NICHOLAS OWEN
1792

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Caernarvon, the boast of North Wales, is a charming town, situated on an elbow of land near the water-edge, where the river Saint makes a conflux with the Menai, and a little below the ancient Segontium of the Romans. In the old Welch it is called Caer Segont. A coin of the Emperor Constantius was found here, bearing date 1283. The town is tolerably large, well built, and encompassed by a strong wall with turrets. Here is a strong, handsome castle, built by Edward I. to curb the Welch insurgents. In a tower of this castle, called the Eagle Tower, from a sculpture of this bird being fixed on its pinnacle, Queen Eleanor was delivered of the first Prince of Wales, on April 25, 1284. The walls are seven feet nine inches thick, and cover about two acres of ground. A Henry Ellerton was master mason; and it is said, the whole was completed in the space of two years. The stone whereof it is built is of the lime-stone kind, brought here from Porthamel in Anglesey, and is little inferior to marble: the grit-stone for the windows and arches was brought from Vainol in this county. The gate had four portcullises, and is of admirable workmanship. The constable of the castle had sixty pounds a year salary; the captain of the town twelve pounds three shillings and four-pence; porter, three pounds ten shillings; soldiers were twenty-four, at four-pence a day. The castle was supplied with water from a well half a mile east of it, conveyed to it by leaden pipes; some remains of which are still visible. Of the ancient Segontium, mentioned by Antoninus, some of the ruins may be seen by Llanbeblie, the parish church. Matthew Paris says, that the body of Constantine the Great was found here A. D. 1283, and by command of Edward I. was interred in Caernarvon church. The town has a pleasant quay: the prospect from thence of the Anglesey shores is very beautiful. This was a place of great trade in the time of Edward I. The exchequer and chancery, and common law courts for all North Wales, were kept here; and indeed it is still a considerable place of merchandize, and will always be so, from its commodious situation to receive the produce of the country, and having a good harbour for exportation close under the town. The market is abundant in corn, butter, butcher's meat, fish, and poultry.

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Nicholas Owen - Caernarvonshire. A sketch of its history, antiquities, mountains, and productions. ... London, 1792.

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