Mynydd-y-Garreg,
An ancient circular building of great height, in form not much unlike a windmill. It is a pharos, or Roman light-house, erected by that people to conduct navigators to and from the Deva. It is tolerably entire, and built of lime-stone, bedded in hard mortar. The antiquary will not begrudge a walk to examine this ancient relique bequeathed to us by the conquerors of the world.—Two miles north-west of Downing, lies the ancient structure of
Mostyn Hall,
The property and residence of the Hon. Edward Mostyn Lloyd Mostyn, M.P., nephew of the late Sir Thomas Mostyn, and heir apparent of Lord Mostyn, of Pengwern. The house is approached by a magnificent gateway, called Porth Mawr, erected at the termination of a venerable avenue of forest trees, leading to one vestibule of the mansion, which stands in a small but beautiful and well-wooded park, about half a mile from the estuary of the Dee. The mansion is worth the attention of the tourist and antiquary. It is of the Elizabethan age, though built upon the site of a former house erected in the reign of Henry the Sixth. In the spacious hall are several specimens of armour and implements of warfare previous to the introduction of fire-arms. The rooms are literally crowded with family portraits, by the old masters, the principal of which are Sir Roger and Lady Mostyn. There are several fine portraits of Charles the First, including an original by Vandyke. In the dining-room, the sideboard is formed of one piece of plank, quite a curiosity; it is nearly six feet wide, and twelve feet long; and is hewn, not sawed. The tapestry parlour is beautiful. The mansion is noted for the maintenance of English hospitality after the manner of “the olden time.”
During the time that Henry, Earl of Richmond, was secretly conspiring the overthrow of the house of York, he passed concealed from place to place, in order to form an interest among the Welsh, who favoured his cause on account of their respect to his grandfather, Owen Tudor, their countryman. While he was at Mostyn, a party attached to Richard the Third arrived there to apprehend him. He was then about to dine, but had just time to leap out of a back window, and make his escape through a hole, which to this day is called the King’s Window. Richard ap Howel, then Lord of Mostyn, joined Henry at the battle of Bosworth: and after the victory, received from the King, in token of gratitude for his preservation, the belt and sword he wore on that day.
There are many curious objects of antiquity at Mostyn, including a golden torque found at Harlech; a silver harp, in the possession of the family since 1568; the Mostyn pedigree; and the largest private collection of Welsh manuscripts in the Principality. The Gloddaeth library and manuscripts, as well as similar literary stores from other mansions of this family, have been brought here; for the reception of which, the hon. proprietor has erected a library worthy of the collection.
To the treasures of Mostyn has also been added a splendid candelabrum valued at one thousand guineas, presented by the political friends of the Hon. Mr. Mostyn, who, on the day of the presentation, October 31, 1843, entertained the subscribers, amounting to several hundreds, in a manner worthy of the best days of the ancient, princely, loyal, and hospitable house of Mostyn.
LLANASA,
(Flintshire.)
| Holywell | 6½ |
| Rhuddlan | 6 |
| St. Asaph | 10 |
The village of Llanasa is situated in a pleasant valley at the northern extremity of the county, on the south-western shore of the estuary of the Dee. The church has two east windows, in the more ancient of which is some fine stained glass, brought from Basingwerk abbey. The church-yard contains some curious tomb-stones.—In the neighbourhood are several genteel residences, and about two miles from the village is