Llangollen Totally Explained

Everything about Llangollen totally explained

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 (from the Welsh llan meaning 'place of' and gollen meaning 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's 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. It was extended to cross the railway when this was built in the 1860s and was widened in the early 1960s, the upstream side comprising new masonry which blends in effectively with the older structure.
   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.

Transport

Llangollen was an important coaching stop for the Mail coach on the old mail route along the A5 road from London to Holyhead.

Waterways

The Ellesmere Canal was conceived to connect the coal mines and Ironworks at Ruabon and Wrexham to the canal network and hence to the sea via the River Mersey and the River Severn. For various reasons, the plans were altered until instead of connecting Trevor northwards to the sea along the route of the River Dee, Wales, and southwards to the Severn, the canal instead ran eastwards to join on to the national network at Hurleston Junction on the (now-named) Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich. A feeder (navigable to Llangollen) was constructed from the canal at Trevor to tap water from the River Dee at Llantysilio (at the famous weir called "Horseshoe Falls"). After various company mergers, this canal became part of the Shropshire Union System. Until recently the canal was properly called the Llangollen Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, though it's now known as the Llangollen Canal.
The canal supplied enough Dee water to supply Crewe and Nantwich, and when commercial carrying failed in the 1940s, it was this function as a water supply which kept the canal open. The canal is unusual amongst Britain's artificial waterways in having a strong (up to 2 miles per hour) flow. Since the use of canals for leisure took off in the 1970s and 1980s, the route of this canal, twisting through beautiful Welsh hills and across the Dee Valley on the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, has made it the most famous (and busiest) in Britain. The canal is an important part of Llangollen's attraction as a holiday destination. A new marina, built at the end of the navigable section, allows more summer visitors to moor overnight in Llangollen, but the beauty of the canal, and the manoeuvres of the multi-coloured narrowboats are key attractions even for non-boaters.

Railways

The railway had been extended from Ruabon, via Acrefair and Trevor, to reach Llangollen by 1865, operating both passenger and goods services. This Ruabon Barmouth line 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, an important attraction in its own right. In 2002, the Rainhill locomotive trials were re-staged on this line.

Industry

Llangollen was predominantly a farming and agricultural 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.
The water mill opposite the railway station has been converted into a public house, "The Corn Mill"

. The building is over 600 years old and was originally used to grind flour for local farmers.

Gallery

Image:Llangollenviewfromstation.JPG|The River Dee from the station Image:Llangollen Plas Newydd.jpg|Plas Newydd, former home of the Ladies of Llangollen Image:Llangollen canal wharf.jpg|Canal Wharf Image:BR Class 109 Llangollen.jpg|Llangollen Station

Culture

In the late 19th century, Llangollen had its own weekly newspaper, the Llangollen Advertiser.
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.
Since 1904, the town has been the home of the Llangollen Silver Band. The Brass Band perform at a wide range of local functions and concerts throughout the year. The band boasts a thriving 'training' section, and prides itself on providing free musical instruments and tuition to both local children and adults alike, many of whom go on to join the senior band. The band is currently saving towards a new bandroom, having unfortunately been turned down for National Lottery funding on numerous occasions during recent years.

Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod

Llangollen is most famous for the annual Llangollen International Eisteddfod, a week long event, usually starting officially on the Tuesday, and ending on the Sunday of the same week.
During the week people from all over the world take part in musical and dancing competitions.
A parade, led by the Llangollen Silver Band, is usually held on the Tuesday of the Eisteddfod week, in which both the locals and visitors, take part dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments, whilst marching the streets of Llangollen.

Llangollen Fringe Festival

The Llangollen Fringe Festival is an independent arts festival, usually held in mid July. From its first year in an impromptu tent on an out-of-town playing field through to its present fixed Town Hall location, via a converted weavers' shed, the Fringe has increased its reputation with every year. It includes a diverse mix of music, comedy, theatre, dance and workshops.
The Fringe is renowned for its fantastic atmosphere and eclectic mix of acts.
Some previous artists to have taken part in the Llangollen Fringe include The Damned(with Captain Sensible), Cerys Matthews, Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst, Juan Martín and The Black Seeds.

Songs and nursery rhymes

"Llangollen Market", traditional

"Ladies of Llangollen", Ian Chesterman

"Pastai Fawr Llangollen" (The Great Llangollen Pie), Arfon Gwilym

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 United States .

Economy and commerce

Today, Llangollen relies heavily on the tourist industry.
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.

Sport

Llangollen on the River Dee, Wales is world famous for its white water Slalom canoeing and kayaking, being host to International and UK events. The International Canoe Federation (ICF), The European Canoe Union (ECU) and the British Canoe Union (BCU) all hold events in Llangollen. Cricket (External Link

), football and rugby union teams all play at Tower Fields, which overlooks the town and the International Eisteddfod field and pavilion.
Thermals rising up the valley sides to the south of the town are used for paragliding, and mountain bikers also enjoy this hilly area.
Llangollen was the finishing point of the first massed-start cycle race held on British roads, on 7 June 1942. The 59-mile Wolverhampton-Llangollen race was organised by Percy Stallard in defiance of the sport's governing body, the National Cyclists' Union, but with approval from all police chief constables through whose districts the event ran.

Notable people

Glyn James, former professional footballer. Played over 400 games for Blackpool during the 1960s and '70s and represented the Welsh international team on nine occasions.

The Ladies of Llangollen, Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby.Further Information

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