.S- iv:iw> mi^n THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES 1* TOPOGRAPHY OF #reat Uvitain, OR, BRITISH TRAVELLER'S POCKET DIRECTORY; BEING AN ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE COUNTIES IN WITH THE ADJACENT ISLANDS: ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS OF THE COUNTIES, WHICH FORM A COMPLETE BRITISH ATLAS. BY G. A. COOKE, ESQ. VOL. XV. CONTAINING NORTH WALES AND SHROPSHIRE. Itontiott: Printed, by Assignment from the Executors of the late C. Cooke, FOR SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLEKS, 3A ; C^W^ TOPOGRAPHICAL V^^ST AND STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES. PART I. NORTH WALES. Containing an Account of its Situation, Mines, Aa^ricullure, Extent, Minerals, Fairs, Towns, Fisheries, Markets. Roads, Manufactures, Curiosities, Rivers, Trade, Antiquities, Lakes, Commerce. Natural Histfery Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions, &c. To which is prefixed, A COPIOUS TRAVELLING GUIDE Exhibiting The Direct and Principal Cross Roads Inns and Distances of Stages, and Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats, WITH A LIST OF THE FAIRS, And an Index Table, Shewing, at One View, the Distances of all the Towns from London, and of Towns from each other. BY G. A. COOKE, ESQ. Illustrated with A MAP OF THE PRINCIPALITY. fiotttron: Printed, by Assignmentfrom the Executors ofthe late C. Cooke^ SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. UARNARD and FABXETy iAiimtt-Stritt, London, EDiTOIi'S JDDRESS. TN justice to Thomas Evans, Esq. author of the Caml»rian Itinerary, we think it necessary to state, that we are wholly indebted to his interest- ing communication, for the accurate description of the Principality of Wales, which forms the con- tents of our present volume. Indeed the only labour which has devolved upon us has been to make the necessary arrangement of it into jour- nies, and to add the itinerary, and list of fairs, agreeably to the former parts of the work. In the perusal of it, the reader will not fail to appre- ciate the talents of a gentleman who has so agree- ably and usefully combined whatever may be of service to the Cambrian tourist, whether for plea- sure or occupation. In short nothing but a con- formity to our original plan would have prevented that gentleman's name from appearing as the au- thor, to which appellation he is indeed justly entitled, and by which name we insert his pre- liminary remarks. AUTHOR'S ADDRESS. 6i 'T'^HE design of the following sheets is to give a ge- neral and impartial account of the former import- ance and remaining antiquities of my native country, once so renowned in the annals of this island ; but whe- ther my endeavours will be satisfactory or not, depend on the nature of my reader's studies and pursuits ; how- ever, to those fond of antiquarian researches I do not wholly despair of giving amusement, and much local infprmation. " As to myself, I shall always look back with pleasure on the large portion of time employed in travelling and collecting materials, as spent in a manner the most agreeable to my own decided taste and wishes; but such of my readers as look for highly polished periods, and that perfect accuracy in a work of general description, must be informed, it is absolutely unattainable ; there- fore will probably on reflection be content with an in- ferior degree of merit in a production of assiduity and diligence. " The distinction, ako, that I have observed between minute and superfluous illustrations, will not, I trust be deemed improper— for had I deeply engaged myself in enumerating the several vicissitudes of each town, vil- lage, hamlet, castle, and lordship, or been minute in having the genealogies and histories of the several fami- lies inserted to which they have at diflferent periods ap- pertained, or scrutinized the origin of every local custom, dived far into antiquity, revived vulgar traditions, or pointed out the errors and defects of my predecessors, every county would, at least, have required a volume of itself. " Notwithstanding, I have endeavoured in the present volume, to describe with brevity, accuracy, and perspi- cuity, everj' pleasing prospect or ruin which occurred to me in my several journies through the principality, I can with confidence assert, there is nothing left unde- scribed in either North or South, which is deserving the attention of a traveller. In accomplishing this, many obligations are due to my friends, who voluntarily assist- ed my inquiries, particularly their numerous communi- author's address. 5 cations relative to South Wales, which have enabled me to render that division of our principality considerably more complete than any thing previously pftered to the public. " In general, as might have been expected from my peculiar connexions in the principalitj-, I have declined either eulogium or reflection on tiieinhabitants-^it ap- peared indeed almost unnecessary, for civility and lios- pitality have been universally admitted as an aflection peculiar to the Welsh, and so fascinating to stranger?, that its influence adorns the rngged mountains, which otherwise seem impervious to the haunts of men* ! " Still some tourists, with more apparent prejudice than justice, have given existence to innumerable defects among the Welsh—which, if they could substantiate, would not tarnish their characteristic of universal phi- lanthropy, but on the contrary appear like shades in the national character of a brave, generous, and hospitable people, consequently have faded imperceptibly beneath their prosperity ; while the arts, manufactures, and com- merce with other countries, have produced a regular pro- gress to improvement, which want only years to render permanent, and confirm to future ages the ancient ener- gy and respectability of the Cavihro-Britons. " 1 have only to add, that my hopes are not very san- guine, nor ray views extensive, consequently no disap- pointment to apprehend from whatever reception this volume may obtain—still I hope, for public good, and without soliciting unmerited adulation, that my labours will be productive of information and utility, without incurring from the cheek of modesty a blush. Being thus reconciled to the result, by the most satisfactory and patriotic intentions, I shall, without hesitation, rely on the candour of the public, and with respectful silence submit to their decision." T. E. * Skrine. B-haJadr-Gwy,-} Radnorshire. $ A 3 n 5-•=5 -Select: « o '^^'^^ « - O = fc. -r "J •= ji ^ 5^ £s Sx -=63 2 P 2 S - 2 O I. i: U-: r fi t- "S o C.2-si AN INDEX TABLE 0/ the Distances from Town to Town, in The names of the respectiTe Towns are on the top and side, and the square where be meet eives the ilisianre. ^ ^ t, o c « Hi ^ S 2 S ^ ( 8 ) A TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS IN NORTH WALES, Their Distance from London, County, Markets^ JSumher of Houses and Inhabitants, with the Time of the Arrival and Departure of the Post. Mar- ji To,Tn= Disi. Counties. 3 Post De kets. o -5 5 arrives, parts. Aberconway '2.^0 Caernar. Frid. lOim. l^afl. Aberfraw Anglesea 1034 Abergeley -344 Denbigh. Sat. 1944 Almwch 373 Anglesea. 4210 St. Asaph 209 Flint. Sat. 1320 6im. 5iafL Bal<a -202 Merion. Sat. 2363 aft. 7 m. Bang-or -251 Caernar. Wed, 436:2.iS3 9 m. 11 m Beaumaris 249 Anglesea. YV. S. -29311810 5 aft. 7 m. Beddgelert •23S Caernar. 1291 74' Caernarvon 230 Caernar. Sat. 961 4593 4 aft. S m. Caei-wys 212 Flint. Tues. -207 863 Ceryg y Drudioiu. 212 Denbigh. 201 941 Chirk 1S5 Denbigh. 206 1112 Cly nnogfawr 262 Caernar. 303 130S Corwen -202 Merion. 28S 1417 Cruccaith 237 Caernar. Wed. 94 439 Denbigh 21S Denbigh. Wed. 617 2716 Sim. 21 aft. Diiias Mawddwy. 202 Merion. Frid. 12H 667 Dolgellau 209 Merion. Tues. 337 .i064 3 aft Flint 204 Flint. 293 1433 Harlech 229 Merios. Sat. 62 389 Ha-warden 197 Flint. Sat. 832 4436 Holt 1S3 Denbigh. 161 813! 184 2871 1397 LlauarmoniuYale i Denbigh. jlaudelchud 230 Caernar. 239 1470 i Llanelian 10 Denbigh. 108 634 Llanfechell Anglesea, 167 793 Llangellon Denbigh. Sat. 1337 6649 Llanidloes Montgom. Sat. 470 ^386, 12 6 aft. Llanrhaiadr Denbigh. 31^ 1692; Llansannon Denbigh. 257 1221 . ( 9 ) Counties. Llansbiad DyffiQ Clwyd 218 Llauufydd 220 Llanusocblya . JLilanvylliii 186 Machynllaith.... 2t!0 Mold 207 Montgomery 16D Nevyii 21£ Newburgh 26' Newtown 17^ Overton 1S3 Penmoi'va 239 Penystreet in Trawsfynyd ... 233 PwUheli 2ib Rhuddlan 220 Ruabon 221 Ruthin 210 Towyn 21' Welsh Pool 17 Wrexham ISS AN ITINERARY OF ALL. THE DIRECT AND PRINCIPAL CROSS ROADS NORTH WALES. IN WHICH ARE INCLUDED THE STAGES, INXS, AND GENTLEMEN'S SEATS. .V. B. The first Column contains the Names of Places passed through; the Figures thatfollow shewthe Diitancesfrom Place to Place, Town to Town, and Stages ; and in the last Columnare the names of Gentlemen's Seats and Iniis. The right and left of the Roads are distinguished by the letters R ayid L. FROM LONDON TO HOLYHEAD, THROUGH DUNSTABLE, CHESTER, HOLYWELL, ABEB- CONWAY, AND BA^GOR. London to Islington . —— ; ITl^rtRARY OF THE ROADS, &C. 11 Over Hadley Sir Robert Sheffield, hart. Green to Barnel L ; — Lea, esq, andMrs. Pillar lit Keate, R. On R. a T. R. to Hatfield and Hertford, Kitt'sEnd 12i ^^ew Lodge, Mrs. Baron- neau ; fVrotham Park, G. Byng, esq. on R Dyrham Park, J. Trot- ter, esq. L. South Mims.... Inn White Hart. North Mims, Henry Browne, esq. R. RidgeHill,Herts 16 Shenley Parsonage, Rev. P. J^ewcombe, R ; a lit- tle beyond Salisbury, — Snell, esq. L. Cofney Bridge . ni Tiitenhanger, Earl of Cross the Colne Hardwick, R ; Colney river. Park, — Simpson, esq. L. St.