Trefriw

Trefriw is a beautiful village on the River Conwy in north Wales, lying a few miles south of the site of the Roman camp of Canovium.

Related Topics:
Village - River Conwy - Wales - Roman

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It is situated in the county borough of Conwy in Snowdonia, to the north-west of Llanrwst, and about 4½ miles north of Betws-y-coed by road.

Related Topics:
Conwy - Snowdonia - Llanrwst - Betws-y-coed

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Trefriw is known for its woollen mills, and for the nearby chalybeate spa , first known to have been used by the Romans and further developed in about 1700 its Waters are one of very few throughout Europe to have been classified as a medicine due to their high iron content.

Related Topics:
Woollen mill - Chalybeate - 1700

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Trefriw today is a popular tourist destination. The village has two pubs and a hotel (see the links below), and there is plenty of other B&B accomodation locally. Many visitors come to walk in the area (see the "Trefriw Trails" link below) or to start here for longer walks into the Gwydir Forest, or the Carneddau mountains.

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Nearby, on the road to the neighbouring town of Llanrwst lies Gwydir Castle, which set within a Grade 1 listed, 10-acre garden. Built by the illustrious Wynn family c1500, Gwydir is a fine example of a Tudor courtyard house, incorporating re-used medieval material from the dissolved Abbey of Maenan. Further additions date from c1600 and c1826. The important 1640s panelled Dining Room has now been reinstated, following its repatriation from the New York Metropolitan Museum. (see the link below)

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The name 'Trefriw' is variously attributed to 'tref' + 'rhiw' (town + hill) or to 'tref' + 'briw' (a wound, i.e. a reference to the healing waters of the Spa). Given the nature of Welsh mutations, both of these are feasible -

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Tref + riw (soft mutation of rhiw, as the second part of a compund word) or Tre' + friw (mutation of briw)

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The definition of the word 'town' has altered over the centuries. Certainly Trefriw, in its heyday, as Wales' largest inland port, was undeniably a town. Today it would be described as a large village. The 2001 Census gives its population as 1338, there being some 565 residences within the Ward. About 50% of the population is Welsh speaking.

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