Key asset – Promoting and protecting local heritage

Wales has a wealth of cultural assets, often discussed in terms of language, music, theatre, writing, dance, art, sport, festivals, broadcasting, cultural diversity and cultural tourism of our historic environment. Together our culture, heritage and language defines us as a nation, providing opportunities for regeneration and growth as well as educational and cultural benefits to our society.

Conwy and Denbighshire County Boroughs both have a dense network and range of culturally significant heritage sites, buildings and features, including thousands of buildings which are statutorily listed as being of special architectural or historic interest ^[i]. This local heritage forms an important part of the appeal of the county for visitors and has a significant contribution to the local economy. Key sites include:

• Conwy Castle and Town Walls: a site that has a global designation as one of only 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK.
• Llandudno town and pier, one of the finest Victorian resorts in England and Wales.
• Aberconwy House, dating back to the 14th century, is believed to be the oldest surviving townhouse in Wales.
• 4,000 year old Great Orme copper mines.
• Dolwyddelan Castle built by Llywelyn the Great which is one of the few castles built by the native rulers.

Denbighshire is similarly rich in heritage, key sites include:

• Industrial heritage such as Pontcysyllte World Heritage site, which encompasses Horseshoe Falls and the Llangollen Canal as well as the aqueduct itself, crossing the boundary between Denbighshire and Wrexham, Meliden Goods Shed, Llangollen Steam Railway.
• Ruthin gaol is the only purpose-built Pentonville style prison open to the public as a heritage attraction.
• Historic Houses such as Nant Clwyd Y Dre, Plas Newydd, Bodewyddan Castle, Ruthin Castle, Faenol Fawr, Dolbelydr
• Historic Churches and Chapels including; St Asaph Cathedral, St Margret’s Church – Bodelwyddan, Llangar Parish Church, Rug Chapel, Tremerichion Corpus Christi Church
• Medieval Castles at Ruthin, Denbigh and Town Walls,  Rhuddlan and Dinas Bran (Llangollen)
• Iron Age Hill Forts throughout the Clwydian Range and Llantysilio Mountain including;

Caer Drewyn

Moel Fenlli

Penycloddiau

Moel Arthur

Moel y Gaer Llanbedr

Moel y Gaer Llantysiliso

• Monuments such as the Owain Glyndwr statue, Eliseg’s pillar, Jubilee Tower Moel Famau, Derwen Cross, Escob William Morgan memorial and HM Stanley statue.

 

[i] Cadw, Welsh Government