Caergwrle

Caergwrle is a village in the county of Flintshire, in north east Wales. Approximately 5-6 miles from Wrexham and situated on the A541 road, it is contiguous with the village of Abermorddu and closely related to the village of Hope. The village lies on the River Alyn and sits at the base of Hope Mountain (Mynydd yr Hob). At the 2001 Census, the population was 1,650.

The 13th-century ruined Caergwrle Castle was first built by prince Dafydd ap Gruffudd, in lands given to him by Edward I after the first Welsh campaign of 1277. The village originally had the English name of Corley, but with the addition of the Welsh "Caer", meaning "fortress", the name gradually took on Welsh characteristics. To explain the name, a myth developed of a giant named Gwrle, who was supposed to have lived in the castle and been buried in the nearby Neolithic burial mound at Cefn-y-bedd.

The 17th century Packhorse Bridge, which is reputed to be haunted, was nearly destroyed by flooding in 2000, though it has since been restored.

Caergwrle railway station is on the Borderlands Line, connecting it to Wrexham and to Liverpool via the Wirral Peninsula. Bus links also give access to Mold and Chester

References

External links

• Caergwrle Castle
• Packhorse Bridge ghost
• Castell Alun High School
• Flintshire Council Profile