During the 18th century, Abergele, Rhyl and Prestatyn did not exist beyond hamlets. Caerwys was a town but was declining in relation to the rise of Treffynnon/Holywell which had minerals to exploit. On the other hand, Rhuthun/Ruthin and Dinbych were important towns, catering for and drawing people from a wide area. Dinbych served the upper Vale and Rhuthun the lower. They both became social centres where, for example, those of good pedigree—clergy, wealthier shopkeepers, professionals—found it fashionable to circulate for tea.
The towns were also the growing centre of commerce and industry. There were no local mineral deposits of any significance but there was limestone used for local building and as a fertiliser. Coal measures often accompanied limestone and in the 1790s there was evidence of coal extraction at Llangwyfan. Silver was extracted at Cefn Meiriadog, lead at Kinmel, there was an ironworks at Bodfari and clay at Tremeirchion; and there were brick works at Dinbych and, of course, Rhuthun. Pool Park estate supplied wood for furnaces. There was shipbuilding—sloops and barges—at Rhuddlan, for trade along the North Wales coast and to Lerpwl/Liverpool. Towns supplied specialist services such as apothecaries, clock makers, wine merchants and solicitors, etc. There was evidence of some kudos in dealing with London: this gave status to the trader or the goods they sourced and indicates that the area was far from a backwater and was fashionably keeping up with the times. Village shops were surprisingly well stocked.
Taverns were important. Some were posting taverns. Others were used by societies and town councils. Often kept by former butlers, they were well and efficiently run.
There was also weaving that established a close connection between country and town, with John Mostyn manufacturing broadcloth at Dinbych using local wool. In 1751, Mostyn fell on hard times and sold his assets including Dinbych’s impressive Mostyn House. Weaving was also a common rural cottage industry, with whole households taking part, especially between harvests and during the winter. Typically, cloth of between ¾ and ⅞ by 100 yd long was sent to Croesoswallt/Oswestry to fulling mills. Much local cloth, Jones said, was exported to America to clothe slaves.
Agriculture continued to be important. The Vale supported a significant number of farms. Corn was grown and cattle reared. Drovers would collect and transport cattle to important markets at Yr Wyddgrug/Mold and Caer/Chester. Jones illustrated their importance by a record taken of a local fair that brought together 2,000 head of cattle for driving, so it said.
There were always difficulties in getting raw materials in and produce and completed goods out of the Vale. Communications were poor. There were improvements in the mid-18th century with the construction of turnpike roads that speeded communications and offered better surfaces. The Wrexham-Rhuddlan turnpike Act was passed in 1756; and that between Wrecsam and Dinbych in 1759. Thomas Fitzpatrick of Llyweni who operated a bleaching works used by people as far as Caer and Lerpwl wished to deepen the River Clwyd as a means of improving communications further but he died before his plans were realised.
In terms of the townscape, fashionable town houses were developing and these had grates and even ranges, rather than open fires. As a result, the saucepan became popular together with a retinning process as the implements otherwise suffered from poisonous verdigris. During the 18th century, the latest building fashions were beginning to seep into the Vale. There was evidence of parapets, use of bricks (seen as sophisticated), multiple bays (a statement) and impressive quoins.
There was something of a population explosion at the end of the century and as a result, there was an encroachment onto otherwise common land for accommodation and some larger houses were converted to one-room tenements suitable, of sorts, for one family each. Some families had to move to find work and this was often no more than 15 to 20 miles distant.
There was also a greater demand for charity at the time. Unlike in the 19th century, those in the 18th century had a liberal attitude to the poor. There were charitable collections and churches encouraged the gentry to give more and eat less so that there was corn for poorer people.
In 1729, an outbreak of typhus meant that death could be sudden. There was a bad harvest in 1739, severe winter from December to March in 1740 that prevented ploughing and during which even beer froze. It resulted in food riots in the Vale. In 1742, smallpox visited the Vale and the sight of pockmarked faces was common. One in six deaths was owing to smallpox and between a third and half of all infants died of one issue or another.
Non-conformism, Methodism in particular, was developing, with early chapels in Bontuchel (1771), Llandyrnog (1776) and Ruthin (1789). There was also no shortage of teachers and these were often linked to the clergy. There were circulating schools that taught reading, provided literature and Bibles and encouraged—indeed, resulted in—an increase in Christian adherence. The most famous local school was, of course, Schola Ruthinensis, supplying the clergy, the local literati class and sending students to Oxbridge. It was during the 18th century that the school had become very popular under the Rector of Llanfwrog, Thomas Hughes.
Tonight's meeting was only supported by 57 people and, as such, was the smallest audience yet for the newly reconstituted RLHS. Perhaps people were put off by the damp and cold. Or perhaps they realised that Jones would start by saying there was little material for his subject. Yet, he spoke for an hour but only covered about two-thirds of his notes.
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History