LLANGOLLEN

Below is a short summary of the joint trip between the North West Forum Friends and the Midlands Forum Friends 

    

    WEST FRONT FROM THE NAVE

The day started a little wet and got wetter as soon as we started to tour the first place on the itinary, Valle Crucis Abbey which is just outside the town of Llangollen in North Wales.

The Abbey was founded in 1201 by Cistercian monks (White monks) The Abbey had a turbulent life and suffered from fire and in the wars of Edward 1. Although it also saw good periods it eventually surcame to the dissolution probably in 1537.

These photo's were taken inbetween the heavy showers!

       
                      ABBEY GATE                                INSIDE CHAPTER HOUSE                       LATRINE DRAIN!

         (SHOWING SIGN OF FIRE)
                                            

                 SHELTERING FROM THE RAIN IN THE CHAPTER HOUSE, PRAYING FOR BETTER WEATHER!

After a very long lunch break in a pub in Llangollen we decided to postpone the next place on the itinary which was Castell Dinas Bran due to the continuing rain (see futher down in report). We traveled out of Llangollen to Chirk Castle a few miles away. Chirk Castle is deceptive looking younger than it is, it started life as a defensive Castle in the 13th Century and has been continuously altered and lived in since, changing hands many times especialy in it's early life.  Photo's aren't allowed inside but I took a few in the grounds.

     

             PHIL, FISH AND CHRIS                   CASTLE ORNATE GATES                              CHIRK CASTLE

 

After visiting Chirk we headed our own ways and 3 of us camped over night under the shadow of Dinas Bran, and after a windy wet night the skys cleared a little the next morning and we headed up to the castle.

The castle was built on an Ironage hillfort which consisted of a single bank and ditch. The castle started life in the latter part of the 13th Century and only lasted a short time before it was burnt by the Welsh before it was captured in 1277, it was not repaired and ceased to be used by 1280. It's name Castell Dinas Bran translates as Crow city, but is known as Crow castle.

           

                     CAMPSITE INCLUDING RAINBOW!                                         PERCY VISITS LLANGOLLEN

 

Castell Dinas Bran...

        

 Below are links to other report's and photo's of Llangollen and Chirk

Phil B's Report