The Tourist's Guide through the Country

But before we proceed to a description of the Town, it may be necessary to inform the stranger that there is a District of this County, on the Denbighshire, or East side of the River Conway; and whether he be a Botanist, a Mineralogist, a Naturalist, or Antiquary, he may, if he have leisure, spend a few days on this side of the water with pleasure and advantage. This detached part of the County of Carnarvon is called Creuddin yn Rhos, and is celebrated for producing very excellent wheat; it contains three Parishes, Llangwstenin, Llan Rhôs, or more properly Llanfair yn Rhôs, and Llandudno.-In and about the ruins of old Diganwy, or Dingonwy, now called y Faerdre, and in Gloddaith woods, the Botanist will find a great number of rare Plants, while the Mineralogist will be tempted to examine the Copper Mines at Llandudno, and the Historian and Antiquary be induced to visit the curious collection of old Books and Manuscripts, in the libraries of Gloddaith and Bodysgallen, (Bod Caswallawn) two old family seats, belonging to Sir Thomas Mostyn Bart. the former built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, since which period it has undergone very little or no alteration, and almost all the old furniture is preserved in the same state. Marle has also been a fine old house, but was nearly burnt down about seventy years ago; it was at one time the property of the Hollands, then of Sir Gryffydd Williams, of Penrhyn, and on the death of his grandson Sir Robert, it devolved to Sir Thomas Prendergast, an Irish Gentleman, in right of his Lady, Anne, sister to Sir Robert, but at present this house, as well as the Ferry of Conway, art in the possession of Owen Williams, Esq. M. P. for Great Marlow.