Take a tour through Llangollen's rich history this Saturday

                        

Our Historic Llangollen/Hanesyddol i Bawb is staging another tour through the town's intriguing history this Saturday, May 2. 

Following on from the success of last year's event of the same name, the latest Tour Through Time will take place throughout the day in a variety of locations.

Attendance is free, people can join or leave at any stage and no booking is necessary, say organisers.

The day's programme is:

10am - St. Collen’s Through Time: a guided journey through the history of St Collen’s, revealing its remarkable heritage and the ongoing work to conserve, reinterpret and make the church more accessible for all. St Collen’s Church, Regent Street, LL20 8HU. 

11am - Crime and Punishment in Early Victorian Llangollen: hear the stories of Victorian criminals and how they were punished in Llangollen’s first magistrates’ courtroom, gaol and police station. The Lock Up Heritage Centre, Victoria Square, LL20 8ET. 

12noon - Welcome to Plas Newydd: discover the story of two remarkable women and the home they created in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Wales. Plas Newydd, Hill Street, LL20 8AW. Why not stay for lunch at the delightful 'Stable Tearoom' at Plas Newydd? 

2pm - Hands on History: A journey through history and prehistory, viewing and experiencing items from the Stone Age to the present day. Llangollen Museum, Parade Street, LL20 8PW. 

3pm - Celebrating the Llangollen Railway: A look back at the preservation and development of Llangollen Railway. Llangollen Railway, Abbey Road, LL20 8SN. 

4pm - Peace and Music across the Years: the story of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, LL20 8SW. 

The Corwen hotel where it's fit for a Welsh legend to eat

Llanblogger taste test

* The Owain Glyndwr right in the heart of Corwen.

Although the Welsh legend it's named after was temporarily away from his nearby plinth, The Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen was very much all present and correct the day we called there for Sunday lunch recently.

With origins dating back to the 13th century, it's long been a gathering place for travellers and locals - possibly even the great man himself as he had manor at nearby Glyndyfrdwy and he is believed to have launched his 1400 revolt in the area. 

One of the few remaining coaching inns along the historic London to Holyhead route, the hotel sits proudly in the heart of Corwen’s historic centre, just steps from the 12th-century church and ancient graveyard - and also that statue of its legendary namesake which on our visit was away being repaired after a close encounter with a lorry.

After a period of decline, the hotel was bought by the local community in September 2024 with support from a UK government grant. 

Since then it has been carefully restored to retain its heritage while offering all the comforts of modern hospitality.

* The excellent beef Sunday lunch we ordered.

* The pleasant dining area adjacent to the bar.

And that includes serving up a rather delicious Sunday lunch, which my wife and I sampled and very much enjoyed.

The Sunday menu, including other traditional variants based on chicken and so on, provides the choice of large or small helpings. I hadn't noticed this until it was pointed out to me by the staff member who very efficiently took our order. But I'm glad she did because the small version was plenty large enough for me, thanks.

Based, in both our cases, on a succulent and sizeable slice of prime beef, our promptly-delivered meals were augmented by a pleasing array of trimmings, including some toothsome roast potatoes, a big roasted carrot, some cauliflower cheese, a portion of subtly oniony-cabbage and the fluffiest of Yorkshire puds. Not forgetting individual boats brimming with thick, tangy gravy. 

There was an interesting range of desserts on the blackboard which we didn't get into, both of us being too full after that "small" roast job.

The community team who now run the place have done an excellent job of facelifting the dining area adjacent to the bar where we were to be bright and clean while still retaining it's historical feel.

The cost of two excellent meals plus a half of Guinness and blackcurrant and a glass of fruit juice - guess who had which - came to a reasonable £32.25, which is remarkable value in today's recession-crippled times.

There's free parking not far away where the pavilion used to stand and it's dead easy to get to on the train direct from Llangollen.

Had The Owain Glyndwr been serving up Sunday lunches like this back when he was in the vicinity I reckon the man it's named for would have been delighted to eat there. 

Special event marks locomotive magnate buried in Llantysilio

* Charles Beyer. 

* Oliver Lang, Alastair Rodgers and Hazel Rodgers, Tracey Lang and David Hennigan will be paying respects at Llantysilio Church where Beyer is buried.

A special commemorative event will take place in Llangollen this summer to honour the life and legacy of pioneering railway engineer Charles Beyer. 

The event on Tuesday June 2 will mark exactly 150 years since Beyer’s death and will form part of wider recognition linked to LGBT+ History Month 2026, highlighting lesser-known aspects of his life alongside his major contribution to railway engineering.

Bringing together local residents, railway enthusiasts and historians, the day will feature a unique programme combining heritage, history and a traditional steam train journey through the Dee Valley.

In an unusual and symbolic format, the commemoration will begin with the first part of a church service at St Collen’s Church in Llangollen at 10am. The service will then pause, allowing attendees to travel by steam train from Llangollen Railway Station at 10.40am to Berwyn Station.

For the occasion, a special Charles Beyer headboard has been commissioned for the steam locomotive, created in partnership with the East Lancashire Railway, adding a unique and fitting tribute to the journey.

* The steam train with its Charles Beyer headboard.

On arrival at Berwyn, a commemorative plaque will be unveiled, commissioned by the Institution of Civil Engineers, recognising Charles Beyer’s significant contribution to engineering. 

Participants will then process across the Chain Bridge to Llantysilio Church, where the service will resume. Both services will be led by Father Lee Taylor, Vicar-in-Charge and conclude with a graveside tribute, creating a powerful link between the locations that defined his life and legacy.

The event will then continue with a reception at Llantysilio Hall, the former home of Beyer, including refreshments, tours and short speeches, before the return journey to Llangollen later in the day.

As part of the wider programme of commemorations, a further event will take place at Brookfield Church, Gorton on Sunday June 14. This will include a special service from 10am to 11am focusing on Beyer, Peacock and the church’s historic links to the company, alongside a thanksgiving for Richard Peacock. 

* All Steam Ahead from Wales to Lancashire for Charles Beyer Life Celebrations. Mark Llewellin (left) with Keith Whitmore (right), pictured alongside East Lancashire Railway Pride Train staff.

Refreshments will follow, before an afternoon session of talks between 1pm and 3pm featuring contributions from Michael Bailey, Robert Herpai and Anthony Dawson. Each talk will last around 20 minutes followed by questions, with the event closing at 4pm after further refreshments.

Charles Beyer was one of the most influential engineers of the 19th century and co-founder of Beyer, Peacock and Company, one of the world’s most important locomotive manufacturers. 

The company built engines for railways across Britain and around the world, including for the Great Western Railway and the London Underground, as well as exporting locomotives internationally.

Born in 1813 in Saxony, Beyer moved to England as a young man and established his career in Manchester, becoming a leading figure in locomotive design during the industrial revolution. He later settled near Llangollen and rebuilt Llantysilio Hall, where he died on June 2 1876. He is buried at Llantysilio Church, a short distance from Berwyn Station.

Beyer also had a lasting connection to Manchester’s social and sporting history. As a major benefactor, he helped fund the construction of St Mark’s Church, one of three churches he supported in the area. This church later became the birthplace of Manchester City FC, originally founded there in 1880 as St Mark’s, Gorton.

Keith Whitmore, a Director of the East Lancashire Railway and one of the organisers, said,: “This will be a very special and fitting tribute to Charles Beyer in the place he chose to call home. The way the service moves between Llangollen and Llantysilio, using the railway itself, makes it a unique and meaningful event. 

"It is also an opportunity to tell a fuller story about Beyer, including aspects of his life that are not always widely recognised, and to highlight the contribution of figures from what we now recognise as the LGBT community to railway history.”

Peter Dickinson, Station Master at Berwyn Railway Station, added: “Berwyn, recently acknowledged as the most beautiful railway station in the UK, has a direct connection to Charles Beyer through its proximity to Llantysilio Church, where he is buried. It will be an honour for our station to play a part in this important commemoration. 

"The unveiling of the plaque at the station, alongside the arrival of the steam train and the continuation of the service here in the valley, will make this a particularly memorable and special occasion for everyone involved.”

The event forms part of a wider programme of commemorations taking place across the UK, with further events planned at heritage railways and museums connected to Beyer’s life and work.

*If anyone would like to attend the event,  email info@llangollen-railway.co.uk or call Alderman Keith Whitmore, Director at East Lancs Railway on 07879 891 153.

Event Itinerary – Tuesday June 2:

• 10.00am: Service begins at St Collen’s Church, Llangollen

• 10.20am: Service pauses

• 10.40am: Steam train departs Llangollen Railway Station

• 10.50am: Arrival at Berwyn Station

• 10.55am: Unveiling of Institution of Civil Engineers commemorative plaque at Berwyn Station

• 11.00am: Procession across Chain Bridge to Llantysilio Church

• 11.40am: Service resumes with graveside tribute

• 12.30pm: Reception at Llantysilio Hall (refreshments, tours and speeches)

• 2.00pm: Return train departs Berwyn

• 2.15pm: Arrival in Llangollen

Eisteddfod chairman responds to questions raised by licensing public notice

* Eisteddfod chairman John Gambles has responded to questions about the public notice.

In response to questions raised about a public notice published today by Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, its chairman John Gambles has put out a statement this evening (Monday).

In it, he says: “As Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, I want to reassure residents regarding the recent premises licence application for the Llangollen Pavilion.

"This application represents a straightforward administrative update following the transfer of the Pavilion’s management to the Eisteddfod on April 1 2025 from Denbighshire Leisure. 

"It does not introduce any changes to the nature of the licence itself, which has been in place for over 20 years. The terms, conditions, and operating framework remain exactly the same.

 

“Since taking on the Pavilion, we have been incredibly proud of what has been achieved by our dedicated team of volunteers. They have worked tirelessly to breathe new life into this much-loved venue, bringing a diverse programme of events that both celebrate culture and support the local economy. 

"These include major events such as Wales Comic Con and a range of concerts and performances that attract visitors from across the region and beyond.

 

“We are particularly excited about our special fundraising concert taking place on Friday May 8 2026, featuring Meibion Marchan, alongside outstanding artists including Angharad Huw, Branwen Medi Jones, and Rhys Meirion, who will also act as compère. Events like these showcase the very best of Welsh culture while helping to secure the Pavilion’s future.

 

“We understand that some residents, including our county councillor Karen Edwards, have raised questions. 

"I want to be absolutely clear: this is a procedural application only. There are no changes to licensing hours, activities, or the way the venue operates.

 

“Our commitment remains firm - to ensure that the Pavilion continues to play a positive and responsible role in the life of Llangollen. We are equally committed to supporting the wider local economy, not least through increased visitor numbers and improved parking provision, which benefits businesses and residents alike.

 

“We will continue to engage openly with the community and ensure that the Pavilion remains a source of pride for the town.”

Police appeal for witnesses to gate theft from local fields

The North Wales Police Rural Crime Team is appealing for information following three galvanised metal gates being stolen from fields in the Llangollen area.

In a post on its Facebook page the team says: "It is reported the gates were taken from fields in Eglwyseg and Pentredwr between midnight and 1am on 20 April.

"We are appealing to anyone who saw or has footage of a dark coloured 4x4 vehicle travelling through Pentredwr with gates on the rear on this date to contact us.

"Anybody who witnessed anything suspicious or has information that could assist our enquiries into this matter should contact us via our website, or by calling 101, quoting reference 26000309863."

Hotel boss Becky cycles 200 miles for colleague with cancer

 

* Wild Pheasant manager Becky Shields cycled 200 miles inspired by a colleague with incurable cancer.

The manager of a hotel in Llangollen completed a tough 200-mile cycling challenge to raise money for a cancer charity.

Becky Shields, who’s in charge at the Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa, was inspired to take on the epic ride by a colleague, mum-of-two Fiona Sellars, who has incurable cancer.

While 70 other staff from the Everbright Hotel Group walked in relays from North Wales to Penrith, Becky, who lives in Oswestry, got on her bike and cycled all the way in aid of Breast Cancer Now.

After weeks of preparation and planning, the fundraisers were waved off from Everbright’s Belmont Hotel in Llandudno.

They visited sister hotels on their gruelling trek, including Llandudno Bay Hotel, The Wild Pheasant and Spa in Llangollen, Rossett Hall near Wrexham and Stone Cross Manor in Kendal, before crossing the finishing line outside the George Hotel in Penrith.

At every hotel during the challenge, the fundraisers were warmly welcomed by their colleagues.

The challenge was sparked by the determination of much-loved colleague Fiona Sellars, the group’s marketing and support manager, whose strength has left a lasting impression on those around her.

* Becky was spurred on by the courage of Fiona Sellars. 

Known to colleagues and friends as Fi, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and has since undergone more than 50 rounds of treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery.

Her resilience in the face of the incurable diagnoses became the driving force behind the ambitious fundraising effort which also marks the hotel group’s 10th anniversary.

Fiona, who lives in Appleby, walked the first part of the first leg to cheer the fundraisers on their way and she was there to complete the last mile of the final leg as the team of fundraisers marched through Penrith.

Becky has taken on fitness challenges before, including long distance cycles and trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro, and said the North Wales to Cumbria ride was up there amongst her toughest challenges.

She was accompanied at the start of the cycle by Everbright Hotels colleague Max Vander Heiden from Llandudno to Flint and then met her boyfriend Tommy Hunter further along the journey who accompanied her to the finish.

The riders had to contend with various weather conditions, and exhausting hill climbs too.
She said: “Max cycled with me for 55km, and good on him, because he was only going to cycle for a kilometre to get me onto the main road.

“I cycled by myself to about 125km and got caught in a thunderstorm and it was then I met up with Tommy, who was under a bridge hiding from the thunderstorm.

“The weather was really bad, you couldn’t see the potholes for the water, but we couldn’t stop because we would just get cold.

“There was a hill where the thunder started, and it was one of the biggest hills I had ever seen in my life.

“I have done some big hills before, but I haven’t trained as hard as I used to train, and when you’re trying to get up this big hill and you can hear thunder cracking above you, it’s horrendous.

“I was blue in the face, my lips were blue, my feet were numb, I was frozen and shivering. The weather on the final day was pretty good, it was sunny when we set off and stayed grey and cloudy.

“The challenge was the furthest I have ever cycled in one day, I have never cycled 100 miles before. As I got over the finish line I was just thinking about Fiona, it is all for Fiona.

 “Four of my colleagues at The Wild Pheasant walked 20 miles as part of the challenge, they did an amazing job, I am so proud they made it.”

Fiona paid special tribute to the company’s Adrian Barsby who walked the entire route, and Becky Shields, who cycled the full route.

She said: “Adrian is honestly amazing and for Becky to do the whole thing on a bike is incredible, it’s a remarkable achievement.”

Adrian, 66, said meeting members of the public on the way who donated to the cause and told the fundraisers about their own cancer battles was “absolutely humbling”.

Adrian said: “There were 17 of us taking part in the final leg from Shap, which was great, that really kept us all going. The support from throughout the hotel group has been wonderful.

“Our managing director Lei Ma has taken part in many of the legs, our operations director Darryl Shaw took part, and pretty much walked most of Lancashire with me, while operations manager Nic Rowland also stepped up to the challenge and was a great support.

“Catalin Oanea, our group operations manager, just got back from holiday and the next day was walking with me from Kendal to Shap and on to Penrith for the final leg. It really has been a team effort.

Everbright Hotels operations director Darryl Shaw, who took part in six of the 10 days of the challenge, said: “It has been very humbling to meet so many people who have told us about their own cancer battles.

“All those who took part in the challenge, in whatever way they supported it, can be hugely proud of their efforts.

“The way our colleagues have rallied round to back this fundraising initiative has been absolutely remarkable.”

Managing director Lei Ma took part in four of the stages, including the start and finish. He said: “To take part in this was absolutely amazing. I am so glad so many of our colleagues were able to get together and I am so proud of the team.”

Colleagues who didn’t take part in the actual walk and cycle also did their bit to contribute to the fundraiser by organising various money-spinning initiatives.

* A JustGiving page has been set up for the charity challenge, which has a £10,000 target.  
People can donate to the fund by visiting https://justgiving.com/page/everbright10yrbreastcancernow 

Westheads face a mountain slog with some spectacular views

* The lads with the fellow cyclists they've teamed up with for the latest leg of their epic journey.

The three Llangollen area lads cycling to Thailand for charity reached country number 15 along the long trail the other day.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham - known as the Westheads - are now heading deeper into Asia through Tajikistan, the third most mountainous country in the world and, according to the group in their daily video log, the friendliest they been in so far.

On this latest leg of the mammoth trip they've teamed up with another group of cyclists heading in the same general direction, which they've hailed as a success.

After crossing the border from Uzbekistan, which as usual held them up a little as they completed the necessary formalities, they found themselves confronted by a massive mountain range as they made their way towards the capital of Dushenbe.

Although facing a climb of around 2,800 metres, they reckoned they were enjoying the best viewpoints of the trip to date.

The trio are making their 1,000 journey in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024.

So far they've raised more than £27,000 of their £50,000 charity target since leaving Llangollen eight months ago.

* llanblogger is recording their adventures along the way. To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads