[0] The largest stone arch before known is Vielle Briode, which crosses the river Allien, in France, whose span is 183 feet, being 17 feet less than the Chester bridge. It was erected in 1454, by Grenier.[8] From Aber, rivulet—Gele, woody, secluded; a name very characteristic of the place, as the rivulet running through it issues out of deep wood ravines above the town.[10] The silurian rocks to the west of Abergele, have recently been brought under the notice of the Geological Society by Mr. J. E. Bowmall. That gentleman, in an able paper presented to the society, states that his attention was first directed to these strata by the Rev. J. Price, of Llysfaen. They occur immediately south of the narrow belt of carboniferous limestone which skirts the coast from the Great Ormeshead to the point of Ayr, and the estuary of the Dee. The section described by Mr. Bowmall presents the following series of beds in descending order, many of the fossils discovered in them being identified with those found in the Ludlow formation of Shropshire:—1. Carboniferous limestone. 2. Light coloured loam enclosing rounded pebbles of greenish, slightly micaceous sandstone with shells. 3. Bed of the same sandstone. 4. Red marl of considerable thickness, with imbedded angular and waterworn pebbles, and numerous fossils. 5. Arenaceous conglomerate, consisting partly of the pebbles of the underlying limestone. 6. Thin beds of compact reddish limestone, sometimes very arenaceous, and containing a few fossils. 7. Blue clay. 8. Blue clay slate, occasionally enclosing layers of organic remains, and forming the geological base of the country.[12] There is a tradition current in this neighbourhood, that Oliver Cromwell was concealed at Kinmel, when Carter (his general) lived there; and there is a spur of extraordinary dimensions still hung in the above church, which is called Oliver Cromwell’s spur.[73] Called by the Welsh, Estyn.[76] So called from the circumstance of Eleanor (daughter of Ferdinand the Third) the consort of Edward, who was brought, through the inclemency of a hard winter, to bear a prince for the Welsh,—having first entered the castle through this gate. At this time the castle was entirely insulated, on one side by artificial means: the moat was destroyed by being filled up two or three centuries ago, which somewhat detracts from our estimate of its former impregnable character.

‘Edward had annexed Wales to the kingdom of England, but the Welsh were displeased with this usurpation, and determined to yield no obedience to any prince but of their own nation and language. Edward thought of an expedient for cozening them. He ordered Eleanor, in the depth of winter, out of England to Caernarvon Castle, there to lie in. Edward then summoned all the barons and chief persons throughout Wales to meet him at Rhuddlan, to consult about the welfare of their country. He told the Welsh nobility that they had often wished for a prince of their own country, who might rule over them. They promised to allow of such an appointment, and to obey such a personage. Edward then mentioned his own son Edward, recently born, maintaining the terms of the engagement to have been strictly complied with, for his son was born in Wales, could speak no English, and his character irreproachable. Though born in 1284, it was not before he had reached his 16th year that Prince Edward received the reluctant fealty of his deluded subjects. The eldest sons of the English monarchs have subsequently been styled Prince of Wales, and, independently of birth, been created so by letters patent.’—Nicholson.[87] Dunawt was the son of Nefydd Hardd, one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales: to him Prince Owen Gwynedd had intrusted his son to be fostered, according to the usual custom.[102a] The common Welsh name is Eglwys-wen, and the translation is a vulgarism.[102b] Richard Myddelton was the father of Sir Hugh Myddelton, who brought the new river to London.[130] Sych, i.e. dry, and nant, a hollow, a brook.[140] The term Cromlech, used to signify a Druidical altar, cannot be property attached to this stone: it being quite improbable that it ever was used to such purpose; but the continued action of the elements has placed it as it is.[146] There being several parishes of this name in the Principality, this is distinguished by the adjunction of Mathavarneithav.