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Llangollen is a small town in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains.
History
Llangollen takes its name from Saint Collen, a 7th century monk who founded a church besides the river here. St Collen is said to have arrived in Llangollen by coracle. As there are no other churches in Wales dedicated to St. Collen, it is possible that this St. Collen may also have connections in both St. Collen, Cornwall and Langolen, Brittany.
Standing high above the town to the north is Castell Dinas Bran, the former stronghold of the Princes of Powys. Beyond the castle is the limestone escarpment known as the Eglwyseg Rocks. The outcrop continues north to the area known as World's End. The area nearest to the castle is known as the Panorama Walk, and a monument to local poet I.D. Hooson (from the nearby village of Rhosllanerchrugog) can be found there.
Valle Crucis Abbey was established in nearby Llangwestl in about 1201, under the patronage of Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor of Castell Dinas Brân.
The famous bridge at Llangollen was built in about 1345 by John Trevor, of nearby Trevor Hall, who later became Bishop of St Asaph.
On the outskirts of the town is Plas Newydd ("New Place" or "New Hall"), where The Honourable Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler (the Ladies of Llangollen) lived.
The ancient parish of Llangollen was divided into three treanau ("trean" being the Welsh for "third"): Llangollen Traean, Trefor Traean, and Glyn Traean.
- Llangollen Traean contained the townships of Bachau, Cysylltau, Llangollen Abad, Llangollen Fawr, Llangollen Fechan, Feifod, Pengwern and Rhisgog.
- Trefor Traean contained the townships of Cilmediw, Dinbren, Eglwysegl, Trefor Isaf and Trefor Uchaf.
- Glyn Traean contained the townships of Cilcochwyn, Crogeniddon, Crogenwladus, Erwallo, Hafodgynfor, Nantygwryd, Pennant and Talygarth.
Culture
Llangollen hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1908. The Gorsedd ceremony was held on the Hermitage Field, next to Plas Newydd, and the circle of stones were later moved into the grounds of the hall. The eisteddfod itself took place on the old Vicarage Field at Fronhyfyd and was visited by David Lloyd George, accompanied by Winston Churchill.
However, Llangollen it most famous for the annual Llangollen International Eisteddfod where people from all over the world take part in musical and dancing competitions.
In the late 19th century Llangollen had its own weekly newspaper, the Llangollen Advertiser.
Transport
The railway had been extended from Ruabon, via Acrefair and Trevor, to reach Llangollen by 1865, operating both passenger and good services. It later became part of the Great Western Railway. One hundred year later the line was closed under the Beeching Axe in 1964. However, part of the line was later restored, reopened and now operates as the Llangollen Railway.
Llangollen was an important coaching stop on the old mail route along the A5 road from London to Holyhead.
A canal was built to connect the coalfields and ironworks at Ruabon and Wrexham to the canal network which would then give access to the sea via the River Mersey and the River Severn. The canal was originally part of the Ellesmere Canal and began at Trevor, to the north of Llangollen, crossing the Dee Valley at Pontcysyllte. The canal was fed via a branch constructed from Trevor, through Llangollen, to nearby Llantysilio where it took water from the River Dee. Today the Llangollen Canal is used for leisure purposes.
In 2002, the Rainhill locomotive trials were restaged on the Llangollen Railway.
Industry
Llangollen was predominantly a farming area. The water mill opposite the railway station is over 600 years old and was used to grind flour for local farmers. Most of the farms in the hills around the town would have been involved in sheep farming and weaving was an important cottage industry in the area for centuries. Several factories were later built along the banks of the River Dee where both wool and cotton were processed.
Today Llangollen relies heavily on the tourist industry.
Songs about Llangollen
- "Llangollen Market", traditional
- "Ladies of Llangollen", Ian Chesterman
- "Pastai Fawr Llangollen" (The Great Llangollen Pie), Arfon Gwilym
Triva
- In 2002, as part of a publicity effort, many local businesses agreed to accept the Euro during the week of the Eisteddfod, which attracts many European competitors. Three years later, there are still several establishments in Llangollen which continue to accept the Euro, but most have ceased to do so.
- According to an anonymous rhyme, the bridge over the Dee is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
- The nursery rhyme "Mary had a little lamb" is frequently, but incorrectly, linked with Llangollen. Its true origins are in the USA.
External Links
"Llangollen"