Holywell Heritage Trail Holywell Heritage Trail Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon Useful Contacts Cysylltiadau defnyddiol Holywell Town Council 01352 711757 Cyngor Tref Treffynnon 01352 711757 www.holywell-town.gov.uk www.holywell-town.gov.uk/cym Transition Holywell & District 01352 710714 Trawsnewid Treffynnon a’r Cylch 01352 710714 St Winefride’s Well 01352 713054 Ffynnon Gwenffrewi 01352 713054 www.saintwinefrideswell.com www.saintwinefrideswell.com Greenfield Valley Heritage Park 01352 714172 Parc Treftadaeth Maes Glas 01352 714172 www.greenfieldvalley.com www.greenfieldvalley.com The Holywell & District Society Cymdeithas Treffynnon a’r Cylch www.holywellsociety.org.uk www.holywellsociety.org.uk North Pilgrim’s Way Llwybr Pererinion Gogledd Cymru www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org/page33 County Council 01352 703223 Cyngor Sir y Fflint 01352 703223 www.discoverflintshire.com www.discoverflintshire.com www.northeastwales.co.uk www.northeastwales.co.uk TravelineCymru 0871 2002233 TravelineCymru 0871 2002233 www.traveline-cymru.info www.cymraeg.traveline-cymru.info Acknowledgements Cydnabyddiaeth Many thanks to everyone who contributed to Diolch i bawb a gyfrannodd at Llwybr Treftadaeth Holywell Heritage Trail including Brian Taylor and other Treffynnon gan gynnwys Brian Taylor ac aelodau eraill members of The Holywell & District Society and John Cymdeithas Treffynnon a’r Cylch a John ac Angela Ward. & Angela Ward. Hen ffotograffau: Swyddfa Archifau Sir y Fflint Old photos: Flintshire Record Office & The Holywell a Chymdeithas Treffynnon a’r Cylch. Ffotograffau & District Society. Modern photos: Jo Danson. cyfoes: Jo Danson. Design: www.illustrativemapping.co.uk Dylunio: www.illustrativemapping.co.uk

Mostyn AberDee y Ddyfrdwy Estuary

Whitford A548 Greenfield Chwitffordd Maes-Glas Carmel A5026 Greenfield Valley Gorsedd Heritage Park Holywell Holywell Town Council Cyngor Tref Treffynnon Treffynnon A55 A5026 Flint Y Fflint Welcome to Holywell Heritage Trail Croeso i Lwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon

elcome to Holywell, the town with the longest continual roeso i Dreffynnon, y dref sydd â’r hanes hiraf o bererindota Whistory of public pilgrimage in Britain, stretching back over 13 Ccyhoeddus ym Mhrydain, ac y gellir olrhain ei hanes dros dair canrif centuries. Holywell Heritage Trail tells the story of St Winefride, her ar ddeg. Mae Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon yn adrodd hanes y Santes ‘Holy Well’ and how the town of Holywell grew and prospered. Gwenffrewi, ei ‘Ffynnon Sanctaidd’ ac fel y bu i Dreffynnon dyfu a ffynnu.

Holywell Heritage Trail starts in the High Street where there are many Man cychwyn Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon yw’r Stryd Fawr ble gwelir fine buildings, a legacy of the wealth generated by the cotton and copper industries of nifer o adeiladau gwych sy’n arwydd o’r cyfoeth a gynhyrchodd y diwydiant cotwm a Greenfield Valley in the 18th century. chopr yn Nyffryn Maes Glas yn y Ddeunawfed Ganrif.

From the High Street it is a short walk into Greenfield Valley to join the old railway Taith fer yw hi wedyn o’r Stryd Fawr i Ddyffryn track that is now a shady retreat full of birdsong. From St Winefride’s Halt the Trail Maes Glas i ymuno â’r hen lein rheilffordd sy’n lle then follows in the pilgrims’ footsteps as they would have walked up the Valley from tawel, cysgodol yn llawn canu adar erbyn hyn. O Greenfield Dock or to St Winefride’s Well. Water from the Arosfa’r Santes Gwenffrewi, â’r Llwybr yn ôl traed y Well powered the mills and foundries in the Valley as well as providing pererinion wrth iddyn nhw gerdded i fyny’r Dyffryn drinking water and bathing facilities for the town. o Ddoc Maes Glas neu Abaty Dinas Basing i Ffynnon y Santes Gwenffrewi. Bu dŵr y ffynnon yn gyrru’r The Trail continues past the entrance to the Holway Level melinau a’r ffowndri yn y Dyffryn yn ogystal â where you can hear the water darparu dŵr yfed a chyfleusterau ymolchi i’r dref. rushing by. The area at the top is rich in wildlife and has lovely Â’r Llwybr yn ei flaen heibio’r mynediad i Lefel views over the . Holway ble gallwch glywed sŵn y dŵr yn rhuthro Well Street, New Road and heibio. Mae’r rhan uchaf yn llawn o fywyd gwyllt a Fron Park are all worth cheir golygfeydd hardd dros Aber y Ddyfrdwy. Mae’n werth mynd i weld Stryd y Ffynnon, exploring at leisure to discover Stryd Newydd a Parc y Fron yn hamddenol a darganfod treftadaeth Treffynnon. the rich heritage of Holywell. The Story of Holywell

The story of Holywell starts around 600AD with Winefride, the daughter of a Welsh ©Flintshire Record Office Copper and brass goods from the mills and foundries of nobleman, and her uncle Beuno who established the first church in Holywell. Greenfield were taken via to the west coast of Africa where they were traded for slaves, destined for the Americas. Legend tells that Caradog, a royal prince, approached Winefride and wanted to Here they were exchanged for raw cotton, some of which marry her but Winefride insisted she was already betrothed to the church. ended up back at Greenfield to be spun in the three cotton Caradog cut off her head in anger but Beuno put back her head and mills built in the 1780s. miraculously she was restored to life. A great spring burst forth from the ground where Winefride’s head fell and Beuno said that anyone who asked By 1800 Holywell was the largest town in Flintshire with for Winefride’s help at that spot would receive it. 60 shops and 20 inns and beer houses. No 20 in the High Street was the premises of Holywell Bank, established around 1820 by Douglas, Smalley & Afterwards Winefride went to live at the monastery at Gwytherin where Co who employed over 1,200 people in their cotton mills in the Valley. The she became the abbess until her death around 660AD. Her remains town’s first post office opened in Panton Place in 1822. were taken from here to Shrewsbury in 1138 and so the cult of St Catholics no longer faced imprisonment for their religion and pilgrimage Winefride spread into England. The reputation of the Well drew many ©Flintshire Record Office increased as well-documented cures endorsed the healing powers of the people including Richard I who came to Holywell in 1189 to pray for well. Improvements were made to the well area and a hospice for poorer the success of his crusade. pilgrims opened in 1870. Father Charles Beauclerk S.J. came to Holywell in St Winefride’s Well and Church was under the care of the monks 1890 and set out to turn Holywell into the Lourdes of Wales, reviving street of Basingwerk from 1240 to 1537 and so royal visitors would have processions and drawing large numbers of pilgrims. stayed at the Abbey. Henry V travelled on foot from St Winefride’s The people of Holywell still relied on springs for their water supply tomb in Shrewsbury to Holywell in 1415 in thanksgiving for his including water from St Winefride’s Well. Joe Barker, a blind man, was a ©Flintshire Record Office Record ©Flintshire victory at Agincourt. familiar figure in Holywell around 1900 selling water from a barrel.

The monks of Basingwerk Abbey started the market in Holywell in 1292. They Holywell Town Station opened in 1912 with a stop at St. Winefride’s Halt sold their own produce including fine ale and collected taxes from the farmers for visitors to the well and workers in the nearby mills. and merchants who came into town to sell their goods. The monks were also the first to harness the power of the Disaster struck in January 1917 when water stopped flowing at the

water from the well, using it Well. Miners were extending the and had obviously tapped ©Flintshire Record Office Record ©Flintshire to grind corn and process into the underground source of the well. The supply was restored in the wool from their sheep. September 1917 but the outflow of the Milwr Tunnel into the Dee Estuary at Bagillt is still called ‘The Holy’. In the late 1700s water was still the cheapest and most Holywell still holds a weekly market on a Thursday and is home to a number of quality independent businesses as well as some national names reliable source of power and while events organised throughout the year attract locals and visitors alike. so industry grew, employing large numbers of people. ‘The Miracle’ sculpture by Michael Johnson was installed in 2014. ©Flintshire Record Office Record ©Flintshire

©Flintshire Record Office Hanes Treffynnon

Mae hanes Treffynnon yn dechrau tua 600AD gyda Gwenffrewi, merch melinau cotwm a adeiladwyd yn y 1780au. uchelwr o Gymru, a’i hewythr Beuno a sefydlodd yr eglwys gyntaf yn Nhreffynnon. Erbyn 1800 Treffynnon oedd y dref fwyaf yn Sir y Fflint. Roedd yma 60 o siopau a 20 o dafarndai a thai cwrw. Rhif 20 yn y Stryd Fawr oedd Yn ôl y chwedl, daeth y Tywysog Caradog at Gwenffrewi ac roedd am adeiladau Banc Treffynnon, a sefydlwyd tua 1820 gan Douglas, Smalley & ei phriodi, ond mynnodd hi ei bod eisoes wedi’i dyweddïo a’r Eglwys. ©Flintshire Record Office Co a gyflogodd dros 1,200 o bobl yn eu melinau cotwm yn y Dyffryn. Torrodd Caradog ei phen i ffwrdd mewn dicter ond, drwy wyrth, Agorodd Swyddfa Post gyntaf y dref yn Panton Place yn 1822. gosododd Beuno ei phen yn ôl ac fe atgyfododd Gwenffrewi. Llifodd ffynnon o’r ddaear lle syrthiodd ei phen a dywedodd Beuno y byddai’r Am nad oedd bygythiad bellach o garcharu Catholigion am eu crefydd, cynyddodd yr arfer o bererindota oherwydd yr hanesion bod y ffynnon sawl oedd yn gofyn am gymorth Gwenffrewi yn y lle hwn yn derbyn y ©Flintshire Record Office cymorth hwnnw. yn gallu iachau afiechydon. Gwnaed gwelliannau i ardal y ffynnon ac agorodd llety i’r pererinion mwyaf anghenus yn 1870. Daeth y Tad Charles Aeth Gwenffrewi i fyw yn y lleiandy yng Ngwytherin ble bu’n abades hyd Beauclerk S.J. i Dreffynnon yn 1890 gyda’r bwriad o droi Treffynnon yn ei marwolaeth tua 660 OC. Aed â’i gweddillion o’r fan hyn i’r Amwythig debyg i Lourdes yng Nghymru. Adferodd yr traddodiad o gynnal yn 1138 ac wedyn dechreuodd cwlt Y Santes Gwenffrewi ledaenu i Loegr. gorymdeithiau ar y strydoedd a denodd hynny nifer fawr o Oherwydd yr hanesion am rinweddau’r Ffynnon, denwyd nifer o bobl bererinion. yma ac yn eu plith roedd Richard I a ddaeth i Dreffynnon yn 1189 i weddïo am lwyddiant ei grwsâd. Roedd pobl Treffynnon yn dal i ddibynnu ar ddwr ffynhonnau am eu cyflenwad dwr, gan gynnwys dwr o Ffynnnon Gwenffrewi. Mynachod Dinas Basing oedd yn gofalu am Ffynnon Gwenffrewi a’r Eglwys o 1240 Roedd Joe Barker, y dyn dall, yn gymeriad adnabyddus yn tan 1537 ac felly byddai ymwelwyr brenhinol yn aros yn yr Abaty. Nhreffynnon tua 1900. Arferai werthu dwr o gasgen. Cerddodd Harri’r V o fedd y Santes Gwenffrewi yn yr Amwythig & District Society ©Holywell i Dreffynnon yn 1415 i ddiolch am ei fuddugoliaeth ym Mrwydr Agorodd Gorsaf Treffynnon yn 1912. Roedd y trenau yn sefyll

©Flintshire Record Office Agincourt. Mynachod Abaty Dinas Basing a ddechreuodd y farchnad yn yn Arosfa Santes Gwenffrewi ar gyfer ymwelwyr â’r ffynnon a Nhreffynnon yn 1292. gweithwyr y melinau cyfagos.

Roeddent yn gwerthu eu cynnyrch eu hunain, fel cwrw da, ac yn casglu Bu anffawd ym mis Ionawr 1917 pan fu atal ar lif y dŵr i Ffynnon y Santes trethi oddi wrth y ffermwyr a’r masnachwyr a ddeuai i’r dref i werthu Gwenffrewi am fod y mwynwyr yn ymestyn Twnnel y Milwr. Yn amlwg, eu cynnyrch hwythau. Y mynachod oedd y bobl gyntaf i sianelu pŵer roeddent wedi darganfod tarddiad tanddaearol y ffynnon. Adferwyd dŵr y ffynnon i falu yd a thrin gwlân eu defaid. llif y dŵr ym mis Medi 1917 ac mae’r dŵr i Dwnnel y Milwr yn Aber y Ddyfrdwy ym mhentref Bagillt yn dal i gael ei alw yn ‘Y Sanctaidd’. Ar ddiwedd y 1700au, dwr oedd y ffynhonnell fwyaf dibynadwy a rhataf o bwer, a dyna sut y tyfodd diwydiant oedd yn cyflogi nifer fawr o bobl. Aed Mae Treffynnon yn parhau i gynnal marchnad bob wythnos ar ddydd â nwyddau copr a phres o felinau a ffowndrioedd Maes Glas drwy Lerpwl Iau ac mae yma nifer o fusnesau annibynnol da a rhai busnesau i arfordir gorllewin Affrica i’w cyfnewid am gaethweision oedd i’w hanfon rhyngwladol hefyd yn ogystal â digwyddiadau a drefnir drwy’r i gyfandiroedd America. Yn yr America cyfnewidiwyd y caethweision am flwyddyn i ddenu pobl leol ac ymwelwyr fel ei gilydd. gotwm crai, a byddai peth o hwnnw yn dod i Faes Glas i’w nyddu yn y ©Flintshire Record Office Gosodwyd ‘ Y Wyrth’ - cerflun gan Michael Johnson yn 2014. Holywell Heritage Trail Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon

Come and explore Holywell at your leisure, taking time to look at some of the fine The clock on the Town Hall used buildings and find out how the town has grown and developed over the years. This trail to stand in the High Street but was links the High Street with St Winefride’s Well and continues up past the Holway Level mounted on the tower so that it could be seen from both ends of the where there are lovely views over the Dee Estuary. High Street. Dewch i ddarganfod Treffynnon, edrych yn hamddenol ar rai o’r adeiladau hardd a Arferai’r cloc sydd ar Neuadd y Dref darganfod sut y tyfodd ac a ffynnodd y dref dros y blynyddoedd. Mae’r llwybr hwn yn sefyll yn y Stryd Fawr. Cafodd ei osod ar y tŵr er mwyn gallu’i weld o ddau cysylltu’r Stryd Fawr â Ffynnon Gwenffrewi ac yn parhau i fyny heibio Lefel Holway ble ben y Stryd Fawr. ceir golygfeydd gwych dros Aber y Ddyfrdwy.

The White Horse Inn, now the HSBC, was a main posting house on the London to Holyhead route. Gwesty’r White Horse Hotel, banc HSBC erbyn hyn, oedd prif fan aros y goets fawr ar ffordd Llundain i Gaergybi. St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church was built in 1832 but was enlarged in 1909 because of the large numbers of worshippers attending. Fron Park was once part of the Fron Estate, the home of the Sankey family, leading civic figures of Holywell. Adeiladwyd Eglwys Babyddol y Santes Gwenffrewi yn 1832 a’i heangu yn 1909 am fod nifer fawr o addolwyr yn ei mynychu. Ar un cyfnod, roedd Parc y Fron yn rhan o Stad Fron oedd yn gartref i’r Teulu Sankey - teulu dinesig blaenllaw Treffynnon.

Bank Place was one of several streets leading from the High Street and home to the first bank in Holywell. Roedd Bank Place yn un o nifer o strydoedd oedd yn arwain o’r Stryd Fawr ac yn lleoliad banc cyntaf Treffynnon. Holywell Heritage Trail Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon

Panton Place was built in Greenfield Valley was packed with factories 1816 by Paul Panton to trading in goods across the world, originally provide living and working powered by water from St Winefride’s Well. accommodation for local professional and trades Roedd Dyffryn Maes Glas yn llawn o ffatrïoedd people. Look for the date in oedd yn masnachu nwyddau ar hyd a lled y the brickwork. byd. Yn wreiddiol, daeth y pŵer o Ffynnon Gwenffrewi. Adeiladwyd Panton Place yn 1816 gan Paul Panton i ddarparu llety a lle gweithio i bobl broffesiynol a masnachwyr lleol. Edrychwch am y dyddiad ar y brics.

Today Greenfield Valley is a Heritage Park with Erbyn hyn Parc Treftadaeth yw Dyffryn Maes attractive walks and a museum and farm that are Glas mae yma deithiau cerdded deniadol ac open during the summer months. amgueddfa a fferm sydd ar agor ym misoedd www.greenfieldvalley.com yr haf. www.greenfieldvalley.com

North Wales Pilgrim’s Way Llwybr Pererion Gogledd Cymru Pilgrim’s Way starts at Basingwerk Abbey in Dechreua Llwybr Pererinion Gogledd Cymru yn Abaty Dinas Greenfield Valley and follows the pilgrims’ journey from Basing sydd yn Nyffryn Maes Glas gan ddilyn taith pererinion St Winefride’s Well in Holywell to Bardsey Island just off o Ffynnon Gwenfrewi yn Nhreffynnon i Ynys Enlli oddi ar the Llyn Peninsular, a distance of around 130 miles. arfordir Penrhyn Llyn, sy’n daith o tua 130 milltir. Discover majestic mountains, tranquil woodland and Dewch i ddarganfod mynyddoedd mawreddog, coedlannau stunning coastline along the way. tawel ac arfordir syfrdanol ar y ffordd. www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org Holywell Heritage Trail Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon

The views over the estuary are spectacular, changing everyday with the tide and the seasons. Ceir golygfeydd syfrdanol dros yr aber, golygfeydd sy’n newid yn ôl y llanw a’r tymhorau.

St Winefride’s Guest House opened as a hospice for St Winefride’s Hall opened in 1895, designed as a school and pilgrims on 22nd June 1870, the feast of St Winefride. as a meeting place where pilgrims could gather. Agorodd Gwesty Gwenffrewi yn llety i bererinion ar 22 Agorodd Neuadd y Santes Gwenffrewi yn 1895. Cynlluniwyd Mehefin 1870 sef arŴ yl Gwenffrewi. fel ysgol a lle i’r pererinion gyfarfod.

Look out for the pretty spring sandwort that grows around old lead workings. Holway Level is a 2 mile long Chwiliwch am y tywodwlydd. Dyma blanhigyn underground watercourse that sy’n tyfu yn ardaloedd hen weithfeydd plwm. led to one of the most productive lead mines in Britain. Mae Lefel yr Holway yn gwrs dŵr tanddaearol dwy filltir o hyd a arweiniai at un o fwyngloddiau mwyaf cynhyrchiol ym Mhrydain.

The first school in Holywell opened in St Winefride’s Chapel over the well in 1723. Yn 1723 agorodd yr ysgol gyntaf yn Nhreffynnon yng Nghapel y Santes Gwenffrewi oedd dros y ffynnon. Holywell Heritage Trail Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon

The tower of St James’ Church dates from the fourteenth century while the rest of the church was rebuilt in 1769. Adeiladwyd Tŵr Eglwys Sant Iago yn y bedwaredd ganrif ar ddeg ac adeiladwyd gweddill yr eglwys yn 1769.

The magnificent well chamber and chapel were built in the late 15th century, probably for Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. The Well House was added in 1869. Holywell Art and Craft Mill was the shop of Holywell Textile Mills Ltd, the last textile business in Greenfield Valley that closed in 1991. Today it has a Adeiladwyd y siambr y ffynnon gwych a’r capel ar ddiwedd y friendly café, popular with locals and visitors alike. bymthegfed ganrif, yn ôl bob tebyg i Margaret Beaufort oedd yn fam i Harri’r VIIfed. Ychwanegwyd y Tŷ Ffynnon yn 1869. Siop yr Holywell Textile Mills Ltd oedd Melin Gelf a Chrefft Treffynnon. Dyma’r cwmni brethyn olaf yn Nyffryn Maes Glas. Caeodd yn 1991. Erbyn hyn, mae’n gaffi cyfeillgar sy’n boblogaidd gyda’r bobl leol a’r ymwelwyr.

Walking Holywell Heritage Trail Cerdded Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon The longer route is 2½ miles or 4km so allow 1 – 2 hours. It is a Y llwybr hiraf 2½ filltir /4km, gan ganiatau 1 – 2 awr. Mae’r allt i steep optional climb up to the natural hollow of St Beuno’s Well. bant naturiol Ffynnon Beuno yn serth – ac yn ddewisol! For details of accessibility contact 01352 710714 Am wybodaeth ynglyn a mynediad i bawb, cysylltwch a Holywell was granted national Walkers are Welcome 01352 710714 status in 2012 Enillodd Treffynnon statws ‘Croeso i Gerddwyr’ yn 2012

Brass rubbings Rhwbiadau Pres Look out for the brass insets in each of the panel frames. They all have Edrychwch am y mewnosodiadau pres yn fframiau’r paneli. Mae something to do with the Trail but can you tell what they are? Why pob un yn ymwneud â’r llwybr mewn rhyw ffordd. Allwch chi not take a crayon and a piece of paper so you can make a rubbing of ddyfalu sut? Beth am wneud rhwbiadau pres drwy ddefnyddio each one and have your own personal souvenir of the Trail? creon a phapur ac yna gallwch gael swfenîr personol o’r Llwybr? Parking Holywell Heritage Trail Parcio Cerdded ar hyd Llwybr Treftadaeth Treffynnon Toilets St Beuno’s Trail Toiledau Llwybr Sant Beuno Cafe North Wales Pilgrim’s Way Caffi Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru Steps Grisiau Chester and A55 Caer a A55

Fron Park Parc y Fron

Leisure Centre Y Ganolfan Hamdden

Memorial Gardens Gerddi Coffa Library Llyfrgell

HOLYWELL TREFFYNNON

St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church Adeiladwyd Eglwys Ba- byddol y Santes Gwenf- frewi St Winefride’s Hall Neuadd y Santes Gwenffrewi

St Beuno’s Well Fire Station Ffynnon y Sant Beuno Gorsaf Dân St James’

Church

Eglwys Sant 0 Iago 0 Castle mound Greenfield Dock Twmpath Conwy and A55 St Winefride’s Well Holway Level Basingwerk Abbey castell Conwy a A55 Ffynnon y Santes Gwenf- Lefel Holway frewi

former railway line

hen linell rheilffordd 0 250 metres/ metr

0 250 yards / llathen

Greenfield Valley Dyffryn Maes Glas

St Winefride’s Halt Arosfa Santes Gwenffrewi

Greenfield Dock Doc Maes Glas Basingwerk Abbey Abaty Dinas Basing