Caerwys

From Wikishire
Jump to: navigation, search
Caerwys
Flintshire
Caerwys Town Square.jpg
Town Square
Location
Grid reference: SJ128729
Location: 53°14’46"N, 3°18’25"W
Data
Population: 10,315  (2001)
Post town: Buckley
Postcode: CH7
Dialling code: 01352
Local Government
Council: Flintshire
Parliamentary
constituency:
Delyn

Caerwys is a town in Flintshire, just under two miles from the A55 North Wales Expressway. At the 2001, the population of Caerwys civil parish was 10,315. The parish includes the tiny village of Afon-wen which lies to the south, on the mai A541 and the River Wheeler.

Caerwys is listed in the Domesday Book as a small market town of Cheshire.

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 is the summer home to many holiday makers as there are no fewer than 3 caravan parks set within the town.

Parish church

The parish church is St Michael's, and it is well-maintained. It has two parallel naves. 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, broher of Llywelyn the Last (d. 1283). A short, informative booklet about the church was written in 1936 and updated in 1995.

History

Caerwys and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania 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.[1] Welsh names crop up everywhere, and several buildings built in Philadelphia resemble buildings in the Caerwys area, some of which still stand today.[2]

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.

Sport

  • Football: Caerwys FC, who have a rivalry with many clubs including Holywell Town, Denbigh Town and Ruthin Town. They also have a Summer League team and have a rivalry with Ysceifiog.

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Caerwys)

References