Denbigh

History

The first borough charter was granted to Denbigh in 1290, when the town was still contained within the old town walls. It was the centre of the Marcher Lordship of Denbigh. The town was involved in the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294-95; the castle was captured in the autumn, and on 11 November 1294 a relieving force was defeated by the Welsh rebels. The town was recaptured by Edward I in December. Denbigh was also burnt in 1400 during the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr.

During the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487), the town was largely destroyed, subsequently moving from the hilltop to the area of the present town market.

In 1643, during the English Civil War, Denbigh became a refuge for a Royalist garrison during the English Civil War. Surrendering in 1646, the castle and town walls eventually fell into ruin.

Notable buildings in Denbigh include Denbigh Castle, the town walls begun in 1282 including the Burgess Gate and Leicester's Church. This is an unfinished church begun in 1579 by Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, who was also Baron of Denbigh. It was planned as a cathedral with the title of city to be transferred from neighbouring St. Asaph. The project ran out of money and the grounds now lie derelict.

Railway

Denbigh was once served by a railway station on the former London and North Western Railway, later part of the LMS. The "Vale of Clwyd" line leading north to St. Asaph and Rhyl closed in 1955, leaving Denbigh on a lengthy branch running from Chester via Mold and Denbigh to Ruthin, which closed in 1962. A southern continuation beyond Ruthin linking up with the Great Western Railway at Corwen had closed in 1952. The platform of Denbigh station can still be seen beside the road leading to the Kwik Save store.

North Wales Hospital

At one time the majority of the population sought employment at the North Wales Hospital, which cared for people with psychiatric illnesses. The hospital closed in the late 1990s and has since fallen into disrepair.

Population

Its population at the 2001 Census was 8,783, increasing to 8,986 in the 2011 census.

Amenities

Attractions in the town include a library and museum. Denbigh Boxing Club is located on Middle Lane.

Denbigh Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket clubs in Wales having been established in 1844. The club plays at the Ystrad Road ground and plays in the North Wales Cricket League. The 1st XI play in the Premier Division having won the Division 1 championship in 2010 with the 2nd XI in Division 3.

For over 50 years, a barrel rolling competition has been held on Boxing Day in the town square.

High Schools

There are two high schools located in Denbigh. The larger of which is Denbigh High School located in lower Denbigh on Ruthin Road. The second is the previously all-girls catholic school, St Bridget’s, which can be found on Mold Road on the outskirts of the town.

This is the main high school in Denbigh, consisting of under 1,000 pupils and approximately 80 staff. The current headmaster is Mr.Simeon Molloy.

The school made UK headlines in 2016, when it placed over 70 pupils in isolation on the first day of term for wearing the wrong uniform.

This Catholic voluntary aided school caters for pupils between the ages of 3 – 19. There is a strict admissions policy and until recently the school only accepted girls. The schools current headteacher is Mrs Rona Jones

Under the Learning Skills Measure policy by the Welsh Government, all schools must provide a rich and diverse curriculum for 6th form pupils. Because of this policy both of the High Schools in Denbigh, along with Ysgol Brynhyfryd (Ruthin), Ysgol Gland Clwyd (St Asaph), Denbigh College, and Llsfasi College (Deeside) have all joined together to offer a combined 6th form under the title ‘Drffryn Clwyd Consortium’

Site of Special Scientific Interest

Crest Mawr Wood (alt. - Crêst) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest to the north west, adjoining Denbigh Golf Club and the Tarmac Quarry, an historic and ancient deciduous woodland. This woodland is endangered due to environmental pressure and competing land use in the area.

National Eisteddfod

Denbigh hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1882, 1939, 2001 and 2013.

Notable people

Sean Jones, actor, notably in the national tour of Bill Kenwright's Blood Brothers for many years and local resident comic in the pantomime at Rhyl Pavilion