The Bishop’s Palace is an irregular building situate on the side of the Hill, about one hundred yards to the North of the Cathedral; it was partly re-built by Bishop Warren, and several handsome and commodious apartments added to it, and it has been in other respects greatly improved by the present worthy Prelate, Dr. Majendie. The residence of the Dean is nearly adjoining the Church-yard, at the N. W. end of the Cathedral.

Nearly on the same spot where the Bangor Free Grammar School now stands, a House of Friers Preachers was founded, according to Bishop Tanner, about the year 1276, by Tudor ap Gronow, Lord of Penmynydd and Trecastell, in Anglesey, who also enlarged or rebuilt it in 1299, and was interred here in 1311. Leland’s words are “A Priory of White Freres, by Bangor, dedicate to Jesu: there were once White Freres at Ruthin Dyffryn Clwyd.” Edward VI. made a grant of this place to Thomas Brown and William Bretton, and soon after it was converted into a Free School, by Geffry Glynn, LL.D. an Advocate in Doctor’s Commons, and brother to Bishop Glynn. By his Will, proved July 21, 1557, he left the management of it to his brother, and to Maurice Griffith, Bishop of Rochester; but the settlement not having been completed prior to their decease, they delegated the same power to Sir William Petre and others, who agreed on the Statutes for the Master and Usher, with the concurrence of the Bishop, Dean, and Chapter, and of Alexander Nowel, Dean of St. Paul’s, who is said to have composed them.—Mr. Pennant, in his Tour, informs us that over the chimney piece, in the old School House, there was a fragment of an ancient Monument, to one Gryffydd, with a long sword carved on it, and on the staircase another stone, with the words ap Tudor, probably part of the Tomb of the founder, Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor. A new School-room, together with a spacious and convenient dwelling-house for the Master, adjoining, was erected here in the time of Bishop Warren, and some new regulations made with regard to the management of the School. Within the last few years a new house has also been built, a little to the East of the former, for the residence of the Usher. This Seminary is at present extremely well conducted, and deservedly held in great repute: From having been for many years the third in eminence, (Beaumaris and Ruthin being long considered as superior to it) this establishment is now the most flourishing place of education in this portion of the principality.

Bishop Rowlands, born at Plas Myllteyrn, in Lleyn, founded here an Hospital, or rather an Alms-house, for six poor men, and also a Free School, at Bottwnog in this County, about the year 1616. The Dispensary, a most useful and benevolent Institution was established in this City, October, 1809, being the 50th Anniversary of our late good King’s Accession, and the year of Jubilee, under the patronage of that excellent Nobleman, Lord Viscount Bulkeley, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, the worthy Dean, and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen. It is with heart-felt satisfaction we are able to add, that its Funds continue on the increase, and every attention is paid to the numerous patients, by Dr. Mason, the Physician; Mr. Roberts, the Surgeon, and Mr. Pugh, the House Apothecary.

The following tribute, to the memory of Mr. Edwards, the celebrated blind Harper, who died at his sister’s, (Mrs. Jones, Pen yr Allt, Bangor) on Friday, the 13th January, 1815, aged 65, may not be unacceptable to the reader, the author is unknown:

Ah! quench’d is now that Minstrel’s fire,
And mute those strings, whose magic tone
Could once e’en Cambria’s Rocks inspire,
And move to life her mountain stone.

Cold is the hand, that once could sweep
The native Harp, with Bardic sway;
Could lull each passion rude to sleep,
And drive the steps of care away.

Ah come ye kindred Minstrels here,
To kiss the Harp your master sway’d,
And o’er it drop the mournful tear,
And let it in his grave be laid.

For now like him ’tis mute and dead,
Its accents all are hush’d and still;
The power is gone—the spirit fled,
And every nerve in death is chill.

But shall that spirit rise no more,
And shall its powers no more revive,
And, on this “Muse deserted shore,”
Shall no such Bard hereafter live?

Oh! Cambria, scorn the hateful dream,
And raise thy drooping downcast head;
Nor longer drop the pearly stream,
Not longer mourn thy Minstrel dead.

For yet some Heaven-taught child of thine,
In ages yet unborn may rise;
Some sapling of this Minstrel’s line,
And lift thy glory to the skies.

A new Market House, Town Hall, &c. have lately been built here, which is at once an improvement to the Town, and a convenience to farmers and others of the neighbourhood; a good Inn, on a commodious plan, adjoins it called the Waterloo Tavern. Several mean unsightly dwellings, at the East end of the Church-yard, have been taken down, and a new House erected for the residence of one of the Vicars. In short, from the speculative spirit of the inhabitants, and the increasing demand for Slates at Port Penrhyn, which, as well as the Quay at Hirael, is generally crowded not only with small craft, but with Ships of considerable burthen, Bangor seems advancing rapidly into consequence; it is also of late years become a place of fashionable resort, particularly in the Summer season. The population, according to the last Census, in 1811, was 2393, and it may now be stated at nearly 3000. The principal Inns, are the Castle, near the Cathedral, Crown and Anchor, and Waterloo Tavern in the Centre; the Penrhyn Arms at the East, and the Vaynol Arms at the West end of the Town.

Hugh Lupus, in his barbarous inroads into Anglesey, founded a Castle at Bangor, in order to carry on his ravages with greater security; it was situated nearly a quarter of a mile Eastward of the Town, on the ridge of hills which bound the S.E. side of the Vale, and nearly the same distance from the Port. It was on a rocky, and in many parts a precipitous hill. Three sides of the Walls are easily to be traced: on the S.E. side, they extended a hundred and twenty yards; on the S.W. sixty-six, ending at a precipice; the N.E. may be traced forty yards, and ends in the same manner. On the fourth side, the natural strength of the place rendered a farther defence useless; Mounds of Earth, tending to a semicircular form, with rocks and precipices, connect the N.E. and S.W. walls. The precise time of its demolition is not known, but probably as soon as the Earl had effected his design it was suffered to fall to ruin.

In this Parish, about a mile and a half to the South of the Town, was discovered about the year 1806, at a place called Ty Coch, belonging to Captain Taylor, a Stone, with the following inscription;

NVMNC
IMP CAESAR M
AVRELANTONINVS
PIVS TI IX AVG ARAB
IX

It is probable, that after the traveller has examined the City of Bangor and its environs, he may be tempted to cross over to the Island of Anglesey; and if he be a pedestrian, he would find the passage over Garth, (formerly called Cadnant) Ferry the shortest and pleasantest way to Beaumaris; but if the party have a horse or carriage, the road to Porth Aethwy, (otherwise called Bangor Ferry) where the new Iron Bridge is now erecting, must be pursued. And here it may be proper, before we proceed any further, to inform the stranger that there are six ferries across the Menai, which I shall mention here in regular order, beginning with Beaumaris, over the Lavan Sands, to Aber; 2. Garth, near Bangor, which is confined solely to foot passengers; 3. Porth Aethwy, [53] before-mentioned, the best, safest, and most convenient; 4. Moel y Donn, a very safe good ferry, and sober careful boatmen; 5. Tal y Foel, opposite Carnarvon; 6. Abermenai, at the extreme Westerly end of the Straits, about three miles below Carnarvon.—The best rout for any person who may be inclined to make a tour of the Island, would be to proceed from Bangor Ferry to Beaumaris, along the delightful new terrace road, made at the sole expence of that munificent Nobleman, who is an honour to his Country, Lord Viscount Bulkeley, which may justly be pronounced one of the most grand and picturesque rides in the kingdom, commanding a full view of Beaumaris bay, with its winding Shores, projecting Capes and Promontories, together with the vast and magnificent chain of Carnarvonshire Hills and Mountains, towering in succession, in majestic eminence and grandeur, and in variety of shapes, until their summits are lost in the clouds. After visiting the Castle and other Antiquities in and about this beautiful Town, the traveller is recommended to proceed from Beaumaris to Red Wharf, and along the Sea-coast to Amlwch, famous for its extensive and lucrative Copper Mines, and which are well worthy the stranger’s attention, and from thence to the town of Holyhead, where Government has erected, at an immense expence, one of the finest Piers in Great Britain; at the extremity is a very handsome Light-House, which, together with the Lamps along the Pier, being lighted up with Gas, renders the Scene, at night, brilliant and imposing. He may then return into Carnarvonshire either along the Post Road to Llangefni, and thence to Moel y Donn ferry, or if he be curious enough to explore the whole of the Island, along the Western Coast to Aberfraw and Newborough, and re-cross either at Abermenai, Tal y Foel, or Moel y Donn.