GENERAL SECTION: The Chapel of Art in Criccieth, Gwynedd, GB North Wales, UK, Europe
This page includes a short popular history and pronunciation guide to Criccieth

Pronunciation & Meaning

Criccieth is pronounced Crick--Yeth or Crick--Key-eth.

Sometimes written as Cricieth, versions such as Cryketh or Crickyeth also appear on old maps, but because there is no letter K in the modern Welsh alphabet, the standard Criccieth was in universal use by the 20th century.

Welsh place names are usually descriptive and literal, but the origin of the name Criccieth has been lost in the mists of time and has been corrupted

beyond all recognition. So maybe Criccieth is derived from "Craig Câs", meaning "Heather Rock". Who knows?

Criccieth Castle
The ruined 13th century castle stands on said "heather rock" or headland and is the principal landmark. It appears in most paintings and images of Criccieth. Criccieth Castle can be seen from miles around and is a striking and imposing feature, especially when entering Criccieth by road or rail from the east.

A local tradition claims if you walk around the castle rock with dry feet three times in your life, you will be laid to rest in Criccieth. Luckily for unsuspecting visitors, there are few occasions in the year when this is possible!

Originally built by a Welsh prince to defend the coast from marauding Irish and Viking invaders, it finally fell to the Norman forces of Edward I in the 13th century. Indeed, it still costs an arm and a leg to enter the Castle to this day! It was rebuilt and extended after the Norman annexation of Wales in 1284.

Now in the care of CADW, Criccieth Castle is no longer a pray to looting builders looking for a supply of stone. Much of Victorian Criccieth was built of stone simply taken from the Castle!

The most famous painting of Criccieth Castle is by the great English landscape artist, J M W Turner (1775-1851) but it quite inexplicably shows the castle back-to-front! The etching here is by H G Gastineau (1791-1876) who was much influenced by Turner, with his work being sometimes mistaken for being by Turner on occasion.

The Castle divides Criccieth into two halves: East and West. The original Garrison Town was situated below the Castle and includes the present Castle entrance, Castle Street, Castle Square and Lôn Bach (Little Lane). There is no evidence that the rock known as Y Dinas (The Town) was ever a settlement, although it provides a better view of the area than the Castle itself.

The development of Criccieth
Reduced to a poor fishing village once the importance of Criccieth Castle waned, tourism has improved the local economy over the past two centuries. Most of Criccieth was built by the Victorians, after the railway was brought through the town in the 19th century.

It became a summer resort for the wealthy middle-classes who retired to Criccieth for the whole summer. Visitors interested in Criccieth and its history can follow a Heritage Walk, published by the local Historical Society.

Criccieth's Famous Son
David Lloyd George (1863-1945)

The great orator and liberal politician, who was Prime Minister (1916-1922) and elevated to the House of Lords as Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor in the year he died. Known as the "Welsh Wizard" he put Criccieth on the map during his term of office.

Lloyd George certainly attracted a lot of public attention to Criccieth through repeated mention in the press of the time. Hence by the outbreak of World War II, it was rumoured that Criccieth boasted more millionaires per capita than any other town in Britain!

The humble cobbler's shop - his boyhood home, his riverside grave and the Lloyd George Museum can all be visited in nearby Llanystumdwy. His last home, Ty Newydd, is the National Writing Centre of Wales.

Other places of historical interest in the parish of Criccieth include the medieval St. Catherine's and Treflys Churches. Sea captains who built their homes in Criccieth, travelled to the four corners of the world from the local ports of Pwllheli and Porthmadog, where there is an interesting Maritime Museum commemorating the great days of sail.


And so on to Criccieth in the 21st century...