Views of Rhuddlan Castle [Map] showing the canalised River Clywd.

The River Clwyd rises 8km north-west Corwen, Denbighshire [Map] from where it flows past Ruthin Castle [Map], Denbigh [Map], St Asaph [Map] to Rhuddlan Castle [Map], from where the remaining 4km were canalised when the castle wads constructed, entering the Irish Sea at Rhyl [Map].

The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 2 Chapter 10. Having crossed the river Conwy,¹⁶² or rather an arm of the sea, under Deganwy [Map], leaving the Cistercian monastery of Conwy [Map]¹⁶³ on the western bank of the river to our right hand, we arrived at Ruthlan [Map], a noble castle on the river Cloyd, belonging to David, the eldest son of Owen¹⁶⁴ where, at the earnest invitation of David himself, we were handsomely entertained that night.

Note 162. The travellers pursuing their journey along the sea coast, crossed the aestuary of the river Conway under Deganwy, a fortress of very remote antiquity.

Note 163. At this period the Cistercian monastery of Conway was in its infancy, for its foundation has been attributed to Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, in the year 1185, (only three years previous to Baldwin's visitation,) who endowed it with very extensive possessions and singular privileges. Like Stratflur, this abbey was the repository of the national records, and the mausoleum of many of its princes.

Note 164. [David was the illegitimate son of Owen Gwynedd, and had dispossessed his brother, Iorwerth Drwyndwn.]

In 1277 Rhuddlan Castle [Map] was commissioned by King Edward "Longshanks" I of England (age 37). Work was initially started by Master Betram but was completed by James of St George Master Mason. It was completed in 1282.

In 1282 Rhuddlan Castle [Map] was besieged by the Welsh until relieved by Amadeus V "Great" Savoy (age 32).

On 23 Jun 1283 Owain ap Dafydd Aberffraw (age 8) was imprisoned at Rhuddlan Castle [Map].

Archaeologia Volume 16 Section VIII. Copy of a Roll of the Expenses of King Edward the First at Rhuddlan Castle [Map], in Wales , in the tenth and eleventh years of his reign [1281-1282], remaining among the Records in the Tower, communicated by Samuel Lysons , Esq. F. R. S. Director: with a Translation, by the Rev. John Brand, M. A. Secretary. Read Nov. 27, 1806.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1887 Page 349. Castle [Map]

1258. Rhuddlan Friary [Map] was founded by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. It was dissolved in 1538. The former friary is now a farm.

On 05 Jan 1268 Bishop Ainan II, Prior of Rhuddlan Friary [Map], was elected Bishop of St Asaph.

In 1291 Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England gave 100s to Rhuddlan Friary [Map] and to each of the other four Dominican houses in Wales.

In 1370 Bishop Gervase de Castro left sixty shillings to the friars of Rhuddlan Friary [Map].

In 1373 Llewelyn ap Madoc, bishop of St Asaph, bequeathed twenty shillings to Rhuddlan Friary [Map].

Flintshire Historical Society V5 1914. 1742. Ruins of the Domincan Friary [Map], Rhuddlan. Drawn and Engaved by S & N Buck, 1742.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1887 Page 349. Proceeding from the Castle a distance of about 300 yards, to the south, Twt Hill [Map], the site of the earlier castle built by Llywelyn ap Sitsyllt, King of Gwynedd c. 1015, was passed; and a little further on are the remains of the Dominican Priory [Map], now called the Abbey. Here, again, under the same guidance, were seen the windows of the monks' dormitory, above the present barn ; and built up into the Avails, a large monumental slab with an incised effigy of an Archbishop of Rages, a former brother of the house. Near it was a cross ragule, memorial to "De Bridelton' cuius a'ie p'piciet." Other floriated crosses lie near the front door of the farmhouse, whilst in the garden wall are portions of window-tracery. There is a much damaged effigy of a knight in the wall of the stable; and behind the buildings on the opposite side of the yard (the western) may be seen several Pointed windows that show that portion to have been a part of the old monastic building. The property now belongs to Sir W. G. Williams, Bart (age 42)., of Bodelwyddan, and it is much to be desired that these interesting relics should be more carefully protected. The lateness of the hour and the shades of evening rendered it too dark to see the church, and it had reluctantly to be omitted for the day.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1925 Page 230. Rhuddlan Friary [Map] Effigy. At a distance of a mile from the town of Rhuddlan, lying just beyond its castle, stand the ruins of what was once a Dominican Friary. Tradition assigns its origin as a Friary to seven Welsh gentlemen in 1197. If this be correct, then it must have been taken over by the Dominicans in the early part of the thirteenth century. The first historical notice is the appointment of Anian, the prior of Rhuddlan- "Y Brawd Du" - as Bishop of St. Asaph, in 1268. To-day little remains of this Friary. In years gone by, it formed a quarry for building, and now stand only the remains of the dormitory and domestic offices transformed into barns. Fixed in some of the walls in the open shippon were various effigies-all more or less in imperfect condition and exposed to the weather. Chief amongst these was the tombstone monument of William Fresney, Archbishop of Rages (Edessa), of which a description has been already published in Arch. Camb., 1912, pp. 121-5. The monument consists of a life-sized figure of the Archbishop, with crosier, mitre, chasuble, alb and maniple, with hand uplifted in blessing, and the inscription, now more or less illegible in parts-" Priez pour l'alme Frere William Ercheveske de Rages."

As the stone was beginning to show serious signs of weathering, the permission of Capt. Conwy, R.N., C.M.G., the owner of the property, was obtained for its removal to safer quarters, and on November 9th and 10th, 1923, the monument was safely removed from the Friary, under the superintendence of the Rev. W. J. Davies, Vicar of Rhuddlan, and Mr. J. O. Hughes, the estate agent, with some of his workmen, and re-erected against the north side of the sacrarium of the Parish Church.

St Mary's Church, Rhuddlan [Map].

Wales Illustrated North Wales. Rhuddlan Bridge, Church [Map] and Castle [Map].

In 1073 Robert of Rhuddlan commissioned the construction of Twthill Castle [Map]. A borough became established beside the castle and by 1086, eighteen burgesses lived there; the buildings included a church and a mint.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1887 Page 349. Proceeding from the Castle a distance of about 300 yards, to the south, Twt Hill [Map], the site of the earlier castle built by Llywelyn ap Sitsyllt, King of Gwynedd c. 1015, was passed; and a little further on are the remains of the Dominican Priory [Map], now called the Abbey. Here, again, under the same guidance, were seen the windows of the monks' dormitory, above the present barn ; and built up into the Avails, a large monumental slab with an incised effigy of an Archbishop of Rages, a former brother of the house. Near it was a cross ragule, memorial to "De Bridelton' cuius a'ie p'piciet." Other floriated crosses lie near the front door of the farmhouse, whilst in the garden wall are portions of window-tracery. There is a much damaged effigy of a knight in the wall of the stable; and behind the buildings on the opposite side of the yard (the western) may be seen several Pointed windows that show that portion to have been a part of the old monastic building. The property now belongs to Sir W. G. Williams, Bart (age 42)., of Bodelwyddan, and it is much to be desired that these interesting relics should be more carefully protected. The lateness of the hour and the shades of evening rendered it too dark to see the church, and it had reluctantly to be omitted for the day.