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Much of Capel Curig’s
history revolves around the development of roads in the area
- roads constructed by the Romans in their campaign to
destroy the power of the druids, packhorse trails that were
the principle means of access pre 18th century and
turnpike/coach roads that brought the first passenger
carrying vehicles to the village at the end of the 18th
century . |
Early travellers to the area
were botanists such as Thomas Johnston who accompanied by three
friends arrived in 1639. Others such as Edward Llwyd, Samuel
Brewer and J.J.Dilcenius followed and they all added
considerably to the botanical knowledge of Snowdonia
Thomas Pennant popularized
the area with his three volumed work on "Tours of Wales"
written in 1778. Other early tourists who wrote about Snowdonia
were Fenton, Longville and Roscoe.
The breathtaking beauty of the area was a magnet to many famous
artists including Turner.
In the early 17th century Capel Curig was renowned for its harp
making
The old Turnpike road or Capel Curig Trust Road (now the A5)
used gates and tollbars. Thomas Telford undertook the work of
building a new and better road and work began in the Autumn of
1815.
The
Plas y Brenin National Mountaineering Centre includes the Capel
Curig Inn built by Lord Penrhyn in 1800 as the first fashionable
hotel in the area. The site was chosen some way off the high
road to take advantage of the well known view over the twin
lakes of Llynnau Mymbyr towards the Snowdon horseshoe. A stable
block to the left accommodated the carriages and horses of
guests whilst the original hotel building with its pump room is
nearest to the lake. The hotels popularity led to expansion in
the village. In 1808 the Shrewsbury to Holyhead mail coach
(named the Ancient Briton) was re-routed away from the North
Wales coastal route to run via Capel Curig. Queen Victoria and
Kings Edward VII, George V and Edward VIII all stayed at the inn
which changed its name to the Royal Hotel in 1870.
The
back bar and cellar of the Tyn-y-Coed Hotel date from over 300
years ago. Quarrymen walking from Trefriw would use the pub on
their way to and from the Siabod quarry. Opposite the hotel is
an old coach - the Yorkshire Rose which acts as a reminder of
Capel Curig’s heyday from 1808 when the new Holyhead Mail
Started to run along the "Great Irish Road" - this era
ended in 1849 with the advent of railways
The small church of St
Julitta is among the oldest in Snowdonia - built in the 13th or
14th century it is now cared for by the
"Friends of St Julitta".
Until 1848, Capel Curig formed a chapelry in the parish of
Llandegai but was administered by the priest from Dolwyddelan.
with the growing number of visitors to Capel Curig in the 19th
century the old church became too small to accommodate the
congregation and a new church was opened in 1883. The new church
was dedicated to St. Curig, the boy martyr and the dedication of
the old church was then changed to St. Julitta - Curig's mother
Nant y Benglog
congregational chapel in the Ogwen Valley was opened in 1853 and
is one of the smallest congregational chapels in Wales and
continues to have regular services.
All around the area can be found the remnants of old slate
mines - reminders of a major industry in days gone by.
Today the population of Capel Curig extends to just over two
hundred. Tourism and Agriculture are the main sources of
employment - each complementing the other |
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