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Monday, September 15, 2025

Road maintenance work planned for Nant Y Garth Pass

Denbighshire County Council Highways are set to begin works on a major Welsh Government funded road maintenance scheme on the A525 Nant Y Garth Pass. 

Significant resurfacing work is due to take place on the stretch of road from September 15 to October 19, weather permitting.

Traffic will be controlled using stop/go boards with convoy working so some delays should be expected, says the council.

As part of the works the road markings and studs will also be refreshed.

Some preparation work has already commenced, comprising of fence repairs and drain cleansing. 

The council has earmarked 57 locations in the county a two-year road maintenance programme, worth £4.780m over the next two yeears, to improve the carriageway surface condition on sections of the road network.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The council is fully aware that the state of Denbighshire’s road network is a regular topic from our residents. 

"We are grateful for the Welsh Government funding which will, along with the Nant y Garth Pass,  allow us to tackle a large section of our network which needs improving."

* Further information is available on our website www.denbighshire.gov.uk 

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Museum tries to link huge Virginian estate with Llangollen


* Llangollen Farm pictured when it went on for sale $34m in 2019.

Llangollen Museum has been trying to help an American woman find links between the town and a prosperous family in the United States.

Back in September 2019 llanblogger carried a story about Llangollen Farm in the state of Virginia going on the market for a cool $34 million.

The equestrian estate had once been owned by the Powell family and was called after Llangollen because their ancestors were supposed to come from here.  

Six years later and the museum recently had a visit from Elizabeth Cooper, from Oregon. She was only in Llangollen for the day, having travelled here on the canal.

A descendant of the Powell family, she was attempting to find links with her Powell ancestors in Llangollen.  

But Peter Jones from the museum team says that although parish records show baptisms of Powells as early as 1625 it was not possible to link them with the Virginia Powells.  

Peter, who has exhaustively researched the subject, went on: "The first Powell associated with the house [in Virgina] was Lt Col Leven Powell (1738 - 1810). He was a member of the First Continental Congress. He was a major, then a Lt. Colonel in the Continental Army.  

"He was with George Washington and the Continental Army for a period of time but after a long illness at Valley Forge, he was furloughed by Gen. Washington.  

"His son was Cuthbert Powell (1775 - 1849) who made his fortune alongside his brother, Leven Powell, Jr. (1772-1807), as a merchant and ship owner. In 1788 Cuthbert married Catherine Simms, daughter of Col. Charles Simms. The couple had ten children. 

"He retired to 'Llangollen,' Loudoun County, Virginia in 1812 after a decline in business. Later he was elected to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly; the Virginia State Senate in 1829 and the Virginia House of Delegates in 1840. 

"He completed preparatory studies; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Alexandria and was mayor of Alexandria. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, held various local offices, served in the State senate 1815-1819; member of the State house of delegates in 1828 and 1829, elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843) died in 'Llangollen,' Loudoun County, Va., May 8, 1849. Cuthbert was interred in the private cemetery on his estate, 'Llangollen,' near the town of Upperville in Loudoun County, Va."

llanblogger's story on Llangollen Farm, Virginia, told how five million acres of prime land in the state were granted to the Fairfax family by the kings of England in the 17th century, 600 of which ended up with the Powells who built an impressive mansion which passed from one blue blood owner to another.

They included the Whitneys who founded the Llangollen Race Meeting, a steeplechase that attracted 20,000 spectators, and built ancillary buildings on the property, including the now-famous “horseshoe stables” for their show-ponies. They added a polo field, nine houses for guests, a race track, a training track, and, most impressive of all, a hyper-sophisticated water system that remains to this day. 

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Civic Service celebrates community of Llangollen


* The Mayor and Mayoress follow the Deputy Mayor into church.


* Llangollen Silver Band plays during the service.


* Civic heads from neighbourhood local authorities.


* The  Community Candle was lit at the front of the church.

Llangollen Town Council arranged a Civic Service at St Collen's Church this morning (Saturday).

Led by Father Lee Taylor, it was attended by the Town Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Aled Morris and Sarah Griffiths, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam, and a number of town councillors. Llangollen Silver Band provided the music.

Also present was the area's MP, Becky Gittins, civic heads from neighbouring local authorities and representatives of local organisations and businesses including Llangollen Railway, Llangollen Wharf, Llangollen FoodShare, the Royal British Legion's local branch, Llangollen Inner Wheel, Llangollen Museum and Cytun (Churches Together) Llangollen.

In his address, Father Lee spoke about the importance of community and the Mayor lit a symbolic Community Candle at the front of the church as a sign of the town's shared responsibility and hope for every part of life in Llangollen. Smaller candles were lit by the representatives of organisations and businesses. 

Later, there was a reception at the Town Hall for all those who attended. 

Bingo night planned for Nightingale House

 


Twenty Club has another cunning Blackadder plan

Rehearsals have started in earnest for the Twenty Club's November production of Blackadder Goes Forth. 

The last in the series of four, it is set in World War One and has a host of well-loved characters, spearheaded by Blackadder and his ever-loyal servant Baldrick.  

With a very talented, dedicated and hardworking cast, some roles are being reprised by the same people as in previous productions but there are plenty of new faces to welcome, too.

Life in the trenches is hard, it's dangerous and Blackadder is busy devising ways of finding himself a safe job well away from the front line, going so far as to attempt to join the Royal Flying Corps.

Another attempt to dodge the bullets has Blackadder volunteering to organise and oversee a proposed concert in London., roping in Lieutenant George as the star turn - with dire consequences. 

The final episode of four, Goodbyee, touches on the stark reality of war, a poignant end to a truly memorable run of Blackadder.

Early bird tickets are on sale throughout September for the bargain price of £10.

The production team is hard at work on all aspects of staging this ambitious play, spearheaded by new director Naomi Riley.

As an accomplished set designer and builder, Naomi says she is relishing the challenge of bringing all these colourful characters to life.

Tickets are available online or from Courtyard Books and The Oggie Shop.   

The show runs feast from November 12-15, including a matinee on the 15th.

Friday, September 12, 2025

Improvement work planned for Riverside Park

Work is set to take place to improve and develop areas to "help health and wellbeing" along Llangollen’s Riverside Park, says the county council.

Funded by Shared Prosperity Transitional Year, the work will be coordinated and carried out by Denbighshire’s Streetscene department.

It follows previous improvement work at the park during the last few years which has seen initiatives including a 9-hole bespoke mini golf and play equipment added to the area.

Streetscene is working to further enhance the park area for local residents and visitors to enjoy.

Developments to take place at Riverside Park, where funding allows, will include the introduction of an outdoor gym area to the rear of the existing skate park. This will include the removal of the hedge row, landscaping the immediate area and installation of a number of outdoor gym equipment pieces

Plans also include the removal of existing hedge row by the picnic area/benched and installation of bow top fencing, to include pedestrian access gate and the installation of accessible picnic bench, to include required ground works.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are pleased to be able to continue improvements along this fantastic area at Llangollen through the funding we have been able to access. This work will complement areas that have already undergone improvement at Riverside Park through the direction of Streetscene to further enhance this important part of the town for both the enjoyment of residents and those visiting Llangollen." 

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council


Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

OPP 10 Regent Street JNC QUEEN STREET AND CHURCH STREET Llangollen LL2 BROOK STREET 15/09/2025 02/10/2025 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Junction of Chapel Street and Regent Street CHAPEL STREET 06/10/2025 25/10/2025 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works GTC LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Jct Grange Road BACHE MILL ROAD 06/10/2025 26/10/2025 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works GTC LLANGOLLEN