From thence we surveyed the remains of the college, which in the reign of King Edward I. was intended for the instruction of youth. It is now in complete ruins: the workmanship curious, with several sculptured arms. In this town is an ancient house, built in the form of a quadrangle, by the Wynnes, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, now inhabited by poor families. The house is adorned after the fantastical fashion of the times in which it was erected; the roof is singularly carved, and the front decorated with the arms of England, with several curious crests, birds, and beasts: it bears the date of the year 1585. The arms of Elizabeth are carved over the door, fronting the street.
The river Conway has been celebrated from the earliest period of British history for its pearl fishery. Pliny asserts that Julius Cæsar dedicated to Venus Genetrix, in her temple at Rome, a breast-plate, set with British pearls; and other authorities go so far as to assign the desire to get possession of these jewels, as one of the reasons of his invading the British isles. The shell in which they are found is called the pearl muscle, and is the same which by Linnæus is termed Mya Margaritifera.
The fish, which generate these concretions, are considered in a sickly state; and it is said that on their being squeezed, they can and will eject them, which they occasionally do spontaneously on the sands. I am given to understand that a very considerable trade is carried on by an individual, very snugly, at this very day, in pearls collected from the Conway and adjacent coast. Some years ago Sir Robert Vaughan appeared at court with a button and loop in his hat, set with pearls from the Conway; and Mr. Edward Llwyd says, that the pearls found here are as large and as well coloured as any in Great Britain.
“Immediately at the foot of the castle,” says a recent traveller, [243] “a suspension bridge is thrown over the previously dangerous ferry, in the erection of which great taste has been exhibited. Castellated towers support the chains, and where the road enters the town a toll-house, in the shape of a dilapidated tower, has been erected, which perfectly harmonizes with the view around it, and taken altogether, the bridge seems to be the draw-bridge of the castle, and does not detract from the antique grandeur of the scene. Mr. Telford is the architect of this, as well as of the Menai Bridge; and though it possesses nothing of the immense proportions, it is equally elegant and well adapted to its situation.”
Edward the First made this a free borough. It is now governed by one alderman, a recorder, coroner, water-bailiff, and two serjeants-at-mace, chosen annually, and is a contributory borough with Caernarvon, Pwllheli, Nevin, and Criccaeth, in returning a member to parliament. Its market is on Friday.
The usual route, and the one which we intended to pursue, laying by St. Asaph and Chester, we determined first to explore some of the beauties of the vale of Conway; and with this object in view, took the road leading to Llanwrst: it possesses the charming varieties of wood, water, and a richly cultivated country, backed by mountain scenery. We soon reached Caer Rhun, the site of the ancient Conovium of the Romans, where the tenth legion were stationed. The late Rev. Hugh Davies Griffith, vicar of the parish, and a gentleman well known for his antiquarian researches, traced out here the remains of a Roman pottery: many utensils of various sorts had previously been found, mostly imperfect, some well designed and very curious. Amongst other things found here, was a small brazen circular shield, of curious workmanship, embossed, a little more than a foot in diameter, and with a projecting pike of wrought iron, of about four inches and a half, placed in the centre; it had circles of brass studs, and appeared to have been lined with leather and stuffed with hair. Numerous Roman coins were likewise found, and near this is a hill, called Myndd Caer Leon, or the Hill of the Legion. Mr. Williams says, “This legion was denominated Antoniana Augusta. The XXth, stationed at Chester (Caer Lleon Gawr, or Caer Lleion ar Ddyfrdwy), was distinguished by the name of Vicessima Victrix: and the Second Legion, stationed at Caer Leon, in Monmouthshire, or Caer Lleon ar Wysc, was known by the title of Augusta Britannica. There was, no doubt, a Roman road from hence to Segontium, on the west, and to Varium or Bodvarri and Caerwys on the east, and another probably through Dolyddelen, to Sarn Helen and Tommen y Mur, in Merionethshire; Pen y street, Dolgelly, Castell y Beri, near Tal y Llynn, to Penal, near Machynlleth, where there was a Roman encampment, and where very considerable remains were discovered.”
The next object worthy of attention is Rhaiadr Mawr, or the Great Waterfall, about seven miles from Conway; Mr. Bingley’s account of which is so correct and spirited, that I shall give it verbatim:—
“I ascended along a winding path, which, after about a quarter of an hour’s walk, conducted me to the bed of the river, near the station from whence it was to be seen to the greatest advantage. The water, from the late dry weather, was very inconsiderable; still, however, the scene was highly picturesque. From the upper part two streams descended at some distance from each other. The range of rock, down which the water was thrown, was very wide and extremely rude, being formed in horizontal ledges, into deep clefts and enormous chasms. On the various lodgments of the rocks were numerous pendant shrubs. The dark shades of the clefts, and the irregular brilliancy of the prominent features of the scene, from the reflected rays of the sun, contrasted again with the foaming of the water, were truly grand. The colours of the rock, which were every where also very dark, were rich and highly varied. The streams united a little above the middle of the fall: they rushed from thence in foam over the rocks, and, from the deep shelvings, in many places the water was entirely hidden from me below. In addition to this, nearly every different stratum of rock threw it into a fresh direction. In the whole scene there was the utmost irregularity. On the right of the cataract the enclosing rocks were nearly perpendicular, very lofty, and crowned with pendant foliage. Those on the left were very high and towering, adorned on the lodgments with grass and ferns. I should have made a drawing of this cataract, had it been possible to have expressed it with any justice on an octavo plate; this, however, was altogether impossible. The above description is expressed in terms infinitely too feeble to give any correct idea of the scene. This waterfall appeared to me by much the most grand and picturesque of any that I have seen in North Wales.
“In descending to the road, I had an extensive view along the whole vale of Conway. It appeared from this eminence to be much varied, and on the whole very beautiful.”
Besides this, many other waterfalls and cascades, along this charming river, will amply repay this digression, and entice the tourist forward to its junction with the Lledr and Machno. Near Llanwrst, Gwydir-house and woods, and at that place the church, and the famous bridge built by Inigo Jones, will engage his attention. Beyond the vale is beautiful and romantic, far exceeding my powers of description; all that wood, water, and the most rugged rocks and picturesque mountain scenery can do to delight the lovers of nature, heightened by the relief of a highly cultivated country, interspersed with gentlemen’s seats, frequently breaking on the view, are here amply afforded them. Proceeding up the vale, and through Gwydir woods, you reach Bettws y Coed; thence to the new iron Waterloo Bridge over the Conway, on the great Irish road, visit the falls of the Conway and Machno, return to Bettws, proceed up the Lligwy to view the Rhaidar y Wennol, or Cataract of the Swallow, which, when it possesses its customary body of water, is truly tremendous. In going from hence to the excellent inn at Capel Curig, by making a circuit of about four or five miles to the southward, you may visit Dolwyddelan Castle, the residence of Meredith ap Jevan, before mentioned in the account of Llyn. From Capel Curig, proceeding towards Bangor, till the road nearly reaches the river Ogwen, you may with labour and difficulty trace the old Roman road, from Segontium to Conovium, or, without any risk of satiety, retread your steps by Llanwrst to Conway.
The trade of Conway consists in the exportation of slate and copper from the Llandidno mines, from whence the finest specimens of Malachite copper is brought. The town and castle of Conway are seen to great advantage in crossing the river, which is here about half a mile over, and at high water washes the walls of that massy ruin: in the middle of the channel is a small rocky island. We observed from this situation the two castles called Bodscallan and Dyganwy; the small remains of the latter stand on a high rock above the river. The former is a beautiful seat of the Mostyns.