Barmouth (Aber-Maw) - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
BARMOUTH (ABER-MAW), a sea-port and market-town, in the parish of Llanaber, union of Dôlgelley, hundred of Ardudwy, county of Merioneth, North Wales, 10½ miles (W. by S.) from Dôlgelley, and 222 (W. N. W.) from London; containing 930 inhabitants. The present name of this place is an Anglicism of the original name AberMaw, denoting its situation at the mouth of the river Maw or Mawddach; and was adopted in 1768, at a meeting of the masters of vessels belonging to the port, when, in consideration of the increase of the shipping, it was deemed expedient to have an English name inscribed upon the sterns of the vessels. The town is beautifully situated on the northern side of the river, at the point where it pours its waters into Cardigan bay; the estuary of the Maw, which forms the port, is a mile in breadth at high water. The beach is a fine smooth sand, extending from the harbour northward to Traeth Artro, where the small river Artro falls into the sea; and is peculiarly adapted to the purpose of sea-bathing, for which the water of the bay is still more efficacious than that on other parts of the coast, owing to the frequent agitation of the tides, which in St. George's Channel are violent, and dash furiously on the rocks that line this part of the coast. The air is rendered mild and salubrious by the situation of the town at the base and on the acclivities of high hills, which shelter it from the north and north-east winds. The view from the beach is strikingly magnificent; the hills on the opposite shores of Carnarvonshire are seen in the distance towards the west, and towards the north the view of the sea is bounded by lofty mountains, apparently forming majestic ramparts for the defence of the coast, and beyond which, in clear weather, may be seen the peak of Snowdon, towering above the rest. The appearance of the town, as viewed from the sea, is peculiarly romantic: the houses, rising in successive tiers from the base nearly to the summit, are scattered along the brow of the hill, which is a barren rock, and assume a character singularly picturesque.
On the banks of the river is found a profusion of scurvy grass, the efficacy of which, in conjunction with the benefit of sea-bathing, is supposed to have originally made Barmouth a place of resort for invalids; and the salubrity of the air, the fineness of the beach, the beauty of the surrounding scenery, and the varied and interesting excursions which the environs afford, have contributed to render it a place of fashionable resort during the summer months, and to raise it to an eminent rank among the watering-places on the Welsh coast. There is an excellent hotel, provided with every accommodation, to which a capacious boarding-house is attached; and numerous respectable lodging-houses have been erected. Warm and cold sea-water baths have been built by the proprietor of the hotel, through whose exertions many improvements have been made in the town: opposite to the hotel is a billiard-room, erected by the same gentleman; and assemblies are held at the hotel during the season.
Among the excursions in the neighbourhood are, a pleasing ride to Harlech Castle, about ten miles north of the town, a great part of which is over the fine sands that stretch along the coast; and the ride from Barmouth to Dôlgelley, about the same distance towards the east, which comprehends a finer range of varied scenery, and of interesting and magnificent objects, than can be found within the same distance, in this or perhaps in any other country. The road to Dôlgelley is conducted along the slope of a vast mountain, which impends over it for about two miles; and on the opposite side is skirted by the river, which forms a small arm of the sea, and at high water reflects the masses of barren rock that rise from its steep banks, occasionally interspersed with hanging woods, and varied with spots of luxuriant verdure. Beyond this point, the road winds beautifully through the lower hills, at a little distance from the river, which is seen through the different openings, partly concealed by intervening eminences, and sometimes expanding into a broad lake, from the margin of which, on either side, rise lofty and abrupt promontories, some of them rugged and barren, others half clothed with purple heath, and others again richly wooded. The banks of the river are occasionally enlivened by a few scattered rural dwellings, erected on the acclivities, at a great height above its channel; and on the opposite side, several rivulets, descending from the mountain with impetuosity, and after rains swelled into torrents, discharge themselves into the river. In the back ground, towering above the mountains which bound the view, is seen the lofty Cader Idris, on the other side of Dôlgelley. Throughout the whole of this ride the most pleasing and the most sublime features of landscape are strikingly grouped, and the most interesting varieties are beautifully combined. The waterfalls in the neighbourhood of Dôlgelley, and the Druidical remains on the road to Harlech, are objects of great attraction, and are deservedly admired.
Prior to the war with France, the inhabitants carried on a commercial intercourse with Ireland, Spain, and Italy. The trade is now principally coastwise, and consists chiefly in the exportation of timber, poles for collieries, bark, copper and lead ore, black-jack, manganese, turnery, webs, and slates; and in the importation of corn, flour and meal, coal, limestone, American and Baltic timber, hides, and grocery. The harbour is formed by the mouth of the river Maw being partially closed by a small island, called Ynys-y-Brawd, or the Friar's Island, and a gravel beach to the south: the island defends it from the billows of the ocean, and anciently afforded pasturage for sheep and cattle, but owing to the shifting of the sands, a great part is now inundated. The entrance is rendered somewhat difficult and dangerous, in consequence of these sands, the principal of which are the banks called the North and South Bars; vessels of considerable burthen can only enter and depart at spring tides. In the year 1802 the harbour was greatly improved by the erection of a small pier, or embankment of stone, under the authority of an act of parliament, and at a total expense of £1660; the depth of water was thus increased, and the loading and unloading of vessels considerably facilitated. At the same time a new quay was constructed. A buoy has been laid down upon each of the bars, and a beacon has been erected near the pier; so that the natural obstacles opposed to the growth of the port have been in a great measure removed. The river Maw, over which is a ferry at this place, is navigable for boats of under twenty tons' burthen to within two miles of Dôlgelley. The sea has made considerable encroachment on this part of the coast: to the north of the town was formerly a verdant plain, about half a mile long, and a quarter of a mile broad, now entirely covered by the waters, and over which passed the line of road that has since been cut along the rocky elevations to the right. Ship-building and the tanning of leather are carried on, the latter to a considerable extent. A great quantity of peat is obtained in a neighbouring turbary, through which a canal has been cut, walled on each side with stone, by means of which and the river Maw this species of fuel is conveyed in vessels either to Barmouth or Dôlgelley. Here are two weekly markets, on Tuesday and Friday; and fairs are held on Shrove-Monday, Whit-Monday, October 7th, and November 21st.
In 1830, through the instrumentality of the Rev. Frederick Ricketts, a chapel of ease was erected, at an expense of £2000. It is a neat cruciform structure, in the later style of English architecture, containing 470 sittings, one-third of which are free, in consideration of a grant of £300 from the Incorporated Society for building, enlarging, and repairing churches and chapels. Within its walls a Sunday school is kept. There are places of worship for Independents, and Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, to which are also attached Sunday schools. In 1841, two schoolrooms were erected by means of a grant from the National Society, and large subscriptions from the resident clergy and gentry: the master and mistress are supported by subscriptions, by payments from the scholars, and an endowment of £7. 7s. per annum; they have also a house each, and the rent of a similar house each. In 1846 a British school for boys and girls was established, which is held in the Calvinistic Methodist meeting-house, and supported partly by subscription, but principally by fees. A branch establishment belonging to the Merchants' Hospital in London, was established in 1828. |
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