Caergwrle

infobox UK place
country= Wales
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly= Alyn and Deeside
constituency_welsh_assembly1=Delyn
latitude= 53.11
longitude= -3.04
official_name= Caergwrle
population= 1,650 (2001 Census)
unitary_wales= Flintshire
lieutenancy_wales= Clwyd
constituency_westminster= Alyn and Deeside
constituency_westminster1= Delyn
post_town= WREXHAM
postcode_district= LL12
postcode_area= LL
dial_code= 01978
os_grid_reference= SJ30705723
map_type= Caergwrle is a village in the county of Flintshire, in north east Wales. Approximately 5-6 miles from Wrexham and situated on the A541 road, it is contiguous with the village of Abermorddu and closely related to the village of Hope. The village lies on the River Alyn and sits at the base of Hope Mountain ("Mynydd yr Hob"). At the 2001 Census, the population was 1,650.citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6074188&c=Caergwrle&d=14&e=16&g=414430&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1215016508267&enc=1|title=2001 Census: Caergwrle|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=2 July|accessyear=2008]

The 13th-century ruined Caergwrle Castle was first built by prince Dafydd ap Gruffudd, in lands given to him by Edward I after the first Welsh campaign of 1277. The village originally had the English name of Corley, but with the addition of the Welsh "Caer", meaning "fortress", the name gradually took on Welsh characteristics. To explain the name, a myth developed of a giant named Gwrle, who was supposed to have lived in the castle and been buried in the nearby Neolithic burial mound at Cefn-y-bedd. [Hywel Wyn Owen, "The Place-Names of Wales", 1998, ISBN 0-7083-1458-9]

The 17th century Packhorse Bridge, which is reputed to be haunted, was nearly destroyed by flooding in 2000, though it has since been restored.

Caergwrle railway station is on the Borderlands Line, connecting it to Wrexham and to Liverpool via the Wirral Peninsula. Bus links also give access to Mold and Chester

References

External links

* [http://www.castlewales.com/hope.html Caergwrle Castle]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/weird/ghosts/pages/bridge.shtml Packhorse Bridge ghost]
* [http://www.castellalun.flintshire.sch.uk Castell Alun High School]
* [http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/WebCont/Stats.nsf/0/bf293d862600d02c80256eac00315d9e/$FILE/Caergwrle.pdf Flintshire Council Profile]
*gbmapping|SJ303575