Three banks have been recently established at Bangor, one of which is a branch of the Chester bank of Messrs. Williams and Co., at the Cottage, the bottom of Waterloo-street; another, a branch of the North and South Wales bank, in High-street, nearly opposite the Market-place; and the third, a branch of the National Provincial, in the same street. By the Reform Act, Bangor was made a contributory borough in returning a member of parliament for Caernarvon; W. B. Hughes, Esq. is the present member.
The Cathedral
stands on a low piece of ground near the centre of the town, and externally has but a humble appearance. It was founded about 525, by Daniel, son of Dinothus, abbot of Bangor Is-y-coed, in Flintshire, under the auspices of Maelgwm Gwynedd, king of Wales, founder of Penmon, patron of Taliesin, and the most liberal prince of his time, though much abused by Gildas, who calls him Insularum Draco, because he resisted the innovations which Pope Gregory wished to introduce into the British church by means of Augustine the monk, and which gave rise to the denunciatory ode of Taliesin—
“Gwa ’r offeiriaid mud.”
The mother church suffered greatly at different periods during the civil commotion. It was destroyed in 1071, but soon afterwards rebuilt; and in 1212, when King John invaded the country, having passed Conway, he halted at Aber, and sent part of his army to burn Bangor. The city was destroyed, and Robert of Shrewsbury, then bishop of that see, carried prisoner to the English camp. He was afterwards ransomed for two hundred hawks. The prelate was, however, suffered to remain here, although incapable of performing his duty effectively, on account of his ignorance of the language of the people. At his death, in accordance with his own request, he was interred in the market-place at Shrewsbury. He was the original compiler of the wonderful legend of St. Winifrede, afterwards enlarged by Bishop Fleetwood. In the year 1402, the sacred edifice was again reduced to ruin by the rage of Owen Glyndwr (who was infuriated by his wrongs and sufferings), and lay in ruins ninety years, when the choir was restored by Bishop Deane or Deny. The body and tower now existing were built by Bishop Skeffington in 1532.
Some considerable improvements were completed in the cathedral in 1827, by the outlay of £2000 from the tithes of Llanddinam, in Montgomeryshire, appropriated by an act of James the Second, 1685, for the repairs of Bangor cathedral, and £2000 collected in different parts of the united kingdom, by the praiseworthy and indefatigable exertions of the Rev. J. H. Cotton, LL.B., then precentor and senior vicar, but now dean, the whole of which has been expended in the most advantageous manner, under his superintendence, and will remain a lasting monument of his zeal and perseverance. Some years ago, the citizens of Bangor originated a subscription to this estimable dignitary, in acknowledgment of the many good services he had rendered to the city and neighbourhood. The worthy dean, with his characteristic regard for the fabrics as well as the doctrines of the church, devoted the sum to the ornamenting the cathedral with a splendid painted window,—a lasting memorial of the respect and veneration in which he is held, and of his praiseworthy disinterestedness.
The bishopric owes the chief of its revenues and immunities to Anian, bishop of the diocese in the reign of Edward the First, who, being in high favour with that monarch, and having had the honour of christening the young prince, born at Caernarvon, afterwards Edward the Second, had, as a compensation for the temporalities confiscated in the reign of Henry the Third, various manors, ferries, and grants from the revenues of the Principality, allotted to the see.
Here was anciently a parish church, built in 975, by king Edgar, situated about 400 yards north-east of the cathedral, and called Llanvair Edward Vrenin. Bishop Skeffington, in Henry the Eighth’s time, caused it to be taken down, and repaired the present church with the materials. Here, likewise, near the sea shore, Tudor ab Gronwy, of Penmynydd and Tre’r Castell, in Anglesea, founded a house of Black Friars, and was interred there in 1311. In an old monody to this individual are the following lines:—
For Tudor dead, the tears incessant flow,
And Bangor suffers in the general woe.
The free school was founded in 1557, by Dr. Jeffrey Glynn, upon the site of this building. It has long enjoyed reputation as a training seminary for Oxford, Cambridge, and Trinity College, Dublin. The environs are well cultivated and picturesque, and are interspersed with handsome residences, amongst which is that of the bishop’s palace.