MenuDenbighshire, Wales
Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych) is a maritime county in north Wales.Denbighshire has a gentle coast on the Irish Sea, a sandy coast dotted with holiday resorts. Inland the county is agricultural, low-lying near the coast and along the Clwyd Valley (shared with Flintshire), becoming more rolling with charming villages as one moves more southward. The south and west of Denbighshire rise into the mountains. Pistyll-y-Rhaeader is a spectacular 240 feet waterfall. A south-western spur of Denbighshire drives high up to the Migneint. Another arm reaches far east, between the two parts of Flintshire, to embrace Wrexham beyond the mountains.
Portrait of Denbighshire.
Place Type: Historic County
Alternative name(s): Sir Ddinbych
Lat, Long: 53.162869,-3.495966
Grid Reference: SJ000639
Country: Wales
GBPNID: 305785
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Denbighshire,_305785
Explore Denbighshire on Wikishire
In the south and west of the county are high mountains of the Cambrian range. The River Conwy runs north along the western border with Caernarfonshire. Llanrwst is a small market town on its eastern bank. Llanrwst became known for harp manufacture. The three-arch stone bridge across the Conwy, Pont Fawr, dates from 1636 and is said to have been designed by Inigo Jones. Bodnant Garden (NT) is a beauteous estate overlooking the Conwy valley and Snowdonia.
Pont Fawr with Llanwrst (Denbighshire) on right bank
Mynydd Hiraethog (Denbigh Moors) is a large upland area of moorland lying east of the Conwy Valley. The highest point is Mwdwl-eithin (1,745 feet). There are two sizeable natural lakes, Llyn Alwen and Llyn Aled, as well as the reservoirs Llyn Brenig and Alwen Reservoir. The Clocaenog Forest was planted in 1905 on the eastern side of the Mynydd Hireathog. The forest, 40 square miles in extent, is a stronghold of the red squirrel.
Mwdwl-eithin summit
North of Mynydd Hiraethog is lower land stretching down to the broad coastal plain. Larger villages include LLanfair Talhaiarn on the River Elwy; Llangernwy on the Afon Cledwen; and Llansannan on the River Aled.
Along the county's coastal plain are found its famous seaside resorts. At the far west lies Rhos-on-Sea. The 6th century St Trillo's Chapel is on the site of a pre-Christian, sacred holy well. Bryn Euryn is a hill overlooking the town. On it are the remains of a hillfort called Dinerth and the ruins of the manor Llys Euryn, built by Ednyfed Fychan, general to Llywelyn the Great. The town of Colwyn Bay is famous for its beaches. The town of Old Colwyn had the "Old" added in Victorian times to distinguish it from the rapidly growing Colwyn Bay resort to its west. The Victorian "Fairy Glen" is a popular attraction.
St Trillo's Chapel, Rhos-on-Sea
Further along the coast, Abergele originated from an old Roman trading town. Its northern suburb of Pensarn has a popular beach. Gwrych Castle is a Grade I listed 19th-century country house. East of the town lie the resorts of Towyn and Kinmel Bay. Kinmel Bay lies on the west bank of the mouth of the River Clwyd, here forming the border with Flintshire.
Gwrych Castle
The River Clwyd rises in the Clocaenog Forest and flows from south to north through the county. The broad, fertile Vale of Clwyd comprises much of the eastern side of Denbighshire. The town of Ruthin lies in the southern part of the Vale. Ruthin Castle was demolished by order of Parliament during the Civil War. It was rebuilt in the 19th century as a country house. Nantclwyd y Dre was built about 1435 and is believed to be the oldest surviving town house in Wales.
The market town of Denbigh grew around the glove-making industry. Denbigh Castle, together with its town walls, was built in 1282 by order of King Edward I. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, planned for the town to have a cathedral. He ran out of money and, instead, he left the ruins known as Leicester's Church. North of Denbigh, the River Clwyd enters Flintshire.
The Clwydian Hills run north from near the village of Llandegla. Much of the eastern border with the main body of Flintshire lies among the hills.
South of the Denbigh Moors, a large tract of Merionethshire, including Corwen, stretches across Denbighshire to within a few miles of Flintshire. To the south of this, Denbighshire broadens out into a large area running south-west to north-east. At the south-west end lie in the Cambrian Mountains and the county top, Cadair Berwyn, on the Merionethshire border. Pistyll Rhaeadr is a spectacular waterfall on the River Disgynfa, which forms the border between Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. The fall has three stages, over a 240-foot Silurian cliff-face. It is counted as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
Pistyll Rhaeadr
North of this area, where the River Dee flows into Denbighshire from Merionethshire, lies the historic town of Llangollen, venue of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. The 16th-century bridge across the Dee is a scheduled ancient monument and considered one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. Plas Newydd, the famous home of the Ladies of Llangollen, was originally a five-roomed stone cottage, but was enlarged to include many Gothic features. East of Llangollen, Thomas Telford's dramatic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, of 1805, carries the Shropshire Union Canal 120 feet over the Dee.
Llangollen Bridge
Valle Crucis Abbey (Cadw) is a ruined Cistercian abbey located in nearby Llantysilio. The Pillar of Eliseg, near Valle Crucis Abbey, was erected by Cyngen ap Cadell King of Powys (died 855), in honour of his great-grandfather Elisedd ap Gwylog, the inscription of which mentions several individuals described in the Historia Brittonum and give a brief history of the deeds of the dynasty.
Valle Crucis Abbey
North-east of Llangollen lies the county's largest town, Wrexham. Previously reliant on heavy industry, Wrexham is now a major high-tech manufacturing, technology and services hub. Erddig Hall (NT), built in 1684-1687 for Josiah Edisbury, is regarded as one of the country's finest stately homes. St Giles' Parish Church is recognised as one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in Wales. The iconic 16th-century tower rises to a height of 136 feet and can be seen for many miles around. It is another of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
St Giles' Church, Wrexham
The late-15th-century All Saints' Church in the former mining village of Gresford is remarkable for its size, beauty, interior church monuments, and its churchyard yew trees. The bells are one of the traditional Seven Wonders of Wales, listed it is said for the purity of their tone.
By the Shropshire border lies Chirk Castle (NT), a 13th-century castle converted into a stately home. The property is notable for its gardens and surrounded by 18th-century parkland.
Chirk Castle
The Romans occupied the area and had a fort at Abergele. Following the Roman withdrawal, the area became part of the kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys Fadog. Following the Norman conquest of north Wales the area was divided into several Marcher lordships. Denbighshire was formally created by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535, out of the lands long known as "Denbighland".
Portrait of Denbighshire.
Place Type: Historic County
Alternative name(s): Sir Ddinbych
Lat, Long: 53.162869,-3.495966
Grid Reference: SJ000639
Country: Wales
GBPNID: 305785
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Denbighshire,_305785
Explore Denbighshire on WikishireIn the south and west of the county are high mountains of the Cambrian range. The River Conwy runs north along the western border with Caernarfonshire. Llanrwst is a small market town on its eastern bank. Llanrwst became known for harp manufacture. The three-arch stone bridge across the Conwy, Pont Fawr, dates from 1636 and is said to have been designed by Inigo Jones. Bodnant Garden (NT) is a beauteous estate overlooking the Conwy valley and Snowdonia.
Pont Fawr with Llanwrst (Denbighshire) on right bank
Mynydd Hiraethog (Denbigh Moors) is a large upland area of moorland lying east of the Conwy Valley. The highest point is Mwdwl-eithin (1,745 feet). There are two sizeable natural lakes, Llyn Alwen and Llyn Aled, as well as the reservoirs Llyn Brenig and Alwen Reservoir. The Clocaenog Forest was planted in 1905 on the eastern side of the Mynydd Hireathog. The forest, 40 square miles in extent, is a stronghold of the red squirrel.
Mwdwl-eithin summit
North of Mynydd Hiraethog is lower land stretching down to the broad coastal plain. Larger villages include LLanfair Talhaiarn on the River Elwy; Llangernwy on the Afon Cledwen; and Llansannan on the River Aled.
Along the county's coastal plain are found its famous seaside resorts. At the far west lies Rhos-on-Sea. The 6th century St Trillo's Chapel is on the site of a pre-Christian, sacred holy well. Bryn Euryn is a hill overlooking the town. On it are the remains of a hillfort called Dinerth and the ruins of the manor Llys Euryn, built by Ednyfed Fychan, general to Llywelyn the Great. The town of Colwyn Bay is famous for its beaches. The town of Old Colwyn had the "Old" added in Victorian times to distinguish it from the rapidly growing Colwyn Bay resort to its west. The Victorian "Fairy Glen" is a popular attraction.
St Trillo's Chapel, Rhos-on-Sea
Further along the coast, Abergele originated from an old Roman trading town. Its northern suburb of Pensarn has a popular beach. Gwrych Castle is a Grade I listed 19th-century country house. East of the town lie the resorts of Towyn and Kinmel Bay. Kinmel Bay lies on the west bank of the mouth of the River Clwyd, here forming the border with Flintshire.
Gwrych Castle
The River Clwyd rises in the Clocaenog Forest and flows from south to north through the county. The broad, fertile Vale of Clwyd comprises much of the eastern side of Denbighshire. The town of Ruthin lies in the southern part of the Vale. Ruthin Castle was demolished by order of Parliament during the Civil War. It was rebuilt in the 19th century as a country house. Nantclwyd y Dre was built about 1435 and is believed to be the oldest surviving town house in Wales.
The market town of Denbigh grew around the glove-making industry. Denbigh Castle, together with its town walls, was built in 1282 by order of King Edward I. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, planned for the town to have a cathedral. He ran out of money and, instead, he left the ruins known as Leicester's Church. North of Denbigh, the River Clwyd enters Flintshire.
The Clwydian Hills run north from near the village of Llandegla. Much of the eastern border with the main body of Flintshire lies among the hills.
South of the Denbigh Moors, a large tract of Merionethshire, including Corwen, stretches across Denbighshire to within a few miles of Flintshire. To the south of this, Denbighshire broadens out into a large area running south-west to north-east. At the south-west end lie in the Cambrian Mountains and the county top, Cadair Berwyn, on the Merionethshire border. Pistyll Rhaeadr is a spectacular waterfall on the River Disgynfa, which forms the border between Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. The fall has three stages, over a 240-foot Silurian cliff-face. It is counted as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
Pistyll Rhaeadr
North of this area, where the River Dee flows into Denbighshire from Merionethshire, lies the historic town of Llangollen, venue of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. The 16th-century bridge across the Dee is a scheduled ancient monument and considered one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. Plas Newydd, the famous home of the Ladies of Llangollen, was originally a five-roomed stone cottage, but was enlarged to include many Gothic features. East of Llangollen, Thomas Telford's dramatic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, of 1805, carries the Shropshire Union Canal 120 feet over the Dee.
Llangollen Bridge
Valle Crucis Abbey (Cadw) is a ruined Cistercian abbey located in nearby Llantysilio. The Pillar of Eliseg, near Valle Crucis Abbey, was erected by Cyngen ap Cadell King of Powys (died 855), in honour of his great-grandfather Elisedd ap Gwylog, the inscription of which mentions several individuals described in the Historia Brittonum and give a brief history of the deeds of the dynasty.
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Valle Crucis Abbey
North-east of Llangollen lies the county's largest town, Wrexham. Previously reliant on heavy industry, Wrexham is now a major high-tech manufacturing, technology and services hub. Erddig Hall (NT), built in 1684-1687 for Josiah Edisbury, is regarded as one of the country's finest stately homes. St Giles' Parish Church is recognised as one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in Wales. The iconic 16th-century tower rises to a height of 136 feet and can be seen for many miles around. It is another of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
St Giles' Church, Wrexham
The late-15th-century All Saints' Church in the former mining village of Gresford is remarkable for its size, beauty, interior church monuments, and its churchyard yew trees. The bells are one of the traditional Seven Wonders of Wales, listed it is said for the purity of their tone.
By the Shropshire border lies Chirk Castle (NT), a 13th-century castle converted into a stately home. The property is notable for its gardens and surrounded by 18th-century parkland.
Chirk Castle
The Romans occupied the area and had a fort at Abergele. Following the Roman withdrawal, the area became part of the kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys Fadog. Following the Norman conquest of north Wales the area was divided into several Marcher lordships. Denbighshire was formally created by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535, out of the lands long known as "Denbighland".