Open Doors Llangollen 17 and 18 September 2011

St Collen's Church
Church Street, Grade I Listed Building
NGR SJ216419

St Collen’s Church was founded by the Welsh saint, Collen in the 6th or 7th Century. There are many legends about this saint, who was reputed to have killed a giantess and was at one time abbot of Glastonbury. His original church, or tomb-shrine was to the west of the present tower until 1750, when the stones were used to replace the sixteenth century wooden tower. The present building dates mainly from the thirteenth century, when it was a typical North Wales two nave church. In the 1860’s the church was extended with the building of a south nave and the addition of a chancel to the east. The most remarkable feature of the church is the oak hammer beam roof of the central nave. An earlier roof was destroyed in a fire on St Collen’s day (May 21st) in the early sixteenth century and the present one was then erected. Originally the canopy of honour was over the altar, before the altar was moved into the new chancel in the 1860’s.

17 September, 10.30am-4pm, and 18 September, 1.30pm-4pm. Sunday services at 8am, 11am and 6pm. Fully accessible. Tours available: see Walk and Tours page.

Glanrafon Evangelical Church
Princess Street, Grade II Listed

NGR SJ2173141988 The present building replaces an earlier structure near the Talbot Inn, Church Street. The land was purchased by the Welsh Independent Congregational Church from George Lloyd Dickin of Tyndwr Hall on 31 October 1898. It was built in an idiosyncratic classical style. In 1905 it was said to have 170 adherents but by the 1970s attendances had fallen leading to the closure of the chapel. Among the trustees at the time of the building was Hwfa Mon, a former minister and arch druid of Wales.

17 September, 11am-4pm and 18 September, 1.30-4pm. Guides available 2pm-4pm. Accessible from Princess Street.

Tŷ’n Dŵr Hall
Pengwern Vale
NGR SJ23144131, Sat Nav LL20 8AR

Tŷ’n Dŵr Hall was originally part of the Pengwern estate and was occupied by Francis Pinney, of Kent, who died in 1855. In 1859 it was bought by John Dickin, an iron master who had the place rebuilt from 1866 to 1870. The lower storeys are of brick with stone dressings and the upper storeys are almost all half timbered. Many internal features such as the staircase are Gothic but the fireplaces are Jacobean, indicating that more than one designer could have been involved. It is reputed that the carvings were performed by Bavarian craftsmen who were recruited specifically for this project. By 1929 the owner was Hywel Stanford Hughes (1886-1972). He was a staunch Welsh Nationalist and in 1929 he hosted the first camp of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru here. Later occupants included the antiques dealer Joseph Duveen before in 1938 Merseyside Youth Hostels paid £1,625 for it and converted it to a 100 bed hostel. It has recently been refurbished and is now the outdoor centre of the University of Central Lancashire.

Tours available: see Walk and Tours page. Not accessible.

The Royal International Pavilion
Abbey Road
NGR SJ211424

The Royal International Pavilion was originally built to house the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. The Eisteddfod was conceived in 1946 in the aftermath of the Second World War, with the first one being held in a marquee on the Recreation ground between 11th and 15th June 1947. The Eisteddfod was successful and grew over the years. In 1958 the eisteddfod moved to its present Penddol site, with a giant cross shaped tented structure but by the early 1980’s it was decided that better and more modern facilities were required. The present Royal International Pavilion building was designed to be flexible enough to cope with 4,000 during the eisteddfod but to shrink at other times to host a variety of year round events and concerts. The structure was designed by DY Davies Associates and built by Atelier One. The core building is stone clad with a slate roof, and houses a 400 seat theatre, a gallery, conference room and offices with backstage services and storage. A 70 ft steel arch supports a pair of PVC membranes, which can be increased by the use of traditional tenting, to allow for the extra capacity.
The building was opened by Her Majesty the Queen 10th July 1992.

Talks available: see Walk and Tours page. Fully accessible. Ample free parking.

Llantysilio Church
Llantysilio, Grade II* Listed Building
NGR SJ194435

Llantysilio Church is dedicated to St Tysilio (c 548 – 640). The earliest building on the site is believed to be 6th century, but the present structure dates from 1180. It consists of a nave and chancel, with a north chapel erected in 1718 to accommodate the congregation which formerly had used Valle Crucis. The church was restored and the chapel enlarged in 1869. The church was also re seated, the galleries removed and the south porch reconstructed. The font, lectern eagle, and the oak panelling above the sanctuary are 14th century. The glass in the narrow window is dated to about 1460, and the west window is of pre-Raphaelite style. The chancel window depicting the resurrection, is a memorial to Lady Martin (Helen Faucit, wife of Sir Theodore Martin of Bryntysilio). Robert Browning worshipped here for 10 weeks in 1866, and a tablet near the pulpit commemorates this.

17 and 18 September, 10am-4pm. Sunday service 11am. Two shallow steps at the top of a sloping path to the church, accessible via rear access.

Valle Crucis Abbey & Eliseg's Pillar
Scheduled Monuments
NGR SJ204441 & NGR SJ202445

Valle Crucis Abbey was founded in 1200 by Cistercians from Strata Marcella, under the auspices of Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor, the prince of Powys. The name was derived from the valley of the cross of Eliseg’s Pillar. The building of the Abbey was in several stages, with two fires destroying much of the earlier works. The earliest parts of the structure, the lower parts of sacristy, and west and south building were constructed of coarse local shale and slate. Some of the dressed stone works are stained red as a consequence of the fires. Later parts used Cefn Sandstone, the upper west gable dating from the early fourteenth century, and there was fire damage repair in the early fifteenth century.

17 September and 18 September, 10am-5pm, last admission 4.30pm. Accessible to ground floor areas. Tours available: see Walk and Tours page.

Y Capel
Castle Street, Grade II Listed Building
NGR SJ214420

The Chapel was built for Welsh Baptists in the 1860s, as part of the development of Castle Street that linked the station with the Holyhead Road. It was designed to hold a congregation of 400. It was built in a Romanesque style, and has a two storey front of brick with stone dressings. There are three arches on pilasters beneath a pediment. The chapel closed in 1982, and it was acquired by the County Council and converted for use by the European Centre for Trade and Regional Culture (ECTARC). In 2004 the upper floor became the Library, with the Tourist Office on the ground floor. Original internal features can still be seen in the library, such as the three large roses featured in the arched ceiling, and the windows.

Library open: 17 September, 9.30am-4.30pm, and 18 September, 10am-4.30pm. Fully accessible. All Library and Tourist Information services will be available throughout the weekend.

English Methodist Church
Princess St
NGR SJ212420

This building, which has been described as one of the most beautiful buildings in Methodism with its Gothic architecture and tall spire, looks more like a church than a traditional chapel. It was formally opened on 24th March 1904 having cost a total of £4,264. Points of interest include three stained glass windows by Thomas William Camm of Smethwick (1839-1912). There is a mosaic floor beneath the altar area which was laid by a group of Italian craftsmen in great secrecy.

17 September 10.30am-4pm and 18 September 2pm-4pm. Harvest Festival Service, Sunday 11am. Accessible from Princess Street.

Plas Newydd
Hill Street, Grade II* Listed Building
NGR SJ218417

Originally a small three-bay cottage called Pen-y-Maes, it was occupied by Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, "The Ladies of Llangollen", from 1780 to 1831. The story of their flight from Ireland captured the imagination of Regency Society, and many influential people of the day, such as the Duke of Wellington, used to visit them. The interior is elaborately decorated with carved oak panels and stained glass windows. The Ladies also added Gothic embellishments to the exterior. The current black and white timbering was a later modification, as was the formal garden in front of the house. The shaft of Chester's medieval High Cross and the font from Valle Crucis Abbey can be seen in the grounds. The Ladies created a romantic landscape garden, including a circular walk, which is in the course of restoration. The Ladies’ Tomb can be seen in St Collen’s Churchyard.

Free talks can be pre-booked: see Walk and Tours page. Casual visitors will be charged an entry fee. Accessible to ground floor.

Castell Dinas Brân
Scheduled Monument
NGR SJ222430

In a commanding position on a hill to the north east of the town are the ruins of Castell Dinas Brân. The bank and ditch surrounding the castle are the remains of an Iron Age hill fort. The Castle itself was probably built by Gruffydd ap Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor in about 1260. At the time of Edward I’s Welsh campaign in 1277, the castle was destroyed by fire to prevent it being used by the English.