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Town in Denbighshire, Wales
Photo: Roger Cornfoot, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Denbigh (Welsh: Dinbych) is a picturesque market town and one of the most historic towns in North Wales. Dinbych in Welsh means "little fortress" and the remains of the historic Denbigh Castle dominate the skyline of the town. It is the birthplace of explorer Henry Morton Stanley.
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Built as part of Edward I's 13th-century campaigns against the Welsh. The castle's finest feature is its striking triple-towered Great Gatehouse bearing the unmistakable stamp of Master James of St George, the architectural genius responsible for all of Edward's major North Wales castles. Good for ghost hunters, as the castle is reputed to be haunted!
Stretching almost 3/4 of a mile, built around the castle. the eastern section, defended by the Countess Tower and Goblin Tower, is particularly fine.
Remains of the only large new church built in the reign of Elizabeth I. Begun by Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, in 1578.
Built about 1300 as a chapel to serve the new town. The tower and a short section of the west wall survive.
Now an ancient monument, it was founded in the late 13th-century by the Carmelite order. The buildings were changed to houses during the Dissolution and the church used as a wool store.
Less than one mile from the town for which it was the parish church throughout the medieval period, oldest part of church from the 14th century. Grave of local author Twm or Nant and other of Denbigh greats are here.
Denbigh Asylum
The North Wales Lunatic Asylum was the first psychiatric institution built in Wales; construction began in 1844 and completed in 1848 in the town of Denbigh. The U-shaped Tudorbethain style hospital was built due to the spreading word of mistreatment of Welsh people in English asylums; The North Wales Hospital would be a haven for Welsh speaking residents to seek treatment without prejudice or a language barrier, but it was closed in sections from 1991 to 2002 and is now derelict. In 2008, Living TV's Most Haunted did a live series, "The Village of the Damned", on location in the North Wales Hospital which spanned over the course of a week. The producers of the show were criticized by residents of Denbigh for slurs against the town and the hospital. Also in 2008, during work to renovate the building site and convert it to apartments and residential properties, the building caught fire; the main hall of the hospital was destroyed. Arson is suspected.
Monument to local Doctor Evan Pierce. A nice place to relax.
Once the Market Hall building. The museum interprets the history of Denbigh showing its origins as a mediaeval settlement and its development as a cultural and industrial centre. Items featured include the town’s mediaeval charters, interpretation of the castle and town walls, civic robes and silverware and an audio-visual presentation. There are temporary exhibitions, drawing on the museum collections and those of local collectors. There is also an extensive medical collection and artefacts from the former Denbigh mental hospital. Material from the Denbighshire Record Office supplements the collection.
The town's civic church was built in 1874 and contains several important features including a tapestry from 1530.
Built as the town's Calvanistic Methodist chapel in 1800.
Denbigh's oldest chapel which was founded in 1742 and rebuilt in the 1830s.
Wales' first purpose-built Wesleyan chapel built in 1804.
Now a doctors' surgery, the building appears 18th-century but conservation work revealed a medieval garderrobe and arch trusses from the late 1500s.
21 High St is shown on maps as far back as 1611. 23 High St is of medieval origin but of late Georgian appearance, including the colonnade of Tuscan columns.
An earthwork motte and bailey fortress, standing against the steep slope to the Afon Ystrad. The low ditched polygonal motte and the large rectangular bailey platform, are surrounded by a ditch, with the remains of a counterscarp bank.
Gwaenynog Hall has had many famous visitors over the centuries, including Dr Samuel Johnson and Beatrix Potter. It was here that the Flopsy Bunnies lived and where Mr McGregor's shed is sited. The gardens are opened to the public in the summer months.
This was one of the principal publishers of Welsh language books for almost two centuries. It ceased publishing in 2001. It is housed in grade 2 listed building.
Local amateur dramatics, some professional shows, and monthly independent cinema courtesy of Denbigh Film Club.
Resort and Country Club and the excellent 9-hole pay-as-you-play and driving range in Trefnant
Just outside town.
Couple of equestrian clubs nearby.
The only surviving summer football league in the UK, founded in 1927 to give local farmers, who couldn't play on Saturday afternoon, the chance to play on summer evenings. One of the main rules of the League which makes it different from most other football institutions is that players have to reside within a prescribed boundary for that club. The League runs from mid April to the end of July and the matches are played on Monday and Thursday evenings, time depends on when the sun sets. It is based on twelve clubs made up of a number of beautiful villages and hamlets from the Vale of Clwyd and neighbouring Flintshire hills. Some of the pitches are in spectacular locations.
The popular roll the barrel event in Denbigh, which has been staged on Boxing Day annually since 1958. Hundreds of spectators gather at the top of Denbigh to watch the traditional Boxing Day festivities, which includes the barrel racing in addition to the Flint and Denbigh Hunt, which is presented with the stirrup cup by the mayor of Denbigh.
The 'hub' of Denbigh. A place to meet, eat and find out all that Denbigh and the Vale has to offer. Local sourced home cooked food - daily specials, vegetarian options. Free Wi-Fi. BYO to enjoy with your meal. Local arts, crafts & more on display and for sale. Families welcome.
Italian bar
Tafarn Neuadd y Gild
A hotel and pub in a restored Grade II* listed building steeped in history, with a strong heritage of association with the crafts or guilds of Denbigh Town, which included glovers, weavers, smiths, shoemakers, saddlers, curriers and tanners.
Caravan and camping.
Held every week on Wednesdays, outside town hall.
This small but friendly Peoples Market, sells a range of locally produced product. Held at Denbigh Town Hall on the last Friday of each month 9AM-2PM.
By car
Denbigh is easily reached by car, as it is only 6 miles from North Wales main road the A55, take exit marked St Asaph and then follow signs for Denbigh.
Denbigh is a small town, and you can easily walk everywhere in the town.
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