A Castle Round Every Corner
Wherever you go in North Wales, you cannot help
but notice the castles.
Some are well known internationally such as Harlech, Caernarfon
and Conwy but within a few miles of these famous names are others
like Criccieth, Rhuddlan and the one pictured here, Bodelwyddan.
 
Situated close to the A55 Expressway near St Asaph, Bodelwyddan
Castle is only 5 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl and stands
in some magnificent grounds, gardens and parkland.
Entering through the main gates between two imposing turreted
towers (above left), you reach a quiet courtyard (above right)
where shrubs and climbing plants hug the buttressed walls. Not
all of the Castle is as open as this though. There are many narrow
passageways such as the one that leads to the Gift Shop and Tea
Room pictured right .
Standing outside the Castle it is easy to image Mediaeval warriors
fighting wars in this picturesque setting with archers atop the
walls and cauldrons of hot oil being poured on to the attackers.
Having painted this picture let me spoil it without further ado.
The Castle is actually an imposing Victorian Country House that
has now been extensively restored. It houses a major collection
of nineteenth century portraits.
Other features worthy of mention are the beautiful flower displays
in the tubs on the access way to the Castle.
It is from this road that the outline of Rhuddlan Castle can
be seen in the far distance beyond the 202 foot spire of of Bodelwyddan
Church. Known locally as "the Marble Church" this is
a well known local landmark. Its nickname is derived from the
fact that fourteen different varieties of marble were used in
the interior.
Ancient And Modern.
 A
few miles along the coast from Conwy beyond Llandudno and merging
almost imperceptibly with Colwyn Bay is the seaside resort of
Rhos-On-Sea.
It was here that we paid a visit to the United Reformed Church
(picture above) and became re-acquainted with Rev. John Huntingdon
and his wife (right). Before moving to Rhos,-On Sea, Rev. Huntingdon
was the URC Minister in Ilkeston.
We also visited another church in Rhos - that dedicated to St.
Trillo. The seashore church marks the spot of a holy well and
is notable for being probably the smallest in Wales if not the
UK measuring only 11 feet by 8 feet (3.4m x 2.4m).
 
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