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Post by keithj on Jun 30, 2008 17:33:02 GMT
Ruth and I are having a long weekend in the area this weekend. We're coming over on Saturday and I'm going to pull in some research - possibly at Cefn Mawr but definitely at the A N Palmer library. On Sunday we're planning to go to Llangollen, somewhere we've stopped at on the way to somewhere may times but we've never explored it. One thing we definitely have on the menu is a trip over the aqueduct.
On Saturday I'm thinking about having an evening meal at the King's Head in Bwlchgwyn, which my family kept in the late 19th century. That leaves all of Monday and most of Tuesday. Can anyone think of some local "must see" places apart from Erddig, which we've visited before?
Keith
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Post by davies1974 on Jun 30, 2008 18:42:13 GMT
With ancestors from Bwlchqwyn they probably had some working connection with the Lead Mines in Minera Mountain. If so, an hour connecting with your roots at the Minera Lead Mine Museum would be time well spent.
Enjoy your trip
Col
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Post by llosgi calch on Jun 30, 2008 18:45:43 GMT
Sut mae Keith,
Best to mention that the Kings Head Inn, Bwlchgwyn is closed 'again' at the moment, so not much hope of a drink, let alone a bite to eat. Only pub in Bwlchgwyn now open is 'The Moors' formerly the 'Four Crosses' on the cross roads towards Ruthin.
Motorcycle show in Llangollen this weekend, if its of interest.
Always Wrexham museum Monday or Tuesday might be worth a trip delving in their records.
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Post by keithj on Jun 30, 2008 19:19:03 GMT
The family were coal rather than lead miners, Col, but that would certainly be of interest. I did drive around the car park when I was over there on my own a couple of weeks ago but didn't stop as I was trying to find Rhiw Cottages and the Penuel Chapel in Llanfynydd before heading home. I didn't realise the King's Head was out of business. Their website still operates and you can find a menu on-line, too. That's a real disappointment. I do ride a bike - a BMW K1200LT - and if the weather's half decent we'll be on that. We both prefer riding over driving, not to mention the 15-20 extra miles per gallon we get over the car! I don't think we'll bother with the bike show, though, unless the weather's not up to much. We're National Trust members and were thinking of a visit to Plas Newydd if we find ourselves at a loose end. As we'll be in Llandegla, Llangollen is no problem to reach down the Horseshoe Pass. I've got a microfilm reader booked at the museum for Saturday afternoon. I'm planning to look for obituary notices in the faint hope that any of mine are mentioned. Ruth's going to explore Wrexham while I'm at it. She's spent too many hours sitting with me while I do research and goes off on her own if there's any chance. ;D Keith
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Post by annedw on Jun 30, 2008 19:27:50 GMT
What about Tyn Y Capel pub in Minera, right opposite the church. I guess that`s still OK though I`ve not been there for a while, great views up to the mountain. If you drive up over Minera mountain down to Worlds End, it`s not much more than a track, but quite safe , the view back over Cheshire, Shropshire is fantastic, in fact you can see more than three counties. At Worlds End there is a little ford, and the remains of some lead mines on the left. Then as you drop down from Words End there is Valle Crucis Abbey, beautiful, Castell Dinas Bran, Chain Bridge Hotel, and the Horshe Falls, Motorcycle museum , and the Canal wharf all on your way to Llan You might find the Iron works close to Bersham Heritage centre of interest , not too far from Minera and Wrexham, and there`s always a display on local industry there. The Corn Mill in Llan is a lovlely place to eat and drink in Llan, an old mill with the workings still there, and loads of old photos on the wall, there`s a deck over the river outside,so lets hope you have some good weather to enjoy it all. www.thomsonlocal.com/Tyn-Y-Capel-Inn/1923093/map/companyinfo.html,
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Post by annedw on Jun 30, 2008 19:35:27 GMT
Well Keith - the track over Minera won`t be much good on the bike, but the Horsehoe Pass is one of `Great Biker Roads`, at the top is the Ponderosa Cafe, very biker friendly and always busy. Be careful though , our notorius Mad Mullah top cop Brunstrom has been known to hide a speed camera in a Horse box up that way www.abd.org.uk/brunstrom.htm
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Post by hilary on Jun 30, 2008 20:15:03 GMT
My sister was at Tyn y Capel the other week and she really enjoyed the meal, would go there again.
Hilary
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Post by keithj on Jun 30, 2008 20:30:17 GMT
I'd heard of the Chief Constable, Annette. It's difficult to avoid hearing about his tyrannical regime if you use two wheels. I'm not a rip-stitch in any case but when I have Ruth on board I take more care than usual.
The Corn Mill looks wonderful and I'm sure we'll try it one of the days. The Tyn-y-Capel has a website, I see, but it's hardly better than nothing since the links don't work.....
Keith
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Post by susan on Jun 30, 2008 21:20:38 GMT
Highly recommend theTyn y Capel lovely food and fab service was there at the end of May and will definetly visit again when next in the area. Did the Worlds end trip after a meal at aforemention eatery - lovely veiws but probably not such a food idea when it was getting dark - a bit scary! If you have any relatives who may be buried in Wrexham then the caretaker in residence is very helpful and printed off maps of areas of the cemetery matched to names I gave him. Susan
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Post by keithj on Jul 9, 2008 16:41:31 GMT
We had a great time during our break. We didn't eat at Tyn y Capel because it doesn't open on Mondays but we ate at The Corn Mill twice and that serves food you could recommend to anyone.
I didn't find anything in the newspaper BMDs but I did get copies of three wedding records from St Giles. They don't tell me much I didn't know before but being able to read their signatures or know that they made their mark is special for me. One is for the marriage of Davies Edward Davies and Elizabeth Williams. She makes a mark and he signs but he clearly writes very infrequently as he not only signs in a very shaky hand but doesn't spell his name correctly! The new information on this was John Williams, who was a witness. I think it's a fair bet that it's her brother.
Another was for Edward Peters and Davies' daughter Margaret. Their witnesses were her brother Edward, who went on to keep the King's Head at Bwlchgwyn, and her sister Elizabeth, who died only a few years later and is buried at The Wern. What i found interesting was that Edward Davies signed but Margaret and Elizabeth both made their marks. I thought boys being educated and girls kept in ignorance had gone by then so that was something of a surprise.
I spent some time at the AN Palmer scanning register transcripts for a marriage and was very surprised to see a significant minority of girls still using the patronymic naming system around 1800.
We visited Plas Newydd for the first time and Erddig for the second, thoroughly enjoying both. We also visited Chirk Castle but we were both very disappointed by the place. That's rare with National Trust properties but this one really didn't ring any bells for either of us.
Keith
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