Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/754

Rh 71 1 DENBIGHSHIRE. death of Llewellyn received a grant of the lordship of Denbigh from Edward I. ; Edward also incorporat- d tin ,ml IV. VMbMMndio tin 1 < -a.-tleliy the Lan- castrians, but made hid escape before its surrender. About ii ry the old town, which was situated uround the summit of the hill, was demolished, and the new town built in a lower and more accessible position. In 1645, after the battle of Rowton Heath, Vs I. came to Denbigh and occupied the castle: the tower in which he lodged has over since been known as the " King's Tower." In the same year the castle was besieged by the parliamentary forces under General Mytton, and, after a siege of several months' duration, was forced to surrender. In the time of the Common- wraith the castle was dismantled. Denbigh is built on a steep and nigged hill, in the centre of the Vale of Clwyd, the summit of which is crowned by the extensive ruins of the castle. The scenery of the surrounding country is of the most beautiful description. The town is well paved, and lighted with gas : the principal street, which runs from the foot of the hill to the market-place, is broad, and contains some good private residences. The market-place is a handsome and convenient building. The townhall was built by the Earl of Leicester in 1572. The Lunatic Asylum for North Wales (built at a cost of 27,000) is the most imposing edifice in the town. Denbigh is governed by a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 12 councillors ; and with its contributory boroughs, Holt, Ruthin, and Wrexham, returns one member to parliament. Denbigh is the chief place of election, and a polling station for the county. The Epiphany and Trinity Quarter Sessions are held here. Denbigh is a rect. in the dioc. of St. Asaph ; the living (val. 445) is in the gift of the bishop. The parish church of St. Marcellus is at Whitchurch, about a mile from the town, on the road to Ruthin. It contains two brasses in memory of Richard Hyddleton, the father of Sir Hugh Myddleton, the projector of the scheme for sup- plying London with water by means of the New River ; a monument to H. Llwyd, the antiquary ; and an altar tomb of the 16th century to Sir John Salusbnry and wife. Near the castlo are, a chapel dedicated to St. Hilary, once the garrison chapel, in which Divine service is held; and a huge unfinished building, intended for a church, which was commenced by the Earl of Leicester. In the year 1838 a new church (St. David's) was built for the use of the Welsh portion of the inhabitants. The Baptists, Independents, Wesloyans, and Calvinists have each a chapel. There are a National school, a British school, an endowed grammar school, and Oldfield's Boys' Bluccoat School. Besides the above is an Orphan School, for the education and maintenance of 65 girls. It is the handsomest building and noblest institution in the town. The buildings were erected at the cost of about 18,000, and the school was opened in 1860. The Drapers' Company are the trustees, and the school is managed by a local board of fourteen governors, of whom the bishop of the diocese is cx-officio chairman. There is a twin establishment, similarly founded and governed, at Llandaff, in South Wales. The funds for the sup- port of both were left by Thomas Howell, a Welshman, who died at Seville in 1540. There is also a mechanics' institution. The dispensary and infirmary are maintained by public subscription. The principal feature of interest in Denbigh is the castle, some account of which has already been given. The walls were of great strength, and inclosed an area of 1 square mile. The entrance to the castle is a fine pointed gateway, between two towers ; here is a statue of the founder, Henry do Lai y. This entrance was until lately in a very rurhous condi- tion, but its further ileeay has been "arrested by some gentlemen of the town, who have taken a lease of it for the town, and it is now preserved and in good order. Two grand Eistedd-fodau have been held on the bowl- ing-green, within UK ea-tle walls; one in 1828, ! the Duke of Sussex, the other in 1860, before Sir W V. Wynne, Bart. From the walls of the castle some line views are obtained, embracing the vale and hills of Clwyd. Adjoining the castle area is a well-kept bowl- ing-green, which is extensively used by tho inhabitant!. Some remains exist in tho town of a Camn lite ] founded in 128!', h .1 !m Salushii! they now form part of a barn. lien 1 by railway with lihyl, and thus with Chester. The town has it manufactory of shoe- tensive tanneries. The market - and Saturday. Six fairs are held in the Saturday heJMe palm Sunday, 1-lth May, . 18th July, 25th September, and secon-i November. Denbigh giv. < ti 1 Dr. Johnson, accompani> d hy Mr.-. Pio/zi, vis Gwaennyog, the seat of the Myddlet-,u t'amil;. . 1 mile from Denhi^h. DENBIGHSHIRE, a maritime county of :, Wales, bou X. by tho Irish S.E. by the English counties of Cheshire and Si shire, from which circumstance it was con ancient times a march, or border county. I y irregular: its greatest length from N. S.E. is 41 miles, its greatest breadth 29 miles, an area 386,052 statute acres. It is about Hi circuit, 8 of which are coast. Tho population of Denbighshire, according to tho census of 1861, ^1 100,778, having increased 8,19"> since is was 92,683, or at tho rate of 10 per cent, in tho tfl years. The number of inhabited houses is 21,310, i of uninhabited, 644. At the time of the Roman inv Denbighshire formed part of tho territory of the tiers, and was the scene of the last struggle bet* Curactacus and the invaders. It was finally redu under the dominion of the Romans, by Agrlcola, i was afterwards included in tho division Uritan Secmida. When tho Saxons had made t masters of England, Denbighsh a bo county, was subject to frequent attacks. A the eastern part of the county was Offa, king of Hercia, and was cut nil' from part by a dyke called "Ofla's Dyke," which caused to be constructed as n incursions of the WeNh. In 828 1) overrun by Egbert. Its complete sul Saxons was, however, prevented by t the Danes; and the old inhabitants, assist northern Britons, seem to have recove of which they had been deprived by Ofi'a. county was afterwards comprehended in J'oiryd one of tho subdivisions of Wales, conquest of England by the Normans, I)- was tho scene of fresh hostilities : tin fended themselves bravely against tin under Owain Cyfeiliog defeated them near 1. 1161. Owain celebrated his victory in a poem ci The drinking-horn of Ow Her the defeat of Llewellyn, tin North Wales, Denbighshire fell into tin- Edward I. It was recovered by I.li !l and brother David; but after the death of the former I the execution of the latter, again fell into the hands c the English in 1282. Denbighshire w,> contest in th tion of Owain Olyndwr, in wars of the Roses, and in the civil war between Chai I. and tin- Parliament. Holt Castle was seized for the Parliament by Sir William Brereton and Sir TI Hyddleton in 16-13, but was recaptured hy ti In 161.) Sir William Vnughan, comma' the relief. tlnn besieged by tin tarians, was attacked and defeated near Denbigh ' General Myfton. The castles of Holt, Kuthin, Denbigh were captured by the pnrliaim General Mytton in 1640. In was made to restore the Stuarts by Sir Thoma- ton and Sir George Booth. The principal seats are Br kinalt, Viscount l)ungannon; Pool Park. Lord Buf Kinmel, Lord Dinoroen; Wynn-tay. V n, Cuiilitle. Hart.; Kuthin Castle, )[n I Erddig, S. Yorke, Esq. ; Gresford, Jlra. Eperton ; sylt, J. Williams, Esq.; Glanywern, J. Haddocks, Esq.
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