Chester 23 Denbigh 7½ Holywell 6 London 212 Mold 12 St. Asaph 7
Caerwys, formerly a market town, with the parish of the same name, contains about 1000 inhabitants, being situated on the high road leading from Holywell to Denbigh, through the beautiful Vale of Clwyd. Caerwys has the most considerable fairs for cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, in all the country, though its markets have long since failed. The market-house still remains, but it has been converted, time out of mind, into a dwelling-house. It is close to the cross; to the S. W. the arches are yet plainly to be seen, though filled up; and the remains of an erect south dial are yet distinctly to be seen in the south wall.
A few hundred yards to the west, is a most beautiful dingle, known by the name of Maesmynan Wort, offering a pleasant ramble to the admirer of nature and the botanist. Near the place where the brook, which runs through this dingle by Maesmynan House, empties itself into the Wheeler, was formerly the residence of Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, the last native prince of Wales: a cottage, now called Pandy, shews the place where the prince resided.
Among the towns of the Principality, this was formerly a place of great renown, but its glory has faded away, and nought remains to evince its ancient consequence but its name. This is a compound of the two words, _Caer_, a city, and _gwŷs_, a summons, notifying its having been a place of judicature. The assizes for the county were held in the town of Caerwys till about the middle of the seventeenth century, when they were removed to Flint; the goal is yet remaining, though converted into a dwelling-house, called Yr hên Gaol. This still continues to be one of the contributory boroughs for the return of a member to parliament. Mr. Pennant, upwards of fifty years ago, describes Caerwys as a “town mouldering away with age.” The chief boast of this town was its being the _olympia_ of North Wales, the theatre where the British bards poured forth their extemporaneous effusions,
“In thoughts that breathe, and words that burn;”
and where the honoured minstrels awakened
“Their harps to soul-enchanting melody, And gave to rapture all their trembling strings.”
Here were held the ancient _Eisteddvodau_, or congresses of bards and minstrels, where judges presided, appointed by special commission from the Princes of Wales previous to the conquest, and from the Kings of England after that event. These arbiters were bound to pronounce justly and impartially on the talents of the respective candidates, and grant degrees according to merit. The bards were formed into a college, the members of which had particular privileges to be enjoyed by none but such as were admitted to their degrees, and licensed by the judges. The last commission granted by royal authority for holding this court of Apollo seems to have been in the 9th of Elizabeth, when Sir Richard Bulkeley, knt. and certain other persons were empowered to make proclamation in the towns of North Wales, that all persons intending to follow the profession of bards, &c. should appear before them at Caerwys on a certain day, in order to give proofs of their talents in the science of music, and to receive licenses to practise the same. The meeting was numerous, and fifty-five persons were admitted to their degrees. From this period, these meetings were discontinued at Caerwys and throughout the Principality: the minstrel ceased to be considered a venerable character in England, and our monarchs looked, probably, with equal contempt on the bards of Wales. Thus neglected and despised, the Eisteddvodau dwindled to nothing, and reposed in oblivion for many years.