Castell Dinas Bran (Crow Castle) can be seen high above Llangollen and reached by a steep climb and was known to have been the 13th Century home of Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor, the founder of Valle Crucis Abbey and it was possibly a stronghold for Eliseg, Prince of Powys in the 6th Century.
Up to the I9th century, Llangollen town (the town is named after St Collen’s Church) was located south-east of the bridge around Bridge Street and Church Street, and to the north-west around the old village green, which has now disappeared, but is remembered by such names as ‘Green Lane; and ‘Green Lodge’ which still exist. Nearly all of this densely populated area disappeared to allow the building of the Railway. The Dee Bridge was built by Bishop Trevor of Trevor Hall in I345. It is a scheduled ancient monument and was widened in the 1960’s to accommodate modern traffic.
Llangollen became important because of its prominent position on the main London to Holyhead coaching road which was improved by Thomas Telford from 1815 and continued for some 15 years. The Canal was also constructed around this and combined to bring considerable immigration into Llangollen during the early part of the 19th century. From Llangollen Wharf you can travel by narrow boat across the aqueduct at Trevor. Towering 126 feet above the river and built by Thomas Telford it is a masterpiece of engineering.
Opened in 1862 the Ruabon to Barmouth railway closed to passenger traffic in 1965, and to goods in 1968 and over the next seven years the buildings and track bed were reclaimed by nature. However, thanks to the efforts of the Llangollen Railway Society, steam trains are once more to be seen in Llangollen Station. A group was formed to renovate and reopen part of the line in September 1975, with just 60 feet of track which has now grown some 7½ miles along the Dee Valley, with plans to extend the line eventually to its final destination at Barmouth.
Plas Newydd was home to the Ladies of Llangollen, Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, from 1780 – 1829. They became famous throughout the country as the Ladies of Llangollen. The house still retains the Gothic features they introduced and receives thousands of visitors each year as one of Wales most famous tourist attractions.
Thousands of visitors from around the world also descend on Llangollen in July each year when it hosts the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, an event that encompasses music and cultural concerts from cultures and people globally.
