Places to See
The Cathedral
One of the smallest in the UK and one of the oldest in Wales. The site was first documented in 560 AD and the building has survived damage inflicted in wars since the days of Henry lll, Edward l, Owain Glyndwr and Oliver Cromwell. The building was restored in 1870 by Gilbert Scott.
Translators Memorial
This monument commemorates those, under the guidance of Bishop William Morgan, translated the Bible into Welsh. The first edition appeared in 1588 and the monument was completed in 1892.
Parish Church
Dedicated to Saints Kentigern and Asaph, was built in 1524. Kentigern came from Strathclyde in 560. He departed in 573 to become Bishop of Glasgow, leaving his settlement in the care of Asaph, his pupil. The church has a double nave, which is a characteristic of many churches in the vale of Clwyd.
H. M. Stanley hospital
This was a workhouse in former days. (See H. M. Stanley entry). Today it has an ophthalmology department, a Stroke and Rehabilitation Unit and is home to St Kentigern Hospice and several administrative departments for the health service.
Elwy Bridge built in 1771
The existing stone bridge, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, was built about 1770 to the design of Joseph Turner of Hawarden. There are five arches spanning a total of 65 metres ( 215 feet). The arch voussoirs, string courses and parapet copings are of dressed sandstone and the remainder is of limestone. The tiebar plates, which can be seen on the downstream face, have an unusual Fleur de Lys pattern.
Black Poplar trees
There is fine stand of these mature trees by the River Elwy on Roe Plas. They are native to Britain but fairly uncommon.
River Elwy riverside paths and picnic areas.
The River Elwy flows northward to join the River Clwyd about 1½ miles away. It rises and falls very quickly.
The Elwy once supported two mills, one at the bottom of Mill Street and the other in front of the Bishop’s Palace. The weir that was located some ½ mile upstream of the City has now collapsed and the mill race has largely been filled. The mechanism which once controlled the flow of the race has been restored and can be seen on The Common near the car park
