Ancient Denbighshire Parishes

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The Ancient Parishes of Denbighshire

The following are the ancient parishes in the historic county of Denbighshire, which was formed in 1535 and abolished in 1974.

The historic county of Denbighshire bears little resemblance to the modern county of Denbighshire which was formed in 1996.

In the late 19th century and the early 20th century, as the population increased in many parishes, they were sub-divided into new parishes

Historic Denbighshire

Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych) was one of the thirteen historic counties of Wales. It was a maritime county, bounded to the north by the Irish Sea, to the east by Flintshire, Cheshire (England) and Shropshire (England), to the south by Montgomeryshire and Merionethshire, and to the west by Caernarfonshire.

The county was created following the Act of Union of 1535, between Wales and England, and was formed from the cantrefi (hundreds) of Rhos; Rhufoniog; Dyffryn Clwyd; IÃ¢l; Nanheudwy; Cynllaith and the Maelor Gymraeg which were formerly in the Welsh kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys Fadog.

The administrative county of Denbighshire, with an elected county council, was created in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county was governed by an elected county council, who took over the functions of the Quarter Sessions courts. The county town was Ruthin and other main towns were Wrexham and Denbigh.

• • •

1974-1996 Clwyd

Under the Local Government Act 1972, the county and administrative county of Denbighshire were abolished, for both local government and ceremonial purposes, on April 1, 1974. Most of Denbighshire becoming part of the newly formed county of Clwyd covering the whole of north-east Wales. However, the urban district of Llanrwst and five rural parishes, became part of the newly formed county of Gwynedd. The county town was Mold.

The county of Clwyd was divided into six administrative districts:

Alyn and Deeside
Colwyn (formed entirely from parts of historic Denbighshire)
Delyn
GlyndÅµr (which included parts of historic Denbighshire)
Rhuddlan
Wrexham Maelor (which included parts of historic Denbighshire)

• • •

Modern Denbighshire

Following further reorganisation under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, the administrative county of Clwyd was abolished on 1 April 1996 and the present-day county of Denbighshire was created. This covers a substantially different area from the historic county of Denbighshire however. The county town is Ruthin.

The new county included:

the Rhuddlan district of Clwyd, and formerly in historic Flintshire
most of the GlyndÅµr district of Clwyd, and formerly in historic Denbighshire
the communities of Trefnant and Cefn Meiriadog, which had been part of Colwyn district of Clwyd, and formerly in historic Denbighshire
the Edeirnion parishes of Betws Gwerfil Goch, Gwyddelwern, Llandrillo yn Edeirnion and Llansanffraid, which had been part of the GlyndÅµr district of Clwyd, and formerly in historic Merionethshire

However:

the eastern part of historic Denbighshire, which had been part of Wrexham Maelor district of Clwyd, became part of the newly formed County Borough of Wrexham
the historic Denbighshire parishes in the Ceiriog Valley, which had been part of the GlyndÅµr district of Clwyd, became part of the newly formed County Borough of Wrexham
the historic Denbighshire parishes of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Llansilin and Llangedwyn, which had been part of GlyndÅµr district of Clwyd, were transferred to the county of Powys
the remaining historic Denbighshire parts of the Colwyn district of Clwyd became part of the newly formed County Borough of Conwy

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Abergele	1647	Betws yn Rhos, Llanddulas, Llannefydd, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llysfaen, St. Asaph, St. George

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Bangor is y Coed (covered Flintshire & Denbighshire)	1675	Ellesmere, Erbistock, Holt, Marchwiel, Overton, Ruabon, Worthenbury, Wrexham
Betws Gwerful Goch (covered Denbighshire & Merionethshire)	1661	Gwyddelwern, Llangwm, Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr
Betws yn Rhos	1705	Abergele, Eglwysbach, Llanddulas, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llangernyw, Llansanffraid Glan Conwy, Llaneilian yn Rhos, Llysfaen
Bryneglwys	1687	Corwen, Llanarmon yn Iâl, Llandegla, Llanelidan, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llandysilio

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Capel Garmon	1702	Llanrwst
Cerrigydrudion	1590	Cyffylliog, Clocaenog, Llanfor, Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Llangwm, Pentrefoelas, Nantglyn, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Ysbyty Ifan
Chirk	1611	Ellesmere, Llangollen, Ruabon, St. Martin's
Clocaenog	1672	Betws Gwerful Goch, Derwen, Efenechtyd, Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Cyffylliog, Llanfwrog, Llanelidan
Cyffylliog	1636	Clocaenog, Cerrigydrudion, Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Llanfwrog, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Llanynys

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Denbigh	1683	Bodfari, Henllan, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch
Derwen	1632	Betws Gwerful Goch, Clocaenog, Gwyddelwern, Llanelidan

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Efenechtyd	1693	Clocaenog, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanelidan, Llanfwrog
Eglwysbach	1601	Betws yn Rhos, Caerhun, Dolgarrog, Llangernyw, Llansanffraid Glan Conwy
Erbistock (covered Denbighshire & Flintshire)	1679	Bangor is y Coed, Ellesmere, Marchwiel, Overton, Ruabon, Wrexham

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Gresford (covered Denbighshire & Flintshire)	1660	Aldford, Dodleston, Farndon, Holt, Hope, Pulford, Wrexham
Gwytherin	1718	Llanfair Talhaearn, Llangernyw, Llanrwst, Pentrefoelas

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Henllan	1684	Bodfari, Denbigh, Llansannan, Llannefydd, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Nantglyn, Pentrefoelas, St Asaph, Tremeirchion
Holt	1662	Bangor is y Coed, Gresford, Farndon, Marchwiel, Shocklach, Worthenbury, Wrexham

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Llanarmon yn Iâl (covered Denbighshire & Flintshire)	1676	Bryneglwys, Hope, Mold, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llandegla, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanferres, Llanrhydd
Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog	1625	Llandrillo, Llangadwaladr, Llangar, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Llansanffraid Glyn Ceiriog, Llansilin
Llanarmon Mynydd Mawr	1720	Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Llansilin
Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd	1650	Cilcain, Llanarmon yn Iâl, Llanferres, Llangynhafal, Llanrhydd, Llanychan, Ruthin
Llanddoged	1640	Eglwysbach, Llanrwst, Llanrhychwyn, Trefriw
Llanddulas	1754	Abergele, Betws yn Rhos, Llysfaen
Llandegla	1710	Bryneglwys, Llangollen, Hope, Llanarmon yn Iâl, Llandysilio, Mold, Wrexham
Llandysilio	1677	Bryneglwys, Corwen, Llandegla, Llangollen
Llandrillo yn Rhos	1589	Eglwys Rhos, Llaneilian yn Rhos, Llangwstenin, Llansanffraid Glan Conwy, Llysfaen
Llandyrnog	1664	Bodfari, Nannerch, Llangwyfan, Llanynys, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Ysceifog
Llaneilian yn Rhos	1620	Betws yn Rhos, Llandrillo yn Rhos, Llansanffraid Glan Conwy, Llysfaen
Llanelidan	1686	Bryneglwys, Corwen, Clocaenog, Derwen, Efenechtyd, Gwyddelwern, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanfwrog
Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd	1691	Bryneglwys, Efenechtyd, Llanarmon yn Iâl, Llanelidan, Llanfwrog, Llanrhydd
Llanfair Talhaearn	1668	Abergele, Betws yn Rhos, Gwytherin, Llangernyw, Llannefydd, Llansannan, Pentrefoelas
Llanferres	1586	Cilcain, Llanarmon, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llangynhafal, Mold
Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr	1662	Betws Gwerful Goch, Cerrigydrudion, Clocaenog, Cyffylliog, Llandderfel, Llangwm
Llanfwrog	1638	Clocaenog, Cyffylliog, Efenechtyd, Llanelidan, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanrhydd, Llanynys, Ruthin
Llangadwaladr	1736	Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Llansanffraid Glyn Ceiriog, Llansilin
Llangedwyn	1672	Llansanffraid ym Mechan, Llanfachairn, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Llansilin
Llangernyw	1570	Betws yn Rhos, Eglwysbach, Gwytherin, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llanrwst
Llangollen	1597	Chirk, Corwen, St. Martin's, Llandegla, Llansanffraid Glyn Ceiriog, Llansilin, Llandysilio, Selattyn, Ruabon, Wrexham
Llangwm	1738	Betws Gwerful Goch, Cerrigydrudion, Llandderfel, Llanfor, Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr
Llangwyfan	1723	Cilcain, Llandyrnog, Llangynhafal, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Llanynys, Nannerch, Ysceifiog
Llangynhafal	1704	Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanferres, Llangwyfan, Llanychan, Llanynys
Llannefydd	1721	Abergele, Henllan, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llansannan, St. Asaph, St. George
Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch	1683	Bodfari, Cerrigydrudion, Cyffylliog, Denbigh, Llandyrnog, Llanynys, Nantglyn
Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant (covered Denbighshire & Montgomeryshire)	1679	Hirnant, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Llanarmon Mynydd Mawr, Llandrillo, Llanfihangel yn Ngsynfa, Llanfyllin, Llangedwyn, Llansilin, Llanwddyn, Pennant Melangell
Llanrhydd	1608	Llanarmon yn Iâl, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanfwrog, Ruthin
Llanrwst (covered Denbighshire & Caernarfonshire)	1613	Betws y Coed, Capel Garmon, Eglwysbach, Gwytherin, Llanddoged, Llangernyw, Penmachno, Pentrefoelas, Trefriw, Ysbyty Ifan
Llansannan	1666	Henllan, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llannefydd, Pentrefoelas
Llansanffraid Glan Conwy	1660	Betws yn Rhos, Eglwysbach, Llandrillo yn Rhos, Llaneilian yn Rhos, Llanbedr y Cennin, Llangelynin, Llangwstenin, Gyffin
Llansanffraid Glyn Ceiriog	1754	Corwen, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Llangadwaladr, Llangollen, Llansilin, Llangar
Llansilin	1706	Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Llanarmon Mynydd Mawr, Llangadwaladr, Llangedwyn, Llangollen, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Llansanffraid Glyn Ceiriog, Llanyblodwel, Oswestry, Selattyn
Llanychan	1696	Llangynhafal, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanynys, Ruthin
Llanynys	1626	Cyffylliog, Llandyrnog, Llanfwrog, Llangwyfan, Llangynhafal, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Llanychan, Ruthin,

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Marchwiel	1652	Bangor is y Coed, Erbistock, Gresford, Holt, Ruabon, Wrexham
Minera	1786	Wrexham

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Nannerch (covered Flintshire & Denbighshire)	1664	Cilcain, Llandyrnog, Llangwyfan, Ysceifiog,
Nantglyn	1719	Cerrigydrudion, Henllan, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, Pentrefoelas

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Pentrefoelas	1772	Cerrigydrudion, Gwytherin, Henllan, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llanrwst, Llansannan, Nantglyn, Ysbyty Ifan

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Ruabon	1559	Bangor is y Coed, Chirk, Erbistock, Ellesmere, Llangollen, Marchwiel, St. Martin's, Wrexham
Ruthin	1592	Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanfwrog, Llanrhydd, Llanychan, Llanynys

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
St. Asaph (covered Flintshire & Denbighshire)	1613	Abergele, Henllan, Llannefydd, Rhuddlan, St. George, Tremeirchion
St. George	1694	Abergele, Llannefydd, St. Asaph

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Wrexham	1618	Bangor is y Coed, Gresford, Holt, Hope, Llandegla, Marchwiel, Minera, Ruabon

Parish	Created circa	Neighbouring Parishes
Ysbyty Ifan (covered Denbighshire, Merionethshire & Caernarfonshire)	1732	Cerrigydrudion, Ffestiniog, Llanfor, Llanrwst, Llanycil, Maentwrog, Penmachno, Pentrefoelas, Trawsfynydd

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