, which conducted
him to the bed of the river, near the station, whence he saw it to the
best advantage. The water runs from a pool among the mountains, called
Llyn Eigiau. He pronounces this waterfall the grandest and most
picturesque of any he had seen in North Wales.
For angling station, see Llanrwst.
CORWEN.
(_Merionethshire_.)
Bala 12
Chester 33
Denbigh 20
Holyhead 67
Llangollen 10
London 193
Ruthin 12
Pentre Voelas 15
Corwen (the White Choir) is a small market-town on the London and
Holyhead road, situated at the foot of the Berwyn mountains, on the bank
of the Dee. The population (2199) is principally employed in
agriculture. There is a good inn here, exhibiting the gigantic features
of Owen Glyndwr, the renowned and formidable opponent of Henry the
Fourth.
Within the church, under an arch on the north side of the altar, there is
a very ancient coffin-lid, in high preservation, bearing the following
inscription, “Hic jacet Jorwerth Sulien, vicarius de Corvaen; ora pro
eo.” There is also a fine cross fixed in a circular stone to the west of
the steeple. The name of Corwen, corrupted from Corvaen, is probably
derived from the cross: _cor_, signifying a circle, and _maen_, which is
changed into _vaen_ when joined with _cor_, is The Stone or Cross in the
Circle.
The house of the celebrated Owen Glyndwr was situated in this parish, but
not a vestige of it is now left: the site is marked by a clump of fir
trees, on the left of the Llangollen road, about three miles from Corwen.
At Rhug, within a mile and a half of the town, stands the elegant seat of
Colonel Vaughan.—Rhagatt, the mansion of Edward Lloyd, Esq., is also
situated in the parish, and within two miles of the town.
The roads in this district are excellent; the Shrewsbury and Holyhead
mail runs through the town. There are also two good lines of road hence
to Bala; that by Llandrillo leads through the vale of Edeyrnion, which is
one of the most beautiful in Wales, the road very excellent, with
scarcely a hill in its course; the other by the Druid, 12 miles, commands
a very fine view of Bala lake, and the surrounding hills. There is
likewise a very good road, 12 miles, to Ruthin.
Upon the Berwyn mountains, behind the church, is a place called Glyndwr’s
Seat, whence is a most charming and extensive prospect, which may be
reached without fatigue. The rich and delightful vale of Corwen expands
beneath, with the Dee in the centre. Here Glyndwr might view nearly
forty square miles of his own land.
Near to Corwen is the site of an ancient British encampment, called Caer
Drwyn; it is on the summit of a hill, and protected by a circular wall,
about one mile in circumference: and within are the ruins of a circular
fort. It is supposed to be one of the chain of posts from Dyserth to
Cynwyd, and formed in olden times a stronghold. Owen Gwynedd occupied it
in the days of Henry the Second.
The tourist remaining at Corwen, who has any relish for angling, may
readily obtain all the necessary tackle in the town, at a low charge, and
will find good fishing between Corwen and Llan-St.-Ffraid bridges, two or
three miles, and at Llandrillo, about five miles from Corwen.
This district was visited by a most desolating flood, caused by heavy
rains, in the summer of 1846.
CRICAETH,
(_Caernarvonshire_.)
Beddgelert 11
Caernarvon 20
London 240
Pwllheli 8
Cricaeth, a little borough town, contributory to Caernarvon, with 811
inhabitants, is very irregularly built. Except the remains of its small
castle, it contains nothing which can claim the attention of the
traveller. This ruin stands on a rising ground, at the end of a long
neck of land, jutting into the sea. The entrance into it is between two
round towers; the others being all square. Edward the First is said to
have founded this castle; and it was once the residence of
Howel-y-Fwyall, who captured the king of France at the battle of
Poictiers. It is stated that the Welsh warrior struck off the head of
the king’s horse with a battle-axe, and then secured the monarch. The
event is thus recorded by one of the native bards:—
“Pan roddodd
Y ffrwyn ymhen Brenin Ffrainc.”
The Black Prince made Howel constable of this castle, granting him a
guard of eighty yeomen at the royal charge, and a mess of meat to be
served up daily before his pole-axe.
The church, dedicated to St. Catherine, is a spacious structure, but in a
very neglected state.
From the eminence on which the castle stands, is a beautiful view across
Cardigan bay towards Harlech, where is seen its fine old castle, backed
by the high and distant mountains of Merionethshire.