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Dolwyddelan

Dolwyddelan photos (5 available)

Old photo of Dolwyddelan

Dolwyddelan maps (2 available)

Old map of Dolwyddelan

Dolwyddelan books (2 available)

Dolwyddelan memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Gwynedd below.

Gwynedd memories

childhood memories

I was born in Cwm and I was always known by my middle name of Maelor, My fondest memories are playing with my friends Ken, Idwal, Iola, Anne Evans and Anne Parry to name but a few, We all used to meet after school to play, I also used to fish in the river and caught many trout with both rod and by tickling trout, I was so sad when I had to leave to find work, Sadly it was the end of a way of life because when I moved away I found a very different world to the wonderful innocent world I had known before.
A memory of Cwm Penmachno contributed by robert lloyd

100 years ago

My aunt Elizabeth Lloyd Griffiths Jones was born in Blaenau Ffestinog on Feb. 12, 1906. She is the daughter of the late William and Annie Griffiths. She came to America in around 1920. While living in Wales she lived with her maternal grandmother Elizabeth Jones (Husband was David Jones). As a young girl she came to America to join her parents, her brother William Cynwal and sister Anna Lloyd. She is a wonderful lady. She married Richard T. Jones born in Blaenau Ffestinog in May 1905-son of Elias and Margaret Thomas Jones. Blaenau Ffestinog has a wonderful daughter that they sould be so proud of saying "she came from here". I hope to send ...read more here
A memory of Blaenau Ffestiniog contributed by wendy griffith bowers

Gowers bridge

Gowers bridge was not too far from where we lived and was a great place to take the children for a picnic, to learn to ride a tricycle and to skim stones across and see who won, then pick our way to Llyn Bwrw Eira, along the banks, sometimes walk to the swings in Trefriw, and back.  We lived in Plas Isaf and Heulwen Jones and her family came too.  It was harmless fun in lovely surroundings, and thus has a lot of happy memories.  The workhouse was still there in those days and the coal yard in the station , another attraction.
A memory of Llanrwst contributed by First name Last name

WW11 in Llan Ffestiniog

Ffestiniog, 1930

Towards the end of WW11 my mother took me to visit family in Llan Ffestiniog. I was vey young. I recall clearly looking out of the parlour window and seeing a communal water pump in the street and with dozens if not hundreds of soldiers passing through - apparently en route to their camp at Trawsfynydd.
Where was the pump ? Can anyone help? I think it may have been near the wide Y junction in Ffestiniog but I just don't know. Help!
A memory of Ffestiniog contributed by Meirion Jones

Extracts From Dolwyddelan & Gwynedd books

Dolwyddelan, the Castle 1891

Five miles south west of Betwys-y-Coed, Dolwyddelan was founded c1170 by Iorweth Trwyndwn (the Flatnosed), and this was where his son Llywelyn was born. The castle was sited so as to control the principal route between Nant Conway and Meironnydd by way of the Lledr Valley. It was captured by the English in 1283.
An extract from from"50 Classics - Castles".

Dolwyddelan, the Castle 1891

Five miles south-west of Betwys-y-Coed, Dolwyddelan Castle was founded about 1170 by Iorwerth Trwyndwn (the Flatnosed), and this was where his son Llywelyn was born. The castle was strategically sited so as to control the principal route between Nant Conway and Meirionnydd by way of the Lledr Valley, and was Iorwerth’s home for many years. It was captured by the English in January 1283 following the death of Llywelyn the Last.
An extract from from"Welsh Castles".

Dolwyddelan, the Castle 1891

It has been argued that Dolwyddelan was not Iorwerth’s castle at all, and that the honour should in fact be bestowed upon nearby Tomen Castell; here, there are the remains of a rectangular tower. The surviving rectangular tower at Dolwyddelan is thought to have been built as late as 1270, possibly by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd as a two-storey structure. A third storey was added in the 15th century.
An extract from from"Welsh Castles".