Caerwys
Encyclopedia
Caerwys is a town in Flintshire
, Wales
. It is situated just under two miles from the A55 North Wales Expressway
and one mile from the A541
Mold
-Denbigh
road. At the 2001 Census
, the population of Caerwys civil parish
was 1,315, with a total ward population of 2,496.
Caerwys is mentioned in the Domesday Book
as a small market town
. The well-maintained church is dedicated to St. Michael. It has two parallel nave
s. The oldest part of the building is a stone tower whose base is said to have been part of a Roman
observation tower. Contained within the church is the cover slab of a tomb reputed to have been that of Elizabeth Ferrers
, the wife of Dafydd ap Gruffudd, prince of Wales
(d. 1283). A short, informative booklet about the church was written in 1936 and updated in 1995. As well as being surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and views across mountains and valleys, the centre of Caerwys has been designated a conservation area
.
Caerwys and Philadelphia have important historical connections. Local doctor
, Thomas Wynne
, sailed to America on the ship Welcome in 1682 with William Penn
. Wynne was one of the founding fathers of Philadelphia and became the first speaker of the Provisional Assembly, as well as a provincial judge. The original street plan of Philadelphia was designed on the street pattern of Caerwys. Welsh names crop up everywhere, and several buildings built in Philadelphia resemble buildings in the Caerwys area, some of which still stand today.
Caerwys also hosted two of the most important eisteddfodau of the early modern era, one in 1523 and the other, sanctioned by Elizabeth I, in 1568.
A famous native of Caerwys was actress Myfanwy Talog
, who is commemorated by a slate plaque on the cottage where she was born. Also a television presenter with the BBC, Talog never forgot her origins, and succeeded in persuading the BBC
to bring the Radio 1 Roadshow
to Caerwys in the 1980s. Caerwys Rectory
was the birthplace of the antiquary Angharad Llwyd
(1780-1866), daughter of the rector John Llwyd (1733-93).
The local Football team Caerwys Fc play in the Clwyd League in the 2009/2010 season they finished 3rd and have a rivalry with many clubs including Holywell Town Fc Denbigh Town Fc ad Ruthin Town Fc. They also have a Summer League team and have a rivalry with Ysceifiog.
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is situated just under two miles from the A55 North Wales Expressway
A55 road
The A55, also known as the North Wales Expressway, is a major road in Britain. Its entire length is a dual carriageway primary route, with the exception of the point where it crosses the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait. All junctions are grade separated except for two roundabouts — one...
and one mile from the A541
A541 road
The A541 is an A road in North Wales. The road starts on the A525 in Trefnant, between St Asaph and Denbigh, and ends in Wrexham. On the way it passes the town of Mold. It also passes through many villages. In northern-central Wrexham it joins the B5101 road....
Mold
Mold, Flintshire
Mold is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, on the River Alyn. It is the administrative seat of Flintshire County Council, and was also the county town of Clwyd from 1974 to 1996...
-Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
road. At the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the population of Caerwys civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
was 1,315, with a total ward population of 2,496.
Caerwys is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as a small market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
. The well-maintained church is dedicated to St. Michael. It has two parallel nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
s. The oldest part of the building is a stone tower whose base is said to have been part of a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
observation tower. Contained within the church is the cover slab of a tomb reputed to have been that of Elizabeth Ferrers
Elizabeth Ferrers
Elizabeth Ferrers was a daughter of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby and his second wife Margaret de Quincy...
, the wife of Dafydd ap Gruffudd, prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
(d. 1283). A short, informative booklet about the church was written in 1936 and updated in 1995. As well as being surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and views across mountains and valleys, the centre of Caerwys has been designated a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
.
Caerwys and Philadelphia have important historical connections. Local doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, Thomas Wynne
Thomas Wynne
Dr. Thomas Wynne was personal physician of William Penn and one of the original settlers of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania. Born in Ysceifiog, Wales, where his family dated back seventeen generations to Owain Gwynedd,...
, sailed to America on the ship Welcome in 1682 with William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. Wynne was one of the founding fathers of Philadelphia and became the first speaker of the Provisional Assembly, as well as a provincial judge. The original street plan of Philadelphia was designed on the street pattern of Caerwys. Welsh names crop up everywhere, and several buildings built in Philadelphia resemble buildings in the Caerwys area, some of which still stand today.
Caerwys also hosted two of the most important eisteddfodau of the early modern era, one in 1523 and the other, sanctioned by Elizabeth I, in 1568.
A famous native of Caerwys was actress Myfanwy Talog
Myfanwy Talog
Myfanwy Talog was a Welsh actress, best known to the media as the long-term partner of Sir David Jason.-Personal life:...
, who is commemorated by a slate plaque on the cottage where she was born. Also a television presenter with the BBC, Talog never forgot her origins, and succeeded in persuading the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to bring the Radio 1 Roadshow
Radio 1 Roadshow
The Radio 1 Roadshow was an annual summer event hosted and broadcast by BBC Radio 1 from the 1970s through to the 1990s. The roadshow enjoyed three decades of live broadcasts from beach resorts around the UK...
to Caerwys in the 1980s. Caerwys Rectory
Caerwys Rectory
Caerwys Rectory is a late Georgian house in Caerwys, Flintshire in northeast Wales. It is a listed building. It is a 3-bay house of 2 storeys with an attic. In the 1920s a verandah and bay windows were added. Caerwys Rectory was the birthplace of the antiquary Angharad Llwyd , daughter of the...
was the birthplace of the antiquary Angharad Llwyd
Angharad Llwyd
Angharad Llwyd was a Welsh antiquary and a prizewinner at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.She was born at Caerwys in Flintshire, the daughter of Rev. John Lloyd, himself a noted antiquary. Her essay entitled Catalogue of Welsh Manuscripts, etc. in North Wales won a prize at the Welshpool...
(1780-1866), daughter of the rector John Llwyd (1733-93).
The local Football team Caerwys Fc play in the Clwyd League in the 2009/2010 season they finished 3rd and have a rivalry with many clubs including Holywell Town Fc Denbigh Town Fc ad Ruthin Town Fc. They also have a Summer League team and have a rivalry with Ysceifiog.