infobox UK place
|latitude = 53.305833
|longitude = -4.056667
|Place= Llangollen |Council= Denbighshire |Traditional= Denbighshire |Ceremonial= Clwyd |Constituency= Clwyd South |PostalTown= LLANGOLLEN |PostCode= LL20 |DiallingCode= 01978 |GridReference= SJ215415 |Population= 2,930 |Police= North Wales Police
}}
Llangollen (IPA: [ɬaŋ'ɡoɬɛn]) is a small town in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains.
History edit
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.
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 edit
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.
Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod edit
Llangollen is most famous for the annual Llangollen International Eisteddfod, a week long event, usually starting officially on the Tuesday, and ending on the following Sunday. During the Eisteddfod performers from all over the world take part in music and dancing competitions.
A parade 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
Sport edit
Llangollen on River Dee 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[1], football and rugby 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.
Transport edit
Llangollen was an important coaching stop on the old mail route along the A5 road from London to Holyhead.
A canal (originally part of the Ellesmere Canal) was built to connect the coalfields 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 nortwards to the sea along the route of the River Dee, 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 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, from Ellesemere Port on the Mersey (Manchester Ship Canal) to Autherley Junction with the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal near Wolverhampton. Until very recently, canal was properly called the LLangollen Branch of the Shropshire Union 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 70s and 80s, the route of this canal (now known as the Llangollen 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.
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 restaged on this line.
Industry edit
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.
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.
Songs about Llangollen edit
- "Llangollen Market", traditional
- "Ladies of Llangollen", Ian Chesterman
- "Pastai Fawr Llangollen" (The Great Llangollen Pie), Arfon Gwilym
Trivia edit
- 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.
- In the late 19th century Llangollen had its own weekly newspaper, the Llangollen Advertiser.
- 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 edit
- Llangollen Enterprise web site
- Llangollen International Eisteddfod web site
- Llangollen Railway web site
- BBC Llangollen web site
- Map sources for Cynnydd/Llangollen