Rhuddlan Walk: Town Centre【4K】

Located in the county of Denbighshire, and around two miles south of Rhyl, is the town of Rhuddlan.

The town's name derives from Welsh 'rhudd', meaning red and 'glan', meaning bank or shore, likely referring to the red soil found in the area. It is situated on the eastern bank of the River Clwyd, around 2-3 miles upstream from where it meets the Irish Sea.

In 921 AD Edward the Elder, king of England, made Rhuddlan a burh, i.e. fortified settlement. Prior to the Norman Conquest, it became the seat of government and capital of Gwynedd for the Welsh king Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, who used it as a base for raids into England in the 1060s. In 1073 construction began on a motte and bailey castle here, as ordered by Robert of Rhuddlan, a Norman who became a lord of North Wales.

In 1277 Edward I ordered the construction of Rhuddlan Castle at the end of the first Welsh war to secure lands taken from the Welsh. By 1282 enough of the castle was complete that it successfully defended against an attack by the Welsh. In 1284 a parliament was held in the town, resulting in the Statute of Rhuddlan. This provided the constitutional basis for the government of the principality of North Wales. The statute remained in effect until Henry VIII's Act of Union in 1536. Rhuddlan Castle fended off further attacks from the Welsh, specifically during the early 15th century, led by Owain Glyndŵr. Ultimately, the castle was partially demolished by Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.

In circa 1300, St Mary's Church was built. This replaced an older Norman church from the 1080s. Additions were made during the Tudor era, including a second nave and a tower, perhaps as a consequence of the damage inflicted during the Glyndŵr rebellion. Restoration work was carried out in the 19th century.

Since 1358 a stone bridge has crossed the River Clwyd here. The town was once home to a busy quay which included a foundry and granaries. The quay fell into disuse in the 19th century with the coming of the railway. A station opened here in 1858 courtesy of the Vale of Clwyd Railway. This was a branch line linking Rhyl to Denbigh. It was closed to passengers in 1955, and to goods in 1968. Today, public transport to Rhuddlan consists of direct local bus services from Rhyl, St Asaph, Abergele, Prestatyn, Denbigh and various other nearby settlements.

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Filmed: 17th May 2024

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6s4ufiqsRNSMz...

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Castle Street
1:19 Hylas Lane
1:43 Castle Street
6:58 Station Road
10:30 Tan-Yr-Eglwys Road
15:07 Station Road
15:49 High Street
18:50 Rhyl Road