40-496: Gwydir Castle is situated in the Conwy valley , Wales, a mile to the west of the ancient market town of Llanrwst and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south of the large village of Trefriw . An example of a fortified manor house dating back to c. 1500 , it is located on the edge of the floodplain of the river Conwy , and overlooked from the west by the now-forested slopes of Gwydir Forest . The name Gwydir derives from
80-678: A manor house on the site. He would later go onto support the rising led by Owain Glyndŵr . By the 16th century, Gwydir had become the seat of the powerful Wynn family who were descendants of the Kings of Gwynedd . The Wynns were one of the most significant families of north Wales during the Tudor and Stuart periods. Following the Wars of the Roses , the castle was rebuilt by Meredith ap Ieuan ap Robert ,
120-731: A bardic prince of Rheged , fought a bloody battle nearby and later when the Kingdoms of Gwynedd and Deheubarth fought a major battle near Llanrwst in AD 954. By the 14th century, the Welsh knight Hywel Coetmor , who had fought in the Hundred Years' War as a commander of longbowmen under Edward, the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, is recorded as the first owner of
160-506: A generally northern direction, being joined by the tributaries of the rivers Machno and Afon Lledr before reaching Betws-y-coed , where it is also joined by Llugwy . From Betws-y-coed the river continues to flow north through Llanrwst , Trefriw (where it is joined by the Afon Crafnant ) and Dolgarrog (where it is joined by Afon Porth-llwyd and Afon Ddu ) before reaching Conwy Bay at Conwy . A local quay , Cei Cae Gwyn,
200-527: A period of some neglect (but in 1796 the title of Baron Gwydyr was created for Peter Burrell, 1st Baron Gwydyr , husband of Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby , who acted as Lord Great Chamberlain in 1780–1820), and by the early 19th century the estate largely comprised the parishes of Dolwyddelan (where the Wynns also had an ancestral home), Llanrhychwyn , Trefriw, and Gwydir, totalling some 55 square miles (140 km). This land, however,
240-555: Is a river in north Wales . From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is 55 kilometres (34 mi) long and drains an area of 678 square km. "Conwy" was formerly anglicised as "Conway." The name 'Conwy' derives from the old Welsh words cyn (chief) and gwy (water), the river being originally called the 'Cynwy'. It rises on the Migneint moor where a number of small streams flow into Llyn Conwy , then flows in
280-586: Is located on its bank. During spring tides the river is tidal as far as Tan-lan, near Llanrwst. This is a list of named tributaries of the Conwy (and their tributaries) listed from source to sea; The Conwy is bounded to the east by the rolling ancient mudstone hills of the Silurian period, the Migneint Moors. These acid rocks are generally covered in thin, often acid soils and for large parts of
320-456: Is noted for its salmon and sea trout , although increasing acidification in the second half of the 20th century, especially in the poorly buffered upland waters has significantly impacted upon their spawning success. The construction of an artificial fish pass in the 1990s to allow migratory salmonids access to the river above Conwy falls was intended to help mitigate the effects of acidification. The Conwy Crossing, an immersed tube tunnel ,
360-449: Is routinely polluted by Dŵr Cymru sewage treatment plants and agricultural runoff. Algae blooms are common during the summer months. The river quality tends to be acidic in the headwaters with very low concentrations of the common anions and cations. Natural Resources Wales monitors water levels in the valley, with a view to giving flood warnings. There are measuring stations at Betws-y-coed (Cwmlanerch), Llanrwst and Trefriw. The Conwy
400-679: Is said to have been designed by Inigo Jones . It has elaborate wood panelling, several family tombs and a stone coffin said to be that of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth , moved from Maenan Abbey at the Dissolution.) The chapel is still owned by the Willoughby family who were the hereditary owners of Gwydir Castle. It is now managed by Cadw . 53°07′58″N 3°48′04″W / 53.1328°N 3.8010°W / 53.1328; -3.8010 Conwy valley The River Conwy ( Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkɔnʊɨ] ; Welsh : Afon Conwy )
440-593: Is supported by natural rock, in addition to boulder clay cliff, sand dune, salt marsh and woodland. The scattered communities along the Conwy valley have ancient traditions with archeological evidence of habitation back to the Stone Age . The Romans occupied this area up to 400 AD and there has been continuous habitation since that time. The valley is home to two of the oldest churches in Wales , those at Llanrhychwyn and Llangelynnin , which respectively date back to
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#1732791234593480-624: The Peerage of England . It was created in 1626 for the 14th Baron Willoughby de Eresby . He was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1635 to 1636 and also established his claim in right of his mother to the hereditary office of Lord Great Chamberlain of England . Lord Lindsey fought on the Royalist side in the Civil War and was mortally wounded at the Battle of Edgehill on 23 October 1642. He
520-535: The Welsh gwo- 'under, low' and tir 'land', referring to the land beside the river Conwy. Any similarity with the Welsh word gwydr 'glass' is coincidental. There have been fortifications associated with this site since AD 600. In the Early Middle Ages , numerous skirmishes were fought in the area between the post-Roman kingdoms of Wales . Two significant encounters were in AD 610, when Llywarch Hen ,
560-515: The upland areas the cover is of moor grass – Mollinia spp and Erica communities. As a result, the water entering the river tends to be acidic and often coloured brown with humic acids . To the west, the catchment is underlain by older Cambrian rocks which are harder and the landscape is, as a consequence, more dramatic with high craggy hills and mountains , through which the river falls in cascades and waterfalls . Examples of torrential river geomorphology can be seen at Conwy Falls and in
600-516: The 11th and 12th centuries. Much of the Conwy valley was laid waste in the Wars of the Roses by the Earl of Pembroke , under the orders of Edward IV , the Yorkist king, following a Lancastrian attack on the town of Denbigh in 1466. At the mouth of the Conwy as it discharges into Conwy Bay is the town of Conwy with its World Heritage Site castle – Conwy Castle and two famous bridges. One of
640-710: The 1590s. The Old Dutch garden contains ancient yew topiary and an octagonal fountain. The Royal and Statesman's gardens contain Welsh Oaks planted during the royal visit of 1899, and in 1911. An Elizabethan causeway called the Chinese Walk runs across the fields to the River Conwy, where the remains of the Gwydir Quay can be seen. The River Conwy was tidal up to this point, but silting has limited most tides to below Gowers Bridge. Gwydir Uchaf Chapel, in
680-517: The Air. The castle is set within a Grade 1 listed , 10-acre (40,000 m) garden, which contains some ancient cedars — one of which was planted in 1625 to commemorate the wedding of King Charles I to Queen Henrietta Maria . One yew tree, known as the "Lovers Tree" or "Giant Yew", is estimated to be between 600 and 1,000 years old, and therefore pre-dates the castle itself. The raised terrace contains an imposing Renaissance arch, probably dating from
720-705: The Great and Edward I . Gwydir was home to Katheryn of Berain . King Charles is said to have visited Gwydir in 1645 as the guest of Sir Richard Wynn, 2nd Baronet , Treasurer to Queen Henrietta Maria , and Groom of the Royal Bed Chamber. More recently, King George V and Queen Mary stayed here as the Duke and Duchess of York, in April 1899. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gwydir Estate under
760-501: The Lledr Gorge. The land to the east is highly forested with planted non-native conifers . On the western side of the valley are a number of lakes and reservoirs . The rocks are also rich in minerals and there are many abandoned mine sites where copper , lead and silver have been mined since Roman times. The river valley downstream of Betws-y-coed is relatively wide and fertile, and supports dairying and sheep rearing. In
800-645: The Wynn family dominated north Wales, and at the centre of this huge estate, Gwydir itself stood in a deer park of some 36,000 acres (150 km). In 1678, it passed by marriage to the Barons Willoughby de Eresby (when Mary Wynn married Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven , then Lord Willoughby de Eresby), based in Lincolnshire ( Dukes of Ancaster and Kesteven in 1715–1779, and from 1892 Earls of Ancaster ). The 18th century consequently saw
840-404: The area. However, problems with resupply in the event of siege and its destruction by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd , Prince of Wales in 1263 to prevent it falling into King Edward's hands, led to a new castle being built across the water in Conwy town. 53°18′N 3°50′W / 53.300°N 3.833°W / 53.300; -3.833 Earl of Lindsey Earl of Lindsey is a title in
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#1732791234593880-472: The arrival of King George I . In 1706 he was created Marquess of Lindsey and in 1715 he was further honoured when he was made Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. Both titles were in the Peerage of Great Britain . His son, the second duke, was called to the House of Lords in 1715 through a writ of acceleration as Baron Willoughby de Eresby. He later served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. He was succeeded by his son,
920-558: The arrival of the railway in the 1860s, most slate was carried by cart to the quays at Trefriw. The estate also owned a number of mineral mines, mostly in the area of today's Gwydir Forest . The principle quarries on the estate were located around Dolwyddelan, where a syncline compressed the Nod Glas mudstones into slate veins. These were the Prince Llewellyn , Chwarel Ddu , Ty'n-y-bryn and Rhiw-goch quarries. Much of
960-523: The date of 1555. The surviving buildings date from around the year 1500, and there were alterations and additions in c. 1540 , c. 1600 and c. 1828 , the latter after Lord Willoughby had undertaken some demolition work in c. 1819 . Although called a castle, it is an example of a Tudor architecture courtyard house or fortified manor house, rather than a traditional castle, such as those built in North Wales by Llywelyn
1000-518: The earliest suspension bridges by Thomas Telford now carries a footpath whilst Robert Stephenson 's tubular iron bridge still carries the main Holyhead to London railway line . A third bridge now takes road traffic, and more recently still the A55 now runs in a tunnel under the estuary . Neither the River Conwy or its tributaries are monitored for quality by Natural Resources Wales . The river
1040-611: The eighth Earl of Abingdon , who became the thirteenth earl. However, it was not until 1951 the Lord Abingdon was recognised in the earldom of Lindsey. As of 2017 the title is held by his first cousin, the fourteenth Earl of Lindsey and ninth Earl of Abingdon. The family seat is at Gilmilnscroft House, near Mauchline , in East Ayrshire . The heir apparent is the present holder's son Henry Mark Willoughby Bertie, Lord Norreys (b. 1958). The heir apparent's heir apparent
1080-515: The estate was, however, under continuous mortgage, and in 1894 Dolwyddelan was sold off, followed in the next two years by most of Llanrhychwyn and Trefriw. The sale of the house in 1921 by the Earl Carrington saw it passing out of inherited ownership for the first time in over 400 years, and virtually all other lands were subsequently sold off. Today the estate comprises just the 10 acres (40,000 m) in which Gwydir Castle sits. In 1921,
1120-528: The founder of the Wynn dynasty. The house incorporated re-used mediaeval material from the dissolved Abbey of Maenan . The square turret at the rear of the Solar Tower contains a spiral staircase taken from the Abbey and many elaborately carved stones can also be seen. The turret was added around 1540 and John Wyn ap Maredudd's initials can be seen above the main entrance in the courtyard gatehouse along with
1160-646: The museum, which sold the panels back to the Corbetts. They have been carefully replaced in their original setting, and the restored dining room was re-opened in July 1998 at a ceremony attended by the Prince of Wales . In 1922, a fire broke out and gutted the Solar Tower, leaving it roofless. A subsequent fire in the West Wing made the place untenable, and it was abandoned, remaining unoccupied until 1944. In this year it
1200-566: The office of Lord Great Chamberlain (the abeyance was terminated in 1780 in favour of Priscilla; see the Baron Willoughby de Eresby for later history of this title). The late Duke was succeeded in the earldom, marquessate and dukedom by his uncle, the fifth duke. He represented Lincoln in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. He had no sons and on his death in 1809 the marquessate and dukedom became extinct. He
1240-525: The panelled main dining room from the 1640s was stripped, the carved and gilded panelling being bought at auction by William Randolph Hearst , the American press baron. On his death, the panels were inherited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and until recently were kept in storage at the museum. The new owners of Gwydir, Peter Welford and Judy Corbett, traced these panels and negotiated with
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1280-583: The third Earl. He represented Boston in the House of Commons and served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire . His son, the fourth earl, was summoned to the House of Lords in 1690 through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Willoughby de Eresby. He later served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and was one of the Lords Justice before
1320-536: The third duke. He was a general in the Army and served as Master of the Horse from 1766 to 1778. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. His son, the fourth duke, was briefly Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire but died unmarried in 1779 at an early age. On his death the barony of Willoughby de Eresby fell into abeyance between his sisters Lady Priscilla and Georgiana, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who also jointly inherited
1360-420: The winter, these pastures are used to nurture the sheep brought down from the mountains to avoid the worst of the winter weather. Aber Afon Conwy is a site of special interest. It has acquired such a status due to its marine and terrestrial biology. The tidal reach of the site is around 16 km (9.9 mi). Its upstream boundary is south of Tal y Cafn, and the whole site encompasses Conwy Bay. The shoreline
1400-605: The woods above Gwydir Castle, was built in 1673 by Sir Richard Wynn as a family memorial chapel for the Wynns of Gwydir. The simple exterior provides a direct contrast with its beautifully painted ceiling, depicting the Creation , the Trinity and the Last Judgement . This chapel should not be confused with the one adjoining Llanrwst Church, called Gwydir Chapel. (This was built in 1633 by an earlier Sir Richard Wynn, and
1440-485: Was bought by Arthur Clegg, a retired bank manager, who, together with his wife and son, started a 20-year programme of renovation. The castle is now privately owned by Peter Welford and his wife, Judy Corbett. They purchased the castle in 1994. They then began a programme of restoration to restore the 15th-century Tudor castle to its former glory. The story of the restoration is told in Judy Corbett's book Castles in
1480-648: Was built under the estuary during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was opened by the Queen in October 1991. This resulted in the loss of some saltmarsh but also led to the creation of Conwy RSPB Reserve . Since 2002 the valley has been overlooked by the turbines of the Moel Maelogan wind farm . The panorama shows the mouth of the Conwy Estuary from Deganwy Castle , the original defensive position of
1520-493: Was mostly mountainous and of poor quality, and although there were some 30 slate mines on the land, of varying sizes, this slate was not of a particularly good standard, much of it more suited to slabs than roofing slate. Nor was production high, and the output of all the quarries over the 150 years of their existence totalled, for instance, just two years' worth of output from the Blaenau Ffestiniog quarries. Prior to
1560-542: Was succeeded by his son, the second earl. He also fought at Edgehill and surrendered to the Parliamentarians in order to attend his mortally wounded father. Lord Lindsey later fought at the First Battle of Newbury , Second Battle of Newbury , and at Naseby . His son from his second marriage, James, was created Earl of Abingdon in 1682. He was succeeded by his son from his first marriage to Martha Cockayne,
1600-496: Was succeeded in the earldom of Lindsey by his third cousin, the ninth earl. He was the great-grandson of the Hon. Charles Bertie, fifth son of the second earl. Lord Lindsey was a general in the Army and also sat as Member of Parliament for Stamford . On the death in 1938 of his grandson, the twelfth earl, the line of the fifth son of the second earl failed. The late earl was succeeded by his distant relative (his fifth cousin thrice removed)
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