FLINTSHIRE S bounded on the N. by the great Æftuary of the Dee; on the E. by Cheshire and Shropshire; and on the S. and W. by Denbighshire. It is about 33 M. in Length, 8 in Breadth, and 40 in Circumference; containing five Hundreds, one City, one Borough, 3 Market Towns, 4 Caftles, and two Parks. The Soil, particularly in the Vallies, is very fruitful both in Corn and Pasture, which feeds Abundance of small Cattle; and in fome of its Mountains are rich Mines of Lead. Flint, 194 M. from London, is the Shire Town, and ftands on the ftuary of the Dee; it had formerly a Caftle, the Ruins of which are ftill remaining. It was begun by Henny II. and finished by Edward I. St. Asaph, 212 M. from London, is a City and Bishop's See, fituated in the Vale of Clwyd, at the Conflux of the Elwy with the Clwyd; but the Buildings are not remarkable for Beauty, nor the Church for Elegance, The epifcopal See was founded in the Year 560, by Kentigern Bishop of Glasgow, in Scotland, who refigned to his Difciple Afaph, from whom it has its Name. Holywell, or St. Winifrid's Well, 4 M. from St. Asaph, is a pretty large well built Village, fituated in the Middle of a Grove between two Hills. It has its Name from a Spring, which, if we will credit the Popish Legends, rofe there miraculously in Memory of St. Winifrid, a Chriftian Virgin, who was here ravifhed and beheaded by a Pagan Tyrant; in Commemoration of which a neat Chapel was hewn out of a Rock of Free Stone over the Well; it is now turned into a Proteftant School; but the Roman Catholicks, to fupply the Lofs of this Chapel, have erected others, with a Prieft to officiate, almoft in every Inn, for the Devotion of Papift Pilgrims who refort hither. Caerwys, 5 M. from Flint, is reckoned the chief Market Town in the County, and ftands near the Center of it, between St. Asaph and Flint. The The principal Seats in this County are, Sir Roger Moftyn, Bart. at Moftyn. Sir John Glynn's, at Haywarden Castle, fix M. from Flint. Sir George Wynne, Bart. at Leefward, near Northop. ANGLESEY S an Inland, and was called by the Ancients Mona, the Seat of the Druids. It is encompaffed on all Sides by the Irish Sea, except on the S. E. where it is divided from Caernarvonshire, by the Frith of Meneu, which in fome Places is fordable at low Water. It is about 24 M. in Length, 17 in Breadth, and 60 in Circumference; containing fix Hundreds, two Market Towns, two Chaces, 74 Parifhes, and 363 Villages. It is very fruitful in Corn, particularly in Wheat, Cattle, Fish and Fowl. It also produces Plenty of Mill-ftones and Grind-ftones, and fome Allum. Beaumaris, 241 M. from London, is a handfome well built Town, on the E. Side of the Island, and has a good Harbour for Ships, a very handsome Church, with fome fine Monuments of the Bulkley's Family, and the Knights Templars; and was formerly fortified with a ftrong Castle, built by Edward I. the Ruins of which ftill remain. Holy-head, 28 M. from Beaumaris, 269 from Lond. is the Station for the Packet-boat to Ireland, being the neareft Land to Dublin. It is the most Western Point of Anglefey, and is a little Iland of itself, and has a finall Village called in Welch Kaer Gybi, confifting of a confused Heap of ftraggling Houses built on Rocks, but several of them have very comfortable Accommodations for Paffengers, both with regard to Lodging and Diet. The Church was formerly Collegiate, and founded by one Kebius a Hermit, about the Year 650. The Walls of the Church are the remains of a British Fortification, built about the Year 450, by Caswallon Lawhire, Lordi Newburgh, or Newborough, 12 Miles from Beaumaris, Aberfrow, a fmall Village in that Neighbourhood, Penmon Priory, fituated in the N. E. Part of the Island, The only Seat of Note in this Ifland is that of Lord INDEX. |